World Cup Grass

Who knew?… There are “grass gurus” (Led by Dr. John Trey Rogers, Professor of Turfgrass Management at Michigan State University) who are responsible for creating perfect turf for the World Cup. 

Dr. Roger’s team custom engineered grass for every stadium (including the indoor NFL stadiums that have never had grass on the field) which was grown on different sod farms in the United States and shipped to the stadiums in the last few months. 

https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/05/science/world-cup-pitch-grass-science

• Seeing the world through food… (at least 48 countries in the World) 

“I can’t really say why I decided to cook, or otherwise procure, a dish representing every nation at the World Cup, except that I thought it might be kind of fun…”

Tim Murphy

In this article Tim Murphy recounts his family’s attempt to cook (or procure) food from each of the 48 countries “by eating, more or less in order, through the 12 groups of four teams who will meet in the tournament’s opening rounds.” The Houston Chronicle made it easy for those of us who live in Houston by creating a list of 48 restaurants where you can find the cuisine of the competing countries. And check out this blog that teaches kids why cooking is a lot like playing soccer!

Grief is in the wind…

On a more gentle note, I was touched by two different stories I read this week, both having to do with grief and the wind. 

A  little over 25 years ago Gus Guadagnino hung a windchime from a tree on the property he owned adjacent to the Suncoast trail near Spring Hill, Florida in memory of his mother. Other folks did the same and now there are over 100 different chimes hanging from the tree. 

It must be a incredible experience to stand under this tree on a windy day… 

https://www.hernandosun.com/2024/03/26/preserve-the-wind-chime-tree

The second story was about “wind phones”, old fashioned, disconnected, rotary phones placed in isolated, natural places that people use to “talk” to someone they have lost.

“Here they can say the things left unsaid. Wind phones offer a setting for the person to tell the story of their grief, to reminiscence and to continue to connect to the person who is gone.”

Taryn Lindhorst

If you are missing someone, I wish you solace and gentle healing…