wednesday's words and wanderings and wonderings

My nephew’s wedding was this past weekend, bringing family into town for a few busy days filled with fun and celebration. My little Chicago grandson was here, too, and got to see more of my world, including my giant pumpkin along with a visit to the farm.

Per my sister-in-law's request, I baked 10 dozen caramel cream sandwich cookies for the cookie bar at the wedding reception. They're a family favorite but they're double-sided. Do the math...that's 240 cookies and they still needed to be frosted and sandwiched. My angel sister and came over to help with frosting and by the end of our assembly marathon we used four batches of brown butter icing.

It was a beautiful fall day to celebrate the marriage of two wonderful young people. My nephew is my parents’ youngest grandchild and the last of the cousins to get married. Having all these young adults together was such a joy, and it made the day even more special.

By Sunday afternoon, I was the only one left in the house. The Cleveland kids headed home to relieve Nana and Papa of their babysitting duties, while Todd went to Cleveland to watch the Browns game. The Chicago crew left around 4:00, and just like that, the house was really quiet. 

I’ve made a couple of trips to downtown Dayton this week. I visited the Downtown Library to see a photo exhibit and then stumbled upon some interesting information about the father of a famous Daytonian. Those stories deserve more than a little blurb in this post, so stay tuned…

The sculpture pictured above, The Common Good, stands outside the Dayton Metro Library. It features thirteen quotes from notable figures throughout American history, including John F. Kennedy, Thomas Jefferson, and Muhammad Ali. The design itself is all about connection: the seating on either side faces outward, while an opening through the center invites people to speak with one another. It’s a reminder of the importance of dialogue, even when we see the world from different perspectives.

hyphen

Last week Todd and I took a walk around the University of Dayton campus. We strolled past campus buildings, dormitories, athletic fields, and gardens, taking a couple of shortcuts through parking lots as we made our way back to the car.

As we passed through a small parking area behind a row of student housing, a license plate caught my eye and I just had to take a picture. What could be the story behind it? 

A little research shows that Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology was founded in 1874 by railroad builder Chauncey Rose as the Terre Haute School of Industrial Science. It later became Rose Polytechnic Institute before receiving its current name in 1971, following a major gift from the Hulman family.

The hyphen in Rose-Hulman connects the legacies of two benefactors and forms an essential part of the institution’s identity. Leaving out the hyphen is a pet peeve among members of the Rose-Hulman community. The institute takes its punctuation seriously, preserving the hyphen in its official name and branding. The emphasis even carries over into campus traditions, where students spell it out in chants: “Rose-HYPHEN-Hulman!”

It would be fun to know the story behind this Ohio license plate sitting in the parking lot on the UD campus. Maybe the owner's sibling is a proud Rose-Hulman alumnus and the car has been passed down. The lesson here is that at Rose-Hulman, that little hyphen carries some serious weight.

monday's mulling: first frost

This past weekend, my nephew and his girlfriend of six years were married on a beautiful fall day. The sun shone brightly, and a crisp breeze blew as the couple exchanged their vows. As the day gave way to evening, the autumn chill deepened, and by Sunday morning, the first frost of the season had arrived.

Early Sunday morning, I was up thinning out some of my flowers to give to my sister before she headed back to Philadelphia. The grass was lightly coated with frost and it sparkled in the early morning sun. The sunlight caught the delicate ice crystals clinging to the grass and the edges of some fallen leaves. It was a lovely, fleeting moment.

graffiti art

Graffiti is often defined as writing, drawing, or painting on walls and other public surfaces, frequently using spray paint or markers, without the property owner’s permission. But when that property owner is on board, graffiti can become something truly special: art that transforms a space and tells a story.

That’s what happened at Kettering Fairmont Middle School, where 2003 Fairmont graduate David Uy created a vibrant mural for the Express Zone, the new grab-and-go à la carte area developed by the Food & Nutrition Services Department. His work brings color, energy, and personality to the space, and it has become a favorite among students, staff, and community members. David’s passion for art was encouraged and nurtured in Kettering City Schools. Now, he has come full circle, returning to share his talents with a new generation of Firebirds.

I’ve known David for a long, long time. He and my son played soccer together as young boys and remained friends throughout their school and now adult years. It’s been a real joy to watch his evolution as an artist. His journey has taken him from the school's art classrooms to his days as an urban tagger (yes, the police caught him a couple of times putting his art where it wasn’t supposed to be) to becoming an accomplished artist, a proud father of three adorable boys, and a successful businessman. It’s rewarding to see someone take a passion that began in his youth, develop it into a talent and a career, and ultimately bring it back to the community where it all started.

This mural is more than a splash of color on a wall. It’s a reminder to students that the things they love, the talents they develop, and even the paths they take can lead to incredible places, and sometimes that's right back at home. 

the friday feed: compost

Last year, the city of Kettering launched a food composting drop-off program. I knew nothing about it until a few months ago after reading an article and the city offered an incentive: a big bucket to transport food scraps to the compost bins. Well, sign me up!

Since then, I’ve been collecting my food scraps in a small, one-gallon bucket lined with a BPI-certified compostable bag that sits next to my kitchen sink. When the little bags fill up, I transfer them to the larger bucket. Once that bucket is full, I make a trip to the drop-off site.

This routine has made me much more aware of how much food waste I generate in everyday life - how much of it ends up in the trash and then, in a landfill. It’s surprising how quickly those scraps add up. Composting has been an easy way to make a small change in my daily habits. Instead of treating food scraps as waste, they are now a resource that can be turned into something useful.

I’m glad Kettering made this program available and hope more people discover it. 

thursday's thought for the day

Right now with midterm and state elections coming up in a few weeks, text messages come in constantly with requests for a donation. This one cracked me up. Sure...you asked so politely and of course I'll be glad to give you my credit card information for a contribution to this campaign. 

 

wednesday's words and wanderings and wonderings

We’re at that point in October when Mother Nature gives us little hints that colder weather is on its way, only to change her mind and hits us with a few days of unseasonable warmth. Today marks the last day of this heat wave, with colder temperatures and possibly even some frost expected by the weekend.

Last week at the farm, the chill in the air was already noticeable. I dressed in layers, wearing a thermal shirt under a wool sweater, topped with a down vest. The flowers, however, were still putting on a beautiful show of color, so I took the opportunity to wander around the grounds and capture a few last photos before the colder temperatures arrive and bring their colorful display to an end.

The monarch butterflies are flitting around the zinnias gathering what little pollen is left and giving their wings a rest. Such strength and beauty.

A praying mantis showed up. It is such a captivating insect. I loved watching it. Such patience, mindfulness, and even a bit of mystery.

pink pumpkins

It’s October, which means it’s officially pumpkin season. Grocery stores, farms, farmers markets, and roadside stands are overflowing with pumpkins of every shape, size, and color.

October is also Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and there’s one special pumpkin that helps honor those who have been affected by this disease.

Meet the Porcelain Doll Pink Pumpkin. This unique pumpkin was specifically developed to raise awareness for breast cancer. With its beautiful pink color and heirloom-style appearance, it’s not only eye-catching (and perfect for Instagram photos) but also has a meaningful story behind it.

The Porcelain Doll Pink Pumpkin is a modern hybrid developed by Jacob Froese of Colorado Seeds in Cheraw, Colorado. It also inspired the creation of the Pink Pumpkin Patch Foundation, a nonprofit founded by the Froese family to honor Carol Holsopple-Froese, a breast cancer survivor and co-owner of Colorado Seeds. To support the cause, Colorado Seeds donates $10 to the foundation for every 1,000 seeds sold.

These gorgeous pumpkins are large and blocky with deep ribs and weigh in around 20 to 24 pounds. Their naturally pink skin makes them stand out from the crowd. Inside, is a  sweet, light-orange flesh that’s perfect for baking and cooking.

If you spot one of these pretty pink pumpkins, remember that it represents more than just fall décor. It’s also a reminder of the people and families whose lives have been touched by breast cancer.

I share this pink pumpkin in honor of my daughter-in-law Jennifer’s mom, Mary Ann, who is currently undergoing a year of treatment for breast cancer. With her positive attitude, strength, and determination, along with the unwavering love and support of her family and many friends, she is facing this journey with hope and courage. I’m cheering her on every step of the way and believing in a future filled with healing, health, and cancer-free days ahead. 💗

monday's mulling: do your duty, pick up the doody

It’s a problem everywhere: inconsiderate dog owners who leave their dogs’ droppings behind for the rest of us to step around. Apparently, common courtesy has gone to the dogs—and picking up poop has become a waste of peoples' time.

It’s gotten so bad that “Clean Up Your Dog’s Mess” signs are now a big business.

But one Chicago artist decided that a sign didn’t go far enough. Why settle for a polite reminder when you can make a monumental statement about a pile of crap?

Polish-Chicago artist Jerzy S. Kenar took matters into his own hands or, more accurately, his own artistic vision, and created The Shit Fountain. The bronze sculpture depicts a coiled pile of dog excrement mounted on a three-foot sandstone pedestal. It’s his personal protest against pet owners who think cleaning up after their four-legged friends is someone else’s problem.

The beauty of this masterpiece of canine commentary: it sits on Kenar’s private residential property, meaning the city has no say in its existence. No bureaucratic pileup…just one artist, one bronze turd, and a pointed message for people who leave their dogs’ business behind.

The result is a scatological work of art that makes its point without beating around the bush, or stepping in one. You visit out of curiosity, have a good laugh, snap a few photos, and leave with a memorable story.

Some artists work in oils, others in marble. Kenar chose to give a crap—and turned it into art.

bridges

After yesterday’s post, I realized I have A LOT of bridge photos. I originally planned to write about the symbolism and metaphors of bridges, but I just didn’t feel like thinking that hard. So instead, please enjoy a collection of bridges from my travels and a few closer to home.

There’s something special about bridges. They connect places, offer new perspectives, and sometimes make us pause to appreciate the view. But today, I’ll let the photos do the talking.

The John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge, goes over the Ohio River, connecting Newport, Kentucky and Cincinnati, Ohio. The Roebling Bridge served as the prototype for the Brooklyn Bridge.

The Brooklyn Bridge crosses the East River and connects Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn. The walk across the BB is 1.1 miles (1.8 km). It's a high traffic destination, both on foot and by vehicle. As a pedestrian, stay out of the bike lane.

The Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge, aka The 59th Street Bridge (the Feelin' Groovy Bridge) connects Manhattan and Queens. When coming from LaGuardia we cross this bridge to get into the city. It also has lanes for pedestrians and cyclists.

The Daniel Carter Beard Bridge, Cincinnati, Ohio. Daniel Carter Beard was a Cincinnati native and one of the founders of the Boy Scouts of America. Because of its bright yellow twin arches that resemble McDonald's golden arches, this bridge is fondly known as the Big Mac.

The downtown Columbus, Ohio skyline with a railroad truss bridge crossing the Scioto River along the Scioto Greenway Trail.

The reconstructed Helena Street Bridge, Dayton, Ohio, with the Great Miami River running high after some heavy rain.

Overpass on I-75 just north of Dayton.

Abraham Lincoln Bridge and the adjacent John F. Kennedy Memorial Bridge crossing the Ohio River between Louisville, Kentucky, and Clark County/Jeffersonville, Indiana.

The Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge spanning the Cooper River in Charleston, South Carolina. It's over 2 miles long with eight lanes for traffic and lanes for bicycling, running, and walking.

Chicago, Illinois: a blue-and-white city tugboat navigating the Chicago River underneath the Chicago Avenue bridge.

London, England: The Tower Bridge spanning the River Thames. Some people mistake this bridge for London Bridge. Big no, no.

The River Thames in London, with the Waterloo Bridge spanning the water, St. Paul's Cathedral in the mid-ground, the skyscrapers of the City of London financial district, and Embankment Pier in the foreground.

 

Port-en-Bessin-Houppain, France. Omaha Beach, Normandy coast. Thinking about what happened here during WWII was quite a contrast with this peaceful sunset scene.

The Pont des Artes (also known as the "Love Lock Bridge") crossing the River Seine in Paris, with the Musée d’Orsay visible on the right bank.

what do you think?

This is the Fort Henry Bridge in Wheeling, West Virginia, carrying westbound traffic on I-70 across the Ohio River.

Looking at this photo, I thought the bridge was designed to indicate traffic flow, but it wasn't - even though the overhead bracing pattern is identical going eastbound and points forward into downtown Wheeling. This visual pattern is called a K-truss lateral system, a structural engineering choice rather than a directional guide.

OK, so my hypothesis was wrong. What I interpreted as a visual cue for drivers was actually a structural feature designed to help the bridge withstand lateral forces.What  looks intentional from a driver's perspective is totally different from its engineering purpose. (But I think my idea is valid, too).

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When my son first moved to Cleveland, this was his view from his apartment, the Detroit-Superior Bridge (and since 1989 also known as the Veterans' Memorial Bridge).

Today the Cleveland Guardians play the Chicago White Sox in Game 5 of the American League Division Champion series in Cleveland. Whoever wins this game advances to the next round of World Series playoffs. Needless to say, the city of Cleveland is already electric and many baseball fans will be walking across this bridge to either watch the game at Progressive Field or else to find a bar to cheer on the Guardians. LET'S GO GUARDS!

the friday feed: my grocery shopping husband

I am the primary grocery shopper in our home, but every now and then Todd decides he wants to shop for a specific item or two. His forays to the grocery store typically  result in finding some “really good deals.”

Last week, we needed milk, and Todd said he would go to the store to get some. Well, what do you know? There was a buy-one-get-one free promotion going on. Oh boy.

We don’t drink that much milk. In fact, I do not like milk. Many years ago, I poured myself a glass, took a big gulp, and it was sour. Ever since then, I refused to drink milk straight up. I put it in my coffee, and that’s about it.

So in walks my husband from his grocery-shopping adventure, pleased as punch with his find, and he gets the you’ve-got-to-be-kidding look from me.

“But the expiration date is October 18,” he says. “We can use it by then.” At the end of this week, we have consumed half of one of the half-gallons. So much for that.

With the weather getting cooler and fall in the air, I’m turning my attention toward soup-making. There’s a big pot of potato-leek soup in our near future.

And there's plenty of milk to make it!

thursday's thought for the day

“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.”

― Leo Buscaglia

 

wednesday's words and wanderings and wonderings

Here it is - October 7, the first complete week of October. In the blink of an eye, we'll be handing out Halloween candy to the trick-or-treaters.

This past week, we were back in Cleveland for a few days. The Browns played the Pittsburgh Steelers in a Thursday night game. Todd, Andrew, and Jennifer went to the game, while I was on Grandma duty, babysitting the little ones.

Owen, Hallie, and I took a nice, long walk and collected autumn leaves and rocks, played in the backyard, and then the kids ate dinner and cleaned their plates (they even asked for seconds!). After dinner came bath time, and soon after, bedtime. That's where things fell apart. Two little grandkids against one grandma. Let's just say they got to bed a little later than usual. In the big picture, one late bedtime isn't going to disrupt their schedules. And the beat goes on...

Another reason for our trip to Cleveland was to attend Grandparents' Day at Owen and Hallie's daycare. I will accept any invitation to spend time with my grandkids and be part of their lives. I just want to be there to share in their adventures.

It's that time of year again... PUMPKIN-ZILLA! And I do believe this is the biggest one yet. The plan is for this big guy to make it through Halloween and Thanksgiving. Once Thanksgiving is over, it will get wrapped in Christmas lights.

The monarchs are still migrating, and the zinnias at the farm are still in bloom. The monarchs flit from flower to flower, resting their wings and gathering whatever pollen is left for their journey south. These beautiful butterflies still have a long way to go before reaching their winter home in the high-altitude mountain forests of central Mexico.

October carries on - continuing the big pumpkin tradition, monarchs heading south, leaves changing color, and plenty of grandkid adventures along the way.