juneteenth

A trip to the downtown post office last week crossing my fingers that my son's and son-in-law's Father's Day cards would arrive by Saturday. (They got to their recipients on Monday). 

In the post office lobby one of the postal workers had put up Juneteenth decorations and she used her own money. I admired her Juneteenth tree and read every one of the posters she had put in the windows. She thanked me for taking time to look at her display. I thanked her for her generosity and sharing the celebration. Juneteenth celebrates the ending of slavery in the US but looking at all these posters, all these people persevered through a long line of hardship and prejudice so their stories can be told. Black history is American history and Juneteenth acknowledges the past while nurturing hope for the future.

wednesday's words and wanderings and wonderings

Today is Owen's Day! Say it fast enough and it sounds a little like Wednesday.

It's my first grandchild's 3rd birthday.

Where can I even begin to explain the magic that took over when I found out I was going to be a grandparent? After my son was married, I found my mind drifting to thoughts of one day being a grandma (but I never mentioned that to Andrew and Jen. That was their business, not mine). My youngest, my baby —having a baby—and in turn, giving me the coveted title of "Grandma" or a the grandma name which is music to my ears, “Didi.”

So, on the night of June 18 all of our lives changed—a change that would bring new life and a love beyond words.

What fun it's been to watch Owen grow into the little boy that he is and how quickly three years have passed. He's a carbon copy of his dad - a chatterbox, funny, boundless energy, inquisitive, creative, loving. Even though today is his birthday and the celebration is all about him, for 1096 days he has given me gifts that are so precious. I’ve learned to be in the moment, something that was hard to do as a mom because I was caught up in the daily to-dos, where-to goes, and trying to make the best life I could for my family. Now I get to experience the world through his eyes and what a wonderful world it is. 

 

organizing

While scrolling through my email, I happened across a reference to Marie Kondo, the tidying queen who has written four books on organizing, mentioning her method for storing kitchen towels. I’ve not followed Marie Kondo’s advice and tips but I was curious as to how she organized her towels vs. how I organize my towels. We have similar styles: hers is a folding technique and mine is to roll the towels.

Just to test out Marie’s way, I folded the towels as she recommends: 

• Fold the towel the long way, so it looks like a long rectangle. 
• Next, fold it the short way (so that the rectangle is half as long now). 
• Then, fold the towel into thirds.
• Conduct the stand test to make sure the towel can confidently stand on its own. 
• Fold all the remaining towels the same way.
• Stand all your neatly folded towels up in a basket or in a drawer.
• Be pleasantly surprised every time you go to grab one. 
• Repeat.

Marie's method works fine but my drawer is shallow and rolling the towels works better for my circumstances and I don't roll my dish cloths.

Move over, Marie…here comes Diane Marie!

petunias

Along with the produce we sell at the farm, we also have a lot of hanging baskets of petunias. Oh my gosh, catch the wind just right and their scent fills the air. Or take a walk past them and breathe in their fragrance. Petunias are a happy flower, too. Their many cheerful colors and sizes, their trumpet-shaped blooms, and their unending charm brings smiles to those who walk past. 

Petunias are native to South America. The first petunia varieties were introduced to European gardens in the early 1800s, where they quickly became popular due to their vibrant colors and ease of cultivation. Since then, they’ve spread across the globe, with new hybrids and colors emerging, making petunias one of the most widely grown and beloved flowers in both gardens and floral arrangements today.

In Europe, the petunia is seen as a flower that offers protection. It’s believed that petunias placed near windows or doorways can guard against negative energy, warding off bad spirits and misfortune. In the U.S., petunias are often considered a symbol of community and friendship. They are hardy in nature and are frequently used in public parks and gardens, creating spaces where people can gather and connect with nature.

Amid the complexity of life, petunias remind me of the beauty in simplicity. Their uncomplicated care requirements and stunning displays serve as a reminder that sometimes, less is truly more. A gentle to stop and smell the roses...I mean petunias.

flag day 🇺🇸

Today is Flag Day 🇺🇸

Flag Day commemorates June 14, 1777, when the Continental Congress determined the composition of the nation’s banner: “Resolved, That the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.”

The U.S. Army's birthday is also June 14, which marks the establishment of the Continental Army by the Continental Congress on that date in 1775. The Army  celebrates its 250th anniversary today. 

The Dor-Wood Optimists deliver flags five times a year to fly on patriotic holidays. The volunteers just placed the Flag Day banner in my front yard. This fundraiser supports youth programs in Kettering. Quite a few people in the neighborhood support this philanthropy.

Nothing like a milk container to remind you what day it is!

So many people have these big 12' (3.66 m) skeletons. They used to be out just at Halloween but now it seems like once they're up, they're a year 'round yard fixture and change costumes according to each holiday. Personally, I like to see them during the Halloween season and that's it. I wonder how much storage space they take up or if they're easy to put together? 

the friday feed: the farmer's market

At Treadway Gardens,

abundant fresh vegetables

 and feel-good music.

Treadway Gardens, a family-owned farmer's market opened on for its 56th year of business this past Memorial Day weekend. I have worked there for 12 years. 

A few years after retiring from teaching, I had taken a trip out there to buy some veggies. I know Stephanie, the owner - our kids went to school together. She was out in the field not too far from the farm stand. I waved at her, she cupped her hands over her mouth and said, "Hey, Diane...want a job?" Took about two seconds to say, "Sure!"

Right now the produce is coming from the Amish Market in Hillsboro, Ohio, about an hour's drive away. Soon the Treadway crops from their field will find their places on the shelves. The big question from the customers is when will the sweet corn be in? Up until now it's been cool and rainy. We need a stretch of dry and hot weather for the corn to ripen. It will happen, it's still early. People are just excited for fresh corn on the cob.

Have you ever hear of a candy onion? It's a hybrid of a sweet onion and a common onion. It's sweet but still has an onion taste and is a nice option between the real sweet onions and the ones where onion breath can knock someone out.

Tomatoes...these fly off the shelves. After a long winter of tasteless grocery store tomatoes, customers are so happy to see these. The Treadways grow heirloom tomatoes in their open field and again, with the cool and rain, they are growing slowly. 

Concord grapes...Stephanie wants to give these a try. A few customers have asked about them so we'll see what these do this year.

The other day a storm blew through and lasted for a good 30 minutes. The hoop house is new this year and right now a crop of tomatoes is growing in there. Did you know there is a difference between a hoop house and a hot house? In a hoop house crops are grown in the ground being protected by the covering. A hot house uses benching set ups, raised bed, soil bags, hydroponic techniques and the vegetables aren't as flavorful. The flavor comes from good ole Mother Earth.

And what's a farm without a dog? This is Josephine, one of the three farm dogs. She had a litter of puppies last year and what fun it was to watch them grow. Stephanie kept one of the pups and found loving homes for the rest of them.

sidewalk art

The library I mentioned in yesterday's post put chalk out for artists of all ages to decorate its sidewalks. So much talent in the creations!

I just love this one. The person who drew Thomas the Tank Engine inspired a young artist to draw a train to go alongside.

 

wednesday's words and wanderings and wonderings

The river fountains...I just love them. It’s a magical moment, strolling through RiverScape or Deeds Point MetroPark in downtown Dayton at the exact moment the fountains turn on and perform their spectacular show.

Friday evening we attended a free concert featuring the REO Classics Band with Terry Luttrell, the original lead singer of REO Speedwagon and Michael Mesey, longtime drummer for Chuck Berry. It was a lovely evening to be outside listening to music but Terry Luttrell is in his mid-70s (at least) and his voice showed its age. A few songs were only instrumental to give the guy a break, but when he sang "Time for Me to Fly," everybody sang, and we sounded good! That Bernese mountain dog was a real sweetheart, too.

Libraries are touting their summer reading programs. These are so beneficial to prevent learning loss, to improve reading skills, and encourage a lifelong love of learning. I took my children to this library when they were young. Back in their day the children's librarian was Mrs. Mummey and all the kiddos called her Mrs. Mommy.

It's that time of year to be back working at my friend's farmer's market. There are a lot of herbs to sell so I made an herb display. Do you see what I did? 😊 Wonder if the Millennials and Gen Zers get it.

monday's mulling: dayton and peace and connecting the dots

Thirty years ago in 1995 Ambassador Richard Holbrooke led the international community's successful effort to end the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which was ended by the negotiation of a peace agreement at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, near Dayton. The agreement is known as the Dayton Peace Accords.

From May 23 - 26, 2025, Dayton hosted the Spring NATO Parliamentary Assembly, becoming the first U.S. city to host an assembly in more than 20 years. The city became a restricted NATO village with no vehicle traffic and limited pedestrian access.

Before the delegates arrival, Todd and I went downtown to see all the countries' banners lining Main Street and the art that went up to beautify buildings. Downtown cleaned up nicely. Critics complained about the amount of money that was going into this event and the inconvenience of downtown's closure and all that other wa-wa-waaaa stuff but the funding had been in place for a few years and this international milestone put the wheels in motion for its use. 

After the delegates returned to their respective countries and the security fences were removed, downtown life returned to its regular routine, and the Sarajevo Symphony Orchestra and the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra performed a joint concert with guest conductor Marin Alsop on the podium. Music truly transcends all boundaries. 

At Dayton's beautiful Arcade, artist Edina Saleskovic hung 400 metallic birds for her "Think Freedom" in the Rotunda, each carrying messages of peace from young children around the world. What an unexpected bonus to have this display at your event!

A walk along Riverview Avenue across the river from downtown Dayton will take you to the Peace Corridor consisting of Holbrooke Plaza, the Salem Avenue Peace Corridor sign, Sunrise MetroPark which celebrates Dayton's Sister Cities (Sarajevo is one of them), and the 3rd Street Peace Bridge. It's a 3/4 mile walk from the Holbrook Bridge to the 3rd Street Bridge. 

Ambassador Holbrooke passed away in 2010 and this plaza honors his work and his memory. Stones from Bosnia and Herzegovina have been incorporated into the memorial to commemorate historical buildings that were destroyed in the war, but which have been rebuilt. The stones are from the Sarajevo City Hall, the Novi Grad City Hall, and the Mostar Old Bridge (Stari Most), which is an internationally known symbol of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Both the American flag and the flag of BiH are flying over the plaza.

The Salem Avenue Peace Corridor sign:

Sunrise MetroPark and the Sarajevo Sister City bench.

The 3rd Street Dayton Peace Bridge.

time flies, or does it?

“The future is something which everyone reaches at the rate of 60 minutes an hour, whatever he does, whoever he is.” – C.S. Lewis

Sometimes it seems as if life is passing us by. When we are children, time ambles by, with endless car journeys and summer holidays which seem to last forever. But as adults, time seems to speed up at a frightening rate, with Christmas and birthdays arriving more quickly every year.

For children, the world is a fascinating place, full of new experiences and fresh sensations. As we get older, we have fewer new experiences and the world around us becomes more and more familiar. We become desensitized to our experience, which means that we process less information, and time seems to speed up. 

So, if we are in unfamiliar surroundings our experience of time should expand because this is where our minds process more information than normal. When you go away to a new city or a foreign country you are much more aware of your surroundings. Everything is unfamiliar and new, so you pay much more attention and take in much more information. We can slow down time by exposing ourselves to as many new experiences as possible.

We can also slow down time by making a conscious effort to be more mindful of our experiences. When we’re mindful we give our attention to an experience – to what we see, feel, taste, smell or hear – rather than to our thoughts. We live through our senses and our experience rather than through our minds. It's a different approach to avoiding familiarity – and happens not by seeking new experiences, but by changing our attitude to our experiences.

sea holly

Blue is a very prominent color on earth, but when it comes to nature, blue is very rare. Even the few animals and plants that appear blue don’t actually contain the color. These vibrant blue organisms have developed some unique features that use the physics of light - the wavelength and structure of the organism. And for right now this is as far as the scientific explanation of why plants and animals look blue will go. 

A while ago I read about blue sea holly, how it's a prolific grower and a pollinator attractor. I'm all about helping out the pollinators. None of the garden centers around here carry sea holly so I ordered a couple plants from an online nursery. The instructions said to plant them in sandy soil. Then it hit me. SEA holly. It grows by the ocean and isn't typical to the midwestern farming state of Ohio. This called for a trip to the garden center to get a bag of sand to mix in with the midwestern dirt to hopefully make this a friendly environment for this alien plant to grow. Here it is, year two, and the sea holly is growing beautifully and attracting bees. 

Many flowers have symbolism and sea holly represents strength, independence, and admiration. Its spiky, thistle-like appearance conveys resilience and the ability to thrive in challenging conditions, much like its natural habitat along coastlines and rocky areas. Here, the closest body of water is the Great Miami River that cuts through farmland.

In the language of flowers, Sea Holly is often given to someone who is admired for their strength and determination.

It's also a member of the carrot family and its roots are edible.

Look at those purple stems! They are so pretty accented with the green leaves.