Blueberry Bran Nutella Muffins

Mix in a small bowl:  1 Beaten egg
                                1 c. almond milk
                                3 T unsweetened applesauce
                                1 c. All Bran
                                1/3 c. Nutella

Mix in a larger bowl:  1 c. Whole wheat flour
                                1/3 c. Brown sugar
                                 2 t.  Baking powder
                                1/2 t. salt
                                1/4 t. Baking soda
Mix the contents of the two bowls together gently and fold in at least 1 c. Blueberries
Bake at 400 about 20 min.
Make a pot of coffee or a cup of tea while they're baking!
                                 

Backyard Bunny

...I like big bunnies and I cannot lie...(to paraphrase Sir Mix-A-Lot).

There's been a very large rabbit hanging around my house for a couple of months.  I've been watching him graze in my front yard accompanied by a flock of  about 20 Slate Colored Juncos for the past hour.

The snowy pics are from a month ago and the grassy one is from today.

Blue Diamonds

My son Jim changed his major to Criminal Justice last semester and his goal is to serve in the Michigan State Police as his father did. He posted this video on FB today.

The Yin and the Yang

Maybe bad things happen in fours not threes.  

My computer failed yesterday.

I got my first ever speeding ticket today.

I came home to a small flood in my basement. And number four...

I drove 2 hours to Traverse City yesterday to see an orthopedic surgeon and didn't hear what I wanted to hear. It turns out I had a "significant tibia fracture" last year so immobilization and healing time would have been much more beneficial than the 12 weeks of physical therapy I had. No wonder the leg still bothers me.

The bright spot of the day is I got to see Ellis and savor his smiles, laugh out loud with him and soak up his warm and wonderful love!

Signs of Spring

Spring must be around the corner...I smelled a skunk when I stepped outside last night and I saw a swan in Spring Lake today.I stopped to snap a picture, but only saw one swan. Sadly,the other one may have been lost to the winter so there may be no cygnets this year. 

A single Mute Swan in Spring Lake    Photo by MWH

A Walk on the Frozen Bay

A nearly one ton white Italian marble crucifix lies  24 feet under water in Little Traverse Bay. It was placed years ago as a memorial to divers.

Divers' Memorial - Underwater Crucifix near the Petoskey Harbor

Photo by MWildHansen

 When the conditions are right, usually early March a group of divers make an access opening in the ice, dive down to clean the algae off the cross and prepare for visitors who trek across the ice about 600 yards from Bay Front Park in Petoskey. It's been more than ten years since I've had a chance to go out there and Saturday was a beautiful crisp sunny winter day so Jim and I headed to the waterfront.

Jim heading out on the ice                          Photo by MWildHansen

We had a little fun with the ice formations along the way.

Mary                              Photo by James Hansen

Jim on the bay                                                                  Photo by MWildHansen

The threatening jaws of a Lake Michigan Ice Monster

On the way back to shore a rainbow peeked through the clouds as the sun sank lower in the sky.

For more information see Michigan in Pictures

Wild Humor

My brothers and I have a sort of dry humor we usually call Wild Humor.  Though our mother loved a good laugh to the point of breathlessness, we maintain our sense of humor comes from our dad who was quietly witty, loved puns and irony, and had a laid back humble delivery.  It often appears to be unintentional due to its calm and straightforward approach, rather the opposite of slapstick.

I bring this up now because I'm home editing a document for work and occasionally check my email for diversion.  Dave sent me a recipe for Red Lentils and Kale with Miso.  Always interested in healthy eating I replied that I want to try it but have never cooked with miso.
Dave said, "Miso either."
I said, "I'm SOUPrised."
Dave said, "You're pulling my LEGume."
I said, "Stop! You're KALEing me."

I suspect we could have gone on all day but we have work to do.  Not an LOL in the bunch but we were sufficiently amused.  : )

The recipe that started the banter

Welcome! Willkommen!

Erich with his
 Geburstag flag

Years ago when I first visited Erich he flew an American flag to welcome me to Canada. I had never heard of this international tradition before and was so impressed by the simplicity of such a meaningful gesture.
A couple of years later when we visited Erich's hometown (Trofaiach) in Austria his sister's neighbor flew the Canadian flag for him and since it was also Erich's birthday they even displayed an "Alles Gute Zum Geburstag" flag for him!

All ready to welcome my international visitors

                                                                                                                                                                        A couple of weeks ago Erich came down to Michigan with his brother from Switzerland and his sister from Austria for a couple of days.  Unfortunately, I didn't have a Swiss flag but did my best to display the rest.

So if you're planning a trip from outside the USA just give me a week to order your flag and tidy up the guest room...

(Tom M, I'm keeping the Maple Leaf ready for you!)

How Old is Old??

Last week I saw a patient (I'll call her Clara) I've seen several times before but this visit was memorable.  From past appointments I remembered her as an 80-ish woman, cheerful, positive, with an easy smile.  As we chatted she mentioned she was going to be 100 years old this year!  I glanced at her record and wondered how I never noticed her birthdate before, December 12, 1912.  Given the unusual date, 12-12-12 I told her about my grandson's birthday, 11-11-11 which made her chuckle, "Someone else has a special birthdate like mine!"

Clara does not look nearly 100.  She does her hair nicely, has a sense of humor, and if others speak loud enough has no trouble keeping up with a conversation.  When asked her secret to longevity she'll say "Walking.  And lots of hard work over the years."

She admitted she does have some memory issues (don't we all?!) and proceeded to give me a couple of examples.  "Sometimes I can only remember one or two things at a time.  I might put a teabag in a cup and sit down to enjoy it before I realize I forgot the hot water!"

Thank you, Clara for brightening my day!

I saw this sign in a lululemon store in Los Angeles

Big Wave

I stood at the end of the main dock at Petoskey's marina in a bitter cold blasting wind under dark cloudy skies when the sun peeked through the clouds. Big waves crashed against the break-wall.  This was one of my favorite images.

Night Skiing

It was dark and only 15 degrees outside but I wanted to

 cross country ski so I took off for Petoskey State Park.

I started on the Campground Trail in the woods.  It was
 dark but not  as dark  as this photo makes it look.  There
 were a few stars  out but  most of the light came from city
 and ski resort lights  reflecting off the clouds and snow.

The lights in the above picture on the left are Harbor Springs from  the beach.
 The two brighter lights are Boyne Highlands on the left and Nubs Nob on the right.

I crossed over the dunes onto the beach where it was a little brighter.
 The gurgling of the waves under the ice was a little spooky but I was awed by
 how different this very familiar stretch of beach seemed under these circumstances.

This is what the lights of Boyne Highlands ski runs look like from across the bay.
The red lights are radio towers.  Come on, use your imagination!

                                                                                   

Mark and Kathy

We finally got enough snow to cross country ski and  spent two 

glorious afternoons at Birchwood with Mark and Kathy.  

Late afternoon sun on the treetops

A heart imprint left by a ski pole

Kathy, Mark - great people, I wish they lived closer!

Just after sunset

Pink Rose

A beautiful pink rose from Image North after my mammogram 

Tea With Priscilla

Taken with iPhone 4
edited with snapseed

Blue Ice

Erich took these photos in front of his house after a windy day sent sheets of ice up on the beach.
  I love the turquoise hues in the crystal clear shards.

Photoshop

Trying out some special texture effects on PSE
Ellis and Grama Mary very relaxed

Happy New Year 2012!!

December Kite Surfers!

Walking the Petoskey State Park beach on a bright sunny mid-December day, Erich and I spotted some kites in the distance and got some pretty good photos as we got closer.  The surfers were thrilled to have such a nice sunny day with good wind so late in the season.

Bright sunshine, fierce breeze, waves not too big - perfect day for kite surfing

Can you see all three kites in this pic?

Closeup!

Headed back to the beach

All three over the beach, sun is about to set

A big colorful seagull??

All three together

Boards on the beach

Madrigals

Sally and Bob invited us to the Madrigal Singers Dinner at the Perry Hotel the weekend before Christmas.  Bob has played the role of King Robert, emcee and joke teller extraordinaire for over 20 years and he does it well!  The dinner was great, the students who sing are wonderful and their costumes were magnificent!

Mary, Erich, Bob, Sally

                                                                                     

King Robert

Petoskey High School Madrigal Singers

Undecorating

The last week of December is for "undecorating". 

 One more photo before I begin...something a little different.