Author Archives: makielb

I grew in in a house with my parents (Edward and Maria Kielb), grandparents (Michele and Frances Bellotti) and my aunt Irene Bellotti. Later she would marry Matthew Bratek. My mother would give birth to my brother, Mark and my aunt would give birth to my cousin Tony, who was more of a brother thanContinue reading “Growing up in a multigenerational house”

Today we picked 17 1/2 pounds of tomatoes that will be used to make sauce for canning. I also picked enough pole bens for dinner. After processing the tomatoes the slowly become tomato sauce. Sometimes Susan will also make diced tomatoes to can. Once canned they go onto the pantry for later use. On SundayContinue reading “The garden, breakfast out and more”

For years I spent time drawing fish and turtles at the Belle Isle Aquarium in Detroit, Michigan. Some were used to produce illustrations others to learn the finer points of drawing live fish – which can be a challenge. One year while spending a long weekend in Chicago we spent a day at the SheddContinue reading “The Belle Isle Aquarium and more”

Wherever I have been in the past 40 years I loved to draw. My earliest drawings (from 40-50 years ago) are all very private and I was not confident enough to draw while others were watching. But as confidence built I started drawing when others were around. I took sketch books where-ever I went. InContinue reading “Drawing in public areas”

My interest in México started as a child reading comic books. The Conquest of México by Bernal Diaz del Castillo was available for 10 cents as a Classics Illustrated from the nearby Kresge. I was intrigued by the Aztecs and their unusual society, as well as the Conquistadors who defeated them. Then I saw theContinue reading “Viva México!”

Pulling out my copy of Microbiology by Bauman (2004) there is a brief discussion of diseases caused by Coronaviruses. At the time it was mostly a discussion of the common cold, but also included a brief description of the SARS-CoV-1 pandemic of 2003-4. It was amazing how quickly that pandemic made it into text books.Continue reading “Coronaviruses, what are they good for? Absolutely nothing”

Back in the 1970s I managed to start my career in Ann Arbor with my first position in the Anatomy Department at theUniversity of Michigan Medical School. As a biologist, I would like to think that my background was the reason for hiring me. Well it wasn’t. As it turned out it was my backgroundContinue reading “The goal is not the end, but the journey”

As I sat down for what might be the last of the wild blueberry pancake breakfast of the year at our cabin I was thinking about recent and future meals. Last week I bought a pound of ground goat meat at the Ann Arbor Farmer’s Market. Eating goat brings back memories of Andalucia, Spain whereContinue reading “Food and meals-today and this week”

On clear nights the sky can let you sent into the recent past of distant parts of the Universe. I love zooming in on the Moon and seeing the distant craters at the dark horizon looming like high mountains, which they might be. When I look at the night sky at the appropriate times andContinue reading “The night sky and more”

This weeks adventure took us to Vermilion Point, Michigan where we were looking for orchids and other interesting plants. Fortunately we lucky enough to find what we were looking for. Walking from the buildings towards Lake Superior we crossed through the dune-swales, alternating dry sandy ridges separated by low set swales. This is the areaContinue reading “Photographing orchids”