Old School Metal Ice Cube Tray
Do you remember metal ice cube trays? There was a certain sound of the metal and the hinge. The ice clinking out into a tall glass. You could pinch your skin real easily. That’s what I remember.
This one’s on display at COSI(Center of Science and Industry) in Columbus OH where there is a whole section called PROGRESS. You walk through the different decades of technological and electrical and societal developments.
The kids love to crank the old fashioned telephone and there is a juke box and pinball machine. They are housed in a soda fountain. There’s a horse drawn buggy next to a VW bug. You can look through an antique camera and use a switchboard to connect phone calls. There is a television studio and items from the Space Age.
It is hot and humid here in Pittsburgh.
I was looking for a photo that looked cool. It looks like someone left the freezer open and everything melted.
A Cooler, Zip-Loc Bag or Blow Dryer Are Supposed to Solve This Problem
Lens fog! You may have experienced it. It’s cool inside in the AC ( at M and E’s house, not mine!) and then I’d go outside to snap Jack coming home from his first swim across the length of the pool- LENS FOG!!! Maura in her car seat looking dear in her new flower headband- LENS FOG! We got out of the air conditioned van and the kids were patient with me as I suggested a photo of going to Day Camp. I had been doing pretty well on the vacation with the candid shots but they cooperated as I wanted to document the scene.<a href=”http://www.blogcatalog.com”>BlogCatalog</a>
They got on the wall, and I shot the picture after wiping the lens with a microfiber cloth and the same result- LENS FOG! I went online and read suggestions how to combat this issue and the putting the camera into a cooler or a thick Zip-Loc bag or using a blow dryer to warm it up first were some of the suggestions.
The family greets Jack as he arrives home with his white ribbon for swimming the pool length for the first time.
Queen Victoria, Sir Thomas More, Anne Boleyn and Lord Byron on my Front Porch Sunday Afternoon
We had a good lunch together before the family had to drive back to Ohio. Anna found the stack of National Portrait Gallery of London masks on the desk in the hall.
Amazing how paper masks change everyone’s look! The masks are printed in England but I bought them through a catalog for a project I had in mind but ended up using a different set.
Aunt Lala Pushes All 3 Swings, Anna Moves the Pink Flamingoes and S’mores-on-a-Stick*
Aunt Lala took turns pushing her niece and nephews on the backyard swingset. The kids didn’t want her to stop. You should have heard them squeal. Anna was moving the two pink flamingoes that Pap purchased and installed in the back garden. She said,”They’ll look better over here.”
*Laura found the recipe for the S’mores-on-a-Stick through a blog she reads so check it out. She and Anna made them together and put them in the fridge during dinner. La brought white lollipop sticks to hold the s’mores. The kids devoured them! Fun to eat.
Up and Down Game in the Pool
Maura's head bumps the top of the frame and a slice cut off but I liked the way the water ran off the lifejacket and Anna's ponytail. It was fun to watch them have so much fun. Big sister-little sister enjoying the refreshing pool- the temp outside was 88 degrees!
One thing I noticed this visit is that we no longer hang out at the baby pool. How quickly everything changes.
I used to sit there for hours while the kids painted the concrete with paintbrushes, poured one bucket of water into another and the filled the sprinkler cans with the handles and spouts- fill and dump, fill and dump, and do it a hundred times. They always loved those beach toys at the pool. Now the three oldest are on the swim team, the eldest two the dive team and Maura at 2.5 isn’t too far behind. Still sporting a life jacket, she wants to jump off the side of the pool repeatedly and she even makes a motorboat sound as the older two pull her around. So the pool game is up and down and she loves it!
Tomorrow is a big swim meet in New Albany and so tonight at the pool the kids had their hair spray painted green and received new green swim team shirts with ducks on them. The team mascot. A pep rally of sorts, to get everyone pumped up and excited for the effort.
Won’t be long and Maura will join her brothers and sisters on the swim team I’m sure!
On Walters’ Pond- They Had to Throw it Back
A cookout. Kids running around playing ball. Some on the swing set. Men teaming up to play cornhole. A group of kids on the dock. Hamburegers hotdogs on the grill. Salad and fruit. Macaroni and cheese. The kids actually caught a little fish and threw him back. I photographed several of the families so they could have a family picture. It was a beautiful summer night.
Moonrise Over Bocce Court in Bloomfield
As I an writing this post I think that it is almost two years that I started the blog. And when I checked the stats I see that the first post was 7-14-09. Two years and a day. Happy Blog–aversary. Thanks to all the readers who have followed my blog, written comments on the blog, written nice emails to me or told me about which photo they enjoyed seeing. And to the friends of friends who have shared the posts and photographs, whom I have met only online, I appreciate your good feedback, too. SO here is the today’s post-
Stephanie cuts my hair. She asked me how the photography was going. I told her how I photograph and post a photo of the day on the blog. (Today is the #658 post.) She told Jack, her husband and he looked at my photos online and invited me down Thursday night when he plays Bocce. Here is his website.
It was a perfect summer evening and the men were gracious, allowing me to photograph the games. Tried to be unobtrusive and hung there for over two hours. One gentleman is 97 years old! I sat on a bench at the end of the court for a time, shooting intermittently. A little conversation here and there. And there was the moonrise over the bocce court.
Although I was invited to the mid-season party at the Pleasure Bar on Tuesday, I already have plans with the grandchildren….but I got to hear the menu! Mmmmmm. I am really missing out. Fortunately there is an end of season party in the fall!.
Thanks Jack and to the Bocce League, playing under the cars passing over the Bloomfield Bridge on a summer night.
Old Fashioned Pulley Clothesline-Lilies and Dinner
My friend J cooked a bday dinner for me the other night and I was checking out her garden. Everything so lush and green. Stunning lilies blooming. J shows me what is a weed and what is not. When she splits her perennials I will plant them in my garden. The plants might not be too happy about the move to my place, though. Her clothesline jumped out at me and I thought of sheets hung on the line and how quickly things dry in the summer. The refreshing scent of the sunshine. I didn’t stay late enough but when it gets dark she has a fish pond and glass orb that lights up so have to plan a return trip. J is an excellent cook, too as you can see by the dinner on the table below. A nice summer evening. Thanks J. 
My Sister Guest Blogs from Fishkill, NY via Phone
It wasn’t her idea but when I got this photo from her on the phone I thought it was a perfect picture to post. A scene you don’t see everyday! When I visit her in NYC she shows me the coolest places to take photos. In fact, she has spotted many of my blogposts when we traveled to see our brother in WA, too. I am thinking of the train car that was a hamburger stand for sale. She’s visiting friends near Albany then went down to Fishkill,NY. She said this hot dog place is next to the Hardware Store. Thanks Mary. That was fun!
Today We Saw a Turquoise Plastic Radio, a Bobble-Head Jesus, a Princess Grace Ashtray and a Copy of Paradise Lost
Where can you see all that in one afternoon? BELLEVUE, PA And in the slideshow at the end of this post!! Head vases, a statue of Groucho Marx, autograph book, Betty Boop and an Atwater Kent Radio.…..oh, and another church for sale, too!
After my 11 o’clock appointment, J and I headed for Bellevue. Who knew that tomorrow is the start of their 4 day long Summer Solstice Spectacular. You can click here for the details We grabbed a quick bite at Joe’s Rusty Nail, an ice cream scoop of chicken salad on greens, some mandarin oranges and strawberries with balsamic and a blueberry muffin. A tall glass of ice tea. Cash or check, no cards. We walked down the block to a place we had driven by. Joyce’s Antique Emporium at 494 Lincoln Avenue in the heart of downtown. Oh my. We could have spent hours there, everything so carefully arranged and classified. Things you might have had as a kid or your mom had or the neighbors or your grandmother. I’m still thinking about the set of Pyrex bowls I left there and am thinking about going back if they are still there. Afterwards we stopped by the Farmer’s Market booths and I bought some strawberries that I made into jam when I got home- Joy of Cooking recipe. There was a shaved ice vendor. J bought the perennial Bloodroot to plant in her wonderful garden. We had fun checking out the antiques store with EVERYTHING. The Pickers Show on the History Channel needs to come and do an episode from this place. I am serious. We had the nicest conversation with the man minding the place and he was knowledgeable and full of great stories about the items in the store! The aluminum glasses on a blue coffee table outside the store caught our interest and we couldn’t get over the variety of items displayed. Canisters Depression glass, Kewpie Dolls, Betty Boop, swizzle sticks, an accordion, bugle, toys etc etc etc….See the slide show below. Call them at (412) 761-1288.
BLT Essential Ingredients from Local Bryant Street Market
I enjoy shopping in a smaller market. A place that isn’t an airplane hangar or cluttered with patio furniture and piles of stuff at the ends of the aisles. Just down the hill is a reopened market on Bryant Street, cleaned up and offering La Prima coffee to grind, a delicatessen case filled with all sorts of meats, cheeses and salads. Sandwiches to go. Enrico’s Biscotti. In the freezer they have Donatelli’s Italian Ravioli-mushroom, artichoke, roasted red pepper and traditional cheese. They sell Allegro Hearth Bread, fresh produce and Turner dairy items, Bob’s Red Mill grain products, spices and Chuckles . They’ve extended their hours and will deliver to your home. After my appointment I stopped in to get lunch ingredients as a friend was coming over to eat. BLT on T shouts summer to me!
Shopping list- Vine ripened tomatoes, sliced with serrated knife
Head of garden lettuce, washed and patted dry
Boar’s Head bacon slices, cooked in cast iron skillet and drained on paper towels
Hellmann’s mayo, in a glass jar
Allegro Hearth Bread, toasted in the fancy toaster V gave me for my 50th bday
Potato chips
Tahitian Vanilla Gelato, for dessert
Front porch, to sit out and eat
A summer day
A friend to share the meal.
5901 Bryant Street
Pittsburgh PA 15206
Phone: (412) 661 8720
Hours: Mon-Fri 8 AM to 8 PM
Sat 9 AM to 7 PM
What’s Her Story?
Waiting. An ongoing theme. For a bus, a birthday, a phone call. We wait.
Jack and the Giant Curly Fry
Dining at the Ohio State Fair. One fry was like an entire potato! From the archives.
Watching Their Brother in his Soccer Game
Watching Michael play in his soccer game. All three cheered when he kicked in a goal.
Urban Communication
Wish I could have entered this shot in the Communication show.
I have 3 photos in Communication show/1650 Gallery, 1650 Echo Park Avenue in Los Angeles until August 29th. You can see the Croatian sign outside a church in Porec(the 8th photo down) and the rest can be seen here.)Hiriing Now- Ritter’s sign and No Cardboard Dumpster. Today’s post would have been a great addition to the show. Took it yesterday on way home from school.
Washington Parting Shot
Mary suggested this one. The cherry with a tiny leaf still attached on it. Farewell Washington. We live so far apart and it isn’t an easy trip to make often. We miss David but feel fortunate to had such a loving and happy relaxed time together. When you tell someone you are just back from Washington they ask if you made it to the exhibit at the Corcoran and then you have to explain it is Washington STATE. Washington head silhouettes on all the road signs. I will have to research the history of how the state got named.
Now it is computer and phone communication from WA to PA and NYC.
Polish Hill Pittsburgh- Early Evening Light
Happy 8th Anniversary, Mark and Erika. As I pulled out of the FedEx parking lot I looked up and saw the light on Immaculate Heart of Mary where you exchanged your wedding vows. Steve and I drove over the little bridge and up the hill to capture the church in light and shadow. Just remembering your happy day. It sure was hot. love, Ma
Happy Anniversary Mark and Eirka!
Young Women Practice Mexican Dance in Omak WA
Preparing for Omak's 75th Stampede Weekend Festivities. Right next to the Omak Public Library, Civic League Park.
Constellation Captured in Okanogan
Big Dipper Over David's House in Okanogan WA
- Aperture: ƒ/2.8
- Shutter Speed: 79.0s
- Image Date: 8/9/10 2:00:00
- no tripod, no cable release, propped on a chair with my finger holding the shutter in bulb setting, releasing as motionlessly as possible
Find the Hummingbird in David’s Garden (scroll down for close-up)
Monarda didyma(Bee Balm) attracts hummingbirds.
National Geographic photographers do this much better but thought I would try. The hummingbirds dart around really fast. We sat in chairs outside and David called it watching Hummingbird TV. A great show.
“It’s a Boy Thing”, My Brother Said
Looked dangerous to me. They were far away. Shot with a 24-70 mm L series lens. Cropped to see the guys jump off the rocks into the alkaline lake. There are three views of the same frame, figures jumping get smaller and smaller. A mini-slideshow.
On the Colville Tribal Reservation, “Omak Lake, the largest saline lake in Washington, is located southeast of Omak. It lies mostly within a steep-walled valley and is the principal body of water in the Omak Lake watershed. Omak Lake has no outlet and is fed by drainage from the surrounding hills and plateaus and from several inlet streams.”
Wagon Wheel Bar & Grill
Unbeatable Okanogan County beef. $10.95 10 ounce steak specials include salad topped with Goldfish crackers and a potato side. Old Highway 97, Malott, WA
Beaver Banquet
These birches look so lovely far away in the Bird Sanctuary near Chief Joseph Smoke Shop, Route 97, outside of Brewster, WA
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