The first snow of the winter always shuts down schools, etc.

| December 3, 2025

The “over-forecasted” first winter snowstorm for 2025-26 was spot on. By morning we had at least 6 inches of heavy snow. About the only thing that would have made it look a little prettier would have been some sunshine … but it was still beautiful (took the photos too early in the morning though).  I’m […]

The weekend after Thanksgiving 2025 is wintery in the Midwest

| November 30, 2025

Thanksgiving “return home” weekend travel look dicey in some parts of the midwest and could snarl air travel for those who might be flying. Thankfully for us, KDAE are traveling home on Saturday and not Sunday, but will likely face a little weather (since I’m writing this after they left our house on Saturday).  It […]

Tech Friday: Tesla’s navigation and Sentry Mode

| November 28, 2025

Since I’m still “admiring Brenda’s 2019 Tesla Model 3,” but I’ve also been intrigued by some of the impressive navigation and realtime data. The other day on a trip to our local Costco, the Sentry Mode security recorded all the carts and people who were around the car while parked. I now know why so […]

Photography: Lumix GX8 Camera test post in November 2025

| November 26, 2025

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Archive: A last November weekend to finish yard chores

| November 25, 2025

This could have been the last nice weekend to finish up yard work such as raking and hauling leaves – and my rake is about to be retired, as am I!  Who knows as a few trees are still fulling loaded with leaves; perhaps the wind will blow them elsewhere??? Anyway if felt good to […]

Tech Friday: Learning to be more productive with iPadOS 26.1 Windows and SlideOver features

| November 21, 2025

I’ve been using an Apple iPad the same way for nearly the past decade or so (yikes, 2011); using it has been pretty much a habitual rut for me. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy using every iPad for reading, browsing, note taking (typing as I don’t have an Apple Pencil) and answering emails … […]

Tesla M3 charging and a Wyze Palm Lock for the detached garage

| November 19, 2025

In keeping with last week’s smart home fixes, the Wyze Palm Lock was one of those spontaneous purchases (a discount offered) that I really should have added to my Christmas list, but with a recent theft event in our neighborhood, it seemed “wyze”to add it sooner rather than later (it’s ok if you rolled your […]

A superb performance on the piano by our oldest granddaughter

| November 18, 2025

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Book: Started a new to me book – “God, the Science, the Evidence”

| November 13, 2025

After meeting my buddy Jeff for lunch last week, we decided to start a new book to discuss. This has been something we’ve done over the years, although I admit, he is much better in staying on task when it comes to reading than me. The book, “God, the Science, the Evidence, the Dawn of […]

Archive: Wanted to save a few more family “goings-on”

| November 9, 2025

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Beautiful autumn color and a camping photo from the late 1980s

| November 7, 2025

I know, it is Friday and that generally means an interesting (at least to me) Tech Friday story. Does a photo of Brenda’s “tech-y” Tesla Model 3 with the trees changing count? I didn’t think so … In reality, I’m slightly behind in my week and totally missed posting a #TBT photo my buddy Jeff […]

Leftover Halloween photo and the Rear Fence Fiasco

| November 5, 2025

Let’s start with the leftover “fun” photo since I archived a little about the granddaughters this week, but not Megan and Taylor. So this week I’ll include an “off to a Halloween party around a bonfire with some friends” for the archive. I did look like they had fun. For us, no trick or treaters […]

Archive: Personal home projects and talented granddaughters

| November 4, 2025

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Tech Friday: A personal leftover for a spooky Halloween

| October 31, 2025

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A couple older blog car photos triggered good memories for #TBT

| October 30, 2025

Every once in a while, a link pops up in my blog from years ago (20 years in this case) and it amazes me just how fast the years go by (another link)?  The photos here are back when I was regularly commuting back and forth from Cincinnati to Cuyahoga Falls and to Warren, Ohio. […]

A busy autumn for our family and leftover automotive items

| October 29, 2025

It was a busy autumn weekend for the next generation in our family. Taylor and Megan were taking advantage of the nice fall weather to go to the Renaissance Festival while the Oostras planted tulip bulbs (how fitting) and tackled the huge “Back to the Future” corn maze in NW Ohio. It looks like the […]

Tech Friday: A few days of Tesla ownership and charging

| October 24, 2025

After a few days of owning/driving a “previously loved” 2019 Tesla Model 3, I’m learning a little more about it each day … and as the 2003 McDonald’s jingle goes, “I’m lovin’ it.” 😊 So far the Tesla has surpassed my expectation as for driving pleasure. It is solid on the road, very fast when acceleration […]

Archive: An enjoyable couple of days with our granddaughters

| October 22, 2025

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Thinking about beaches, turtle eggs and a Green Turtle victory

| October 18, 2025

Brenda and I are beach walkers and when in Delray Beach … or any beach for that matter … we walk in all kinds of weather. A week or so ago we were surprised at the heavy erosion along Florida’s Atlantic beaches, which can be somewhat normal with storm surf, higher winds and tides. This […]

Beach Erosion, Postseason Baseball and Family in Western NY

| October 16, 2025

Eventually I’ll get around to updating a back and forth trip to Florida to check on the Delray Beach condo’s lanai repairs (and the missing beach – erosion video above) … maybe more over the weekend (???) … but for now a little updating on our lack of excitement with MLB post-season baseball. Brenda and […]

Happy Birthday wishes to “middle aged” Megan (family joke)

| October 15, 2025

What, another “middle age” birthday for Megan? The “middle age” joke has taken on a life of its own when it comes to our adult children. It is kind of fun when “we” are young and in our early 30s (Megan’s 30th Birthday), but I’m starting to think that it could be both an insult […]

A “here’s looking at you” filler photo

| October 14, 2025

More on our quick trip to drop the van off at the Florida condo and check on the lanai update later.

Archive: A few leftover family photos from early October 2025

| October 11, 2025

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Archive: The Utah trip photos from yesterday were not enough

| October 10, 2025

After posting our “trip to Utah” photos yesterday, Brenda commented that I left out her favorite from the top of Angels Landing in Zion National Park. Obviously navigating the chains was truly an accomplishment for “senior citizens” … so a few more photos and video seems justified. 😉 

Back from an amazing trip to Solitude, Zion and Sundance, Utah

| October 9, 2025

It is probably going to take me a couple of weeks to get my blogging bearings back, but let it be known, we enjoyed our week in Solitude, Utah with my sister-in-law Ann and her husband Gary. Thank you so much for inviting us to your condo and treating us to the great hikes, trip […]

Our Utah trip photos with Ann and Gary are coming … but first a couple pre-trip photos with our nieces

| October 8, 2025

Our Utah trip is still fresh and the photos TOO many to sift through at the moment … so I’ll start by archiving a single photo of Zion National Park; the three peaks known as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (photo above). This might at least start the ball rolling in  getting the photos and my […]

Archiving a couple leftover September 2025 family photos

| September 30, 2025

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Just a leftover photo from Katelyn to her Mom #TBT

| September 25, 2025

The year escapes me at the moment … although with a little searching on the blog I found it: October 2008 at Letchworth State Park, NY. This photo has been in my miscellaneous folder since August and while clearing it out wanted to archive a photo that made me smile for a ThrowBack Thursday #TBT. […]

It is starting to look a little like autumn #testing

| September 17, 2025

This is a test post for an image uploading issue, but figured that I would include some leaves already coming down – it has been a dry few weeks! 

Our Lanai Condominium repairs in Florida are looking better

| September 16, 2025

I really thought that I posted a photo last month on the Lanai construction happening at our Delray Beach condo? Nope, can’t find it (photo right). But thanks to our super nice neighbor, she took a couple updated photos below for us in between the heavy rains they have been getting in south Florida (we […]

Archive: Labor Day photos with Megan, Taylor and Gigi

| September 3, 2025

It has become an enjoyable habit – posting family photos from the previous weekend. This past Labor Day, Megan, Taylor and their dog Gigi were over for the afternoon … and perhaps the last of the pool days (it has been cool for August and early September). We did the quintessential American hot dogs and […]

Closing out the month of August 2025 with signs of Autumn

| August 31, 2025

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As a tinkerer, I’ve save parts and pieces my entire life

| August 24, 2025

The older I get, the more clutter I collect … yet I still can’t stop the habits that have stayed with me my entire life. After clearing out our parents homes a decade ago, it was obvious that genetically the depression era “can’t throw away” trait was passed down to me. I still find myself […]

A first for me — a foot fracture, tendon pull and walking boot

| August 20, 2025

Well … I likely waited too long to address a nagging problem with my right foot after too much barefoot beach walking. I thought it would improve over time if I continued to work through the healing process, but month after month since April or so it did not improve.  My PCP diagnosed it in […]

It has been 10 years, but a father’s impact lasts a lifetime

| August 17, 2025

The Little Critter book title reads … “Just Me and My Dad” (the photo above just a few years ago) … but as I mentioned a decade ago after DadC’s memorial service … he planted the wisdom of Proverb 22:6 in the way he lived his life. “Train up a child in the way he should go: and […]

Archive: School is starting, but a little more fun in Toledo

| August 17, 2025

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Happy Birthday Brenda! Are we still counting the years?

| August 12, 2025

As the saying goes, “better to have a birthday then not to have one.” Yet most of us watching the years tick by wonder, why do the years seem to tick by so much faster the older we get?  So, Happy Birthday, Brenda – here’s a George Meredith quote to ponder. It has been a wonderful […]

The family is vacationing, I’m reading and saving a project idea

| August 10, 2025

Today’s post is part photo archive, a project idea and a little on “what I’m reading this summer” — but I do miss the World War II history books of previous years. KDAE were off to Colorado on a family vacation this past week and were enjoying there time hiking and outdoors. They were with […]

Archive: A few photos and chores from around home weekend

| August 3, 2025

Look at the feelers on this moth (link). God’s creation in nature is amazing! It has been so much more pleasant this weekend compared to last — weather wise – and besides mowing, decided to remove a couple overgrown low-spreading bushes in our half-moon. We didn’t plant flowers as usual this year knowing it was […]

IPOs, Dotcoms, AI, $FIG, Awake OJ cans and my grandfather

| August 2, 2025

It is interesting how certain things trigger long ago memories so clearly. I could see this can of Awake Orange Juice (with the orange lid) from the 1960s clearly in my mind. Likely I remember these cans from a container to store spare bolts and nuts or parts, but I also recall something else my […]

Staying cool, finishing up the lawn bench and weekend chores

| July 29, 2025

This past weekend was the last weekend of July 2025 (yikes!) and I tried to stay cool by jumping in and out of the pool during the 90+ degree summer heatwave that has been for the most part enjoyed for a few weeks now. I do prefer the heat of summer to the cold of […]

Archive: Enjoy a little time with our granddaughters this week

| July 26, 2025

Brenda and I enjoyed a little babysitting visit to Whitehouse, Ohio this past week and decided the ridiculously HOT weather would be great to visit my brother Ron and his wife Claire’s retirement property on Lake Erie … “where there would be a breeze” … NOT! The breeze if any was from the south and […]

Project: Refurbishing our Lawn Bench using Oostra Oak

| July 22, 2025

If you are like me, procrastination of home maintenance items is my modus operandi. There are summer things on my list that I need to do (fence repairs), some large undertaking I want to do (remove, paint and reinstall shutters) … and then semi-maintenance things that I interested in doing. Obvious those first two get […]

Archive: Summer activities are great so long as the sun shines

| July 15, 2025

Let’s start the archive of weekend photos with our immediate family selfies. Taylor, Megan and Gigi were over to cool off in the pool (before the strong storms hit on Saturday afternoon) while KDAE were up in Michigan for a extended weekend having summer vacation-ish fun. It would be difficult to find a much more […]

For Sale: Another family’s home is for sale in our neighborhood

| July 12, 2025

It might be a little concerning if I didn’t actually know my neighbors and neighborhood as well as I do … but another couple has decided the time is right to sell their home. The Groseth family has lived here for 30 years and we’ve watch our families grow up together. Both Marvin and Arlene […]

Archive: Summer has been warm, but wet, so far in July 2025

| July 10, 2025

It has been a “wonderfully” warm summer so far … at least in Cincinnati. I good with it since I like the heat, even if I could do without the humidity. So far though, even with the regular thunderstorms, the humidity has been okay. Our granddaughters are up north with the Barb and Randy … […]

Archive: What did we do over the 4th of July weekend in 2025?

| July 6, 2025

If you want to know what Brenda and I did to celebrate the 249th birthday of our country, my answer would be … not all that much. I ended up spraying our lawn for those sod webworms that has become a recent problem (the last 5 years) and then relaxed in the pool with my […]

Book: “Kent State: An American Tragedy” by Brian VanDeMark

| July 2, 2025

A Kindle book on hold at the library arrived just as I finished the last book (checked out twice), so the timing for a summer read was perfect. Likely I’ll be slow in reading “Kent State: An American Tragedy” published in 2024 and written by Brian VanDeMark, but I will do my best. First off […]

We no long live in a newer house, so weekend chores never end

| July 1, 2025

When you’ve been in a house for 30 years (how is it possible that we built in 1995?), eventually you end up  remodeling, replacing and repairing nearly everything. Although I “thought” our house was well-built compared to most, eventually things wear out (replacing plumbing fixtures and valves last month with my granddaughter’s’ help – below) […]

Do we all have unusual or quirky behaviors? Or is this normal?

| June 26, 2025

If we are to be honest … every once in a while we notice quirks in our own personalities and habits. I caught myself this past weekend while my son-in-law Drew and I were putting away the dishes from the dishwasher. He has been around long enough to know where we keep plates, bowls, glasses […]

Archive: Summer week with our granddaughters was a success!

| June 22, 2025

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Granddaughters on WTOL11 TV and Happy Father’s Day, Drew!

| June 15, 2025

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Still problems with server overload, so old photos for #TBT

| June 12, 2025

This past week, MDB and server uptime as a been a issue. Likely all stemmed from an attempt to keeps things upgraded … then having problems with a old modified theme and plugins in WordPress that were not compatible … and finding myself backpedaling only to reinstall the version that “was” working. Sadly … there […]

A Pro-Republican Perspective on Recent Developments

| June 11, 2025

TheHustings editor sent me a request last week and wanted my thoughts on the recent feud between President Trump and Elon Musk (my submission posted Monday on TheHustings.news). Of course it was disappointing … and in my opinion … unnecessary (at least the personal stuff), but I definitely understood Musk’s frustration after all he as […]

Our are granddaughters prepped for American Girl Doll camp

| June 11, 2025

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A Very Happy Birthday to our son Taylor

| June 10, 2025

Although this is a photo from “my” birthday with Taylor and Megan last month, I’m using it for his birthday greeting today — we’ll see him soon (and may add the photo later below?) Nevertheless, Happy Birthday, Taylor, another year has passed. The thought that you are nearly middle age is frightening.  I am very […]

More Oostra Oak and storing Ridgid Grease Gun

| June 8, 2025

It does seem like a while ago now, but I’ve been slow and steady in bringing back some of the “Oostra Oak” that plan on using for future woodworking projects. So, while up in Whitehouse, Ohio last weekend for our granddaughter’s dance recital, I hauled back a bit more lumber. Well, during the evening I […]

Happy Anniversary Brenda … and a few more interesting maps

| June 5, 2025

Brenda and I have successfully made another “trip around the sun” together, as the Jimmy Buffett and Martina McBride song goes — 43 years now if my math is correct. We are now unofficially middle-aged in “married” years!     Jimmy Buffett & Martina McBride – “Trip Around The Sun” | 2004 In the past […]

Archive: A family visit and dance recital for our granddaughters

| June 3, 2025

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Highlighting some of what Taylor is doing in Batavia Twp. Ohio

| May 31, 2025

Some of what I attempt to archive on MDB are the goings-on in our family for posterity. Taylor has definitely found his career niche and excels at socially interacting with coworkers and the citizens he serves in Batavia Township, Ohio. In April it was putting on the Easter Bunny suit to the smile of children […]

Desultory - des-uhl-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee

  1. lacking in consistency, constancy, or visible order, disconnected; fitful: desultory conversation.
  2. digressing from or unconnected with the main subject; random: a desultory remark.
My Desultory Blog