Beyond Binkies, Code and Make-Believe

Wildlife Center of the North Coast - educating in Oregon Parks

"WCNC" is a volunteer based non-profit Oregon corporation with IRS 501(c)(3) tax exempt status. Their mission is to rehabilitate injured, sick, orphaned and displaced native wildlife with the goal of releasing healthy, viable wildlife back into the appropriate habitat. They operate under permits issued by the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife and the US Fish & Wildlife Service. Their licensed rehabber is Executive Director Sharnelle Fee.  Sharnelle has been rescuing and rehabilitating animals for over 20 years.  Her first 10 years she did it as a hobby until she realized this was her calling.

Common Murres, Brown Pelican, Spotted Owl, Cormorant, Nature up close. The direct effects of pollution on marine birds. In spite of deformities and injuries, these guys still have personality!

We also saw this little guy.  His beak was damaged.  He cannot feed himself.

Our children learned that they can help with some basic safety tips.

The next day they watched US learn how to make driftwood and oyster shell wind chimes.  I think we should be getting the Jr. Ranger patch.  Oregon parks offer GREAT programs for campers.  We always learn something about local nature and conservation efforts. 

Did you know the spotted owl mates for life?  This little lady was rescued a couple of years ago. She was found on the forest floor with evidence that her mate had been feeding her for some time by bringing her mice.  She was deteriorating, but he was faithful. This team rescued her and kept track of him. By next season he had a new mate and she is comfortably living and part of the education program.

Mom's Carrot Cake with a FoodTV update

My mother had this amazing recipe for carrot cake. It is a favorite in our family, even for those not big on sweets. The directions were simple.  She just tossed stuff in a bowl without a thought to chemistry, physics and the other things we know are a part of baking.   I've revised the method, not really the ingredients, to make a fluffier, fuller cake.  Here goes:

I'll bake anything for my charming son.

My four-year-old has learned how to be charming. I really think he is charming, naturally.  It's not about blowing smoke up my fanny - unless he's really THAT good.  He asked me to bake my "delicious and amazing healthy cookies" for him.  Could you say, "no" to that?  I didn't think so.

This is a variation on the one with dark chocolate and toasted coconut.

1 stick shortening
1 stick butter
(ok , the first two ingredients aren't so healthy, but peanut and almond butter just don't hold it all together very well)

Add:
1/2 cup brown sugar packed - and cream together.

1 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 cups Krusty's pancake mix
2 cups rolled oats
1 cup chopped, raw almonds
2/3 cup raisins
1 cup dried cherries

The pancake mix takes care of:
flour, salt and baking powder, baking soda.

mix.
Spoon
Bake at 375 for 12 minutes.

Movie Review: Appaloosa with Ed Harris and Viggo Mortensen

Date night at home.  They usually start around 9:30.  We had, "Appaloosa" to watch.  Tom had read the book.  I like westerns, so there we were.  The movie was directed by Ed Harris, staring Ed Harris, written by Ed Harris.  Reminds me of Ron Howard and Tom Hanks.  Actually, this was a very well done movie.  The sets, costumes, script and casting left no room for improvement.  It languished a bit in a few spots, but they were necessary to drive a moment to the full story.  I'm not used to slower paced movies any more.  So many quick clips.  It took a few minutes to settle in and adjust to a deliberate, thought-out pace. Once I did I was able to fully take in the settings, the character development.

We both really enjoyed this movie. I'm very glad we used our at home date night for it. 

Instead of a chick flick, this was a dude flick.  It told of true friendship between men without any mush and about how most women are out for themselves and will lie.  One woman told it like it was; the other, Renee Zellweger's character, was the lying, selfish woman in the guise of a man's dream.  We enjoyed the friendship of the men - true and unshakable until the end.

How to eat a cupcake - a new favorite blog.

If you love cake and cupcakes like I do, you have to love a blog that's called, "How to Eat a Cupcake."  Not only do they have great recipes, but their calendar for June is fantastic!

June - Candy Month, Dairy Month, Fresh Fruit & Veggie Month, Iced Tea Month, Papaya Month

June 10 - Herbs & Spice Day, Iced Tea Day, Black Cow Day
June 11 - German Chocolate Cake Day
June 12 - Peanut Butter Cookie Day
June 13 - "Kitchen Klutzes of America" Day
June 14 - Strawberry Shortcake Day
June 16 - Fudge Day
June 17 - Apple Streudul Day
June 18 - Cherry Tart Day, Int'l Picnic Day
June 20 - Vanilla Milkshake Day
June 21 - Peaches & Cream Day
June 22 - Chocolate Eclair Day
June 23 - Pecan Sandy Day
June 24 - Pralines Day
June 25 - Strawberry Parfait Day
June 26 - Chocolate Pudding Day
June 27 - Orange Blossom Day
June 28 - Tapioca Day
June 29 - Almond Butter Crunch Day
June 30 - Ice Cream Soda Day

Treasures at Powell's City of Books on the $1 Shelf

Oh my goodness!  What a great day. I shouldn't even give away my secret, but it was so much fun finding treasures today at Powell's on Burnside.  We stopped by to pick up the only copy of Mary S. Lovell's, "A Rage To Live."  I have the one from the library, but there's no way I'll get through it by my "deadline," even renewing a few times.  I just had to buy it.

While there the children wanted to spend some of their lemonade stand money and headed for the $1 shelves in the Children's book area at Powell's.  SCORE!

I found a first edition, 1932 by Amelia Earhart, "The Fun of It" written for a book club and Junior Literary Guild. It was written to inspire girls to consider flying or any other occupation previously dominated by men - $1. I know a lot about Amelia Earhart from another Mary S. Lovell book, "The Sound of Wings." Then, I found another, 1922 by Frances Jenkins Olcott, "Good Stories for Great Birthdays" with many stories about historical figures of the time and 100 years prior:  $1.

Our son found five treasures to spend his $5 lemonade money.  They were all delightfully illustrated and unique stories; mainly published in the mid 1980's.  We've been finding a lot of authors over the past few years seem to recycle classic books with a very obvious spin to not be a rip-off, yet they reek of it.

Today was fun.  I love the excitement our children show when they are surrounded by towers books full of possibilities of adventure.  The joy of plopping on the floor in an aisle at Powell's always guarantees finding a treasure - you just have to look in the right room.

Binky Patrol Celebrates 13 Years

 Thirteen years ago I had an idea. I wanted an easy way to volunteer to help children who are in shelters.  I was inspired by a battered women's shelter, Human Options in Irvine, California.  I wanted to spend time helping these children but I couldn't make it fit with their training schedule. 

At the time, I had an art gallery in Laguna Beach which took 12 hours day.  My mom had wanted to volunteer and spend more time with me so she had the idea that I would teach her how to sew blankets.  I hadn't really sewn since Miss Makino's Home Ec class in 7th grade.  But I was involved with a few friends hand-sewing projects for each other. I approached them about helping others instead.  They weren't interested.  So much for that group. I was on my own and starting from scratch. 

I contacted my local framer for the gallery and they said I could have their left over matting fabric. It was odd fabric in blacks, blues and greens because they did a lot of framing for Wyland and Dale TerBush.  Our first binkies were odd.  I put a sign up sheet in front of my gallery and ended up with four volunteers.  Three of which became officers in what became, Binky Patrol Comforting Covers for Kids. We also received a ton of great fabrics from BB Dakota, Hoffman Fabrics and more!

It didn't hurt that Oprah's "peoople" took a shine to my idea and "mentioned" it on her show.  We had 800+ phone calls and we went national within our first month.  It was amazing.

Some of our first events included a golf tournament that a few friends I grew up with helped organize. They were dears and behind this effort 100%.  Debra and Joe Torturo, Issac and Randee Grosso and others.  Wahoo's Fish Taco fed us since the beginning and here we are.  Read more here >>

Boo Boo Haystacks - when you don't have the hard stuff to fix it.

It's been a week to outdo many weeks.  It's only Tuesday? You're kidding me?  I can't remember the past four days as I wrestled with technology, clients, phones, servers, firewalls, routers --- ahhhhh.  It's finally settled down and things are working for my one of my major clients once again.   To celebrate I'm too lazy to open a bottle of wine, don't have any tequila so I'm left rummaging through the cupboards.

Here's my Boo Boo Haystack recipe:

1 package Ghirardelli dark chocolate chips
1/2 stick butter
1 cup chopped raw almonds
1 package shredded coconut
1 package graham crackers smashed, but not crushed -- leave chunks.

-------------------
melt the chocolate. I was in a hurry and used the microwave on 1/2 power.

Saucepan on med to med/med high:

melt butter
stir in chocolate until smooth but not bubbling
remove from heat

stir in coconut, almonds and lastly graham crackers.

Spoon onto cookie sheet in lumps to form the haystack.
Let cool, if you can.

They freeze well for emergencies.  Don't freeze until they are cool or they'll all stick together.  Don't ask me how I know, I just know this, OK?