Wednesday, November 30, 2022

May I

 

May I be happy.

May I be well.

May I live with ease.


May you be happy.

May you be well.

May you be safe.

May you live with ease.


 

Tuesday, November 29, 2022

Tuesday, November 15, 2022

Not Too Dull

 

 


"There is no life too  dull to be transformed into 

    art by a lively imagination. " p. 79 A Woman of Independent Means

Monday, November 14, 2022

Day 10 Cleveland Vacation

 Monday morning architectural tour of downtown Cleveland. We started at Terminal Tower Cleveland’s most iconic landmark. Located at the intersection of Rt. 20 and Superior Ave. Built during the skyscraper boom of the 1920’s and ‘30’s. It was the second tallest buildings in the world when it was completed. This building houses restaurants, shops, the terminal stops for the rapid transit trains and the Ritz Carlton hotel along with a major casino.


 




 

 



 

Second stop of the downtown architectural tour was the “Soldier and Sailor monument. There is a free guided tour. The Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument commemorates the American Civil War; it consists of a 125' column surrounded at its base by a Memorial Room and esplanade. The column, topped with a statue of the Goddess of Freedom, defended by the Shield of Liberty, signifies the essence of the Nation for which Cuyahoga County veterans were willing to and did give their lives. Four bronze groupings on the esplanade depict, in battle scenes, the Navy, Artillery, Infantry and Cavalry.

 



 Monday architectural tour of downtown Cleveland included three beautiful arcades. By the turn of the century, the Arcade was said to have only one rival, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele in Milan. The Arcade served as an urban amenity to the citizens in Cleveland. It provided a passage between two of the city’s largest thoroughfares, leisure space for the public, and even Sunday band concerts. The Arcade also served as an important shopping district. The construction of the Arcade, and its successors, the Colonial and Euclid and Arcades, responded to the expansion of industry between the Cuyahoga River and Public Square that caused many retailers to move toward Euclid Avenue in the late nineteenth century. The addition of new streetcar lines in Public Square in the late 1880s also turned this area into prime real estate, encouraging more retailers to make the move eastward.




 














 

One of the highlights for me on this architectural tour was Historic Landmark Preserved:
The Cleveland Trust Rotunda was designed by architect George B. Post, and features a Tiffany-style stained glass ceiling. Just below the ceiling, 13 murals painted by Francis Davis Millet entitled The Development of Civilization in America depict the exploration and settlement of the Great Lakes region. This historic site now houses a multi level gourmet food specialty store “Heinen’s”. The second level has a vast selection of wine and beers. The domed Tiffany styled ceiling is magnificent.














Monday’s architectural tour included the Money museum in the Federal reserve bank. Shredded bills are packaged as free souvenirs. A fun museum.
The Learning Center and Money Museum is located in the historic lobby of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, 1455 East Sixth Street, Cleveland, Ohio 44114 free admission.
 
 
Monday lunch at one of our all time favorite places Joe’s Deli. Long-standing establishment serving classic deli sandwiches & Lebanese meals in a laid-back setting.
Service options: Dine-in · Takeout · No delivery
Address: 19215 Hilliard Blvd, Rocky River, OH 44116
Guaranteed great food. We split the Reuben corned beef sandwich. Delicious
 

 
This afternoon we were so happy to visit Mikes cousin Frank and  Debbie. Frank is the owner of Drellishak's Service Center on
22690 Lorain Rd
Fairview Park, OH 44126 you’ll be hard pressed to find a better more thorough more honest mechanic then Frank. Great to see these two great family members.

 

We’ve had such a wonderful time
here with Mikes family and it’s been a birthday that I’m sure Mike will never forget. Thanks to my brother in law Rocky and  sister in law    Mary for being such great company and taking us every day to such wonderful places. We capped off our trip by saving the best for last with a dinner at Caffe Roma with Joe,  Carla and their daughter Amy. They are relatives from Italy that own and operate this wonderful family neighborhood restaurant. Both Joe and Carla were born in Naples. Grazie Mille Joe and Carla for a night. 
 

 

 

 


 
A great end to a wonderful trip to Cleveland.

More Stories by Claudette S.

 

Letter from Los Angeles/Thanksgiving eve/ 2001:
I’m just wrapping up my evening at 10:00 p.m., early for me. I've had a half a bottle of wine all to myself since 6:00 p.m. I am cooking and listening to the travel people on NPR talk about waits at airports. E-Tickets vs. paper. (I’m a paper person.) What to do if you look Middle Eastern, (I don’t) Where to park at airports, the exchange rate in Spain and good restaurants in San Francisco. But, it’s Thanksgiving and I belong here at home
All this time I was finishing up this complex and very satisfying Indian Pudding that they serve at Durgan Park in Boston for tomorrow's dessert. It takes some unsulfured molasses and I dip my finger into the bowl of the spoon where some of the molasses has pooled. When I lick my finger I have a memory of my mother holding out a spoon for me to do the same thing. It is a deep flavor that clings to my tongue and makes me think of caves. I took the pudding out of the oven after baking it at a low temperature for three hours in a larger pan of water and it sits now on top of the stove, "maturing" turning more and more dark and dense looking. Very inviting. You imagine you might only need one generous dollop. It's something my mother would have warned, "Be careful now, it's very rich," not wanting anyone at her table to swoon from the sudden sweetness, I suppose.
I washed a couple of pans and something slipped out of my hands, knocking a glass off the counter and making a large racket. Both dogs showed up at the ready checking to see if they were needed.
I drove over to Whole Foods at around 8:30 to pick up some loose ends, parmesan, prosciutto, parsley, several things that begin with "P" it seems. The young man in the small deli section proceeded to slice me a quarter pound of the prosciutto. I had said, "Slice it thin please, " Waiting I stood looking at all the babies folded up in their little seats attached to the shopping carts. Their mothers and daddies stopped to investigate briny peppers, wedges of cheese, olives, whole fishes and shrimp while their babies gazed only at their mommies and daddies. I gazed only at the babies thinking about the one that my son and daughter-in-law will be having in February. What will that be like? How will I control myself? How will I explain to friends that this is different? I'm not just another Hallmark Grandma, this is my grandchild. This baby I was around for, long before it was born. And my parents were around for it too, and theirs and theirs and theirs. Ancestors I don't even know will be looking up at me from that baby and we will all gaze together across generations.
So the boy in the deli is taking forever to slice the prosciutto. He comes to me and says, "Sorry this is taking so long but I want to make sure to trim off the fat." I say back, "No, no don't!" He returns in a few minutes and holds out the flat, pink translucent pieces to me I say to him, "I'm not really a low fat person," he says back, "Well, me either, but my supervisor saw me slicing it and said, ‘trim off that fat’. I tried to tell him that fat really mattered, but well..." I say, "Fat is the deal." He is wearing a beret, he smiles at me and says, "Yes, it is. That's what I thought, with proscuitto." I tell him he is right and we are happy to be together on this issue.
I return home and getting out of my car I pause pleased with the smell of fireplaces at night in my neighborhood. And also, just for you folks in the east who get all huffy about fall, I'd like to mention that the leaves on the liquid amber trees lining my block are bright golden. Bright. The loose leaves whirling in at rare breeze are piling in the gutter. So, don’t tell me!
I decide to slice carrots so I won't have to do them tomorrow. I take out this Madoline that Bren and Sara gave me a couple of years ago which has sat propped up by the radio against one of the cabinets, mostly for looks. Now's as good a time as any. I try to figure out how to adjust the blades thinking that the French would definitely have named this practical tool something that sounds elegant and a little seductive. Madeline. I begin to push carrots through the blades and almost lose the tip of a finger. Okay. This is serious, and I'm an amateur. I think about the funny letter I will write to Brendan and Sara about blood and carrots. It will make them laugh. I get band aids.
I put the carrots in the fridge, clean up, run the dishwasher so I will have it empty for tomorrow. On the counter is a big bag of red potatoes, a basket of oranges and lemons and limes and bag of onions. On the small table is a handsome grouping of Nouvelle Beaujolais, a couple of bottles of Chardonnay with narrative labels and two serious red. On top of the washer /dryer, bottles of seltzer, and a bowl of chopped pecans. Folded towels I must put away.
I take off my clothes and turn off all the lights before I go sit in the hot tub. The dogs rouse themselves from a sound sleep and come out to see if I'm alright mistaking sighs of satisfaction for distress. It is pitch black but I can see the outline of the three story deodara cedar towering over the roof of my house all the way from the front yard. It is like having my own personal giant. Each Thanksgiving is the echo of all those which came before it. Momma and Daddy, candles and sweets—all their friends dressed up and smelling fancy. Sometimes Mom invited a soldier from the airfield. “They should be with family too.”
First thing in the morning, I have to go look for that football. It's very important to have a couple of people go out in the street and throw a ball around on Thanksgiving Day while we wait for more just one more piece of pie.

Sunday, November 13, 2022

Day 9 Cleveland Vacation

 We woke up to snow


 
                       Sunday was peaceful beginning with a drive through the valley covered with a first snow. We stopped at the Lake Erie Nature and Science center for a short walk and more Sunday driving.

 




We stopped for coffee at a cute coffee house called “Propaganda” 

 and then relaxed the rest of the day at home with Rocky, Mary and Amanda.

 


 

 Rock and Mike made a great dinner of venison filets wrapped in bacon and a mushroom risotto.

 


 

 Rocky had made his moms delicious cheesecake recipe for dessert. We ended the night playing “family feud.” We said goodbye to our niece Amanda who is returning home to Washington D.C. safe travels and thank you for making the trip to spend the weekend with us. A lovely family day.

Do Not Forget

 

 "Above all do not forget

your duty to love yourself." -Soren Kierkegaard

 

 

Saturday, November 12, 2022

Day 8 Cleveland Vacation

 

 

 
So this morning we were surprised to see a deer in the yard next door. I texted a picture to my friend Jeanette who is visiting family in Tennessee. She sent me a picture of the deer in their yard and a picture of wild turkeys and said “I’ll see your deer and raise you some wild turkeys.”
I then sent her a picture of the wild turkeys I saw the other day and said we have them too!

 

Mike following the deer down the street.
 
My father in law Nate Cabot used to say “If you don’t like the weather in Ohio wait 5 minutes.” Well it took a little more time but within days we went from beautiful Indian summer hiking weather to rain yesterday and then today it started to snow! It was so exciting!
 

 
We took a scenic drive to Oberlin College which is such an interesting, cute, old fashioned college town. Had so much fun shopping in several fun novelty shops and a Ben Franklin five and dime store. While we were there it started to snow. That was so exciting. I was especially happy to finally see the Oberlin college campus as both Mike’s uncle Joe and my uncle Renso and my cousins husband all graduated from Oberlin.





 
Very cool shop called Ratsy's
Here's the shop owner. She was a lot of fun.
 
 
 
 
 The Ben Franklin five and dime was so much fun.



A little place called Larder delicatessen and bakery founded by Jeremy Umansky is a jewel of a find in Cleveland Ohio. From yelp a quote:”James Beard Foundation nominated Eastern European delicatessen and bakery with Jewish deli roots. From knish to pastrami to chocolate babka we've got your cravings covered. We also offer a wide variety of fresh groceries from flour and sugar to local milk and produce. Proclaimed to be the "Best Deli in America" by Michelin starred chef Daniel Boulud.” We had a great late lunch here and enjoyed a lengthy conversation with chef and founder Jeremy Umansky. The Reuben Pastrami sandwich was so good. Larder Delicatessen & Bakery, Cleveland, Ohio. 1455 West 29th Street

 






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