Victory Bell

When Valparaiso wins a home football game, a tradition is the ringing of the Victory Bell.  The players gather immediately after the game and each takes a turn pulling the rope and clanging the bell.  The GIF below is from last Saturday's 28-21 win over San Diego.

https://www.valpoathletics.com/football

Speed Bump

The little bridge seen below is next to the green at the 13th on the Pipestone Golf Course in Miamisburg, Ohio, and is just wide enough to allow one person over at a time.  The speed bump in the middle of the bridge doesn't make any sense at all.  Just one of those curious things that may or may not ever have a reasonable purpose.

https://www.pipestonegolf.com

Oktoberfest Cheat Sheet

We're big fans of a one-cookie-sheet meal and when we saw this recipe on a recent episode of The Kitchen, we just had to try it.  Chef Elaine made the potato planks using her mandolin to get the perfect width.  The cabbage and potatoes get treated with different coatings on the cookie sheet and the sausage is added.  The only change she'll make the next time is more cabbage, as it cooks way down and you end up with a lot less than you think.

https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/sunny-anderson/sunnys-oktoberfest-cheat-sheet-12932473

Pitcher

One of the changes at the Walnut Grove Country Club pool during the "pandemic" was to give large pitchers of ice water instead of serving individual cups.  We're happy that they have continued this as the world has returned to "normal".  We regularly go through an entire pitcher in a couple of hours and not having to constantly ask for more water is great.  

Dark Blue

Another jogging sight to see.  This house on Kenosha Road in Kettering is painted in the darkest blue imaginable.  I might have done this when I was ten, but what made grown adults think this was delightful to look at is beyond me.  This was done fairly recently as the Google Street View link below shows the before picture.  They did a very nice job on the house and yard, aside from my opinion on the color.

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.6899353,-84.1554801,3a,75y,195.56h,75.06t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sEa5_Xu2Fb2ZAnYd4TAs72Q!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Hole

While my wife and I were jogging last week along Shroyer Road in Kettering, we just had to laugh when we saw the pieces of plywood covering up some utility work had "Hole" written on top.  I think the five cones on the plywood would be enough warning, but just in case some extra-stupid people came along, "Hole" would help them decide not to jump on the plywood.

Lamborghini

My son has owned fast cars since he was sixteen years old and I helped him buy his first Camaro.  His latest purchase is the Lamborghini seen below.  Yours truly got the opportunity to drive it around the neighborhood and experience a little of the 520 HP this machine processes.  Using the paddle shifters took a little getting used to, but since his Ferrari also has them, it wasn't my first experience.  The custom license plate, "NOKIDZS", was transferred from the Corvette he traded in.  In addition to his two exotic Italian sports cars, he has a Hummer H2 and a military Hummer.  

Boys and their toys!

Sesame Corn and Basil Saute

We're using all the fresh corn we possibly can before our local fruit stand calls it a season.  Chef Elaine used this Sesame Corn and Basil Saute recipe consisting of fresh corn, toasted sesame seeds, unsalted butter, garlic, fresh basil, salt, and pepper to create a "Yes, I will have another serving!" masterpiece.  This will be on the top of the repeat list when next summer rolls around. 

https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/katie-lee/sesame-corn-and-basil-saute-8873534

Arborvitae Growth

The top picture below was taken in May 2022 just after we had them planted.  The bottom picture was taken this week and shows the arborvitae have grown quite impressively thanks to Elaine watering them almost daily.  At this rate, it won't take but a few years before they grow together and form a beautiful green sight barrier.

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/1586741/how-much-water-for-newly-planted-arborvitae

The Highland Clans

We're big fans of Outlander, a series (currently on Netflix) based on Diana Gabaldon's books that feature nurse Claire Randell who travels 200 years into the past to Inverness, Scotland, and meets the handsome Jamie Fraser.  The first two seasons lead up to the Battle of Culloden and made us very curious as to the history of Scotland.  We purchased the four-disc audiobook shown below to listen to while on our way to North Carolina.  

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09NF52V8W