Monday Musings

  Spring is the time to revel in the soil and reap its benefits. While I begin planting summer crops, I enjoy the toils of prior years, as perennial plants flower. The Rosa rugosa bursts with blooms. A nearby pair of clematis intertwines. At their feet, shoots of cannas start to appear. Sprouts of potatoes fill potato boxes: Yukon gold, fingerling, and a purple variety. The strawberries peek from the mulch, creamy white petals portend sweet red fruit. My early spring garden thrives (L to R): (1) lettuce, snap peas, two types of carrots; (2) broccoli, nasturtiums, garlic, and white onions; (3) nasturtiums, red onions, spinach, and beets; and (4) tilled and ready for cucumbers, borage, and dill. I’ve tended to my dwarf fruit trees, pruning, fertilizing, and mulching. The question remains if the birds or I will win the battle for the fruit. In the greenhouse, vegetable seedlings (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant) and their companion basil flourish, awaiting the passing of the final frost, ...

  On Easter Sunday, Pope Francis made his last public appearance, a blessing at St. Peter’s Square. His last public words,  Urbi et Orbi  (to the city and to the world), were “Happy Easter to Everyone.” Archbishop Diego Ravelli read his full address aloud.  He then greeted visitors from his  popemobile . Pope Francis has been ill since February 5, 2025. This  link  captures the timeline of his declining health. In this modern age, even social media captures final thoughts. Several hours later, the Pope’s death was announced. The cause of death has already been reported. Formal rites and rituals  follow: First Station-the cardinal camerlengo calls the deceased pope by his baptism name, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the Fisherman’s Ring (used to seal official documents) is smashed, and the pope’s apartments are locked; Second Station-transfer of the coffin for public open casket viewing at St. Peter’s Basilica. Once viewing is completed, a plain white clot...

Last Wednesday, we had the sad duty to put our dear Labradoodle, Paris, to sleep. Paris has been with us for almost 14 years. Our prior Labradoodle, Phoenix, was killed by a hit-and-run driver in Montana. Paris came to us from Utah in a large crate via Delta Airlines. He was best buddies with his brother of another mother, our Australian Shepherd-Red Heeler, Plato. Unfortunately, he developed worsening arthritis, making it difficult for him to enjoy his favorite activity: walks. His appetite lagged despite our best attempts to add tasty supplements to his meals. On his final evening, he had a sudden decline. Bobi carried him to our bed where we held vigil. The following day, we had a pre-scheduled neuter appointment for Benji, the new addition to our family. We knew it was time, so we brought Paris with us to the vet. In memoriam, Paris. We grieve your loss. As promised in a prior blog post, I now have a better photo of our new dog, Benji. He got his cast removed, a bath, and his first...

  April is National Poetry Month. The celebration was initiated by the American Academy of Poets in April 1996. Both their  Website  and  X page   offer a plethora of poetry information and experiences. You can sign up for  Poem-a-Day  and receive a free poem every day, direct to your email or listen to  Poem-a-Day on Spotify . There is an opportunity to share poetry with others via participating in  Poem in Your Pocket Day  on April 10, 2025 (date changes annually). It’s easy: download the  Poem in Your Pocket Day PDF  that includes 15 poems by American poets. Carry it with you: Share a poem or a video of yourself reading the poem on social media; add a poem to your email footer; send the poem to friends, family, or local authorities; or read the poem out loud in an outdoor space. As a practicing trauma surgeon, I read a poem daily to the surgical team on rounds during April. If you would like to obtain an actual  Poem in...

What exactly does the word “words” mean? It may have several different connotations. There is a broad range of definitions for “words.” Words may be truthful or deceitful. Or they may be quarrelsome. Words may be the result of creative output in verse or song. Regardless of the interpretation, they carry immense power. The words you speak become the house you live in.  Hafiz You can follow the Author on her  Website  or  X .

Dear blog readers, I am an author and prolific reader. As such, it is fitting that I recognize  National Reading Month . March celebrates reading in honor of Dr. Suess’s birthday. The noted writer was not a doctor like myself; he was an illustrator and writer of popular children’s books. This month is chock full of book-themed holidays. A few days ago, on March 21, the topic was  World Poetry Da y, a favorite of mine as a published poet. An entire month is dedicated to poetry in April,  National Poetry Month . William Shakespeare gets an entire week, March 21–27 . It’s time to break out those annotated Hamlet or Romeo and Juliet copies. Many writers currently compose using electronic means, but for those who prefer handwriting in journals or on reams of paper with ink or lead, March 30 will commemorate  National Pencil Day . I could go on and on, but I will refer you to this link, updated for 2025:  2025 List of Literary and Book-Themed Holidays . It includes ev...

‘Tis the season. Receipts, documents, and file folders cover my dining room tabletop. All year, the slips of this and that have been deposited in a basket. They must be gathered into appropriate piles and compiled into data charts. My tax preparer does E-filing. A month ago, I received the dreaded email: it’s time to fill in your Tax Organizer. Gone is the day of carrying said basket to the accountant. Once the papers have been sorted, key items must be scanned and saved in computer folders/subfolders. If I compile tables of information, I only have to  maintain the records  rather than send the massive pile to their office. For example, I make a document of all income (personal and business) and other pages for itemized deductions: expenses (business and medical). As we age, the  medical deductible section  grows yearly. And since we live in a rural area, we must travel thousands of miles per year for our health care. Sometimes, we even have to do short hotel stays:...