Solar Panels at Curran Place

I missed this article on the naming of the former NCR HQ, now Daniel J. Curran Place, and that the University of Dayton was installing 4,026 solar panels capable of generating 1.26 megawatts of power in the front lawn of the building.  The picture shows just one small part of the solar array and a nearby sign stating "Prairie in Progress" can only mean this will turn into a beautiful landscape.

https://udayton.edu/news/articles/2018/03/melink_solar_array.php

iPhone 6 Battery

My wife's iPhone 6, being 3-4 years old now, was losing its ability to hold a charge like most older phone do, but otherwise worked perfectly and looked brand new, so instead of buying a new $750 phone, we opted instead to have the battery replaced, and went to our local Batteries Plus Bulbs to perform the operation.  For $60 plus tax, which included a $10 off coupon for scheduling our appointment online, her phone is back to its original condition, easily making it through an entire day on a single charge.

https://www.batteriesplus.com

Cincinnati Dinner Train

Onboard the Cincinnati Dinner Train, a throwback to 1949, for a trip through the east side of Cincinnati and along the Ohio River, complete with the Queen City Sisters bringing back childhood memories.  After dinner we walked to the back of the train and my wife got to blow the train whistle, let's say, several times.  A fun evening with friends.

http://www.cincinnatirailway.com/dinnertrain

Cast Iron Smoker Box

To add some extra tastiness to grilled chicken, I soaked some hickory chips in water for about 30 minutes then put them in a cast-iron smoker box and placed that over full flame on the left.  The chicken, coated in a maple rub, went over no flame on the right.  The center burner was used to keep the closed grill around 400 degrees for around 45 minutes.  Not only was the chicken delicious, but a favorable wind direction resulted in the house smelling like hickory.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0001B50B2

Walnut Grove

Here is visual proof that I can, at least on occasion, hit a drive in the fairway.  It was a lovely autumn day for nine holes of golf, walking on a course I basically had to myself. 

http://walnutgrovecc.net

Woodford Reserve

Had the pleasure to take a tour of Woodford Reserve, located about 20 miles northwest of Lexington, Kentucky.  This was my fourth distillery tour and while some similarities exist, each is unique in its history, ingredients and techniques used to make their spirits.  On this tour I learned there are a lot of federal rules in making bourbon and those were not crafted by politicians, but by the producers themselves in order to combat low-cost, inferior products from benefitting from the bourbon branding.  Of course, like any good tour, the next-to-last stop is a tasting, in this instance, some of their Straight Bourbon and, my favorite, the Double Oaked Bourbon.  The last stop is the gift shop, because it wouldn't be right to go home empty-handed.

https://www.woodfordreserve.com

Hey Goo Goo

The standard wake words for a Google Home device are "Hey Google" and "OK Google", but as I read recently you can also use "Hey Goo Goo".  No clue if that was intentional on Google's part or if the device just can't distinguish between "Google" and "Goo Goo".  Nothing particularly useful here, other than being able to startle a friend with your in-depth knowledge.

But for some laughs, watch this hilarious YouTube video of an Italian grandmother trying to interact with a Google Home.  ROFL!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mVg6tKteA0

Siebenthaler Fen

Last week afforded me the opportunity to visit Siebenthaler Fen, located a couple miles north of the intersection of US-35 and Factory Road in Beavercreek, Ohio.  The mile-long boardwalk keeps you dry as you walk through and over the fen, enjoy the scenery, dodge a frog sunning itself and letting your body relax.  This is just one of eleven parks along Beaver Creek, which begins in the north at Oakes Quarry Park and  travels south about twelve miles to merge with the Little Miami River near the Narrows Reserve Nature Center on Indian Ripple Road.  Lots more exploring to enjoy this autumn.

http://www.beavercreekwetlands.org/maplocations-siebenthaler.html

Flat Chicken

This barbecue-marinated flat chicken from Dorothy Lane Market was nicely done in 45 minutes using a 350 degree oven, making this quick enough to be a weekday meal.  If you want to learn how to remove the backbone yourself, this YouTube video will show you how.  My wife sure is nice to me!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfJ1lz3P8IE

Ink Stamp

A rubber stamp with your return address seems like an odd purchase in this day of online bill pay, but the driver wasn't that, although this is handier than handwritten or preprinted labels, and will be very useful for the yearly batch of Christmas cards.  It's true purpose is to avoid writing our contact information on the back of raffle tickets dozens and dozens of times, saving a wee bit of writer's cramp.

Big shout out to Jane T for this idea!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073QX7JQ5