wednesday's words and wanderings and wonderings

This past week was a bit of an off week. After the storms that wreaked havoc in the area, I came down with a bug last Tuesday and was completely knocked out on Wednesday. I slept pretty much the entire day and night, then woke up Thursday feeling a little more back to the land of the living.

We left for Cleveland Friday afternoon to see Andrew, Jen, and the littles. By Saturday, my energy was back, and I sure needed it to keep up with those sweet grandbabies!

We went to a pumpkin farm with lots of open space and plenty of activities for the kids. Owen and Hallie loved running around and exploring. Owen is pictured here eating his second hot dog…because a dog came up and grabbed the first one right out of his hand!

Sunday was the first Cleveland Browns home football game of the season. For quite a few years now, Andrew and a group of his friends have put together tailgates for all the home games in one of the downtown parking lots. It’s been so much fun watching the tailgate grow as the next generation of young Browns fans joins in.

I’m not a huge football fan, but I did go to the game with Todd and Andrew. Knowing that Ohio State’s Marching Band was playing at halftime was enough to get me there. The band performed “Script Ohio,” with the musicians starting out in the Block O and then forming the word “Ohio” in cursive. TBDBITL—the Best Damn Band in the Land! Cleveland is home to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and throughout the game rock music filled the timeouts. The weather was gorgeous, the music was good, I sat  with two of my favorite guys, and the Browns scraped and scrapped their way to a 21–18 win. It was a good day and my football game attendance is now good for another few years.

did you see the harvest moon?

It's those little things...

 

monday's mulling: vangogo

Over Labor Day weekend, my fun, free-spirited friend told me she was going to hippify her van. She’s starting to drive her grandchildren around town and wanted a fun vehicle for her littles. This is so her. Her grandma name is “Gogo,” hence the VANGOGO license plate. A Van Gogh theme would be a little too heavy for her lighthearted style, but she did give a nod to the artist with the sunflowers on her van.

v

 

interrobang

The interrobang is perfect for questions that demand a little extra drama. Have you heard of it‽ I have not.

It's a punctuation mark combining a question mark and an exclamation point. An advertising executive invented it in 1962 to add a little punch to rhetorical questions.

An example: People who talk with food in their mouth drive me nuts. “Would it kill you to stop chewing your food with your mouth open‽” Interro-BANG!

finding joy

For me, finding joy in life means paying attention to the small, everyday moments instead of waiting for big achievements to make me happy. Sometimes joy appears in the most unexpected places, like this vintage red municipal call box, covered in layers of stickers, posters, and street art on a busy Manhattan corner. As people hurry past, absorbed in their daily lives, this piece of New York quietly stands there, and reminds me that joy is often hiding in plain sight, waiting to be noticed.

And that's one of the reasons I love to travel...so many joyful moments, big and small, are waiting to be found.

the friday feed: san pasqual

Meet my new kitchen muse, San Pasqual. I have had my eye on him for a little while now and on my birthday I decided it was time for him to come home with me.

Paschal Baylón was born on May 16, 1540 (Pentecost), in Torrehermosa, Spain. Because he was born on Pentecost, he was given the name Paschal. As a young child, he worked as a shepherd and taught himself to read with the help of some of the townspeople.

Around 1564, Paschal joined the Reformed Franciscan Order. He was deeply devoted to the poor. Although a bowl of broth was the customary offering given to those who came to the monastery seeking food, Paschal believed the poor deserved more than leftovers. He would prepare a pot of cabbage, adding bread and meat, to  share a more substantial meal with those in need.

Paschal was deeply devoted to the Holy Eucharist. He was assigned to work in the monastery kitchen, where he became known for preparing wonderful meals from the simple ingredients available to him. As he cooked, his fellow friars would often see him praying or meditating. They believed that angels assisted him in his daily work.

Because of his love for cooking and his humble service to others, Saint Paschal is honored as the patron saint of cooks and kitchens.

San Pasqual died on May 17, 1592. His feast day is celebrated each year on May 17.

I try to follow San Pasqual’s philosophy of cooking: taking simple ingredients and transforming them into meals that are both delicious and nourishing. For me, cooking is also a way of showing love and caring for others. I enjoy sharing food with family and neighbors, making a comforting pot of chicken soup when someone is sick, and preparing food for special occasions. One of my latest projects is baking 10 dozen cookies to share at the cookie table for my nephew’s upcoming wedding.

In these simple acts of cooking and sharing, I hope to carry on San Pasqual’s spirit of generosity and service. As he is remembered for saying:

“I joyfully celebrate the food I am given. May it deeply nourish everyone that I feed.” ~San Pasqual

the river fountains

Back in August, when heavy rain fell for several days, the Great Miami watershed received 10 to 15 inches of rain over a 30-day period. Four of the dry dams in the area collectively stored 5.8 billion gallons of water—the largest volume recorded during a high-water event this year. Because of the continued rainfall and the resulting volume of water, the 2026 season was extended through September 20 due to prolonged maintenance over the summer.

On September 20, Todd and I headed down to the river for one last look at the fountains for the season. We arrived at 4:45 and waited for the 4:55 whoosh as the fountains streamed into the river.

Then 4:46 came and went. Then 4:47, 4:48, and 4:49.

At 5:00, there were still no fountains.

With all the rain we've had since August, I'm thinking Five Rivers MetroParks decided it was time to shut them down for the season. C'est la vie...

Until next Memorial Day.