Portrait on the Front Steps of 435

     This lovely family portrait that is staged and yet has a candid feel, was taken in 1906 at 435 Valley Avenue in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The lady in the center chair is Nellie, my great-grandmother, who was pregnant with my grandmother at the time. Two of Nellie's children are near - seventeen year old Florence, holding her cat, and eight year old Wendell, who stands next to his father, Alfred. The lady seated to Nellie's right is her mother, Jane Long, who would have been 64 years old, and the lady to her left is Alfred's mother, Sarah Phillips, age 72.

     The two-story white house was home to a myriad of extended family and friends over the years. It would later belong to Florence and her husband, who continued the same tradition until the mid 1960s when, tragically, the house was torn down to make way for a new highway.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird in Flight

     All during the long, hot summer we watched them. First just one, then another and finally several of the tiny hummers frequented the two feeders outside the kitchen window and two near the front porch. We became fond as one could of a wild thing - enjoying their closeness and their antics. Because they feed so often, one was almost always making a quick appearance for a snack and sometimes would spar with its own reflection in the window.  However, it seemed another was always close by and would swoop in to chase the first away, causing lots of aerial displays. 

     They're gone now. The last one visited Monday morning and it is now Friday afternoon. Autumn begins tomorrow and we suppose that the hummers have begun their migratory flight to a warmer clime for winter, perhaps southern Mexico or northern Panama. It is so hard to imagine that our seemingly fragile wee friends can survive such a long trip, but we have learned that they are bad ass little fighters as well. We look forward to their return in the spring!

My favorite photo from this summer - a young hummer in flight.

Hasselback Potato (with bacon and cheese)

     Sometimes steak is the main dish and sometimes it looses its starring role. Case in point - when a very nice grilled steak is served on the same plate as an equally nice potato that is prepared in the Swedish way called Hasselback. The original version is thin sliced and drizzled with butter and breadcrumbs, producing a crisp, crunchy skin and smooth, creamy center. This variation included thicker slices (easy to do with a wooden spoon handle placed next to a large precooked potato) interspersed with cooked bacon and cheese (cojack - because that is what we had on hand). A quick broil effected the finishing touches of melty cheese and crisp top, and when removed from the oven a sprinkling of fresh chives was added. We even added dollops of sour cream at the table! 

Sunset from a Meramec Valley

     
      In a southwest corner of St. Louis County, near the confluence of the Meramec and the Big Rivers, the scenery is quite beautiful.  It boasts rolling hills, forests and farmland but on a recent visit, it was the moment of sunset that inspired a photographic impulse.

First-Day-Of-Kindergarten Dress

   
     There are lots of stories this week about the first day of school, which evoke memories of my own. One of the most vivid spans nearly a decade in the 1960's. Three of my sisters and myself attended our first day of kindergarten in the exact same dress - a full skirted, blue and green cotton plaid. Pictured above are the youngest sisters in 1963 and 1967 (I couldn't find photos of us older ones).

     Those were the days when, obviously, clothes were passed down as they were outgrown. A side note to this story is that our little brother did not want to start school because we told him he had to follow tradition and wear the dress too. Poor little kid - we loved him so much but we did tease him unmercifully. I think he has forgiven us by now.

2018 PGA Championship (and a heron)

     A prestigious event is being held this week in St. Louis - the PGA Championship. Golfers, spectators (some 80,000 strong), and more than 4,000 volunteer workers have converged at Bellerive Country Club; the eyes of the nation and even the world are on our own neck of the woods. It is predicted that 10 million viewers will watch the televised coverage.

    

     I am proud and pleased at the perspective that has emerged from this event. The crowds were always orderly, respectful and supportive, even when challenged with temperatures in the nineties or an afternoon thunderstorm. Organizers and even some of the golfers expressed their admiration for the number and the comportment of the fans.Take heed media outlets - the St. Louis area is much more about good folks than the racism and crime that you are so keen to publicize!

     On a personal level, I did attend the event midweek, not because I am an avid golfer or fan, but because husband is. He wanted some good photographs and I obliged because, at the very least, using a camera is something I love and I would be outside at a beautiful venue. Husband was pleased with the album we put together, especially pics of several favorites, like Ricky Fowler (shown above) and I was pleased to get at least one nature shot - a scruffy little green heron!

Baked Chimichangas

     This lovely summer supper features a combination of spicy Mexican flavor and cool side veggies. Tortillas are spread with sauteed beef, onion and spices, refried beans and cheese, then rolled and placed in a baking pan. After lightly brushing with oil, they are baked in the oven for about twenty minutes till lightly brown and crispy, and then topped with more cheese. With sour cream piped over and salsa on the side, they can be picked up with fingers or eaten with a fork. We like to eat the simple chopped lettuce mixed with the drippings, etc. that fall while eating the chimichangas (and we NEVER wear white shirts while enjoying Mexican cuisine!)