The Haasienda on Shroyer…

Downtown Dayton is alive and bulging with people and numerous activities.

Dayton Dragons Baseball at 5th/3rd Field.

Celtic Festival at Riverscape.

Movies at The Victoria Theatre.

Riverscape is packed but the way the Celtic Festival is spread out along Monument Avenue and some of the side streets it doesn’t feel as packed in.

It’s a beautiful, slightly cool evening along The Great Miami River and I’m loving it.

CHRISTMAS VACATION at Victoria Theatre with 300+ others in the audience was an absolute hoot. I loved the fact that the movie was also uncensored, drawing even more laughs and applause. The biggest applause actually came when the cat was electrocuted… go figure!

I’m sitting on one of the large flat stones a few feet from the river. The sun has set and a faint pink glow hovers above the trees and buildings off to the west.

The Irish rock music from the band on the side street above me is pretty cool and a delightfully different treat than to what I’m accustomed on any other evening.

The mixture of rushing water over the rocks, people chattering and laughing away, the Irish rock band above and behind me, and the music from the main tent to the east is energizing while still relaxing.

I’ve about twenty more minutes of this festive evening, then the end to my Friday Fun Day downtown.

MIAGD: Make it a great day

It is my Friday fun-day, and I’m going to have to work to make it a truly fun day.

My day begins with a trip to the labs to have a blood draw to check my A1C for my diabetes. Then I have a number of errands to run following that. I really don’t consider running errands as much fun as scouring places with my camera.

So the adventures continue but it will be a great day!

Photos of our PupGuest, Roxy.

I taught from 8:30 AM – 1:45 PM and had the entire afternoon off due to student vacations and band camps.

I took full advantage of running errands to the vegetable stand near the Marshall and Stroop roads intersection.  Sadly, they were already out of sweet corn, but I did get small potatoes, several tomatoes, zucchini, and squash.  At Kroger I found two nice steaks and some packaged sweet corn (mistake).  Supper was a delicious fare of steak (which I rarely eat), roasted potatoes, sweet corn, and a baked medley of zucchini, squash, tomatoes, and onions.

I detest cooking. I seldom complete one of my own meals, my soups being the exception, where I am terrifically delighted with the results.  Tonight, I was one happy chef.

I was on the bus to Riverscape by 7:00 PM.  The weather was absolutely perfect.

And then it happened:  three wonderful surprises!

Donna Barlett, Jinnie Wilkins, and Diane Householder all visited me at Riverscape!

Donna and Jinnie are those angels who work with special needs and I got to know them when teaching saxophone lessons at Ankeney Middle School.  Diane taught at Van Buren Middle School and had several of my sons in class, and tutored one son.

Donna, Jinnie and I sat on the swing, snapping river shots as we chatted.  Diane and I visited the fountains for some close-up photos.

I dearly loved seeing these three fantastic women!

The late evening on the deck is the cherry on top of the ice cream sundae.  I will finish my letter to Mother so that I can get it into the mail, tomorrow, and then call it a night.

First Flight Sculpture

Four years ago, today, I was on the road by 7:00 AM toward an exciting day-trip adventure to Lexington, Kentucky and Shaker Village at Pleasant Hill.

In the summers I always kept my bicycle in the van for storage but also for special trips.

My first stop was at the Mary Lincoln house in Lexington for the very first tour. After the tour, I pulled the bike out of the van and rode around Lexington to several of my favorite sites. It was so much easier than navigating traffic in finding parking spaces.

After spending 30 minutes wondering around the property of Henry Clay’s Ashland, I aimed South word toward Shaker Village at Pleasant Hill.

Around 2002-2003, my friend, Sue Branson, visited Pleasant Hill and shared with me a brochure. Mother, my two older sons, and I traveled to Smith, Kentucky, to scatter the ashes of my grandfather in an area he clearly adored. After a few days in Gatlinburg, we passed through Pleasant Hill on the return trip home.

I’ve returned to Pleasant Hill three times since then initial visit, and I am always eager to return.

Four years ago, I took this photo with one of my older phones. I’ve used it as my cell phone home cover page ever since.

One funny note: on my return home I passed through Lexington and stopped at the national cemetery. I miss read the sign that indicated the closing time; I ended up locked inside the gate, only to be rescued by an elderly Barney Fife kind of security guard.

I absolutely loved this particular visit. It was just the perfect trip and has reminded me that I need to take more.

To learn more about: Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill.

If you plan to visit, be sure to reserve your spot on the paddleboat that takes you on a10 mile round-trip cruise down the Kentucky River.

MIAGD: Make it a great day

The mild temperatures of this week have been most inviting and this morning is absolutely perfect.

Due to vacations and camps, my weekend will begin at 1:30 PM this afternoon.

It appears I have one more Mary Lincoln daylily lingering in the front flower bed.

Last night was actually one of the nights of sleeping that I had.

I love having our doggie guest, Roxy, with us. She’s so loving and cute, and fits right in.

That’s all there is to report for this fine day. Make it great!

Today was well planned out and turned in to a number of fiascoes.

I discovered, late last night, that several of my students were away today for cross country camp; they thought they would be back much earlier, in time for their lessons, but there was a mixup on the cross country sheet and they do not get home until late evening.

Perfect! I had several errands to run and scraped together a quick plan that was actually working out beautifully until…

I went to The Greene to check my latest update and how it affected my battery. The associate at the Apple store checked my phone; the battery was fine, but I had a few apps that needed adjusting. She promptly took care of everything and set a follow up phone call for Thursday morning.

I had additional time for which I had not accounted, so I decided to grab a hamburger and herb fries from EO burgers. Tasty.

I moved on, with the next bus, to Meijer pharmacy to pick up my prescription her a text I had received several days before. At the counter, they could not locate a prescription called in from my doctor. I checked the text messages and they were only reminding me that it was time to refill my prescriptions. My doctor had accidentally written prescriptions for two months instead of three months, and I let her know last week that I needed the adjustment.

So, again I had some unanticipated time to kill.

I went outside to wait for the bus, and to my surprise it pulled up 20 minutes earlier than the scheduled read.

I hopped on the bus and after about 10 minutes, and to my horror, I discovered I was on the wrong bus. I had not noticed I was NOT climbing onto Bus 11 that would take me to Town & Country, and got on Bus 23 that took me to Saint Leonard’s retirement village, and all the way to the mall. I actually got off at big lots to grab a few things before catching Bus 17 directly to my house.

Argh.

I did grab some needed things for the kitchen and I will be arriving home at the time in which I expected to return.

I will have enough time to feed the dogs, run a wind sectional from 4:15-5:00 PM, and head to Woodland Cemetery at 5:23 PM for a 6:00 PM event.

I must say, it was nice to travel down Bigger Road to Clyo Road to St. Leonard’s past the high school and on to Big Lots.

I consider this to be more an unplanned excursion than a blunder of not paying attention.

MIAGD: Make it a great day

I cannot believe it is already Tuesday with tomorrow being my summer-Friday.

There’s really nothing of significance to report. It’s a typical Tuesday.

Since my evening unexpectedly opened up tonight I’m heading to Woodland Cemetery for an event once the dinner break commences.

I’m loving this start of marching band season. So much progress, already.

This morning, there were no more Mary Lincoln day lilies. Until next year…

Make sure you make it a great day!

While it was an eventful day it was uneventful in many ways. Most of the day was spent on the deck, reading and writing.

Since today was a free day (July has 5 Sundays, I only teach 4) I took the bus to Centerville, lunched at La Piramides, grabbed a few things at Big Lots and was home by 3:00 PM.

I read and wrote some more, attended to a letter for Mother, napped, and ended up at Kroger.

We are keeping Roxy this week while her family is in Florida. Roxy has been here before and she immediately resumed her familiarity with The Haasienda and the trio. Right now, at 10:30 PM, which is quite early to be in the upper bed chamber, I’ve three girls snuggled next to me.

I love it!

I received a “photograph reminder” on Facebook and it was from five years ago when I took my dog, Flyer, on our final trip, together.

Flyer was dying and since we’d traveled extensively for twelve years, I decided to take one final trip with the dear girl.

We ended up at St. Joseph Cemetery in the hills of Butler County where my fourth-great-grandparents are buried.

From there we moved on over to Oxford and The grounds of Miami University. We walked through the gardens and sat by the pond, snuggling and enjoying these last few moments.

Flyer was tired, weak, ready for eternal sleep, but she was not about to allow anything to come between our time together.

A handful of Flyer’s cremains were later added to the pond.

MIAGD: Make it a great day

Grey skies. Wet air. Spongy ground. A blanket of damp clings to The Miami Valley.

It’s still a fantastic day with plenty of activities to fill the time. I’m running marching band camp preparation errands with a friend, attending the Organ Grinder festival at Carillon Park, and seeing a newly released movie at The Neon Theater, HEARTS BEAT LOUD.

This morning, a single Mary Lincoln day lily greeted me. I think she may be the last of this season.

Grey. Wet. Spongy. There’s no reason to not make it a great day.

Nearly 50 years ago.

I was seated between my great-grandfather, John William Garrett Clary, and his brother in law, my great-great uncle, Alpha Jones, on my great-grandparents’ Davenport (brand name for a sofa) as we watched the scratchy black and white images of Neil Armstrong walking on the moon.

I had a fake portrait (like the one below) in a plastic white frame of Armstrong hanging in my bedroom. Mother had purchased it several weeks prior to the launch.

When I moved to Dayton in August 1990 I learned Neil Armstrong lived in nearby Lebanon, Ohio, and was quite accessible to the public. I never saw him as I passed through the city.

15 years ago two of my sons and I stood at the Wright Brothers’ graves at the concluding ceremonies of the Inventing Flight festival to honor 100 years of Flight. That day, former astronaut and Ohio US Senator John Glenn introduced the guest speaker, Neil Armstrong.

I was in heaven.

May 2012, we gathered again at the Wright Family gravesite to listen to Armstrong speak at the 100th anniversary of Wilbur Wright’s death.

A few months later, Neil Armstrong, one of my childhood heroes, slipped away.

What a wonderful childhood memory shared with several generations of my family.

MIAGD: Make it a great day

My Dark Sky weather app on my phone sounded at 6:37 AM with an 11-minute warning that heavy rains would begin.

It was a horrible night for sleep as I was up and down the stairs for nature breaks a half dozen times due to the fact I’d enjoyed a delicious Mexican dinner (with the lovely Chelle Kakac!) and I knew the enormous amount of chips and would trigger my diabetes despite taking my medication. The last thing I wanted to do was start my day so early. I was thinking 8:30 AM!

I hurried the dogs down and into the backyard for pottying while I made a brief walk of the front yard. A brilliant orange glow forced its way through the shadowed trees and eaves toward the east as the menacing grey skies surrounded from all other sides.

My eleven-minute warning as spot on. The accuracy of the Dark Sky app is amazing each time and it is the app on which I rely the most for my weather forecast.

I stepped onto the deck and with little fanfare the deluge began.

Breakfast is usually at 8:00 AM so we’re snuggled up in my room which is completely 95% black as the dark skies surpass the sun’s reign. Harrigan is pressed against me as the enormous thunder pounds down and Bailey is curled on her favorite pillow. Chief is stretched out on his large doggie bed, snoring and oblivious to the thunder.

I spent a delightful evening with a dear friend and former studio mom, Chelle Kakac, dining at Elsa’s Mexican Restaurant and then we moved on next door to Epiphany Lutheran Church’s production, THE SECRET GARDEN. It was a superb production!

The front yard has four Mary Lincoln day lilies who will not witness the sunshine like their predecessors as the rains are to pour all day.

With the anticipated high winds it appears it will be a day spent indoors which I resent. I absolutely love my deck time. Still, I intended to make it a great day.

It was a unique, joint-jumping, much different concept for the summer Muse Machine concert, but it worked beautifully.

Students, five of which were mine, shared the stage with both local and NYC jazz artists who were obviously delighted to be sharing their artistry and experience with their younger colleagues.

MIAGD: Make it a great day

I’ve been on the deck since 7:30 AM and have barely moved as I attend to studio business, a volunteer project, and a plan to tackle some writing.

Wednesday evening I attended the Muse Machine summer concert with friend/studio mom, Karen McLain. After the concert Karen had nearly 90 minutes to spare while her son, Sam, performed in the 8:30 PM concert, so she joined me on the short walk to Riverscape and we had such an enjoyable life-chat as a beautiful sunset landscapes the Dayton skies, illuminating the familiar iconic buildings along the river.

A few minutes ago, my neighbor lady called me to the fence to share some leftover goodies from her church choir party, Wednesday night. Lunch is now complete.

Two Mary Lincoln day lilies greeted the day and all seems well at The Haasienda.

On to my day. Let’s all make it a great day.

MIAGD: Make it a great day

My “summer Friday” has arrived and I’m ready for all that needs to be completed between this afternoon and Sunday, Noon.

Last night I spent two hours on my favorite swing, high on the levee overlooking The Great Miami River. It was the perfect night for relaxing in a blanket of wonderfully comfortable breezes.

The recent temperatures have been much nicer even though they’ve still be in the upper 80s and the humidity is a hit and miss.

My teaching day begins at 8:30 AM today and goes straight through to 3:30 PM, and then it is on to the start of the festivities for the next three days.

A single Mary Lincoln day lily is in the front yard. Several more look to be arriving shortly.

Make it a great day!

MIAGD: Make it a great day

It’s a tad humid but I can boast the fine beautiful morning that surrounds the deck this Tuesday morning.

A little breeze moves along and through the property; the wind chimes are tinkling a bit with the sounds of birds, traffic from the other side of the house, an occasional bark from Chief to passers by, and a bit of construction next door in he high school’s new auditorium. Now and then, a nice gust surprises the yard, startling the chimes into a frenzied dance.

I’m trying to figure out a visit to Riverscape, this evening, as the remaining evenings this week are already spoken for.

Two Mary Lincoln day lilies are dancing in the breeze and all seems well in the front yard.

While hideous moments in our nation’s history continue to roar and rush onto our constitutional shore, I intend on making it a great day.

This morning, while breakfasting on the deck, I kept hearing a tapping sound coming from on around the house.

Upon closer inspection I discovered a woodpecker tap tapping away at the walnut tree in the front yard. I did not have my camera or phone to capture him but I found a similar image from the internet.

I thought woodpeckers had a red tuft of hair. I researched and learned they do not.

Mine has a lot more shades of blue than the above photo.

Welcome to The Haasienda, Wilbur Woodpecker!

MIAGD: Make it a great day

My Mondays are generally very smooth, quite unlike the memes various friends often post to express their grief with Mondays.

I was in bed, Sunday night, by 10:15 PM and could not maintain consistent sleep throughout. I was up several times and just could not locate the button for that blasted tired spot.

The morning rituals came far too early to be pleasurable and the severe humidity sweeping through and around the deck made my early morning a bit miserable.

Three Mary Lincoln day lilies are with us, today, and the other flowers and plants are doing remarkably well in this heat.

This will be a busier week with three musicals to attend, as well as several other obligatory items which I will enjoy.

Wherever you are, make it a great day!