Category Archives: Uncategorized

On this day, 105 years ago, Dirk and Dena Ike of Johnson Street in Grand Rapids – less than nine years off the boat from Groningen – welcomed their third boy into the world, little Dickie. He wouldn’t shed that name till he left for school, over shadowed by his big brothers Bowenus (Bob)(1), theContinue reading “8/8/18”

Might I have a future as a songwriter? All songwriters need inspiration and mine came from good ol’ Barnes buddy Dave, a.k.a. Stick, a.k.a. Chappelletti. We were the two tallest in our class, and competed for biggest renegade. He practices in Marin County and I decided a few years back I should look him upContinue reading “tin pan alley?”

In my enthusiasm yesterday to tell you about the wonder of alliums at the Ann Arbor farmers’ market and the great soup I’d just made with them (1), I omitted an important ingredient from the recipe! Without the juice of those three lemons right at the end, you don’t cut the pungency of the alliumsContinue reading “lily oops!”

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”