Month: June 2011

Don & the Tire Machine in McKees Rocks

It was a hot day and this man was hard at work.  Chartiers Avenue was closed due to construction.  I needed directions. So I pulled into C & D Auto Service as there was an open bay and  I met this nice man who drew me the map below so I could get where I needed to go.

And here is the detailed hand-drawn map Don made for the detour route to Ohio Valley General Hospital.

Then I asked if I could photograph him, my people at their jobs series, and he said to photograph his partner Chuck.  I looked at Chuck and we laughed when I said I couldn’t see Chuck working.  He was at the desk in the office and it was not as exciting and dramatic as the work on the tire machine that Don interrupted to go and draw the map for me!  It was so kind of him to take the time to help give me excellent directions that required a lot of turns on one way streets. Thanks Don, Don’s wife, and Chuck at C & D Auto Service.

Nice people !

C & D AUTO SERVICE INC

1265 CHARTIERS AVE

MCKEES ROCKS, PA 15136
(412) 331-3774

listed on Angie’s List since 2004

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Sunseri Trattoria and Bakery in the Strip District

Just last week a guy came in Sunseri’s and ordered five sandwiches to go, double wrapped.  He was flying them to California. One for him to eat and the rest for his family.  Wednesday  I was driving by after my appointment and was headed out to see M and her Mom in the hospital and picked up a couple of sandwiches. Ashley the cashier asked me how my visit was with the grandchildren last Friday!  Good memory.  I was buying Italian animal crackers last time and a Tuna Balsamic with chopped onion.  Jimmy gives me a hard time with that order.  Not his favorite thing to make.  The Employee of the Month photo is framed on the wall- It’s Jimmy with cigar. Sunseri’s started in August 1985 and is a favorite destination for lunch.  Check out the size of their pepperoni sticks and the cheeses and olives for sale.  The single loaf is onion/olive oil bread.  Fresh baked loaves of Italian bread

Ashley Sunseri Cashier

lasagne

Pepperoni Sticks

1901 Penn Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-4450
(412) 255-1100

by Categories: Cooking and Eating, Pittsburgh PhotosTags: , , , , , , 11 Comments

Blog Gone to the Dogs Today

Ellie the Chihuahua. Up on Uncle Frank and Aunt Linda’s porch. She was watching that 1933 Plymouth pull out of the garage, too. Erika’s Aunt Georgeann has a new Chihuahua, about a year old. Rescued from somewhere out west.  I thought the capture of light on the fur was especially nice.  Thanks Ellie. Aunt Theresa calls her Ellie Mae.  She seemed to enjoy all the attention.

So many varieties of dogs.  People enjoy big dogs, little dogs, fluffy dogs, short and  long dogs, short hair and long hair.  Pugs, Boston Terriers, Bulldogs, Boxers, Collies, Setters, Airedales, Italian Greyhounds, Schnauzers, Terriers, all sorts of Doodles, Retrievers and  Labs-  there are some fancy named dogs I can’t even spell.  Plus all the dogs who do service and work for and with humans.  Companions.

Some people aren’t into dogs at all.     Allergies.

Some prefer a cat.          More allergies.

Some people are afraid of dogs.   Some dogs,  you should be afraid!

Some people prefer no pet at all.     The very idea of  “pet dirt” makes them cringe.

But lots of people LOVE (and I mean LOVE) their dogs.

My co-worker Bonnie is partial to chihuahuas and my Illinois cousins and also my  friends J and M love their dachshunds- long or short hair.  From generation to generation some families have the same breed of dog.  But some dogs come from the shelter or the pound or are lost and found, no particular papers or pedigree but much loved by those who rescue them.  Another lucky dog today!

p.s. WordPress  updated the comment box method below.

Chihuahua Dog
Different Families Have Breeds They Prefer
by Categories: Animals in the CityTags: , , , , , 10 Comments

Two Right Feet

No wonder V had trouble getting Jack’s shoes on his feet as we were getting ready to go across the street to the playground.  Turns out there are two identical pairs of sneakers that the boys were given last week by a friend.  Back in Ohio, Jack put on the two right ones and V discovered it when he was visiting Pittsburgh! How he could manage to walk without falling was amazing.Two Right Shoes

by Categories: Childhood, photo of the dayTags: , , , , 9 Comments

Laura and I Went to the Annex Cookery and Tin Front Café- Homestead, PA

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A full weekend of family and happy times. Laura drove in from Columbus and met me at Clarissa’s Boutique at 3:30, ( they close at 4 on Saturday) tried on and picked up her bridal veil and headpiece. I’d driven down from Uncle Frank’s and Aunt Linda’s in West Mifflin on the way to Carson Street and saw the Annex Cookery Store looking inviting. So after we got the veil, we drove back along the Monongahela River to Homestead to check out the Annex Cookery, a cool store that used to be almost behind our first house (1989) in Pittsburgh on Walnut Street years ago. The Tin Front Café (all veg, beautiful bread and local resources) with a wonderful back patio. Judith Tener gave us a nice tour of the cafe. A great place to meet friends and eat, then shop in the adjacent Annex Cookery. Laura and I bought a couple of Joseph Joseph kitchenware items (there is a whole line in the store) and made a wish list for more. Like the triangular olive dish with the holes leading to a circular bowl underneath where partygoers stash the olive pits they never know what to do with after they eat the olive! A square colander that would fit in a sink’s corner perfectly, and all these utensils where the spoon bowl or spatula head doesn’t touch the counter or stove top when it is at rest. They call it Elevate Slotted Spoon or Elevate Ladle- How smart is that? Those Joseph brothers have created a lot of colorful and useful kitchen ware. “Joseph Joseph is now internationally recognized for producing some of the most stylish and technically innovative products available.”

I bought a Riviera Bag and it was hard to choose between sizes/colors but you know how I am about the Red White and Blue. Didn’t I just tell everyone don’t buy me anymore Red White and Blue items. Well, it looked like something the kids would think funny when I travel to visit. Of course, I’m not going to look like Julia Roberts carrying her Riviera Bag in Eat Pray Love but the bag is going to be able to hold knitting and whatever else I need to take to the Riviera, I mean Ohio.

And if you ever spent a rowdy evening raising a beer stein and cheering the Steelers underneath the Maidenform, Bali and or Warner’s assorted brassieres hanging at Chiodo’s Tavern (formerly at the end of the Homestead Highlevel Bridge) you can see the bar(without bras) in all its stunning beauty of wood and mirrors and glass right here! Now a Walgreen’s is in Chiodo’s location. 🙁

Get thee to Homestead and eat brunch or “Butternut bisque with coconut milk and basil $3.75 Four bean chili with cheddar and cilantro $3.95 Black bean hummus with sliced cucumber and warm pita $7.95 Spinach salad with apple, gorgonzola, walnuts and pickled beet $7.95 Hot tamale with black beans…” (menu sample taken from their website) Tin Front Café and shop in the unique store with wonderful kitchen and cookware and jazzy aprons and tableware at the Annex Cookery- There are write ups and reviews galore, raving about the renovations, the store AND the café. Click here for one by Patricia Lowry.

Homestead is happening!

A return visit to the Tin Front Cafe 6/15/11-  Joan and I ate a delicious lunch.  I had Grilled Cheddar and Apple sandwich with mixed greens on the side with a touch of balsamic dressing and lovely parings of sharp Italian cheese.  Joan had the spicy spinach quesadilla.  A couple of iced teas and a lot of fun.  Ellie brought out “Happy Beans” with our check- Chocolate covered coffee beans.

(And if you’re following Keep or Pitch there is a shot of the Yard Sale Leftovers at St. Raf’s Gym.)

by Categories: Cooking and Eating, Family, Pittsburgh PhotosTags: , , , , 8 Comments

Uncle Frank Drove His 1933 Plymouth to Pick Up the Bride Today (6 images)

We were up at Aunt Linda and Uncle Frank’s today, seeing all the family in town for the wedding last night. Saturday was another wedding and Uncle Frank took his spotless 1933 Plymouth to pick up the bride. He has had the car since 1973 and it a beauty. He added a couple of Just Married signs on the sides and back. Michael(5) is photographing the scene from the porch.

by Categories: Photography, vintageTags: , , , , , , 18 Comments

Cookie Table(s) at Pittsburgh Weddings are Tradition

Cookie-Table-WeddingTonight Mark and Erika are at a wedding and I am thinking about the cookie table. Wondering if they packed a container and brought home some cookies. (Probably not since they are doing the PX90 workout these days.)

There was a big article in the New York Times in Dec 2009. Several theories as to the origin of the tradition. The wedding reception featured in the article took place at the Le Mont where Mark and Erika had their reception, too. The cookie tables shown today on the blog are from a May 2009 wedding of my friend Donna’s son John and his lovely bride Angie. They had multiple cookie tables and the cookies were delicious. Everyone must have baked their hearts out for this wedding! Dozens and dozens of cookies. Everyone has a favorite type cookie and I have seen wedding guests scarf down a dozen or so lady locks BEFORE dinner is served.

Anyone know about the unwritten rules of cookie tables as written about in the Chowhound article??

Cookie-Table-Pittsburgh-Wedding-Fruit-Centerpieces

Cookie-Table-PittsburghCookie-Table-Pittsburgh- WeddingThese cookie tables are all from the SAME wedding!!

by Categories: Baking, Photography, WeddingTags: , , , , , , , 19 Comments

Quesada from Spain

My next door neighbor’s parents are visiting from Spain. They brought a Quesada wrapped in a cool paper that listed all the ingredients.. It is a dessert that has a bit of lemon peel in it. Dense and delicious. I was invited to have a piece. Butter, eggs, sugar, flour, lemon zest, a pinch of cinnamon. Tastes reminiscent of a simple custard of childhood but different texture. It is made like this so it could be carried in a knapsack and last a long time, not spoil. Here is a photo of it.Quesada from Spain

by Categories: Cooking and EatingTags: , , , , , 4 Comments

It Started with an Elvis Clock and 3 Latch Hook Rugs

I went to the North Side Carpet Cleaning Company to pick up the latch hook rugs my mother made years ago. After I paid the bill and Joe put them into the car I saw the giant Elvis photo on the wall of the office and then realized there was a clock in the left upper corner. He said they got it when they visited Graceland years ago. His wife is the fan! I asked him if it would be okay to photograph it for the blog. He graciously agreed. Elvis-Clock-Graceland

And once I was in the office and shooting Elvis without a reflection from the window, I saw the black and white historical photograph of the first chain driven truck on the North Side.

Chain-Driven-Truck

Then check out this office machine sitting in front of the window. A Paymaster Ribbon Writer to imprint checks.

Office-MachineThen I got a tour of the room where the rugs are cleaned and I saw the 1952 MIRZA (made the same year I was born)

1952-Mirza-Rug-Cleaning-MachineRug-Cleaning-MachineAnd he pointed out the hole in the ceiling where I could see a rug hanging to dry. They dry 24 hours. He told me tomorrow it would be full.

Hanging-Carpet-DryingHere is the place you bring your rugs. They will carry them out of your car which is nice. And load them when they are ready.

North-Side-Carpet-Cleaning-CompanyClean-Rugs-Ready-in-Will-CallThe front of the building I captured as I left. North Side Carpet Cleaning Company has coupons to print out on their website. Joe told me my mother’s rugs “cleaned up nice!”

North-Side-Carpet-Cleaning-Co

Latch-Hook-Rugs

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Did You Ever Have a Bread Box?

Or watch a TV game show where they had to ask “Is it bigger than a bread box?”  Use a bread box as a gauge. I walked in the kitchen and the afternoon sun came in a spotlight onto the bread box, created some reflection and looked like there was an electric light inside the box.  That is a loaf of Left Coast Sourdough by Allegro Hearth purchased at the Bryant Street Market and a package of hot dog buns for our non-cookout we are scheduling.  98 degrees in the shade here today.chrome-bread-box

by Categories: photo of the day, PhotographyTags: , , , , , 10 Comments