Month: June 2013

Who Do You Root For? For Whom Do You Root?

Is it whom or who?

 

Graduation on Saturday.  Everything going without a hitch. Supposed to be a solemn occasion.  Serious business.

I was standing with my camera, photographing the seniors as they filed in and found their rows.

Mr. Milinski, Health and Phys Ed teacher, Cross Country and Tennis Coach, was at the end of the first row.

Be seated after the National Anthem.

I hear a soft voice, “Ms. Hendricks, Ms. Hendricks.”

Mr. Milinski lifted his robe to reveal some crazy Green Bay Argyles.  Of course, I photographed them.

In fact, I think he wanted me to get the shot.   He seemed pleased that I captured his individuality.

This morning at school I ran into him in the main office and I asked him if it would be okay to blog his socks.

He said I could even use his name.  And I asked him why he was a Green Bay Fan in the middle of Pittsburgh? and his response was

“Because I’m smart!”

It Can’t Be Easy Being a Cheesehead Green Bay Fan (it’s not derogatory anymore) in a Sea of Steelers Fans!

was my original title.  

Mr. Milinski and I  had a chuckle and here’s the photo of his Cheesehead socks.  Everyone has their team allegiance, often due to place of residence or where one was born or hails from….can’t end a sentence with “from” either. Yikes.

I think he’s from the South Side of Pittsburgh, nowhere near Lake Michigan but I’ll check on that.

Green Bay Argyles

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Weekly Photo Challenge:Fleeting

Several ideas came to mind but I’m posting a single shot of the fleeting sunlight on the curtain in my living room today.

Under a cloud, the sun shifts –   it’s gone.

 

Fleeting Sunlight

 

 

 

 

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“Pittsburgh Recollections” a Mural by Romare Bearden

Port Authority Downtown Pittsburgh Romare Bearden Mural
Port Authority Downtown Pittsburgh- Gateway Center Station 
“Pittsburgh Recollections”Romare Bearden Mural

To see and read more about the mural painted by Romare Bearden  in 1984 click the article here.

Appraised at 15 million dollars.

Most people who pass by it on their daily commute,  probably have no idea.  It’s 60 by 13 feet.

I tried the panorama setting again on my new iPhone.

 

 

 

 

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Waiting for a Ride to Commencement

 

 

 

Saturday at 12:30 PM, Pittsburgh Carrick High School’s Class of 2013 will graduate.

Friday morning, the Timpani were waiting for a truck to take them to Petersen Events Center at University of Pittsburgh.  Ready for their part in  Sir Edward Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance as the seniors walk in the processional.

The bowl of the drum seemed to glow on this overcast day. And yes, there’s a snare drum peeking from behind.

Timpani

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Three More Days of the One-Woman Show, REMAINS, at the New Hazlett Theatre, North Side

My friend R sent me an article from the Pittsburgh Post- Gazette  by Sara Bauknecht, about “Remains”, a one-woman show  playing at The New Hazlett Theater on the North Side – Thought I might be interested in going. I read the part about going through boxes of memories and stuff from one’s parents and it piqued my interest.

You can read more about the star of the show, Beth Corning, at her blog

“This year’s offering is a one-woman show (starring Beth Corning ) made with Tony Award-winning choreographer/performer Dominique Serrand, co-artistic director of Minneapolis-based The Moving Company.”

and before you know it,  R went online and  bought us tickets.  I’m so glad she did.  It was excellent.  Powerful.  Graceful. Moving.  Evocative.

And it’s there for just 3 more days!!   If you live in Pittsburgh, you should make a plan to go this weekend.

We went to the performance Thursday night and stayed for the Talk-Back afterwards.

Beth Corning asked the audience if we might Tweet, Facebook and tell friends about “Remains” – (a Glue Factory Project) which is playing Friday June 7,

Sat June 8th and a Sunday Matinee at 2 (June 9th) when you pay what you can for admission.

R and I went to the lobby and then I wondered out loud how to blog about it and R suggested I ask to take a photo of Beth.  So we turned around and went back and I took a photo with my iPhone.

A nice man, Alex showed me how to take a panorama with my new iPhone  in the theater lobby and showed me where to stand in the corner.  A bit dark but fun. Thanks Alex

We headed to Market Square to La Cucina Flegrea where the kitchen had closed but served us each a bowl of delicious minestrone and some bread.

And if you don’t live in Pittsburgh, you could invite Beth and Dominique to come to your city. Maybe they will consider a tour!  The show’s theme is personal and universal simultaneously.

 

The New Hazlett Theater

Formerly the Carnegie Library  Now the New Hazlett Theater

Beth Corning

Beth Corning after the performance.

Remains PosterPoster in the Lobby

The lobby at the New Hazlett Theater

The Lobby of the New Hazlett Theater

Market Square

Market Square Scene

Minestrone

A bowl of minestrone at La Cucina Flegrea in Market Square, after the show.

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How One Looks at Dryer Lint

Last week I emptied the dryer at my son and DIL’s. Thought I’d help out, fold a load.

When I cleaned out the lint trap, I found a tri-layered catch of  fresh dryer lint.  The striation helped out by the load of new white towels.

I put the dryer lint on the counter above the garbage and saw the face of a sock monkey.

“Erika”, I said, “let me save the dryer lint and show the kids in the morning, It’s striped and looks like a sock monkey.”

Hmmmm.  I decided to take a pic on the phone instead and throw it in the trash cause I didn’t think she was seeing the face and she hadn’t been to the dryer lint art show at the  Duds ‘N Suds Laundromat on Centre Ave  here in Pittsburgh, a few years ago.  I took some friends and it was a memorable and quirky event. The laundromat had that detergent, steamy scent.  The people and scenes were all made from none other than DRYER LINT!  You know how different loads offer different colors, frequently gray but sometimes a lovely hue, depending on the clothes or sheets.

My DIL had no idea there was a National Lint Project and that artist Cheryl Capezutti  creates art from such a catch.  You can go to her website and see her creations.

 What I should have done is send the batch of lint to the artist Cheryl Capezutti and she could have created a winged creature or a tiny figure. She finds art in the everyday.

My lint screen here at home in Pittsburgh isn’t as interesting a shape, either.  Erika’s is a half moon and mine is a flat, broad screen.

dryer lint

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Unexpected Gift

The seniors in sixth period finished their Digital Photography exam.   And after homeroom, the seniors were allowed to go home.

One of the young women in the class and my homeroom, handed me this two tone metal dog pin and said, “Here Ms. Hendricks.  This is for you.”

I was so surprised. She’d made it in Jewelry Class.

I took the highly polished pin and pinned it on my shirt collar, fastening the safety clasp, thanked her and told her how lovely it was….  but then as I thought about it, I asked her if maybe she should give it to someone in her family, it was so beautiful.

She said, “No, I want you to have it.”

My first year teaching high school is coming to a close.  I’m touched when asked to sign a yearbook. They want me to bring my camera to graduation on Saturday.

I’ve learned a lot.

Thank you Jaquea.                                           (p.s.  It is really difficult to photograph highly polished metal)

Two Tone Metal Dog Pin

 

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Do You Keep a Junk Drawer?

A couple of years ago I was going to photograph junk drawers.  It looks like it has already been done on the google search. There are some incredible junk drawers in the image search already.

There’s even an article about Make Over Your Junk Drawer from overwhelmed to organized

My DIL Erika consented that I could blog hers but that was awhile back so hope she is still in agreement.

After all, this is probably the kind of situation that gives a MIL a bad name.

I blogged my own junk on my old Keep or Pitch blog but never proceeded with the project.

I’m thinking about returning to the project, even though there are a lot of photos out there already.

Just read an article about self-assignment for your photography practice and I was thinking about some of the ideas I’ve been considering.

One thing, no two junk drawers would be the  same.

So you do keep a junk drawer in your home?    Maybe readers could send photos of their own junk drawers and we could have a collection of photos from around the world.  Maybe they are only in the USA.

If I came to photograph it, would you keep it “as is” or feel compelled to tidy it up first?

Just thinking about junk drawers. Cleaning up. Being tidy.  Wondering how little pieces gather in a spot, collect.

Thanks Erika.

Junk Drawer in the Kitchen

If you followed my Keep or Pitch blog,you’ve seen these already.  Seems only fair to post some of my own accumulated junk.

my junk drawer

 

 

 

no room for a junk drawer?  A little copper dish will do.

Junk dish

 

 

 

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Happy Fortieth Wedding Anniversary- Marlene and Donald!

June 2, 1973.  Swissvale Pennsylvania.  Happy  40th Anniversary Marlene and Donald.

Marlene and Donald’s daughter Erika is married to my son Mark and we share the grandchildren- Anna, Michael, Jack and Maura.  Last year I posted the church they were married in , Madonna del Castello, and all of a sudden a whole year has flown by.

Here’s a photo of the family at Laura and James’ wedding November 2011.  V’s idea to find a photo of you and the grandchildren, 40 years after your wedding day.  Send me a wedding photo and I will add it to the post.  I should have taken a photo of one when we visited Memorial Day weekend or taken a new photo of the two of you with the grandchildren.

(I was going to post my friend Donna’s wedding cake topper from the same era but the bride’s hair was brunette in the photo and Marlene is blonde)

Marlene and Donald with their daughter Erika, my son Mark, and the grandchildren. Columbus OH

Marlene and Donald

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Popped on the Stovetop

My DIL bought Non-GMO Organic popcorn in the bulk section of Whole Foods for $2 a pound.

The family hasn’t eaten popcorn on family movie night for more than a year.  Since my mom hailed from Illinois we had popcorn when I was growing up- apples and milk on Sunday nights.  At Christmas my parents gave bags of strawberry popcorn kernels grown in Durand, Illinois and it was so tender and good.

I know popcorn isn’t the snack food of choice for many and isn’t eaten or popular in some places.

My sister missed the popcorn gene and doesn’t care for it and I don’t remember my dad eating it except when my mom coated it with molasses syrup cooked up until it spun a thread.  (not very often)  I know I don’t care for microwave popcorn.  Have to make it on the stovetop.

Tonight while visiting the family,  I made the first batch for the grandkids, opening the brown paper bag and finding a variety of colors and sizes of popcorn kernels.

It was so inviting. My phone was handy.

Tried to catch it popping but didn’t get past the second kernel exploding. I used a larger pan than I would at my own home, more like a pasta pot.

Organic Popcorn

 

 

 

A single kernel bursts opensingle kernel popped

 

 

 

the second kernel burst. then it was get that lid on quick!

second kernel popped

 

 

 

 

Look at the variety of colors. No butter on it to make it that yellow. Just plain.

popcorn popped

 

Maura age 4 1/2 photographed  Grandma, using the phone as I took the popcorn off the stove.

photographed by Maura age 4

 

What I used to cook the popcorn.  A generous tablespoon melted on medium high heat.  About 3/4 c of popcorn.  I stirred the kernels with a wooden spatula so it wouldn’t burn.

 

Organic Coconut Oil

 

 

It was a fun time and the house smelled fragrant.  Only one out of four grandchildren wanted salt on it!  I thought that was interesting.

With what snack do you like to treat yourself??

 

 

 

 

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