July of 1863 saw heavy fighting and death in Pennsylvania's small town of Gettysburg, and the Devil's Den and Little Round Top areas of the Gettysburg National Military Park were attracting visitors 50 years later when my grandparents, Cora and Curvin, had their photograph taken (seated in the back row) along with friends by a professional photographer from York. The photo was taken in July, four months before their wedding.

The photograph was always a favorite family treasure for me, and I always intended to get a similar photograph from the same vantage point.

There are times when science can taste pretty delicious.

One of my best decisions was the purchase of a “yogurt maker.” The term is a bit of a misnomer, as it only aids in one stage of the process. Having this kitchen device (Euro Cuisine Yogurt Maker) makes the process much more consistent, and ultimately encourages one to make homemade yogurt much more often.

Yogurt is a great source of B vitamins, riboflavin, calcium and protein, as well as being a dairy product that can be tolerated by some who may have difficulty digesting lactose.

Interested in a free print? While I like sharing and seeing photographs online, nothing beats having an actual printed photograph that can be held and framed. I’ve done a free print contest several summers in a row, but skipped this summer due to transitioning to this new web site. The holiday season seems like a great time to restart it.

• Anyone entering a comment on the Visual Realia site between now and the end of the day on Friday, January 6th (2012) will be entered in the contest. An email address needs to be included as you enter the comment, so I am able to track down the winner.