Hand Held Rotary Egg Beaters and Cupcake Display at DOZEN Bakeshop

My mother had a hand held egg beater.

Cupcakes are all the rage.  These are $2.50 each.  You can order Valentine Cupcakes now. Different flavors posted on a chalkboard. One was made with some East End Brewery Stout

Click blue link for information on DOZEN bakeshop in Oakland and Lawrenceville open Super Bowl Sunday 9-12 with special Black and Gold treats.

Rotary Egg Beaters

My mother had one
I think I did, too.
You can probably still buy one.
it wasn’t always a smooth operation.
The beaters got out of line.
And are cupcakes “hot” where you live?
Near my sister’s house the line is around the corner-
for cupcakes!

Tommie (declared male at birth by our neighbor): A Sweet Girl Cat Remembered

The winter of pet loss. Tommie and Fred were of the same litter, brother and sister.  They both suffered from hyperthyroid condition and despite medication couldn’t quite make it to what would have been their 18th birthdays on March 7th.  Tommie would rub up against you and your hand and pet herself if you stopped petting her.  She was feisty and funny.  We will miss her.

 

Had to photograph the picture on the computer screen. Original on a hard drive that crashed.

Nike the Service Dog, Named For Greek Goddess of Strength, Speed & Victory

A gentle spirit, kind eyes.
She travels to nursing homes
makes people smile. Feel better.
Especially Ms. P’s first grade Friday!
Ms. P’s class had a visitor today.  The Art Room is just across the hall. Lucky me!
Email Kirk Sciarretti to arrange a visit- kasciarretti@live.com

Mazeroski in the Snow

Read a tip to revisit something you’ve already photographed, but return in another season or different time of day. After photographing Heinz Field the other day before the AFC game I swung by the Bill Mazeroski statue above the Allegheny River and shot him running into home plate, surrounded by snow.  Some of you may remember my photographing the statue unveiling. No people in this shot.  I had dinner with my friend  Sue R. who is  a  serious fan and a member of the Lady Bucs Club.  She has her tickets to go to Bradenton for Spring Training games.  I told her about shooting the statue in the snow and she said she was looking forward to seeing him. Susan Wagner is the sculptor of this incredible statue.

A memorable moment frozen for all time!

Whose Chairs?

A recurring theme around the city as I travel between schools-  I see chairs.  The chairs make me wonder about the owners, their usual occupants.  Somewhere in my hard drive I’ve a photo of a high chair near the curb, waiting for pick-up.  Chairs have a personality of their own. I love to hear the names of different types of chairs, each evoke an image- wing chair, ladderback, Windsor or Eames. Lawn chair, rocking chair, lounge or arm.  High chair, club chair, captain chair, molded plastic, patio or kitchen chair.  School chairs are not particularly comfortable. Kids love the rolling ones on wheels. Folding, stackable, side chair or throne.  Where do you sit?

Everyone has a chair.
Some more comfortable than others.
What kind of chair do you prefer?
As always,
Two yellow chairs and a gray one on Evaline Street. Yellow curb peeking through the snow.

Acme Thunderer and Pink Pearl Eraser Still Life

A teacher's pocket contents. Used to blow the whistle when I had playground duty and worked the After School Program. Now it is just on my key ring.

Emptied my pocket and saw these two items under the light on the desk in the front hall.  Bonnie, the gym teacher (now retired) told me about the Acme Thunderer. Click here to learn how to choose a whistle.  Some of the listings are safety, marine, refereeing, sports, orchestral-you can buy a tugboat whistle or one to lead the band.   There is a collector’s model with the words TITANIC engraved on the side.    And most everyone remembers Pink Pearl Erasers.

Fact 1-

Eberhard Faber began to manufacture the Pink Pearl in a factory he started in 1861.

Fact 2-

“In 1996, Eberhard Faber sold more than 4.7 million Pink Pearl Erasers. Laid end to end, that’s enough erasers to reach from Washington, D.C., to Philadelpha.”  By the way, the small print says the eraser was manufactured in Malaysia. There are buildings in Brooklyn where the factory used to be.

Underneath the whistle and eraser is a note I found outside of the school listing the Fruits of the Spirit (last one is self-control) with a  penciled math problem on the back.

Peter King to Open for Jeffrey Gaines-Feb 26th-7 PM-Club Cafe Pittsburgh

Peter King on guitar at the coffee/ice cream shop on Saturday afternoon.

Aspinwall Beans “N” Cream was the scene last Saturday.  Cool decor, lots of record album covers and posters and photos and Beatles memorabilia adorn the walls of the coffee house. Fun to watch a lava lamp in the corner.  Peter added an expertly played instrumental combining three classic jig and reel tunes, complete with an occasional foot tap that made one want to get up and dance along to the beat. Peter invited harmonica player Marc Reisman to join him onstage for a few numbers and the two paired nicely.  Peter will open for singer-songwriter Jeffrey Gaines, whom the Chicago Tribune calls “extraordinary and timeless,” at Club Cafe on Feb. 26 at 7 pm. Check out  Peter King website and see the photos I shot for his latest CD cover.   For tickets write to info@peterkingmusic.com ($13 in advance). If you live locally, Peter teaches guitar lessons privately and at Chatam University. You can contact him and sign up now to learn to play away the winter blues.

How About this House for Steelers Madness?

Some dedicated fans live here for sure!

Sunday night’s game was a nail biter.  On the way to Cj’s house to watch the game I saw this house across the street.  Monday morning everyone will be happy at work.  The excitement will build over the next couple of weeks.  Many will be superstitious about a wide range of rituals-not shaving, items of clothing worn, with many fans feeling responsible for the final outcome dependent on their action or inaction.  It is quite a phenomenon.  Thanks for all the good wishes from friends far and wide.

And congratulations again to Dr Beth P. who won the Blog Giveaway of the photo print of her choice, which she is going to donate to the    National Kidney Foundation’s Annual Gift of Life Gala!

HERE WE GO! Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Jets Playoff Game- Single Digits on the Thermometer Predicted

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Reporting from Pittsburgh- I put myself on assignment.       Saturday morning I was thinking about a post for Sunday’s game.  It was all blue sky and about ten degrees.  Got out of bed and drove through the Strip District on my way down to Heinz Field.  The guy who sold me the Croatian STEELERSFan T-shirts last year agreed to a shot. Fans lined up for breakfast outside DeLuca’s.   Dumptrucks were being filled with snow from the stadium parking lots. Rows of Porta-Potties stood empty, waiting for the Sunday tailgaters. Up in the stands I saw an army spreading salt left and right.  Went for coffee in Aspinwall afterwards and ended in the J & W Variety Store (EST. 1969)  where I purchased a tiny 99 cents pencil sharpener. Lots of STEELERS gear and accessories for sale. I asked if it would be okay if I photographed the display and the proprietor said – Sure!      Handed me a complimentary HERE WE GO button as I left.  Everyone’s pumped!  I read a letter to the editor (5th one down)in the Post-Gazette from the guy in the New England End Zone Militia asking us to drown out the JETS fans and win!   Similar to the players message to the fans click here– BE LOUD!!

My Answer to 9 Degrees Temperature? Homemade French Onion Soup

A bowl of onions on the kitchen table has been talking to me saying “Onion rings in the cast iron skillet, onion rings in the cast iron skillet.” But I came to my senses and sliced them up and sauteed them in butter and olive oil to carmelize them.  Toasted a slice of Allegro Hearth Farmgrain Bread and thin parings of Parmesan. Ladled the hot broth over the toast and cheese. Used my Grandmother Hendricks’ silver soup spoon with just the right bowl of a spoon for the soup. Found a wealth of information and recipes for Onion Soup. Click the link to read the history and simple directions on how to make it perfectly.  And the birthday pasta bowls from V make a lovely soup plate for this winter meal.

the kitchen smelled so inviting. I wouldn't make this in July.