My Daily Travels

Yesterday, the local weather warned of possible frost overnight, so we picked the last of our vegetables yesterday afternoon. I have a bounty of peppers, a bowl full of cherry tomatoes that I will roast for sauce on another day, and two large beefsteak tomatoes, one of which will be used to make... Sign in to see full entry.

John and I are both guilty of hanging onto things past their expiration date. I mean, if it still serves a purpose, why get rid of it? But, after surveying our suitcases that we will need for our trip to Nevada to visit my parents at the end of this month, we came to the conclusion that John needs a... Sign in to see full entry.

Krispy Kreme is giving customers a free glazed donut today on National Dessert Day. That got my attention, but I don't want to spoil my appetite by eating that little morsel of heaven because there are too many other yummy desserts to choose from. Still, a scrumptious slice of cheesecake from The... Sign in to see full entry.

We have several resident chipmunks who feed off the seeds I provide for the birds. They run back and forth from the bird seed pile to one of the many holes they have dug under the Japanese maple tree in our yard. This one, who is by far the fattest of the bunch, took a break and watched me watching... Sign in to see full entry.

Considered a man-made jewel due to its beauty and versatility, Marshall Lake Island and Shelter is located in southwestern Pennsylvania, in North Park. Built in 1934, the lake is bordered by five miles of natural woodlands with walking trails that are part of Allegheny County's largest park system.... Sign in to see full entry.

The fall foliage is gorgeous along the Appalachian Mountains once it begins to appear. The unusually hot temperatures this month have stalled the progress of the changing leaves this year, but I have been seeing their attempts to follow Mother Nature's directions. Later this afternoon, we are... Sign in to see full entry.

I soaked and rinsed the beans last night for my 15-bean soup that is simmering away as I write. I plan to make cheesy jalapeno cornbread to accompany the soup. My other plans are to finish my two loads of laundry and sweep the leaves off my patio that have piled up over the last few days. Sign in to see full entry.

We don't usually turn on our central heating until the end of October or early November, except for a few minutes in the morning when necessary. This morning, it was definitely needed, but I still resisted the urge. Instead, I turned on our electric fireplace. It blows a steady stream of heat, which... Sign in to see full entry.

Never in a million years would I have imagined raccoons as being docile, but our little guys are exactly that. They understand the word no, and they sit up and beg for marshmallows, and our group of eight to ten raccoons visits our yard every afternoon around the same time. Come November, they will... Sign in to see full entry.

Since autumn began three weeks ago, I have seen very little change in the leaves, and the weatherman reported early this morning that Pittsburgh can expect another 80-degree day. To see the bright orange, yellow, and red leaves, we have to drive south 30 miles towards the Appalachian Mountains, so... Sign in to see full entry.