It is minus 32 degrees!

Warm up in an arthritis-friendly, nourishing way…Turmeric Ginger Butternut Bisque!

Be gentle on joints by pre-baking a butternut squash before cutting, peeling and deseeding.

Use onions and garlic your grocer chopped. Lightly sauté fresh ginger and turmeric for a jolt of natural anti-inflammatories.

Substitute soy (almond) milk and silken tofu for bone-building and instead of fat-saturated cream.

A hand blender saves hand and elbow joints from heavier blender or processors.

Butternut squash brings cozy, filling warmth to the tummy and packs minerals and vitamin A.

Caldo & Delizioso!

Remembering Great Grandpa Genaro Rizzo on the 100th Anniversary of WWI end. He fought bravely in the rugged and cold terrain of Northern Italy and the Alps, for a war believed to end all wars…

As Uncle Jimmy adds details of valor to the story, Genaro Rizzo was “Knighted (posthumously) for saving an officer from drowning while fording a river on horseback.”

Genaro Rizzo Italian Cavalry WWI

May courage be stoked within each one of us as we remember  the Courage of  our Ancestors!

All four of my grandparents immigrated to the United States, recognizing its independence and self-governing society. Each Independence Day they reminded me of the precious attributes of our United States of America. ​Their actions took courage as immense as the ocean liner that ferried them. ​

May your Fourth of July be filled with freedom​, courage, ​ and enjoyment.

Pre-chopped veggies is becoming more available.  There are even more interesting combos of chopped veggies for salads, soups, etc.  Letting someone else do the chopping helps preserve finger and wrist joints, thus I have NO EXCUSES to not keep up the healthy fresh veggie lifestyle.

Keeping a healthy lifestyle. Its easier all the time!

May you have the Courage to Believe a Miracle can Happen to You at this season in which we honor the greatest Miracle of all: Christmas. Whether you can join us for Advent Tea or not, I pray this for you:

You are worthy; God is With Us! 

May you have the Courage to Believe a Miracle can Happen to You at this season in which we honor the greatest Miracle of all: Christmas.

Diocesan Center of Lansing, 12/2/17, 1 – 3PM.

Can you believe that in June I climbed to Castello Brunello in Portofino, Italian Riviera?

Grazie Eric for walking alongside of me and taking this photo as proof of the miracle to walk!

      In Portofino, Italy

I am grateful.

An early Christmas miracle for me!

This week’s successful surgery to repair my knee prosthesis with a part the FDA approved for one-time compassionate use. GRATEFUL for Univ. of Michigan Orthopedic Surgery, family, and friends who shepherded me on wings of expertise, care, and prayers.

Rest in Peace Jen Walsh.

Your courageous advocacy in the face of persistent myasthenia gravis, and your similarities to the Coraggio story of loss of mom at an early age, Italian Nonna who provided motherly love, and a myasthenia diagnosis, earned you the First Annual Coraggio Award.

Your relentless efforts to help others with MG will be greatly missed.

Feel my gratitude from your heavenly perch.

Perhaps because my father’s name, Pasquale, meant “Easter”, his favorite holiday was Easter.  We will gather around the Pane di Pasqua tomorrow, the “Bread of Easter” that Nonna lovingly made for him each year, to celebrate his first Easter in a heavenly realm.  Nonna told us that the seven hard-boiled eggs baked inside the soft, sweet braided dough, symbolized the Seven Last Words of Christ.

Driving home with the tempest’s clearing skies behind me and

a phenomenal rainbow in front of me

…the promise of a marvelous week ahead!