Month: December 2012

There are at Least 14 Ways to Spell It!

And here is an article explaining the most popular and the second most popular way to spell- Hanukkah or Chanukah? The Festival of Light. 

Tuesday- the fourth night.

I was invited for potato latkes and the lighting of the Hanukkah candles at my friend’s house.  We taught together these past 6 years until I moved to the high school this year.  The first photo is her beautiful Menorah on the mantle. Her kids are grown up and out of town, too.  She and her husband and I sat by there fire and then she lit the fourth candle. It gets dark so early now as we approach the shortest day of the year.  The warmth of the fire and the glow from the colorful candles was lovely.

After we ate the latkes(served with sour cream and or applesauce)  Ann lit the fourth candle.

We left for an adventure, traipsing around Squirrel Hill, Murray Avenue and Forbes.  Up and down trying to decide where we should eat!  At least it wasn’t raining.   We had a nice evening, catching up on our families and school and mutual friends.  When we walked by the Giant Eagle supermarket and a young man asked if we were Jewish and she said, yes and he asked if she had candles.  Then we saw the table set up in front of the market with another young man cooking latkes on a griddle.  They had applesauce available and their organization had a big sign on the Menorah.  They told me they were “spreading light in the world.”  I asked if it would be okay to blog them and they gathered to gather for a group shot.  Pulled out the cell phone camera.  Yep, my camera was back by Ann’s house in the back trunk of the car.

Thanks Ann for including me in the candle lighting and for taking me on a good healthy walk around the neighborhood to find the best dinner.

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by Categories: Night Light in the City, Pittsburgh PhotosTags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , 6 Comments

Home of the 5 lb. Hamburger!

Yes, that’s 80 ounces of meat.  But not a photograph to prove it exists.  Just this sign on the overhang. A site describes this place as a Sports Bar, a local hangout, a joint!

Maybe the five pound hamburger weighs a bit less after grilling?  The way the punctuation goes I’m not sure if there is a five pound hot dog or a five pound pirogue, too

I was at a red light on Friday at the intersection in some traffic.  Good timing.  When you have a 50mm fixed lens on your camera and you’re in the driver’s seat, stopped, there’s no maneuver room, no way to get more of the establishment in the frame. This is the shot. There was no place to park or get out.  I was on my way to see the family. Friday afternoon traffic, bumper to bumper.

But it was the sign that caught my eye.  Nobles on Nobles Lane down the street from school.  It wasn’t open when I was stopped in front.  I know it would’ve been cool to actually go in and order one, document the gargantuan meat.

Home of the 5 lb Hamburger2

by Categories: Cooking and Eating, Pittsburgh PhotosTags: , , , , , , , , , , , 9 Comments

Front Porch Ambient Light Portrait- Godmother/Goddaughter

Taking photos of people on the front porch is the nicest light.  Not too much, not too little. Like Baby Bear- it’s just right!

No squinting from the midday sun either (but there really wasn’t any full sun this weekend, due to some thick cloud cover and rain, rain, rain)

Was out visiting in Columbus and getting ready to go home.  Matty and Maura and I were in a separate car from the rest of the family due to schedules and timing.  We swung by Laura and James’ house to see their freshly decorated tree that a few hours earlier had been tied on the roof of their car.  I took a Christmas photo of them in their living room so had the camera out as we headed back to the car.  “Quick” Laura said. “Godmother, goddaughter shot!” Pressed once and it shot two in quick succession.

And that is how the Front Porch Ambient Light Portrait got taken on Sunday afternoon before I headed back to Pittsburgh to start a new school week.

Godmother and Goddaughter Front Porch Potrait

by Categories: Family, PhotographyTags: , , , , , , , , , , 14 Comments

A Vapor Trail, the Moon and Thursday’s Sunrise in the High School Windows

Tuesday’s dawn was beautiful.  Two days later, the view on the way into school included the  moon and the vapor trail of a jet. A gift to start the day!  The shot on this day has a bit more of the scene too- the parking lot, the sidewalk, the corner of the school.view at school

by Categories: PhotographyTags: , , , , , , , , , , , 4 Comments

Weekly Photo Challenge: Change of Seasons

Friday night in Laura and James’ living room, I was telling them what the weekly photo challenge was.

Laura said, “I have pumpkins on the front porch and Christmas decorations in a box.” So I went out onto the front porch but when I saw the neighbor’s Christmas lights and a mini-bus drove by, I knew I had the shot for the Change of Seasons challenge.

Change of Seasons. And the temperature is 50 degrees making it feel like a Spring evening.

Change of seasons

by Categories: Weekly Photo ChallengeTags: , , , , , , , , 14 Comments

Christmas Shopping at the Annex Cookery in Homestead PA

After school let out,  I drove down to Homestead from Carrick.  Judith and Daniel extended a warm welcome and we caught up.  I hadn’t been there in awhile but was so glad I went.

I had my Christmas list and wanted to support my Independent Kitchen Store.

First, I ordered the 4 cheese pasta bake with a side of sautéed spinach at the Tin Front Cafe. where I sat at the old Chioda’s bar.  The restaurant is vegetarian.  A lovely Spring mix salad with balsamic dressing and asiago cheese shavings, a slice of crusty bread.

Yum.  I heard about the up and coming new restaurants coming to the avenue in Homestead.  Judith showed me the special honor in the Pittsburgh Magazine. Her son, Daniel Valentine, was recognized for his work to rebuild  and revitalize Homestead and was chosen as a winner in the Forty Under Forty awards.

“Winners were chosen based on their passion, commitment, visibility, diversity and overall impact on the region.”  

Congratulations Daniel!

Then after dinner I shopped in the adjacent Annex Cookery which is the most beautiful store.  (Smidge of Just a Smidgen blog would love it!) 

You might remember I blogged a visit to both places when Laura visited Pittsburgh.

Supporting independents!  Scroll down and see the specials on USA Pans- Bakeware manufactured in Ambridge PA!

Buy three (any shape) and get a free jelly roll pan. (I love jelly roll.)   Everyone needs a new cookie sheet!

I can’t say what I bought as that would be a spoiler.  You can call Judith 1-800-862-6639 and she’ll ship out in time for the holidays.

All- Clad is manufactured in Canonsburg PA, just down the road from Pittsburgh.

Judith has a Holiday Special on an All-Clad 3 quart lidded saute pan for just 99$!  WOW!   I love cooking with my All-Clad pans.

This is the store where I bought my Nespresso machine  before the display was so high speed.

I hear George Clooney is advertising them  on TV in France, oui?

Check out the elegant and classy  Museum of Modern Art flower vase.    Understated and stunning.

Love the quirky clocks!  A 3 cup steamed pudding mold. The Twoolies and the Riviera Bags are one of a kind gifts.

Shop YOUR Independent Store today.   Now to gift wrap everything………………..

 

Annex Cookery STore in Homestead

3 qt all clad saute pan

Glassware and soap

MOMA vase
MOMA vase

Clock

Bakeware

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Riviera Bag

 

Espresso Beans covered in chocolate to see you through the holidays
Espresso Beans covered in chocolate to see you through the holidays

 

Bodum teapots

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by Categories: Baking, Cooking and Eating, PhotographyTags: , , , , , , , , , , , 6 Comments

Forgot to Post the Pilgrim Trolls, So Ugly They’re Cute?

Trolls have a really bad name these days. The internet troll is the first to come up with a google search.  UGH. The word conjures visions of creeps on the internet doing extremely negative things.

But there was a time when the word trolls meant little plastic doll with crazy hair sticking up and beady eyes-

and before that they were written about in Norse Mythology and Scandinavian Folklore.

The trolls of the rubbery type, a protruding belly with navel, glassy eyes and colorful hair were around when I was in grade school in the late 60’s.

Did a search for the origin of the  troll dolls and they were created in 1959 by a Danish man, Thomas Dam.  They are also called Dam dolls.

Chicago John noticed the Christmas troll, dressed as a caroler, on my Sunday breakfast table.  The wikipedia post says that some people collect THOUSANDS of them.  No kidding. I have a few of the Christmas ones that have been around for years and I brought them out for the grandkids who had fun with them last summer.

When I was with the family in Virginia over the Thanksgiving Holiday, my son’s in-laws had this pair of Pilgrim Trolls on the mantle. They made me laugh when I saw them.

I did turn these two so they were looking at the camera cause initially they just had eyes for one another. (scroll down)

Sounds like they are having a bit of a comeback these days with a new generation.  Any troll collectors out there?

Pilgrim Trolls (1)

 

 

Pilgrim Trolls facing

by Categories: PhotographyTags: , , , , , , , , , , , , 8 Comments

Dawn’s Early Light Caught in High School Windows

As I entered the building I looked back.
Saw the reflection of dawn in the high school windows. Lifted my phone up and shot the scene.

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by Categories: Photography, What I Saw on the Way to SchoolTags: , , , , , 11 Comments

Setting the Table for Sunday Breakfast

The holly bush outside provide a few branches.  Photo by iPhone.

 I have 3 Christmas plates in the Naif pattern but they made it feel festive.

Menu was scrambled eggs with a bit of extra sharp Cabot cheddar, toast.  Coffee and orange juice. The tangerines looked beautiful but the taste was a bit disappointing.

Nothing fancy, simple but good. And the individual butter dishes from my elegant friend J in Omaha. They inspire me to entertain.

Filled with Irish Kerrygold Butter! You can’t go wrong with Irish butter.IMG_6397

by Categories: Cooking and EatingTags: , , , , , , , , , 8 Comments

Listen to Garrison Keillor Read Liane Ellison Norman’s Poem Today

Saturday morning I went to a wonderful poetry reading at Calvary Episcopal Church on Shady Avenue (in Pittsburgh). It was a grand crowd of friends, fellow poets and family. Jan Beatty gave a marvelous introduction and then Liane read poems from her book.   They had to get extra chairs! Afterwards there was lots of hot coffee and croissants, raspberries and blueberries and other delicious pastries. Her grandson helped sell the books and make change.

Liane Ellison Norman’s new poetry book is Breathing the West: Great Basin Poems.

On Monday December 3rd, one of her poems will be read by Garrison Keillor on The Writer’s Almanac.  How cool is that?

Here’s the link so you can listen to the reading of Tree by Liane Ellison Norman.

Poet Liane Ellison Norman and her husband Bob
Poet Liane Ellison Norman and her husband Bob

 

by Categories: poetryTags: , , , , , , , , , , , , 6 Comments