Abandon Series

Plastic Likeness of Human Infant and Carolina Wren Egg, In Five, 2019 Pittsburgh, PA

Pittsburgh and Allegheny City Map, 1867

Map of Allegheny City and Pittsburgh, PA 1867


This map is like a gift from the genealogy angels.  Finally I have straight in my mind's eye where my ancestors were in 1860 because many of the neighborhood designations have changed.  Some completely, like 'Allegheny City' which literally is no more, having been swallowed whole by Pittsburgh proper in 1907.  Some distant relatives lived in 'Temperanceville' in the lowerish lefthand corner, but nobody directly, thanks God.

Nest

Carolina Wren Nest, Close-Up, Pittsburgh, PA 2019

A pair of Carolina Wren's built a nest on our busy porch, and bailed on it as soon as their young left the nest.  I was just going to toss the nest out when I noticed the intricacy of the construction AND an unhatched intact egg.  My guess is that the egg wasn't viable somehow and that's why it didn't hatch along with its nestlings.
The excitement around here is almost more than the beagle and I can bear.  My wife's used to it, so she's fine.

Please Help Identify Unknown Artist

On occasion when I'm thrifting, I will not just pick through the framed artwork to see which frames I can repurpose, but will actually go through the art itself.  I try not to get too caught up in the artwork as I end up buying it and then have no use or space for it.  I'm currently storing a couple of dozen pieces in an old chest of drawers in the basement.  I'm going to try to find out more about these works, and hopefully this low traffic blog will assist in that endeavor.  Any assistance that anyone seeing this can provide will be greatly appreciated!  Curiosity not only drives us forward, but it can also drive us crazy.

Bee Balm

Bee Balm, Monarda didyma, Pittsburgh, PA 2019


Bee balm is so pleasing to the eye that it's been widely cultivated for that reason.  Bees, moths, butterflies, and humming birds all come into the garden to drink of its nectar.  Medicinally the plant is an excellent poultice for bruises, cuts, and bites, while a tea of the flowers and leaves makes the perfect antiseptic mouthwash and sore throat gargle.

Won't You NOT Be My Neighbor

Spring Hill Neighborhood, Pittsburgh, 2019


For good reason, Pittsburgh and its many neighborly neighborhoods are often associated with local famed children's television visionary and master puppeteer, Fred Rogers.  Though Mr. Rogers recognized that conflicts arise, he also saw people (or puppets) working together to set aside differences and defuse hostilities.
LOL.
That was looong before semi-senient human excrement, by the name of Donald Trump, came on the scene.  My wife and I met friends at Spring Hill Brewing for some craft brews and these people live across the street.  Rumor has it that the block party's been canceled.

Golden Chanterelle

Smooth and Golden Chanterelles, Pittsburgh, PA 2019

Well, I posted a couple of days ago about discovering smooth chanterelles while on a hike, with the intent to return and pick more to serve with a meal.  And, we did return, only this time we found many more golden chanterelles, Cantharellus cibarius, growing nearby.  I knew that though the mushrooms looked nearly identical, that the goldens were not the smooths because all identification sources insisted that smooth chanterelles have a solid stem, no quibbling about it.  I discovered that goldens, yes, have a hollow stem, and it peels apart fibrously, like string cheese.  Also note that both varieties of chanterelle have the tell-tale false gills.  Please, if ever hunting mushrooms in the wild to eat, be sure of your identification.  A mistake can be, and often is, deadly.

Smooth Chanterelle

Cantharellus lateritius, Smooth Chanterelle Mushroom, Pittsburgh 2019


Sometimes, if you're lucky, you may wander so deep into a forest that it - and you - feel primeval. Yesterday my wife and I found ourselves in just such a mental and physical space.  Up to our knees in mud, bare legs and arms stung by nettles, somehow impossibly the sweet scent of peaches hanging in the humid air.
Late on the trail, crossing a heavy flowing run, on the opposite bank, a bright yellowish orange mass winked from beneath green foliage.  The top of the mushroom was shiny, but not slimy, and when I picked one and turned it over, I immediately noticed the false gills running down the stem.  Without an identification book to consult, I could guess that it was a chanterelle, but not know for sure, so I brought one home with me.  Further research revealed that it was indeed a smooth chanterelle, and that it is one of the most choice wild mushrooms to be had.
Often I identify mushrooms I find on walks and hikes, and even though sometimes the mushrooms are edible, I usually only pick and eat wild mushrooms when I'm foraging with our close friend and expert, Al.  Only one other time have I eaten what I collected, and that was a meadow mushroom, the common wild variety of the ubiquitous store bought button mushroom.  With this find my curiosity grew as I read how to best prepare chanterelle mushrooms.  Most recipes called for sauteeing in butter, but one said to start in a hot dry pan to render the water from the mushrooms and allow it to cook off, and then add the butter.  Which is exactly what I did, and the results blew me away.  Easily the most delicious mushroom I've ever tasted, and why we're returning to the scene this morning to collect more for dinner tonight.  Prepared as before, then tossed with linguini in the pan and plated, with Alfredo sauce added at the end.  I picked fresh lettuce first thing this morning, so I'm set.

Barbie Furiosa

Happy 4th of July!  Here's to hoping that Trump's celebration is rained out.

Musk Mallow

Musk Mallow, Malva moschata, Pittsburgh 2019

Typically growing to between 2'-3' tall, the one in my yard towers at over 6' (2m!).  A couple of years ago I tossed a handful of musk mallow seeds out over a raked bit of barren ground, and now look what we have brightening our day.
Its seeds, flowers, and leaves are all edible either raw or cooked, and a tea can be made from them as well.  Medicinally, musk mallow is used to treat:  Generally used more externally to treat insect bites, bruises and rashes, internally taken it aids in respiratory ailments as well as intestinal distress.  Is a good laxative for young children.