farewell to spring, hello to summer

Yesterday was a busy yet fulfilling day. I spent time working at the farm, caught up on some journaling, and enjoyed dinner with my son. We shared a lovely al fresco meal on the restaurant's patio, enjoying both the food and one another's company. My cocktail, aptly named Cherish the Day, perfectly captured the spirit of the entire day.

After returning home and finishing a few chores, I stepped into the family room to close the blinds and caught the final moments of the sunset. A waxing crescent moon hung in the evening sky, while Jupiter shone brightly above the treetops. It was a serene and beautiful scene, a perfect farewell to the last day of spring.

the river fountains are back

The river fountains are back for the summer! They made their debut on Memorial Day, and I can't believe it took me this long to make it downtown to see them. As always, they did not disappoint. The first whoosh started across the river and one by one the fountains sprayed their water into the river for their 10 minute show. This is my favorite summertime sight in downtown Dayton.

 

the friday feed: spicy sauvy b

I don’t follow platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, Snapchat, or YouTube Shorts, so I’m usually out of the loop when it comes to trends and viral content. As the younger generations say, “OK, Boomer.”

Last weekend, after Owen’s birthday party, after the sweet grandchildren had been fed, bathed, and tucked into bed, the parents and grandparents had a chance to relax after the whirlwind of kid commotion. Andrew, Patrick, and Todd each poured a glass of Scotch to toast Owen turning four years old. Jennifer and I opted for a glass of Sauvignon Blanc.

Then Jen asked Andrew, “Do we have any frozen jalapeños?”

What an odd request.

According to social media, and confirmed by my son and daughter-in-law, Sauvignon Blanc with frozen jalapeño slices is one of this summer’s trendy drinks. Hello, Spicy Sauvy B.

Well, alrighty then. I’m always willing to try something once. I was pleasantly surprised, but I also wanted to know why it worked.

Research time.

One of Sauvignon Blanc’s defining characteristics is its herbaceous flavor profile. Think freshly cut grass, along with notes of green pepper, basil, and tarragon. The frozen jalapeños don’t introduce a completely new flavor profile as much as they enhance the qualities already present in the wine.

The initial peppery aroma was strong and overshadowed the wine’s grapefruity notes. With the first sip, the jalapeño flavor was noticeable but subtle. A few sips later, a slight warmth appeared, and surprisingly, it worked. The longer the jalapeños sat in the wine, the spicier it became, but it never crossed the line into being too hot to enjoy.

Verdict: I’d drink it again, occasionally. One glass was enjoyable, but if I were reaching for a second, I’d go back to Sauvignon Blanc without the jalapeños.

fifa world cup soccer

The 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup kicked off on June 11, with the United States, Canada, and Mexico serving as co-hosts of the tournament's first-ever three-nation edition.

Like the Olympic Games, the World Cup brings people together through a shared global experience that transcends cultural and political boundaries. Captivating billions of viewers worldwide, it extends far beyond sport, serving as a powerful platform for international diplomacy, cultural exchange, and human connection.

The tournament unites the world in countless ways. It fosters national pride, giving millions an opportunity to celebrate and express their identities. Fans wear their jerseys, sing their national anthems, and wave their flags with pride. Just as importantly, the World Cup creates moments of collective experience, whether people are packed into a stadium, gathered around a television, or watching from a town square halfway across the globe.

Football has a unique ability to connect people long before they share a language, culture, or common history. Through a simple game, strangers become supporters, communities come together, and differences give way to a sense of shared humanity.

The World Cup’s greatest contributions are not measured on a scoreboard. They are found in the connections it creates, the common ground it reveals, and the lasting sense of unity it inspires.

When we were in Cleveland last weekend the US Men's Team had its first match against Paraguay. After a long day of birthday party preparation, my sons, dressed in their USA jerseys, headed to a bar to watch the game which ended in a 4-1 victory for the US. The bar was packed cheering for the home team and when my boys returned home, their joy with the victory brought back so many memories of the years we spent on the sidelines and in the stands watching them play soccer.

wednesday's words and wanderings and wonderings

A little over four years ago, Andrew and Jen shared the exciting news that they were expecting a baby. To announce their pregnancy, they gave me a bottle of wine with a custom label that read, “Pairs well with becoming a Grandma.” 

This past weekend, we celebrated Owen’s 4th birthday with a Spider-Man themed party filled with Spidey goodies, superhero fun, and even a special visit from Spider-Man himself. It’s hard to believe how quickly four years have flown by!

 

Our drive home from Cleveland began under gray, rainy skies, but as we headed south, we could see the clouds breaking. By the time we arrived home, a beautiful sunset filled the sky, providing the perfect ending to a wonderful weekend.

ted and the pancake

I spy with my big brown eyes

A pancake that’s just my size!

I don't do much with Facebook anymore, but this memory popped up the other day and it made me smile. This is my rascally big (HUGE) dog Ted. Seated, his mouth was right at table level and as soon as you turned around, any food that was on the table was gone. He would sit, patiently waiting for that perfect moment. This did not become one of those moments. I kept my eye on him!

monday's mulling: old school v. ai

Friday night, after the grandkids went to bed, it was time to make the macaroni and cheese for Owen's birthday party on Saturday.

Jennifer had given me two boxes of pasta for the dish. The recipe called for 6 ounces of pasta, and each box contained 16 ounces. That meant I needed to increase the recipe by roughly  2 1/2 times. So I sat at the kitchen counter with the recipe in front of me, using my handy-dandy free Post-it note pad from Wittenberg University to calculate the amounts I would need for one batch of cheese sauce.

I planned to make the pasta and cheese sauce twice because Jen didn't have a pan large enough to cook two boxes of pasta at once or make a single batch of cheese sauce that was five times the original recipe.

As she watched me work through the calculations, finding common denominators and calculating all the totals, she said, "You know, you could take a picture of the recipe and have ChatGPT do the calculating for you."

I smiled.

I'm old school. Doing the math myself reassures me that my brain still works. I'm not a fan of AI. I like to keep things real.

sunday, a day of rest and time to appreciate

Think about this and appreciate the good things.

 

joy 2 u 2

8:30 a.m. and I was driving to the farm, stopping at the light at the busy intersection of Whipp and Far Hills. Ahead of me was a silver Buick, I was singing along with the Eagles “Seven Mile Bridge," and then I noticed the license plate.

JOY 2 U 2

A tiny message slipped into the day, a blessing on a bumper. I smiled. Out of all the combinations of letters and numbers that could have ended up on a car, this one was wishing joy to whoever happened to be behind it. Including me.

So I grabbed my phone and snapped a picture.

That night I was looking at the photos I had taken during the day. The license plate made me smile, but then I noticed that something else had made it into the frame.

Near the bottom of the windshield sat a white splatter.

Bird poop.

I laughed out loud.

There it was: a photograph that perfectly captured the morning. A message of joy in the center, bird poop in the foreground.

Such an accurate picture of life. Sometimes the universe sends you a cheerful greeting and a messy surprise at exactly the same time.

 

the friday feed: the good ole betty crocker cookbook

This past week, I pulled out my 1978 Betty Crocker cookbook a couple of times. First, the favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe on page 266 came to the rescue after Todd dropped a few not-so-subtle hints that he’d love a batch of cookies. Then, a couple of days later, my daughter-in-law asked if I would make macaroni and cheese for Owen’s birthday party this weekend. That recipe is on page 117.

Chocolate chip cookies may be one of the most nostalgic treats ever created. And that macaroni and cheese recipe was a quick, easy dinner that earned no complaints from my four children and has since become a favorite of my grandchildren as well.

The photos show just how often these recipes were used over the years. These days, I don’t turn to them nearly as often, but whenever I open that cookbook to fill a special request, the memories come flooding back.

big boy

Union Pacific's Big Boy 4014 is making its first trip to the East Coast as part of a nationwide tour in honor of America's 250th birthday. The massive steam engine is 130 feet long, weighs 1.2 million pounds, and is the world's largest operating steam locomotive.  It went through Cleveland this past Monday. 

Yep, we missed it by a day.

I like the second photo with the Cleveland skyline in the background and the road in the forefront with all the people watching the train pass.

All photos taken by Drone Ohio.

 

wednesday's words and wanderings and wonderings

Look what arrived at the farm... sugar plums! They are incredibly sweet, juicy, and just the right size for a quick snack. Each week, the variety and volume of produce continue to grow. It’s exciting to see what each new week will bring.

We spent the weekend in Cleveland, and our first adventure was a trip to the Cleveland Zoo. Our little grandson has visited the zoo several times, so he was happy to show Didi and Grandpa exactly where we needed to go. Our first stop was the elephants, and he made sure to tell us that elephant poop is really, really big!

Little people love little spaces, and this cozy kitchen nook is the perfect size for sharing snacks, giggles, and sibling togetherness.

Have you ever seen a purple pepper? The outside is a deep purple, much like an eggplant, while the inside is a bright lime green. The color combination is stunning. The flavor reminds me of a green bell pepper, although it’s a bit milder.

Finally, finally, I planted my cosmos! They are such beautiful flowers, with colorful blooms dancing on long, wispy stems. The bees and butterflies absolutely love them.

My sister lives in Philadelphia and is a devoted fan of European football, or soccer as we call it in the United States. When she learned that Philadelphia would be hosting several World Cup matches, she immediately signed up to volunteer. And here she is, looking every bit the official World Cup volunteer. What an amazing experience and what memories she will make!

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.