Photography Damentions

Moe's Southwest Grill in Oaks Opens Thursday 16 October 2014

2014-10-12T23:54:00.002-04:00

On Thursday 16 October 2014 Moe's Southwest Grill in the Oaks Shopping Center opens to the general public.

These coupons were distributed to the stores in the local area. They are to be used by employees with company ID. I think that was downright neighborly.

Anyone can get this free burrito (with purchase of a large drink) for downloading the Moe's app. Moe's should be a welcome addition to the food offerings in Oaks.

фамилия - жук, хома, богатыюк, верба - My Family Surnames

2014-10-06T23:23:00.001-04:00

My grandparents surnames are жук, хома, богатыюк and верба. My maternal grandmother, жук, hailed from the Carpathian Mountains in Galicia. Paternal grandmother, хома, claimed she was Russian but lived in Poland. Maternal grandfather, богатыюк, lived in Ukraine, eldest son of a sheriff. Paternal grandfather, верба, the eldest of all my grandparents, I think, was Byelorus. He traveled the Trans-Siberian railroad to fight in the Russo-Japanese War.

From English Russia website

Grandpop Verba made his way to the USA just before the turn of the 20th century. The other three arrived here in 1913, all just about 16 years of age. They settled in parts of Philadelphia - Northern Liberties, Port Richmond and South Philadelphia.

They worked hard. Their backs ached when they return home each evening. They raised their children in the Great Depression. They sent their boys off to Europe to fight the Germans in WWII. Their boys returned home, safely. All their children, two boys and five girls, married. Their girls stayed at home and raised fifteen children.

I was raised in mixed ethnic community of South Philadelphia. My house was between the Irish on Second Street and the Italians west of Fifth Street. On my block lived eastern European Jews, Lithuanians, Polish, Italian, Irish, Slovakians and one African-American woman. I saw differences. I saw similarities. We were all in the same melting pot.

Photograph by traveling photographer in mid-'50s

In elementary school the other children would ask me what I was, ethnically. I found it easier to just say I was Russian. Although at that time, Russian may not have been the politically correct ethnicity to espouse. Being in the midst of the Cold War and all. Nonetheless, I stuck with Russian as my ethnicity for most of my childhood.

I have always thought it ingenuous that any ethnicity would think it was pure- not commingled with other ethnic bloods. Take for instance the Irish. That island has been visited by Norse, English, Spanish and of course the little people.

Russia gets its name from the Rus, a nordic term for "those that row". It has been invaded and seeded by Tartars, Mongols and French over the years. Pure is really out of the question for any ethnic group. So I wonder what mix of ethnic bloods course through my veins?

Siège_de_Beijing

I'll bet I have blood of Genghis Khan in me. Of course the Genghis Khan bet is a good one with 1 in 200 men in the world being direct descendants of the Asian conquerer. Plus as my paternal grandmother grew older, she had an Asian look about her face.

Nicholas Roerich, Guest from Overseas

I want to find Viking blood in me, too. Great brave explorers were those men who rowed the rivers of eastern Europe and sailed west to North America without charts nor compass. A journey into the unknown.

Back in the late 70's I was drawn into genealogy by the TV mini-series "Roots". I purchased books with blank diagrams to plot my family tree. Blank still, they sit on the book shelf. Today, my interest in genealogy is stirred again by TV. There are two shows "Who Do You Think You Are", on TLC and "Finding Your Roots", on PBS that investigate genealogy. My appetite is whet once more.

My wife has family origins in Ireland and England. There exists a whole industry for finding your Irish roots. However, my journey will not be so easy back in the old countries of my origins. The Soviet Union, WWII and now Mr. Putin and all that is happening in eastern Ukraine just might make my path difficult to navigate.

Safe and sound here at home in the suburbs of Philadelphia, I am contemplating having my DNA tested. That test might satisfy my curiosity about any Asian and or Viking origins. Or, it may not. Whatever the future holds of my past, I am itching to start my journey. Even if I start without taking one physical step.

©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved

Oaks Buffalo Wild Wings Opens Tomorrow, Others to Follow

2014-09-21T22:30:00.001-04:00

Buffalo Wild Wings opens for business tomorrow, 22 September. BWW is offering one year of free snack wings to the first 100 customers. I wandered over to Oaks Shopping Center to see what kind of activity there was at BWW. To my surprise, there was not even one car in their parking lot. No line. No one in sight. Nothing going on there.

I drove around the lot for the remainder of the center.

I spoke with someone working in Pure Cleaners. Expect them to open within two or three weeks.

As seen on the signs in the windows.
Expect Moe's to open Thurs. 16 October.

Work was in progress at Can Tho nails.

Also coming soon is American Dental Care and

Hand and Stone.

Opening in November will be Happy Vision Eye Clinic.

I hope I can hold my excitement in check.

©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved

Oaks Buffalo Wild Wings Opening Special

2014-09-15T00:00:00.000-04:00

I stopped by the soon to open Buffalo Wild Wings on Wed this week. My intention was to see if BWW had any opening specials for new customers as did Uno last winter. Uno handed discount coupons to anyone who visited just before opening.

I was lead to assistant manager Danielle who was obviously concentrating on getting BWW open. She told me the only opening special was the free snack wings for a year presented to the first 100 customers at 10:00 on Monday morning September 22. The conversation ended there with a long stretch of silence. I thanked her and headed outside to get some photographs of the 13 big screen TVs hanging outside on the radiant heated patio.

The TVs are arranged in three groupings. As seen in this photograph the nearest has 3, the middle 6 and the farthest 4. Because of the orientation of the patio many of these TVs will have glare on them in the daytime. The TVs facing Egypt Rd and Wendy's suffer with occasional headlight glare at night.

The radiant heater can be seen on the open side of the covered patio facing in and down. A friend was wondering if there would be any temporary rain curtain on the open side? I think plastic curtains may be too close to the heaters.

It will only be one week before BWW opens. Then we will see the end results.

©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved

Pure Cleaners, Schuylkill Valley Sports, American Dental Care, AT&T Wireless and a Republican Campaign Office

2014-09-11T20:50:00.001-04:00

More signs of life in the Oaks Shopping Center. Again moving from left to right, as viewed from Wawa,

nearest Moe's,
Schuylkill Valley Sports,

American Dental Care,

Pure Cleaners,

Mike Vereb/Rafferty campaign office

and the last store on the right will be AT&T wireless.

I would really like to see more prepared food stores. But, who am I ...?

©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved

Moe's Southwest Grill Soon in Oaks Shopping Center

2014-09-08T00:00:00.000-04:00

Stores in the Oaks Shopping Center are beginning to show signs of life. The farthest store on the right, behind both Wendy's and Wawa, will soon have a Moe's Southwest Grill. They are currently accepting job applications. The opening date is 16 October 2014.

They have a large menu viewable online. Reminds me of both California Tortilla and Qdoba. At least Moe's will be closer than either of the other two being in Royersford and Audubon respectively.

Moe's makes five new eating establishments on Egypt Road near US 422. That continues to make the area a desirable stop along the fast road.

There are other stores opening in the next few months also. None of them offer food. So much of my idea of a totally food destination.

©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved

Oaks Buffalo Wild Wings Opens 22 Sept 2014

2014-09-05T19:28:00.000-04:00

If you are driving on Egypt Road, west of US 422, you can't miss the Buffalo Wild Wings at the Oaks Shopping Center in Oaks, PA. The yellow exterior of the building jumps up like a flagman wearing a traffic yellow jumpsuit. The exterior seems complete. The interior of the building is still under construction. If you have been waiting for this place to open, take a deep breath because the anticipation is nearly over.

Job applications are currently being accepted. Employee training starts on Wednesday, 10 September 2014. Buffalo Wild Wings starts serving Monday 22 September 2014.

Here is an interesting fact as printed on the banner shown above: The first 100 guests receive a coupon book for free snack wings for a year. That should create some excitement.

I can see the line forming now. Friday night a few stalwart wingsmen begin to gather. It's not long before a line takes shape at the door. Aluminum lawn chairs squeak open, nylon pup tents pop-up, acoustic guitars are strumming and singing fills the air.

No wait a minute that was the Philadelphia Folk Festival a couple of weeks ago. Replace the pup tents, guitars and singing with sports talk radio, plastic ponchos and mobile phones.

Almost two days later, at 10am, Buffalo Wild Wings opens for service and the first 100 guests receive the coupon books.

There will be no turning back after that. Hot wings, cold beer and exciting sports pumping out of nearly 65 big screen TVs, inside and out! What more could a guy ask for? Well maybe the men's room.

©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved

Ukraine to Overtake Russia

2014-08-30T00:06:00.001-04:00

At this time, there is no denying a great deal of tension exists between Russia and Ukraine. Russia took the Crimea from Ukraine. Now Russia is invading southeastern Ukraine. (Somehow, I think vodka is somehow involved.) However, here on my blog, Ukraine is on the verge of overtaking Russia. In an event as inconsequential as number of page views, but overtake nonetheless.

My understanding is that my ethnic heritage is of Ukrainian, Byelorus or Russian and Galician, a pre-WWII country west of the Russian Empire, east of Germany, north of Kingdom of Hungary and south of Poland, currently part of Ukraine. Does that mean my blog is being visited by Ukrainians because they know of my ethnic heritage? Or are Ukrainians visiting to read about my gardening techniques? It could be the fact that the Oaks Shopping Center is near completion? Whatever the reason, Ukrainians have recently been visiting my blog in considerable numbers.

At the beginning of 2014, Ukrainian visits were behind Chinese visits. Not now. Ukrainian visits have increased significantly since the Crimea situation. So much so that China is near half the visits of Ukraine.

Slow down a second here and wait for it.

Here it is. The big news.

Ukraine is just two visits from overtaking Russian visits to my blog.

Not earth shattering, I will admit. On the global level, it may even be a tiny accomplishment. No, a minuscule accomplishment. However, no matter how infinitesimal an accomplishment it may seem, I am sure at this point in time, the Ukrainians will take the win.

Wawa and Wendy's Are Open in Oaks

2014-06-02T11:29:00.002-04:00

Both Wawa and Wendy's in the Oaks Shopping Center are open as of Monday 2 June 2014.

The Wawa has shed it skin in Audubon and is reborn in Oaks.

As I photographed the building at the old location several people pulled onto the lot and were confused as to situation. I think Wawa customers would be better served with a large sign in the windows of the closed location pointing to the new location. But, who am I to make this kind of suggestion?

©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved

Hades Releases Persephone

2014-04-16T00:18:00.001-04:00

February 3, 2014 - 7.3"/185mm snow

The winter has been rather harsh here. A great deal of snow was shoveled. Much more than normal. Temperatures were low into the first month of spring. But as Zeus commands Hades to release Persephone each spring, the earth awakes.

I began the growing season late again this year as last. The reason was one of mixed cold temperatures and malaise. I missed the sowing of peas and onions for the second year in a row. I do so love freshly picked snow peas. Not to worry. The temperature rose above 68ºF/20ºC this week. I feel planting fever coming on.

First action I took in the square foot garden was sprinkling two tablespoons of my organic fertilizer on each square foot section of both raised beds. Second action was to mixing it into the first inch or so of planting medium.

What you see in the photograph are the two of the four drip irrigation tubes I use to water the raised beds along with the fertilizer atop the growing medium.

Fertilizer mixed into the growing medium.

Third action was to cover both raised beds with red plastic mulch.

The mulch will server many purposes.

Warm the soil
Keep out any unwanted seeds
Retain moisture
Reflect light up under the leaves.

Persephone is only upon the earth for a short time. Don't just stand there, do something in your garden.

I am already thinking of that first tomato.

Goodbye Wawa Store #72

2014-04-10T12:03:00.000-04:00

In just five weeks Wawa store #72 will close. It was the seventy-second Wawa store opened.

#72 opened in 1973, 40 years ago.

On May 15th, the staff will be moving to new store # 8062, down Egypt Road in the Oaks Shopping Center.

The small strip mall type Wawa will soon be a relic.

As for #8062, the gas pumps are installed.

The new led luminaries are installed. I can almost smell the rolls baking and the coffee brewing.

Oaks Shopping Center Getting Closer to Opening

2014-03-27T00:35:00.000-04:00

It has been over a year since construction started on Oaks Shopping Center at the intersection of Black Rock and Egypt Roads, in Oaks, PA. Originally, the center was to open in the autumn of 2013. Inclement weather throughout 2013 kept construction behind schedule. As the winter weather finally begins to recede, construction gets closer to completion.

Wendy's is hiring, as you can see by the sign.

Penn Liberty Bank from Egypt Rd side and behind with servers from Uno parking along the roadway.

Concrete is being cut in front of Wawa. Their fuel pumps are in place under the large canopy.

The stores in the rear of the center are not quite as far along as the bank, Wendy's and Wawa seem to be.

This is an overall view of the center from the corner of Egypt and Gumbes Rds. On the lot in the foreground the Buffalo Wild Wings Bar and Grill will arise.

It won't be long before bright lights shine all night long, day after day, everyday of the year combined with the odor of burning beef and chicken wafting through the air.

Another Barn Falls in Lower Providence Township

2014-03-05T00:07:00.002-05:00

April 2011

I've seen two barns torn down in Lower Providence Township within the last few years to make way for new houses. Within just the last two months another barn fell. This time it was not torn down. It collapsed.

October 2013

In October 2013 it was obvious the barn was in trouble.

October 2013

30-odd inches of snow was the last straw.

February 2014

I am sorry to see another bit of history go.

Planting Seeds of Dreams

2014-02-23T10:24:00.001-05:00

I received three seed catalogs in the mail just days after Christmas. Seed companies know what they are doing riding the coattails of the season. Still fresh in our memories are the faces of children with their toys under the tree. They are planting in our heads the seeds of dreams.

Photograph from eBay

Seed catalogs have rooted themselves into the furrow plowed by the dream catalog of childhood:The Sears Roebuck Christmas Catalog. Unlike Clement Moore, of sugar plums we never dreamed. We dreamed of toys. Toy in the Sears Wish Book. We revered that dream filled catalog like a sacred magical book. Every page was fingered hundreds, maybe, thousands of times before our eyes closed the night before Christmas. The pages were dogeared. The photographs circled. They were by our sides until we dropped off to sleep.

Photo from eBay

Of all the toys we chose, our families purchased just a few. If any. This time around we are the ones making the purchases. We can purchase as many seed packets as we can afford. Seeds that may never see the light of day, breathe fresh air or feel warm damp soil. For it is not the flowers and vegetables that are being sold. Seeds, desires and dreams of flowers and vegetables are what these catalogs are selling.

As before, I'll carry these catalogs with me to work. I will take them to the toilet. I will take them to bed. Soon, it will be time to decide which seeds to order from circled photographs on those dogeared pages. Then stacks of seed packets will spill across my kitchen table. Packets containing potential flowers and vegetables that may grow in my garden. Maybe, they will just remain beautiful seeds of dreams.

Oaks Shopping Center - One Year Later

2014-01-18T23:48:00.001-05:00

Just a bit more than one year has elapsed since I began photographically following the progress of construction at the Oaks Shopping Center site. What a difference a year makes!

Uno Is Open in Oaks

2013-12-18T01:26:00.000-05:00

The sign was lit on Monday night announcing the opening of Uno/Chicago Grill in Oaks.

All the lights were installed and working and the exterior of the building looked like a cross between a diner and any national chain restaurant.

I stopped by on Tuesday, their second day open, for lunch. I was greeted at the door by three employees. Each welcomed me. Each waited for my acknowledgement. A bit much for me. One, even two would have been sufficient. I was led to a table. A menu was placed on my table and I was wished well. I removed my jacket and hat (it was snowing) and sat down to read the menu.

I arrived after 2:20pm and I was afraid I might have missed the lunch specials. I scanned each page like a pubescent boy looking for salacious words in Mandingo. I flipped through the multi-paged menu several times, back and forth, looking for the lunch specials and the time lunch stopped being served. It seemed I was scanning and searching for a long time. Too long. I was pondering leaving and stopping for an Italian shorty at Wawa in Audubon.

I looked up from the menu and was finally greeted by my server. She introduced herself and asked if I wanted to start with a drink. I, figuratively, threw my cards on the table. I stated I was on lunch and had only thirty minutes remaining to be served and eat. I asked where the lunch specials could be found. She directed me to the specials listed on the reverse of the menu. The only place I neglected to look. She advised me that any lunch special ordered was guaranteed to be served in 10 minutes. Great! That would leave me 20 minutes to eat.

Not letting my server leave, I ordered a $7.99 lunched size Classic Cobb Salad and All-You-Can Eat Soup. I chose Chili. I added an unsweetened iced tea and my server was off to place the order.

Within a ten minute span I received my lunch, as ordered. Served with a side of Cobb Salad Avocado Ranch dressing.

I began with the chili soup. The soup included tortilla chips of both yellow and blue corn, onions, cheese and two types of beans. There was a whiff of vinegar that probably came from the hot sauce they used to add some heat. Very little heat, I must add. I should have brought my own Sriracha sauce. Overall, the chili was just one level above that of a canned chili available in any grocery store. I wasn't satisfied with the soup.

The salad was much better. Fresh ingredients of greens, chicken, avocado, tomato(nothing like home grown tomatoes), gorgonzola cheese and bacon. The creamy avocado ranch dressing was perfect for this salad. One teaspoon more dressing would have been the icing on the cake. Included was a bread stick seasoned with coarse salt. The salad was good. No, better than good. Whoever made the salad did a great job.

I ate everything and I was sated.

As for the atmosphere, the room was hard. The floor, oak and stone walls, furniture, everything was hard. I can only imagine the sound level when the room is full. Visually contrasting was a gas fueled fireplace with a raging fire. There were several large screen TVs in the room I dined. Two in the back and one mid-room, over the fireplace. Three too many TVs for me.

Overall I liked my lunch and the price. The staff was obviously newly trained and it showed. I will definitely return for lunch. I will choose a different soup next time but I will return. I will eat at the bar, next time. I felt uncomfortable by myself at a table for four in the middle of the floor. The bar will be more comfortable. Although, I won't like those big screen TVs directly in front of me. Silent bright visual distractions that hinder conversation. Even with strangers. Especially if your not interested in sports, as am I.

Oaks Uno to Open Before Christmas '13

2013-12-07T23:21:00.001-05:00

Curtains up

Light the lights

Last night as I drove past the Black Rock and Egypt roads intersection, I noticed blue neon and a blazing LED sign lighting the night sky. Uno - Chicago Grill is preparing to open for business on Monday, December 16.

Currently, Uno is open between 11am and very late at night for hiring and training. There are a few openings for servers and everyone is encouraged to stop by and apply.

A host/hostess is on duty handing out sample menus and discount coupons. The coupons are good for $5.00 off your check with their complements. I suggest you stop by to either apply for a job or to get a coupon and check out the soon-to-open restaurant in Oaks.

For A Few Tomatoes More

2013-10-25T23:19:00.001-04:00

Mortgage Lifter, 20 Oct 2013

Temperatures are dipping below the point for comfortably wearing short sleeve shirts outdoors. With that ripening has all but come to an end in the garden, but for a few tomatoes more.

Sweet 100, 20 Oct 2013

There are just two tomato plants remaining in the square foot raised beds. A Sweet 100 in near bed, and my prolific Mortgage Lifter in the far bed.

Quite a few pink and plenty of green tomatoes still cling to the vines. There is a chance I will get some ripe tomatoes before temperatures fall below freezing.

Once the tomatoes are all gone, I will don a poncho, cut down the vines, remove the trellises and cover the growing medium with fresh red plastic. To keep out unwanted seeds. If I get ambitious, I just might create a greenhouse over at least one bed with clear plastic and black plastic tubing. When and if I do, I'll plant lettuce seeds. Bunching onions would be nice, too. For a few 2013 harvests more.

Season's Massive Mortgage Lifter

2013-10-18T01:19:00.001-04:00

Behold the season's most massive tomato, a Mortgage Lifter. Harvested 17 October. I guess the vine saved its best for last.

While the average weight of Mortgage Lifters were in the 340g/12oz range this baby weighted in at 688 grams. That is 1-1/2 pounds.

One slice from close to the top of the tomato nearly covered a slice of bread. The grilled cheese, bacon, tomato and jalapeño sandwich with oregano was quite delicious. I will surely miss freshly picked tomatoes from the garden until the first harvested in July 2014.

Egypt Road Houses Demolished

2013-10-13T00:32:00.001-04:00

All the houses in the way of widening Egypt Road, 1311, 1401, 1403, 1405 and 1409, are just piles of bricks and twisted metal.

Source:Google Maps

1311 Before - Source:Google Maps

1311 After

1401 and 1403 Before - Source:Google Maps

1401 and 1403 After

1405 Before - Source:Google Maps

1309 Before - Source:Google Maps

Hades Returns to Claim Persephone from my Garden

2013-10-13T00:28:00.001-04:00

Persephone must return to her husband, Hades, deity of the underworld. Her poor mother, Demeter, begins her slow decline into a dark depression. And so the garden begins its slide down the same path. But, not before the cornucopia is full.

It was a good summer for tomatoes, in my garden. Specifically the production of Mortgage Lifter and Tami G varieties. The above bowl of fruit was harvested on October 8. What you see amounts to 7.75lbs/3.5kg of ripe tomatoes, bell pepper, cucumbers and Nacho chiles. Of that total Mortgage Lifter contributed 3.36lbs/1527g and Burpee Burpless cucumber 2.9lbs/1327g of weight. After culling out the unripe fruit, the Tami G grape tomato weighed in at 0.5lbs/259g.

Mortgage Lifter, Rutgers, Tami G, Red Bell Pepper and Burplee Burpless

Mortgage Lifter was by far an away the largest producer of any plant. The total weight of Mortgage Lifter tomatoes harvested, from one 11'/3.35m vine starting July 6 and running through Oct 8, was an amazing 35.53lbs/16.114kg. Let me say that again. Thirty-five pounds of delicious heirloom delights. As for the next runner up, the Tami G grape tomatoes total weight was 11.6lbs/5.67kg from one 9'/2.7m vine.

Mortgage Lifter and Tami G

The third must prolific producer was one the the two varieties of cucumber planted, Burpee Burpless and Tender Green. Burpless was the winner for both production and taste. The total weight of Burpless harvest 30 July through 8 October was 9.58lbs/4.68kg from two 6'/1.8m vines.

Burpless

Overall, it was a good year of gardening in two 16 sq ft/1.48 sq m raised bed square foot garden beds. A grand total of 91.5/43.47kg of produce was harvested. I am a happy gardener in 2013.

During the dark hours that cover my garden until Hades allows Persephone to return to Demeter, I will plan the garden for 2014.

©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved

Mortgage Lifter Harvest Savored

2013-09-02T07:00:00.000-04:00

For the last two months I have been savoring home grown tomatoes from my garden. Not that I am bragging but if you don't grow you own tomatoes, you don't know what you are missing. Rutgers, Cherokee Purple, Beefsteak, Tami G, Sweet 100 and Mortgage Lifter. Of all the varieties the Mortgage Lifter provided the most pounds of big tomatoes.

I was taken by surprise with the massive production of Mortgage Lifter. As a matter of fact, if back in late April, you told me that one tomato plant was going to produce over 22lbs/10kg of tomatoes in one growing season, I wouldn't have believed it. Nonetheless, that is exactly what happened in my raised bed square foot garden.

The tallest plant is Mortgage Lifter Tomato 28 June 2013

Mortgage Lifter Tomato 18 July 2013

Here is how this went down.

One store bought Mortgage Lifter plant was transplanted into the bed on 20 April.
On July 6, a 13.7oz/388g Mortgage Lifter was the first tomato harvested from the garden.
As of August 31, 22.19 lbs/10.065kg of ripe Mortgage Lifter tomatoes have been plucked from a single vine.

Let me repeat that. I think it deserves repeating.

One Mortgage Lifter tomato vine produced 22.19lbs/10.065kg of ripe tomatoes from July 6 through August 31.

A plant that is still producing wonderfully tasting vine ripened tomatoes.

Mortgage Lifter harvested 6 July 2013 weighed in at 388g/13.58oz

Production was not the most important feature of this variety. For hugh production of a rotten tasting tomato would just be, well, a waste. Of course, the most important feature of any tomato is taste. The Mortgage Lifter has that wonderful old fashion taste you remember as a child. A taste you can only get if you grow your own tomatoes and allow them to ripen on the vine. Or get them from your generous gardening neighbor.

http://carrot.mcb.uconn.edu/~olgazh/photogal/summer08/

I will probably plant at least one Mortgage Lifter again next year. Maybe two. If I transplant any more, I will surely need to set up a roadside stand at the foot of my driveway to sell the surplus tomatoes. Then I could spread to my neighbors, the pleasure of eating home grown tomatoes. I might even sell enough tomatoes to pay for the seeds, soil mixture, fertilizer and lumber for the raised bed frame. I'll have to consider that in the coming months.

In just three weeks summer will die to autumn. I will leave you with a thought I believe you should take very seriously.

Savor your garden while ye may.

©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved

1509 Egypt Road Demolished in Oaks, PA

2013-08-28T07:00:00.000-04:00

Demolition continues for the widening of Egypt Road.

1509 Egypt Road, 21 August 2013

The building at 1509 Egypt Road in Oaks is gone. There are no buildings left standing on the south side of Egypt Road between Mill Road and Station Avenue. On 22 August the trees were removed.

Take notice of the building in the distance under the arm of the excavator. That building is on the southwest corner of Egypt Rd and Station Ave. If you look closely you will notice the cupola is not there. That marks the beginning of its demolition.

Chicago Grill Outside and In, Oaks PA

2013-08-26T07:00:00.000-04:00

Work began at the Chicago Grill site in late 2012. This is the status as of 20 August 2013.

View of Chicago Grill from Oaks Shopping Center building site

Chicago Grill is far ahead of any building construction at the Oaks Shopping Center site.

Chicago Grill from Black Rock Road

The walls are up and the roof is on.

Stone veneer applied to cement block

Some exterior detail work is complete

Front

Interior

The floor is poured but not much else is complete inside.

Chicago Grill 20 August 2013

The exterior should certainly look impressive when complete.

1507 Egypt Road Demolition

2013-08-24T07:00:00.000-04:00

What a difference a day makes.

1507 Egypt Road, Oaks, PA, 19 August 2013

1507 Egypt Road, Oaks, PA, 20 August 2013

At noon on 20 August 2013, the house that stood at 1507 Egypt Road was a pile of sticks.

1507 Egypt Road is the house on the right in this photograph from Google maps. Captured sometime before the beginning of 2013. It is no more. It has ceased to be. It is history.