The Grumpy Gardener

Southern Living magazine is packed with interesting articles, and Gourmet Chef Elaine and I enjoy The Grumpy Gardener the most, penned by the award-winning author, Steve Bender.  He offers up advice on a range of gardening issues, with a bunch of humor thrown in.  He's also the co-host, with Nellah McGough, of Ask Grumpy, one of the top-rated gardening podcasts, which airs twice a week.

You can read more about Steve at the following link and read some of his articles; however, the humor appears mostly reserved for the printed magazine.

https://www.southernliving.com/author/steve-bender

Using AI For Genealogy Research

I do a fair amount of genealogy research, and sometimes I get stuck finding a person's parents, as was the case with George Holmes and Bridget O'Donnell.  Since AI chatbots are trained using a huge amount of data, I decided to try a few different ones, and Grok came back with the most complete answer.  My question and Grok's response are in the screenshot below.  Be careful using AI for genealogy research, as I've found it can generate answers that sound reasonable but are fictitious.

https://grok.com

Asian Sesame With Ginger & Soy

We had lunch at Sky Asian Cuisine in Kettering, Ohio, a few months ago, and I really liked the salad dressing they used.  I researched a bit and found the closest thing I could buy is Ken's Asian Sesame with Ginger & Soy.  Then I bought a bag of broccoli coleslaw and poured some of the dressing on top.  Now that's how you get me to eat my vegetables (and like it!)

https://www.kensfoods.com/products/asian-sesame

Attractive Advertising

This eye-catching display of flowers and plants is brought to you by Highfield Door Sales on Stroop Road in Kettering, Ohio.  I really like the ramp that snakes up to the top of the sign, giving the display a unique look.  And the whole thing is so stunning, you might overlook the gas regulator/meter, which must always remain accessible to utility workers for readings and maintenance.

https://highfielddoorsales.com

Oversized Folding Camping Chair

Some time ago, we pitched our old, beat-up folding chairs and just recently purchased the new ones you see below.  They have a solid steel frame and are equipped with an Oxford cloth cup holder, 6-can side cooler bag, and a 25"×10" rear mesh pocket.  Best of all, they cost only $35 apiece, down $20 from their regular price, but the limited-time offer might expire by the time you get this blog.

Bring on the tailgate parties!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GR9MST5R

Fraze Flicks

The Fraze Pavilion in Kettering, Ohio, has added eight movies to its lineup of concerts and events.  Crazy Rich Asians, Grease, Song Sung Blue, F1, Wicked, Black Panther, Minions: The Rise of Gru, and Hocus Pocus are slated for Friday or Saturday evenings from June through October.   The movie will start at sunset, but the party starts several hours before with a live DJ, food trucks,  snacks, and drinks will be available at Ernie’s Concessions.  The cost is $10 per ticket in advance or $15 on the day of the movie.

https://fraze.com/category/concerts-and-events/fraze-flicks

Using AI To Explain Things

 I noticed the "Dead End" sign you see below as we were driving around Pittsburgh. That was common when I was a kid (i.e., a very long time ago), but I can't recall seeing any around our house, only "No Outlet" signs.  So I asked Google's Gemini, "Why are dead-end signs now no outlet signs?"  Its response was "While it might seem like 'Dead End' signs are disappearing, it is actually less of a total replacement and more about a technical distinction in road engineering—though some cities are moving away from the word 'dead' for aesthetic reasons."  It further went on to explain that the technical difference is that a 'Dead End' is used for a single road that terminates, while 'No Outlet' is used at the entrance of a network of streets that has only one way in and out.  Some municipalities have phased out "Dead End" signs because the word "dead" can feel a bit morbid or lower the "prestige" of a neighborhood. You’ll often see newer developments opt for "No Outlet" or "No Through Street" simply because it sounds more modern and less "bleak."  

And now we know.

https://gemini.google.com

KD's BBQ

The yummy plate of cabbage rolls (or stuffed cabbage as Gourmet Chef Elaine knows them) comes from KD's BBQ, a small hole-in-the-wall restaurant just a few blocks away from our home.  We've made them at home a few times, but it's a LOT of work, and one dinner-sized plate is enough for the two of us, when combined with our choice of two sides and bread.  One more reason we love where we live!

https://www.kdsketteringbbq.com

Discarded Clothing

While we were in Pittsburgh a few weeks ago, we decided to take a walk through the Northside.  We noticed several piles of clothing, mostly jackets and sweaters, and even the lonely stocking cap you see below.  It didn't take long to figure out these discards came from the runners participating in the Pittsburgh Marathon that morning, which started out pretty chilly.  I later found out that this clothing is a major part of the event's sustainability efforts, and teams of volunteers will follow the tail end of the race and gather all the discarded clothing.  Thousands of pounds of clothing were laundered and then donated to local thrift stores or distributed to people in need.  That's pretty cool!

 

Ethanol-Free Gas

At our first visit to the new Buc-ee's in Huber Heights, I noticed they sell ethanol-free gasoline.  I didn't even know it was a thing, so I went digging into it.  Most U.S. gas is blended with ten percent ethanol (i.e., E10), and ethanol absorbs water and can be corrosive.  That can lead to fuel system corrosion, “gumming” or varnish buildup, and hard starts after sitting a while.  

Ethanol-free gas is preferred because it’s more stable and causes fewer maintenance issues, and is used in boats, lawn equipment, motorcycles, and classic cars.  I can buy ethanol-free gas at our local Marathon station, and I'll start using it in my lawn mower, trimmer, and blower.