wednesday's words and wanderings and wonderings

Look what arrived at the farm... sugar plums! They are incredibly sweet, juicy, and just the right size for a quick snack. Each week, the variety and volume of produce continue to grow. It’s exciting to see what each new week will bring.

We spent the weekend in Cleveland, and our first adventure was a trip to the Cleveland Zoo. Our little grandson has visited the zoo several times, so he was happy to show Didi and Grandpa exactly where we needed to go. Our first stop was the elephants, and he made sure to tell us that elephant poop is really, really big!

Little people love little spaces, and this cozy kitchen nook is the perfect size for sharing snacks, giggles, and sibling togetherness.

Have you ever seen a purple pepper? The outside is a deep purple, much like an eggplant, while the inside is a bright lime green. The color combination is stunning. The flavor reminds me of a green bell pepper, although it’s a bit milder.

Finally, finally, I planted my cosmos! They are such beautiful flowers, with colorful blooms dancing on long, wispy stems. The bees and butterflies absolutely love them.

My sister lives in Philadelphia and is a devoted fan of European football, or soccer as we call it in the United States. When she learned that Philadelphia would be hosting several World Cup matches, she immediately signed up to volunteer. And here she is, looking every bit the official World Cup volunteer. What an amazing experience and what memories she will make!

entertainment for the day

Yesterday’s entertainment was courtesy of our neighbor having a large tree in their front yard removed. Last year, during a storm with high winds and torrential rain, a massive branch broke off and fell across the road, blocking traffic. Although there haven’t been any incidents since then, the possibility of another branch, or even the entire tree, coming down on their house was enough to convince them it was time for the tree to go.

The tree had to be at least 100 feet tall, and watching the crew work was fascinating. The amount of equipment involved in making the job look smooth and efficient was impressive: a truck with a built-in chipper, an operator using a grapple-equipped machine to pick up and bring branches to the chipper operator, a worker in a cherry picker high above the ground, carefully tying off massive limbs before cutting them loose (he was a master at knot-tying), and several crew members below managing the ropes to guide each branch safely to the ground.

From the first cut to the final stump grinding, it was an all-day operation and quite intriguing to watch.

The through-the-family-room-window-screen shot. I was still in my pjs when the tree cutting started.

The log chipper. Such an impressive, efficient piece of machinery.

The last of the tree

monday's mulling: hearts in nature

Finding unexpected heart shapes is a beautiful reminder of connection. Hearts are everywhere in nature, gentle reminders that beauty is all around us.

"The goal of life is to make your heartbeat match the beat of the universe, to match your nature with Nature." – Joseph Campbell

 

on this day...

On this day, June 7, 2025, I came across a quote about travel that resonated with me. Travel changes your perspective by pulling you out of your daily routine and immersing you in new cultures and experiences. It broadens your worldview, builds resilience, and fosters independence by requiring you to adapt to unfamiliar environments. Often, it also helps you appreciate your own life in a new light.

On this day, June 7, 2024, I was taking a walk around the neighborhood when I noticed a clematis vine completely covering a mailbox. There are many mailboxes adorned with clematis in our neighborhood, and everyone seems to enjoy the vibrant purple flowers. I love photographing flowers and sometimes wonder what my children will think of the thousands of flower photos in my collection after I'm gone.

On this day, June 7, 2023, my neighbor gave me a bundle of sassafras leaves. She told me to hang them in the garage to dry and then grind them in my food processor to make filé powder, a seasoning commonly used in Cajun and Creole cooking, especially in gumbos and stews. The day I finally ground the dried leaves, I celebrated by making a big pot of jambalaya for dinner.

On this day, June 7, 2022, gasoline prices were soaring, reaching the highest levels in U.S. history at that time. Prices rose sharply because of disruptions to the global oil supply following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, combined with a surge in consumer demand as the world emerged from the pandemic. It too approximately three to four months for gas prices to decline. Prices spiked to a record high of over $5.00 per gallon in mid-June 2022 and fell back below $4.00 per gallon by mid-to-late November. 

cottonwood

It’s cottonwood season again, and the snowy little seed puffs are arriving by the thousands. During their spring dispersal, cottonwood trees release masses of cotton-like fluff that fill the air and blanket the ground. While the fluff itself isn’t the allergen, it often carries pollen and other irritants that can make life miserable for allergy sufferers.

When my Chicago family visited last weekend, my son-in-law arrived feeling perfectly fine. Soon he was dealing with itchy eyes, a stuffy nose, and plenty of sneezing. He couldn’t figure out what was causing it. I pointed outside and said, “See all that white stuff floating through the air and collecting in the grass? That’s cottonwood. That’s what’s making you sneeze. Welcome to springtime in Dayton."

the friday feed: curtido

 Curtido, curtido!

The man at the Bushel & Peck booth at the Lincoln Park Farmers Market explained that curtido is an El Salvadoran slaw, somewhat similar to sauerkraut because it is made primarily from fermented cabbage. Along with cabbage, it contains carrots, onion, garlic, jalapeños, and oregano. The resulting slaw is lightly fermented, a bit salty, and a little tangy.

Time for a little etymology from this word nerd. The word curtido comes from the Spanish verb curtir, which means to tan (as in an animal hide), cure, pickle, or ferment. The verb ultimately traces back to the Latin conterere, meaning “to grind” or “to bruise.” Over time, it evolved to describe the preservation of food through pickling or fermentation in an acidic liquid, such as vinegar, or in a salt brine.

As far as fermented cabbage dishes go, I’ve tried sauerkraut and kimchi. Kimchi has been the spiciest, while sauerkraut tastes the most like cabbage. Curtido has the freshest flavor of the three. Maybe it’s the oregano that lends the subtle herbal note. At the moment, curtido is my favorite. This newly discovered food has also sent me down a new culinary rabbit hole: exploring fermented cabbage dishes from other cultures.

i have a dream...

Back when I attended church regularly, there was a strong emphasis on giving your time, treasure, and talents to those in need. These gifts may seem small on their own, but when enough people contribute what they can, those individual efforts grow into something much greater.

So, what is my contribution to this dream?

I give my time to the MetroParks, helping clean the parks and work in the gardens so visitors can enjoy beautiful, welcoming spaces.

I volunteer at Miami Valley Meals, preparing ingredients that are turned into meals and distributed by various organizations to people who need them.

My husband brings home recipes from church for Feed the Homeless. I prepare the dishes, and he returns them to the church volunteers who deliver them to the St. Vincent de Paul kitchen.

For the past 14 years, I have worked at Treadway Gardens, which is now beginning its 58th year. We have many longtime customers, and many of them are getting up in years. They come in to purchase their usual produce, but often what they really want is someone to talk to, someone who will listen to their stories. Spending that time with them is always a pleasure and a reminder that kindness and connection can be just as meaningful as any other gift we give.