Germantown Pretzel Festival - 2014

 The annual Germantown Pretzel Festival is a "don't miss" in our family. Unfortunately this is the first year Mom (89 in less than a month) didn't feel like she could attend. We often have to park some distance away and Mom can't walk very far any longer. On the bright side, Tom attended with me.

 It's a two-day event - Saturday, September 27 and Sunday, September 28 - but I went on Saturday only long enough to take a few pictures and buy a couple of loaves of bread ($4) from those wonderful Methodist ladies.

This year's festival had perfect weather. Both days began in the lower 50's and the afternoons were partly sunny. In fact, Sunday climbed into the mid-80's ... a little too hot! The website for the festival is here.

 The Valley View Marching Band practices on N. Walnut Street, adjacent to Veteran Memorial Park where the Germantown Pretzel Festival is held. The band was set to compete in the OMEA (Ohio Music Education Association) contest in Cincinnati that very evening, making for a very long day.

 Mistress of Ceremonies this year was WDTN (TV2) meteorologist Tara Hastings. She took over a few years ago from Dayton Daily News columnist Dale Huffman who was a veritable fixture for the event's kick off each fall. He was Master of Ceremonies for many years. This was the 35th year for the event.

 The Valley View Marching Band performs at the opening ceremony.

 The flags present a colorful start to the event.

At this point, I bought two loaves of bread (one white, one sourdough) and headed for home. I came back on Sunday with Tom Buhler.

 Tom and I first headed for the "food court" at the rear of the event. Neither of us had had lunch and I, for one, was starving. Other people had the same idea. Lines were long and slow. This shot looks south into the hot sun.

 While I waited in line for a paper container of potato wedges ($5), I took this shot back to the north. It was standing room only.

 Here's my order of potato wedges ... hot and greasy but unsalted. Does that make them healthy? In any case, they were delicious and plentiful.

 Tom ordered deep fried green beans (absolutely exceptional ... a small container of a sauce was included). Crunchy and also unsalted (or perhaps only lightly).

 Tom's sweet potato fries were sprinkled with brown sugar. This was also a nice treat.

 Mad River Railroad, a bluegrass band, kicked off the day's entertainment at 2 pm. Read more about the Dayton-based band on their Facebook page or their website.

 Mad River Railroad performs

Mad River Railroad played "Dueling Banjos", certainly a test for any bluegrass band. They handled the 1955 song in expert fashion. This 40 second clip will give you some idea of their talent.

 Tom and I sat in the grandstand while Mad River Railroad performed. We found a somewhat shady spot and shared our potatoes, green beans and sweet potatoes while we enjoyed the music. [Note: I'm serving as a walking billboard for Judge Dennis Adkins. He's up for election in November and my brother, Bob, is his bailiff.]

 You can't beat these two people: Jack and Ann Warner. They own Germantown's Schenck Furniture on Route 4. Jack and I worked together at JCPenney for many years and I can tell you, without reservation, he is the world's best salesman. He'll do anything for a customer. Check out Schenck's by clicking here. If you need furniture or appliances, you can't go wrong.

 Likewise, when we're looking for baked goods, It's Miss Molly's Baker and Cafe in Farmersville for us. I always look up their booth at the Pretzel Festval and they've always got goodies galore. Here's Helen (l) and Raye are manning the booth on Sunday afternoon. Check out their Facebook page by clicking here.

 This is Joy Unspeakable - the Living Statue. Everyone seems to stop and stare. It's quite an unusual sight, especially when "the statue" makes a slight movement. Check out the website by clicking here.

 I had hoped to stay for The Greasers final performance but we got too tired of walking and left about 3 pm. I don't remember the festival ever being more busy or the weather more beautiful.

Dusmesh Indian Restuarant

 Tom and I ate Indian yesterday. I can't say I've had this type of food more than once before - and that in Columbus - but it's a spicy change of pace from my traditional fare.

 The Dusmesh Indian Restaurant is not far from Tom's apartment, in Northside (a Cincinnati suburb). Check out the resturant by clicking here. They specialize in dishes from the north of India.

 Paintings on the wall (this one behind Tom) are of the "Elvis style", paint on velour.

 My first trip through the buffet line netted this plate of food. I'm pretty much in the dark as to what all of this is, other than for Tom helping me choose vegetarian dishes. Hopefully I also chose those that were more mildly spiced. The rice is obvious. The dish on the top left is predominantly spinach and that at the lower right seemed mostly egg-based.

 Tom's plate looked a bit different from mine. Your guess is as good as mine as to what it all is!

 Tom said he goes to the Dusmesh "five or six times a year".

 I ended up with a salad plate (talk about backwards) ... shredded lettuce, sliced cucumbers and carrots. The yellow dish is a sweet, dessert-like concoction of mangoes. I don't know what the bread item is, either, but it reminded me of a pita, without the pocket.

 We traveled there in Tom's just-purchased  2009 Toyota Prius. It looks - and rides - like it's brand new. When I have to replace my 2006 Impala, this is my top choice.
 We had a great day yesterday. The weather was perfect ... clear blue sky, temperatures near 70°. A good day to enjoy each other's company and good food, too.

Miamisburg Mound

 After hiking at Cox Arboretum on Sunday, September 14, Tom Buhler and I toured Miamisburg. I showed him where I lived as a child (and how we moved across the street from 735 to 734 N Eleventh Street), where my grandparents lived and where Dad worked.

 Then we drove out to the Miamisburg Mound, a place I haven't visited in many years.

 The Miamisburg Mound is now operated by the Ohio Historical Society. It is one of two of the largest conical mounds in the Eastern United States. A burial mound by the Adena Indians, it was built in the period from 800 BC to 1000 AD.

 This sign is erected at the site by the OHS. To read more about the Miamisburg Mound, click here.

 Here's a view from the base of the mound up along the 116 steps to the top.

 A view from the top of the mound to the west (Pinehaven is somewhere in the distance, probably ten miles away). The mound sits above a rise, about a hundred feet higher than the Miami River which cuts through the valley below. The Adena's had a commanding view of the valley so many years ago. In the immediate foreground is the Mound Golf Course.

 Tom begins the walk down the steps. Originally 68' in height, an excavation in 1869 reduced the overall height by three feet. What was found when a vertical shaft was sunk in the top? One skeleton covered in bark was found eight feet down; 36' down a "vault" was found surrounded by logs. Various layers of ashes and stones were also uncovered.

 But the site has never been scientifically excavated. "Such a project would take several years of careful, scientifically-controlled work," according to the official Miamisburg website. Click here to read more.

Cox Arboretum

 I haven't visited Cox Arboretum in years, but yesterday Tom and I enjoy an afternoon at the 189 acre facility. It's had many improvements made over the years and has turned into quite a natural showplace for the Miami Valley  In fact, neither of us have seen a finer facility anywhere..

 The Visitor Center is a new building - or at least an addition to what I remember. It's quite extensive in its use of rocks, wood and glass.

 The building - which also encompasses the Zorniger Education Campus - uses natural wood and is a bright, open, airy structure. There weren't any classes being conducted on this Sunday afternoon; everyone was outside enjoying the late-summer sunshine.

 A large pond behind (west of) the building is also much larger (and probably deeper) than I remember. The Arboretum is open year-round and is quite a feather in the cap of local land stewardship efforts.

 Turtles enjoy basking in the 70° sunshine on this pleasant day. It won't be long before they're hidden from view and their long winter slumber begun. What must that feel like? ... falling asleep as the air chills and waking when it begins to warm?

 Though safely separated from visitors by an expanse of water, the turtles watch passers-by carefully, angling their necks as Tom and I walk along a nearby bridge.

 This turtle balances on an old log. Others swim underwater, momentarily lifting their heads above the water to breathe, then dive again into the cold cloudy depths.

 Looking back towards the visitor center from a bridge on the west side of the pond.

 I spotted a rare Midwestern butterfly on my walks but was able to catch it with a photograph before it flitted away. I believe this is the elusive Danaus buhlerious. Say what you will, this butterfly actually exists even though it is very rarely seen.

 I think this is a Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus). This shot was taken inside the Butterfly House, a netted enclosure open to the weather. The season of the Lepidoptera is fast coming to a close this year. Though we reached 70° during our afternoon walk, the morning temperature bottomed out at 43°.

 The Tree Tower is quite an imposing structure. I suspected it was made of metal - and there are plenty of metal fittings - but the bulk of the structure consists of three long logs, standing vertically, around which the rest of the tower is built. Are they redwood as Tom suggests? The tower is 46 feet high and is valued at $500,000.

 Interior to the tower and looking up from below, this must have been an architectural puzzle to assemble. I wonder how extensive the upkeep that will be needed to keep the tower in top-notch condition?

 Tom rests at the top and enjoys the view to the southeast.

 Here's a shot of me at the same spot.

 ... and here's a view down through the center of the tower as others climb up. I can't imagine being able to build something this intricate, even with detailed plans. It is a tinker-toy-like maze of parts.

 Here's an exterior view of the tower. Groundbreaking was on November 30, 2011; the tower was opened to the public on October 12, 2102, less than eleven months later.

 Tom and I walked the "red trail" and passed through a prairie where wildflowers and bees were everywhere. This is a "Giant Sunflower" (Helianthus giganteus), hardly the common garden variety. The "giant' refers to the size of the plant, not to flower (which is actually fairly small). The plant stands anywhere from 3' to 12' tall.

 We plowed through the afternoon powered by a large pizza we got at the Pizza Hut in West Carrollton. Normally on special for $11, we received a "senior discount" and got the pizza for $7.99. Even then, we each saved a slice for lunch tomorrow.

Spaghetti Squash

 I'm a fan of anything from the garden but I have a particular love for spaghetti squash. It's not something we have regularly - and it's not a squash I have ever grown - so it is a special meal we look forward to when we get one. Thanks to Dan Miller for this beautiful squash, homegrown just four miles north of Pinehaven.

Spaghetti Squash - simple and delicious

 I'll show you the finished product first. I prefer eating spaghetti squash as simply as possible. That means adding salt and pepper while baking and adding a pat of margarine when served. That's it. Why drown it in spices and sauces? This way the delicate taste of squash tickles the taste buds.

 The first step is to cut the squash lengthwise. I took it to the garage and laid it on a sheet of newspaper, carefully holding onto the stem as a sort of handle. It takes a large knife to do this right. I then scooped out the seeds and "guts" and brought the two halves back into the house.

 I think the lemon-yellow flesh is perfect. This might be the prettiest squash of all.

 Mom laid the halves in a shallow metal cake pan. Lining it with parchment paper means there's no clean-up afterwards. Here she's rubbing olive oil on the cut sides.

 We like to add a little salt and pepper before the squash is baked. Place this into a 375° oven for about 50 minutes. You'll know when it's done if you can pierce the flesh with a sharp fork. There should be little resistance.

 It's done. 50 minutes have passed and Mom's fork slides into the flesh easily.

 I took the finished squash and scraped the inside flesh with a fork. It comes off like pieces of string. It's ready to eat. The two halves produced two large servings.