Wordless Wednesday

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(Well some necessary words to give credit to the artist and creator )

“The metal bike racks were designed by Millvale-based graphic designer Tom Walker and built by Geoff Blanchard of Red Star Ironworks, also in the borough. The circular design shows open books of shrinking size nested inside each other.”

Just as we finished the world puzzle –

  
Uh- oh.  Henry knows I’m not pleased.   The anagrams are under him as well. 

That’s what happens when you take a lunch break. 

Fortunately the world didn’t suffer too much from the weight of an Airedale

  

BLT Essential Ingredients from Local Bryant Street Market

I enjoy shopping in a smaller market. A place that isn’t an airplane hangar or cluttered with patio furniture and piles of stuff at the ends of the aisles. Just down the hill is a reopened market on Bryant Street, cleaned up and offering La Prima coffee to grind, a delicatessen case filled with all sorts of meats, cheeses and salads. Sandwiches to go. Enrico’s Biscotti. In the freezer they have Donatelli’s Italian Ravioli-mushroom, artichoke, roasted red pepper and traditional cheese. They sell Allegro Hearth Bread, fresh produce and Turner dairy items, Bob’s Red Mill grain products, spices and Chuckles . They’ve extended their hours and will deliver to your home. After my appointment I stopped in to get lunch ingredients as a friend was coming over to eat. BLT on T shouts summer to me!

Shopping list- Vine ripened tomatoes, sliced with serrated knife

Head of garden lettuce, washed and patted dry

Boar’s Head bacon slices, cooked in cast iron skillet and drained on paper towels

Hellmann’s mayo, in a glass jar

Allegro Hearth Bread, toasted in the fancy toaster V gave me for my 50th bday

Potato chips

Tahitian Vanilla Gelato, for dessert

Front porch, to sit out and eat

A summer day

A friend to share the meal.

Bryant Street Market
5901 Bryant Street
Pittsburgh PA 15206
Phone: (412) 661 8720
Hours: Mon-Fri 8 AM to 8 PM
Sat 9 AM to 7 PM
Sun 9AM to 5PM

Sudden Service in McKees Rocks, PA

At a red light, shot through the windshield, but isn’t this a great sign?  Sudden Service. Open for business in McKees Rocks, PA. How making the same photo black and white it can feel like I took this photograph years ago.  Try four days ago!Dry Cleaners McKees Rocks

Easter Bunny with Knapsack of Tiny Colored Eggs

This is a shot of a portion of my sister’s Easter display. When we lived in Germany we bought the loveliest Easter ornaments. We moved there in 1986 and the Gasthaus where we stayed had a platter of dirt with grass growing and colored eggs resting right in the grass. I thought it was so cool! I still have not reproduced that decoration yet but think about it every year.
Easter Past

When I was little there was a big deal
about an Easter dress and hat,
a scratchy crinoline inside.
An outfit to be photographed in–
under the blossoming cherry tree.
Little white gloves, patent leather shoes
buckle strap, new white ruffled anklets.
A purse to match.
To hold what?
An embroidered hanky, ironed.

Times change.

If you want to read the story of my grandmother’s vintage quilt stars from the Keep or Pitch blog post click here

Mother Mary- Springtime NYC

Someone placed a bouquet in the crook of her arm.   Today’s post remembers friend and poet Christina Murdock who passed one year ago today, a week short of her thirtieth birthday.

from Let it Be by John Lennon and Paul McCartney

When I find myself in times of trouble
Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
And in my hour of darkness
She is standing right in front of me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
Let it be, let it be.
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.

Santa Claus on April Fool’s Day

Taken at lunchtime on Friday April first.  You worry the homeowner might be ill or injured and can’t get out on the roof to take down Christmas.  A gray sky but a cheery Santa face. Reminds me of the Coca-Cola ads.    I’ve watched and wondered how long Santa will be up there.  I’ve had Christmas up a long time myself, inside the house.  But not into April. Ever. The front hallway always seems so bare when the garland comes down.  

Find the Mantel in the Remains of the House Demolished on Centre Ave.

At first I thought it was an upright piano on top of the pile.   M-a-n-t-l-e is usually a cloak. M-a-n-t-e-l is the fireplace one. Although it seems they are interchanged frequently. I try to spell correctly on this blog but sometimes it’s tricky.

Driving to school I saw this pile of rubble which was a house last week. An abandoned, boarded-up house but still standing. Webb Construction guys were nice to let me take the photo. I asked them how they do it and he said you start at the top and work your way down.  Oh, and I met a contractor who restores houses and is looking for worthy pieces to salvage for the homes he restores.  What a contrast.

When It Is Too Far Gone to be Repaired or Restored

It gets torn down.
No one has the money to fix it up.
Houses stand boarded up a long time.
Sometimes there are occupied homes right next door.
Seems the city is demolishing abandoned homes at breakneck speed.
No archeological digs as in Philadelphia sites.

You wonder who lived here and the stories of their lives.