Fort Colomb.

On my 3 hour break yesterday, I decided to visit one of the forts that are part of Poznan/s history. I've passed by it before but never explored the area. now it is mainly a park with the remaining parts of the fort turned into a pub.

Bastion(Fort) Colomb-is a facility of the Poznań Fortress, built around 1854. Located in the so-called left-bank ring of the city.

It is one of 18 forts of what is called a Stronghold-Poznań, constructed in the years 1876-1880, and later modernized between 1887 and 1888. Initially, it was simply referred to as Fort VII, but in 1902 this 14-hectare fortification was named Fort Colomb. Until 1918 it served an important function in Prussian plans regarding the defense of both the city and the eastern border of the 2nd Reich. In the period between the World Wars, it was used as a warehouse.

Bastion was blown up by sappers in 1903 and demolished. In the following areas were built: Collegium Novum UAM, the main building of the University of Economics, the building of the Railway Directorate, and the Chamber of Crafts, and green areas were created.

The remains of the building are a three-storey block of armaments located in the Marcinskiego Park. After drying down the lower part of the blockhouse, it was made available as a pub. The lowest floor is currently functioning as a reservoir for groundwater that formerly flooded the building. The work was also preserved quite well, transformed by the construction of air-raid shelters during World War II and cut by the streets.

Good news for Ukraine.

I'm always so concerned that Joan gets her medicine each that I overlooked one of mine was empty. I just sent an email to the doctor tonight and usually the code for a prescription is sent to me in the morning. 

In Poland, a doctor writes a prescription into the national health care system in the computer and a 4 digit code is assigned to it. Then, you take that code to the Apteka(pharmacy) and they look into the system to see what the medicine is. It usually works very smoothly and saves a visit to the doctor.

Meanwhile, Ukraine Support.

WASHINGTON, July 14 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump on Monday announced a toughened stance against Russia for its war in Ukraine, promising a fresh wave of missiles and other weaponry for Ukraine and giving Moscow 50 days to reach a ceasefire or face sanctions.

“I don't want to say he's an assassin, but he's a tough guy," Trump said, noting that several of his predecessors had also become disillusioned with Putin.

 

The decision by Trump to send arms to Ukraine represented a turning point for the Republican president, who has spent the early months of his term trying to coax Putin into a ceasefire agreement, only to be turned down every time.

 

In the Oval Office at an announcement with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump told reporters he had become deeply frustrated with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He said Putin is pleasant to speak with on the phone but then turns around and unleashes withering bombing raids on Ukraine.

 

Under the deal, Trump said the U.S. will supply weapons that will be paid for by NATO countries. Rutte said massive numbers of weapons would be sent, including missiles, as part of a first wave of equipment.

 

Trump said the "top of the line" equipment, including Patriot missile systems and batteries, would be arriving very soon.

 

Rutte said Germany, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands and Canada all want to be a part of rearming Ukraine.

"They all want to be part of this. And this is only the first wave. There will be more. So what we will do is work through the NATO systems to make sure that we know what Ukrainians need to make packages," he said.

Cat Cafe, Garrett & Opera Fountain.

We had a meeting today with our friend, Garrett at the CatCafe. I like this place because they have comfortable couches and armchairs to sit in, a room for children, and it is quiet enough to have a conversation.

Garret arrived at the same time we did and helped me get Joan down the 5 steps into the cafe. I ordered two coffees and two pieces of blueberry cheesecake. I turned to go in the area where the armchairs were and got a surprise.. Not a good one.

Evidently, management had decided to make some changes. There were no couches, no armchairs, and no room for children.

The area that used to have an open entrance has now been enclosed by a partial wall with a movable glass door.

Inside, there are tables with padded chairs. The children's room has been converted into a room for employees, and two cats were roaming around. The children now sit with their parents, and the room is not as quiet as it used to be. 

We sat at the first table and talked with Garrett for about two hours, and decided to meet again in two weeks, but this time at the cafe, uPrzyjaciol.

After we departed from Garrett, I thought it would be nice to take advantage of the good weather, so we went to the Opera House and sat.

We usually sit on the west side of the fountain because there are six beautiful old trees we admire and like to look at.

No climate change? & Ukraine update.

The middle of July and the high today was 17 C(63 F). That's incredible! However, if the weather forecast is correct, tomorrow it will be 25 C (77 F) and the next day 30 C (86 F). That is more summer-like. 

So, tomorrow it will be the perfect weather for us and that's a good thing. We have a meeting with Garrett at the Cat Cafe at 2 PM. We haven't seen him in two months and have a lot to talk about. He was one of Joan's sitters and she likes him. Me too.

I finally found an organization that is calling for a strike in America. It is being planned but the date won't be released until 48 hours beforehand. 

Meanwhile: Ukraine Support.

WASHINGTON, July 11 (Reuters) - The Senate Armed Services Committee has approved $500 million in security assistance for Ukraine as part of its draft language for its Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, which also restricts A-10 aircraft retirements.

The bill also prohibits a controversial request made in President Donald Trump's June budget request to retire the Air Force A-10 fleet. The draft requires that the inventory of the A-10 cannot drop below 103 aircraft in FY26, ensuring the continued operation of these close air support planes.

The draft of the bill will make its way through the legislative process in the coming months. The lower House of Representatives kept Ukraine support at $300 million in its version. Source-Reuters.

Rainy day

 A gray, rainy day kept us at home all day.

Summer Bot. Gardens

 I spent  2 hours today walking around the Botanical Gardens. Pictures on the right.

New dinner

I made a new dish for dinner, Peach Barrata Salad. Barrata is a type of cheese we don't have in Poznan so I substitued white cheddar cheese. It took over an hour to prepare it and 15 minutes to eat it.

It  consists of peeled peaches and tomatoes, cheese slices broken into bits, 6 garlic cloves, sliced almonds although I crushed the almonds,  and the dressing. That was made with olive oil, white wine vinegar, salt, pepper, and honey.

The combination of all those ingredients made the taste quite interesting. I will make it again, but not soon. 

 

Wonderful surprise Recipe & Ukraine

I had some trepidation today when I started making the Garlic with Egg soup. 

I took the recommended 6 garlic cloves, cut them into very thin slices, and added them to a pot with a little olive oil, then browned them. 

Then I added the parika, stirred, and let it cook for a few minutes. 

While it was cooking, I boiled 1 liter of water, added two chicken bouillon cubes, and waited until they had dissolved. 

I took two slices of whole wheat bread, toasted them, cut them into small bite-sized pieces, and added them to the garlic pot. I added salt and pepper, then poured the bouillon water into the big pot. 

I let it cook on medium heat for 25 minutes and tasted it. It tasted more like chicken than garlic. 

The last step was to turn off the heat, crack to eggs into the mix and whisk it until the dissolved eggs were cooked. 

I set the table, brought Joan to the table, and served the soup. 

What a wonderful surprise! The soup was absolutely great. It was quick to make for two people, and next time I will double the portions of ingredients and freeze the second batch for another day.

Meanwhile: Ukraine

At a White House press conference today, US President Trump  commented on his frustration in dealing with Russian President Vladimir Putin to secure a ceasefire in Ukraine.

“We get a lot of bullshit thrown at us by Putin, if you want to know the truth,” Trump told reporters during a televised cabinet meeting at the White House, according to the AFP.

“He’s very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless,” said Trump.

“Putin is not treating human beings right. He’s killing too many people. So we’re sending some defensive weapons, and I’ve approved that,” Trump said Tuesday at the press conference.

 

 

Garlic Soup with Egg and Croutons (Spain)

Carlota De Otto

Ingredients

• 2 slices stale bread (you can toast the bread if not stale), cut into bite sized pieces

• 2 eggs

• 6 cloves garlic

• 1 tsp sweet paprika

• 1 liter chicken broth or vegetable broth homemade is best or store bought (low sodium)

• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

• Salt and pepper, to taste (at least ½ teaspoon pepper)

Instructions

Peel the garlic and cut into slices.

• Pour olive oil into a pot (enough to just cover the bottom) and heat over medium-high heat.

• Add in the garlic and fry until it begins to brown, about 2-3 minutes.

• Add the bread to the pot so that they are fried with the garlic and become soaked in the oil.

• Turn the heat to low and add the paprika. Pour in the broth and stir.

• Bring the soup to a low boil and then cook on a low simmer for about 25 minutes. It is ready when the bread is soft and the soup has a rich brown color.

• Salt and pepper, to taste adding at least ½ teaspoon pepper.

• Remove soup from the heat and immediately crack the eggs inside so that they are cooked with the residual heat. Stir the eggs into the soup. Eat warm.

Another day & Ukraine.

Just another day in Amerika. 70-80 people dead in Texas from a flood, and the Repukeagains are blaming Joe Biden. If it weren't so sad for the relatives of the dead ones, it would be fun

Here, in Poland, where democracy holds more meaning than in America, life goes on.

I had a talk with Karen last night, and we are trying to arrange a visit here in October. It's been more than 5  years since she has seen her mom, physically. That's way too long.

Making out the menu for next week, I added two new recipes, Garlic Soup with Eggs, and Peach Burrata Salad. It's time we tried something new.

We watched a nice documentary on unseen places in Chile. We have never been to Chile.

Meanwhile>Ukraine.

While Americans were watching fireworks this Independence Day, Ukrainians were dodging drones and missiles. But in the midst of that grim contrast, something important happened. A pivotal phone call between President Trump and President Zelensky may offer a breakthrough the world desperately needs.

According to sources familiar with the call, the two leaders discussed the idea of a US-Ukraine drone partnership. For those of us who have been working for months to bring clarity, urgency, and realism to Washington’s understanding of this war, that single moment matters more than people may realize. It finally creates a path to advance the part of our strategy that has long been stalled: let’s arm Ukraine to the teeth.

Russia launched one of its largest air attacks of the full-scale war, with Kyiv and multiple regions hit. Zelensky slams Moscow’s “stupid, destructive behavior.”

New? Campus.

I've known for a long time that Michkiewicz University created a new campus on the north side of town, but I never went to see it.

Today was a nice day, so after my two morning conversations with Margo and Michal, I gathered Joan together and we went for a drive. Not specifically to the new campus, but rather to just get Joan out of the flat for a while. 

First, we went downtown to check out some newly built buildings, then stopped at Sowas for a coffee.

Then I thought about the campus and drove to it.

It is nice. lt's situated in a forested area at the end of Naromowica Street, where it turns into a "T". Going to the left, the first little road on the right takes you right into the campus. There are several individual buildings, one for each department. I should have had my camera, but I will go back next weekend and take pictures. Being Saturday, there were very few cars parked and very few students. Of course, with the Uni closed for summer vacations, the majority of students have returned home for the summer in other areas of Poland.

We were back home by 4:30, and I prepared a nice cold tuna salad for dinner before I talked with my friend, Carmelo, in  Spain.

Palmiarnia in Poznan.

 Palmiarnia Poznańska is about to undergo a green makeover!

The city obtained almost PLN 163 million from a preferential loan of the National Economy Bank as part of the National Restoration Plan - it's one of the biggest funding of this type in Poland. The loan was granted on exceptionally favorable conditions - its interest rate is only 1 percent per year. 

 

Thanks to this place, The Palmiarnia,  which has been delighted with its collection of exotic plants for more than a century, will gain a new quality and the conditions for both plants and visitors will significantly improve.

 

There is in the plans a modernization of pavilions, replacement of glass, reconstruction of the main entrance, construction of a new café and aquarium with large tanks. The Palmiarnia will be more energy-efficient and accessible to people with disabilities. We will also take care of the environment - more greenery will appear and new plantings will support water retention. All this while preserving the character and historical values of this unique place.

 

In the coming months, a tender for construction work which will last until 2030 will be announced. They will be guided in stages to affect the possibility of sightseeing as little as possible.

Message to America from Ukraine.

 

My friends in America, on your Independence Day, I ask you: make it a great day.

Be thankful for your country, for your people, just like we are thankful for waking up every day and have a life to live.

Sometimes it’s not the life we dreamed, but it’s still a life to live. The same logic works when we think about our nation. They will never be as perfect as we would wish, but they are ours. Just like our families.

Make it a day for you, for your loved ones, for your community.

For sure, don’t forget our fights. Don’t forget that monster in the White House.

But don’t let that people steal what belongs to you and not them.

Your pride to be American belongs to you, not to any politician or celebrity. Or celebrity converted politician, or whatever.

And most importantly, don’t forget the true meaning of those stars and stripes.

See your country for what it has been across history, not what some people want to make it right now.

This moment, no matter how ugly, will end.

The idea, the dream, the people who stand for them, that’s what will last.

Forever.

Celebrate that.

And keep it alive.

—Viktor Kravchuk

Independence Day-4th of July 2025

SO, tomorrow is Independence Day, the 4^th of July. For all of my 81 years, it has been a day of celebration, parades, joining with other cousins or Americans, and at night, watching the fireworks.

However, I find it hard to celebrate independence when every day, that independence is being ripped from our hands by Donald Trump, the administration, the Supreme Court, the Judicial Branch, and the Republican Party.

The first organized public celebrations of Independence Day in the U.S. took place on July 4, 1777, in Philadelphia and Boston. That was 248 years ago. Our independence from King George didn't last even 250 years. We don't have a King now, even worse, we have a vindictive, cruel, revengeful dictator and a Republican Party full of cowards. A Party that once stood for anti-slavery, free labor, free men, modernization, economic development, and the preservation of the Union. Now, this party has nothing that it stands for. They are puppets who do the dictator's bidding, no matter how cruel it is to the American people and the world.

It's highly improbable that Alexander Hamilton, the father of the party, would be "proud" of every aspect of today's Republican Party. His vision of a strong, active federal government guiding economic development might find more common ground with certain aspects of past American political parties, or even some elements of modern Democratic policy.

In less than 180 Days, we have gone from a Republic to a dictatorship. When legal citizens are being abducted by a bunch of thugs appoved by the “President” and sent to prisons in foreign countries, a concentration-style camp is built in the Florida everglades for Americans, when the courts do the bidding of the dicktator and ordinary people live in fear, school children are denied nutritional needs, when the richest man in the world and the so-called Heritage Foundation chooses two puppets to be The President and Vice President, that is not Independence.

So, pardon us for not celebrating Independence Day.

Doctor visit.

At 10:00, we met with the young doctor, showed her our cholesterol exam results, and she prescribed Lipator for Joan to lower her triglyceride level. My exam was normal.

Meanwhile: Ukraine betrayed again.

The Kremlin has welcomed the US decision to suspend certain arms deliveries to Ukraine, framing it as a step toward ending Russia's full-scale attack.

Russian presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov commented on the halt by saying: “As far as we understand, the reason for the decision was empty warehouses – but the fewer weapons supplied to Ukraine, the closer the end of the ‘special military operation.’”

Peskov’s remarks follow Washington’s pause on key air defense and precision weapons shipments allegedly due to concerns about reduced US stockpiles – a move expected to complicate Ukraine’s ability to defend itself against Russia’s relentless assault.

The White House has halted shipments of critical air defense and precision-guided weapons to Ukraine amid alleged rising concerns about overly low US ammunition stockpiles, according to Politico and NBC News.

Joan

 Last Sunday was a difficult day. It started out great with two morning conversations, and after they were over, I took Joan to the park. I had a conversation scheduled with Carmelo from Spain at 5 PM, so we left the park about 3:30.

On the way home, Joan's speech wasn't making much sense. I could tell something was wrong, but didn't know what. Of course, I was sure it was caused by the dementia but episodes like that usually passed quickly.

At home, it continued for a while longer. I was afraid to leave her side, even for a minute. Fortunately, I still had two frozen pizzas that I could use for dinner.

About 7 PM, whatever it was seemed to pass, and she appeared to be okay for her normal condition.

Times like these terrify me because there is nothing I can do about them. I hate this disease.

Monday arrived, and I woke up apprehensive of how she would be when she woke up. Fortunately, she was ok.

I took her to have a blood test checkup of her cholesterol. The results came back today, and while her cholesterol levels are good, her triglyceride level is much higher than it should be, 311  instead of less than  150.  Maybe that was the cause of the problem! 

I have an appointment for her withe the family doctor for Joan. Hopefully, the doctor can give her some medicine to lower that number back to normal.