Flower power

Smell the roses with Ronald: Greater Cincinnati's Ronald McDonald House just got a burst of color. Pinks, purples, oranges and other happy hues will now be part of the landscape as the house opens its first family play garden during a grand opening dedication 10 a.m.-noon Saturday (rain date July 24).

The 48-bedrooom Ronald McDonald House, at 350 Erkenbrecher Ave. in Avondale, is a "home away from home" for the families of children who are receiving treatment at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center or other area hospitals, regardless of their ability to pay. Call (513) 636-7642.

Camp time

Bored kids at home? Give them a bit of culture. There are still spots open at the fifth annual coed Music Theater Enrichment Camp July 26-Aug. 6 at Roselawn Condon School in Roselawn. The camp, sponsored by the School for Creative and Performing Arts, offers students in grades 4-12 classes in dance, drama and music theater, and helps prepare them for auditions. Camp runs 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays; cost is $340 per child. (513) 661-7472.

Peek in

Speaking of camp: How can you tell that your little darlings are having a good time at their summer camp session? Just log onto www.Bunk1.com, an Internet Web site that gives parents a window to their child's daily activities through photos taken at his or her camp; 2,000 camps are hooked into the system.

Gail Dollin's daughter, Rachael, 14, is attending Camp Emma Kaufmann in Morgantown, W.Va., 300 miles from home, but she can keep an eye on the girl every day. "It's easy to use and helps me see all the fun activities she's doing at camp," said Dollin, of Symmes Township.

Parents can also send e-mails that get printed out and distributed to their children during mail call. Cost is $10 for the season to view photos, $1 to send each e-mail. Check it out.

Patriotic photo

Photos of support: Sears Portrait Studios nationwide are putting together a scrapbook of photos to cheer up troops in all branches serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and other parts of the world this Thanksgiving, and you can be part of it.

Stop by any Sears studio Saturday through next Friday and specifically mention the "Thank Our Troops" scrapbook project. The studio session is free, and you'll get four free 3-by-5 portraits; share one for the project and write a message to the troops to go with it, and keep the others.

Portraits of children, adults, families, or small groups of up to 12 people will be available by appointment and walk-in.

As an additional "thank you" to troops and their families in the United States, Sears will offer discounts on photo portraits. Visit www.searsportrait.com.

How to reach us: Send items for On the Fridge to Barbara Lowell at blowell@enquirer.com or call (513) 768-8380.