Against all odds

This weed is thriving in the crack between cement blocks of a huge plaza. It is the only weed in site, has no visible source of water or nutrition, and has survived the many feet that traverse the area. Why can't I keep a simple house plant alive and well?

Cape Harbour Marina

We had lunch today at The Joint, one of the restaurants and shops at the new Cape Harbour Marina on South Chiquita Boulevard, Cape Coral, Florida. It was an absolutely balmy 80 degree day for a walk around the marina. Lunch at The Joint was light, the service excellent. The bistro-type pizza (I had the tomato, basil & mozzarella) was a 12" personal pizza served like those we had in Italy. The crust was thin and crispy, the toppings generous but not heavy or overwhelming. I also had the house salad, a variety of greens with roma tomatoes, slices of bell pepper and small pieces of cuke drizzled with the an oil & vinegar vinagrette. The "house" reisling was excellent and a perfect accompaniment to the pizza and salad.

Sanibel Overpass

A major thoroughfare, Summerlin Road, is being widened. This roadway is the primary route to Sanibel and Captiva Islands. There is major traffic snarling during "season," and this improvement is intended to help with that ( and hurricane evacuation). It appears that the construction of this roadway will further distance "regular citizens" from access to the public areas enroute to Sanibel.

Crab Legs & Lobster Tails

Wow-what a meal. Dorrie & Rich invited us to their house for dinner. Crab legs & lobster tails, boiled potatoes & corn on the cob, carrots, and pina coladas. We sat on the lanai, enjoyed the beautiful balmy weather, the fantastic food and the fellowship of family.

Peaches Marie Rogers

The darling 2-year old daughter of Dorrie & Rich! Notice how she is sitting in the chair waiting for her dinner.

Memorial Service for Claudia

Dr. Julie Dodds organized a memorial service for Claudia Bakeman. Colleagues remembered her at the service in the Sparrow Auditorium on Wednesday afternoon. I was very impressed with the pastor who spoke. She seemed very compassionate, offered ways to promote healing and included Kent (Bakeman) in the discussions.

Hi Great Grammy

Nature's Diamonds

It's finally acting like winter....

We woke up this morning to freezing rain that quickly changed to snow -- a great day to do more quilt blocks.

Michigan Capitol Dome with Night Lights

St. Brigid's cross

This brass version of St. Brigid's cross is a prized "souvenir" from one of my trips to Ireland. This cross is also a favorite of the key character in Father Andrew Greeley's stories, Bishop Blackie Ryan.

THE CROSS
Brigid wove a cross of rushes by a dying chieftain's bed." "Brigid, what is that you're making from the rushes there?", he said. Brigid said, "A cross I'm weaving, like the cross where Jesus died." "Who was Jesus?" asked the chieftain; "Why was this man crucified?" Brigid told the gospel story to a dying pagan King. Lying silently he listened, never saying anything. Then he kissed the cross of rushes saying ,"Brigid, thanks to you, I have come to love this Jesus; I will follow his way too!"
By Emma Finnegan

Fiesta Lime Chicken at Applebee's

It's advertised with rice, but you can substitute smashed potatoes; the chicken is served on strips of tortilla chips; and this combo meal comes with dessert (chocolate fudge brownie with ice cream). The best part--------they do the dishes! Today's weather--nothing new

Electrical Engineer

For my 25th anniversary at Sparrow, I chose a Tiffany lamp from the gift book. The lamp, with a heavy metal base & a very beautiful pieced-glass shade, has graced my living room for almost ten years. For the past three years, my grandson has had an attraction for the lamp. He has spent a lot of time turning it on and off (it has pull chains within easy reach of small hands), he has accidentally hit the shade with a variety of balls, and has inadvertantly knocked the thing over onto the floor. Through it all, the lamp has worked well, but the shade has taken on a distorted, sinister look. The last assault put 90% of the shade on one side of the lamp. My daughter and son-in-law replaced the lamp for me yesterday. The old lamp was placed on the floor while the new lamp was set-up. In the short time it took for that chore, the future Electrical Engineer had completely dis-assembled the old lamp in the middle of the living room floor. Every screw, attachment and appendage was removed. Papa would be so proud of him! Today's Weather Forecast: Partly cloudy, 44 degrees F

St. Lawrence OR Management Company, LLC (LLC)

Today was the kickoff to celebrate the beginning of the St. Lawrence OR Management Company, LLC. This view of Sparrow's St. Lawrence campus does not do justice to what lies beyond the doors. As this picture illustrates, we could use some better, attractive signage at this significant entrance. Beyond the doors of this building, remarkable things happen. Besides the behavioral health units, the Sparrow Specialty Hospital and Hospice House of Mid-Michigan, the Surgical Services areas thrive in this building. The surgical services provided here are essentially outpatient. Patients, physicians and employees all rate the experience at this facility very high. The St. Lawrence OR Management Company LLC is a joint venture operation between Sparrow and a group of 28 physicians. The LLC will manage the surgical services operations at this campus through a physician committee structure (oversight, operations & efficiency and quality). The LLC has hired Ms. Joni Krontz as the on-site manager.

Weather today: Sunny, 30 degrees F, No Snow, No Rain

Grammy, I like this horse

Weather today: 29 degrees F, wind chill 10 degrees F

Claudia Bakeman, CRNA

We received word early today that our friend and colleague, Claudia Bakeman, died in her sleep - reportedly from a massive myocardial infarction. Claudia was young, essentially healthy, a runner -- too many rights to have this happen. Her passing has had a profound effect on those of us who worked closely with her. We will miss her in so many ways. Godspeed, Claudia!

Today was a perfect Sunday. I spent time sewing with good friends, had a wonderful roast pork dinner and then spent quality time with my grandson at WalMart looking for the monster truck, Cowboy. I started a new quilt today. It's a machine-appliqued child's quilt with very colorful fabrics and designs (frogs, trains, balls, bikes). I was able to complete two blocks today, the train and frog. During our trip to WalMart to look for the truck, we picked up boys's socks for Noel. He also spied bags of powdered sugar doughnuts and talked me into his own bag. While we were in the toy section, Noel spotted a battery-operated "monster truck" that he could sit in. He got in both doors to try them out, lifted the hood and trunk and inspected the wheels. People were looking on smiling at the thoroughness of his inspection. When he lifted the hood and exclaimed that the battery was missing, they laughed out loud! On the way home, we stopped for chocolate milk shakes. I know most grandparents brag about their grandchildren, but Noel is the sweetest, most sensitive child! Weather today: 32 degreas F and freezing rain and snow flurries.

40 degrees farenheit

There is more to talk about than the weather, but honestly, doesn't 40 degree weather in January in Michigan warrant comment?

rain, rain, go away

Here it is, January 4th and we are again seing rain --- and the grass is still somewhat green!

Rain, rain, go away, come again some other day.
Rain, rain, go away, bring my love a sunny day. (Bobby Vinton, 1962)

Christmases Long ,Long Ago

The tree is down, the decorations put away and the last of the Christmas cookies have been tossed. We are back to our routine. I took some time to look at the pictures from Christmas morning and this one particularly struck me. Noel was so surprised to find is Tow-Mater bike under the tree. Beth & Billy were just as excited for Santa to get it for him. I remembered the times we would all come downstairs (remembering the Christmases on 5th Street) to find special surprises. The two I remember most vividly are a red scooter one year and a bride doll another year. The bride doll was something I desperately wanted.

Unconditional Love - Mother & Son

The Irish Claddagh

The Claddagh is one of Ireland's treasures. It is a symbol of Love, Friendship and Loyalty. The story goes that some 400 years ago in a fishing village called Claddagh overlooking Galway Bay, near the city of Tribes, a goldsmith by the name of Richard Joyce lived and practiced his craft. It was he who crafted the design that has become part of the Irish heritage. The ring is worn on the right hand, crown turned inward , if one's heart is not occupied, worn with the crown turned outwards if love is being considered, and worn on the left hand with the crown turned outwards to show one's heart is truly spoken for. The symbol of the Claddagh is the trilogy of heart, hands and crown: the heart for love, the hands for friendship and the crown for loyalty.

Happy New Year's 2007

As incredible as it seems for mid-Michigan, the new year is starting out at 49 degrees and rain! We have no snow and no forecast for it in the immediate future. For many years, New Year's Eve brought freezing rain and/or snow---and no power. We are playing it "safe," though, and made sure we have plenty of gasoline for the generator, just in case!