There are always people stopping at the corner of Grove and Bedford Streets to photograph this building which appears in the opening credits of the tv show F•r•i•e•n•d•s.
I posted it five years ago with Anna and Erika in front when they visited NYC
Here’s the recipe I used to bake Split-Second Cookies. They are like a shortbread filled with jam.
I creamed the butter and sugar by hand.
Added egg and vanilla.
The combined dry ingredients.
I usually fill them with raspberry and apricot Bonne Maman jam. I was fortunate to receive some delicious marmalade and jam from two different friends.
I used Eileen’s Orange Marmalade and Pam’s Blubarb in addition to the raspberry and apricot.
My son Mark found my mother Marian and her brother John in the photos. My mom was born in 1912 so this photo must be about 1914.
Hostess Deb created the perfect Pandemic lunch on her deck overlooking the Ohio River. We’d not seen each other since early March. Centerpiece courtesy of Donna, who gave me a kalanchoe in a tiny pumpkin, too. Asian chicken wraps and potato salad with a side of red grapes. A tall glass of apple cider from the farm stand. An oatmeal cookie.
There were two barges that went by with tug boats, several freight trains across the River. Just a few trees starting to turn.
It was so lovely to see longtime friends. Catch up before the winter sets in.
This is where I photographed the hungry bee devouring his pollen lunch .
Guest Contributions to Today’s Souvenir Gallery.
A follow-on post from Tuesday’s Post- Souvenir
Sometimes you purchase the souvenir yourself, and sometimes a souvenir is brought to you as a gift from a traveling friend.
________________________________Souvenirs from Mary
____________________________________Souvenirs from Joanne
_______________________________Souvenirs from Vincie-
______________Terry’s souvenir mug from Norway, just over a month in her possession
____________________________Yvette’s Souvenir Refrigerator Magnets
___________________________________Bobbie’s Souvenirs –
Postcard from London from my sister Mary. I found it on my fridge today.
Ceiling twinkle lights captured in the spoons. There were four of us at lunch. Even though the waitress brought plenty of spoons, the other three diners demurred and I ate this flan solo.
Two Sisters Vietnamese Restaurant on North Highland Avenue.
This is a collaborative guest post by two wonderfully creative women who have been friends since forever.
Colleen and Joanne hail from Nova Scotia. Joanne, living in Florida, collected the photos and good information about Colleen and her love of colorful quilting.
Get to know Colleen and her colorful quilts-
Colleen says “I have a huge stash of fabric that I like to look at for inspiration. Some I have had for many years and almost everything was purchased in the US. I order online occasionally but it gets expensive with taxes, customs and shipping and delivery to Canada can take a long time – so much for instant gratification! Currently Florida is my “go to” shopping locale because I’m there at least once a year. Found a great quilt shop in St. Augustine” http://www.beesquiltshop.com
Here is Colleen, looking to the sun.
A couple of dear friends flew from Florida to Pittsburgh to see my art show and attend the closing reception. They’d gone online at home and arranged to go on a walking food tour of the Pittsburgh neighborhood, Brookline.
Yesterday, Shuey sent me the photos and captions. They really enjoyed the ‘Burgh Bits and Bites tour. There are tours in other neighborhoods,the Strip District, Bloomfield and Shadyside. In fact, two were already booked up and so they chose Brookline.
Shuey made it easy for me by numbering the photos and text.
Pitaland in Brookline. #1
I’m sending individual pics to tell the story of how pita bread is made. First the secret recipe dough is made fresh, formed into a biscuit of dough and comes out here where it makes a left turn and heads into a machine that flattens it out.
Pitaland in Brookline. #2
After it’s flattened into a super thin pancake it makes a few turns and heads into the oven.
Pitaland in Brookline. #3
In the oven for 22 seconds at 1200 degrees. They are so thin entering the oven that I couldn’t even see them until about half way through they just materialize out of thin air in a second . . . like magic! Out of the oven they continue their journey cooling off.
Pitaland in Brookline. #4
The cooled pita breads drop off the conveyer onto a table where they are manually deflated and stacked then handed off to another worker who bags them up for shipment to stores in 14 states.
Pitaland in Brookline. #5
This is Joe Cuchines, owner of Pitaland and two of his employees. He came to America with 1 dollar in his pocket and . . . he’ll tell his story best.
Thank you Shuey for such a great guest blog. I’m going to have to take the tour.
Shuey was a guest blogger with his fabulous Barred Owl Photo in 2012 https://rutheh.com/2012/03/12/barred-owl-niceville-florida-guest-post/
July has been a busy and satisfying month with the People at Work Show exhibiting at Panza Gallery. There was a well attended opening three weeks ago and now tomorrow (Saturday 7/28) the closing reception is at six.
Early Wednesday morning, my good friend Vincie texted me this photo she took when she opened her morning paper. What a happy way to start my day. It just felt great! Mary Thomas wrote a nice article (with four color photos) about the People at Work Show in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 
V sent me the online version when it became available (link below )
Later in the day, I received another text from From Vincie. Her cousin Paula had texted her the photo below saying “Great article about Ruth in the Post-Gazette today”
Very thoughtful of them both. Thanks Vincie and Paula.
It’s been a nice feeling to have good friends and family who cheer me on and encourage me.
Aphrodite at Ritter’s Diner came to see her People at Work portrait. Her photo was in the newspaper, too.
This is a good time to thank Panza Gallery Owner Mark Panza who (2 years ago) invited me to show my People at Work series and who hung the show beautifully.
Also thanks to his wonderful daughter, Jennifer Panza, whose generous help was essential in making the show a success. And a grateful nod to her fiancé J for getting the beer and ice.
(Mark Panza on left, photo taken by my son Mark)
Thanks to artist Carol Skinger, fellow member of Pittsburgh Society of Artists Guild, who tutored me about publicity for the People at Work Show.
And special thanks to Tom Underiner of Pixel River Images for making me shine by printing my work expertly, using the archival pigment on the Hahnenmuhle rag paper.
Bernie Pintar was the official greeter and encouraged gallery goers to sign the guest book.
Home eggs. Thank you for gathering them and bringing them to us, Lizzie. So many possibilities.
