A retrospective look at several pleasantries of this waning summer seems to be the best way to capture it all, toss up a handful or two of fizzing, popping, luminescent memories, and move into the new school year contented and prepared by the ebb and flow that is summer vacation.
Slicing has consistently offered me the impetus to not only write and reflect on life, but to also savor photography again as a vehicle to pluck bits of the day-to-day and share it with others. I've gathered a dozen of my photos and ten vignettes to punctuate and encapsulate the summer.
We arrived early for the ceremony and I got to say "Hi!" to Danny outside the church before we found our pew and my brother came up the aisle as a groomsman. After waiting to sprinkle bird seed on the happy couple, we relaxed at the South Bend Chocolate Company where I enjoyed a Jones Soda with a wedding-themed label (left) and a few orange and lemon-flavored chocolate-covered pretzels and visited with another cousin, Tina, and her husband Bill who also happened to come to the Chocolate Cafe in between the ceremony and reception. A family-style Polish dinner, music to dance our hearts out to, conversations with Grandma, and blurry pictures of Mom and my brother polkaing made the reception a gem of June.
For the return-leg of our "Americana parade" aboard a Greyhound Bus, Aunt Jo packed a lunch of very special proportions: "Aunt Jo's Sandwiches" (below).
The simple, yet entirely satisfying sandwiches have been craved by my brother and me ever since a car ride to
Another pleasant, summer evening was spent at Muncie Civic Theatre's performance of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, a charming, unique story that was wonderfully performed. Complete with audience participation and darling, endearing characters, I am so happy I went to see some great, local theatre.
When attending the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix (PVGP), I took some fun shots of the Oscar Meyer Wienermobile and a giant fiberglass cow next to the Turkey Hill booth that was giving out Steelers' Blitzburgh Cruch ice cream, and some photos of the impressive cars (below).
There is nothing like the challenge, excitement, and accomplishment of sixty miles in three days, but being a part of the community supporting the walkers and all 3-Day participants was certainly something special; for instance, at no other time in my life have I consistently woken up for the day at 2:45 a.m. Friday, Saturday, Sunday, I was up hours before
I also enjoyed working with new friends Beatta, an Aunt Jo look-alike who lives in St. Louis and came to the U.S. from Poland twenty years ago (I reminisced with her about kabonos), and Brenda, a fun, like-minded daughter of a walker who was celebrating being a ten-year survivor; Brenda and I instantly clicked and will definitely keep in touch. Looking back , crewing actually allowed me to get to know more people on the 3-Day by working with them
I also got to spend more time with my mom by working with her for three days instead of walking sometimes with her and sometimes apart; I really enjoyed getting to hang out and talk with Mom at night in the tent while killing mosquitoes and reflecting on the day.
For the second time in three years, our tent (above) won the "Best Decorated Tent" award, too :-). Mom's students worked all school year to create over 1,700 beautiful, beaded pins for the walkers, crew, supporters, medics, etc; it was neat to have something special to help keep folks going and pump them up.
I do love farmers' markets and this summer was no exception. Whether Pittsburgh's renowned Strip District, or Muncie's Wednesday afternoon and Saturday morning market at Minnetrista, or the classic South Bend Farmers' Market, I am there.... My husband enjoyed watermelon and I could not believe how delicious(!) simple, cherry tomato "pasta sauce" can be. Hot pan, a few tablespoons of olive oil, ripe cherry tomatoes, minced garlic, salt and pepper; then, stir until tomatoes "pop" to make a summer-sweet sauce (below) to serve over a cup of whole wheat penne.