I've wanted a treadle sewing machine ever since I visited my cousin in Apple Valley. We slept on the two twin beds in her room and played with the treadle, making the sewing head sing it's sweetly-oiled rhythm. A few years ago I found a 1906 Singer treadle for sale. But the cabinet was in only fair shape, between years of abuse and an ill-considered coat of gold spray paint. The ... Continue reading »

When I worked on designing submarines, I came up with the idea of making a cookie submarine. I baked a sheet of cookie dough (1/2 c sugar, 1/2 c butter, 1-1/4 c flour, molassas, vanilla, salt, baking powder). When the dough was nicely browned, I formed a cylinder by wrapping the cookie around a rolling pin, pushed cookie wedges into the bottom of sherbet dishes, and cut miniature sail and dive planes. Several ... Continue reading »

Goodness, it's been many months since I posted here. I read Mormon Enigma (both versions - the original, before they knew Mark Hoffman's documents were bogus, and the revision). I then re-read Rough Stone Rolling and In Sacred Loneliness, plus the bit of Mormon Polygamy: A History that deals with Nauvoo-era events. My hypothesis (that Joseph didn't consummate any of his 'marriages' to women other than his first wife, Emma Hale) is ... Continue reading »

A few weeks ago I was given the opportunity to speak at church, an opportunity I sought because I am trying to earn the Personal Progress award along with my daughters. I told Brother Zirkle I didn't care what topic he assigned me, or what week I might speak. He asked me to talk on August 22 about our duty to our kindred dead, suggesting President Henry B. Eyring's conference ... Continue reading »

So now that I've finally been able to get something to work, I'm wondering why all my blog posts on blogger have been disappeared after November 28, 2009. I know later posts had gone up other places. One possibility that suggests itself is the content of my most recent posts. They were about my brother's experience with federal and local law enforcement. His Facebook and google accounts got messed with, but ... Continue reading »