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.

wednesday's words and wanderings and wonderings

This feels like it could be a Friday Feed post, but I already have something else planned for then.

It's fresh strawberry season, and since last Wednesday we've gone through five quarts of strawberries! That wasn't hard to do with a strawberry-loving family visiting for four days. The berries were incredibly red, sweet, and juicy. Besides enjoying them straight from the bowl, we also made strawberry shortcake.

What a delicious way to kick off the fresh produce season.

The strawberry tops still had plenty of fruit and juice clinging to them, so into a quart jar they went, covered with water to infuse that fresh strawberry flavor. The infusion takes about two to three days, but the resulting strawberry water is refreshing on its own or added to lemonade or iced tea. Plus, it's a great way to minimize food waste.

It's also garden-fresh tomato season, and I've been waiting for this day for seven months! I refuse to buy tomatoes shipped to stores during the winter. They have no flavor, aren't juicy, and simply aren't worth the money. What better way to celebrate fresh tomato season than with a bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich? Hello, summertime!

During the Chicago family's visit, Grandpa introduced AJ to wheelbarrow rides. Needless to say, they were a huge hit with both the little guy and Grandpa.

Now that the family has returned to Chicago, it's time to wash towels and bed linens and get ready for the next guests. Instead of using dryer sheets, I use wool dryer balls. Here's my plug for dryer balls: They're reusable, eco-friendly, cost-effective, and unscented. They naturally soften fabrics and reduce drying time by improving airflow. Traditional dryer sheets, on the other hand, are single-use, leave a waxy residue that can reduce fabric absorbency, and often contain artificial fragrances that may irritate sensitive skin.

A few months ago, the pink dryer ball disappeared. Occasionally one gets stuck in a pant leg or shirt sleeve, but it usually turns up during laundry folding. I searched high and low and never found it, until yesterday. There it was, mixed in with the towels. How it ended up there remains a mystery, but at least the missing dryer ball has finally come home.