A Week of Snow

 This past week was a cold one. A lot of it has been spent inside, looking out. I made a couple little trips during the week, to fill my lungs with fresh air and to give myself a change of scenery. It started off on Sunday, with the beginning of what the weather forecasters predicted would be anything between 3 to 80 inches of snow. They had been warning us about this for the past week. As usual, supermarket shelves were getting bare. I myself was looking forward to it!

    For once the forecasters had gotten it correct. First came the snow and then later, cold, cold temperatures. As the snow started to accumulate, I made numerous trips out to shovel my walk. These outings were the only times I left the house that day. As darkness fell, there was about 9 inches of snow in the yard. It was still snowing as I went to bed. 

    Monday morning I started digging the car out of the mounds of snow pushed up by the plows. Once the car was free, I took a short ride down to Etna and back. I was thinking about getting some pictures but most places hadn’t been cleared yet, so finding a spot to park was difficult. Back home again, I returned to my books and the boob tube.

    On Tuesday morning, Ann Marie and I went for a drive to get some breakfast. The drive to her house was uneventful but there still weren’t many spots to pull over for pictures. The hills and valleys still had that undisturbed look to them; the deer and kids hadn’t spoiled the smooth surfaces yet. The snow piles were getting higher at the ends of people's driveways. The diner wasn’t crowded and the food was delicious. It is always nice to have someone cook for you. The roads were still relatively car free.

    Wednesday morning I took a ride to Bakerstown to visit the farm market. I arrived before they opened so I continued north on rt.8. At the Country Kitchen I stopped to take a couple pictures and then returned to the market. The parking lots and roads still had large piles of snow around them, they wouldn’t be melting soon. At the farm market I bought some fresh vegetables, some apples and a loaf of bread. I then went to Ann Maries to share my bounty. 

    Later that night I braved the cold to watch the International Space Station pass below the planet Jupiter and then I took another short ride. Afterwards back at home, I retired to my book and a warm bed.

    Thursday morning, the frost was forming on the windows. I went down to the North Side to visit Arlan at City Books and to watch for trains. I finished the roll of film in my camera, so when I got home; I developed the film and then scanned it. I stayed inside for the rest of the day working on that, nice and warm.

    Friday, the end of the month, was a cold day! Ann Marie and our buddy Jim went to visit a coffee shop that was new to us. On the way to pick them up, I met a man down beside the Alleghany River taking pictures, wow, crazy huh? Who would ever want to do that? (Me???) I only stayed for a few minutes… As I was driving over to Ann Marie’s house, the car thermometer was showing that it was -3 degrees outside. We picked up Jim and then after a short drive we stopped for coffee.

      We had to search a bit before we found a spot to park but we found one about a block or two away. The sidewalks were a bit treacherous but we managed to get there and back without any problems. At Constellation Coffee we had sipped hot coffee while we BSed, sitting in the sunlight coming through their front windows. The shop smelled like fresh ground coffee like any good coffee shop should. We were warm and happy. Good coffee and good friends generate good conversations!

    Leaving the shop I saw a sign showing two things, both the state of our nation and the state of the weather!

      Saturday was spent at home. I only went outside to get the mail and to put out the garbage. I also made a trip out to the bird feeder but that was it. I took two pictures that day…here’s one of them. Afterwards… I ate my model!

    And then it was Sunday again. A week had gone by, the snow was still piled up on the street in front of the house, and the temperatures were still hanging below freezing. I like it but hopefully the temps will be rising soon, and the snow will start to melt. This IS Pennsylvania in the winter; it makes me look forward to, and to appreciate the rains and muds of spring. 

    I’ve reloaded my camera with another roll of film, and the digital camera is charged up, I’m ready for the next week, bring it on!

One of My Father's Attic Treasures

 On a shelf in my living room, underneath an assortment of papers and an old family photo album sits a wooden box. The wood is dull, unfinished, but you can see it was nicely made. I originally found it in the attic.

    I was no stranger to the various things placed in our attic. There were countless things to look through, hidden in boxes and in old furniture. As a child I loved to go up and explore, always careful not to step between the joists. My mother had warned me numerous times about how easy it could be to fall through the ceiling into the room below.

    When I was young, the only way into the attic was through a hole in the wall, inside a closet. A step ladder was needed to get through it. The attic was my own Narnia, another world! It was filled with treasures.

    The box is made out of plain wood; there are no markings on it just two tarnished brass clasps, one on either side. When opened, it requires a bit of effort due to the close fit, there is almost a vacuum to it. A slight gasp or pop can be noticed when it is pulled apart.

    Inside the box sits 23 beetles, each held in place with a stickpin! Some are extremely large and others are what I’d consider normal sized. All sorts of colors decorate their backs, from black and white to neon green. I can still remember the first time I saw what was inside it and how amazed I was! What a cool thing to find sitting in an attic! My father had already passed on, so I couldn’t ask him about it. Did he collect them or did he purchase this somewhere?

    The box is only brought out for “special occasions”. It probably hasn’t been opened in 5 years or more. When opening it, I like to think that my father and I both had beetle collections. His was in this box, while mine was on vinyl.

    While looking at it this last time, I noticed that some of the beetles had more than one label attached to the pins holding them in place. Afraid to move the beetles due to their age, I used a pair of tweezers to carefully slide some of the labels down. Most of them had numbers printed on them and others had descriptions of the insects, in Latin I’m guessing. 

    On one neatly inscribed label, I saw the name BREIDENBACH! (Probably written with a fine tipped fountain pen) So, this collection was his! The larger insects, Goliath beetles, are native to Africa and the neon green ones, Flower Beetles are native to the Philippines. As far as I know, my father has never been to either of these countries. Maybe he purchased these bugs from a dealer, like people did with their stamp collections, I can only guess. I have to say, there are a lot of things that I don’t know about my dad.

    I closed the box and returned it to the shelf and thought about it for a while. It has been 50 years since my father passed on. He was 71 years old when he died, so if he started this collection when he was 18, these insects would be at least a hundred years old! He had put the box in the attic when we moved to Shaler so it is at least 70 years old, either way, these bugs are old!

    I can’t help but think about how; so many things stored in our attic influenced me in ways I never imagined. I feel as if my many explorations into the attic as a child and as a young man, helped make me the person I am today. Photography, writing, reading, collecting odd things, the list goes on. My father influenced me in so many ways, more than I ever realized. 

    Thanks Dad!

A Morning Walk

 The streets were dark and the streetlights only provided small pools of illumination onto the sidewalks. The road tapered off into the distance where tall buildings stood. Most of the lights in the buildings were off, the morning shifts having not yet arrived.

    A shadowy figure stands near a parking kiosk, waiting for a ride possibly. Parking the car, I cross the street with no real need to look either way, cars and trucks are rare at this time of the morning. I glance over my shoulder to make sure the shadow isn’t following me or going towards my car, but it isn’t really necessary.

    The one open business, a coffee shop, has just opened a few minutes ago. Already there are 3 customers inside. Two are leaning over a tall table, steaming coffee under their noses, deep in conversation. The other, is standing at the counter waiting for his order, talking to the barista. I am quickly taken care of and with my capped cup of coffee in hand, I start my walk.

    The sidewalks which will be crowded in a few hours are now deserted. Empty milk cartons sit against the buildings, seats for panhandlers later in the day. Restaurant chairs and tables sit empty. Lights in the stores are off, looking at the windows reveal only reflections of the outside world.

    A couple trucks sit in the slow lane, their back doors open to reveal the boxes of foods and goods waiting to be unloaded. A dark figure moves around in one of them, filling a pallet with items that will be sold later in the day. The streets are deserted, only an occasional car passes by. A couple bicyclists slip past soundlessly, only the lights they are wearing giving their passage away. The sidewalks are empty except for me.

    On a side street a car sits in front of a vape shop, or possibly the massage parlor upstairs. The car sits empty, crossing the street I don’t go close enough to see if the engine is running.

    The alleys are dark, filled with shadows. Dumpsters are mere shapes, filled with yesterdays trash, some with their lids propped up from the excess refuge. The parking lots are empty and the only sounds are from the infrequent passing car or truck. A man walks past, going to an unmarked door and knocks. It is opened and the bright lights of a work space flood the sidewalk and then the door closes and darkness returns.

    Returning to the car is quiet and uneventful. The sky is slowly brightening; hanging above the hills the half-moon is looking bright against the blue sky. All the stars and planets have disappeared. More lights have been turned on in the city.

    It is almost time for the morning train, so I stop to watch it pass. Setting up my tripod and camera, a man stops to ask what I’m doing. This is the first person I’ve talked with since my visit to the coffee shop. The whistle sounds and the light by the station brightens and then slowly gets larger. Within a minute, the train has passed me and is on its way across the state. Now it is only a memory, a memory in my mind, and on a chip inside my camera.

    The sky continues to brighten, and I turn the car towards home. There are chores to be done, and the rest of the day needs to play out. My walk through the Strip was invigorating; I got some steps in, a little exercise and a couple pictures. The streets of the Strip District almost always provide interesting visits, whether the stores are open or not, whether people are there or not. But when it is a dark morning, the streets deserted, and the stores all closed, it tends to be just a little more exciting!

First Observations of the New Year

 

This evening, (6:50PM, 1/2/26) I went outside to see if I could see a pass of the Chinese space Station, Tiangong. Surprisingly, the sky was clear. We have had quite a lot of cloudy nights lately. The temperature was hovering just under 20°, so I made sure to dress appropriately.

    The pass was going to be low to my horizon and there was a good chance that I’d miss it. Going out to watch these passes have always excited me, no matter what the temperature is, so I had decided to give it a try! I walked up and down the street watching for it to skim over my neighbor’s houses but as expected, the space station couldn’t be seen.

(both pictures above courtesy of the internet) 

    The bright full moon was casting shadows in front of me. I turned around and looked at it for a couple minutes. I couldn’t help but notice the “Rabbit in the moon”. Once you’ve seen it, you can’t help but notice it. I had always seen the “Man in the Moon”, until the rabbit was shown to me and now, it’s tough for me to see anything else.

    With my binoculars I looked at Jupiter which was rising below the moon, still hanging in the trees above the horizon, and then Saturn which was hanging high in the sky off towards the west. I looked at a couple other bright stars and attempted to see Orion but it was still too low, hidden by the trees or else, maybe it was the light of the moon and my poor eyes. I’d have to come out later to see it, once it rises a bit higher in the sky.

    I considered bringing a telescope outside, but knowing how my back has been acting, I decided against it. No heavy weights right now. I took a couple pictures of the moon and then returned inside to my nice warm house.

    I was only out for about a half hour, but it was enough for the cold to set in. Still, even though I was cold, I was happy; I got my first observations of the year! I’m keeping my fingers crossed for more clear skies in the future! And now, since I’m warmed up again, I think I’ll go back outside and take another look for Orion!

Book Notes 2025

 I enjoy taking notes; but in fact, it is sometimes necessary that I take them. As the years accumulate my memory is dwindling. Remembering things has always been difficult for me, especially if it is something important. The need to remember often causes me to forget; how that works I don’t know but it does. If the facts aren’t important, they tend to stick in my head, the critical ones are the ones that slip away soon after I hear them.

    In astronomy, it is important to take notes. You always want to be able to look back to see exactly when it was that you discovered a comet or saw that nova! (Ha-ha) In reality, it is good to keep notes since you often look back to check things or just to relive moments. I have gone through my astronomy journals many times to determine how long ago it has been since I saw a certain feature on the moon or last saw an occultation or an eclipse. Dates and years aren’t one of the things that stick in my mind and I envy people who have that ability.

    Like astronomy, I also keep notes on my reading life. I compose a list each year of the books I’ve read. The list is simple, the name of the book, the author, the date the book was published and when I read it. I also include a brief description and a rating. The rating is simply 1 through 5, with 5 being the best.

    To determine the rating I consider a couple things. Most important of all, did I enjoy reading it? The ability of the author to tell their story is important also. Another thing is whether or not the subject matter is exciting to me. I’d much rather read a book about trains than one about brain surgery.

    Looking over my list, I see that in 2025 I’ve marked 17 books as 5’s. That is approximately 17%, one out of every 5 or 6 books I've read was a good one, not bad. So, without any further mathematics here are the books I enjoyed most during this past year. They are listed in order as they were read. I hope you see a couple that excite you and prompt you to visit your local bookstore or library. Please, continue to support both of these establishments, they are so important in today’s world!

 

1) The Upstairs Delicatessen by Dwight Garner – (NF) 2023      Reading and eating what goes better together? This is a humorous collection of stories centered around the author and food.

2) Joyland by Stephen King – (F) 2013       It is a mystery, a “horror” story and a coming-of-age story taking place at a beach side amusement park. I’ve always enjoyed books and stories about carnivals and amusement parks. I've read this book numerous times!

3) The Briar Club by Kate Quin – (F) 2024              The book tells about a group of women living in a boarding house outside of Washington DC. during the McCarthy era. At first, they hardly know each other but as the years go by, they form friendships and bonds. There is a chance that one of them might be a spy…

 

4) The Last American Road Trip by Sarah Kendzior - (NF) 2025   The author writes about how she and her husband took their kids on road trips to see the country. The parents wanted to show their kids what America is like now, afraid that it will be swiftly changing. The trips were taken around the Covid pandemic but despite numerous problems the family visited almost all of the states, stopping in National Parks and historic sites. At times it gets a bit political, but it is the journeys that I enjoyed most.

5) Once Upon a Tome: The Misadventures of a Rare Bookseller by Oliver Darkshire - (NF) 2022           The author worked for a decade at a London bookstore that specialized in rare books. In his book he tells about the eccentric staff and customers, the shop ghost and some interesting tales about getting and selling these old tomes. He planned on only staying for a bit but the store ended up growing on him.  Books about books and bookstores are another of my loves!

6) Becoming by Michele Obama - (NF) 2018          The former First Lady tells about her childhood, her education and her work experiences, along with her life with Barack. The book told me more about a woman I always have admired.

 

7) Ready Player One by Ernest Kline - (F) 2011  In the year 2044, people are constantly immersed in computer simulation. While the world is on the brink of collapse, people spend their time in OASIS, a made-up virtual reality universe. There is a search for a digital Easter egg hidden in this world that could provide unbelievable wealth and fame. It is a great adventure story.

8) Free Ride by Noraly Schoenmaker - (NF) 2024 This is the story of the author's motorcycle ride from India back to her home in Holland. Riding over 20,000 miles, she rides solo discovering new friends, beautiful vistas and herself, finding her inner strength and fortitude. I think I enjoyed it because I always wanted to take a long motorcycle trip but never did.

9) The Red Notebook by Antone Laurain - (F) 2014         A French bookseller finds a purse on the street and attempts to find its owner. Inside is a red notebook with her writings in it and perhaps some clues as to who owns it. The book is a nice simple love story!

  

10) The Lion Woman of Tehran by Marjan Kamali – (F) 2024  The story of two girls who become friends while growing up in Tehran, going through both personal and political turmoil, and how their lives changed as they grew.

11) High Contrast by Ian Thomas Healy – (F) 2016   A collection of short stories, some rather odd… but all enjoyable! It is a variety of things, a little science fiction, a little horror, and even a post-apocalyptic story. One of the 8 stories is about a man whose teeth start falling out, for no reason. Try the book out, you might find it interesting, I sure did!

12) Elevation by Stephen King – (F) 2018   A man starts losing weight yet retains his same height and shape. He just keeps getting lighter and lighter. How far will it go? Sort of like the book before, a little odd, but a fun read!

 

13) The End of the World as We Know it by Assorted Authors – (F) 2025   These stories are continuations of Stephen King’s book, The Stand, fan fiction.  I enjoyed almost all of the stories. Like so many collections, it wasn’t perfect, but I still enjoyed it enough to give it a 5 and, it also enticed me to re-read the next book on my list.

14) The Stand by Stephen King – (F) 1978             Truly a classic good versus evil book. A man escapes from a secret government laboratory, infected with a deadly flu. With-in a few weeks, 99% of the world’s population has died. Two people arise to become leaders, one good and the other evil. There are two versions of the book available, the original release with about 800 pages and the re-released version with about 1200 pages. I’ve read both versions, more than once, this time through; it was the larger version! If you haven’t read it, please try it!

15) Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid – (F) 2025             This is the fictional story of a woman who is accepted into the space program to become an astronaut, working in the shuttle program. It tells about her training and her fellow astronauts, both men and women. In the long run, it is a love story. I enjoyed it because of my love of astronomy and the space program and how the details were pretty accurate. Sometimes all it takes is one thing to swing a 4 up to a 5!

16) 84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff – (NF) 1970   The author Helene and a London bookseller corresponded for 20 years, getting to know each other only through the mail. It started with a search for rare books she couldn’t easily get in New York City. Over time the correspondence grew to include the other workers at the store and families. It is a wonderful book about the love of books, caring, friendship and the passage of time. This is another book that I’ve read many times! Re-reading books is like visiting with good friends!

17) Starlight Nights by Leslie C. Peltier – (NF) 1965    What an excellent book to end my list! Leslie wrote this book telling about his history of observing. He observed not only stars and comets, of which he discovered 12, but also the nature surrounding him, birds, insects and even rocks and minerals. In his astronomy life he found 6 novas and made over 130,000 variable star observations. His book is written in an easy going way, explaining things in a way that you don’t even realize that you’re learning. He tells about his first telescope and listening to the nocturnal animals and insects as he used it. He takes us on trips to go camping and searching for mineral specimens. In his final chapter, in 1965, he talks about a new form of light pollution that has started to enter his skies, that caused by satellites. I’d hate to think what he would say if he saw today’s skies! This book makes me want to go out and observe the world! A boy from Ohio, born at the very start of the 1900’s, (January 2, 1900) Leslie became one of the most renowned amateur astronomers in the United States.

His book has been republished a couple times but you’ll have to pay lots to get one now. The Allegheny County Library didn’t have a copy in their system but they found a copy I could borrow, from Augusta, Maine! (I love what our libraries do for us!)

It is rather apropos that Leslie Peltier’s book ends my list. His life was spent recording what he saw. He took many notes and made many lists during his long life and by doing so; he set a wonderful example for the rest of us. Don’t be ashamed to take out your pen and paper to scribble a note on it, it just might help you out at a later date!

As I said before, if a book on this list struck your fancy, stop into your local bookstore and inquire if they have it or can get it for you. The public library is also a wonderful tool that is available to everyone. Make use of it, take your kids or your grandchildren there and spend an hour or two… just exploring!

Christmas Eve Visit to the Strip, 2025

Like many years in the past, Ann Marie and I visited Pittsburgh’s Strip District on the day before Christmas. Unlike so many of the people rushing around, we had no objectives except to enjoy the atmosphere, watch the people around us and to have a good time.

    After parking our car at one end, we strolled towards Pittsburgh, joining in with the crowds. We weren't the only ones that came down to enjoy the scene. Parents were walking by with their children in tow. Grandchildren were leading their grandparents. Couples strolled down the crowded sidewalks arm in arm and Santa hats could be seen everywhere. Most people were dressed as normal but there were families that were completely decked out in holiday attire and others looked as if they will be going to a formal party or a concert. Red and green were the predominant colors.

    We made a stop at S&D’s Polish Deli just to look at all the ethnic meats and candies. A bit further down, we went into Grandpa Joe’s Candy Shop. Remember those old-time candies you used to love; chances are they have them here! My blood sugar was rising as we walked out the door.

    Passing “our” coffee shop, La Prima Espresso, we saw that there was a crowd around it with people spilling out into the street. Luckily, we weren’t in a hurry for our caffeine fix.

    We continued on to the Enrico Biscotti Company where we got a couple cookies to eat later with our coffee.

    As is usually the case on the day before any holiday or sporting event, Pennsylvania Macaroni was packed. Looking in the windows, we could see that customers were packed 5 deep at the cheese counter. Even though they were squeezed together like sardines, almost all of them were smiling, patiently waiting their turns! 

    The smell of the evergreens piled along the sidewalk gave a Christmas scent to the air. Wreaths hung on the building fronts with red ribbons and holly woven through them. A few blocks further down we crossed the street to walk through Wholey’s. A crowd stretching to the end of the block was patiently waiting to get into the hot food section. Thoughts of crab cakes, smelts and fish sandwiches were running through their heads.

    Since we were just walking through, we could skip the line. The smell of Wholey’s is something to savor; it is a combination of different types of fish, lobsters, clams, and shrimp. It is the smell of potential dinners and banquets. The fish is laid out in nice displays with salespeople waiting on you, ready to wrap whatever you need, fresh or frozen, heads on or off, your choice. Ann Marie and I love their crab cakes!

    Back on the sidewalk we ran into another line waiting to get into the Mancini’s Bread store. We squeezed by and made a quick stop in Penzey’s Spices. There were a couple things in the spice cabinet that needed refilled, and this was the place to do it! Another minor road block came at the food stand outside of the Sambok Korean Grocery where mung bean pancakes and other delicacies were being sold.

    Outside of Sunseri’s, a festively dressed man was selling their bread products. We passed stands on the sidewalk where artisans were selling dog treats, photographs and pirogues. The rich smell of coffee drifted out from inside the Allegheny Coffee and Tea Exchange, raising our desire to get to La Prima! We passed DeLuca’s Diner and went through the tunnel of clothes, toys and “do-dads” in front of Lucy’s Clothing. I made a quick stroll through Reyna’s Foods to see if they had any fresh meat pies, (they didn’t) and then we crossed the street where we saw that the crowd had dissipated in front of La Prima.

     While I joined the crowd inside, Ann Marie snagged a table out on the sidewalk. The line came out the door but as everyone in line knew, the coffee and atmosphere was well worth the wait! The shop smelled like strong coffee and there was a mixture of Italian and English being spoken, intermingled with laughter and greetings being yelled across the crowd. Returning outside with our coffees I sat down with Ann Marie and we settled in, being warmed from the sun shining on us and, the faces of all the people passing by.

    Ann Marie opened the bag from Enrico Biscotti and pulled out an almond cookie and a polenta bar. We nibbled on these as we people watched. Festive costumes were everywhere, we saw children dressed in their “special” Christmas suits and dresses. Sweatshirts and sweaters with wreaths and holiday sayings caused us to stare, trying to read them without being TOO obvious.

    Dogs went by, sometimes stopping to be petted, their owners sometimes dressed up as extravagantly as their pets. We watched as people would come up to the door of the shop and we could see the decisions going on in their minds; do I have enough time to wait for this or not? Most of the times, they did!

    With our cookies and coffee gone, we walked back to our car and returned home. There, we worked on a jig-saw puzzle, played some Scrabble and prepared our Christmas Eve feast.

    It was a beautiful day. The weather co-operated making it pleasurable to walk around the area. We saw smiling faces, heard laughter and holiday greetings. We left the Strip District feeling uplifted and happy!

    My Christmas wish is that every day would be filled with this same kind of spirits, joy and happiness. Our days may not be quite as joyous as this but… we can still keep trying! Keep those smiles on your faces and you’ll be surprised at how many will be returned!

  Merry Christmas!