My garden in full bloom is a place of joy and beauty.
Trying to photograph glimpses of the Spring loveliness is
a pleasurable challenge.
red rose
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wet leaves
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nasturtiums with geraniums
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wild lily
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tiny succulent blooms
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succulent
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purple sage
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pink heuchra
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rosy rat tail cactus
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Images Copyright 2009 Katy Dickinson
Filed under Home & Family
My 16-year-old son Paul is researching learning games for me to pass on to Studio 17, the after-school program where I volunteer at Santa Maria Urban Ministry (inner San Jose, CA). These computer games are free and educational (more or less) but are also fun to play. I started publishing this list on April 23, 2009.
The two “Pandemic” games below require a very dark sense of humor since the player takes the part of an evolving deadly virus killing humanity in a world pandemic. However, the game does give the player an unnerving understanding of how diseases move and change.
16 February 2014 – links updated
Filed under Church, Home & Family
I have been concerned to watch the Studio 17 kids at Santa Maria Urban Ministry playing mindless smash-and-blood or doll-dress-up games during their after homework computer time. I have started a list of “Good Free Games” as alternative suggestions. Studio 17 will also be buying some games (like Zoo Tycoon and Crayon Physics) soon.
I asked my 16-year-old son Paul to research and recommend Good Free Games which were fun to play but also educational. Some of these require flash software (will not work on an iPad) and all have advertisements to wait through (that’s why they are free). I added to Paul’s list games recommended by other sources. This afternoon, Studio 17 tried out about half of the games listed here and had a very good time. Additional suggestions are welcome!
I am adding to this list as we find more games, see More Good Free Games – or do a web search for “Good Free Games”.
16 February 2014 – links updated
Filed under Church, Home & Family
Last winter, my kids saved a large number of
German Iris
rhizomes, plus three roses. The plants were in the garden of a
house which was being leveled. Jessica and Paul did not want the
flowers destroyed along with the house. Amid much mud, we dug up as
many as we could, brought them home, and planted them in our San
Jose back yard. The refugees not only survived their journey
but all are now in bloom. One rose had a tag (Sonia) and one
looks and smells just like a rose I already have (Chrysler Imperial)
but the smaller red rose is a mystery.
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White German Iris 
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Chrysler Imperial (probably) Hybrid Tea Rose 
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Sonia Hybrid Tea Rose 
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unknown name red rose 
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Images Copyright 2009 Katy Dickinson
Filed under Home & Family
My husband John Plocher
was quoted in the newspaper today!
The
Mercury News published the article:
Some of the resources which have been of most help to John in his job hunt:
Filed under Home & Family
The prior owner of our 1930 home in Willow Glen (San Jose, CA) passed on to us a large number of bricks and garden stones which I have been using for the last ten years in my landscaping. Most of the bricks are very old and worn, some are half-melted clinkers, others are still new-looking with crisp corners. Several years ago, when we replaced the old leaky swimming pool with WP668, our 1916 backyard caboose, we had to take up several long brick walkways. Since then, we have been re-using the bricks in new walks. Some of the original walkways are in the Jack-on-Jack (or Stacked Bond) pattern, others are in a Basket Weave classic brick pattern.
To get ready for our annual Easter egg hunt and garden party, we installed several new walkways using old bricks. The new walks went in places where the walking surface was uneven or hard to roll a cart or wheelbarrow over. In the new walks, we used both Jack-on-Jack and Basket Weave patterns to match what was already there. Most are set in sand on top of weed cloth with wood borders. On one high-traffic section, we used concrete borders and mortar. Even though it took a week of work and what we have now is very different from what was there before, none of our thirty party guests noticed the change. The advantage of using old bricks in new walks is that if you are careful, they look like they have always been there.
2006 – Removing Pool and Bricks |
. | April 2009 – installation |
April 2009 – new walk finished |
. | another new walk |
Daniel at work |
. | Daniel and WP668 |
WP668 Caboose, April 2009
Images Copyright 2009 by John Plocher and Katy Dickinson
Filed under Caboose Project and Other Trains, Home & Family
If you have read my blog since January, you may know that my 16-year-old son Paul has recently developed chronic and debilitating headaches and dizziness. Despite the capable and dedicated care of Pediatricians, Neurologists, Neurosurgeons, Pain Specialists, Psychologists and Psychiatrists, Occupational and Physical Therapists, and Nurse practitioners, Paul’s situation is stable but not improving. We continue to work with the Pain Management Clinic at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital (LPCH). Paul is still attending the Hospital School at LPCH, so he will not have to repeat his Junior Year in High School. Thanks for your prayers and good wishes – they have been been a great support and blessing to our family.
This blog entry is about the financial side of this experience. I am not pointing my Finger of Blame at one organization or another as being Bad. I think that in general America’s medical care is excellent. But I am presenting a specific example of how very broken the financial side of America’s health system is.
When Paul first went into the hospital, we did not consider the financial side. We approved the recommended treatments and stayed focused on supporting Paul and each other. Over the months, this situation has evolved from a crisis into a new schedule: six sets of pills a day, drop off and pick up at doctors’ offices – hospital – school, walks and stretches and massage, time in the sun, and of course regular homework and chores. Almost every day, we receive medical bills or insurance Explanations of Benefits.
Explanations of Benefits are cryptic and offer a very narrow view of a small set of medical charges. The first bill which gave us any overview of what our medical adventure cost was the hospital bill for Paul’s brain surgery, for $163,613.70.
| Statement Date: | 03/02/2009 |
| Service Date(s): | 02/05/2009 – 02/09/2009 |
| Total Charges | $163,613.70 |
| Patient Payments | $0.00 |
| Insurance Payments | -$25,921.32 |
| Insurance Adjustments | -$136,324.50 |
| Other Adjustments | $0.00 |
| Balance Due Upon Receipt | $1,367.88 |
When I reviewed the statement, I was equally amazed at the total price and the 83% insurance adjustment. I know if I did not have a good job which includes health insurance, I would not be eligible for either the $25,921.32 insurance payment or the $136,324.50 discount. I would have to pay $163,613.70. Please understand, with my husband still looking for work, I am quite happy to pay only $1,367.88 for Paul’s brain surgery. However, I know there are growing numbers of people who have no job and little or no health insurance such as mine. It feels very wrong that the privileged pay the least.
Paul-Hospital School |
Topiary Elephant |
LPCH Giraffe |
LPCH Daffodils and Pansies |
Images Copyright 2009 by Katy Dickinson
Filed under Home & Family, News & Reviews
