See! She really IS my friend

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One of my online friends is Katie Lee (used to be Joel as in Billy).
Well, she doesn’t KNOW she’s my friend…..but that’s a different story.
Her blog featured a sauce that I tried out today!

I roasted a tray of veggies….Plum Tomatoes, Carrots, Zucchini, Yellow Squash, Sweet onion and some Garlic.

I like it when the veggies get a little charred. I later put the mixture in a saucepan, added a can of fire roasted tomatoes, and whirred it all up with the boat motor.

(hmmmmmm. I was also freezing corn, so it looks like I added in some corn!)

My vegetable hating hubster loved it.
Well, he ATE it.
Good recipe, Katie Lee’s Mom!

My Farmstand Corn Chowder made from corn Matt picked for me at Richard’s Farm….

Pizza Dough made in the bread machine

Leftover wine from Megan’s CAMP Open House

She isn’t on the dock alone. The boys are 10 feet from her, fixing the JetSki.

But, those lovely yellow tennis balls just don’t throw themselves….

Scout’s newest trick is nudging her ball into the water and having US retrieve them!
And that JetSki?

Good As New!
The Dog?
Waiting to GO HOME.

Alice wins the prize for the cutest elbows ever.

Mother Nature always puts on a great show at Okoboji. And the Lake always reflects how she’s feeling.

While Harrison was cleaning the patio….

Everybody ELSE was doing this!

(apparently the Lakes Patrol came zooming by and they were trying to see what the scuttlebut was!)

We take care of our guests, though. We later took Harrison out for a BOB DOG!

Our favorite soldier headed out to the sandbox for a few months….

These guys babysat while the parents tried to eat a hot meal….

The mom-van hit a new number and is still going strong…

And then there’s this….

“Whatchooo Talking Bout Willis?!”

The ones that talk about the grandbaby all day long.
These pictures were taken in about a 20 second time frame.
She is SO active….and expressive….and cute!

Dear Dana College Faculty and Staff:

Yesterday was a sad day for Dana College. The news that the Higher Learning Commission Board had denied Dana’s request for approval of a change of control came as a shock and surprise to all of us. Our initial impression that the ruling was unfair and inaccurate remains in our minds. This decision has already disrupted your lives and that of Dana’s students, and as the days move on, the adverse effects will only escalate. We are saddened for all of you, and we regret the pain and suffering the HLC action will cause for the wonderful, 126-year-old Dana community.

We are writing, first and foremost, to thank you for your faith and trust in our mutual attempt to work together to guide Dana to a brighter future.

Many of you are likely wondering why HLC chose to take this direction. In truth, we do not know, though we believe the decision was strongly influenced by the climate in Washington, D.C. and the strong regulatory pressures placed on HLC during the past year. We would like to share with you, in Q&A form, some specifics about the issues described in HLC’s notice letter:

Why was the change of control denied?
We do not know why.

The change of control request was specifically written with the informal feedback received from HLC staff, as well as careful attention to HLC’s policies and procedures regarding changes in institutional control. We cannot conceive of any way in which the change of control request could have been any closer to the exact direction indicated by HLC staff.

We are especially disappointed because the centerpiece of the proposed change of control request stood squarely on growing Dana in a manner consistent with its mission and historical character. No changes relative to Dana’s current approvals were requested and no additional requests were made for HLC approval for additional degree programs, online programs, or additional locations. The Change of Control request was specific in noting that NO changes in Dana’s mission were asked for. In addition, the investors that were prepared to invest in Dana were willing to provide $10MM of funds to support Dana College, with nearly $5MM to be provided immediately and an additional $5MM over time to help support the college. This information was provided through a direct oral conversation between HLC and the investor as well as HLC in writing as part of the required change of control documents.

It appears the Commission doomed the institution by not giving it a chance. HLC substituted their own judgment for others by concluding that the proposed plan of growing student enrollments in a residential, face to face institution was doomed to failure before it could even be attempted.

It should also be noted that HLC’s own fact-finding team produced a very positive report, stating that Dana and DEC were “operating in good faith,” and that “if the plans articulated by the Dana Education Corporation come to fruition, the college will be much stronger.”

We made it clear to the Commission our intent to mark a serious, high-minded departure from some of the radical transformations of institutions seen in recent years. We intended for Dana to be a strong example of a responsible change of control, maintaining and improving the institution. Apparently, HLC has decided that there is no need for such an example.

Why was HLC wrong in citing governance concerns?
As we addressed extensively in our response to the summary report prepared by HLC staff, the governance structure proposed by DEC exceeds the standards employed by virtually all existing for-profit postsecondary institutions in terms of autonomy, including many not-for-profit and public institutions. First, the college governing board was to consist of a number of high profile leaders of integrity, including a former governor, a former university president, a dean of an Ivy League College, a former President of several community colleges, etc. In addition, the parent corporation had very limited, circumscribed approval rights – much more limited than any other for-profit institution currently accredited by HLC. Finally, many not-for-profit and public institutions are unable to make ultimate decisions – particularly regarding budgets and spending – without approval from a parent entity, be it the state, or in the case of Dana College, of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America.

Why was HLC wrong in citing a lack of previous experience in higher education on the part of DEC management?
As we addressed extensively in our response to the summary report prepared by HLC staff, since DEC had been planning to retain the senior leadership, faculty, and staff currently employed by Dana College, the new leadership team would have had the benefits of literally decades of experience in small, faith-based, residential colleges. In addition, the leadership of DEC has extensive experience in postsecondary education. In particular, DEC’s Chief Academic Officer has nearly 40 years experience leading postsecondary institutions.

Can Dana appeal the decision?
No. We have confirmed with legal counsel that there is no appeal process.
In addition to the points discussed above, we will make every attempt to respond to specific questions you may pose to us. As the proposed transaction has not been consummated and at this juncture will not be, the decisions regarding the closure of the College will be made by the existing Board of Regents and Administration. They have a difficult path ahead and need as much support as all of us are able to muster.

In closing, we wish you all Godspeed. You have touched our lives as you have touched the lives of countless others over the years, and we will treasure memories of our all-too-brief association. May you all fare well, and may our paths cross again.

Most Sincerely Yours,
Raj Kaji, C. Ronald Kimberling, Celia Ffrench, Eric Phillipson

While yet our land was wilderness
And sturdy pilgrim reared
With brawny arm his lowly home,
A flow’r divine appeared:
O hail, fair Dana, hail to thee!
Our song to thee we sing:
May always we thy name revere
While truth to us be dear.

To all who would thy truths embrace
Thy message true impart;
Be thou their guiding star throughout
To virtue lead each heart.
O hail, fair Dana, hail to thee!
Thy children guide aright;
May they in faith and hope and love,
Praise Him who dwells above.

And when we launch our little barks
On Destiny’s deep sea,
As ivies to thy walls do cling,
Our hearts will cling to thee.
O hail, fair Dana, hail to thee!
Though time thy walls may claim
Thy spirit live another throng
Rise up and sing our song.

Yep. ServPro.
Wet Basement.

Nearly SIX INCHES of water in that bucket.
The bucket that was still there from the time before.
Thirty Days to the Day.
May 20. June 20.

The refrigerator water line to the icemaker again. It was fixed. But sprung a leak again. And it leaked. All. Weekend.

My reaction to this “incident” surprised me…..and Dan and Matt.
I was in tears.
I felt kicked in the gut. I took this personal.

My beloved Longaberger Baskets…dripping with water.
Just Water. Clean, filtered water. From the refrigerator. And the baskets will easily dry.
Hardly any THINGS were ruined.

Then I found my wet house plans.
This well-worn set of plans represent about 10 years of dreams and another 10 years of living IN that dream.
And there were men in my kitchen and basement, sucking up water, tearing drywall, ripping ceiling tiles and hauling wet carpets outside, moving furniture.
It was too much for me for a few hours.
I KNOW there are bigger problems in the world. I KNOW this could have been much worse.
But for a brief moment, THIS problem WAS big. To me.

We are still with the WonderMachines that suck out the water from the floors. That will last a couple of days.
Then, the clean up.

I’m better today.
Thank God for Dan. and Matt. and ServPro. and American Family Insurance.
And Thank God I got over myself.

He love waffles and pancakes. I COULD make him some and freeze, but they never taste as good.
If he has a waffle iron and a pan, he can make a quick batch of pancakes or waffles and be on his way with a full tummy.
(Matt, I’m sorry I said that, but you’ll ALWAYS be my little boy!)

We are now on the hunt for a good waffle recipe. I tried two kinds these last days…one WITH yeast and one WITHOUT. Both were good.
Yeast one has to be prepared the night before, and that might be harder than it needs to be for a bachelor student.
One blog I love, Orangette, had a post about waffles. I made both recipes.

They were good. I could mix this recipe up in bulk and bag it. I’ll have to experiment with how much dry ingredients to how much liquid.

I’m going to keep looking. I have a willing tester/eater…..I want the waffles to be CRISPER.
Any secrets?