Skycoaster Ride at Kennywood
Don’t know the people who paid an extra $15 to be pulled up high on a cable and released. It sure looks high!
Summer coming to a close.
One Minute It’s Summer- Now the Pool’s Drained
Officially summer on the calendar but nothing like Back-to-School to bring it to a close. Summer vacation has been wonderful. Relaxing and lots of time with the family. Reading a book, flipping through a magazine, lazing about on the hammock, getting things done or not. Fresh sliced tomatoes with salt and pepper. Summer’s grand.
Then school started with meetings and room set up and although it was a short week of actual teaching(2 days), the back to school feeling is in earnest and a new cycle has begun
A bit hot and muggy tonight from the rain, I can’t hear the cicadas but the change of season is impending. The earlier sunsets. Something about the feel of the air. Today we saw swarms of students shopping for wastebaskets and bedding, eating ice cream as they crossed the street. The city has a different feel since they’ve returned to campuses.
I converted both images to black and white to unify them for the thought of swimming in summer and then a different pool, just drained for the season. You get ideas. Some work. Some don’t.
Swimming at Aunt Linda’s neighbor’s pool-
St. Basils on Brownsville Road in the background. Phillips Park Pool in Carrick. Shot at the Corn Festival.
Shammy and Sean at the Corn Festival
Last Saturday I went to the Carrick Corn Festival at Phillips Park, across the street from the high school where I’d just started my new position (digital photography teacher) the day before. Our principal had invited us to attend and get to know the community plus it was a chance to see the Marching Band perform and shoot some photos of the event. There were Irish Step Dancers and Bhutanese Dancers and I’ve quite a few views of the corn being shucked and boiled, dripping in butter but this is the photo of the day.
At one of the booths, this man was writing people’s names and telling their meaning. I asked if I could photograph his dog (Shammy) who was by his side with a bowl of water on the grass. Sean told me that I should have seen her at the St. Patrick’s Day parade and he shared some snaps of her in her outfit. Here he’s picked her up for another pose. Even though I was short on cash, this generous gentleman wrote the meaning of my name Ruth (a friend to all) on the back of a prayer card, using a calligraphy pen in neat writing.
Not just any prayer card but the patron saint of photographers.
He’d asked me if I knew who the patron saint of photographers was and I ‘d no idea.
He told me the story of St. Veronica and her capturing the image of Jesus’ face in the cloth she offered to him.
Receiving this unexpected gift felt like a special blessing at the start of of the new school year. Thank you Sean.
Dead End Street Sign in Full Bloom
Aspinwall, PA. The pole is totally covered with colorful flowers and vine.
Little Green Apples
It’s an iPhone photo story and the bowl of peelings didn’t come out. This was last Thursday.
Recipe for a summer afternoon.
Generous neighbors with an apple tree laden with fruit- a couple of boxes waiting to be filled. (We filled one.)
A friend to help pick, peel, core and slice.
The crust was butter, flour and salt, a few tablespoons of ice water- mixed up in the food processor, rolled out.
Four open face pie/tarts and one quart of applesauce that looks almost green to me.
We took one of the pies down to the owners of the apple tree and were they ever surprised. I brought one out to Ohio for the family. Along with the applesauce.
Small apples, tart and sweet, firm flesh and delicious. A sprinkle of lemon, dots of butter and light on the cinnamon. A bit raggedy looking but tasty.
Summer Still Life
My friend Barb brought these beautiful figs. I rinsed them and put them in a bowl to take out to the front porch. They looked so lush and colorful, I pulled out my phone and photographed them before we picked one to eat. They were perfectly ripe and delicious.
“It’s Annoying Now, But Later You’re Glad”
Laura’s 29th birthday. She says it is her FIRST 29th birthday. The family gathers on the front porch because most of them are nearby.
This year I didn’t run around and get in the photograph. Just wanted them. I’ll put it on the fridge. Look at it until we’re all together again. In the middle of winter I’ll glance at this August evening, celebrating Laura’s birthday and be glad I have the picture.
Not too many people really want their photo taken. Maybe a few. The family allows me to photograph them one more time.
They’re gracious and they love me and they know it’s what I like to do.
They probably wonder when I’ll get tired of wanting to photograph them but they don’t complain. Much. Photographing them while they ignore me is easier.
Of course, I want the shot where everyone is with me and looking pleasant on this occasion. Ha. Erika says to me, “Good luck with that!”
I get it the best I can.
Don’t want to drag it out too long, make it quick, Just SHOOT!
Thanks family. Matthew is the one who said to his friends at his college graduation ” This is what my mom does. It’s annoying now, but later you’re glad.”
Penny the Golden Doodle with Lala and James on their front porch.
And Maura and Murphy pose for Mark. Caught them from the side as he got them to look at his phone.
Black Widow Adds a Lot of Screams to the Park
Back and forth, as a pendulum.
Spin round and round simultaneously. Not to mention the height. Oh my.
I shot this angle at dusk.
No, I did not ride it but was fascinated by the long lines of people waiting to get onto it and be scared out of their minds. The screams rated high in decibels.
You can read a great article about it and there is a video link to view as well. Plan a vacation in Pittsburgh and take the Black Widow at Kennywood.
Flag Spinning Skills Take Practice
Here we are in Aunt Linda and Uncle Frank’s front yard. Murphy resting in the grass.
Abigail was a flower girl in Mark and Erika’s wedding almost exactly ten years ago and now she is going into high school. Here she is demonstrating how to spin a flag- there are butterflies and figure eights and she has to do it left handed and right handed and toss it in the air and catch it. Anna and Maura were watching and I know I couldn’t do it. Even with practice. Her silk flag flowing in synchronized motion will add a lot to the half time show come fall.
Phantom’s Revenge Riders Fly Towards the Full Moon
August first, just after sunset. West Mifflin, PA. Kennywood Amusement Park. Just driving by. Got out of the van and waited for the cars filled with riders to come into the frame.
Cool Pool and Walk Around the Neighborhood at Sunset
High 80s and no thunderstorms in sight. The pool was practically empty!
We got home for a late supper. Took a walk/ride around the neighborhood. You can see glimpses of the setting sun.
Bikers Greet Misty Across the Cul-de-sac
I wanted to use the word cul-de-sac on the blog ever since I’ve been visiting the family. Just don’t write or use that word in my daily life in the city. Nice for safe bike riding after supper.
Three out of four took a break to greet the neighbor’s lovely dog, Misty. We sat in the driveway and watched until the sun went down and it was time to come in and get ready for bed. Although it was a hot day, the evening temp dropped and it was a perfect summer evening.
The Lost Towels and Rule One
Saw this scene at the pool where Anna practices her swimming strokes. Looked like quite a collection.
And in this shot you can see how badly the rain is needed.
Ohio House Front Yard
The blog has been a real family effort since I have been on vacation. My DIL drove by slowly so I could shoot the giant flag and Mustang on the lawn. This is one of those 100+ days we had in early July. Already we are past mid July! Oh my.
Now it’s drought conditions around here so the lawns are more brown. The thunderstorms just don’t provide enough precipitation
Shoot Where You Are
Culled from the day’s catch- didn’t photograph any food making today but here is what I photographed on Saturday.
School’s out for the summer so I’m not in my home territory. Most days I shoot photographs as I drive around the city. But I am seeing different scenery these days. We went to a T-ball game on Saturday morning.
Four Annie’s Cheddar Bunnies fell out of the van onto the pavement and their bright orange caught my eye but I thought, nah, four bitty snack crackers are not worth a photograph since we have to get to the game and haul the fold-up chairs and the bag of snacks for the team. I mean another day I could do a Snack Cracker still life but we were in a rush.
Imagine my surprise when we returned to the van. The neon orange obliterated. Ants working hard to live.
and a close up detail
and then as we pulled out of the school parking lot by the baseball fields, there was a church parking lot and a scene I wanted to photograph. This is when you are probably annoying to your daughter-in-law but she doesn’t mind and pulls over by the dumpster and I got out and took about 4 quick shots on the gray day.
and the detail. My DIL asked if I wanted to come back and pick it up to take back home since it wasn’t broken!
A quick trip to the zoo and the reptile house. The kids got a chance to touch the Rosy Boa. I photographed the Pythons devouring rabbits but it is too graphic.
The Columbus Zoo has a lovely 1914 Carousel, restored. The youngest 3 grandkids took a ride.
and youngest granddaughter Maura in a quiet moment
Swim Coach Clay Saves the Day
After the Dive Championships at Worthington Hills Club in Ohio, we were waiting around for the results and awards presentation. Jack McG (5) threw his favorite Woody (Toy Story) t-shirt up into the air.
A gust of wind caught the shirt’s billow and sailed it up onto the Pool Clubhouse roof. Uh-oh.
Jack’s face would have made a good photograph but I’m not that fast. He didn’t expect the shirt to disappear on the roof.
This kind man, who happens to be a coach of the Penguins of New Albany, came over and pulled over a stool AND a big golf umbrella, climbed up onto the stool and retrieved the favorite shirt, snagged it and flew it down to Jack. What a nice guy.
By that time I had the camera to my eye, shot this image and then asked if it would be okay to blog him and he graciously agreed. Thanks, Coach. Good sportsmanlike conduct, eh?
Pay Phone Missing in Short North- Guest Blog
My daughter Laura sent me this photo from her iPhone to my iPhone. She was the one who turned 21 in the Weekly Photo Challenge: fleeting moment post. She’ll be 29 in August.
She and her husband James were walking in Short North, going to Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream Shop (she had a scoop of grapefruit and a scoop of lemon and blueberries frozen yogurt, cause she told me when I asked.
“James had his usual” Laura said and I knew what it was but had to get the official name of the flavor on Jeni’s website
The Buckeye State “Our version of Ohio’s favorite confection. Rich and salty peanut butter yields to the crunch of exceptional dark chocolate for perfect balance. Total comfort for Buckeyes and Buckeyes at heart.”Anyway, I digress. This is about the pay phone and the missing pay phone.
I remember the days of pay phones and phone booths, a pile of change.
She saw this and I bet she thought, my mom would photograph this! I have photographed and posted a similar scene in Wisconsin in 2009.
It’s fun to receive photos from family and friends. Thanks Laura.
I Begged My Mother to Buy It When I Was a Kid
My mother was into homemade whole wheat bread with wheat germ added. She’d scald milk, boil water, crumble a cake of yeast. Knead and knead, place it in an oiled bowl, cover with a tea towel, let rise, punch it down, rest – then shape the loaves.
Let them rise again. this time in battered aluminum bread pans covered lightly with waxed paper.
The aroma filled the house and after it was baked we’d eat a slice with butter and honey when it was still warm.
What I would give to have my mother make a couple of loaves again, turn them out of the greased bread pans. Saw off a slice with a serrated edge.
But when I was a kid, I saw a big white truck with red and yellow and bright blue balloons all over it. WONDER BREAD. I wanted my mother to buy WONDER BREAD. I’d eaten it somewhere and was fascinated you could roll it into a ball! Hard to believe but true. I begged my mother to buy WONDER BREAD. Oh how I longed for the colorful balloons on the wrapper.
Embarrassing to admit, but true.
She never did.
I saw this sign by the abandoned Wonder Bread Bakery in Columbus OH. ( click to read about construction of Wonder Bread LOFTS that started four days ago)
You can see the height by the telephone pole and building top.
Michael (6) Airborne
Diving meet Monday afternoon. I cannot tell you which dive this is or what the degree of difficulty is.
I like the pool’s reflected light on his skin. His other grandmother is taping all of the diving competition for the Olympic Trials to inspire the 3 grandchildren who dive. They sure start them young!
It was a beautiful day and could even be called “chilly”. Michael received a ribbon for 3rd place in his age group.
Inspired by Three of My Favorite Fellow Bloggers
You’ve read their comments on my blogs. Flat Ruthie has been fortunate to have been hosted by all three bloggers.
I’ve posted links to their photographs and recipes for some wonderful dishes.
It’s summer vacation and I’ve a bit more time on my hands. Have a plan to try some new recipes and what better way than to experiment with fellow bloggers posts of beautiful and delicious dishes.
And my daughter-in-law’s kitchen makes me feel like I’m on a cooking show! Six burner stove and all.
When I forwarded her the recipe for Roasted Chicken Stuffed with Citrus she agreed it would be good for dinner and we had all the ingredients, including fresh tarragon from her garden. You can get the recipe at Rufus Food and Spirits Guide and see a great looking photo of Greg’s Roast Chicken. I am already behind as yesterday Katherine posted a Blue Crab Dip recipe and today it is stuffed zucchini. I can’t keep up!
And a nod to Chicago John as I attempted to make the garlic cloves fall onto my keyboard but was unsuccessful! (see his posts of berries and an earlier one of peas at his blog From the Bartolini Kitchens ) Watch for a future post as I make homemade pasta for the first time.
Food photography is a challenge unless I’m just shooting what I’m eating. When I try to set something up, think too much about it and what I am trying to accomplish, it’s stressful.
People as subjects seem easier than assembled ingredients.
By the way the aroma alone is worth the cooking effort for this recipe.
Divine! and delicious. The kids loved it! So thanks to Greg and Katherine and Chicago John.
Weekly Photo Challenge: Friendship
The sunflowers are a gift from a friend.
This photograph was taken in the art room today on my iPhone. Most of the middle schoolers were on a trip. After lunch I had a few who didn’t get to attend. This wonderful painting was created by a young man named Scott. He painted the sunflowers a friend had brought me.
I didn’t want to leave the flowers at home alone so took them with me to school. They were so vibrant and summery.
Oh, the unexpected surprise of the gift of flowers from a good friend.
Friday after school, I put the bouquet on the front seatand when I arrived at my son and DIL’s home and took them out of the car, my granddaughter ran down the hill of the front yard to greet me and said excitedly when she saw them, “Oh we studied that artist! ” Later in the craft store she picked up a Starry Night Umbrella and told me it was the same artist as the Sunflowers. She’s 8 1/2 and just completed second grade Tuesday.
Thanks for the flowers, friend. I thought it would cheer you to see them in Scott’s painting.
(And that eyeball glaring from the chair is from the cover of a book that belongs to Scott’s classmate and friend, J, who told me he has checked out the photos on this blog! Cool. )
To see other responses to the weekly photo challenge click here
Weekly Photo Challenge: Summer
You’ve seen Ice Cream Trucks. How about an Ice Cream Boat?
Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia. 500 miles of shoreline.
We were 35 miles from Roanoke. Celebrating Mark’s 36th birthday today.
Memorial Day Weekend with the family. Rented a pontoon boat and enjoyed a hot summery day on the lake.
Ice Cream Boat
Kiddieland Whip at Kennywood
Anna and Michael on the Kiddieland Whip ride. Back to the archives. It’s important to honor how your body feels. So much for “real time” Thursday is a seven class teaching day. Moving back and forth between buildings. Real time showed up briefly.
It’ll be returning soon!
Kennywood Kiddieland Whip Ride- July 2007
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