Treasure Box

Maya and Grandpa Don created a classic Popsicle stick box today. From the beginning, Maya defined the project as making a "treasure" box. When we got done, and after a time of impatient waiting for the glue to dry, Maya wanted Grandma to go with her to find some treasures. I'm very impressed that for her, the place to find treasures was outside! After a long walk that included stops at the playground, the Highland Park Lamberton Conservatory, and the neighborhood branch of the library, Maya and Grandma returned with a fabulous collection of treasures!

A more perfect composition you couldn't find in a Rembrandt! And no - I did not rearrange anything - that is just the way Maya carried it proudly in the door to show me!

Customized version of the Surprise Box

Made this customized version of the Surprise Box for Casey's Birthday. Casey of course figured out how to work it right away, and chip off the old block CJ was flipping it open and closed on Aunt Ra's lap for quite a while!

Surprise Box - custom from Don Olney on Vimeo.

We'll be glad to customize one for you too.... call or e-mail for a quote!

Saturday with Mom and Dad!

Most every Saturday, Mom and I go for a drive while Dad goes grocery shopping. Above is a picture of Mom as we sat in the car at Ellison Park. Below is Dad returning to the car with his bounty! Afterward, we call Cheryl, and all go out to lunch!

Hops!

A while back I discovered through my blogging of my Great Uncle Bert's 1894 diary that the farm he worked on raised hops, and as a result of that discovery I purchased and read a great book about hops.

Title: Tinged with gold : hop culture in the United States / Michael A. Tomlan.

Published: Athens : University of Georgia Press, c1992.

Bert's diary entry for April 18, and 19, 1894

Bert's diary entry for April 24, and 25, 1894

I wanted to try growing some hops myself, and really wanted to grow a variety that was one grown here in New York State back in the day, but was unable to find any. It was getting late in the season, so I just went on Ebay, and purchased some Cascade rhizomes from Washington State, and the results are shown above.

All three of the rhizomes have put out shoots now, and I'm going to plant two in our yard, and I'm going to give one to my sister-in-law who lives more out in the country - Cohocton, NY - only a few miles from where Bert planted and tended hops. The most interesting thing for both of us will be setting up poles high enough for the hops to grow on. I understand we won't get many flowers this year, but next year should be more fun, and my neighbor Bill has suggested he might try making beer with my hops, and Anne too has expressed interest in trying to make some beer!

New friends at the playground

Classic Cars at the classic ice cream stand!

Maeve and I went out for ice cream last night, and noticed a lot of "vintage" cars driving by, including these two that actually stopped in for ice cream! Above, and two below, a 1951 Studebaker Champion.

I'm not sure what the car below is, or if it is totally a fabricated car, but it is very cool. The couple driving it were my age - 65 +/-. There are no doors! They lifted the canvas top, and climbed out! The steering wheel swings aside to allow the driver to climb out.

Click on car pictures to embiggen!

I missed the moment of climbing out, but below is the "top up" shot.

By the way, Bruster's Ice Cream is classic 1950's, and the best ice cream I've ever had! Free ice cream (baby cone) if you are under 40" tall, and I'm not sure if it is still true, but they used to give you an extra scoop for free if it was raining? On Thursdays you get a half price Banana Split if you bring your own banana! They are in 21 states, so chances are there might be one near you? If there isn't one near you, you can start your own..... upcoming franchise seminars in Pittsburgh and Atlanta. (This is not an endorsement of their franchise program, but the ice cream is great!)