end-of-month gratitudes {june 30, 2022}

It is the end of June. 2022 is halfway through.

June has been a good month. Lots of blessings to count. 

My list of June gratitudes:

1. Visiting my brother and sister-in-law at their beautiful new home in Tennessee. During this visit we visited Cherokee Dam and Panther Creek State Park, spent the day at Great Smokey Mountain National Park and drove the Cade's Cove Loop. Grainger County tomatoes. Drive past the Bush's Beans factory (the visitor center was closed). Rent a boat and cruise around Cherokee Lake. Visit the Veteran's Overlook at Bean Station (lots of history in this region). Drive through the Cumberland Gap Tunnel starting in Tennessee and end up in Kentucky. Stop at Cumberland Gap National Historical Park on the way back to Ohio. Explore Middlesboro, KY. Drive across the Big Mac Bridge in Cincinnati to avoid a traffic back up.

2. Seeing deer and their fawns along the neighborhood nature trail.

3. Find $4.99 gas when most other stations' prices were at $5.15 and above.

4. The Fountains of Light at RiverScape Metro Park.

5. Shopping at Treadway Gardens.

6. Cooking with fresh veggies from farmers' markets.

7. Seeing the duck couple in yards around the neighborhood and in the creek by the nature trail.

8. Visiting my 98, soon-to-be 99 year old mother-in-law.

9. Planting basil and parsley.

10. Day in Dayton: Visiting the Dayton National Cemetery and finding Joshua Dunbar's grave. Then visiting Woodland Cemetery and finding Joshua's son's grave, Paul Laurence Dunbar. Stopping at Figlio for a Balsamic Salad and a Figlio Manhattan while a crazy thunderstorm passed through. 

11. Make garlic scape pesto.

12. Going outside at 1:00 a.m. to gaze at the Strawberry Super Moon.

13. Thursday, June 16. Getting a call from my son saying that it's time to have a baby! We weren't expecting this call until the end of the month so we got things in order, made the good ole Mac and Sausage casserole for future meals for the new parents, and drove to Cleveland to dog and house sit during their hospital stay.

14. Making Rice Krispie Treats for hospital stay nibbling.

15. June 18...the birth of our grandson! Just call me Didi.

16. Holding my sweet little guy for the first time. My heart bursting because my baby has a baby.

17. June 19...Father's Day! T's first Father's Day as Grandpa and A's very first Father's Day.

18. Walking around Lake Erie on a gorgeous day, taking in it's vastness, admiring the Cleveland skyline view.

19. Enjoying the photos and daily stories of Orv and Willa and their two eaglets who fledged thanks to the Carillon Eagle Friends.

20. Making a yummy Asian flavored salad with zoodles and other veggies.

21. The new parents come home!

22. Using $1.30/gallon Fuel Perks to get gas at $3.66/gallon.

23. Buying formula for future use for feeding the little guy.

24. Uncle P getting to see and hold his nephew for the first time.

25. Lots of beautiful sunsets.

26. Seeing Top Gun: Maverick. 

27. Exploring downtown Columbus: the Ohio Statehouse, the Ohio Supreme Court, the Scioto Mile, Leveque Tower, dinner at Marcella.

 

wordy wednesday...fiddlesticks! {june 29, 2022}

Gadzooks! 

Cussing from when I was young is so different from the words coming out of peoples' mouths today. I didn't notice people dropping the f-bomb or saying s**t or calling someone an a**hole in public. I was aware of those dirty words but would be in wash-your-mouth-out-with-soap trouble if my parents heard me say any of them. My dad told me that f*** was the worst word in the world. I rarely, rarely say it, but if I do, I feel like he will reach out from his grave and slap my mouth. 

Swearing is now part of the vernacular. What's disheartening is to hear little kids curse in public. Crimeny sakes, parents, it's not cute to hear this hooey coming out of your little angels' mouths.

What the cuss? Let's figure out how much dirty language really belongs in everyday conversations with ourselves and others.

artificial intelligence {june 28, 2022}

T and I went to see Top Gun: Maverick. What a great couple hours of entertainment crunching on theater popcorn and watching Maverick's larger-than-life persona irritate the top brass with his over-the-top flying maneuvers and "maverick" attitude, teaching the new generation of Top Gun aviators and dealing with tensions between the pilots, beach football scenes, and references back to t he original Top Gun, particularly Goose's son Rooster playing "Great Balls of Fire" on the piano and flying with Maverick on the mission, and Iceman, now the Commander of the Pacific Fleet, who has Maverick's back and is dying from throat cancer.

Val Kilmer was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2015. He has spent the last seven years navigating a career-altering diagnosis, including a tracheotomy that left speech near impossible. The screenwriter purposefully interwove Kilmer's real-life cancer recovery story into the storyline, where Iceman communicates with Maverick by typing - save for a single line of audio, which was recreated from Kilmer's real voice using AI technology.

I recently read an article that Amazon is working on an update to its Alexa technology which would allow it to mimic any voice, including a deceased family member’s voice. Initial thought for me, I would not like this. I have memories of my grandparents’ and parents’ voices, my aunt and uncle’s laughs. They are treasured memories and to hear them coming from a digital assistant would be a little unnerving. I have photos and letters and memories to remember them. That is enough for me. (PS...I don't have Alexa).

https://edition.cnn.com/2022/06/23/tech/amazon-alexa-mimic-voice/index.html?utm_source=The+Flag+%28Legacy+Subscribers%29&utm_campaign=1cd9507861-Gas+Tax+Ask+-+Legacy+Subscribers_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_4e552ab16b-1cd9507861-514480461

letter writing {june 27, 2022}

Over the weekend, I was bombarded with news about Roe v. Wade. T had the news on all day both Saturday and Sunday. Friends supporting both sides of R v. W were so ugly with their social media comments. I did not want to start the week listening to the news and I stayed away from all social media.

Today was a beautiful day. Sunshine. Low humidity. Temps in the upper 70s. 

I did not want to start the week listening to the news and I stayed away from all social media. I sat outside on my deck, drank coffee, and wrote letters all day long. I sent sympathy cards to my four cousins. Their mom, my only aunt, died on May 13 and I wasn't able to attend her funeral. Each letter was filled with memories of Aunt Pat and what a fun, cool, laid back, loving lady she was. I wrote a letter to the family of a college friend who unexpectedly died. I wrote a letter in a Father's Day card to my son who became a first time dad on June 18. My friend texted a beautiful sunset photo to me from her lake home. I wrote a thank you note to her.

All of this writing set my world to rights.

Back in my teaching days, a few of my lessons centered on letter writing. Pen on paper, addressing an envelope letter writing. Most of my students hadn't written letters. Their method of communicating was electronic: texting, social media posting and commenting, dashing off a couple sentences in an email. Convincing them of the benefits of letter writing was like talking to a brick wall. 

Some of the reasoning I used to convince my 8th graders why writing letters was a good thing to do:

Helps Develop a Strong Sense of Accomplishment

Writing a letter is a far more thoughtful way to communicate with someone than engaging in digital communication. Letter-writing is a contemplative activity rather than a quick chore. You can type a text in a matter of seconds without paying attention. Sending letters, on the other hand, takes time and effort. The gesture of spending intentional time creating your letter will leave you with a greater sense of accomplishment than sending an email or text message.

Fosters Connections and Deepens Relationships

Letter-writing brings people closer together. The letter recipient will sincerely feel special and appreciate the thoughtful effort invested into physically writing, addressing and mailing a letter. A hand written letter sends the message to the recipient that he or she is important to you.

Creates Serendipity—and Joy—for the Sender and Receiver

When somebody receives a letter, it's a moment of serendipity. Even your own anticipation of your letter arriving in the mail for your recipient will boost your happiness. 

It helps you pause long enough to say things that matter.

Texting and email are mostly reactionary. You need information, so you reach out. Writing letters is much more deliberate. You do it to give, not to receive. You write because there’s something you need to say, not something you need to know.

It creates a wonderful surprise.

Remember when getting mail was fun? You never knew what you might find. Now, it’s mostly a pile of bills and junk. You can be the person who rescues your friends from the drudgery of modern mail! Put something fun in their mailbox and you just might make their day. 

To write a letter, all you need to do is find the right card, write your message, slap on a stamp, and remind that bored little flag on your mailbox that it was made for a purpose.

untie/unite {june 26, 2022}

A little while ago while doing the NYT Mini Crossword, I transposed the "I" and "T" in the clue, turning "UNITE" into "UNTIE" and getting the message that not all the answers were correct. My word nerdiness kicked in. Two words that are not that difference in appearance but quite different in meaning.

The two words are comprised of the exact same letters. The only change is switching the place of the letter “T” and “I. What does this mean? When “T” is in front of  “I” we get the words UNTIE which means things are coming apart or undone. It means we are divided and pointing fingers about what is wrong. In contrast, when the “I” is in front of the “T” we get the word UNITE. This means people/things are coming together. We are finding common ground. And instead of pointing out differences, we are embracing our common humanity.

Friday, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, and once again the United States has become untied. So many big things have been happening to untie our country. Mask mandates. Refusing to wear masks on airplanes and attacking the flight crew. To get the COVID vaccine or not. Gun laws. Transgender men and women participating in sports. Student loan forgiveness. Inflation and finger pointing. Distrust of law enforcement officers. The border mess. School shootings. Oil prices leading to $5.00/gallon gas prices. Politics. High food prices. Supply chain issues. Interest rate hikes. Baby formula shortages. 

So much has happened in the last two years. So many people are overwhelmed and the chasm of division is getting wider. RIght now it's hard not to buy into the world of UNTIE. Staying focused on UNITE is tough. We need to listen more and criticize less and work to find common ground with others we may not know or understand and find solutions.

one week {june 25, 2022}

My little grandson is one week old today and he met one of his uncles for the first time. He has so many people who love him and can't wait to meet him.

cooking for the kids {june 24, 2022}

Back in the day when I was having babies, my mom was one of those angels on earth and fixed food for T and me when we had our first baby. She continued doing this as our family grew. So many times her timing was perfect. I would be having "one of those days" with my little people and she showed up with a meal in hand and a smile on her face.

Now I get to continue the tradition. While we were in Cleveland house and dog sitting when our little grandson was born and during the kids' hospital stay, I cooked and grocery shopped for the new parents. One request was for Mac and Sausage casserole. This recipe is an oldie but goodie. It was a staple in Mom's cooking repertoire and it is in mine. Mac and Sausage was a no complaints dish for my four kids. This was one casserole where everyone was happy with the meal. As the kids got older and were involved in after school activities and sports, it was easy to make this up and have it ready for their staggered home arrivals. This dish filled up lots of stomachs at high school team meals. Finally when the kids went to college and lived in off-campus housing, triple batches made it to Miami and Ohio Universities to feed a hungry bunch of housemates, especially at the end of the semester when money ran out. The recipe has passed along to my kids who now have their own homes.

Mom's recipe was a bit labor intensive. You had to make the sauce which also had  vermouth in it. I never liked the vermouth flavor. I streamlined the recipe by using my favorite marinara sauce. Now it's cook the pasta, brown the sausage, add the sauteed mushooms and onions, throw in the sauce and cheese and bake it. Easy peasy.

One for dinner and one for the freezer

Mac and Sausage Casserole

1 package Bob Evans sausage links

1 onion, chopped

1 carton mushrooms, chopped

1 box ziti

1 32 oz jar of your favorite pasta sauce

2 c. shredded cheddar cheese

Brown the sausage links in a large pan and keep the drippings. Cut each link into 3-4 pieces. Place in large bowl.

Saute onion and mushrooms in sausage drippings. Put in the bowl with the sausage.

Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and add to sausage, mushrooms, and onions.

Pour pasta sauce over the bowl ingredients. Mix in cheese. Put in 9 x 13 casserole dish. Bake at 350° until hot and bubbly. 

⁕ ⁕ ⁕ ⁕ ⁕ ⁕ ⁕ ⁕ ⁕ ⁕ ⁕ ⁕ ⁕ ⁕ ⁕ ⁕ ⁕ ⁕ ⁕ ⁕ ⁕ ⁕ ⁕ ⁕ ⁕ ⁕ ⁕ ⁕ ⁕ 

In today's NYT, the featured recipe is a Cheesy Stovetop Mac with Sausage and Kale. Goes to prove that all you need is pasta, cheese, and sausage and it's buon appetito time!

https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1023269-cheesy-stovetop-mac-with-sausage-and-kale?campaign_id=9&emc=edit_nn_20220624&instance_id=64883&nl=the-morning&regi_id=72345702&segment_id=96646&te=1&user_id=3d1c27e76de0cefc8b6d3817f87d555e

vicious circle {june 23, 2022}

My gas tank was close to fumes. 

Time to use the $1.30/gallon Fuel Perks. Filled the tank and my gas can and saved $25.00.

Now back to buying inflation-priced groceries to build up those fuel points.

 

wordy wednesday...owen charles {june 22, 2022}

Owen Charles, my sweet little grandson. What does his name mean?

The name Owen is both a boy's name and a girl's name of Welsh origin meaning "young warrior; well-born”.

Owen was derived from two names—the Welsh Owain and the Celtic Eoghan. Each are connected to Eugene, which ultimately came from the Greek word eugenes, comprised of the elements eu, meaning good, and genes, “born.”

The name Charles is derived from the Old English word “ceorl,” meaning “free man.” The word “ceorl” was used to distinguish a free person from a bondsman or slave (“thew”) and a noble person (“eorl”). I can trace Charles back in my family for six generations and I believe it goes back farther than that. Looks like a little family research time. 

For me, however, his name means "perfect" because he is just that.

solstice steps {june 21, 2022}

Lakewood Park, the 25-acre park that sits in the middle of Lakewood, Ohio's shoreline, was for many decades a construction and demolition debris landfill, and prior to that, a garbage dump that operated before contemporary landfill regulations.

In 2015, the city finished the park with the Solstice Steps, a set of masonry bleachers overlooking Lake Erie. The steps fill a gap between the coziness of Lakewood's tree-lined streets and the vastness of the Great Lake. The view from the Solstice Steps centers on the summer solstice when the setting sun reaches its northernmost point on the horizon every year.

Regardless of the time of year, Lakewood Park provides visitors beautiful, scenic views of sunsets over Lake Erie and the Cleveland skyline.

(Photos taken in September 2019. I was a little busy baby gazing at my new grandson on this date 😍)

juneteenth {june 20, 2022}

Juneteenth (short for “June Nineteenth”) marks the day when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1865 to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people be freed. The troops’ arrival came a full two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth honors the end to slavery in the United States and is considered the longest-running African American holiday. On June 17, 2021, it officially became a federal holiday. 

Today Juneteenth commemorates African American freedom and emphasizes education and achievement. It is a day, a week, and in some areas, a month marked with celebrations, guest speakers, picnics and family gatherings. It is a time for reflection and rejoicing. It is a time for assessment, self-improvement and for planning the future. Its growing popularity signifies a level of maturity and dignity in America long over due. In cities across the country, people of all races, nationalities and religions are joining hands to truthfully acknowledge a period in our history that shaped and continues to influence our society today. Sensitized to the conditions and experiences of others, only then can we make significant and lasting improvements in our society.

Paul Laurence is one of Dayton's "favorite sons." He was born on June 27, 1872 to Joshua and Matilda Dunbar, two formerly enslaved people from Kentucky. He became one of the first influential Black poets in American literature. Dunbar’s literary body is regarded as an impressive representation of Black life in turn-of-the-century America. In The Strength of Gideon (1900), he continued to recount Black life both before and after slavery. Reviewers at the time favored his pre-emancipation stories full of humor and sentiment, while ignoring more volatile accounts of abuse and injustice. More recently these latter stories have gained greater recognition from critics eager to substantiate Dunbar’s opposition to racism.

Paul Laurence Dunbar's name is widely recognized around Dayton with roads and schools named after him. His father served in the Civil War and is buried at the Dayton National Cemetery. Paul Laurence Dunbar is buried on the other side of town in the beautiful Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum. He is also recognized at RiverScape Metro Park at the Paul Laurence Dunbar Walk where some of his poems are placed in the sidewalk landings as you walk down to the Great Miami River.

father's day {june 19, 2022}

Dads and their kids...Celebrating four very special dads

My dad who taught me the importance of giving my best effort, listening first before reacting, attention to detail, treating everyone with respect, appreciating good food and fun food, enjoying life and the good stuff. He died 20 years ago...way too young when he left this earth.

My father-in-law who died two years ago at the age of 97. He served in the Pacific theater in WWII and became a teacher and home remodeler after his military service. His fortes: attention to detail, strong faith to lead his life, love and pride in his family, excellent golfer, didn't mince words. You knew right where you stood with him.

T...my husband of almost 42 years and dad to our gang of 4. Such a people person, witty,  brilliant, hard working, long career in the mortgage banking business, well respected because he gives others respect and values people. 

My son, my youngest child, who yesterday joined the fatherhood fraternity upon the birth of his son. My baby has a baby. And like the men before him, he will be a most excellent dad.

A Successful Man

"That man is a success - 

who has lived well,

laughed often and loved much;

who has gained the respect of intelligent men

and the love of children;

who has filled his niche

and accomplished his task;

who leaves the world

better than he found it;

who has never lacked the appreciation of earth's beauty

or failed to express it;

who looked for the best in others

and gave the best he had." 

~ Author Unknown

didi {june 18, 2022}

“Then, wham! My first grandchild was born... I was jolted, blindsided by a wallop of loving more intense than anything I could remember or had ever imagined.” 

~ Lesley Stahl, Becoming Grandma: The Joys and Science of the New Grandparenting

Well, well, well...a day that I've been looking forward to. I am a grandma. Just call me Didi. I got to hold my little guy when he was 10 hours old. He's perfect. I love him so much. 

My baby and his baby.

garlic scape pesto {june 17, 2022}

What are garlic scapes? Garlic scapes are the tender stem and flower bud of a hardneck garlic plant. (Hardneck garlic is the kind of garlic that typically grows in Canada and the northeastern U.S.) Scapes first grow straight out of the garlic bulb, then coil. When harvested, they look like long, curly green beans.

Garlic is one of the few plant with two harvests: garlic scapes are harvested in the late spring and early summer, and then the bulbs are harvested later in the summer. Harvesting the scapes is an integral part of garlic farming. If the scapes aren’t cut off, the plant expends its energy trying to grow its stem and flower, leaving the bulb small and flavorless. So, by eating garlic scapes, you’re doing your part in the garlic growing cycle.

I bought some garlic scapes at my favorite farmer’s market and used some  in a couple vegetable side dishes. Quite a few were left and now that food prices are rising, I am making a very conscious effort not to let anything go to waste. So what to do with the rest of these scapes? Garlic scape pesto.

The ingredient are straightforward except for the substitution of sunflower seeds for pine nuts. Sunflower seeds are a fraction of the cost of pine nuts. If you’re serving right away, add the basil and lemon juice. If not, hold back on the basil, otherwise the pesto will lose its vibrant color.

GARLIC SCAPE PESTO  (New York Times)

1 c. garlic scapes, sliced crosswise (about 10 - 12 scapes)

1/4 c. sunflower seeds

1/2 c. extra virgin olive oil

1/4 c. Parmesan cheese

1/2 c. basil leaves

Juice of one lemon

Blanch the garlic scapes for one minute, strain, and run under cold water.

Place the garlic scapes in a food processor and pulse for 30 seconds.

Add the sunflower seeds and pulse for 30 seconds. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.

Add the olive oil and process for 15 seconds.

Add the Parm and pulse until the ingredient are combined.

Add the basil and lemon juice. Process until reaching the desired consistency. 

Add salt to taste and serve immediately.

heat wave {june 16, 2022}

Yeeee doggies, it is hot outside. 

Excessive heat warning with heat index values up to 107°.

T and I took a 2+ mile walk. We stayed in the shade as much as possible, got a little toasty, and guzzled a couple glasses of water when we got back to the house. It did feel good to get out in the fresh air and sunshine and it felt good to get back in the air conditioning.

Storms on Monday night caused power outages. Thankfully our neighborhood kept its power but thousands and thousands of houses are without. In addition to the storm damage power outages, the power company has declared an emergency and has turned the power off to some neighborhoods to avoid over-stressing the grid. A controlled outage they call it. The goal is to have all power restored by Thursday night. I went to the dry cleaner today to pick up some clothes but it was closed due to the power outage. Stopped by the grocery store and it was dark, just a few lights on. Customers could not purchase meat or dairy. The cash registers worked, skeleton staff was there, quite a few wine and beer purchases. It was a bit eerie pull into an empty parking lot and then to walk into this dark, very quiet big store at a time it would be bustling with people shopping for their dinner prep.

It's still spring but sure feels like the dog days of summer.

wordy wednesday...hooning {june 15, 2022}

Fast & Furious is a series of action films that are largely concerned with illegal street racing and heists. Lots of inexperienced people like to emulate the actions in these films.

Hooning, illegal street racing and exhibition driving are a problem across the entire country. This driving behavior increased during the COVID shutdown when city streets were empty. Now law enforcement agencies are cracking down on illegal driving practices. 

Hooning: a term used to describe reckless driving behaviors like speeding, racing, doughnuts and burnouts that often take place on public streets and in private parking lots without the owners' permission. 

Hoon: a person who deliberately drives a vehicle in a reckless or dangerous manner, generally in order to provoke a reaction from onlookers.

Hoonigan: a person who operates a motor vehicle in an aggressive and unorthodox manner, consisting of, but not limited to, drifting, burnouts, donuts as well as acts of automotive aeronautics. One who hoons.

Street racing where one of the vehicles lost control and hit a pole and a parked car. Photo courtesy of the Dayton Daily News

flag day {june 14, 2022}

Flag Day is a celebration of the American flag. It is done as a remembrance of the introduction of the country's first flag on June 14, 1777, as the official American flag by the Continental Congress.

The Continental Congress introduced the American flag at a time when the country was in the middle of the Revolutionary War, and almost every colony had its own flag.

The Declaration of Independence made it absolutely necessary to introduce the universal American flag. On June 14, 1777, Congress made a resolution outlining the purpose of a national flag for 13 colonies.

I'm a cranky hanky panky

I'm a dead square honest Yankee

And I'm mighty proud of that old flag

That flies for Uncle Sam

Though I don't believe in raving

Ev'ry time I see it waving

There's a chill runs up my back

That makes me glad I'm what I am

Here's a land with a million soldiers

That's if we should need 'em

We'll fight for freedom!

Hurrah! Hurrah! For ev'ry Yankee tar

And old G.A.R.

Ev'ry stripe, ev'ry star

Red, white and blue

Hats off to you

Honest, you're a grand old flag ~

"You're a Grand Old Flag," by George M Cohan

🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 

             ✦ Today is also the birthday for the United States Army, June 14, 1775.

 ✦ The Strawberry Supermoon lights up the sky tonight.

 ✦ Two weeks from today is my grandson's projected due date!