Upside Ann

  Mt. Vernon, Ohio   August 2025 Years ago, I found that Ruby Tuesday had pretty great shepherd's pie and zucchini as a side that Zupe loved.  So, I bought a gift certificate for my mother-in-law as a Christmas gift.  When I did this, I got a second card.  I kept that one.  Years past - hence the beginning words, years ago - and it has become very hard to find a Ruby Tuesday.  The gift card languished in my wallet.  During our trip to Denver last summer, we endeavored to locate one.  Unsuccessfully.  I don't remember everything from that quest - mostly that we would find a location by Google search only to learn that it had been closed. Once home we applied our search to restaurants in the state and identified that there was still a location in Mt. Vernon.  And, on a bright and beautiful Saturday, we drove there for lunch.  To use the $11.97 remaining on that card.  (I had NO idea how much was still on the card.)...

 As my travels this year have been confined to tutoring appointments, speech therapy, and a botched up bird buy, I shall begin this series going backward in my photo roll until I hit something fun...which takes us all the back to October. Stillwater Prairie Reserve.  I needed a fall print to hang on the wall.  This is what I chose.  I like the texture of the bridge floor and the dramatic vanishing point.  The leaves invite you to walk across.  And what a blue sky!  Wish you were here.

  I want to wear something new  but not shoes or a dress. I want to put on some reckless joy that is MUCH too big for me and  so  brightly colored that I become unrecognizable. jkkennedy note: photo from the Indianapolis Children's Museum August 2025 

 let there be fireworks. I swear I heard fireworks last night.  I had put Zupe to bed and was sitting at the kitchen table and drinking a cup of warm tumeric tea.  I didn't get up to check.  I figured, it was over.  And then, I'd hear more.  Rinse.  Repeat. These, however, were from a July 4th party here in Versailles.  What I like about this image is the people - in particular, the line of 3 children on the left. There is also a swing set in this yard and I wanted to get a photo of the kids swinging being lit from behind by an explosion.  But, I don't think I succeeded.  At least, I don't know where that photo is today.