Cats of Ancient Egypt

 Tom and I attended the current exhibition at the Cincinnati Art Museum in Eden Park yesterday: Divine Felines: Cats of Ancient Egypt. For additional information, click here.

 While I always enjoy the museum, I found this display less than exciting. I'm not even sure there were new pieces shown. Still, it was a chance to visit the museum and that always means a good day.

 Here are a few of the pieces that I was most attracted to ...

 I'm amazed at the workmanship on these pieces made thousands of years ago. The tools must have been crude by today's standard and yet the work is intricate and precise. Can you imagine sitting in a room in the desert, probably with inadequate lighting - and no air conditioning - and crafting these pieces?

 In the background is a "cat coffin". Mummified like humans, many of the Egyptian cats were buried with care.

 This cat was carved from a solid block of wood.

 Even before we went to the exhibit, Tom took me out to lunch for my birthday (coming up next week). We went to Melt Eclectic Cafe in Northside ...

 We each had their Avocado Melt, a somewhat pizza-like dish. Quite good and scalding hot when brought to the table. We shared a salad and each had a Mexican Coke in a green glass bottle.

 While Tom and I wait for our meal. he's facing the street and can enjoy the passers-by.

  I, on the other hand, am back-lit by the street. The birthday boy will be 67 on July 13.

 We had a full day. Before the art museum we stopped at Findlay Market and I bought a couple of home-grown tomatoes ($2/lb). We'll see whether they're as good as they look. I had hoped they were grown locally but I suppose it's a week or two early for that. "They might be home grown," Tom said, "but most likely in some southern state."

 "I think it would be more accurate if they called them field-grown."

 Then, after the museum we drove by the Cincinnati Gardens, a venue formerly known for hockey games and concerts. Tom wanted me to see the building before it was razed. The Beatles played here on August 27, 1964 (to see a sample, click here). I attended their concert two years later at Crosley Field (also razed).

 After the recent hot weather, yesterday was cooler (low-80's) and much less humid. Finally, a nice Saturday we could enjoy together.

Fresh Blueberry Molasses Cake

 I'll have to admit right off that I seldom follow directions. This time was no exception when I made a Fresh Blueberry Molasses Cake featured in the current issue of Yankee Magazine. It always seems to me that people complicate a recipe unnecessarily ... when to add this, when to add that, how to combine.

 Though I used the amounts specified, I went my own way with the mixing and all turned out well. Would it have better had I followed the directions? I can't know, but I think not.

Fresh Blueberry Molasses Cake

2 cups all-purpose flour (I used bread flour because that's what I had)
1 teaspoon baking powder
2/3 cup molasses
2/3 cup boiling water
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons butter (I used margarine)
1/2 cup light-brown sugar
2 eggs
2 cups fresh blueberries

Bake at 350° for 50 minutes to an hour (see below)


 I simply softened the margarine in the microwave, then added the sugar. The eggs came next as well as every ingredient except the flour and the blueberries.

 Once I had the batter well-stirred, I added the flour. The mixture is fairly "wet", though many cakes are similar in consistency. Finally I carefully folded in the blueberries, careful not to crush them.

 An 8" greased glass pan is perfect for the recipe (I did not flour it, too).

 The cakes cracked a bit on top. I tested it at the 45 minute mark and found it done.

 The cake is strongly-flavored, just as you'd expect for a molasses cake. The blueberries add a whole new dimension, adding darkness, mositure and flavor. They "cook" inside the cake and are soft and perfectly done at the same time the cake is finished.

 While still warm, we cut a couple of slices and added whipped cream and a few fresh blueberries as garnish. Ice cream would be a wonderful addition.

 This may be a "classic Maine treat" but it's a high-class dessert anywhere.

Credit: Yankee Magazine, July 2016. Click here for their recipe.

Cincinnati Pride - 2016

"And that's how you make a terrorist die in vain"

   - Steve Hartman, CBS News

 On Friday's CBS News, Steve Hartman's "On the Road" segment was timely. He described a gay teen who had just come out (via a Facebook post) in Alabama. and his fear of acceptance. The quote at the beginning of this blog was Hartman's powerful way of ending the story. It referenced the slaughter of 49 people at the Pulse gay bar in Orlando on June 12.

 And so yesterday, we made that terrorist die a lot more in vain. WLWT (channel 5 in Cincinnati), reported the turnout for the Cincinnati Pride Parade to be in the neighborhood of 90,000. Tom and I were among them.

 Rainbows were the color of the day.

 Tom and I spent our time at the corner of 7th and Vine.

 Police presence was extraordinary. Patrolmen were at every intersection I viewed and swat teams, with automatic weapons were also located strategically. Preparations for our safety were wonderful.

 Where did the flags come from? This is one of the places.

 Pooches were plentiful. One more a rainbow tutu.

 What about that guy's shoes?!

 Yeah, I'm really there.

... and so is Tom.

 The quote: If you're not gay friendly take your bitch ass home!

 This is the proper way to watch a parade on a hot day.

 Must have been hot under there!

 A numbers of guys wore just underwear, This guy was part of a Rocky Horror Picture Show float.

 A bathtub, complete with bubbles.

 During the parade all kinds of give-away's were tossed (sometimes handed) to us: candy (which Tom was still picking up after the parade ended), rainbow wristbands, cup insulators, printed material, Mardi Gras beads (in rainbow hues), condoms and lube.

 Loved this display of Pride and the person in the foreground offering a salute. I can't say gal or guy since drag was a common sight.

 This is the end of the parade. Now to Sawyer Point where the Cincinnati Pride Festival was held.

 Tom sides up to a cardboard cut-out of Hillary Clinton.

 The Belle of Cincinnati paddles lazily by..

 Tom was intrigues by the guys in kilts.

Across the road from Sawyer Point was a religious group with bullhorns telling us we should repent, that there was still hope we could be saved. "You don't have to be this way," one man bellowed. Then there was this opinion.

 Another view of the placards that honored the Orlando victims. These were carried in the parade.

 And then Tom and I started the long walk back to our car at the Garfield Garage at 7th and Vine. We enjoyed some of the sights at Smale Park on our return trip.

 Me with a couple of bronze statues. They reference Cincinnati's Black Brigade during the Civil War. Read more here.

 A love this statue of a mother and child pointing towards the Ohio River. Shades of Uncle Tom's Cabin.

 Downtown Cincinnati had lots of Pride banners. Altogether, a wonderful day, though quite hot (88°). We ended up at Tom+Chee for gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches and endless soft drinks. Mostly, though, it was a place to simply cool down.

 Finally, here's a look at our route as we parked our car, watched the parade, walked to Sawyer Point, returned via Smale Park and ended up at Beerfest (see the previous post). Google estimates our walking (the light blue line) was about 3.5 miles. I'd have put it closer to five.