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

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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.

monday's mulling: back home and reflecting

A few days after a long holiday can be unsettling. We're basking in the glow of such a wonderful vacation, each day filled with new experiences and sights and wonder and awe. And then boom, the plane has landed and we're back home - home sweet home - with photographs and memories, and grocery lists, to-do lists, a chiropractor appointment, clearing the flower beds, buying pumpkins, figuring out what to have for dinner. I miss the coffee machine at our hotels, pushing a button and voila! My morning cappuccino. (A milk frother is on my Christmas list!)

While in Europe and people asked where we were from, I proudly said, "Dayton, Ohio. It's where the airplane was invented," and a nice surprise when so many people responded with, "The Wright Brothers." Dayton is home, this is where we belong. And I’m appreciating and remembering that the world is big, that people are more alike than I realize at times, and I can grow as an individual spiritually, physically, and emotionally—just as much here as I can on vacation.

A photo from each of our stops. 

The Chagall windows, Fraumünster Church, Zurich, Switzerland.

The oldest bridge in Lucerne, Switzerland, the Kapellbrücke (Chapel Bridge), was  constructed in 1333. It is also the oldest wooden covered bridge in Europe.

Edinburgh Castle is one of the oldest fortified places in Europe and is set in the heart of Scotland's capital city.

Ozzy remembered on a graffiti wall in Leith, Scotland.

What an experience to walk on the golf course at St. Andrews and stand in the presence of the Royal and Ancient, one of the oldest golf clubs in the world.

Manchester, England. The statue outside Old Trafford features the three Manchester United legends known as "The United Trinity": Sir Bobby Charlton, George Best, and Denis Law. They are depicted arm-in-arm, celebrating the club's success, and a key moment they are associated with is the 1968 European Cup win.

York, England. York's City Walls are the longest medieval town walls in England, mainly built in the 13th century, and are the most complete in England. The walls are a popular walking route with scenic views, and they are free to walk, though some sections are narrow and have unguarded edges.

London, England. Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese was rebuilt in 1667 after the original one was burnt down by the Great Fire of London. Over the past 355 years the Cheese has been frequented by numerous prominent literary figures: Dr Samuel Johnson, Mark Twain, W.B. Yeats and Charles Dickens, who even featured it in his novel, A Tale of Two Cities.

 The iconic Stonehenge, Salisbury Plain, England.

sol-shine

The past couple of days have been ones of adjusting to a five hour time difference, taking naps, and doing a few errands. Before leaving on our 18-day holiday, we ate some creative meals as I used up food in the refrigerator and avoided grocery shopping. The lack of food in the fridge gave a perfect opportunity to clean it out. Todd looked at me like I was nuts as I washed all the veggie bins and shelves and yes, I wondered,"Why am I doing this?" but it sure was nice to come home to a clean, sparkling refrigerator! 

I went to my farmer's market on Friday, loaded up my basket with all sorts of veggies, and had a nice long catch-up visit with my boss and a couple of the people I work with. Today a big pot of vegetable soup is in the making. Also on Friday, on my way home from the farmer's market I returned a couple of packages from Amazon at Whole Foods. It was a beautiful blue sky, sunny day and this cute little car was in the  parking lot. What a perfect license plate to match the car and the day. A little "sol-shine" is sure good for the soul and a balm for jet lag.

My body clock is somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean and I am working at the farm today from 1:00-6:00 (13:00-18:00). I'm looking forward to being back. We'll be busy as today is the Sauerkraut Festival weekend in Waynesville, a little town about 6 miles south of the farm. We'll get a lot of business from those passers-by. The fresh air will help with a good night's sleep tonight and maybe (cross fingers) I'll wake around 6:00 instead of between 4 and 5. 

Wishing you all a lovely Sunday.