wednesday's words and wanderings and wonderings

Well, here it is… reality at the pump. Most gas stations were charging $4.99 a gallon, while Costco offered one of the lowest prices in town at $4.19. I had stopped there earlier in the day, but the lines at the pumps were incredibly long. With 35 miles still showing on my gas gauge, I decided to wait until evening to fill up. By 8:00 p.m., the station was nearly empty. The open pumps spared me the frustration of waiting in line, but the $70 total was still a jolt.

 

Earlier in the week, our son called to ask if we could come to Cleveland to help with his busy little ones while his wife was out of town. “The kids would love to see Didi and Grandpa,” he said. Our grandson Owen is currently fascinated with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles who live underground in the sewer. On one of our walks, he proudly showed me several manhole covers, stopping at each one to chat with the Turtles.

An afternoon at the park with Miss Hallie. Life is good in a swing while munching on a cracker.

Sunday morning, while everyone was still in their pajamas, Hallie said it: “Didi!” It was the sweetest, most heartwarming way to begin the day. And at this early age of one year, the girl sure does love her shoes!

Lilies of the Valley are blooming and their scent perfumes the air. Such an aroma of spring. Many years ago my grandma taught me this song: White coral bells upon a slender stalk/ Lilies of the valley deck my garden walk/ Oh how I wish that I might  hear them ring/ That will happen only when the fairies sing.

The state of Ohio is in the process of upgrading its highway rest stops. Many now feature dog trails, rocking chairs, and Storybook Trails designed to create a welcoming, family-friendly experience. Music from Ohio musicians drifts through outdoor speakers, and gardens filled with native flowers brighten the grounds. Expanded truck parking areas accommodate the growing freight traffic moving through the state. In partnership, the Ohio Department of Transportation and TourismOhio have designed these rest stops to both welcome and inform travelers.

monday's mulling: may the 4th be with you

May 4 is Star Wars Day due to the pun, "May the 4th be with you," a play on the iconic Jedi phrase, "May the force be with you." It's an annual celebration Star Wars fans to express their love for the saga, often celebrated with movie marathons, social media posts, and themed events.

Here's a tidbit for you...The phrase was first associated with Margaret Thatcher on May 4, 1979, the day she took office as Britain's Prime Minister, in a congratulatory newspaper advertisement.

The first Star Wars movie debuted on May 25, 1977, a few months after Todd and I had started dating. It was summer break from college, and he came down to Dayton for a weekend visit. Star Wars was playing at the theater, so on Saturday night we made a spur-of-the-moment decision to go. This was long before online ticketing or advance sales, so we simply walked up to the counter and bought our tickets. So easy.

Inside, though, was another story. The theater was packed. There weren’t even two seats together, so we ended up sitting in separate rows. No shared popcorn, no hand-holding, just watch the movie unfold on the screen in front of us surrounded by strangers.

Hard to believe that was nearly 49 years ago...a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.

digital detox

In today's electronic world, unplugging helps you step away from the nonstop flood of information and reconnect with yourself, the people you care about, and what’s actually happening around you. Taking a break from screens gives your mind and body a chance to recharge, which can boost your mood, overall well-being, and quality of life.

Shutting off your devices also gives your brain a break from all the noise online. Kick back after a long day of screen time. Once you’ve had that reset, it’s easier to focus, make decisions, and think more creatively.

And how do you do that? Get outside, away from those walls that surround you, move, and breathe in that fresh air!

One of the best ways for me to digitally detox...hang out with my grandchildren!  The time with them is so precious and seeing the world through their eyes sure does keep me smiling and laughing 😁 

what's in a name?

Yesterday, The New York Times shared a fun link that lets you spell out your name using images shaped by Earth’s geography, all drawn from satellite views. It’s a reminder that even something as familiar as your own name can feel new again.

There’s something enjoyable about seeing your name out in the world. When you're in a souvenir shop, do you find yourself hanging around those racks of license plate keychains looking for your name? I do. Then I hunt for my husband's name, my children’s names, their spouses’, and my grandchildren’s. Even though I never buy one, the search itself is satisfying. It's a frivolous little hunt where the prize is recognition. And now, to see my name in geological forms from a NASA website...well that's downright cool! 

When your name shows up, hover the cursor over each image and its location will appear. 

D - Lake Tandou, Australia

I - Borgarbyggð, Iceland

A - Yukon Delta, Alaska

N - São Miguel do Araguaia, Brazil

E - Fern-filled Fjords, Tibet

the friday feed: lahmas of love

That vertigo episode drained me more than I expected. Hospitals aren’t built for real rest. The nurses were attentive and thorough, waking me every two hours with their steady refrain: “Name. Date of birth. What month is it? What year? Do you know where you are?” I got the routine, but sleep never quite had a chance to settle in. Still, I was fortunate - it was only a one-night stay.

When I finally got home, I went straight to bed and sank into a deep three-hour nap. I woke to the sound of my phone. It was my friend.

“Di, I made some lahmas. Can I bring them over?”

“Yes, please!”

Lahmas, pronounced “lock-mas,” are often called Arabic pizzas. They are made with thinly rolled dough topped with a savory meat mixture. She had cooked them; all I needed to do was warm them in the microwave for 30 seconds. The food, along with the visit, was the best medicine.

poetry month: growing old

It happens...

Today ends Poetry Month and tomorrow we say "Hello!" to May. 

 

wednesday's words and wanderings and wonderings

Last week was a quiet week with a couple days in the hospital for a vertigo diagnosis. This cute little elephant greeted me on the bedside table in my hospital room. Do you think it looks like an elephant or another creature? 

It looks like I'm going to plant some carrots this year. This artsy packaging of carrots caught my eye but so did the name, Danvers Carrot. My mom was born and raised in Danvers, Illinois, and that is the main reason I bought this. I hope some of her green thumb will pass through my fingers to grow a bounty of carrots this summer. 

A Google search provided this information: "The Danvers carrot is a classic, hardy heirloom Carrot developed in the 1870 in Danvers, Massachusetts, known for its deep orange color, high yields, and adaptability to clay soils. It typically produces 6-8 inch tapered roots that are sweet and nearly coreless." 

My neighbor's mom passed away this week. Susan loves flowers - you should see her garden! To express our condolences I went to a florist in McPherson Town, one of Dayton's historic neighborhoods, for a bouquet of flowers. When we lived downtown, my big dog Ted and I frequently strolled past this small business. Look toward the back of the photo and you will see the Dayton Art Institute. After buying the flowers, I stopped by DAI to renew our museum membership.

My first grandchild is no longer in his crib and to celebrate this milestone, I want to make a small quilt for him. A long time ago, in the late 70s and into the 80s, quilting was popular, and I spent a lot of time with this hobby. I have a lot of fabric from back in those days and it's time to reduce the stash. Owen's favorite colors are green and red (I am adding blue to keep it from looking like a Christmas quilt), his birthday is in June, but for the time it will take to piece the blocks and get it quilted, this will be a Christmas present.

The lilac beside the garage door has been in full bloom and scenting the air for a few weeks now. It's such a joy to get a whiff of that fragrance when walking outside. I took this photo last Friday and in that short time, flowers are just about gone. Between late April and early May lilac trees and bushes typically bloom for three weeks in Ohio (they did) but they bloomed early this year and now mine are done for their season. Sigh.