April 2017 – Ruth E. Hendricks Photography

Yarn: The Daily Prompt

Yarn is the Daily Prompt at WordPress. Not a photo challenge but Michelle W says “Write a new post in response to today’s one-word prompt.” YARN

Spin it, weave it, hook it,

graft it, embroider, wind it in a ball.

Hoard it, stash it, collect skeins to knit.

Knit and purl mittens, ribbed pumpkins, scarves

no one in your family or list of friends

ever asked to receive.

“Mom, I think we all have enough hats. ”

Create shawls of comfort, like hugs

striped socks and hooded baby sweaters

with duck buttons or monkeys.

Think of the recipient while you repeat

the motions of each stitch.

In, around, down through and off

In, around, down through and off-

off the needles.

Tens of thousands stitches with strands of yarn

turn into garments, stave off the chill.

April 30, 2017May 1, 2017 by Ruth Categories: knitting, PhotographyTags: baby sweaters, crochet, daily prompt, Knit, knitting, photography, postaday, yarn 17 Comments

You found me!

April 30, 2017April 30, 2017 by Ruth Categories: Childhood, PhotographyTags: childhood, family, Hide-and-seek, photography, play, postaday 9 Comments

First Board Game

So many “firsts” when you’re 22 months.

Learning to take turns. Spinning the spinner. Counting the cherries in the bucket. Waiting to go again.

Assisted by cousin Maura (8), who won twice!

April 29, 2017 by Ruth Categories: Childhood, PhotographyTags: board game, childhood, family, games, photography, postaday 11 Comments

Duquesne Incline Operator Revisited

Here’s Chuck Wise again, manning the controls of the Duquesne Incline. He’s been operating the incline for twenty years. During the day he delivers flowers. He ‘graciously allowed me to photograph him again and you can tell there was a Pirates Game Wednesday night.

Here is the orginal post. . Blog Post -Incline Operator in January 2013.

April 28, 2017April 28, 2017 by Ruth Categories: People at Work, PhotographyTags: baeball game, Duquesne Incline, incline operator, Mt. Washington, people at work, photography, Pittsburgh PA, Pittsburgh Photography, Pittsburgh Pirates, PNC Park, postaday 7 Comments

Wanderlust: Weekly Photo Challenge

David W of WordPress asks-

“Have you traveled anywhere exciting lately? This week, let’s see where you’ve been.”

Wanderlust

noun

1.a strong, innate desire to rove or travel about.

I have to admit- sometimes I ‘ve a strong urge to be a homebody, too.

This seems an easy challenge as I’ve been home for a week and a day, having just returned from Zagreb, Croatia.

Photos ftom Texas, Arizona, Washington, Alaska, Florida, New York City and then home again to Pittsburgh

April 26, 2017 by Ruth Categories: Photography, Travel, Weekly Photo ChallengeTags: airplane, home, luggage, photography, postaday, train, transportation, wanderlust, weekly photo challenge, Zagreb Croatia 19 Comments

Frozen Wind Cake post in 2015 too

Icy Wind Cake recipe

April 26, 2017April 26, 2017 by Ruth Categories: Baking, Photography, Wordless WednesdayTags: bakery, cake, dessert, Frozen Wind cake, pastry, postaday, vincek, Zagreb, Zagreb Croatia 14 Comments

Rolled Ice Cream is Hot on Butler Street

I’ve been away for awhile. My friend B said “let’s go to NatuRoll Creamery –get rolled ice cream in Lawrenceville. There’s always a line” (which is a good sign).

Turns out it didn’t open until three. So we had a delicious lunch at VANDAL first, waiting for three o’clock to roll around.

Kaden took our orders and $. Two Spring Specials -Blueberry Lemon on a Vanilla Base.

Abby made mine.

Then she added them lemon zest

and a slice of lemon

The focus is on Abby. Takes 2-5 minutes to create each fancy finished special.

April 25, 2017April 25, 2017 by Ruth Categories: food, PhotographyTags: blueberry, Butler Street, dessert, food, ice cream, Lawrenceville, lemon, NatuRoll Creamery, neighborhood, people at work, Pittsburgh PA, rolled ice cream 20 Comments

Truffle Atop Poached Egg and Wild Asparagus Risotto

What an evening of taste bud surprises! WOW.

We took an evening tram to meet my son’s friends at a café. Because it was the night before the Easter Holiday, every seat was taken. Quite a wait for a table. Everyone celebrating being off the next workday.

Bummer- BUT When the friends arrived they had a discussion for an alternate plan. Wow, did I ever luck out that the café was full. One went to procure a bottle of red.

The first delight was I’s Sour Cherry apéritif which he’d made. At first, I was worried it might burn but my concerns were totally unfounded. In fact, the drink defined summer captured in a slim crystal cylinder. All I can say it the ruby liquid of summer’s sour cherries woke up every taste bud in my mouth. Delicious. Not to sweet, not too tart, zero burn. Perfection!

And then the surprise of M’s creation- Poached egg on fresh bread with the fruitiest most fragrant olive oil drizzle AND the unexpected luxurious truffle on top of the gently poached farm egg. Or “home eggs” as my family refers to them.

I was feeling quite content with all I had eaten. Italian cheese and olives to start and then the Sour Cherry apéritif and the lovely truffle surprise. And then the Wild Asparagus Risotto was ready to eat. Freshly Grated Cheese on top. Oh my. So bold. It was wild! A flavor I’dd never before experienced, created by a culinary expert.

I was happy to meet my son’s friends and be invited into a Zagreb home to experience these tastes and more importantly their friendship and hospitality.

Sretan Uskrs and Hvala for a wonderful evening in Zagreb.

iPhone photos don’t do justice to this dish.

The wild asparagus simmers

Words are inadequate to describe this bold Wild Asparagus Risotto. WOW!

April 24, 2017April 24, 2017 by Ruth Categories: food, PhotographyTags: apéritif, cooking, Croatia, culinary, eggs, flavor, food, friendship, gourmet, hospitality, kitchen, olive oil, poached eggs, risotto, sour cherries, taste, truffle, wild asparagus, Zagreb 8 Comments

Meet Slaven Lunar Kosanović

Meet Slaven Lunar Kosanović.

Artist. Designer. Illustrator.

You may have seen his artwork in Forbes Magazine or Playboy but didn’t know it! or click his name and see his walls, canvases and illustrations

We ran into him at an artist’s evening at the Croatian Design Superstore in Zagreb last week. My son introduced us.

He’s holding a book created for a humanitarian effort, restoring a church fresco. (Reminder to self; always carry notebook and writing implement to record important/accurate details)

Slaven just sent me this updated information

I found the text “The book ‘Adris Foundation – contribution to Croatian society since 2007’ presents funded projects – each project is described and illustrated by one of 26 illustrators. The ‘Danse macabre’ fresco by Vincent of Kastav from 1474 has always simultaneously fascinated and dreaded me so it was a logical choice for me. Project name: Laboratory examination and protection of the Beram frescos / Project bearer: Juraj Dobrila University of Pula, Project leader: Dr. Sc Emina Pustijanac”

Slaven with his father, whose excellent English made easy conversation for me at the Croatian Design Superstore.

Screen Shot 2017-04-22 at 7.24.03 AM one example of his wall art from his website

April 22, 2017April 22, 2017 by Ruth Categories: Art, People at Work, PhotographyTags: art, artist, cats, creativity, Croatia, Croatian Design, Croatian Design Superstore, design, designer, graffiti, illustrator, people at work, photography, postaday, Zagreb 14 Comments

Maria Bakes Peach Cookies

Maybe you’ve been to a celebration and seen the fancy cookies that look exactly like a peach?

Meet Maria Costa. If you live in Pittsburgh and need alterations on just about any fabric or piece clothing,upholstery or some throw pillows to match your couch, Maria is a seamstress.

But on Thursday she was baking peach cookies for her grandson’s First Holy Communion.

The first step. Another day she’ll be cooking a vanilla pudding and filling the two halves of a ” peach”, “gluing” them together with a finger of the filling spread on the bottoms and rolling the joined cookies in Peach Schnapps and then granulated sugar. She might add a leaf or two but no pretend stem as someone once choked on one. (Survived)

I was picking up my friend Barb to go to the art store and she asked if I could pick her up at Maria’s home instead of her house. I thought I was just picking her up. Turns out Barb and Maria been baking all morning and Barb was taking good notes. I was thrilled to smell the tempting baking aroma and see part of the process of the baking of the peach cookies.

They’d spent the morning baking. The dough used fifteen eggs as she thought they were on the small side but the recipe calls for a dozen!

I saw the giant wooden spoon she used to make the stiff dough. Mixers have been broken previously.

Another day Maria will cook the filling and put the two hard halves of the peach together. Roll them in Peach Schnappes( a hint of rosy food coloring added) and then confectioner’s sugar. Each “peach” will rest in a pretty pleated cupcake paper on a platter.

Maria showed us the seedlings starting in her backyard garden. Her fig tree.

Maria pointed out the province where she’s from- Calabria- Vibo Valentia Italy

I hope I get invited with my friend to see the rest of the process in making the fancy peach cookies. It was really nice to be welcomed into her kitchen. The heart of her home.

April 21, 2017 by Ruth Categories: Baking, PhotographyTags: baking, cookie dough, fig tree, First Communion, garden, grandson, Italian food, Italian heritage, kitchen, peach cookies, Peach Schnapps, photography, postaday, seamstress, sewing 10 Comments

Month: April 2017

Yarn: The Daily Prompt

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First Board Game

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Duquesne Incline Operator Revisited

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Wanderlust: Weekly Photo Challenge

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Rolled Ice Cream is Hot on Butler Street

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Truffle Atop Poached Egg and Wild Asparagus Risotto

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Meet Slaven Lunar Kosanović

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