graffiti art

Graffiti is often defined as writing, drawing, or painting on walls and other public surfaces, frequently using spray paint or markers, without the property owner’s permission. But when that property owner is on board, graffiti can become something truly special: art that transforms a space and tells a story.

That’s exactly what happened at Kettering Fairmont Middle School, where 2003 Fairmont graduate David Uy created a vibrant mural for the Express Zone, the new grab-and-go à la carte area developed by the Food & Nutrition Services Department. His work brings color, energy, and personality to the space, and it has quickly become a favorite among students, staff, and community members.

David’s passion for art was encouraged and nurtured in Kettering City Schools. Now, he has come full circle, returning to share his talents with a new generation of Firebirds. It’s wonderful to see hometown talent leaving such a vibrant mark on the schools that helped shape it.

I’ve known David for a long, long time. He and my son played soccer together as young boys and remained friends throughout their school and now adult years. It’s been a real joy to watch his evolution as an artist. His journey has taken him from the school's art classrooms to his days as an urban tagger (yes, the police caught him a couple of times putting his art where it wasn’t supposed to be) to becoming an accomplished artist, a proud father of three adorable boys, and a successful businessman. It’s rewarding to see someone take a passion that began in his youth, develop it into a talent and a career, and ultimately bring it back to the community where it all started.

This mural is more than a splash of color on a wall. It’s a reminder to students that the things they love, the talents they develop, and even the paths they take can lead to incredible places, sometimes right back home. 

the friday feed: compost

Last year, the city of Kettering launched a food composting drop-off program. I knew nothing about it until a few months ago after reading an article and the city offered an incentive: a big bucket to transport food scraps to the compost bins. Well, sign me up!

Since then, I’ve been collecting my food scraps in a small, one-gallon bucket lined with a BPI-certified compostable bag that sits next to my kitchen sink. When the little bags fill up, I transfer them to the larger bucket. Once that bucket is full, I make a trip to the drop-off site.

This routine has made me much more aware of how much food waste I generate in everyday life - how much of it ends up in the trash and then, in a landfill. It’s surprising how quickly those scraps add up. Composting has been an easy way to make a small change in my daily habits. Instead of treating food scraps as waste, they are now a resource that can be turned into something useful.

I’m glad Kettering made this program available and hope more people discover it. 

thursday's thought for the day

Right now with midterm and state elections coming up in a few weeks, text messages come in constantly with requests for a donation. This one cracked me up. Sure...you asked so politely and of course I'll be glad to give you my credit card information for a contribution to this campaign. 

 

wednesday's words and wanderings and wonderings

We’re at that point in October when Mother Nature gives us little hints that colder weather is on its way, only to change her mind and hits us with a few days of unseasonable warmth. Today marks the last day of this heat wave, with colder temperatures and possibly even some frost expected by the weekend.

Last week at the farm, the chill in the air was already noticeable. I dressed in layers, wearing a thermal shirt under a wool sweater, topped with a down vest. The flowers, however, were still putting on a beautiful show of color, so I took the opportunity to wander around the grounds and capture a few last photos before the colder temperatures arrive and bring their colorful display to an end.

The monarch butterflies are flitting around the zinnias gathering what little pollen is left and giving their wings a rest. Such strength and beauty.

A praying mantis showed up. It is such a captivating insect. I loved watching it. Such patience, mindfulness, and even a bit of mystery.

pink pumpkins

It’s October, which means it’s officially pumpkin season. Grocery stores, farms, farmers markets, and roadside stands are overflowing with pumpkins of every shape, size, and color.

October is also Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and there’s one special pumpkin that helps honor those who have been affected by this disease.

Meet the Porcelain Doll Pink Pumpkin. This unique pumpkin was specifically developed to raise awareness for breast cancer. With its beautiful pink color and heirloom-style appearance, it’s not only eye-catching (and perfect for Instagram photos) but also has a meaningful story behind it.

The Porcelain Doll Pink Pumpkin is a modern hybrid developed by Jacob Froese of Colorado Seeds in Cheraw, Colorado. It also inspired the creation of the Pink Pumpkin Patch Foundation, a nonprofit founded by the Froese family to honor Carol Holsopple-Froese, a breast cancer survivor and co-owner of Colorado Seeds. To support the cause, Colorado Seeds donates $10 to the foundation for every 1,000 seeds sold.

These gorgeous pumpkins are large and blocky with deep ribs and weigh in around 20 to 24 pounds. Their naturally pink skin makes them stand out from the crowd. Inside, is a  sweet, light-orange flesh that’s perfect for baking and cooking.

If you spot one of these pretty pink pumpkins, remember that it represents more than just fall décor. It’s also a reminder of the people and families whose lives have been touched by breast cancer.

I share this pink pumpkin in honor of my daughter-in-law Jennifer’s mom, Mary Ann, who is currently undergoing a year of treatment for breast cancer. With her positive attitude, strength, and determination, along with the unwavering love and support of her family and many friends, she is facing this journey with hope and courage. I’m cheering her on every step of the way and believing in a future filled with healing, health, and cancer-free days ahead. 💗

monday's mulling: do your duty, pick up the doody

It’s a problem everywhere: inconsiderate dog owners who leave their dogs’ droppings behind for the rest of us to step around. Apparently, common courtesy has gone to the dogs—and picking up poop has become a waste of peoples' time.

It’s gotten so bad that “Clean Up Your Dog’s Mess” signs are now a big business.

But one Chicago artist decided that a sign didn’t go far enough. Why settle for a polite reminder when you can make a monumental statement about a pile of crap?

Polish-Chicago artist Jerzy S. Kenar took matters into his own hands or, more accurately, his own artistic vision, and created The Shit Fountain. The bronze sculpture depicts a coiled pile of dog excrement mounted on a three-foot sandstone pedestal. It’s his personal protest against pet owners who think cleaning up after their four-legged friends is someone else’s problem.

The beauty of this masterpiece of canine commentary: it sits on Kenar’s private residential property, meaning the city has no say in its existence. No bureaucratic pileup…just one artist, one bronze turd, and a pointed message for people who leave their dogs’ business behind.

The result is a scatological work of art that makes its point without beating around the bush, or stepping in one. You visit out of curiosity, have a good laugh, snap a few photos, and leave with a memorable story.

Some artists work in oils, others in marble. Kenar chose to give a crap—and turned it into art.

bridges

After yesterday’s post, I realized I have A LOT of bridge photos. I originally planned to write about the symbolism and metaphors of bridges, but I just didn’t feel like thinking that hard. So instead, please enjoy a collection of bridges from my travels and a few closer to home.

There’s something special about bridges. They connect places, offer new perspectives, and sometimes make us pause to appreciate the view. But today, I’ll let the photos do the talking.

The John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge, goes over the Ohio River, connecting Newport, Kentucky and Cincinnati, Ohio. The Roebling Bridge served as the prototype for the Brooklyn Bridge.

The Brooklyn Bridge crosses the East River and connects Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn. The walk across the BB is 1.1 miles (1.8 km). It's a high traffic destination, both on foot and by vehicle. As a pedestrian, stay out of the bike lane.

The Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge, aka The 59th Street Bridge (the Feelin' Groovy Bridge) connects Manhattan and Queens. When coming from LaGuardia we cross this bridge to get into the city. It also has lanes for pedestrians and cyclists.

The Daniel Carter Beard Bridge, Cincinnati, Ohio. Daniel Carter Beard was a Cincinnati native and one of the founders of the Boy Scouts of America. Because of its bright yellow twin arches that resemble McDonald's golden arches, this bridge is fondly known as the Big Mac.

The downtown Columbus, Ohio skyline with a railroad truss bridge crossing the Scioto River along the Scioto Greenway Trail.

The reconstructed Helena Street Bridge, Dayton, Ohio, with the Great Miami River running high after some heavy rain.

Overpass on I-75 just north of Dayton.

Abraham Lincoln Bridge and the adjacent John F. Kennedy Memorial Bridge crossing the Ohio River between Louisville, Kentucky, and Clark County/Jeffersonville, Indiana.

The Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge spanning the Cooper River in Charleston, South Carolina. It's over 2 miles long with eight lanes for traffic and lanes for bicycling, running, and walking.

Chicago, Illinois: a blue-and-white city tugboat navigating the Chicago River underneath the Chicago Avenue bridge.

London, England: The Tower Bridge spanning the River Thames. Some people mistake this bridge for London Bridge. Big no, no.

The River Thames in London, with the Waterloo Bridge spanning the water, St. Paul's Cathedral in the mid-ground, the skyscrapers of the City of London financial district, and Embankment Pier in the foreground.

 

Port-en-Bessin-Houppain, France. Omaha Beach, Normandy coast. Thinking about what happened here during WWII was quite a contrast with this peaceful sunset scene.

The Pont des Artes (also known as the "Love Lock Bridge") crossing the River Seine in Paris, with the Musée d’Orsay visible on the right bank.