Pittsburgh’s Spring Garden Neighborhood Summer Evening

#sixwordSaturday

Steve and I met Vincie at the Penn Brewery parking lot and walked down Vinial Street to the Kaffeehaus on Chestnut Street.

My former photography teacher from Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild, Germaine Watkins, had a solo show of incredible photographs of Haiti. I bought the one of the gorgeous countryside that is right behind my head.

Vincie took this photo of me with Germaine

41AF74BA-A318-4635-8E41-76DF457016BEY

6E16F7F0-47EC-4BB7-A9F1-9E8D44173465Cameo and Germaine as the show starts

87D6EBB3-2DD6-44B2-928F-BBCFD0836F6AAcross the street from the Penn Brewery in the Spring Garden Neighborhood of PIttsburgh

Elementary Spelling Book

A reproduction of The Elementary Spelling Book by Noah Webster. My grandmother gave it to my father on his 62nd birthday. I found it today while dusting a bookcase.

I’d just been talking with my DIL about spelling earlier in the day.

My guess is this book is like one my father had as a student or used as a teacher.

My father taught all grades in a one room schoolhouse in Illinois.

*And of course we know a boy can toast a piece of bread, too.

Throwback Thursday Home Decor

Ceramic figurines seem to speak of yesteryear to me. People might have them in their homes but I wonder how recently they were purchased. Do people still buy these and put them on display? Dust them? I am fascinated by what people collect. Especially when I’m trying to pare down and reduce my “stuff”.

I’ve posted about Hummels and Lladros before. You’ve seen my Royal Doulton Beatrix Potter figurines and ceramic rabbits who knit. Perhaps you’ve inherited a ceramic figurine from a relative who has passed. One thing I know is this-my own grown up children don’t want any of the porcelain or China things I have in my glass door cupboards.

One this large can’t be classified a tchotchke, can it? (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tchotchke)

Urban dictionary says “look around your home and see what a robber probably would not steal.”

Liberty Avenue Window Display

Good Butter is Key

Using good butter to make rolled sugar cookies is the key to successful taste and texture.

Since today was the official birthday, Charlie took rocket and star shaped sugar cookies to the playground for his playgroup friends. Laura sliced up a baby watermelon, too. The hardest part is rolling out the chilled dough to an even thickness.

Here’s the recipe we used

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/10402/the-best-rolled-sugar-cookies/

Spiralized Squash Starts Taste of Summer

Spiralized squash starts taste of summer. My six word Saturday.

Laura got their CSA box (Community Supported Agriculture) this afternoon.  Local Harvest of Columbus Ohio lists participating farms. She put the spiralizer to work on the summer squash.  Charlie had asked for red sauce for dinner, rotini his favorite pasta shape.

 

Meet A. Boss, Master Optician

Meet Al Boss of A-Boss Opticians in Braddock PA. It’s a family owned business.  That’s his father up above the eyeglass frames, Albert A. Boss (1917- 2009) who established A-Boss Opticians, Inc. in 1971.

Mr. Boss was able to put new lenses into my current frames AND I ordered a new pair of glasses that I’ll pick up on Tuesday.  Since I wear glasses all day, everyday, it’s crucial for me to have glasses that work well.  Reasonable prices and great customer service.

I heard about A- Boss Opticians at two separate art events.  One time a woman at an art opening downtown was wearing some really cool glasses,  She told me how A -Boss will put lenses into vintage frames.  Hers were from Paris.  They do repairs, too.

AlBoss Optician Blog

People at Work Show at Panza Gallery opening July 7th at 6

Millvale Murals are Masterpieces

Right in Millvale PA, across the Allegheny River from Pittsburgh.

” Croatian artist Maxo Vanka painted a one-of-a-kind masterpiece on the interior walls of St. Nicholas Croatian Catholic Church in Millvale, PA. The 25 murals—created in two intense periods in 1937 and 1941—are unique, evocative and larger-than-life representations of faith and family; the immigrant experience in America; social justice and injustice and the horrors of war”        from the website   Vanka Murals 

When I parked on Grant Avenue, I noticed the banner sign on the lamppost and remembered seeing these dramatic and stunning murals at St. Nicholas Church. Information on the website link about how to get a tour and how to support the preservation of these significant and historic artworks.