Ruth E. Hendricks

Highly Skilled and Courageous Artisans Repair the Damage

“On August 7, 2026, the historic Third Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh’s Shadyside neighborhood was struck by lightning during a severe morning storm.”

“…the blast sheared off roughly the top 5 feet of the spire’s decorative stone tip, which rained down as debris onto the steps below.”

CBSNews report about lightning strike (click link) Historic Landmark Third Presbyterian Church on corner of Fifth Avenue and Negley Avenue. Fortunately no one was injured from the falling stone pieces. The famous Tiffany windows were not damaged and services are still able to be held.

“The Building: The current striking Gothic Revival stone building was constructed between 1897 and 1903. The architect was T.P. Chandler. It features famous, highly valuable Tiffany stained-glass windows in the sanctuary. “

September 12, 2026 by Ruth Categories: architecture, PhotographyTags: church, lightning, photography, Pittsburgh PA, postaday, scaffolding, Shadyside, spire, Third Presbyterian Church, weather Leave a comment

What a Thoughtful Neighbor

September 11, 2026 by Ruth Categories: PhotographyTags: autumn, childhood, neighbor, neighborhood, photography, Pittsburgh PA, postaday, pumpkin 6 Comments

Where Were You on 9/11/2001?

Twenty five years ago I’d driven 548 miles from Pittsburgh to Rockford, Illinois on September 10th. My sister flew home to New York City from Chicago that same day. We couldn’t plan an overlap although I’d asked if she could wait and fly back the 11th. So I was asleep in my father’s room at the Wesley Willows Assisted Living as he was in the hospital with surgery from a broken foot. My cousin Christopher called on my dad’s phone. The old desk phone kind. Time is Central, an hour earlier than NY. He informed me that the World Trade Center had been attacked. It was only when I got to the hospital in my father’s room and the televisions were on everywhere. It took time to comprehend the magnitude of destruction and loss of human life.

My sister Mary photographed this 9/11 Cross a Symbol of Hope. It was a blog post in September 2020.

It’s “located near St. Paul’s Chapel of Trinity Church near the 9/11 memorial. This statute represents the wreckage of the twin towers forming a cross from the aftermath of 9/11. The original cross was moved in the 9/11 Museum. This cross was sculpted by Jon Krawczyk. Cardinal Egan picked him to sculpt the new cross.”

There’s a 35 page metal. book at the base with all the victims’ names inscribed

2011 blog post of FDNY Fire Engine in the Fire House across the street

**My sister shared this 2024view from her West Village apartment window tonight 9/11. The moon and the memorial tribute beams of light. You’d have to be in NJ to see both streams.**

*A white rose is placed on the name of a victim on their birthday*

September 10, 2026 by Ruth Categories: PhotographyTags: 9-11, family, memories, photography, postaday, tribute, World Trade Towers 12 Comments

Hard at Work

Carrying the empty water bottles. Grandson Ananda (3 in November) uses them as a drum until we take them to get credit for new water.

September 9, 2026 by Ruth Categories: PhotographyTags: family, grandson, photography, Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh PA, postaday, water bottles 6 Comments

You already know I’m a Knitter. So I Bought a Fun Hat but….

When I ordered this denim hat on my new phone, I used Apple Pay. Unfortunately when I looked at the email with the tracking for delivery of the prompt shipment, I noticed that the shipping address was a place in Rockville Maryland! What? Ooops.

A place I’d never searched, never visited, how could this be?

I still cannot understand how it came into my order. I googled the address and found a children’s haircutting place. What the heck? If it had been a yarn store…..

And I called the place and asked them to look for a package addressed to me and please please please Return to Sender. Fingers crossed.

And although it was my oversight on the incorrect shipping address, the owner and maker Malena at Thanks, I Made It Company shipped me another hat! It arrived today in the loveliest pink box. Incredibly generous of her to send me a new hat. I hope she gets the other hat back. She said maybe someone working at the place is a knitter. She was so gracious about the mix up on my order.

Now you know I’m proud to have been born in Brooklyn, New York , where I “lived” for about a week in a hospital before I moved across the river to New Jersey where I grew up.

By the way, there are blank hats you can get a custom embroidered message stitched and tote bags and tees, too!

With completed knit blanket for Roy. The colors matched

September 8, 2026 by Ruth Categories: PhotographyTags: embroidery, hats, hobby, knitting, maker, photography, postaday, tee shirts, Thanks I Made It Co, tote bags 16 Comments

Happy Birthday to my Sister

September 7, 2026 by Ruth Categories: PhotographyTags: birthday, family, photography, postaday, sister 15 Comments

Dahlias Bouquet

Dahlias.

So many varieties. My neighbor grows them.

A little bouquet my neighbor brought to the front porch for my DiL Nataliya

September 6, 2026 by Ruth Categories: PhotographyTags: bouquet, dahlias, flowers, neighborhood, photography, Pittsburgh PA, postaday 19 Comments

Silent Sunday

September 5, 2026 by Ruth Categories: Photography, silent SundayTags: Gloucester Blue, grapes, kitchen, photography, postaday 4 Comments

Fire Hydrant Flush on Friday

I got a robocall from the Water Department Thursday night. The neighborhood might be without water between 9-3 on Friday because they were flushing fire hydrants. When the water would come back on it might run brown. Let it run til clear. I filled buckets and gallon containers early this morning to aid flushing toilets at our home. We rushed showers, ran the dishwasher. Did two loads of laundry. Turns out we didn’t need the water buckets at the ready. We had water all day Friday. My DIL said it ran brown about 8:30. All clear soon after. We got a lot accomplished in a short amount of time, preparing for a day without running water. We had a 5 gallon bottle on the counter to drink and cook with.

September 4, 2026 by Ruth Categories: PhotographyTags: fire hydrant, neighborhood, photography, Pittsburgh PA, postaday, water, water department 8 Comments

Mourning Doves Evening Meal

At the neighbor’s feeder. They enjoy the seeds.

Their fluttering and cooing sounds remind me of staying at my grandmother’s when I was young. Mouthing doves have such a distinctive call. “The male’s signature “coo-OO-oo-oo” call sounds sorrowful and melancholic to human ears.”

Ten Things you might not know about mourning doves

September 3, 2026 by Ruth Categories: PhotographyTags: bird feeder, birds, garden, mourning doves, neighborhood, photography, postaday 6 Comments

Ruth E. Hendricks

Highly Skilled and Courageous Artisans Repair the Damage

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What a Thoughtful Neighbor

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Where Were You on 9/11/2001?

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Hard at Work

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You already know I’m a Knitter. So I Bought a Fun Hat but….

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Happy Birthday to my Sister

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Dahlias Bouquet

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Silent Sunday

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Fire Hydrant Flush on Friday

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Mourning Doves Evening Meal

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