Father's Day Travel

 On Father's Day of this year, I opted to go and visit my Dad's grave. I try to make it down a couple of times a year.  Each time I go down, I try to go by the old family homestead. Still standing! Alas, no one currently lives in it at this time.  It does bring back memories.  Just inside of the front porch, used to sit a couch, and a rocker as well as a few chairs.  This room was paneled with wood veneer. It always gave off a comfy feeling. Just inside of the front windows sat a desk.  There was a small lamp, as well as an old radio.  Also covering almost half the desk were flowers. There were always some Christmas cactus's as well as African Violets. Just inside the door and to the left were more flowers. Against the back wall and near the far side was a bookshelf with many years of National Geographic Magazines.  How much time we used to spend in that room when we visited.  I will not give you a description of the whole house or the stories of it, but, as I viewed the photo as I posted it, it just did bring back so many memories.  The tall shrub inb the foreground is a Rhododendron  It is a domestic version of our state flower.  Our State flower is called Mountain Laurel.  The leaves almost look identical, but the flowers are different.  One thing about Mountain Laurel is that it only grows above a certain elevation. Even though the house is in the Allegheny Mountains, Mountain Laurel will not grow where the houses are.  It does grow on our hill, but, only near the summit.  I only brought this up here, is because later in my day, I was driving along  sightseeing, and I did come across Mountain Laurel, and I was lucky enough to catch it in bloom.  You may get bored with how many photos I may have included in the posting.  Just warning ya!

  The photo above was a view of the village of Sheffield PA as viewed from the Cemetery.  With everything green, it is hard to see the village.  Although I did not take any photos, I did stop up to the barn,  Always have to look in on it.  As always, I drove up close to the barn and drove up to the tree line before turning around.  In just that short time looking at the property, One of the neighbors came out to see who was driving up there.  It was our neighbor Jerry Borden.  Thanks to him, he has been cutting the grass around the barn area and where the vegetable garden used to be.  he really does keep the property looking great!  Always have to reminisce about days gone by and how he used to get into trouble for not doing his own chores whenever dad came to watch the grass grow.

  From there, I went the back way into Kinzua Dam area.  This is a higher elevation, and that is where I espied the Mountain Laurel in bloom. Here are some of the photos.

  With the sightseeing about done, I was starting to head west and back towards Erie and home.  As I was driving, I saw this cut out in the trees on the east side of Warren and I had always been curious as to how to get there. I had gotten a hint from a local I knew, and was told it was Liberty Park. And was told i just needed to drive up Liberty Street, and near the top of the hill I would find it.  Well, that is not quite true.  I drove up to the top, and over the hill, yet I never  got to see Warren from this vantage point.  So, I doubled back, and came across a sign for Washington Park.  It was a narrow one was dirt track, but after you got in a ways, it indeed was the cut i had viewed from below on the highways so many times.  So, I proceeded to Take some photos from there.  I had used the Panoramic setting on the camera for some of these.  Was really a sight to see. Am so thankful that I was able to finally find this place.  I am sure I will make this a place I visit again!

 As you view the map below, North is to the top of the map, and East to the left side.  Just trying to orient you is all.  Coming from Erie, we normally come in from the East.  I had just found this map on the day I posted this entry.  I am sorry I was unable to enlarge the map to show more of Warren, but this will serve for my purposes.

  The first photos are viewing Warren headed East looking down like 4th Avenue there.  That is towards the main business district.  Also you can see here and there bits of the Allegheny River, and some of the bridges crossing it. Last two photos, are zoomed in shots of the Warren General Hospital. 

 Was sad to have to visit dad in a cemetery rather than live, but, spirits rose with some of the views along the way.  If you would like to see any of the photos full sized, just click on them, and you can see the original size of the photos.

Deja Vu 2

  It has happened again!  For the second time in my life, I have come face to face with a semi approaching me head on in my lane of traffic.  Just as a reminder of what I am talking about, here is a link to my first encounter;  http://jayahrsblog.blogspot.com/2009/01/my-life-flashes-before-my-eyes.html  I am traveling at 55 MPH. the posted limit.  I cannot go to the left to avoid, and if I go to the right, just beyond the oncoming semi, I would hit into the warning sign. I am already beyond the  correct place to exit.

  What to do?  Alas, my life runs before my eyes once again.  Wait!  What's this?  My Life, IT IS A RE-RUN, Can you imagine that, a summer re-run is my life!  And here, I thought that only happens on TV.

Trouble Happens in Three's

  That is an old saying, and a lot of people believe in it. Do you?  Me, I am now beginning to believe.  Recently, I was supposed to drive a client to Buffalo, and we had a very early departure time. I got up very early, and was looking to look at my e-mail before departure.  Trouble # 1:  As I was logged on, and only for a few short minutes on my laptop, it up and suddenly shut down.  Tried to restart, but no good.  Gave up, and went on with my day. Arrived at clients house, and it was raining a little bit.  That is not necessarily a bad thing, especially when starting trip just after 6 AM.  Heading towards Buffalo, one would have to face into the rising sun, so, a little rain is not a bad thing.

 Trouble # 2: occurred when I was loading clients wheelchair into back seat of car. I carry my cell phone in a small pouch that I used the belt clip of to hook to my shirt. When I wear phone at waist, I cannot hear the ring.  Anyway, I digress.  I loaded up the chair, have client in the car, start GPS and I am ready to go.  Just as I turn the corner from the clients residence, I got a notice on my GPS that I lost blue-tooth connection.  What the heck?  I reached to my chest, and that is when I noticed that my phone was no longer on my shirt. Goes back to the residence, and laying on the road, there it is.  Well, good thing it is still inside its leather pouch, or, so I thought.  Opened it up, and found that the outside screen of my flip top phone was cracked.  Rot Roh!  Opened it up, and inside screen was also kaput.  I had run over the phone after loading up wheelchair.  Strange thing was, phone still worked.  I could receive calls, just could not make any. Oh, one other thing, I could only listen to calls when I was on speaker phone.  I had also found that I could access my phone book thru the GPS.  So, anytime I wanted to make a call, I also had to have my GPS on, even in the house.  The wonders of modern technology.

 The old wives tale of troubles came to mind, and I had started to really think about when the last show would drop on this day.  I was really fearful that I may be involved in an accident while on this trip.  I was extra careful.  Rained on and off most all day, Saw all the doctors, did the visiting, and returned client back home, safe and sound.  I now doubted that there would be a number three.  I started to relax.  What could go wrong now, I am at home and not going anywhere.

 Trouble # 3: Got up the next morning, and after trying to get laptop to work again, I found same troubles with it. The symptoms are the same as what happened to my desktop some time ago.  Could be on for a bit, then everything freezes up, and shuts down.  Really is looking like a HEAT SINK problem.  Late afternoon, I am heading out from the house, and what do I come across and see?  Trouble # 3.  Overnight, my car has been tagged by vandals, and I got a scratch on the paint.  Will troubles ever cease?

Urban Renewal, "Build It, And They Will Come

 Here I rant one more time.  The City of Erie in their own great minds came up with this great idea, of urban renewal.  They built townhouses to encourage people to move back into City central.  They build, but cannot fill the units.  This does not deter them in their cause.  Here are a few examples of what they have built, and are trying to sell.

  Our first selections are on 13th to 14th and Parade Streets.  Limited parking on this first unit, and a close up of the front store windows takes up the first two units.  And in second two photos is the second unit, which boasts a cul-de-sac with no access to the much busier Parade St.  In the forth photo above, please note once again the store front windows.  Another hidden gem that cannot be filled with tenants.

  Moving along west from this prime location, is another one.  The old commercial building has gone thru a few renovations.  First, was opened up as a dance club for people under age of 21.  While this was in existence,  the had a high number of fights, a number of riots, as as well as stabbings and a few shootings.  All the violence ended in a fire.  This took us to the next in the evolution.  The building is converted into apartments/townhouses.  I do agree, it is a shot from a block away, but this way, you can see the full building as well as the very spacious parking area.  Please note, Plenty Of Parking. This unit also has been open for a number of years now.

  Lastly, the newest attempt at moving people back into downtown central Erie.  These two are still under construction. Eliminated metered parking areas to construct these two. I admit, these are still under construction, but still gives you an idea of what is going on.  In the last photo, check out the banner for how much it will cost for the pleasure of moving back into the city.

 Remember their motto" BUILD IT, AND THEY WILL COME."

SHOW ME YOUR BLOOMERS, BE THEY WHITE, YELLOW, PINK, GREEN OR BLUE

  Yesterday was another gorgeous day around Erie, and a lot of trees and shrubs are in Spring Bloom.  So many trees and even shrubs have not even began to bud out yet, while others are all in their splendor colors already.  Here are some photos from Erie and the Environs.

  What were you thinking I had meant with the title for this Blog entry?

Earned Trust From A Friend

  Today, I just wanted to give comment on how much trust I have earned from a friend of mine.  Although their house may be locked at most times when no one is home, and they have not given me a key to their home, they have trusted me with a password to get into their house when they are away.  These are the people I get some TV dinners from.  So, If I happen to stop over when no one is home, and I need to get in say like for plastic bags for the TV dinners, I can safely enter their house.  All of the family either have keys, or their own way of knocking to be let into the house when they forget their keys.  I am told, that their automated system has voice recognition.  If I give out my password to anyone else, they door may not open because my voice was not recognized by the system, and if a real intruder tried to enter, they enter at their own peril.  What is best about this system they have, is that even if power is out, and house is dark, this system still works.  I am uploading a video shown from the inside how it works.  It is very ingenious. And it is capable of learning more.  This was a self taught system. WOW talk about going green as well.

 

 All that is needed after the door is opened, is a scratch behind the ears, and some lovin, and maybe even a doggie treat.  This opener works well just for the scratching behind the ears, and some belly rubs.  Sorry, I did not give out my password to you, but I was inside to shoot the video.

Share and Relish

 Tis my turn to kick in a recipe.  Here is one of my comfort foods.  A great hearty cold weather warmer-upper.  It can go by varied names.  Here, I can either call it a stir fry, or fajita.

Ingredients:
                  1 lb / (.5 kilo) Flank steak, or London Broil
                                        Onions (yellow, white, cooking, or Vidalia)
                                        Peppers ( red, yellow, or green )
                                        Mushrooms
                                        Butter
                                        Crisco  (Lard based cooking fat )

Seasonings:                       Salt
                                         Seasoning Salt
                                         Onion salt / powder
                                         Garlic Salt / powder
                                         Pepper

 To prepare, I use two skillets.  A larger one for the veggies.  I add some butter to a non-stick skillet, and on low to medium heat, I melt the butter, and as it melts, I chop the onions into sliced rings.  After the onions are added, I turn the heat up onto medium low. I add them to the skillet as I cut them.  I am sauteing them to get them translucent. After the onions are started, I move onto the peppers. I do them in this order, for they take the longest time to sweat down. Keep stirring to keep from burning. Next, I work with the mushrooms.  Mostly what I use, because of my budget, is the white button mushrooms. Once mushrooms are added, cover with a lid and lower temp a little just to keep veggies warmed.

 After cleaning off and washing my cutting board, I move onto my meat preparation. Earlier in the day, I moved the meat down from freezer to refrigerator. As I get ready to work with it, it is still nearly frozen.  I have found when you cut meat into relatively thin slices, it works easiest when cutting the meat when either still frozen, or at least still has some frost in the meat.  By the time you cut the steak into thin slices, they defrost in no time at all. Only takes moments rather than hours when still in whole piece.

  Just prior to cutting the meat, I add a bit of Crisco into my heavy duty pan.  I allow it to melt and warm under low heat while meat is cut.  After meat is cut, I lay them out on it's widest side, and then season the meat.  Once both sides of the meat strips are seasoned, you will find they are melted and ready to fry.

  Fry the meat on both sides, and when ready, can add to the veggie dish and you are ready to serve.  All told, with prep time, to ready to serve, it takes about 1 hour.  This meal especially for lent can be used differently.  if I would enjoy on a Friday in lent, I would just make the stir fry veggies.  Lucky for me, when I made this, it was on a Thursday, so I added the meat.

  When I first learned to cook, it was for a family, and I have a hard time downsizing for one.  With that being said, leftovers are always as wonderful as the first time.  When I first learned to cook, my mother followed a recipe to the letter. I learned that way.  I will not ever complain about that, but, now that I cook for myself, I use her recipe's as a guide, not a rule book.  You like other veggies,. as Emeril Lagasse would do and say is, "BAM!" Make it your own.

  As an example, mushrooms such as Chanterelles, Crimini, shiittaki's, Oyster, Portabella, Porcini, or Morels.  I used tame peppers, you can use any to bring up the heat to your desired likeness. Jalepeno's, Habenara, as examples.  I had used London Broil, or otherwise known as Flank Steak and or top round steak/roast, because is pretty inexpensive, and by cutting across the grain of the meat wehn slicing, you end up with a tender slice of meat.