February 2016 – Ruth E. Hendricks Photography

Dinner at The Olde Bar on Walnut Street

Our hotel, a short block away- The Olde Bar has been here a year- where the Philadelphia institution Bookbinders was for more than a century.

“Set in the Old Original Bookbinders, Jose Garces’ saloon offers seafood, a raw bar & retro drinks.”

I had the New England clam chowder, which was very good. And the Fish and Chips. The chips cooked in beef fat. I asked why they were so tasty!

The shiny dark wooden bar was built in the late 1800’s and shipped in the forties from a Nevada ghost town, according to the bartender. Little candles flickering add ambiance.

Original floors, original leaded windows.

You can see the raw bar with the oysters resting on crushed ice below

GETTYSBURG ADDRESS

February 29, 2016 by Ruth Categories: PhotographyTags: architecture, eating and drinking, food, Historic Landmark, New England Clam Chowder, Old Original Bookbinders, Philadelphia dining, Society Hill Philadelphia, The Olde Bar, travel, Walnut Street 10 Comments

Architecture- Old and New(er) 1964

Philadelphia architecture. A mixture of old and new. I.M. Pei – the architect of the Society Hill Towers. There are three towers of condos on five acres.

Spruce Street at 2nd Street.

February 29, 2016 by Ruth Categories: architectureTags: architecture, colonial, Philadelphia, photography. I. M. Pei, postaday, travel 4 Comments

What Many Citizens Look Forward To This Time of Year

Baseball Season. Spring!

PNC Park. Pittsburgh, PA. From the archives

February 28, 2016 by Ruth Categories: Pittsburgh PhotographyTags: Baseball, baseball season, photography, Pittsburgh Photography, PNC Park, postaday, Spring 7 Comments

State of Mind – Weekly Photo Challenge

Ben Huberman of WordPress challenged bloggers to post an image that illustrated their State of mind.

We arrived in Philadelphia this afternoon.

Delancey Street cobblestones at dusk.

Walking where my parents walked when they lived in the city of brotherly love. 1971-1983

Below the Theater of the Living Arts on South Street. The scene where my dad pushed his grandson Mark in a stroller and a Philadelphia magazine photographer captured them-

Thirty nine years ago.
PA turnpike memorabilia display while at the Service Area.

This could come in handy during election year.
Seeing light on the other side of cascading water in our hotel lobby. Cloudy, blurred, fluid, relaxing to watch.

February 26, 2016February 26, 2016 by Ruth Categories: Travel, Weekly Photo ChallengeTags: architecture, Ben Huberman, cobblestones, cuss box, Philadelphia, photography, postaday, Society Hill, state of mind, Theater of the Living Arts, travel, walking 28 Comments

Winter Supper- Pierogies with Sautéed Spinach and Onions

A simple meal to ward off the damp chill.

Butter is key! (With a bit of olive oil so it doesn’t burn)

Basic potato and cheddar Pierogies. When I first moved to Pittsburgh the idea of mashed potatoes in dough turned me. Ha! Now it satisfies every carb craving that manifests itself in February.

February 25, 2016 by Ruth Categories: food, Pittsburgh PhotographyTags: butter, cooking and eating, kitchen, onions, photography, pierogies, Pittsburgh cuisine, postaday, skillet, spinach, winter supper 15 Comments

Two Thirds of a Year Already

Eight months old. Seems just a blink since Charles was born, June 25th.

You’ve heard it a billion times, they grow so fast, and they do. It’s true.

Before I headed back to Pittsburgh, I wanted to photograph my grandson with the real camera and not the phone. He’s on the move. Says “Hi, Dada”

February 24, 2016 by Ruth Categories: Childhood, PhotographyTags: available light, baby, Canon 6D, Columbus OH, family, grandson, photography, postaday, travel 36 Comments

Happy Diamond Birthday, Bonnie

A special birthday wish for a good friend, blog follower, dog lover (actually all animals) and former colleague. Bonnie! We taught together at Greenfield School.

And we worked the After School Program together for about 5 years. I can’t tell you how many students she taught to swim.

Another of our friends hosted a fun surprise party and we gathered together to honor Bonnie as she celebrates 75!

May your birthday wish come true.

Here’s Bonnie surrounded by former colleagues and friends. Surprise!

Arleen took the one on the left so I could be in it, too. Thanks Arleen.

Happy Birthday Bonnie. Love, Rutie

February 24, 2016 by Ruth Categories: PhotographyTags: 75 years, birthday, birthday cake, blog follwers, celebration, diamond birthday, party, photography, Pittsburgh Photography, postaday, teachers 16 Comments

Dangly Earrings on a Teacup

My daughter and I were toying with some Spring cleaning today. Well, it felt almost like Spring and the sun was out.

Cleaning with an almost 8 month old is the trick!

I dusted her vanity in the bedroom and saw this teacup holding her dangly earrings. The teacup and saucer were a gift from her friend Jenny’s shower.

I washed and dried it and replaced the earrings and thought I’m taking a photo and blogging it. The cakestand in the background holds fragrances and she had a ceramic egg carton with hairpins and buttons. A bit of a kitchen theme?

Dangly earrings in a teacup.

February 22, 2016 by Ruth Categories: PhotographyTags: cakestand, earrings, fashion, home decor, jewelry, photography, postaday, Spring cleaning, teacup 14 Comments

Matt Carries Freshly Baked Croissants

He was headed to Enrico’s Biscotti Company. I was headed to Ohio.

Wait, may I take your photo? I wanted to get out the real camera, not the phone.

I was parked just in front of his truck

He was so nice. His name’s Matt. He baked these down on 31st Street and was bringing them to Enrico’s Biscotti. If you saw the movie The Bread My Sweet/ A Wedding for Bella, you’ve been inside bakery.

And this is the part you are never going to believe.

I watched that very movie (renamed A Wedding for Bella) not twelve hours before I ran into Matt taking the croissants to the same bakery in the film. If you click on the title above you can read Roger Ebert’s review. All filmed in Pittsburgh, right in the Strip District.

Matt and his freshly baked croissants

Matt and his Freshly Baked Croissants.

Enrico You can see the sign for Enrico’s on Penn Avenue in this shot as I got into my car.

February 21, 2016 by Ruth Categories: Baking, People at Work, PhotographyTags: A Wedding for Bella, bakery, cafe, coffee, croissants, Enrico's Biscotti Company, neighborhood, people at work, photography, Pittsburgh Photography, postaday, Roger Ebert, Sunday morning, The Bread My Sweet, The Strip district, travel 8 Comments

Seasons on a Kitchen Wall

Or the wooden side of an open cupboard is more accurate.

I bought these when we lived in Germany

Decorative plates. Villeroy and Boch Naïf pattern

The order of the seasons is what I notice, how I put them up- perhaps in order of preference?

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Next I’ll be in the basement digging around for Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons album I think is down there. Jen H has inspired us to post our seasons.

Winter

Fall

Spring

Summer

trying to show the detail without the glare.

February 20, 2016February 20, 2016 by Ruth Categories: Photography, Weekly Photo ChallengeTags: art, decorative plates, design, home, home decor, kitchen, Naif, Porcelain, postaday, Villeroy and Boch, weekly photo challenge: seasons 14 Comments

Month: February 2016

Dinner at The Olde Bar on Walnut Street

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Architecture- Old and New(er) 1964

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What Many Citizens Look Forward To This Time of Year

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State of Mind – Weekly Photo Challenge

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Winter Supper- Pierogies with Sautéed Spinach and Onions

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Two Thirds of a Year Already

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Happy Diamond Birthday, Bonnie

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Dangly Earrings on a Teacup

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Matt Carries Freshly Baked Croissants

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Seasons on a Kitchen Wall

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