The Feb 13th Orange County Register had frog facts and an article by Eric Carpenter called Can you ribbit? which sounds much more interesting than its on-line version Giant toads, poisonous frogs move into Muzeo, although the words were the same – but either one brings fond memories of my sister Lori. Not that she is a frog, mind you, but that she likes frogs, collects frogs and tolerates every-frog-item-I-see-I-usually-buy-and-send-her frogs! Actually, Chris Carpenter’s article highlights the exhibit Frogs: A Chorus of Colors at the Muzeo in Anaheim from February 13, 2010 – September 5, 2010. Check out the video highlights with zoologist Sandy Mangold and then there are also the photos. Sandy and the frogs flew here from Pennsylvania. Kermit isn’t here but there are over 150 live frogs! Have fun! The Muzeo hours are 10-5 7 days a week. More info here.
National Wildlife Federation’s Wildlife Watch is a national, nature-watching program created for people of all ages. The National Wildlife Federation can use your help to track the health and behavior of wildlife and plant species nationwide. You can also learn interesting tidbits on the Wildlife Watch website – wildlife news and facts, new ideas for attracting wildlife to your backyard and community. Check it out now on www.nwf.org/wildlifewatch and see what all is available to do!
Once you are finished with exploring your own back yard, you can get more ideas from NatureFind. It is an online destination database you can use to easily find a perfect spot for watching nature close to home. It also helps you discover what parks and trails are near you.
All you do is enter your zip code and check what activities you are interested in at http://www.nwf.org/naturefind to learn what is available around you!
I am/was always the photographer of the family. I also loved going through albums and boxes of photos my mom and grandma had saved. Unfortunately we forget to write down who all is in the picture and soon we are left with unknowns, not-sures, no-clues and possible relatives in so many pictures! I found a cute little project on the grandparents.com site that got my creative juices going again. Take a look here at the article Why Family Photos Matter by Beverly Beckham. When I get mine done, I’ll post it – but don’t hold your breath till I do so since I still need to get my Christmas cards out!
Harlem Globetrotter Nate “Big Easy” Lofton taught some special lessons to kids at the Discovery Science Center as captured by Michael Mello in the Orange County Register. Photos and Video also document the presentation. Lofton’s visit was part of the kick-off for the new Secrets of Circles exhibit at the Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana, CA. The exhibit will be available for kids to explore through May 2.
Two years ago Globetrotters Eugene “Wildkat” Edgerson and “Sweet” Lou Dunbar visited the Anaheim Boys and Girls Club on a Friday afternoon for similar life lessons.
One of the Harlem Globetrotters community outreach programs is C.H.E.E.R. For Character which aims to teach kids Cooperation, Healthy mind & body, Effort, Enthusiasm, and Responsibility.
Austin demonstrates his rock star moves with his new guitar that he got last Christmas. Now he just needs to practice his strumming! Grandma remembers her moves also – to turn her camera in the proper direction for the video!
Those of you in the Long Beach area should circle the dates of August 6 and 7 on your calendars for a family outing! A few days ago I saw that Long Beach will be part of the worldly Flugtag craziness this year. Flugtag, sponsored by Red Bull, is coming to Long Beach in the summer of 2010. Still in the early stages of planning, the weekend of August 6-7 at the Pine Avenue Pier at the Pike at Rainbow Harbor will be a buzz with Flugtag pilots. Flugtag (German for “Fly Day” or “Air Day” or “Air Show”) is an opportunity for ill-fated “pilots” in creative craft to attempt to launch off a pier – to land usually soon after in a body of water.
The event is world-wide. The cities chosen to hold the USA part of the fun this year are Long Beach, Denver, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Philidelphia and Miami. More than 80,000 people watched Flugtag in San Francisco and Portland in past years. It originally started in 1991 in Vienna, Austria, by Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz.
The hilarious article that caught my attention was written by Tim Grobaty In the Long Beach Press-Telegram on Jan 14, 2010. Check it out!
Willamette Week Online from Portland ,Oregon, has some behind the scene words and video from 2008 of Flugtag in Portland. It has embedded the U.S. record flying banjo set in 2007 at Red Bull Flugtag Nashville – the banjo crashed early but the flying part with pilot continued for an amzing 155 feet!
www.redbullflugtagusa.com has lots more info and videos! The other page links also have many more funny antics to watch. Enjoy!
Get Outside!! From the National Wildlife Federation website: Did you know that by the time most children go to kindergarten, they have spent more than 5,000 hours in front of a TV – and that is enough time to earn a college degree?
The 1/6/10 Oregon City News also had a front page article called A Killer Move on Dave Dahl, the founder of Dave’s Killer Bread. Dave’s Killer Bread, Nature Bake and Bob’s Red Mill are all located in Milwaukie, Oregon, not far from Austin and his family. Grandpa Ron and I are going to visit their store this afternoon when I finish writing this! Testimonials are here. Dave’s story of straightening out his life is here.