Jar Lifter

The worst part of canning is lifting the jars out of the pot of boiling water.  I've used a variety of methods, including, most recently, a pair of channel lock pliers.  That scared the geebers out of my friend who was watching, and I didn't think much of it either.  The easy-to-grip handles are designed for minimal force and maximum jar security, and its springed hinge pops open for effortless jar placement and removal.

A big shout-out to Dan and Kim for this perfect gift!

https://www.amazon.com/Ball-Secure-Grip-Jar-Lifter/dp/B0107Z5B4C

Weather Apps

I've used The Weather Channel app for many years, and it always had pop-up advertisements, but recently those have become more frequent, full-screen, non-closable videos that roll on up to thirty seconds.  It was time to look for a new app, and for my Pixel 7 phone, I found that Google has its own app, with zero ads.  For our iPads, I found Apple has its own app, again with no ads, and that's what you see in the image below.  To top that, Apple includes that app as part of my Mac.  While I find The Weather Channel to be a notch better, those ads were driving me crazy.

The link to the Apple Weather app for iPhones and iPads is at the link below.

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/weather/id1069513131

Mandolin Glove

I watch a fair number of cooking shows, and it drives me crazy to watch a chef use an uber-dangerous mandolin barehanded.  Not us.  We use the NoCry Cut-Resistant Glove, which you see in the picture below, for vegetables too small to use the guard that came with the mandolin.  I use this when I slice jalapeno peppers for Cowboy Candy, and it has saved my index finger a time or two.  A link to the glove is provided below.

https://www.amazon.com/NoCry-Cut-Resistant-Gloves-Performance/dp/B00MXUHHGK

Hallaca With Chicken Potato Salad

The outside of the large dumpling you see below is folded plantain leaves wrapped around a stew of meats and vegetables.  It's a popular Venezuelan dish known by many Latin American names, such as ayaca, hayaca, guanimo, tamal, and guanime.  It's accompanied by a mound of chicken potato salad and avocado slices.  I'm really taking a liking to Venezuelan food and might have to try out Latin Arepas in Springboro, but Jorrge's will also be my go-to.

https://www.facebook.com/jorrgescantina

Bite-Sized Cucumbers

I like sliced cucumbers in my salad, but I loathe buying a large cucumber and slicing it into bite-sized pieces.  I also end up throwing most of it away.  Recently, at our local Meijer store, I saw packages of tiny cucumbers like the ones below.  I just grab a couple, slice them into tiny rounds, and add them to my salad.  You can also munch on one as a snack or include them in a lunch bag.  I never thought to look for small cucumbers, even though they make pickles the same size.  Duh...

https://www.sunsetgrown.com/sunset-unveils-pop-its-snack-sized-cucumbers

All-Clad Pot Holders

We've had all sorts of pot holders over the years, but we have never had ones that we really liked.  They were either too flimsy, too bulky, too small, or would stain easily.  But after taking a cooking class at Dorothy Lane Market, we spent a few moments going through their cool set of kitchen gadgets and found the perfect pot holders that you see below.  The 100% cotton heavyweight twill is treated with silicone, which makes for a firm grip and can handle temperatures up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit.  You can find them in an array of colors at the link below.

https://www.amazon.com/All-Clad-Premium-Heating-Resistant-Barbeque/dp/B00UABQU08

2025 Coin Findings

When I walk outside, I'm constantly looking for money lying on the streets and sidewalks, and in the ponds at the Fraze Pavilion after they drain it for the winter.  I found a total of $7.80 in 2025, and for the first time, kept track of how many coins of each denomination.  I picked up 14 quarters, 27 dimes, 6 nickels, and 130 pennies.  I'm only surprised that I found more quarters than nickels, since they are larger and worth more.  

New for 2026, I'm keeping track of the number of mini-Fireball bottles and rubberbands I find.  My contribution to a cleaner neighborhood.

Using AI To Find Volunteer Opportunities

Internet search engines certainly made finding things much easier, but AI takes that to a new level.  I used this question: "List five volunteer opportunities that are primarily outdoors in montgomery county ohio."  A regular search will return thousands of results that you would have to dig through, hopefully finding something interesting before you give up.  I used five criteria ("five", "volunteer", "outdoors", "montgomery county ohio") to focus the chatbot's answer on things that matched my high-level requirements.  I could easily change that question to add more focus or move it in a different direction.  

https://gemini.google.com

Gemini said

1. Habitat Healers (Aullwood Audubon)

Located on the north side of Dayton, Aullwood’s "Habitat Healers" are the boots-on-the-ground team for land conservation. You’ll work directly in the sanctuary’s 200+ acres of prairies, forests, and marshes.

• What you’ll do: Eradicate invasive plant species, plant native trees and flowers, and maintain over 6 miles of hiking trails.

• Best for: People who enjoy physical work and want to learn about local ecology.

2. Conservation & Trail Work (Five Rivers MetroParks)

Five Rivers MetroParks manages over 16,000 acres of land across Montgomery County. Their outdoor volunteer needs are constant and vary by season.

• What you’ll do: Options include reforestation efforts (planting trees), invasive species removal, and "Trail Work Days" where you help repair and clear paths at parks like Germantown or Sugarcreek MetroPark.

• Best for: Flexible volunteers who want to explore different parks throughout the county.

3. Build Site Volunteer (Habitat for Humanity of Greater Dayton)

If you prefer construction over conservation, Habitat for Humanity offers a very literal way to build the community.

• What you’ll do: Assist in building safe, affordable housing. Tasks include framing, roofing, siding, and landscaping. No prior construction experience is required, as site leaders provide on-the-spot training.

• Best for: Those who want to learn DIY home repair skills while helping local families.

4. Heritage Gardening & Farm Support (Carriage Hill MetroPark)

For those interested in history and horticulture, Carriage Hill provides a unique outdoor environment focused on 1880s farm life.

• What you’ll do: Assist with heirloom gardening, maintaining the "historic" landscape, or helping with the farm's livestock. They also look for volunteers to help with outdoor public programs and demonstrations.

• Best for: History buffs and people who enjoy working with animals or traditional gardening.

5. SunWatch Indian Village & Archaeological Park

Operated by the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, SunWatch is a reconstructed Native American village and a National Historic Landmark.

• What you’ll do: Outdoor opportunities include site maintenance, assisting with educational "Ancient Studies" programs, and helping maintain the prairie and garden areas that surround the village.

• Best for: Volunteers interested in archaeology, education, and cultural history.

Hamburger Steaks With Onion And Mushroon Gravy

These hamburger "steaks" are pretty good, but the onion-and-mushroom gravy is the star of the show.  You can smother anything (e.g., noodles, mashed potatoes, or French fries) in this flavor bomb of beef broth, baby bella mushrooms, thyme, butter, onion, garlic, flour, and Worcestershire sauce, and serve up a memorable meal.  The gravy takes 20-25 minutes to make, but that's time well spent.  All the recipe details are at the link below.

https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/hamburger-steaks-with-onion-and-mushroom-gravy-9586467

Lunazul Primero Añejo Cristalino

Lunazul tequila is both very good and moderately priced, and we keep a bottle on hand at all times.  I thought it just came in Blanco, Reposado, and Añejo varieties, but I was recently served a shot of the Lunazul Primero Añejo Cristalino you see below.  It's an añejo tequila that's been aged in American white-oak barrels for 18 months and filtered eight times to achieve a crystal clear color.  "Cristalino" essentially means "Añejo in disguise."  It has the soul and age of a dark tequila but the look of a clear one.  You'll smell sweet vanilla, honey, and white flowersand taste flavors of caramel, toasted oak, and citrus, with surprising fruity notes like green apple or pear.  

https://lunazultequila.com