This is a beautiful time of the year with the return of warm weather and most of us are making plans for all the gardens. My main interest is the vegetable garden, because I have started with a planter on my window sill about a month ago. The zucchini came up so fast that it raised the cover. I had to move them outside about 3 weeks ago. I did have them covered with my 2 liter bottles, and they did survive a freeze. About 10 days ago I planted peas, and they broke ground yesterday.I ordered strawberry plants, and they were planted 5 days ago. Yesterday I put out 4 tomato plants. All this before the 15th of May here in Chicago. I know I'm taking a chance, but I still have some back up plants. I'll keep you posted.
Dr.Ray
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
I HAVE RETURNED
I am back after a minor medical problem, I am back in shape again. I am still in the process of writing my memoirs which is also time consuming. Now spring has arrived, and I planted some irises yesterday. I ordered a new variety which is white and ever blooming. They are supposed to bloom a second time each year. Earlier I predicted an early spring, and we had a record breaking 83 degrees on April 1st. That should push the planting season up two weeks. I intend to start some seeds indoors this week, because it is a little late already. I will try to stay healthy.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Introducing A New Food Prodect--Harvestbetter
My son, Rick, who is a food technologist, came up with a new product that is similar to peanut butter, but contains no peanuts or treenuts in it, what-so-ever. The taste is a lot like peanuts, and even in its manufacturing, there is no exposure to nuts or allergens of any kind. I mention this because this product, harvestbetter can be used safely by people who have food allergies. It is a nutritious, good tasting allergen free food.
Harvestbetter is made from 5 whole grains, and is completely vegan. In addition it is also a highly nutritious food. It contains a high level of the important antioxidants and anti-carcinogens that we all need. Especially as we get older, our bodies need an extra supply because our diets alone can not supply what our bodies need.
In addition there are added vitamins D3 and K2 to help manage calcium absorption by directing it directly into your bones (improves bone density), rather than allowing it to become deposited in your arteries.
Also important is the special fiber supplement which it contains, and it is called, "prebiotic". This serves as a food source for the friendly bacteria that populate our intestinal tract. A healthy "flora" of good bacteria prevents the invasion of unhealthy bacteria which cause infection in the first place.
As a medical doctor, I don't know any other food to have all these beneficial ingredients, and, as well as, a natural source without any synthetic or artificial ingredients. Even kids like it!
Havestbetter has been available since July, 2009 in 23 health foods stores in 7 states. It is also available on-line at either www.peanutfreeplanet.com and www.harvestbetter.com
Thought you might like to know...
Harvestbetter is made from 5 whole grains, and is completely vegan. In addition it is also a highly nutritious food. It contains a high level of the important antioxidants and anti-carcinogens that we all need. Especially as we get older, our bodies need an extra supply because our diets alone can not supply what our bodies need.
In addition there are added vitamins D3 and K2 to help manage calcium absorption by directing it directly into your bones (improves bone density), rather than allowing it to become deposited in your arteries.
Also important is the special fiber supplement which it contains, and it is called, "prebiotic". This serves as a food source for the friendly bacteria that populate our intestinal tract. A healthy "flora" of good bacteria prevents the invasion of unhealthy bacteria which cause infection in the first place.
As a medical doctor, I don't know any other food to have all these beneficial ingredients, and, as well as, a natural source without any synthetic or artificial ingredients. Even kids like it!
Havestbetter has been available since July, 2009 in 23 health foods stores in 7 states. It is also available on-line at either www.peanutfreeplanet.com and www.harvestbetter.com
Thought you might like to know...
Monday, March 1, 2010
Think Spring
Here it is, March 1st, can Spring be far away? Perhaps, but it is coming in like a lion, so I believe it will go out like a lamb. We have about 1 to 2 feet of snow on the ground, that is coming in like a lion. But hold on, by the end of the week we will have over 40 degrees. The warm weather will start, and spring will be about 7 to 10 days ahead of the calendar.
I received another Burpee catalog which is thicker than the first. This one is like an encyclopedia. On page 5 there is a new Blackberry bush that is thornless, and has large berries. I had black raspberry canes in Wisconsin, but the thorns would scratch you all up. However, one order is 5 plants, so I'll take it!
I also had a bad experience last year when I used a planting mulch made of heavy paper. It was thick paper and came on a roll. It was very hard to handle. It would not lay flat when unrolled, and the wind would keep picking it up. I used various pipes, and rods, and plastic garden nails, but there were always air pockets still underneath. Finally I wet it down, but it never did conform to the soil. It would get dry, and I would have to water the plants anyway. In addition it looked ugly. I personally, would rather hoe the weeds.
Let me end with a cute story. 'Tis spring, the birds are on the wing. How absurd. The wings are on the bird.
I received another Burpee catalog which is thicker than the first. This one is like an encyclopedia. On page 5 there is a new Blackberry bush that is thornless, and has large berries. I had black raspberry canes in Wisconsin, but the thorns would scratch you all up. However, one order is 5 plants, so I'll take it!
I also had a bad experience last year when I used a planting mulch made of heavy paper. It was thick paper and came on a roll. It was very hard to handle. It would not lay flat when unrolled, and the wind would keep picking it up. I used various pipes, and rods, and plastic garden nails, but there were always air pockets still underneath. Finally I wet it down, but it never did conform to the soil. It would get dry, and I would have to water the plants anyway. In addition it looked ugly. I personally, would rather hoe the weeds.
Let me end with a cute story. 'Tis spring, the birds are on the wing. How absurd. The wings are on the bird.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Possible New Book
It is about a year now that I have been writing a book which the publishers are calling my "memoirs". The title is, " I Married An Angel." This a story of my marriage of 63 years to my wonderful wife who died on our wedding anniversary date of June 9th, 2008. We had a great marriage and a great life together which did not seem like 63 years, at all.
After 5 drafts, I believe I have finally finished it yesterday. If nothing else, I feel a moral victory having typed most of it myself. To think that after 90 years, I was able to learn to type and use the computer. This was a tremendous help especially since my handwriting is getting worse. I was surprised one day when I wrote a letter to my grandson, and he could not read it. He could read the typed words but not my cursive. To think that all the hours and days that I spent in my early school days, learning to be able to write the alphabet.
Back to the book. I will be going, in 2 weeks, to a class at the local high school given by a publisher on how to publish a book. I plan to take my manuscript along, and perhaps she might take a look at it.
Earlier I sent an earlier draft copy to a music publisher, and he said I had an incredible story to tell, but that they only published music.
Several of my previous Blogs are part of the book. However, my book has finally grown to 75 pages long. That is without photos, which I would like to include.
I will keep all of you informed as things progress. By the way, I appreciate any comments, help, prayers or suggestions, please let me know your thoughts.
After 5 drafts, I believe I have finally finished it yesterday. If nothing else, I feel a moral victory having typed most of it myself. To think that after 90 years, I was able to learn to type and use the computer. This was a tremendous help especially since my handwriting is getting worse. I was surprised one day when I wrote a letter to my grandson, and he could not read it. He could read the typed words but not my cursive. To think that all the hours and days that I spent in my early school days, learning to be able to write the alphabet.
Back to the book. I will be going, in 2 weeks, to a class at the local high school given by a publisher on how to publish a book. I plan to take my manuscript along, and perhaps she might take a look at it.
Earlier I sent an earlier draft copy to a music publisher, and he said I had an incredible story to tell, but that they only published music.
Several of my previous Blogs are part of the book. However, my book has finally grown to 75 pages long. That is without photos, which I would like to include.
I will keep all of you informed as things progress. By the way, I appreciate any comments, help, prayers or suggestions, please let me know your thoughts.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Green Banana Story
This is Feb. 10th, and it is still the middle of winter. Not much is happening, so how about a little chit chat.
We had 2 feet of snow yesterday, because it started snowing on Monday. It continued all day Tuesday, and ended early Wed. morning. Where I live in my son's, home, there is a stone block front porch 10'by12' with 5 stairs down to the drive-way. Well I, 90 year oldster, shoveled that whole area 3 times yesterday! I only incurred a few aches and pains that a Tylenol took care of this morning.
There is a snow ball bush in the front yard that has a bird's nest near the top just off the front of the porch. I noticed the nest after all the leaves dropped off this fall. Well this morning, there was 6 inches of snow on top of it so that it resembled whipped creme topping! Really quite pretty.
While shoveling the snow, I was thinking about how many people die while doing just exactly what I'm doing. When I came in, I read an article that talked about how WW II vets are dying at the rate of 1,000 per day. I'm one of those vets, and I think of dying often. Where I am living now, it is so pleasant, that I would like to die here. But, as you all know, I am not in charge of that.
How about my title? Perhaps I've told this story before but I don't recall. This story will last in your memory, perhaps forever.
This older gentleman went to see his doctor. He mentioned that he had not been to a doctor for many years, and he wanted to know what the tests would reveal, "no matter what". He added that he wanted to hear the truth, the whole truth regardless of what it is. After the doctor finished with the examination, he called the man in. The doctor finished reading the test reports and was pondering before he looked up to talk to the man. Then he said, "If I were you, I would not buy any green bananas."
This story came to mind when I was shopping with my daughter-in-law, Hedy, and all the bananas at the store were green. She walked away, but I called her back I told her she could buy some, and she did.
From now on whenever you will see green bananas, you will remember this story.
We had 2 feet of snow yesterday, because it started snowing on Monday. It continued all day Tuesday, and ended early Wed. morning. Where I live in my son's, home, there is a stone block front porch 10'by12' with 5 stairs down to the drive-way. Well I, 90 year oldster, shoveled that whole area 3 times yesterday! I only incurred a few aches and pains that a Tylenol took care of this morning.
There is a snow ball bush in the front yard that has a bird's nest near the top just off the front of the porch. I noticed the nest after all the leaves dropped off this fall. Well this morning, there was 6 inches of snow on top of it so that it resembled whipped creme topping! Really quite pretty.
While shoveling the snow, I was thinking about how many people die while doing just exactly what I'm doing. When I came in, I read an article that talked about how WW II vets are dying at the rate of 1,000 per day. I'm one of those vets, and I think of dying often. Where I am living now, it is so pleasant, that I would like to die here. But, as you all know, I am not in charge of that.
How about my title? Perhaps I've told this story before but I don't recall. This story will last in your memory, perhaps forever.
This older gentleman went to see his doctor. He mentioned that he had not been to a doctor for many years, and he wanted to know what the tests would reveal, "no matter what". He added that he wanted to hear the truth, the whole truth regardless of what it is. After the doctor finished with the examination, he called the man in. The doctor finished reading the test reports and was pondering before he looked up to talk to the man. Then he said, "If I were you, I would not buy any green bananas."
This story came to mind when I was shopping with my daughter-in-law, Hedy, and all the bananas at the store were green. She walked away, but I called her back I told her she could buy some, and she did.
From now on whenever you will see green bananas, you will remember this story.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Day after Ground Hog Day
Here we are Feb. 3rd, the day after Ground Hog day, and the sun is shining beautifully. Not so yesterday when it was cloudy, and we had snow flurries most of the day with accumulation of about 6 inches of light snow. At 90 years old, I did about one hour of shoveling just to keep my muscles strong, because gardening comes after snow shoveling!
Perhaps most of you know, but Feb. 2nd really is a special day. This day is the mid point of the winter season. On the temperature charts this is the low point. From now the average high temperature will go from 30 to 38 by the end of the month. After a few days the high will be above freezing now until after summer.
I have my own theory about watching for the last frost date, Last December we had an early start to winter right from the beginning of the month. To me that would indicate that winter will end about 3 weeks early. So the planting season could begin by May 15th. So going back to ground hog day, winter will only be about 4 weeks more and by May 1st warm weather will be here. How's that for good news? I think I can taste the home grown tomatoes already!
Perhaps most of you know, but Feb. 2nd really is a special day. This day is the mid point of the winter season. On the temperature charts this is the low point. From now the average high temperature will go from 30 to 38 by the end of the month. After a few days the high will be above freezing now until after summer.
I have my own theory about watching for the last frost date, Last December we had an early start to winter right from the beginning of the month. To me that would indicate that winter will end about 3 weeks early. So the planting season could begin by May 15th. So going back to ground hog day, winter will only be about 4 weeks more and by May 1st warm weather will be here. How's that for good news? I think I can taste the home grown tomatoes already!
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