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

This content is restricted.

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

This content is restricted.

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 […]

SOLD: Our 2010 Acura RDX would make a great first car

| September 14, 2025

Posting the update: SOLD this past weekend 9/20/2025 to a local family with a new driver … who is a local high school band drummer and needed a first car that could haul his drums! Well the road behind our house is open again and before we start getting too busy this fall, it seemed […]

Repairs and updates: New Gutter Shutters on the Poolhouse

| September 10, 2025

In September 2025 we finally decided to update the gutter on the detached garage (we call it the poolhouse) to match our house from 2019. Unfortunately it was a semi-forced issue as there was some poor workmanship on one of the downspouts on the house that needed repaired. We thought our Gutter Shutters had a […]

Filler: A couple beautiful Volkswagen Beetle photos #TBT

| September 4, 2025

For today’s Throwback Thursday #TBT post, I’m adding a couple saved photos for a filler since I used a couple of these on social media thread (credits unknown). ☹️ The two “beautiful” photos appeal to me and work well this shortened holiday week AND keeps the Volkswagen category alive. I do miss the original VW […]

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

This content is restricted.

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

This content is restricted.

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 […]

Tech Friday: A “desultory” lunchtime post highlighting Annotable

| August 1, 2025

It has been too long between truly “desultory” posts, so I’ll add one on the topic of iOS photo editing and iOS apps. Ever since I updated my iPhone from the long-lasting iPhone 7 Plus almost a year ago, I’ve been missing the magnifier highlighting tool that was part of Apple’s previous iOS. Now that […]

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 […]

Is this photograph real or was it created by artificial intelligence?

| July 17, 2025

I couldn’t help but remember a Memorex tape advertisement that ran in the 1970s for cassette tapes (above) … then in the 1980s for VHS tapes … when seeing the photo below: “Is it live … or is it Memorex?“ What do you think of when you see the shape of this island off the coast […]

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) […]

Archive: Summer week with our granddaughters was a success!

| June 22, 2025

This content is restricted.

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

| June 15, 2025

This content is restricted.

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 […]

Test post: Let’s see if this is working?

| June 11, 2025

Testing MarsEdit software: So far it sort of looks like it is supposed to look. 😉   Dawki suspension bridge over the Umngot River

Our are granddaughters prepped for American Girl Doll camp

| June 11, 2025

This content is restricted.

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 […]

Archive: A family visit and dance recital for our granddaughters

| June 3, 2025

This content is restricted.

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 […]

Archive: Memorial Day early pool time with our granddaughters

| May 28, 2025

This content is restricted.

Hm, 2011 both does and doesn’t seem all that long ago? #TBT

| May 22, 2025

A “Year(s) Ago On This Day” highlight (column right) had me looking at a May 2011 photo of our family. Katelyn’s NEOUCOM medical school graduation in 2011 made for a great memory for sure … but leaves me a little bit sad. Still, I’m so thankful all four parents were able to attend her graduation, […]

BirdBuddy app, birds and Katelyn’s birdfeeder birthday present

| May 21, 2025

My daughter shared some photos from her new bird feeder birthday present, from Drew and the girls, and access last weekend through the BirdBuddy app. BTW, today is my brother’s birthday, Happy Birthday Ron! (poem below) The WiFi camera connected birdfeeder (see previous non-smar homemade birdfeeder) for the Oostra backyard which is full of “everything […]

Woke the “Old Girl” from her winter slumber last weekend

| May 15, 2025

Although I recall posting a “winter slumber” video of my 1982 Mercedes Benz 300D Turbodiesel a decade ago, it has been a while — don’t look at the dust! So … after noticing the battery had lost some of its charge while “sleeping,” I decided to put the solar charger to work my W123 after […]

Wishing my daughter Katelyn a very Happy 39th Birthday

| May 14, 2025

This content is restricted.

Happy Mother’s Day to all moms … with a cardinal selfie

| May 11, 2025

Because my mom loved birds and Brenda loves the beauty in nature, for Mother’s Day this year it is not flowers or a card, but a technology assisted Happy Mother’s Day with a beautiful cardinal. Of course this isn’t the first time he or his friends appeared on our Wyze Cam (they come every year) […]

A belated thank you to the Gerbers for an enjoyable stopover

| May 8, 2025

While Brenda and I were visiting her sister Ann in Alpharetta, Georgia, we started talking about dogs. There’s is getting older but is a meandering member of their family — and this post is an excuse to include one of our late Tootsie as a puppy (unfortunately I didn’t take any of the Gerbers or […]

Archive: Birthday wishes and fun family singing audio

| May 8, 2025

This content is restricted.

What do you know about Rogue Planets in our Milky Way?

| May 4, 2025

Rogue planets, also known as free-floating planets, are planetary bodies that drift through the Milky Way without orbiting a star. Unlike typical planets bound to a stellar system, these objects roam interstellar space, untethered by a parent star’s gravity. They’re intriguing because they challenge our understanding of planetary formation and survival in the harsh environment […]

Archiving a few leftover photos from our Spring in Florida

| April 30, 2025

While walking the Atlantic shoreline, Brenda and I often watched ships and tugs towing barges offshore pass by. We took note of the unique ones like the SS United States and more recently a specialized Express Marine hybrid barge with its companion tug. It was interesting enough to dig a little deeper. Express Marine, Inc., […]

Archive: Enjoyed beach time with the Oostra family last week

| April 22, 2025

This content is restricted.

Palm Sunday afternoon, taxes and KDAE at Legoland in Florida

| April 14, 2025

Let’s start with yesterday’s Palm Sunday word of the day … or at least one that I learned from today’s TFL devotional “God’s Plan All Along” and the Hebrew word: “Tetelestai!”   The Hebrew word that Τετέλεσται (it is finished) best translates is שָׁלֵם, which is how the Syriac Peshitta* and modern Hebrew** translations translate […]

Word of the day: Marginalia and rocking chairs for KDAE’s porch

| April 8, 2025

A new word for me: Marginalia — it is also a word that reminded me of Mom Howard’s books, especially her well marked up Bible! MarginaliaNotes written in the margin • The professor’s marginalia provided valuable insights into the text Also a shopping trip for the Oostra’s had them finding a couple of nice looking rocking […]

Archive: What’s going on with our family?

| April 3, 2025

This content is restricted.

AI has replaced basic search for most of my research these days

| April 2, 2025

During one of our many longish 9-1/2 mile winter beach walks this year, Brenda and I came across a couple orange objects. The orange ball that washed up during a heavy surf was pretty obvious … since they are used along the shore to mark life guard protected zones and swimming areas. There was a […]

Archive: We never tire of seeing this Atlantic Ocean view

| March 22, 2025

Seeing this view each morning as we head to the beach never gets old. To be sure, I’ve posted similar photos a few times before, but even as the wallpaper on my iPhone, I can’t get enough of it.  As our time in Florida for 2025 inches closer to a close, Brenda and I are […]

Archive: A few leftover Florida photos and oddities

| March 19, 2025

Going through my iPhone’s photos folder to see what I’ve missed posting about  is becoming a habit. This past weekend I realized that the SpaceX Falcon9 rocket with the crewed Dragon capsule‘s launch contrails on Saturday evening were blogworthy as was a condo “parking lot” photo of the Blood Worm Moon on Saturday evening (click […]

The stock market gyration has me pulling out my hair this week

| March 14, 2025

The manic markets and crazy movement down and up (today) are enough to have investors pulling their hair out. Thankfully there was a reprieve from the steady down movement over the tariff dispute between President Trump and many of our trading partners (more on that this weekend).  Consumer sentiment is not positive and will likely […]

Thinking the same thing already this year … #TBT

| March 13, 2025

This content is restricted.

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