My Philly Days

Walnut Street Now

It's been a few years since I lived in Philly. Over 20 years. I was young and newly married and we moved to the outskirts because of my husbands job. I found a job in downtown Philly working at a frame shop. I took the train in every day. Basically I was the counter person who took measurements for artwork our customers wanted framed.

The shop was on Walnut Street. It was owned by a super goodhearted man named Bill. Besides myself he employed a framer who worked above the shop and Bill worked in the back. The framer had worked for him for over 20 years. Bill also employed his son and another young fellow to keep him company.

There were always a cast of local characters that hung out or stopped in the shop. They came in to see Bill. He would never turn someone down if they needed money. If a homeless person came by and needed a little cash he would think of something they could do like sweep the sidewalk.

I started writing this blog about the employee who worked upstairs and a few other characters that came and went, but now as I write this I think I need to discuss Bill instead. I have not thought about him in a long time.

I would have to guess that at the time Bill was probably between 50 and 60 years old. He looked older. He was skinny and balding. He had a pencil mustache and few teeth in his mouth. He moaned and groaned a lot because I think he was actually ill but not diagnosed. He tended to pick his butt a lot and I vaguely remember him talking about his prostrate. He moaned and groaned in Yiddish.

I was the only woman working there and the guys never held back. They talked about personal things all the time and sometimes things that were not exactly appropriate for mixed company. One story was of the framer who worked upstairs and a big butted mistress he had that used to come to the shop and "spend time" with him upstairs. Upstairs guy, I actually forget his name, bragged that this woman liked when he put vice clamps on her nipples. - Did he really need to share that with me? I never went upstairs. That was his domain. He was too dumb to be creepy and I never felt in danger.

Bill would tell stories about his youth. He wanted me to know that he used to be pretty good looking. The girl he wanted to marry married was Catholic like me and he could not marry her. He had to marry a nice Jewish girl. So he settled. He was married late in life. What Bill did not know was that the nice girl he settled for was probably the best thing that ever happened to him. She was kind and understanding. A very nice woman. She may not have been the looker he was comparing her to but she was a very good woman who loved him. I think he often wondered what it would have been like with the one that got away.

Bill was one of those guys who were too nice for their own good. He probably could have been pretty wealthy but he gave a lot away. He was always cutting people deals. Doing things for free for people he knew.

Bill was just a super nice guy who employed me when I first came to town. I googled the shop a few years back and it is no longer there. I also googled his name and could not find him. I am assuming he is deceased. He was a pretty good guy. I'm sure his family and friends miss him. If I ever get to Philly again I want to stop by the old shop and see what is there now and take a photo or two. Philly is definitely a town with ghosts. I'm sure that there are a few hanging out in that old building. (And one of them is wearing clamps on her nipples).

Huh?

About 2 weeks ago I noticed this billboard on my way to work. It looks like someone hand painted it. I'm not sure if it is a goof or a read ad for beer. Odd yet mesmerizing. I'm only at this light for a short time in the morning and it took me a few days to get a photo.

It's weird with the hairy arm and the pig potholder. Any thoughts?

Location - 3rd and McDowell in Central Phoenix.

Where have you been all my life?

Chocolate Olive Oil !!! Where have you been all my life?
I know that I go on about the olive oils from the Queen Creek Olive Mill but be assured I don't work there, am not related to anyone there. I just plain love their products.

I had heard that a chocolate oil was going to be released and when it did not appear a few months ago I figured it was just a weird rumor.

I visited the Mill for lunch today and ......CHOCOLATE OLIVE OIL. I have not cooked with it yet but it smells heavenly.
Per the label suggestions include.... saute' with chilies to add depth and character to chicken. I am going to try that soon.

www.queencreekolivemill.com

Hola Tomatoes!

So excited. I actually have baby tomatoes on the vine. I hope I can keep these plants alive long enough to actually eat one. I am disgusted with grocery store tomatoes. They are waxy and have no taste. I am growing a few plants in a pot. It gets pretty hot here in Arizona so I need to watch them carefully and be sure they get enough water.

I noticed a lizard hanging around my little garden. I'm hoping he does not get the first taste.

Our backyard cactus had it's first bloom. It is about years old and looks like it is going to really put on a show. The blooms don't last long so I am taking photos almost every day.

A close-up photo of an ocotillo cactus flower. These blooms won't be around long either.

Happy spring everybody!

Spring in Arizona

It's spring in Arizona when the Ocotillo cactus bloom. I'm loving the color and the birds are too. I thought I would share a few photos from this week.

Hummer Happy Hour

It's April in Arizona. I had noticed lately that my hummingbird feeders were draining quicker than usual.

Gee, I wonder why? I think the word is out that it's Happy Hour at Cornflake Girl's house.

I think the migration has started. My friends in the Midwest are anxiously awaiting their first sightings.

By the way, I LOVE the feeder in my photos. It is plastic and comes apart easily for a good cleaning. If you feed hummingbirds do not let your feeders get moldy as this can harm the birds.

I also make my own syrup. Here is a recipe and some tips for feeding hummingbirds.

Boil four cups of water.
Remove water from the heat.
Stir in one cup of white sugar.
Cool the syrup before filling feeder.
NOTE: Do not use honey, which can cause a fatal fungal infection on the birds' tongues.
NOTE: Do not add food coloring to the solution. It's not necessary, and it may be harmful. Even a small spot of red on the feeder will attract hummingbirds.
You can store the extra syrup in the refrigerator for a week.
Hang the feeder where you can see it from a window.
Clean the feeder at least once a week. In warm weather, you may need to change the syrup and wash out the feeder every day. Don't let the syrup turn cloudy in the feeder — that's mold. It will make hummingbirds avoid your feeder, and it may make them sick.
If ants discover the feeder, discourage them by applying petroleum jelly to the wire that suspends the feeder.

Dad's Old Socks

Yes, I'm back at it again. Trying to tackle the organization of my home office /studio. Again, totally distracted. Of course now I "find" a 1944 McCall's magazine. Had to stop and look through it. Excellent wartime edition.

So, I find this article of some new uses for old socks. I remember tying my hair in strips of cloth when I was a kid but I never knew about using socks.

I'm glad that I can afford curlers now.

Here's the directions incase you are inclined to try it. (Send photos please)