the friday feed: oregano

Today is Halloween, trick-or-treat day, and perhaps you thought I might write about candy. I thought about it - it's a spot on idea - but not today. 

Today's topic is oregano. After making that yummy chimichurri sauce, I didn't want the rest of the oregano to go to waste. My neighbor dries all the herbs she plants and uses them for the year until the next planting. One year she gave me some home-dried file, the spice used in gumbo. Anyway, she was the inspiration to dry the clump of oregano that was creeping onto the stone path from my patio to the yard.

For the first time, I dried herbs in a dehydrator and after almost four hours of drying time, that clump of leaves below turned into 4 Tablespoons (59 g) of powder. It's not much but it will give some good flavor to a few dishes.

Green leaves on the plant,

Pizza, pasta, taste of sun,

Flavor fills the air.

drain cover

Things to see (and photograph) are everywhere...look up, on the ground, on walls, in gardens, on buildings, in crowds, in parks...just look around to see what there is to notice.

When I'm walking, I tend to notice drain covers. Yeah, it's kind of weird, but some are rather eye-catching.

As we walked toward the exit gate at the Tower of London, I happened to look down, Todd was ahead of me, ready to take on the next adventure, and I said, "Wait a minute!" He saw me looking down and gave me that there-she-goes-again smile.

He strolled over to see what the cover looked like and studied it for a few seconds. What instantly caught my eye, he had to think about. With a big grin on my face, I asked, "What does it say?" A little more pondering and then the light went off. "DIDI!"

Didi (pronounced deedee) is what my grandchildren call me. 

wednesday's words and wanderings and wonderings

Each of my children's birthdays gives me pause to reminisce about their births, all their different phases of growing up, the craziness, joys, and frustrations of life with having four children in under six years. Now I sit back and watch their lives as adults. Three of them are married, a couple are parents, they all have good jobs, they're all good people, and in a few days, none of our children will be single.

But first, he celebrates his birthday today. Happy Birthday to my first born child. This is your last birthday as a single man and a such a joyous segue into your BIG weekend!

 

first frost of fall 2025

The temperature is dropping in my neck of the woods and last Thursday night we had our first significant frost on the ground.

I worked at the farm Thursday morning and we did some preparation in anticipation of the frost. I picked the last of the okra and we loaded up the boss's car with her cannas. By the time I worked on Sunday, the okra stems had been plowed down. 

We have had a pleasant October but Mother Nature and the calendar tell us it's time to get out the heavier coats and gloves and get ready for the cold.

 

monday's mulling: then and now

Back in 2007 a woman approached the City of Dayton about an abandoned lot next to a railroad track. It was enclosed by a tall chain link fence but people still managed to get in to dump their trash. The area was an eyesore. Her plan for this space was to turn this space into a community garden and an art park. After a year of dealing with city government, she got the go ahead to pursue her dream for the price of $1.00 per year. It started off with a big clean up effort and then community garden plots filled some space. She added a couple hoop houses to grow food to help those in the area who didn't have much access to fresh vegetables. Art work began to pop up in the space. She built a stage for concerts and offered classes about anything gardening. Over the years more than 3000 people volunteered to help Garden Station become a vibrant community asset. 

What a welcoming entrance walk

Garden plots, murals, trees, and trains

Bees have a hive at Garden Station

Tile mosaics and polytunnels

The garden next to the city

            “The future belongs to the few of us still willing to get our hands dirty.”                ~ Joseph Tommasi

Well, you probably know where this is going...

In 2016 a developer approached the city with an offer to buy this plot of land. Money talks. Garden Station ceased to be in 2017.

The other day I dropped a letter off at the downtown post office and afterward took a walk around the area where Garden Station existed. It took a while to build, but the new development is finished and has signs up to come and live in Dayton's newest apartments. I walked past the building complex, gave a heavy sigh, and noticed some murals behind them. It became an exploring moment. The original murals are no longer there but people still remember.

Thank you, Garden Station.

ponderings and giggles...

 

the sunflower tower, part 2

One week ago this beacon of sunflowers stood tall, living its brightest life.

One week later, after a big rain storm and a few days of high winds, it has toppled, face still toward the sun, starting to fade, but still living its brightest life. 

 

the friday feed: coffee

Without its power

We would all walk like zombies,

Thirsting for caffeine.

☕ ☕ ☕ ☕ ☕ ☕ ☕ ☕ ☕ ☕ ☕ ☕ ☕ ☕ ☕ ☕ 

It's not you, it's me. You're just... not brewing anymore. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm heading to the store to replace you with someone younger and faster. 

20 years I've measured out my life with coffee spoons, and with this pot, I've filled a few thousand of them. The next chapter will have a new pot, but the same coffee. Thank you for your service. You have fueled my life. I loved you a "latte."

arcoíris

Tuesday around dinner time, the wind picked up, dark storm clouds blew in, a few raindrops falling, and the sun was still shining. The sky was dramatic with its dark, intense colors illuminated by the sun. It was a perfect combination for a rainbow. 

My intuition was spot on. A rainbow arched over the neighborhood. Looking at it from the left it was a single rainbow but as I looked toward the right, there was another colorful arc - a double rainbow!

I don't know how or why this happened but as I looked at the sky, the Spanish word for rainbow popped into my head. Arcoíris. Such a pretty word and so descriptive of its subject.

It's a compound word meaning "rainbow" and combines arco ("arch," from Latin arcus) and iris ("rainbow" or "Iris," from Greek mythology). The name literally translates to "arch of Iris" or "rainbow arch," referring to the Greek goddess Iris, the messenger of the gods who traveled along rainbows.

wednesday's words and wanderings and wonderings

One of the many things I love about traveling is that we walk a lot. One day in London we logged 12 miles. We were out and about all day long, we took breaks, and at the end of the day we had tired feet. Yes, we take public transportation or Uber, but when we get to where we're going, we walk. There are so many things to discover while walking, whether it's intentional or not. I enjoy strolls through neighborhoods, through parks, along rivers, through the skyscraper jungles, absorbing the calm and quiet, the life on the river, and the sounds of the city. You become part of where you are and where you are becomes part of you.

The other day the health app on my phone informs me that my walking distance has decreased. My walking around here is usually 3-5 miles a day, not the 7-12 that we put in on our holiday. One day after clearing out a couple gardens and then taking the dead foliage to the yard waste drop off, I stopped by Delco Park to get some steps in to avoid the health app scolding. The park is 69 acres with soccer and baseball fields, a fishing pond, picnic shelters, playgrounds, and walking paths. We spent a lot of time at Delco Park watching both our boys play soccer. Lots of good memories hanging out with the parents and not-as-fun memories sitting on the sidelines in inclement weather. Walking here takes me down memory lane and it's relaxing. I like to take time to notice what's happening around me.

Now that autumn has arrived, the flowers are fading away and the skeleton is all that exists now from the Queen Anne's Lace.

"Old Man" and his Chevy truck

I wanted to go straight on the path but that gaggle of geese was intimidating. They get mean and hissy when they think you're invading their space.

The ducks love sunning on the rocks

In 2002 an International Stone Sculpting Exposition was held at Delco Park. This piece is called Rock Waves and it mimics the ripple effects in the pond. More rock sculptures can be found in other locations around the city.

The fishing pier is a popular place to sit and relax. When I got to the park, a couple people were sitting on the pier listening to music. Toward the end of my walk, those two had left and a couple guys took their place, finding their enjoyment with fishing and smoking weed. Relaxation comes in all forms.

Now it's time to buckle down for the next event, my son's wedding on November 1. Family will begin arriving a week from today. I just took my dress in to be hemmed, ordered a Halloween-themed bow tie for Todd, and the list for food to fix is taking shape. I finally got back to a regular sleeping routine after the five hour time difference in Europe but now I find myself waking up with wedding thoughts. Breathe deep...take walks.

monday's mulling: halloween fun

During the month of October,  every Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo opens its gates for Boo at the Zoo. Shortly after our return from our holiday, our daughter-in-law called to tell us that she and Andrew were taking our sweet grandchildren to Boo at the Zoo and would we like to come along. Yes, yes, yes! They dressed in their Monsters, Inc. costumes and we went along as grandparents enjoying this special moment with the little ones. We strolled along the Zoo's decorated paths, our little grandson trick-or-treated at more than a dozen candy stations (they gave out some really good candy!), and we danced at the Monster Mash Dance Party. My little grandson sure knows how to boogie and has some really good moves at his young age! Add that 3-year old enthusiasm to the mix and he was king of the dance floor. We passed a wedding ceremony just as the couple was pronounced husband and wife and the happy couple received loud cheers from their guests as well as from the Boo at the Zoo patrons. What a fun start to happily ever after!

I so remember Trick-or-Treating days as my children grew up. Their excitement was contagious. They eventually outgrew Halloween and now I hand out candy to the children of all ages who come around for their treats. Now that I'm a grandma, my 3-year old grandson's excitement just spills over and makes me feel so young at heart. He is dressed as Mike Wazowski, one of the characters from Disney's Monsters, Inc. We watched Monsters, Inc. so Didi would know who this Mike Wazowski is all about. He's a good guy, er monster. My little granddaughter is Boo, who is not afraid of monsters (except she's a little unsure of Grandpa right now) and she and Mike Wazowski become friends. She and Grandpa will be friends before long, too.

My daughter-in-law asked me to bring some pumpkins to their house. She has a decorating idea for their front porch and knowing that there are a lot of pumpkins at the farm, it just made sense that I could find some good pumpkins for her. While she was running some errands, we asked Owen if he wanted to help Grandpa get the pumpkins out of the car. What a good little helper!

"This is really heavy, Didi!"

the sunflower tower

When we left for Europe, the sunflower garden at the farm was on the verge of bursting into its full glory. Upon our return, it had bloomed, many people enjoyed it, and now it's wilting with bees gathering the last bits of pollen and the birds and other animals eating the seeds.

One of the sunflowers stands out among all the others. It's still standing tall and my boss says she sees it from her house from the end of the lane. This big bunch of sunflowers beams its happy energy to all those who see it.

“Advice from a sunflower. Be bright, sunny, and positive. Know your roots. Spread seeds of happiness. Rise, shine, and hold your head up high. Keep on growing. Even on the darkest days, stand tall and find the sunlight.” 

~ Unknown

✴ ✴ ✴ ✴ ✴ ✴ ✴ ✴ ✴ ✴ ✴ ✴ ✴ ✴ ✴ ✴

Most of the monarch butterflies have migrated through the area, but this guy was hanging out at the farm's zinnia garden a few days ago. I've seen more monarchs this year than last year.

the friday feed: chimichurri

Before we left for Europe, I cleaned out every bit of perishable food in the refrigerator. After an 18 day holiday, we arrived home and the next day I headed to the farmer's market. My market basket overflowed with beautiful fresh veggies to last through the coming week and then some. A few days later my son in Cleveland called to tell us that they're taking the grandkids to Boo at the Zoo this Saturday and do we want to come along. Of course! 

Ohmygosh...the two veggie bins are full. Need to think of ways to empty them pronto. A big pot of vegetable soup takes care of the bulk but as of yesterday, there a head of cauliflower, half a red pepper, a whole yellow pepper, half a zucchini, a couple carrots, a little bit of onion still needed to be used. A tray of roasted vegetables to the rescue. While in London, we attended a couple happy hours at the hotel, and roasted zucchini and eggplant with an herby, green sauce was served. It was a very tasty relish. Parsley and oregano are going strong in my herb garden and what do you know? They're used in chimichurri. 

The chimichurri was very easy to make and took 10 minutes to come together. That included hand chopping the herbs.

Herbs, oil, vinegar -

Bright sauce for roasted veggies,

a vibrant, green kiss.

Chimichurri

1/2 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

1/2 cup parsley finely chopped

2-4 cloves garlic finely chopped or minced (start with 1 or 2

2 red chilies small, or 1 red chili, deseeded and finely chopped (about 1 tablespoon finely chopped chili)

3/4 teaspoon dried oregano (2 1/2 t. fresh)

1 teaspoon coarse salt level

1/2 teaspoon pepper to taste (about 1/2 teaspoon)

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. Allow to sit for 5-10 minutes to release all of the flavors into the oil before using. Ideally, let it sit for more than 2 hours, if time allows.

a key for hope

On one of our strolls-with-no-plan around Edinburgh, we passed St. Mary's Episcopal Cathedral. This cathedral is one of the great church buildings of Scotland. George Gilbert Scott (appropriate last name) designed it and it was dedicated in 1879. St. Mary's is the seat of the Bishop of Edinburgh, central church of the Diocese of Edinburgh in the Scottish Episcopal Church, and a landmark in the city's famous New Town. The central spire is 90m (295 feet) tall, making it the tallest structure in Edinburgh's city center. I enjoy walking through old churches marveling at how these massive structures were constructed hundreds of years ago, and then at the beautiful interiors. It's a treasure trove of art: the tiled floors, the stained glass windows, the massive organ pipes, the carved woodwork, all the arches and stone work, the ornamental metal work, the light as it streams through the stained glass.

Outside of the Cathedral stands the Awda Key sculpture representing the keys to the homes of Palestinian refugees driven from their homes in 1948 and 1967. It stands for the Palestinian refugees’ Right of Return. The key symbolizes the homes they lost, passed through the generations as keepsakes. It's sign of hope, and the hope for today is that the ceasefire in Gaza will stay in place.

wednesday's words and wanderings and wonderings

One of our days in Scotland was spent strolling around in Leith, the major port serving Edinburgh. It's an old, old town, dating back to the 12th century.

Before catching the tram to Leith, I did a little research to see what this port town had to offer. One of the items on my list was the Armada Stone, a sculpture that dates back to 1588. After walking along Leith Harbor for a bit, I put the Armada Stone in my GPS, and off we went down some streets, through alleys and ended at this delightful  community garden. I looked around and around for a sculpture, only to find out that the Armada Stone sits mounted into the gable of a building. There are times when you have to remember to look up in a search.

The origins of the Armada Stone are unknown. The attribution to the Spanish Armada is due to the upper part of the sculpture bearing the date 1588, the year of the attempted invasion of England. The stone depicts an armed merchantman flying the Saltire, the Scottish flag, at each masthead and the phrase “In the Neam of God 1588”.

So we're walking along the street and some bunches of flowers growing through the concrete and asphalt catch my eye. Of course I had to take a few photos. It was one of those "bloom where you are planted moments." As I snapped away in a low crouch, a voice with a heavy Scottish accent floated above me, "Oh, I see ye'er takin' some photos of ma weeds." I responded, "They're so pretty and so strong." And then the conversation began.

Sarah was behind a gate in another community garden that had been a cemetery. The graveyard has been in this spot since 1505 and has at least 485 ancestors of Newhaven/Leith buried there. Some of her ancestors' remains are there. Back in the long ago days, people who were unable to afford burial costs would sneak into the graveyard at night at bury their dead. This small green space is now tended by the Newhaven Heritage Community Gardens Group which looks after this patch of Newhaven’s history.

In 1972, not long after Newhaven’s redevelopment, when an archaeological dig was undertaken, a number of skeletons were discovered. Pottery, iron coffin handles and a Charles I coin were also found. Some graves had clearly been disturbed, and bodies (or parts of them) had to be re-interred. Even today, the Newhaven Heritage Gardens Group, tend not to dig down too often or too deep out of respect for the graveyard’s residents.

The plaque on the wall says, "Within this small area, where formally stood St. James Chapel was the Fisherman's Cemetery. There are 485 recorded burials which took place between 1505 and 1848." Yes, there are 485 recorded burials but as my lady friend emphasized, "There could be hundreds that are not." What a lovely experience to talk with Sarah, whose family has been in Leith for centuries, who is very proud of her family's heritage, and who loves to take care of a piece of the town's history. I so enjoyed hearing about her story.

Our day was done, we caught the tram to Edinburgh. As I flipped through Instagram, a post from dictionary.com came through my feed. The word is Saxicoline, meaning to live or grow among rocks. Don't you love when a story comes together? Taking pictures of weeds, talking to a knowledgeable townswoman, and now finding out that there is a word to attach to these weed photos. It was just one of those word nerdy moments for me.