Signs, Signs - The Duquesne Incline

Duquesne Incline, Pittsburgh (click on photos to enlarge)

Yep, we rode the incline. There are great views from the top but I showed you some city views already. What I loved was the wooden interior! Isn't that beautiful?!

A little history:
The Duquesne Incline is one of those which follows very closely the tracks of an early coal hoist. Old newspapers indicate the existence of such a conveyance as early as 1854. Residents apparently referred to it as "Kirk Lewis' incline" and located it on the present site of The Duquesne Incline's Upper Station. Grandview Avenue was then the High Street, and the area was just beginning to be converted from farmland to homesites. This pleasantly-situated acreage was an excellent area to absorb some of the expanding population of the city, but the problem of easy access was still to be solved.

You can read more about the incline by clicking HERE

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Sorry if I haven't been visiting much. I just haven't been feeling very bloggy but I promise to stop by and say hi!

Barn Charm Tuesday - Hot Springs

Hot Springs, Va...Bath County (click on photo to enlarge)

This past weekend Nick competed in a triathlon in Hot Springs. What a beautiful area!

Friday Fences - Bent Mountain

Bent Mountain, Roanoke County (click on photo to enlarge)

I can't remember if I told you that on Father's Day we went hiking out at Bottom Creek Gorge. Such a pretty place and it also has the second highest waterfall in Virginia. There are 3 different trails to take to the falls. We took the red trail there and the yellow back. There are old abandoned structures and cemeteries throughout, evidence of the early settlers from the late 17th through the 18 centuries. I was really looking forward to seeing some of the old houses, barns, etc..but the growth was too much to see off the trails. We'll have to make a trip back in the fall.

Anyways, this fence can be found along the way, heading to Bottom Creek. Have a great weekend :)

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Signs, Signs - Dembrosky of Pittsburgh

My Great Grandparents' house, Pittsburgh, South 25th Street, South Side (click on pictures to enlarge)

One of the reasons I wanted to go to Pittsburgh was to see my Great Grandparents' house. August Dembrosky was born in Russia and came here in 1896. He met my Great Grandmother Helena (Lena) Meskus (born in Lithuania) and together they raised 13 children in this house, the white house with the little green awning. Although back then I suspect it was probably brick as I doubt they put siding up back then lol.... A cousin told me that she thinks they also owned that brick house next to it.

For more on Dembrosky and a picture of him and Lena, you can visit my genealogy blog HERE and HERE

and I am linking to Signs, Signs

Pittsburgh Skyline - Night View

Taken from Mt. Washington (click on photo to enlarge)

I'm sorry to keep going on and on with Pittsburgh. There's just so much I want to share with you! I promise, only a few more sights then I'll return to the Roanoke region :)

Barn Charm Tuesday - Bent Mountain

Bent Mountain

Sadly this beautiful piece of property appeared to be deserted.

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AND....Tuesday Muse for the first time...one day I'll play with textures...one day lol


(click on photo to enlarge)

Monday Mural - Living Mural in Pittsburgh

PNC's Living Mural on 5th Ave, Downtown Pittsburgh

Below this 2,380 square foot living mural is a plaque that says:

The largest green wall in North America at the time of it’s construction, the PNC Green Wall was installed as part of The PNC Financial Services Group’s ongoing commitment to the environment. It is intended to save energy, enhance the neighborhood, and demonstrate the benefits of green design.

The 602 soil–filled panels mitigate the temperature difference between the building’s interior and exterior by providing a thick insulating layer, shading, and evaporative cooling. This reduces resource use, operating costs, and PNC’s carbon footprint.

You can read more about the mural HERE

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Friday Fences - Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh

Inside of the Heinz History Center you will find this circa 1950 suburban tract house, representing
the "blue collar suburbs" and Renaissance Pittsburgh.

The museum was awesome and I'm always drawn to this era of American History. Seems like such an idyllic time to grow up.

Here's what the kitchen looked like:

My grandma and grandpa had a table like that in their kitchen when I was little. It's the only table I remember until around the 80's when my uncle remodeled their house for them and completely changed their kitchen. Of course my grandma LOVED the changes and it looked nice, but I still prefer her old kitchen that I remember eating family dinners in and on the weekends coming over for my grandpa's FAMOUS sour dough pancakes. I don't know whatever became of their old table, I'm sure they just hauled it to the dump but man, I wish I had the sense then to ask for it ha!

You can take a virtual tour of the whole museum by clicking HERE

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Signs, Signs - Pittsburgh's Primanti Bros

This is the main reason we went to Pittsburgh. Nick has heard about this place Primanti Bros for years and has been wanting to try the sandwich they are so famous for, "The Pittsburgh Cheese Steak".

We went to the one in the Strip District. Went in first for a Bloody Mary and then came back later for lunch. By then the line was out the door but it went pretty quick. Fun place, great food and service!

Below is a shot of the boys with our super waiter Pierro!

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Downtown Pittsburgh - Sun Flare

While walking along downtown on our ghost tour, snapped this photo of the buildings and crane and liked the way the sun flare POPPED!

Made it through the last day of school yesterday. The boys' elementary school does a "5th Grade Walk". All the classes line the halls at the end of the day and the 5th grade classes make their way out of the school for the last time while the other grades cheer them and give them high 5's! It was quite an emotional thing to see. I shot a little video of it if you would like to watch :)

Barn Charm Tuesday - Pattonsburg Lane

Pattonsburg Lane, Buchanan

On Sunday we went to our place on the creek. On the way home we took Old Mill Road. One of my readers grew up in this area and tells me of the history and what to see. Love it. Anyways, he had told me about an old mill on "Old Mill Road" and we were driving by so we went in search for it. Came upon a nice older couple that were out doing yard work and stopped to talk with them. They live in an old historical home, it belonged to the gentleman's great grandfather. They invited us in and gave us a tour of their beautiful home. They were so nice. I never wanted to leave. I wanted them to adopt us! This barn sits next to their property.

Monday Mural - The Mad Hatter in Pittsburgh

On a costume shop in Pittsburgh
It's raining.....again
The boys graduation ceremony from 5th grade is tonight.
Tomorrow is the last day of school.
We are ready for summer!

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Friday Fences - Cute House in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, South Side

Remember last week's fence from the Harris Grill? Well this is just a teency bit down from there. In fact we parked in front of this cute little place and walked up to the grill. It happens to be for sale. Can't you just picture this being used as a super girlie type shop or a cupcak-ery even? It's adorable!

Today Braden and Dalton's 5th grade class was supposed to go to the North Carolina Zoo. Sadly it has been raining like crazy and it is supposed to continue through today. We, as well as North Carolina are under flood warnings so for safety reasons the school cancelled our trip. Instead we will be going to Chuck E Cheese and the movies. The kids had a choice between 3 movies, Iron Man 3, Epic and Star Trek. My boys chose Iron Man even though they have already seen it. I guess it was just that good. The 4th grade class was supposed to go to Jamestown (remember we went last year?) but they had their trip cancelled too so they will be hanging out with us. I'll be chaperoning. This will be my last field trip. I have gone on so many field trips with Ashlyn and Christian and Braden and Dalton. I have never gone on field trips once they've gone into middle school. I'm not ready for our elementary years to be over. Their last day of 5th grade is Tuesday. They are having a graduation ceremony on Monday evening. I will be a wreck. I already know it. These are my BABIES!....sigh....

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Have a great weekend!!

Signs, Signs - Heinz

Heinz History Center Pittsburgh

Super cool sign ey? I bet it even looks better at night. I meant to go back and get a picture at night and completely forgot until I was going through my photos AT HOME...figures....

Anyways, the Heinz History Museum is pretty amazing...totally recommend! 6 floors of excellent exhibits and you know I'll have a few photos of that as well in the upcoming days!

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PPG Fountain

We took a ghost tour downtown while in Pittsburgh. Can you see a weird little face in the water stream? Look along the top part of the water...I know it has nothing to do with ghosts but it just kind of popped out at me this morning!

Barn Charm Tuesday - Buchanan Quilt Barn

Buchanan

Interrupting my Pittsburgh slide show to participate in Barn Charm. I didn't see any barns in Pittsburgh (shocking I know lol) but I wanted to share this Quilt Barn with you that I have seen in passing. This last time I actually stopped and made Christian hang out the window and snap a photo!

Tomorrow I will take you back to Pittsburgh!

Pittsburgh Zoo

A few favorites from the zoo

June Theme Day - The Beauty of Decay

Baby elephant at the Pittsburgh Zoo

When learning that the theme "The Beauty of Decay" won the vote for our City Daily Photo group I immediately planned to use one of the many old buildings I have photographed. I thought this would be easy! But then, I decided I wanted to expand on the theme and what decay means so I looked up the many definitions.
And here they are:
de·cay (d-k)
v. de·cayed, de·cay·ing, de·cays
v.intr.
1. Biology To break down into component parts; rot.
2. Physics To disintegrate or diminish by radioactive decay.
3. Electronics To decrease gradually in magnitude. Used of voltage or current.
4. Aerospace To decrease in orbit. Used of an artificial satellite.
5. To fall into ruin: a civilization that had begun to decay.
6. Pathology To decline in health or vigor; waste away.
7. To decline from a state of normality, excellence, or prosperity; deteriorate.

#7 made me think of this photo. A beautiful baby elephant living out its life in a zoo. That is not really a "state of normality" for an elephant, is it? Nor "excellence"?

I'm sure the elephants, as well as the rest of the animals are treated very well there at that zoo but still....I can't help but be sad to see them caged in like this, to never live in a "state of normality" and slowly decay, from the inside.

To see takes on this theme, from all over the world, visit City Daily Photo