https://youtube.com/shorts/um9YAMgJ2A8?si=A2C1u_lULigy2fOc Short video on YouTube
I did not split, toast and butter as recommended. Maybe tomorrow morning
It’s a short season. They remind me of childhood. These were purchased at FreshMarket this morning.
‘A “gum band” is a regional term, primarily used in Western Pennsylvania and the Pittsburgh area, for a standard rubber band. It refers to the same small, stretchy elastic ring used to hold items together, commonly found in junk drawers. ‘
Made me think of this post
Here’s a Reblog from April 2012 from a visit to The National Coverlet Museum in Bedford Pennsylvania
1. No styrofoam in the center is allowed. Has to be a rubber band core.
2. You have to find the rubber band or be given a rubber band.
Rubber is heavy. Like a medicine ball. I was surprised by the weight of it.
This ball is so large that the newspaper rubber bands can’t fit around it. A chef donates his escarole rubber bands. Mr. Laszlo Zongor has taught a couple of young people how to start a rubber band ball the correct way.
I believe there are other rules but I can’t remember and he said to not misquote him!!
In Pittsburgh, rubber bands are called gum bands by many!
And yes, I looked it up and there is a guy who claims he has the real deal biggest authentic rubber band ball that he has stretched each band onto, individually. My friend E at work has a ball she started 11 years ago! She said she had started to buy the lettuce, pre washed in a bag and wasn’t getting those nice big fat Romaine bands lately.
I wish I had asked what motivated them to start making the rubber band ball……………….and then the commitment to “growing it”.
And a P.S. from Melinda (his wife) after viewing the post
“I think the last rule you forgot was that the rubber bands cannot be lengthened by tying one to another – each band has to fit entirely around the ball on its own. That’s the challenge at this point: finding bands that are long enough, since most will no longer work. ….Makes it somewhat self-limiting in size!”
Not sure who checks if one is following the rules but wanted to include it, since I forgot!
Pittsburgh’s hosting the NFL Draft and here’s the Countdown Clock on North Shore Drive
“The 2026 NFL Draft is scheduled for April 23–25 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, marking the 91st edition of the annual player selection meeting”
Pittsburgh Public Schools will close for three days
My friend Ginny sent me an article saying 500,000-700,000 people are expected to come to the city
https://youtube.com/shorts/B-dXy_KrdVY?si=fROwTuwwgQiRB6YN.
Click link to see Easter Egg Hunt Prize 10 second video
Art Education, Cocktails, and COVID
From my friend Joanne in Florida
Hi Ruth!
I received a wonderful book from your sister Mary which reminded me of the creative way the Frick Museum NYC stayed connected to the public during their shut down due to the long pandemic.
First, the back story.
During 2020-21, Mary shared a link to a video series that the Frick Museum posted to YouTube. It was one of their ways to offer a virtual means of communication and keep the museum present and engaged. They offered sixty-five episodes of a series called “Cocktails with a Curator.” Each new episode (Friday nights) featured a piece of art from the Frick Collection, paired with a cocktail that “matched” the art. They provided the recipe, the curator would be online with his/her drink, and spend a half hour providing commentary on the selected masterpiece. Wonderful way to spend Friday night happy hour, and you can still enjoy all episodes of this award winning series at this link: Cocktails with a Curator™ – YouTube
Best of Cocktails highlights 15 of the 66 episodes
“Audiences under 21 are encouraged to join with a non-alcoholic drink” so Mocktails it might be
And now about the book. Based on the popularity of the video series, the Frick has produced a volume that presents histories of works of art paired with creatively inspired drinks. For example, Holbein’s painting of Thomas More, who famously clashed with Henry VIII, is combined with a Bloody Mary (named after Henry’s eldest daughter). You can find the book here:
Cocktails with a Curator – The Frick Collection Shop
Thank you Mary, for introducing me to the video series, and for sending me this lovely book. Cheers to you!
We especially enjoyed the episodes hosted by Xavier Salomon who is now “new Director of the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum in Lisbon, Portugal.”
I try to keep up.
Camouflage deer and cloud shadows on the sea. It’s a shared guest blog by two sisters. My granddaughters. Anna and Maura.
Earlier this week it was the Tinned Fish Tasting and Anna trying sardines and sharing her photos. Maura shares abandoned furniture sightings with me and had the trio of toilets post just a bit ago.
It makes a grandmother happy to know the granddaughters are noticing, paying attention, and documenting what they see in the world, sharing with me and now I’m sharing with you
Oh and my very own daughter Laura (their aunt) sent me the Turquoise Toilet on the lawn ❤️recently. Thank you all.
I appreciate their content contributions to the blog. (You too dc, tw and jb)
