Sashing and Cornerstones

She dug the plot on Monday – the soil was rich and fine,

She forgot to thaw out dinner – so we went out to dine…

She planted roses Tuesday – she says they are a must,

They really are quite lovely – but she quite forgot to dust.

On Wednesday it was daisies – they opened up with sun,

All whites and pinks and yellows – but the laundry wasn’t done…

The poppies came on Thursday – a bright and cherry red,

I guess she really was engrossed – she never made the bed…

It was violets on Friday – in colors she adores,

It never bothered her at all – all crumbs upon the floors

I hired a maid on Saturday – my week is now complete,

My wife can garden all she wants – the house will still be neat!

It’s nearly lunchtime Sunday – and I cannot find the maid,

Oh no! I don’t believe it!

She’s out there with the spade!

-          Author Unknown

Old Windmill

Tuesday our family saw Toy Story 4 on the big screen. It’s a wonderful movie, and sharing the experience with the people we value the most only made it sweeter. The movie is a reminder of how important toys can be. Children learn by playing, and the right toy can improve hand-eye coordination, self-esteem, brain development and even social skills. Most toys are useful when they fit a particular stage, and they’re discarded when they’re outgrown. Now and then a toy becomes a friend – someone you never want to leave behind. Smokey the Bear was this kind of toy for me. When he was new, he had a plastic shovel and a hat with an elastic chin band. He used to have a belt with his name in block letters and a silver badge. Most of his hair has been loved off and his stitched-on mouth is gone. But he’s still here. Do you have your own “toy story?” I’d love to hear it.

Another Castle

For starters, it’s not called “Cinderella’s Castle.” If you think about it, you’ll realize the castle didn’t belong to the lady with the glass slipper. If anything, it should be “Prince Charming’s Castle” or maybe “Henri’s Castle,” as a few more recent films actually took the trouble to name Cinderella’s dance partner. If you want to avoid annoying cast members, you’ll call it “The Cinderella Castle” without an apostrophe or an S. It’s easily the tallest structure in the Magic Kingdom, but it looks even bigger because of the use of forced perspective; each level is a bit smaller than the one below it. Designers drew inspiration from several European castles, most notably Neuschwanstein in Bavaria. If a cast member ever asks you how many bricks were used in the construction, here’s a tip: it’s a trick question. It has a concrete foundation, a plaster and fiberglass body and a steel beam skeleton. But no bricks.

Millie's Favorite

Cucumber and Tomato Salad

1 cup apple cider vinegar

1/2 cup ice water

1/2 cup sugar

4 cloves garlic

2 pints grape tomatoes

1 English cucumber, thinly sliced

1/4 red onion, thinly sliced

kosher salt to taste

Bring vinegar and sugar to a boil in small sauce pot. Lower heat and simmer, stirring until sugar is dissolved, set aside to cool. Add garlic and ice water. Cut tomatoes in half lengthwise and place in large bowl. Place cucumber and onion slices in a bowl with tomatoes; toss with vinegar mixture. Cover and refrigerate at least an hour. Serve chilled as is or on a bed of lettuce.

Twenty-five Quail's Nests

Jon Crosetto, 64, was an avid outdoorsman. He loved hiking, biking, snowshoeing, ice hockey and RC planes. Wednesday, April 24, Jon left his Eatonville, Washington home to go geocaching. He took his dog Daisy along, but somehow neglected to tell anyone where he was going. When Jon failed to return by nightfall, his wife Candice checked his computer’s search history. Jon seemed to be interested in geocache sites in the Evans Creek area. Searchers located Jon’s car the following afternoon, and not long afterwards they could hear Daisy barking. An undiagnosed heart problem had taken Jon’s life, but his faithful dog never left his side. Jon’s obituary asked for donations for the Tacoma Mountain and Pierce County Search and Rescue volunteers. They weren’t able to save Jon, but with Daisy’s help, they did bring him home.

Christmas Red Birds

“My dear brethren, you were chosen by our Father to come to earth at this crucial time because of your premortal spiritual valor. You are among the finest, most valiant men who have ever come to the earth. Satan knows who you are and who you were premortally, and he understands the work that must be done before the Savior returns. And after millennia of practicing his cunning arts, the adversary is experienced and incorrigible. Gratefully, the priesthood we hold is far stronger than are the wiles of the adversary. I plead with you to be the men and young men the Lord needs you to be. Make your focus on daily repentance so integral to your life that you can exercise the priesthood with greater power than ever before. This is the only way you will keep yourself and your family spiritually safe in the challenging days ahead.” – President Russell M. Nelson

Fairy Tale Castle

When Walt Disney and his wife toured Europe, they learned the biggest castles were built to intimidate foreign enemies and local peasants alike. Walt always said that’s why the Sleeping Beauty Castle was so tiny – to be more friendly. I suspect the truth has more to do with the size of the orange grove he’d purchased and the number of things he wanted to pack into it. The smallest of the Disney park castles, this almost 2-dimensional edifice really serves one purpose: to obstruct the view of Fantasyland until guests have actually entered. It’s what theater folk call a “big reveal.” The castle was undergoing refurbishment during our last visit; the whole thing was literally under wraps. The 64-year-old icon got a sparkling new roof and a fresh coat of paint. The pinks at the bottom are warm and golden, gradually moving to cooler, bluer shades near the top. It’s one of many clever ways employed to make this tiny castle seem magically bigger.