Category Archives: Uncategorized

The good Lord is really beginning to show his bounty in these parts.  Trips to our farmers’ markets no longer target just one or two acts, punctuated by some hydroponic greens.  Those treasured early seasons – rhubarb, asparagus, strawberries – have come and gone but now we get a real show.  There are those precious,Continue reading “elephant lily”

Dr. West’s Medicine Show and Jug Band had their biggest hit with 1967’s “The Eggplant that Ate Chicago”, describing a mutated alien vegetable that put civilization at risk (1).  Norman Greenbaum, who wrote and sang the song, would later do the 1970 classic, “Spirit in the Sky”, a staple of boomer funerals everywhere (2).  WhenContinue reading “that shal-lot´!”

79 years ago today, George W. Frayne IV was born in Boise, son of 2 artists headed to New York.  He earned a B.F.A and M.F.A. from U of M, getting tangled up in some frat bands that evolved to become the Lost Planet Airmen.  You may know him better as Commander Cody. I celebrateContinue reading “Happy Birthday, George!”

A week and a day ago, I posted a blog about the late U of M Dental School Professor Albert G. Richards and his unusual hobby of x-raying flowers (1). I was finally getting around to hanging the three radiographs we’d bought from him back in the early 90s and was so taken by hisContinue reading “look back”

I dearly loved my dad, but I idolized my Uncle Bob. Yes, his Dutch name at birth was Bowenus, named for his uncle in Milwaukee who facilitated Grandpa’s passage from the old country and marriage to his love Dena, a first cousin whose romance was frowned upon back home.  The other Ike boys got DutchContinue reading “Bowenus”

Is there anything prettier than a flat of fresh Fragaria ananassa, right from the market? Our farmer informs us that this is probably it, as the berries remaining in his field are getting too ripe to pick, so Saturday is iffy. This is our third flat of the season, so we’ve had our share.  InContinue reading “berry nice days”

Here’s my Grandpa Slater standing out front of Engine House#10 on Division, sometime in February 1929. He’s the tall handsome guy to the left of the fire truck. How about those bow ties! He’d retire in 1959. He almost died in the line of fire once. That’s what I’m writing about. Tentative title “Grandpa’s closeContinue reading “Grandpa at 30”

Yes, that apostrophe’s in the right place.  With those two Moms I told you about (1) came two Dads, each a gem and a blessing.  And both gone.  Yes, I will always miss them both very much.  Curiously, both were named Dick. Common name in their day, I suppose.  Who wouldn’t want a son whoContinue reading “Dads’ day”

Thanks to R. Crumb, who first published these strips in 1971, when I could have posed A funny thing happened on the way to my stoned retirement.  Come end of this month, it will have started 4 years ago.  In the idle months leading up to that fateful date, I had time to figure whatContinue reading “agin’?”

Yesterday afternoon, we gathered in Chelsea to celebrate the well-lived life of Barbara Weidner Ike, who left us last February at 81.  Her husband Ron, who flew the F-4 Phantom in the Navy before moving on to larger personnel carriers bearing the colors of Republic, Northwest, and Delta – is a distant cousin.  I’d knownContinue reading “bye, Barb”