Happy Veggie Thanksgiving!!!

Someone asked for some good vegetarian Thanksgiving dishes, which prompted this post.

Here's what WE are having for our Thanksgiving meal (it's the second year in a row we're hosting it - last year Rod's dad spent it with us, and this year my mom and dad are coming):



cream cheese mashed potatoes
corn pudding
cranberry relish
tossed salad with fruit
sweet potato casserole
apple pie
smoked chicken (Rod is proudly smoking a small chicken over cherry wood for the non-veggies among us)




Recipes:

CREAM CHEESE MASHED POTATOES
2 large baking potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
1/2 pkg. cream cheese
3 Tbsp. margarine/butter
1 1/2 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. garlic salt
1 tsp. pepper
Boil potatoes for 25 minutes- drain. Mix with cream cheese and remaining ingredients with electric mixer until fluffy.

CORN PUDDING (Roberta Ress)
1 can cream corn
1 can whole kernel corn
1/2 stick butter/margarine, melted
1 16 oz. container sour cream
1 box Jiffy cornbread mix
Mix ingredients, bake at 375 for 1 hour.

CRANBERRY RELISH (Nannie Ress)
1 8 oz. can whole cranberries (or the closest thing you can find to whole berries)
1 6 oz. can mandarin oranges, drained
1 c walnuts
1 c pecans
Mix ingredients and serve.

TOSSED SALAD WITH FRUIT (Jane Kline)
romaine lettuce
cauliflower
broccoli
pineapple chunks
mandarin oranges
shredded cheddar cheese
slivered almonds or pecans
Marzetti's poppyseed dressing
Mix ingredients and serve.

SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE (Roberta Ress)
3 c cooked mashed sweet potatoes
1/2 c sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1/3 c milk
1/2 c butter
Mix and place in greased 2 quart casserole dish. Top with the following mixture:
1/2 c brown sugar
1/3 c flour
1/3 c butter
1 c chopped pecans
Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

APPLE PIE (my Great-Grandma Gertrude Paulin/Pappaw Ress)
5 tart apples, sliced thin
3/4 c sugar
1 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. butter
Mix ingredients, add to frozen Pillsbury pie crust. Cut aluminum foil in thin strips and cover edges of crust. Put the pie in a 400 degree oven for 10 minutes, lower temperature to 375 and bake for 30-35 minutes until crust is golden brown.

For breakfast I'm making Mammaw's zucchini bread using some frozen squash that Rod grew this summer. It's WONDERFUL!

ZUCCHINI BREAD (Mammaw Thorn Capps)
4 eggs, beaten
3 c sugar
1 c oil
1 tsp. salt
3 c self-rising flour
2 c shredded zucchini (or squash, mashed bananas, shredded apples)
3 Tbsp. cinnamon
3 Tbsp. vanilla
1/2 c nuts (optional)
Combine eggs, sugar and oil. Mix on high speed until well-mixed. Mix salt, cinnamon, and flour together- add half of this to egg mixture and mix well. Add zucchini and mix well, then add the rest of flour and nuts. Pour in 9x13 OR 2 loaf pans, greased. Bake at 350 for 1 hour.

We'll be having leftovers for a couple of days after that, but to supplement them/for light snacks, we'll have:

BEGGAR'S PURSE (Marjo Howe)
1 roll crescent dough, rolled into 1 solid sheet
1 wheel Gouda cheese, place in center
spread thinly with mustard, and top with pecans
gather dough at top and tie loosely with cloth string
Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

PIMENTO CHEESE SPREAD (Nannie Ress)
6 oz. package Velveeta cheese
small can Carnation milk
small can pimentos
Chop cheese and pimentos. Add milk. Stir constantly over low heat until smooth (not too long).

Although we're not having any of the following this year, these are tried and true classic pumpkin recipes that you're sure to enjoy!

PUMPKIN ROLL (Margie Mullins)
3 eggs
3/4 c sugar
1 tsp lemon juice
3/4 c flour
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking powder
3/4 c pumpkin
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt
6 oz. cream cheese
1 c powdered sugar
4 Tbsp butter
1 tsp vanilla
Geat eggs for 5 minutes at high speed. Turn to low and gradually add sugar, pumpkin, and lemon. Add flour, cinnamon, baking powder, salt and nutmeg.
Grease and flour cookie sheet. Pour batter on cookie sheet. Bake at 375 for 15 minutes. Turn out on a tea towel and roll up- let cool then unroll. Mix cream cheese, powdered sugar, butter and vanilla. Spread on cook pumpkin bread and roll up. Wrap in wax paper, slice to serve. Will freeze well.

PUMPKIN BREAD (Roberta Ress)
3 c sugar
4 eggs
1 c oil
1 1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp pumpkin spice
1 c nuts (optional)
2/3 c water
3 1/2 c flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 can pumpkin pie filling
Put all ingredients in bowl and mix well. Pour into 4 greased, floured loaf pans, filling each 1/2 full. Bake 50 minutes at 350. Cool slightly, turn pans over- bread will slide out. Freezes well.

PUMPKIN CAKE
2 c flour
2 tsp soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon
2 c sugar
4 eggs
1 c oil
1 can pumpkin pie filling
Mix ingredients, put in greased pans, bake 40 minutes at 350. (Makes 2 medium round/rectangle sheet cakes, or 1 2-layered cake).
Icing:
1 stick butter
8 oz cream cheese
32 oz box powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
Mix and spread on cooled cake.

PUMPKIN SOUP
25-30 oz. canned pumpkin
1 can coconut milk
2 1/2 c vegetable broth
1 Tbsp butter
salt and pepper
Warm all together in a saucepan.

PUMPKIN PIE FILLING (Great Grandma Nettie Ress/Pappaw Ress)
1 1/2 c pumpkin
1 c milk
2-3 eggs
3/4 c sugar
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ginger
1/8 tsp cloves
1/8 tsp all spice
(can replace last 4 spices with 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice)
Mix together and pour in 9" Pillsbury pie crust. Cover edges with strips of aluminum foil. Bake at 450 for 10 minutes, then 350 for 45 minutes.

I hope you found something you'll enjoy!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! REMEMBER TO BE THANKFUL FOR ALL THE BLESSINGS YOU HAVE!

GoD and DoG

This is VERY worth a watch - touches the heart! If you love dogs, you'll love this!

Gulf Coast Sea Turtles

As a follow up to my last post, I did some research to find out how sea turtle nests are faring on the Alabama coast as a result of Share the Beach's efforts.

2005: 37 Loggerhead and 1 possible Kemp's Ridley nests were identified, although four major storms that season proceeded to ruin many of them

2006: 45 Loggerhead and 1 Kemp's Ridley nests were identified, and only four nests were known to be destroyed by storms; an estimated 3,603 hatchlings reached the water safely

2007: 54 Loggerhead and 1 Kemp's Ridley nests were identified, and it was estimated that 3,465 hatchlings made it safely into the Gulf

2008: 78 Loggerhead and 1 Kemp's Ridley nests were identified, and an estimated 3,520 hatchlings made it into the surf

From 2003 - 2008, an estimated 17,390 hatchlings successfully entered the Gulf of Mexico.

So far this year, 66 nests have been located, but data haven't been entered for all nests yet, so the results are yet to be determined!

We amazingly witnessed the ONLY Kemp's Ridley nest of 2008 hatch - what luck!

Sea Turtle Hatching, Bon Secour NWR

It will be hard to beat my one year marriage anniversary. Rod and I spent it in Gulf Shores, where we had our wedding, and unbelievably witnessed the hatching of not one but TWO sea turtle nests!

Share the Beach is a volunteer program overseen by the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge, and for years whenever we were vacationing in Gulf Shores I'd stop by the refuge office to find out which nests were close to hatching and where they were located. My family and I traipsed down to numerous nests at night, hoping we'd catch some hatchlings emerging. Although we came close on several occasions (volunteers monitoring those nests could hear the tell-tale "waterfall" sounds of the sand falling into the spaces created as the babies moved towards the surface), I'd yet actually seen it happen.

Until July 28, 2008, exactly one year after Rod and I were married. Dad had a contract to write an article on Share the Beach and sea turtles for the Huntsville Times, so he'd gotten the low-down on the "ripe" nests, and we headed to check one out. The attending volunteer said the waterfall sound was pretty loud, and thought the hatchlings would emerge that night... but when? Unbelievably, only minutes later, a small indention appeared in the sand. A short time later a small dark head - was it a head?- appeared. We stared at that dark spot on the sand in the glow of the red light from the filtered flashlight for so long we'd decided our desire for it to be a turtle fooled us into thinking it was a turtle, when suddenly it lifted its head, and there was no doubt. This was the "scout", and that little booger sat there for an eternity before finally deciding to come on out. Once he decided it was time, the rest followed!



This was an extra special nest, too, because it was a Kemp's Ridley nest, rare nesters along the Alabama coast. We spent about four hours out there that night with a team of about 25 volunteers, and saw every single one of those babies to the water. I saw firsthand the effect that light pollution has; there was an incredibly bright street light behind us, luring the hatchlings away from the water in the wrong direction. We had to continually turn them around and redirect them towards the water. I feel certain that without these volunteer teams who shepherd the babies to the water, the mortality would be astronomical, as they would end up in the street due to the allure of beachfront lights or predated. I felt so blessed to be part of this amazing event. Sadly, Dad wasn't to join us in Gulf Shores until the next day, so it was Mom, Michael, Rod and I who had the fortune to experience this... Mr. Writer missed out! However... all was not lost!

AMAZINGLY, the very next night we lucked out AGAIN and watched a Loggerhead nest hatch! This time Dad was in tow... thank goodness. Two species in two nights - WOW. Also, we discovered that as we were herding baby turtles to the water, another mama turtle was laying a new nest just yards away from us! The next morning we saw her signature tracks in the sand. Dad got to patrol with a volunteer on the ATV in the early morning hours, and got to help dig up and move a newly laid nest.



The fun still wasn't over. We were invited to take part in an "excavation" - 48 hours after a nest empties, they dig it up to get a count of the total # of eggs laid, figure out how many didn't hatch, and possibly determine why. Well, to our surprise, once they started digging, they kept finding live baby turtles still in the nest!





Because the belief is that the turtles have to make the journey from nest to ocean to imprint upon their natal grounds, we stood by as the remaining babies made the long journey to the sea. At least they had a trench to help guide their way!





We saw the last hatchling into the water as the sun was beginning to set. It was an experience I'll always treasure!




All sea turtles are listed as endangered or threatened and face numerous threats to their survival.

ALL PHOTOS TAKEN BY ROBERTA RESS

The Nature Conservancy | Planet Change

My friend Laura Marx (who was on my OTS course in Costa Rica) tells us why trees are important to carbon sequestration in this GREAT video clip - check it out!

Northwest Arkansas Audubon Society Photo Contest

For all you photographers in Northwest Arkansas, the NWAAS is hosting a photo contest! But hurry, the deadline is September 25!

DETAILS:

Three Categories: bird, nature, scenic

$50 David Nolan Prize for Best in Show

Four additional prizes in each category

1st prize: $40 Bordino’s gift card
2nd prize: $25 Bedford’s gift card
3rd prize: $10 Bedford’s gift card

Entry Deadline: September 25

Northwest Arkansas Audubon Society
2009 Photography Contest Rules

Amateurs only
The contest is open only to amateur photographers. An entry may not previously have won an award in any photography contest.

Entry requirements
You may enter a maximum of ten photographs.
Minimum size: 8'' × 10''
Maximum size: 11'' × 14''

Categories
Each photograph may be entered in only one of three categories. You specify the category of each photograph on the entry form. The three categories are:
1) Birds, 2) General Scenic, 3) General Nature

Entry locations
Bedford Camera, 1320 W. Walnut, Rogers; 3277 N. College, Fayetteville, or
Collier Drug Store, 100 W. Dickson, Fayetteville

Entry Fee
$5 for each photograph entered. A separate fee and entry form must accompany each photo (place in envelope and submit with photo). Please write your name on the back of each photo in case the form and photo get separated.
Cash or check is accepted. Make check to:
Northwest Arkansas Audubon Society

Damage
While all possible effort will be made to avoid loss or damage, Northwest Arkansas Audubon Society (NWAAS), entry locations, judges or display locations may not be held responsible for loss or damage to any submitted photograph.

Selection of winners
A panel of outdoor and nature photographers selected by NWAAS will judge the entries.
Best of Show will be the entry judged best among all entries. The remaining entries
will be divided into the three categories and the entries in each category will be ranked.

Announcement of winners
Winning photographs will be on display at the Shiloh Museum in Springdale on October 10 from 1pm – 4pm. There will also be a presentation from Lynn Sciumbato of Morning Star Wildlife Rehabilitation Center and a question and answer session about birds by “The Bird Guys”, Dr. Doug James and Joe Neal, authors of Arkansas Birds. The event is open to the public.

Winning photographs
Winners agree that their entries may be published as winning photographs in this contest. Winning photographs may be picked up at 4 pm on October 10 at the Shiloh Museum. Any photos not picked up will be returned to the entry location where they were submitted.

Non-winning photographs
Non-winning photographs will be returned to the entry location where they were submitted.

Northwest Arkansas Audubon Society
The NWAAS is a registered non-profit organization serving the four-county region of northwest Arkansas, and is committed to preserving the natural world in northwest Arkansas through education, environmental study and habitat protection, and to promote awareness and enjoyment of local and regional natural areas. For more information or to join, visit: http://www.nwarkaudubon.org/

Nature Writing

My first assignment for my online class was to start a nature journal, which I chose to do in my backyard. Here are some excerpts from my first week:

Monday 8/31 – 6:55 pm-7:17pm

I’m starting this journal for my writing class. I am to observe the same spot day after day. I’ve chosen our backyard. I don’t spend enough time here anyway. Scooter’s accompanying me this evening. It’s unseasonably cool- probably mid-70s now, and with the deck in the shade it even feels chilly. I only have two feeders out right now – thistle and hummingbird – at least until fall migration begins. The south side of our fence is overgrown with trumpet creeper, and the hummingbird feeder is on a shepherd’s pole nestled among the vine. The north fence Rod planted squash and sunflowers alongside of. I think the squash has stopped producing for the year. Many of the sunflowers are still in bloom. Three days ago they were laden with American Goldfinch, but now, with the exception of one that just flew over, they’re nowhere to be found. A Blue Jay is calling incessantly overhead, and a cicada just flew by. I watched a female Ruby-throated Hummingbird feed uncontested from the feeder. She then flew up to perch on the power line – moved approximately 18 inches over – moved about 18 inches over again… ah, I think she found her spot. I can only surmise the warm sunshine felt good, as the first two perches were shady. A Grey Catbird flew down and hopped around in the smilax vine behind the sunflowers, but must have sneaked out the back – I don’t see it anymore. The sounds of nature are shattered by a train whistle. Ah! The hummer is back and has brought a friend – two females. Funny – one drinks from the feeder while the other sits patiently in the trumpet creeper. Whenever I see two together they’re usually vying for a monopoly of the feeder. The feeder bird left, and the other sat for 1.5 – 2 minutes more before taking its spot at the feeder. It’s too bad we have only one species, when they regularly get up to 14 in (ah, she just flew off) areas of the southwest we just visited. The breeze is chilly! I think I’ll call it good for my first journal entry. Until tomorrow!

Tuesday 9/1/09 – 9:10pm-9:27pm

I’m supposed to spend a night journaling in my spot, so here I am. Mostly just because it’s the first chance I’ve had to get out here! The night is filled with the sounds of insects. Wish I could identify them all: a constant buzz – background noise. Once that chimes in fours, very consistently. A lone insect calling – chirping – sporadically from the crown of a nearby tree. One occasionally pipes in that sounds like two marbles clicking together (of course, that’s how I describe cricket frogs too!). Now, in the background noise, I detect a “humm” separate from the “buzz”. I also hear what I’m pretty sure is a species of cricket. Wow, what diversity! It’s crisp and chilly. The moon overhead is almost full – a little squished on the upper right side yet. I believe it to be waxing – this is good for my observation skills! Had I been out last night I’d know! Some small insects are flying around the porch light. Neighborhood dogs are barking in the distance. Scooter has joined me again tonight – Haley has no interest. There is a gentle breeze – all the chillier for me! The stars are scarce – cloudy night, or overpowered by the lights of Fayetteville? I do not know. I suppose I should be thankful for the light, despite their pollution. Michael sent me a satellite photo link of completely blackened N Korea (except for the capital city and Kim Jong Il’s home) surrounded by the illuminated S Korea and China, where the people are forced to live without power. It’s peaceful out here – I should take this time more often. Next time I’ll bring a jacket – in August? I know, crazy!

Thursday 9/3 – 5:43 pm-6:10pm

It is overcast today and the temperature is very pleasant. The multiple hues of green from the surrounding trees stand in stark contrast to the grey sky. A cardinal is repeatedly fluttering above the neighbors’ fence, just into my view, then down again – I wonder what she’s doing? A bee (sp?) is feeding from the trumpet creeper. I wish I knew my plants and insects better (yet never take the time to learn!). I hear flowing water, that’s a new sound – wonder if our neighbors installed a water feature? Would have to climb over the privacy fence to see, and not in the mood. Female hummer is back, and twittering from a trumpet creeper vine. She left without feeding. The thistle feeder is empty. Quite bird-wise today. I can still see remnants from the ice storm. The trees will likely show the wear and tear for years to come. Ah, the hummer is perching on the wire. No sun to bask in today. Now she feeds. A Carolina Chickadee is flitting between the Sycamore and the pine. A second joined her. And now descend the House Sparrows. On that note, I’ll head inside.

Labor Day at Kings River

Rod and I spent last weekend with his dad, Robert, and the dogs, Haley and Scooter, at the Kings River and Lake Leatherwood outside of Eureka Springs. After an early supper at Penguin Ed's BBQ, we headed east into the Ozarks. Driving north on Hwy. 23, we passed HUNDREDS of Common Nighthawks heading south over some farm fields and chicken houses. It was quite a spectacle! We arrived at Kings River Retreat about dusk, and set up camp while listening to the emphatic whinnies of an Eastern Screech Owl. Scooter couldn't get enough of the river,and spent most of his evening swimming while we enjoyed each other's company fireside.

The next morning I awoke early to find the river shrouded in a blanket of fog. It was quite beautiful!



Robert was up next, and we sat by the river for a while, until we decided the cold wet chill could be easily overcome by a trip into Eureka Springs for a hot breakfast of eggs and coffee. We drug Rod from the tent and headed into town, dogs in tow.



After a satisfying breakfast, we decided to make a foray to Lake Leatherwood, where apparently a population of Collared Lizards still proliferates in its remnant glade habitat. We set off on the four mile hike around the lake, and about 3/4 of a mile in Rod discovered this pygmy rattlesnake (which the dogs and I had already walked past).



As I was getting artistic with my camera on the bridge over the lake's spillway...





... Rod found two more pygmy rattlesnakes coiled together, post-copulation?



We didn't find a single collared lizard, but did find some ground skinks, fence lizards and a northern water snake. As far as birds go, it was pretty quiet - still too early for migrants?





After we were hot and sweaty and pretty tuckered out, we headed back to the river for a cool dip. We weren't back for half an hour and Rod discovered a northern water snake that he had to get his hands on:





We headed into Eureka once more for a good Mexican dinner, then built the most perfect fire to wind down the evening. Monday morning we headed back to Fayetteville before seeing Robert off. What a great weekend!

Northwest Arkansas Audubon Society

Live in Northwest Arkansas? Like nature, birds, the outdoors? Check out the Northwest Arkansas Audubon Society!



Upcoming events include:

Saturday, September 19, 2009
Walker Room, Fayetteville Public Library
10AM - Noon
Leesia C. Marshall will present: "The Life and Times of the Louisiana Waterthrush"

Saturday, October 10, 2009
Shiloh Museum, Springdale
1PM - 4PM
NWAAS Photo Contest winners announcement and display. Presentations will include Lynn Sciumbato, Director of Morningstar Wildlife Rehabilitation Center and a Question/Answer session with the "NWA Bird Guys". For more information about the photo contest, see contest rules.

Saturday, December 5, 2009
Walker Room, Fayetteville Public Library
10AM - Noon
Pam and Jack Stewart will present: "From the Devil's Throat to the Heart of Fire: A Birdwatching Journey in Argentina". This will also be the annual meeting for election of officers.

Field Trips:

Saturday, October 3, 2009
Ninestone Land Trust in Carroll County

Saturday, October 17, 2009
Woolsey Wet Prairie and Wilson Springs

Sunday, November 15, 2009
Lake Fayetteville and Lake Sequoyah

Sunday, December 13 or 20, 2009
Fayetteville Christmas Bird Count

For more details about field trips or information about the Northwest Arkansas Audubon Society Chapter, visit their website.

NWAAS: Committed to Preserving the Natural World in Northwest Arkansas through Education, Environmental Study and Habitat Protection

Using Consumer Power to Boycott Michael Vick

DEvery purchase you make is a vote - a vote for that product, that company, and what that company supports. Make it clear to the companies that support the Eagles that you do not agree with the decision to allow criminal Michael Vick to play again (thus becoming more rich and more famous). Do not buy their products, and LET THEM KNOW you won't and why! A list of companies who support the Eagles:

Lincoln Financial Group
Miller Lite
Budweiser
Pepsi
Verizon
US Airways
7 Eleven
AAA
Aflac
Aquafina
Best Buy
Chrysler
Comcast
Dunkin Donuts
Gatorade
GEICO
Heineken
Jeep
Taco Bell
KFC
MasterCard
Motorola
Papa Johns
Pepcid
Remax
Rite Aid
Snapple
Splenda
Tastykake

Is there any such thing as "Mercury Free Fish"?

Check out this abstract (and click to read the full article) from the New York Times:

MERCURY FOUND IN EVERY FISH TESTED, SCIENTISTS SAY (New York Times) -- When government scientists went looking for mercury contamination in fish in 291 streams around the nation, they found it in every fish they tested, the Interior Department said, even in isolated rural waterways. In a statement, the department said that some of the streams tested were affected by mining operations, which can be a source of mercury pollution, so the findings, by scientists at the United States Geological Survey, do not necessarily reflect contamination levels nationwide. But Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said the findings underlined the need to act against mercury pollution. Emissions from coal-fired power plants are the largest source of mercury contamination in the United States. A quarter of the fish studied had mercury levels above safety levels set by the Environmental Protection Agency for people who eat the fish regularly, the Interior Department said.

Yikes, scary! One more reason it pays to be a vegetarian!

Trash and Wildlife - Not a Good Mix

This forward ended up in my email inbox. Funny, the author intended it as a "cute story", though I find it a rather disgusting testament to the harm our trash causes to wildlife. PICK UP YOUR TRASH! Even what we don't think of as being dangerous is, as this story illustrates:

"Last night I was heading to the barn to do chores and I passed a wad of netting I had shoved up under this bush (yes I am one step removed from white trash). The netting had been on my cherry tree earlier to keep the birds from eating all the fruit, but the deer had pretty much shredded it so I took it off a while back. Anyway this wad of stuff was moving! So I took a closer look and there was a rat snake (not poisonous) tangled up in it. I thought that was a strange thing for him to do and he looked kinda stuck. So I decided if he was still there when I came back from the barn I would try to help him. After all, I should not have left that stuff there. It never occurred to me that is was a hazard for the wildlife. So when I came back up it was getting dark and the wad was still moving, snake still stuck. Sigh.
So I went in to fetch my hubby and got a broom, some scissors, and a big flashlight. We went out to the wad with the equipment and hubby held the broom down over the snake's head so I could cut the netting off him. At first he struggled and his head kept getting free, so we'd have to stop and reposition the broom. But then I swear he seemed able to tell we were helping him. As I cut the strands away from his body, scissors right up against his skin, he lay perfectly still. Every once in a while his tail would lash a little. Who knows, maybe hubby was cutting off his oxygen with the broom. But I don't think so. The netting was really tangled and he had gotten it wound tight around his body. I think he was trying to crawl through and his head fit, but then the wider part of his body got stuck. The more he tried to go forward, the tighter it got until it was almost cutting into him. I think when he would try to back up the scales would raise up and get caught on the netting. Poor fellow! When I cut the last strands and hubby moved the broom away he hesitated for a moment, then wound rapidly up the tree. He was so happy to be free!
So I did my good deed for the day...rectifying the mess I caused by leaving my trash lying around. Thank goodness hubby was brave with the broom!"

Help Charities with a Click of Your Mouse

In case you do not know, you can generate money for several worthwhile charities simply by clicking on their webpages. Every click (you can only click once per day) generates money from sponsors to raise money for things like food for shelter animals or healthcare for children or rainforest habitat.

Once you visit one of these sites the first time, you can save them to your "FAVORITES" and easily access them each day to click and raise more money! Click on the following links for:

ANIMALS

HUNGRY PEOPLE

BREAST CANCER

CHILD HEALTHCARE

BOOKS FOR LITERACY

RAINFORESTS

Once you click on or bookmark one site, you can access all of the sites from here via the tabs across the top of the page.

Is Our Legacy One Of Plastic?

An editorial from the New York Times:

August 27, 2009
Editorial

Our Plastic Legacy Afloat

Until recently, the earth had seven continents. To that number, humans have added an eighth ­ an amorphous, floating mass of waste plastic trapped in a gyre of currents in the north Pacific, between Hawaii and Japan. Researchers have estimated that this garbage patch may contain as much as 100 million tons of plastic debris and is perhaps twice the size of Texas, if not larger.

Across the world’s oceans there are still many more millions of tons of floating plastic, most of it originating from land, not ships. All of this solid waste is bad news. It traps as many as a million seabirds every year, as well as some 100,000 marine mammals.

Now comes what could be more bad news. A new study, announced at a recent meeting of the American Chemical Society, suggests that plastics in seawater break down faster than expected. As they do, they apparently release contaminants, including potentially harmful styrene compounds not normally found in nature. This was not merely a laboratory finding. The author of the study, Katsuhiko Saido, a scientist at Nihon University in Japan, found the same chemical compounds in seawater samples collected near Malaysia, the Pacific Northwest, and in the northern Pacific.

The effects of these broken-down plastics on marine organisms is as yet unknown, and they will be harder to measure than the damage that plastic refuse does to sea-life. But adding to the contaminant load of the oceans cannot be a good thing.

What we are seeing here is yet another of the large-scale, potentially tragic, uncontrolled experiments that humans have conducted on their environment without intending to. And though we cannot do much about the millions of tons that have already been sent to sea, we can at least begin to ask ourselves, when we get ready to pitch a plastic container, where is this likely to end up?

Check out my articles on this issue:

The Great Pacific or Eastern Garbage Patch

Environmental Dangers of Plastic Bags

Bottled Water Versus Tap Water, Which is Better

A Society of "Stuff"

Ever really thought about all the STUFF you consume, on a daily, weekly, yearly basis? This video illustrates the circle of stuff in our lives, and makes you think about your consumption habits.



A student of mine referred this site to me, and now I'm passing it along to you! Think before you buy - do you need it? Can you repair something you already have? Is what you have really obsolete, or just not the newest and latest but it works just fine? Reduce, reuse and recycle, but focus on REDUCE.

The "There Oughta be a Law" Contest

(This info was taken from the HSUS):

Have you ever thought “there oughta be a law” to protect animals? Well, now is your chance to make your idea reality! I'd like to invite you to participate in the Humane Society Legislative Fund's "There Oughta Be a Law" contest to help protect animals. Submit your idea today for a new federal bill to help animals!

A blue-ribbon panel of experts will select the winning idea based on its merit and viability for passage into a new federal law, and the winner will then be announced at the next Party Animals -- our nationwide, house party event -- on October 25. Join the party and you will be the first to know the winner! Let us know if you're interested in hosting a party.

The winner will receive a trip to Washington, DC, to meet with me and the rest of the HSLF staff, and to lobby federal lawmakers to gain support for their winning idea.

The contest ends at midnight EDT on October 5, 2009. Submit your idea for a new federal bill today!

Thanks for all you do for animals!

Sincerely,

Mike Markarian
President
Humane Society Legislative Fund

Have an idea? Submit it!

Michael Vick and the Humane Society of the United States

Funny, everywhere you look lately it's "Should Michael Vick be allowed to play for the NFL again?" Seriously?!? You commit atrocious acts causing the direct suffering of numerous living beings, but we're going to make a celebrity out of you and pay you millions of dollars? Right. The obvious answer is HECK no. However, I have mixed feelings about the fact that the Humane Society of the United States is using this opportunity to use Michael Vick as a spokesman against animal cruelty and dog fighting. On the one hand, I see how young inner city boys may totally ignore a rich-looking white guy in a suit telling them dog fighting is wrong, yet listen carefully if a young football star tells them. I see how a lot of good could potentially come of the situation, if he can indeed influence a generation of young kids not to participate in this horrible act. However, how in the world can Vick be trusted? How can an organization who exists to eliminate animal cruelty put a dogfighter front and center to convey a very important message, when he himself doesn't believe it? I mean, give me a break, he's no more reformed than Jeffery Dahmer. So, what happens when he's not filming a HSUS commercial, or taping a PSA, and he's just roaming the hood, laughing histerically about his post as an HSUS spokesman and how he's fooled us all? What happens once he's past his prime and the NFL ends his contract and once again he fades into nothingness, a thing of the past, and takes up dogfighting again? I have serious doubts about this decision. What do you think? Weigh in at the poll at right.

Desert Southwest 2009

On Tuesday July 14, Rod (not feeling very well) and I headed out about 4 pm for our 3 week trip to the American southwest. We traveled about 6.5 hours to Shamrock Texas, where we camped at an RV park. Little did we know that we'd set up our tent just below a Mississippi Kite nest! What a treat we had in the morning, as we lay in our tent and watched the adults come and go above!

On Wednesday we headed to Albuquerque, 6 hours on down the road. Upon arriving, we went for a hike in the Sandia Wilderness in the Cibola National Forest. It was beautiful!

On Thursday we headed to the American International Rattlesnake Museum, where they have on display many of our country's native rattlesnakes.



Then we went to the Rio Grande Zoo - somewhat of a disappointment. We've visited lots of zoos, and this was not one of our favorite.

From here, we drove to Elephant Butte Lake SP, where we arrived late and set up camp, then went looking for night critters. We found our first Western Diamondback Rattlesnake, a Glossy Snake, and a tarantula!




In the morning we awoke to the first real view we'd had of the lake, New Mexico's largest, and it was beautiful! See the rock for which the lake is named?




We spent the rest of the day at Percha Dam SP and Caballo Lake SP, where we spent the night. After setting up camp and cooking supper, a huge storm blew in over the mountains. We waited it out in our tent, watching the rain over the peaks and getting the brunt of the wind.




After the storm blew over, we went out and found a Night Snake and Couch's Spadefoot Toad.




We typically slept with our rain fly off, as it was so much cooler. In the middle of the night we awoke to raindrops hitting our tent, and as we scrambled to climb out and get the rain fly out of the car, it started pouring. By the time we snapped it on and were securely back in the tent, we (and all of our stuff) were soaked. Was not the most comfortable night's sleep!

The next day we hiked in Dripping Springs Recreation Area, which was beautiful. Then we headed to White Sands National Monument.




We arrived at Leasburg Dam SP at about 10 pm, as we normally arrived late to our camping spots, but we were disappointed to find the gate locked up. Great - it was 30 minutes back to Las Cruces, where we'd just come from, and where we could get a hotel. About that time, headlights appeared. Lucky for us, the ranger happened to be kicking 2 cars out of the park at that moment, and after hearing our story he let us in to take 1 of the 2 campsites he had remaining.

The next day we headed towards Silver City New Mexico, the gateway to the Gila National Forest. En route, we stopped at Emory Peak (8500+ feet) and Mud Creek to hike. We got caught in a mild hail storm at Emory Peak, and made it back to our car in the nick of time. After hiking, we planned on driving to City of Rocks SP to spend the night. However, as we were driving it was pouring, and on the way we encountered a huge wash in the road that we were uncomfortable crossing. We made the decision to spend the night in a hotel in Silver City rather than get washed out into the desert trying to cross this stream!

The next morning we headed to the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, one of my favorite sites.



That night we finally made it to City of Rocks SP, where we encountered unusual rock formations from a remnant volcanic explosion, and jackrabbits everywhere! On our night hike Rod found (almost stepped on!) a beautiful Prairie Rattlesnake. We also found a gnarly looking (but harmless) Whip Scorpion.





The next morning we found a gopher snake.




From here we drove into Arizona, stopping first at the Chiricahua National Monument. Rod found one of his prizes of the trip, the Lyre Snake. This was also one of my favorite places - beautiful.




We then drove to canyon country, staying in Sierra Vista and exploring Ramsey and Miller Canyons and the San Pedro River.




We drove to Patagonia, but the SP we planned to stay at was full, so we spent the night in the border town of Nogales. Then we spent our third cold, rainy day in a row hiking through the Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve (but we did get a Gray Hawk there!). As we tried to leave the preserve, we ran into another wash out on the road, and headed back to the preserve to see if we could hang out there for a while. We ran into another hiker, Chris, and visited with him until the staff showed back up and told us of another route to get out. Chris lives in Tucson and offered to show us around when we made it that far in our journey. We ended up having dinner with him before heading to Madera Canyon, my favorite place of all.

Upon arriving, we encountered the Friends of the Madera Canyon doing their annual Bug Night. They had blacklights and sheets hung up, and invited us to hang out with them for a while. The next day we hiked around, and it was my best birding day of all! I got the ELEGANT TROGON, FLAME-COLORED TANAGER, Hepatic Tanager, and Hooded Oriole here.



We drove to Tucson next, and stayed at Catalina SP, where we encountered abundant desert tarantulas and huge Sonoran desert toads.




We spent the next three days in sweltering 111+ degree heat in the Sonoran Desert. The Arizona-Sonora Desert museum was awesome - can't find a better zoo anywhere. The Saguaro Cactus of Saguaro National Park are impressive and beautiful. And Mount Lemmon, high in the surrounding mountains, was a cool respite from the hot desert.



We made one final stop at Picacho's Peak SP. Here Rod found 2 baby Mojave Rattlesnakes.




We then headed to Phoenix, to spend a few days with Aunt Diana and Uncle Don. They took us to their cabin in the mountains, in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest on the Mogollon Rim. It was 114 in Phoenix, and in the high 80s in the mountains.




We spent Sunday and Monday, Aug. 2 and 3, making the long drive back to Fayetteville. We camped in Santa Rosa SP near Tucumcari NM on the way. What a trip it was! Twenty-one days, 3,820 miles, 114 species of birds (37 lifers).

See my articles about our trip! Read Birding Southeast Arizona, Habitats and Birds of Southeast Arizona, Birding Southwest New Mexico, and Habitats and Birds of Southwest New Mexico.