Saturday, March 31, 2012

Brie and Raspbery Logs


Logs:
4 eggs, whites and yolks separated
6 tbsp (90 ml) sugar
1/4 cup (60 ml) butter, melted and at room temperature
6 1/2 tbsp (100 ml) all-purpose and unbleached flour
Splash of dry sherry
1/2 cup (125 ml) PC® seedless raspberry jam
1 (200 g) Triple Cream Brie, rind removed and sliced lengthwise

Topping:
Icing sugar and fresh raspberries

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375°F (180°C). Grease a baking sheet 12” x 16” (30 cm x 40 cm) and cover with parchment paper. Grease and flour parchment. The temperature of the oven and size of pan must be respected, otherwise the cake may crack.
Beat the yolks with 5 tbsp (75 ml) of the sugar 3-4 minutes, until mixture is creamy and thickened.
Add melted butter, whisking to combine.
Sift flour over yolk mixture. Whisk to combine.
Beat egg whites until foamy and add the remaining 1 tbsp (15 ml) of sugar. Continue beating until stiff peaks form, but the mixture shouldn’t be dry. Add beaten whites to yolk mixture, folding delicately. Do not stir too much.
Spread mixture on baking sheet and cook in centre of oven 6-8 minutes, or until cake is set and the tip of a knife comes out clean. Use a paring knife to loosen edges of cake from pan. Turn cake onto a damp cloth, remove parchment paper, and immediately roll up into the towel lengthwise to form a long and thin cylinder. Let it cool to room temperature.
In a small saucepan, put sherry and jam over moderate heat until liquefied. Remove from heat.
Unroll the cake and spread the warm jam on its entire surface. Top one side (width-wise) of the cake with the sliced Brie and roll back width-wise into a log shape. Sprinkle top of log with icing sugar and slice into ½” (1 cm) pinwheels.

Serve immediately or refrigerate.

Tips

Remove cake from refrigerator at least 30 minutes before serving to let the Brie soften. Refrigerate sherry leftover and serve with the cake.

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Rare Ceyanne Watercolor Study Coming to Christie in May


Card PlayersWorks by Banks
Van Gogh's 'Irises'
Pierre-Auguste Renoir 'Dance'

A rare watercolor study by the French Post-Impressionist painter Paul Cezanne will be auctioned at Christie's in New York soon. For over sixty years, the piece was thought to be lost, but was recently discovered in the home of a prominent Texas collector after he died. The piece is expected to sell for up to $20 million on May 1st as part of the auction house's "Impressionist and Modern Art Evening Sale", and is a study for "Card Players," one of Cezanne's best-known series, which was painted in the late 1800s. Vanity Fair reported in February that a single painting from the series sold earlier this year for over $250 million to anonymous collectors in Oatar.

In 2010, the painting series was exhibited in a traveling show by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and Courtauld Gallery in London; theGuardian called it "a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity." The sketch up for auction this May was previously known from a black-and-white photograph, so this colorful discovery is sure to pique the interest of collectors.

The previous record paid for a single painting was in 2005; the New York Times reported that David Geffen sold Jackson Pollock's famous "5" painting for about $140 million to David Martinez, a prominent private art collector. Prior to that, the record was $135 million for Gustav Klimt’s "Adele Bloch-Bauer I," which was purchased by Ronald S. Lauder earlier that same year, who then donated it to the Neue Gallery in New York.

Coming up: on May 2nd, an 1895 version of "The Scream" by the Painter Edvard Munch is up for sale at Sotheby's and is expected to fetch a respectable $80 million.

Monday, March 26, 2012

Keep'Em in Stitches ' Love & Marriage'


Two old maids were excited about getting to go on a date . They agreed that when they came down stairs for breakfast the next morning at the boarding house they would say "morning" for every time they was kissed on their date . The first one came in and said , "Good morning." The second one came in all smiles and said , :Good morning , this morning , fine morning this morning , if it is as pretty a morning as it is this morning , it will be a pretty morning in the morning .
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One man told his friend , "My girlfriend takes advantage of me ," The friend asked , "What do you mean ?" He replied , "I asked her out to dinner and she asked me could she bring a date."
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LOVE : A feeling you feel you're going to feel when you have a feeling you haven't had before .
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Husband to wife : "Honey , I can tell you've lost weight ."
Wife : "Yes , I'm finally down to what I should never been up to in the first place ."
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Two men was talking , and one said , "Every once in a while my wife puts on me one of those mudpacks ." The other man replied , "Does it work?" The first man replied , "Only for two or three days , then the mud falls off.
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A wife said : "Honey have you noticed how bald your're getting ?" The Husband replied : I'm not getting bald ; my hair is like waves of the sea ." The wife said , "Yes , but have you notice that the tide is out ?"
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The couple drove to Wal-Mart . When they arrived , their car broke down in the parking lot . The husband told his wife to go on ahead and do her shopping , and he'd fix the car .
She returned later to find a small group near the car . She observed a pair of legs sticking out from under the car and realized what was going on . Her husband was wearing shorts because it was a very hot day .
She was embarrassed for him and knew he would he also , so she stepped forward . Being modest , she tried to cover him up and tuck everything bac k in place .
Some disturbance caused her to leap to her feet , and she found herself looking right at her standing across the parking lot , watching everything . The mac hanic , however , had to have three stitches in his head .
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The best way to stay hitch is to have good horse sense , stable thinking and a bridle on your tongue .
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Marriage : An investment that pays you dividends if you pay interest .

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Mary Todd Lincoln : Insanity Case To Be 'Retried' This Fall

This is a photograph of an updated dagverrreotype of First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln.

Former First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln, wife of Abraham Lincoln, will be "retried" for insanity this fall in Illinois.

According to the Associated Press, the retrial reenactment events will be sponsored by the Illinios Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission in conjunction with Springfield's Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library aand Museum .

Mrs. Lincoln was initially tried , at the request of her son Robert, on allegations that she was insane in 1875 , a decade after her husband's death, GateHouse News Services reports. Lincoln was declared a "lunatic" and brought to Bellevue Sanitarium in Batavia, Ill. A second jury considering the matter later considered her sane and historians have long disagreed over whether Lincoln would be deemed insane under today's health laws.

The events will kick off with an April 16 roundtable discussion addressing Lincoln's life and mental health issues and taking a modern-day-look on her insanity trial . Retrials, utilizing modern-day lawyers and judges considering actors playing Robert and Mary Lincoln in period costumes, will be held Sept. 24 at Murphy Auditorium, 50 East Erie St. in Chicago, and Oct. 1 at the Lincoln museum in Springfield.

The audience at the two retrials will act as judges, determining whether base on the expert teatimony , they believe Lincoln was sane .

Friday, March 23, 2012

Mil Hojas - Dulce de Leche - Napoleon

 
 
Mil hojas means a thousand 'sheets' or 'leaves' (in this case, layers of pastry), and there are almost a thousand South American interpretations of this classic French dessert, the napolean. This dulce de leche variation is quick and easy, looks beautiful, and is simply delicious. Serve it with fresh fruit, or dress it up with a layer or two of pastry cream. Some people like to roll the edges in coconut (spread some extra dulce de leche around the the sides to help the coconut stick).

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 1 package frozen puff pastry dough
  • 1 cup dulce de leche
  • Powdered sugar
  • Fresh fruit
  • Vanilla pastry cream (optional)
Filling: (dulce de leche)

Dulce de leche (also known as manjar, manjar blanco, and arequipe) is a thick caramel sauce made from milk and sugar. Dulce de leche is the key ingredient in many Latin desserts and pastries. It has a rich caramel flavor that pairs well with both fruit and chocolate, and it makes a wonderful filling for cakes.   Try dulce de leche in your own recipes. I promise you'll get hooked. It is delicious by itself as a pudding too.

Start with the following ingredients for dulce de leche:

  • 1 (14 ounce) can of condensed milk (about 1 1/2 cups)
  • 1 (12 ounce) can of evaporated milk (about 1 2/3 cups)
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • Generous pinch of salt (optional)
  • Cinnamon sticks (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon corn syrup
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

  • Place the evaporated milk and the condensed milk in your heaviest pot. Add the cinnamon sticks, baking soda and a pinch of salt. (Salt is not traditional but helps intensify the flavor).
    Cook over medium low heat, stirring constantly. The water will begin to evaporate as steam.
    Stir steadily with a wooden spoon or heat-proof spatula so that the mixture does not stick to the bottom of the pan and burn.
    Adjust the temperature so that the mixture stays just barely at a simmer.The mixture will begin to thicken and darken in color. The foamy bubbles on the surface will disappear.

Keep stirring! This is the part the requires patience. Call a friend, listen to the radio, have a cup of coffee...
Tip: If you need to leave the mixture unattended for a few minutes, remove it from the heat until you are ready to continue.
Continue to stir until the mixture is making large bubbles, is very thick, and is a golden caramel color. It's very important to stir constantly at this point to prevent burning.
Tip: If the mixture starts to stick to the bottom and burn, you can quickly pour it into a clean pot. If there are burnt pieces visible in the mixture, strain it through a fine mesh sieve as you pour it into the new pot. Lower the heat a little and continue cooking and stirring.
Lift the spoon out of the pot and drizzle some of the caramel sauce over the surface. If it forms a ribbon that does not disappear after 10 seconds or so, it is ready.

You can also check for doneness by dragging the spoon along the bottom of the pot. You should be able to see the bottom of the pot for a few seconds before the mixture closes in on itself and covers the bottom again.
The mixture will have been simmering for 30-45 minutes.

Remove from heat and let cool for 10 minutes.
Remove cinnamon sticks and stir in the vanilla and the corn syrup.
Let cool completely.

 Mil Hojas Preparation:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Thaw the puff pastry slightly and unfold it onto a floured surface.
Working quickly, roll each sheet of the puff pastry into a thin rectangle, about 12 x 18 inches.
Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper, and place a rolled out piece of puff pastry on each one. Cover each sheet of puff pastry with another peice of parchment paper.
  1. Place another cookie sheet onto of the pastry and parchment paper. Place a few baking pans to help weigh down the baking sheets.
  2. Place the baking sheets with the puff pastry sandwiched in between in the oven, and bake for 15 minutes.
  3. Remove top baking sheet and weights and bake for 5 minutes more, until the puff pastry is golden brown.
  4. Cut each sheet of the pastry into about 20 identical size squares or rectangles with a sharp knife.
  5. Spread one square of puff pastry with a thin layer of dulce de leche. Cover with another square of puff pastry. Repeat until you have 5 layers of puff pastry. Do not spread dulce de leche on the top layer.
  6. Sprinkle the top layer with powdered sugar and serve.

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Conjoined Twins Survive Operation


 
Six-month-old conjoined twins, Nuria and Marta Feliu, were successfully separated in a pioneering operation last month in Barcelona, AFP reports.

It took a team of 30 medical workers seven hours of surgery to separate the twins, who were connected at the abdomen and shared a liver. Despite the ordeal, the baby girls seem to be doing great.

According to a statement released by the Vall d'Hebron hospital, where the surgery took place, the twins have recovered without complication and are now leading normal, independent lives.

For mommy Meritxell Feliu, the fact that her daughters can finally lead independent lives is a huge relief. She gave birth to the underweight twins in August last year.

Still, according to a report on m24digital.com, Feliu said at a press conference that one of the sisters was having trouble letting go.

"Marta still looks for her sister, but Nuria is more independent, and does not seem to want to always be at her side. It's as if to say 'I've been at your side for a long time, now let me be alone," she said.

This is Spain's fourth successful operation to separate conjoined twins and the first in the northeast region of Catalonia, the Daily Mail reports.



According to AFP, conjoined twins are a very rare phenomenon -- with one in every 200,000 births. Survival changes are also low -- ranging from 5 percent to 25 percent.

Monday, March 19, 2012

Keep'Em in Stitches ' Down On The Farm'


A farmer held up his pig to get apples off the tree. His friend said , "Look at the time you'd save if you just shook the tree ." The farmer said , "OH man, what's time to a hog?"
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A chicken passed a car going down the road , ran off , and left the car . The man decided to follow it to the farmhouse . At the house , the man asked the farmer why the chicken had three legs . The farmer said , "They are bred that way because of the drumsticks ." The man asked if the chicken's drumsticks taste good , and the farmer said , "We don't kmow , we haven't been able to catch one yet ."
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The farmer has a rooster that was so lazy he'd wait until all the other roosters crowed , then he would just nod his head in agreement .
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A farmer went to a horse auction to buy a horse . The horse trader said , "I have just the right one for you , it's three years-old , in good health and goes ten miles without stopping ." The farmer said , "Well I can't use him . I only live eight miles from town , and with that horse I'll have to walk bac k two miles ."
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A farmer was leading his mule to town . His friend stopped and asked him if he wanted a ride . And he said , "Sure , muy mule will follow ; he knows the way to town ." So the farmer go in the truck , and the mule began to follow . They sped up to 30 miles an hour , and the mule was right behind them . They sped up to 50 miles an hour , and the mule kept right up .
When they got up to 70 mles an hour , the friend looked into the rearview mirror . The mule was right there in the bac k of the truck with his eyes bulging and his tongue hanging out . The man said , "I can't believe it . He's still right behind us !"
The farmer asked , "Which side is his tongue hanging out on ?" The friend replied , "The left side ." Then the farmer said , "Keep in this lane ... he's going to pass !"
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A farmer and his son was in the field plowing , and a neighbor came by and said , "You need to send that boy to school and get him an education ." So the farmer sent his son off to college . After he graduated , he was right back out in the field plowing .
The neighbor came by and said , "I thought you sent that boy to school . What's he doing out there plowing ? What good did college do ?" The farmer bragged , "You just listen to him talk to the mule when he gets to the end of the row . Before he went off to school , he would say , 'Whoa and get up ! ' Now when he gets to the end of the row , he says , 'Halt , pivot to the left , and proceed forward !"
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A farmer went to an attorney and said he wanted one of them divorces .
Attorney : "Do you have grounds ?"
Farmer : "Yup , I got 30 acres ."
Attorney : "No , that's not what I mean. I mean do you have a case ."
Farmer : "Nope , I got a John Deere . That's what I farm the 30 acers with ."
Attorney : "No , you don't understand me . Do you want to bring suit ? Have you got a grudge ?"
Farmer : "Well , I got a suit at home in the closet ; and as for a grudge , that's where I keep my John Deere."
Attorney : "Oh , we're not communicating at all . Let's talk about your wife for a minute . Do you beat her up ?"
Farmer : "Nope, she gets up about 6:30 , about the same time I do ."
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The city boy went to the country and asked , Uncle George , how long cows should be milked ? Uncle George said , "The same as the short ones ."
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The farmer was working full speed ahead building a fence when his neighbor asked him why he was in such a hurry . He said , "I'm trying to get through before I run out of nails ."

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Polar Bear Cubs Emerge From Winter Hibernation..( Hi Jenny,I decided to post the polar bears here for you instead ...Love aunt Jeannie)

Cub coming out from winter den

Polar bears emerge from winter hibernation




Polar bear cubs emerge from winter hibernation


Wildlife photographer Steve Bloom recently captured polar bears emerging from their warm dens for the first time since winter.


Polar bear mothers typically give birth to their cubs in early winter between December and January. Females dig snow dens where they nurse and protect their babies, enabling them to grow before leaving the den in early spring. As the cubs acclimate to the outside temperatures, the mother and her cubs make short trips around the den before departing to the sea ice to hunt for food.

In the photos captured by Bloom, the cubs remain close to their mother for protection and milk. The photographer has spent hundreds of hours in the arctic regions of Canada and Norway in order to capture these threatened mammals.

"Imagine a world without polar bears," said Bloom. "It seems unthinkable, yet as climate change gathers pace, the Arctic ice floes upon which the polar bear depends are beginning to break up. In the years ahead, this could be catastrophic for this truly charismatic bear which, when it stands up, is taller than the largest elephant."

Friday, March 16, 2012

Dick Clark : Bedrock Home for Sale 'YABADABADOO'


                                      It's one rockin' abode.

But you won't get it for a song , If it sells for anything close to the asking price .

Described as "Flintstone-esque," this exterordinary architectural creation really fit right into Fred and Wilma's Bedrock .  Described as one of Malibu's landmark properties , this modren-human cave habitat rests on a nearly 23-acre tract atop a hill , with a  360-degree views that take in the Pacific Ocean , Cannel islands , Boney Mountain , Serrano Valley  and city lights , explains the real-estate website Trulia .

A cool $3.5 million buys the views , one bedroom  and two baths , vaulted celings , wood-burning fireplace  and seclusion , privac y and serenity , "all just minutes from the beach.

House hunting , take a look .  HeHe

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Best Friends

Here's to old friends ! They know everything about you . But can't remember any of it .

A friend is a treasure , a friend is someone we turn to when our spirits need a lift . A friend is someone we treasure , for our friendship is a gift . A friend is someone who fills our lives with beauty , joy , and grace and make the world we live in a better and happier place.

Friendship happens in that special moment when someone reaches out ot another , trusts , comforts believe in another and make a spec ial difference that no one else can make .

True friends are for life , until the end . You're more than special , you're my bestest friend , you are the one I can go to when I'm in deep despair you'll the one that'll help me ... even when I get gum in my hair !

You're the one who'll laugh and go laughing with me all through the night ; the one who'll help me with all your might .

To have a good friend , you have to be one , so be nice to one another , so you can be friends forever and that's how to be the best friend you can be .

"A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg ... even though they know you are slightly cracked ."

*******************Bernard Meltzer*****************************

Monday, March 12, 2012

Keep'Em in Stitches 'Public Servants'



A lady called the fire station and said that her house was on fire . The fire chief asked , "How do we get there ?" She said , "Don't y'all stil have those little red fire trucks ?
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A man staggered out of a bar and out to the street . He was walking with one foot on the curb and the other foot on the street when a policeman saw him , tapped him on the shoulder , and said , "You'll have to come with me ... you are drunk ." The man looked at him and said , "Thank God . I thought I was crippled ."
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A redneck sheriff stopped by a boy in a car on the back roads and told him to roll down his window and show him his driver's license . He asked the boy where he was from , and the boy said , "Chicago." The sheriff looked at the driver's licence and said , "What are you doing with this Illinois driver's licence , boy?"
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A state trooper was driving along a mountain road and saw an Indian lying with his ear to the ground . He heard him saying , "Chevy pickup , large tires , green and man driving with large German Shepherd in Passenger seat . Loaded with firewood , Ca lifornia licence plate 1-896-PUC." The trooper asked , "You mean you can tell all that by listening to the ground?" "No," the Indian said . "The truck just ran over me ."
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A woman was about to have a baby . The time came and the husband called 911. The dispatcher tried to calm him down ; she asked him , "Is this her first child ?" He said , "No , i'm her husband ."
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A man found a monkey loose on the street . He picked him up , put him in his truck , and started down the street . A cop saw him and said , "Man , you ought to take him to the zoo ." So the next day he was driving and the cop saw him again , "I thought you was gonna take hom to the zoo ." The man said , "I did and we had so much fun that today we're going to the fair ."
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A minister parked his car in a no-parking zone in a large city because he was short on time and couldn't find a space with a meter . Then he put a note under the windshield wiper that read : I'll have c ircled the block ten times . If I don't park here , I'll miss my appointment . Forgive us our trespasses ."
*** When he returned , he found a citation from a police officer along with this note , "I've circled this block for ten years . If I don't give you a ticket , I'll lose my job . Lead us not into temptation."
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Two elderly people were pulled over by a policeman who demanded the husband's driver's licence . The officer asked the man , "Do you know how fast you was going ? What's your destination ?"
*** The husband gave him his licence and said , "We're going to Ruston , Louisiana ."
The trooper said , "I knew a woman there who was so ugly , she could make a train go down a dirt road ."
*** The wife said , "Who could not hear very well , asked , "What did he say ?" The husband replied , "He said he thinks he knows you ."
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A man found a body in New Orleans and called 911 . The operator asked , "Where are you ?" The man said , I am on Thopatulas Street ." She said , "Spell that for me ."
The man thought for a moment and then said , "Can't I just drag him over to Oak Street and then you can pick him up from there ?"

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Jaycee Dugard : Captive Turned Advocate,

Jaycee Dugard , who was kidnapped at 11 years-old and held captive for 18 years , was honored by Oprah Winfrey and others at the Diana von Furstenberg Awards in New York on Friday .

"My name is Jaycee Dugard , and I want to say that , because for a long time I wasn't able to say my name , and so it feels good ," she told the crowd at the ceremony , held at the United Nations .

"My hope is to be remembered for what I do , and not for what happened to me ," said Dugard , whose JAYC Foundation "provides support and services " to families recovering from "abduction and the aftermath of other traumatic experiences."

She cited the inspiration she drew from her mother , whose faith never wavered during Jaycee's captivity .

"I have to say I felt her hope for many years , and it gave me the strength to go on and live," reflected Dugard.

While Oprah was there to accept a "Lifetime Leadership" award for herself , the former talk show host used her platform to celebrate "Inspiration Award" recipient Dugard .

"I wanted to have the opportunity to meet [Dugard] and to tell her how much her story and her life meant to me ," said Oprah , adding , "Jaycee Dugard , I am so proud of you , your courage , your ability to press onward toward the future and toward a more victorious life for yourself , and using youe courage , your strength and your power to show the world you care."


Phillip and Nancy Garrido , Dugard's captors , were covicted of kidnapping and sexual assult in 2011 and sentenced to prison .

Friday, March 9, 2012

Anna Frank : Brought Back To Germany

People go to Madame Tussauds Wax Museums to see replicas of their favorite stars like Michael Jackson , Marilyn Monroe , Lada Gaga , Justin Bieber and ... Anne Frank ?


In an , er , interesting move to say the least , the museum's Berlin branch just unveiled and exhibit featuring a smiling teenage Frank writing in her diary in what is supposed to be the room in which she hid from Nazis during WWII .


Visitors to the exhibit should note the museum also feature an Adolf Hitler wax work .

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

For my Favorite Crusader and Her Loyal Knights

Nanook who lived in Cochrane Ontario until he was thirty years old

More Fascinating Facts about Polar Bears
  • Ontario has the largest and most southern population of polar bears.


  • Polar bears live in the circumpolar arctic.


  • There are only approximately 20,000-22,000 polar bears left in the wild.


  • GLOBAL WARMING
    • Global warming is currently the greatest threat to polar bears.
    • Because of rising temperature, the sea ice on which polar bears depend for hunting seal, is melting 2 weeks sooner and freezing two weeks later than a decade ago.
    • As a result, polar bears are not able to put on sufficient fat stores to survive the lean summer months.
    • Reports of polar bear drowning are numerous, due to larger expanses of open water and less sea ice.
    PHYSIOLOGY
    • Largest of the world’s eight bear species.
    • Polar bears have an acute sense of smell, they can detect a seal’s breathing hold from 1km away under a layer of snow and ice 90 cm thick.
    • They have 2 layers of translucent fur, thin black skin and about 4 inches of blubber for insulation against the arctic cold.
    • Translucent fur helps to reflect sunlight and blend into the snow and ice of their arctic environment.
    • Their skin secretes oils that make the fur waterproof.
    • They have 5 toes on each foot with 1 curved non-retractable claw on each toe, used for hunting and traction on ice.
    • Polar bears are very powerful swimmers, they have semi-webbed toes and can reach speeds of 10 km/h.
    • Submerged, a polar bear keeps it’s eyes open and can hold it’s breath for approximately 2 minutes.
    • When running, they can reach speeds of 40 km/h.
    • A polar bear’s lifespan is approximately 20-25 years old in the wild. In captivity, their life span can increase up to ten years.
    • A polar bears teeth are highly adaptable for their carnivorous diet. Their molars are sharper than their omnivorous relatives such as the black bear. They are useful while chewing and tearing meat.
    DIET
    • They need a minimum of 4.4 pounds of blubber a day to survive.
    • Most carnivorous of the world’s 8 species of bear.
    • Their favorite thing to eat is ringed seal (Phoca hispida) which they hunt out on the sea ice from November to July in Ontario.
    • Polar bears especially love eating seal pups, due to the large percentage of fat found on the pups. They can hunt the seal pups in April and May.
    • In the summer, they may eat kelp, grasses and berries. If food is sparse, polar bears will slow down their metabolism and survive on their fat stores. They remain 80% inactive during this time to save energy.
    CUBS
    • Mating occurs in April and May
    • Female polar bears delay the implantation of the fetus until she has gained sufficient weight, and enters a maternity den in mid-October.
    • Cubs are born after approximately 2 months of pregnancy. Polar bears usually have twins.
    • At birth a cub is only about 25 cm and weighs approximately 1 pound. Their eyes are closed at birth and they have a fine layer of hair on their bodies
    • Cubs feed primarily on their mother’s milk. The mother weans the cubs at approximately 1 year of age.
    • The family leaves the den in late February and cubs stay with their mother until they are 2 years of age, and learned the necessary skills to survive in the harsh arctic environment.

    Polar Bear Habitat in Cochrane Ontario




    The only place on Earth where you can swim with the Polar Bears, and live to tell about it....Cochrane, Ontario!
    About six hours north of Toronto, near Timmins.

    Tuesday, March 6, 2012

    Monday, March 5, 2012

    Keep'Em in Stitches ' Strange Church Folks'


    A mennonite man was milking his cow when the cow hauled off and kicked him . He looked the cow right in the eye and said , " Thou knowest that I can't cuss thee ; thou knowest I can't hit or kick thee ; but if thou kickest me one more time , I shall sell thee to a Bapist , and he shall kick the devil out of you."
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    The drought was so bad that the Baptists started to sprinkle , the Methodists are using a damp wash cloth, and the Presbyterians was giving rain checks .
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    A man was going to Rome and wanted to meet the Pope . A friend said , "Tell him some jokes ." He met the Pope and asked him if he had heard about two Polacks . The Pope said , "Wait a minute, I'm Polish ." The man said , "That's all right . If you don't catch it the first time , I'll tell it again."
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    Three boys were bragging about their fathers . The first boy said , "My daddy scribbled a few words on a piece of paper , and they called it a poem and gave him $50." The second boy said , "That's nothing ; my dad scribbled a few words on a piece of paper , and they called it a song and gave him $100." The third boy said , "I got you both beat . My dad scribbled some words on a piece of paper , and he called it a sermon . It took eight people to collect all the money .
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    A father was approached by his small son after Sunday School class , who told him proudly , "I know what the bible means !" His father smiled and replied , "Okay , what does the bible mean ?" The son said , "That's easy , Daddy , it stands for Basic Information Before Leaving Earth ."
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    A very gracious woman was mailing an old family Bible to her brother in another part of the country . "Is there anything breakable in here ?" asked the postal clerk . "Only the Ten Commandments ," answer the woman .
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    A grandfather was walking through his yard when he heard his granddaughter repeating the alphabet in a tone of voice that sounded like a prayer . He asked her what was she doing . The little girl explained , "I'm praying , but I can't think of exactly the right words . So I'm just saying all the letters , and God will put them together for me because He knows what I'm thinking .
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    The minister was preoccupied with throughts of how he was going to ask the congregation to come up with more money that he needed for repairs to the church building . He was annoyed to find that the regular organist was sick , and a substitute wanted to know what to play . "Here's a copy of the service ," he said impatiently , "but you'll have to think of something to play after I make the annoncement about the finances ."
    During the service , the minister paused and said , "Brothers and Sisters, we are in great difficulty ; the roof repairs cost trice as much as we expected , and we need $4,000 more . Any of you who can pledge $100 or more , please stand up ." At that moment , the substitute organist played , "The Star Spangled Banner ." That is how the substitute became the regualar organist.
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    The Southern Ten Commandments
    1) Y'all shalt always remember your manners .
    2) Y'all shalt make no fuss over yourself .
    3) Y'all shalt not sass your mama .
    4) Y'all shalt always wonder what your daddy would think .
    5) Y'all shalt always talk the way you growed up .
    6) Y'all shalt tell no whoppers unless you are in a situation where you're expected to.
    7) Y'all shalt demonstrate your great faith by the way you drive .
    8) Y'all shalt always clean your plate .
    9) Y'all shalt hold kinfolk in high regard , regardless of what you really think of 'em.
    10) Y'all shalt always remember where you came from .

    Friday, March 2, 2012

    Catalina Salmon

    **************Prep time : 10 minutes Bake time : 25 minutes 4 servicing

    4 Salmon fillets (1 - 1/4 pounds)

    2 Green peppers, cut into thin strps

    1/3 cup Kraft Free Catalina Dressing

    Heat oven to 375*F

    Place fish in 13x9-inch baking dish sprayed with cooking spray .

    Toss peppers with dressing ; spoon over fish .

    Bake 25 minutes or until fish flakes easily with folk.

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    Healthy living information :

    Good source of vitamin A and C