Spring and Autumn

Spring and Autumn
by The Artist

Spring is the time for budding trees.
Autumn's the time for falling leaves.

In spring, you can pick sprouting flowers.
In fall, trees become tall, bare towers.

In spring, your gardens primp and preen.
Autumn's the time for Halloween.

Spring. It has a single name.
Fall's second one gives it it's fame.

Very different they appear,
But both are beautiful and clear.

Front Page Girl

I just completed Front Page Girl a fascinating autobiography of Doris O'Donnell, former writer for the Cleveland Plain Dealer and some other newspapers. She grew up in a neighborhood not far from my church and stayed local most of her career. The blurb on the front cover states "A memoir brimming with local flavor and political intrigue" and it did not disappoint! The story of Ms. O'Donnell beginning her career in Cleveland and following several national stories is fascinating. The more local stories about the history of organized crime in northeast Ohio were eye opening too.

With the turn of every page I learned more tidbits of Cleveland history I did not have opportunity to pick up anywhere else, such as stories of some of the mayors in the city's history, the race riots in the 1960s, and the history of some of the unions so important to the region.

But most interesting to me were the stories of Ms. O'Donnell's travels abroad. The lengths she would go to in order to get a story are stated matter-of-factly in her book, but the fact that she went to those lengths is what set her apart from her peers during her career. I can't help but agree with her opinions about how news reporting has changed in the last two decades especially.
I am interested in the stories of Cleveland's history. Through reading front Page Girl I discovered two more books to request from my local library. I hope those lead to even more!

Apple Raspberry Crisp

Thank you, Dulce Domum, for the raspberry recipe in my comments on this post.

Yesterday my son and I had a chance to go and pick a few more berries. When I got home I made a big apple raspberry crisp (also called crumble). The house smelled so wonderful all afternoon, and the kids peeked in the oven door countless times while it was baking. The colors of the raspberries run together with the apples are so pretty too.

The cookbook I used recommends serving the crisp with heavy cream. That's is scrumptious, but we will probably opt for vanilla ice cream instead.

Herman and Grandma

Today I'm showing two dolls from my collection. Herman is a little four inch Red Coat soldier from the time of the American Revolution. I don't know why I decided to name him Herman. He has just been Herman as long as I can recall. Likely, it was a suggestion from my mom. He looks to be a model officer with his tricorner hat, powdered wig, lace ruff, big brass buttons and high polished boots. Herman is one of the oldest dolls in my collection. I don't remember a time when I did not have him on my shelves in my childhood room.

Later on, Grandma was added to my collection. I bought her when we took a family vacation to Colonial Williamsburg. That would have been some time around 1975 or 1977. I bought her primarily because I loved the lace she was tatting and the beautiful blue of her dress. But I got the small sized souvenir doll rather than a larger one so she would not dwarf Herman! As they are from the same time period I used to display them together.

Sometimes I'd imagine Grandma was forced to quarter Herman. Other times Grandma was a Tory making a gift for Herman's girl back home in England. Still other times, Grandma was an American spy weaving messages into her lace. Do you think General Washington spent much time admiring laces? Well, in my child's imagination he must have!

Here is a close up of Grandma's work table.

Pease Porridge

I remember going through phases with pea soup. There was a time when Mom would make it and I'd stifle a groan. Then I began to enjoy it in small doses. Now, I love the way it makes the house smell and the way it tastes.

Two days ago we had the aroma filling the house. I limited myself to one small bowl as a snack. Last night I let it sit in the refrigerator to thicken.

Yesterday it was delightfully thick. I added a cup of milk and began mixing it in as I intend to enjoy this for my lunch. The tea ball you see at the lower left in there is holding small crumbles of bay leaf. (I'm out of the nice whole leaves.) I should have removed this before I let the soup thicken, but I forgot.

The other ingredients are green split peas, the small remainder of a bag of split chick peas, water, salt, pepper, an onion, and some carrots, and some chopped ham.

It is good hot and good cold, but I think my preference is room temperature. And it never lasts nine days around here!

Racing Pigeon Field Trip

Yesterday the kids enjoyed the sunshine and each other's company as they learned more about racing pigeons and show pigeons.

Our speaker, Paster Tauscher, gave a presentation about his pigeons and answered many, many questions from the all-ages audience. It had been almost two years since he had last given his presentation to our group. There were some children attending this time who were not yet of school age last time. The attention Pr. Tauscher gave to each of them was wonderful.

Setting up:The Artist took a great interest in the birds, and was thrilled to see he had brought back her favorite variety from last time, the German Owl. She took careful notes listing the other varieties we learned about this time: Polish Lynx, Figurina, Mookie, Nueremberg Lark, Archangel, Thai Laugher, Galation Highflyer, Comoorner Tumbler, Bronze Show Tipler, Domestic Show Flight, Flying Tipler, Parlor Tumbler and Tumbler/Roller.

The Tumbler and Roller were fascinating -- I don't think any of us had seen pigeons do somersaults before!

The hands-on experience was fun for all, except maybe for the pigeons:This year we got to watch as around 20birds were released to fly the 15 miles back to their home. We saw them circle a field several times as they oriented themselves and then flew off south en masse. I was a fraction of a second late with the camera, but you get the idea!

Question and answer time:

Yellow!

The Engineer received his yellow belt at Tae Kwon Do last week. He worked hard on his test, and he was so very proud to earn his new belt.

The instructor hands the new belt to his student, the Engineer. The Engineer receives his old belt back with a knot in the belt, symbolizing his progress.

The Artist tested last week also. As she was going for a more advanced belt, she has to wait longer to get her results.