Bad Apples

 My parents gave me a fun book for my birthday last year, Crochet Ever After.  It is full of projects inspired by fairy tales.  I hoped to finish these Bad Apple Fingerless Mitts in time for the launch of Winter, the final book in my favorite sci-fi fairy tale series.  The crochet pattern was fun to work, with its linked double crochet stitches.  They solve everything I don't like about double crochet.  But with Halloween interfering, I didn't finish the apples in time. 

They are ready now, and I can wear them to the party for Stars Above, the book of related short stories, next month! 

Do you choose projects that coordinate with your other hobbies?

To Winter for Christmas

We headed south for Christmas, to where there is actually snow.  The white weather was somewhat frightful on the road there, and worse going back.  But while we stayed, the snow was beautiful.

It has been a long time since we've spent Christmas with our extended family.  I don't think there have ever been so many stockings hanging together in my parents' house.

Here are Dandelionslayer and the boys, with my sister Vae, in front of the tree on Christmas morning.

LaBeq came to pose with us in the afternoon. It was a lovely, relaxing day.

We also spent a couple of days with Dandelionslayer's family.  The boys had a great time sledding with their cousins.

The Caterpillar got his groove on, and won every dance.

We hit the slopes again, a little harder, in some cases, but the boys all survived their first time skiing.  D2, in the center of the picture, was the least afraid, and did really well.

We visited some dinosaurs, too,

and walked through the beautiful lights at Temple Square.

It was frigid, but our hearts were warm.

The Square is full of beautiful reminders of the Reason for the season.  Look at the leopard and the zebra lying down together, waiting for the Child to lead them.

We had a great time in snowy Utah.  I hope you enjoyed the holidays, too!

Christmas Musical Monday

Ah, sublime music from Plácido Domingo, the Piano Guys, and a choir of children who look like they are wearing cupcake wrappers.


Merry Christmas, everyone!

Christmas Music on Wednesday

Oops.  Monday got past me.  But there's always time for some good music!


The latest from Lindsey Stirling.

Ponderizing 1 John 1:5-7

 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.  1 John 1:5-7

Scoot chose these verses for us this week, and they are so appropriate.  It has been pretty dark outside here.  The sun will be up for maybe nine hours today, and thick rainclouds dim its influence.  But, as John wrote, "God is light," and we can always have His light within us. 

It's a choice we have to make, though.  I can sit here in my dark house and feel sorry for myself, or I can turn on the lights and feel better.  Going for a "walk in darkness" will not lead us anywhere good, no matter what popular opinion may say. 

Wo unto them that call evil good, and good evil, that put darkness for light, and light for darkness, that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!  Isaiah 5:20

It seems like we're seeing more of this sort of thing all the time.  "But if we walk in the light," by searching the scriptures to learn God's will and do it, "we have fellowship one with another"--we can support and comfort each other in doing what's right--"and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." We all need that, don't we?

So, this Christmas time, let's turn on the lights, turn on the sweet music, and learn more about the Light of the World!

Hanukkah Musical Monday

A little treat for the beginning of Hanukkah:


Dandelionslayer was doing some research on a piece his band will be playing at work, and ran across Meshugga Beach Party--traditional Jewish dance music, played surfer style.  They're fun to watch, and you'll want to dance along.  This is not quite a traditional song, nor one of their original Hanukkah pieces, but you'll recognize it. Enjoy!

Ponderizing Moroni 10:32

Yea, come unto Christ,

and be perfected in him,

and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ,

ye can in nowise deny

the power of God.

Moroni 10:32

This week we're thinking about some of Moroni's last words.  He obviously put a lot of thought into them--chapter ten is a real treasure.  In verse 32, he repeats the invitation that has been given so many times: "Come unto Christ."

Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live . . .   Isaiah 55:3 

Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Matthew 11:28

And he said unto the children of men:  Follow thou me.  2 Nephi 31:10

We'll be more comfortable with Christ if we are more like Him, but we do not have to be perfect on our own.  In fact, we can't be.  If we try our best to leave ungodly things behind, and trust in Christ, He will make up the difference and make us perfect through His grace.  Really, Moroni said it best.  Think about it!

What are you pondering this week?