Newsletter 06/01/2014

Welcome to VacaChat

Where Vriends Gather

June 1, 2014

More graphics and buttons, courtesy of VacaDude, coming soon!

Broadcast
Schedule

Channel
Links

Important
News

Broadcast Schedule

Today!!! Sunday, June 1, 2014

3 PM PST/6 PM PST

StoryTime!
Title: The Summer Hummer Bummer

6 PM PST/9 PM EDT

VacaChat Broadcast.
Be sure to tune in to find out all the latest news from the Dude, the share in the hilarity, perhaps learn a thing or two, and to hear Zorro read the story.

Upcoming!!! Sunday, June 8, 2014

3 PM PST/6 PM PST

No Story Writing.
We’ll write again on July 6.

6 PM PST/9 PM EDT

No VacaChat Broadcast.
The chat room will be open at 6:00 PDT (9:00 EDT—8:00 CDT).

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Channel Links

Channel Links

VacaChannel

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/vacadude

Pop-Out

If you want to view the chat or video in pop-out screens, use the links below. Some find that this places less stress on their computer and/or its memory.

Video: http://www.ustream.tv/channel-popup/vacadude

Chat: http://www.ustream.tv/channel-room/3506056

If you use the pop-out links, it is recommended that you open two browser windows. That way, if one needs to be refreshed, the other is not affected.

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Important News

International Space Station Links

During the last broadcast the Dude talked about the websites where one can view the spacestation and the view that the astronauts have. Here are the links:

This one has the map, but no chat.
http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/HDEV/

This site has a chat room.
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/iss-hdev-payload

Trees

Jes shares with us this wonderful page of photos illustrating nature's wonders.

Trees | Dusky's Wonders

Intricately Carved Bench

Jes also shares with us this photo of an intricately carved bench. Can you imagine how many hours of labor went into this creation?

VacaVideo DVD

The DVD's have been sent. If you haven't received it already, please let us know. If you want one and did not order it yet, contact VacaDude soon.

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Vriends
News

Chatter
News

	Hello Vriends,
	Happy Sunday to you, and a happy first of June! I've been a busy little elf these days--spent the week doing more work in Mill Valley. Such a lovely little town that is. And then I got a chance to do a few household chores. Yesterday I finally got to move the coffee table into its final place in front of the couch. (It has been in the front room for the last three weeks while the fumes from the varnish completed their outgassing. Mary has a very sensitive nose. I, on the other hand, have spent so much of my life with paints, solvents, resins, and such--I could stuck my head in a bucket of gasoline and barely smell it.) I hope you can come by tonight at 6pm PDT, as we have ourselves a little VacaChat! I'm hoping to be able to show some pictures and videos I took at the Maker Faire a few weeks back, and show a couple of little electronics projects I have been tinkering with (with inspiration from said Maker Faire). Aside from all that, not much else has been going on around here. I am looking forward to tonight's episode of "Cosmos," as Dr. Tyson is going to be looking at the whole concept of climate change. This ties in rather nicely with the project I am working on in Mill Valley. I'll be interested to see how compelling an argument he can raise. With that, I need to keep preparing for thew show, as well as get some work done for work. So I hope to see you tonight!
	Cheers, VacaDude

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Chatter News

	Scheduled Meetup	Northern California Owl Fan Luncheon - and of course you are invited whether you were a chatter, on social stream or a lurker or found us after wards: RSVP to grams3cs You need to send her an email so she knows how many. Luncheon will be on June 14th about 11:30ish at the Tower Cafe, 1518 Broadway, Sacramento. It's located right by the Tower Theatre and used to be the pharmacy many moons ago. They are open from 8am to 12am . Hope to see you all there. If you can please let me know if you are coming or not so I can make sure we get enough seats saved. The place is pretty big so we, hopefully, can be seated with no problem. grams3cs bluflame7@sbcglobal.net

	*Ann Savage*	Ann shares with us this wonderful news: “My latest news is that we have a new grandbaby on the way [due mid August], and the doctor thinks it's a girl! She'll be our third grandchild, joining cousins Lucas, 13, and Adrian, 3. :)” Congratulations to Ann and her family.

	*Elsalynda*	Elsalynda's latest column entitled Nature in the City: May Delights in Waltham, is available online here: http://waltham.wickedlocal.com/article/20140528/NEWS/140528523

		Elsa is in need of a good, used Windows computer (4 years old or newer). Her computer died and she bought a new high end Dell laptop Latitude 6540 but the materials and chemicals used in making this new computer are causing her health problems. The new one is available for purchase or trade.

	We'd love to include more news of VacaChatters. If you have something you'd like to share (something about you or your family) or if you know of exciting news about another chatter that they're just too shy to share, please send it to us! (We won’t run it without that chatter’s permission, however.)

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	*Littleguys*	Now it is Littleguys' turn to be included in our prayers. She has a couple of medical issues going on and is supposed to consult with a surgeon on Monday. The two issues are not related, so it is pure luck of timing that she can talk to the surgeon about both at the same time. If you want details, she said go ahead and email her. samwisebaggins@yahoo.com She isn't bashful, just thought that maybe these details are not appropriate for a newsletter or chat.

	*Caboval*	Caboval is in need of our prayers for her dog, Joey. You can read more about Joey and his struggles here: http://gfwd.at/1n8NU0h.

		UPDATE on Joey! Caboval writes: “Joey is in remission but the chemo almost killed him. He was in liver failure and the Dr gave him a 50/50 chance to live. He made it through that and we have had 3 really good weeks. He was so happy and acting like a puppy, but now he is starting to not eat again and he vomited today so I don't know… It's a rollercoaster. I have a feeling he is having liver issues again. I do really need those prayers!!!”

	*Elsalynda*	Elsalynda is also in need of prayers. She is asking for prayers for good care and caring from her primary care physician. Elsa reports that at her last visit, her physician "was at least civil and apologetic." She also reports that her back issues are improving and thanks everyone for their prayers and support. Continue to keep Elsa and her doctor in your prayers.

	*GentleDoe*	GentleDoe says her father is recovering. He has moved to a rehab facility. Doe is trying desperately to juggle being with her mother and yet also caring for her birds and other animals. She especially needs prayers about the financial situation and some rather difficult family dynamics. With no transportation and having to rely on others for rides, this has been very difficult for her. The whole family is still in need of our prayers.

	*Jes and Miss Jonesy*	Both Jes, and her furkid, Miss Jonesy, are battling health issues and undergoing various tests and procedures. Let's keep both of them in our prayers.
	*Jes and Miss Jonesy*

	Shari in Memphis	UPDATE!!! Just received this from Shari: "So kind of you to keep prayers going for me. I was hospitalized in November for an event (that just yesterday my doc said was severe enough that it could have killed me) and have pretty much been sick ever since. I'm trying to be patient as doc said it would take 6 months to a year, to fully recover."
	Shari in Memphis


	Thank you for your prayers and good thoughts for owl our wonderful VacaFamily members! If you have any prayer requests, updates or news of answered prayers, please let us know. Email us with the information so it can be included in the next newsletter.

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	Check out VacaDude's blog! Don't forget to send VacaDude your comments to let him know how much you appreciate him, his time & his talent!
	http://vacadude.wordpress.com/

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A Message
from Zorro

StoryTime
News

StoryTime
Archives

A Message
from Zorro

	Hello there, Everbuddy!
	Happy Sunday to you all, or as I like to call it "Cheese Day." (Of course, I like calling the other six days of the week that too...it just avoids all possible confusion.) The Dude has been making his blinkie light things again...it is getting to the point where I need to wear sunglasses indoors. I guess he is enjoying himself. I fear that one of these days he is going to switch on one of these things, and suddenly we will be descended upon by an angry mob of UFO enthusiasts who saw the flashing lights and thought that an alien race will be making first contact with humanity. Of course, when they get a load of me, Tauntz, Rocky, and all those guys, they may just have their suspicions confirmed! Anyway, I'm about ready to start packing, as the Dude is sending me to New York next week. You see, the horsie California Chrome is running in a race called the Belmont. The Dude thinks that if I jump up behind the horse at the starting gate, it might make him run faster... So I need to find a nice, spooky outfit for the trip. Oh well, time for my afternoon nap--to get ready for StoryTime tonight! See you then!!
	Yours Most Whiskerly, Zorro

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StoryTime News


	*Next StoryTime*	TODAY!!!! June 1, 2014 3:00 PM PDT/6:00 PM EDT

	*Title*	The Summer Hummer Bummer

	*Invitation*	We need story writers! Please consider dropping in and checking out the fun we have writing the stories. Honestly, it's not at all difficult to join in and you'll surely be glad you did.
	*Invitation*

		More stories added to the Archives!

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	Tacos in Pasta Shells
	Ingredients
	2 pounds lean ground beef 1 chopped onion ½ package cream cheese 1 package taco seasoning 18 jumbo pasta shells 2 tablespoons butter, melted ½ cup mild picante sauce 1 can tomato paste 2-4 tablespoons water 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese 1½ cups crushed tortilla chips 1 cup sour cream Shredded lettuce Chopped onions Chopped tomatoes Black olives
	Directions
	In a large skillet, brown beef and onion over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Add cream cheese and taco seasoning; mix and simmer for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente (still a bit firm); drain. Toss cooked shells in butter. Preheat oven to 350°F Fill shells with beef mixture and arrange in a 9x13 inch baking dish. Mix picante sauce, tomato paste and enough water to make it pourable. Pour over each shell. Cover with foil and bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes. Remove dish from oven and top each shell with Cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack cheese and tortilla chips; return dish to oven to cook for 15 minutes more. Top with lettuce, sour cream, onions, tomatoes and olives; serve.


	Chocolate Chip Cheesecake
	Ingredients
	3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened 3 eggs ¾ cup sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 (16.5-ounce) rolls refrigerator chocolate chip cookie dough
	Directions
	Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, beat together cream cheese, eggs, sugar, and vanilla extract until well mixed; set aside. Slice cookie dough rolls into ¼-inch slices. Arrange slices from one roll on bottom of a greased 9- x 13-inch glass baking dish; press together so there are no holes in dough. Spoon cream cheese mixture evenly over dough; top with remaining slices of cookie dough. Bake 45 to 50 minutes, or until golden and center is slightly firm. Remove from oven, let cool, then refrigerate. Cut into slices when well chilled. Notes Keep cookie dough refrigerated until just before slicing. You can serve the cheesecake plain, with chocolate sauce, with fudge or whipped topping…whatever's your favorite.

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Recommended
Watching

Owl Cams

Other Nature Cams

Video Picks of the Week

Inspiration

Owl Cams

Barn Owls
	Nicassio Owl Box Salt and Pepper	http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nicasio-owl

	HOP - MAGC Barn Owls	http://www.ustream.tv/channel/magc-owls

	Owlceanside Mel and Sydney	http://www.ustream.tv/channel/owlceanside

	Felix Neck Owl Cam Martha’s Vineyard	http://www.ustream.tv/channel/felix-neck-owl-cam

	The Owl Cam	http://www.ustream.tv/owlchannel

	Barn Owls in Minden, Nevada	http://www.ustream.tv/channel/barn-owls-in-minden-nevada

	Port of Stockton Barn Owl Cams	http://www.portofstockton.com/owl-cams

	Hosted by Cornell Lab of Ornithology Located in Texas	http://cams.allaboutbirds.org/channel/42/Barn_Owls/

Other Owls

	PPO (Potted Plant Owl) in South Africa	https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pot-Plant-Owl/148721154229

	Alessondra’s Owl Cam in Oklahoma City	http://ustream.tv/okcowlcam The three owlets have fledged.

	Rusty and Iris in Houston, Minnesota	http://www.internationalowlcenter.org/ourowls/rustyandiris/livecams

	Burrowing Owls Tri-Cities, Washington	http://wdfw.wa.gov/wildwatch/owlcam/video_burrowing2.html

	Project Snow Storm	http://www.projectsnowstorm.org/

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Puffins
	Shetland Islands Puffins	http://www.shetland.org/puffincam/

	Sea Island, Maine Puffin Burrow	http://explore.org/live-cams/player/puffin-burrow-cam

	Sea Island, Maine Puffin Loafing Ledge	http://explore.org/live-cams/player/puffin-loafing-ledge-cam These pages also contain links to numerous other nature cams.

Eagles
	Black Eagle South Africa	http://www.africam.com/wildlife/black_eagle_webcam Emoyeni (the black eagle) is set to return and start re-building her nest in anticipation of a new breeding season. She has been spotted on the nest several times in the last few days, so be on the lookout!

	Decorah Eagles Decorah, Iowa	http://www.ustream.tv/decoraheagles

	Berry College Eagle Cam Mt. Berry, Georgia	http://www.ustream.tv/channel/berry-eagle-cam

		http://www.pixcontroller.com/eagles/index.htm

Peregrine Falcons
	PA Falcon Cam Harrisburg, Pennsylvania	http://www.pacast.com/players/falcon.asp

	Commerce Tower Peregrines Kansas City, Missouri	http://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/wildlife-cameras/peregrine-falcon-web-camera Cam not live now but should be returning soon.

	Pitt Peregrine Falcon Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	http://www.aviary.org/PF-NestCam1

	Gulf Tower Peregrine Falcon Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	http://www.aviary.org/PF-NestCam2

	Emily Falcon Cam Caloundra, Australia	http://www.ustream.tv/channel/emily-falcon-cam

	RFalconCam Rochester, New York	http://rfalconcam.com/rfc-main/

Talking Birds
	Watch the Birdie Bibi, the African Gray	http://www.ustream.tv/channel/Watch-the-Birdie

	Disco Talking Parakeet	https://www.youtube.com/user/MsJumpinJude/videos

Other Birds

	California Condor San Diego Zoo Safari Park San Diego, California	http://zoo.sandiegozoo.org/cams/condor-cam

	KC Zoo Penguin Cam Kansas City, MO	http://www.kansascityzoo.org/penguincam

	Whidbey Island Back Porch Whidbey Island, WA Rufous hummingbirds and other assorted birds	http://www.ustream.tv/channel/katersch

	Hellgate Ospreys Missoula, Montana Sponsored by Cornell	http://cams.allaboutbirds.org/channel/27/Hellgate_Ospreys/

	Ostrich Chicks (Offline now)	http://www.ustream.tv/channel/ostrich-egg-cam-live

	Streaming Bird Cams List of many cams	http://www.beakspeak.com/

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Other Nature Cams

Pandas
	San Diego Zoo Pandas	www.sandiegozoo.org (click on live cams) or http://www.ustream.tv/sandiegozoo. Zoo's blogs: http://blognew.sandiegozoo.org/category/animals-and-plants/giant-pandas/

	Twin Pandas at Zoo Atlanta	http://www.zooatlanta.org/1212/panda_cam#ff_s=aDIEl

	Giant Panda Cam National Zoo Washington, DC	http://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/webcams/giant-panda.cfm

Bears
	Kansas City Polar Bears Nikita and Berlin	http://www.kctv5.com/category/244581/nikita-berlin-polar-bear-cam

	Brown Bears and Salmon Katmai National Park Alaska (off season- will return)	http://explore.org/#!/live-cams/player/brown-bear-salmon-cam-brooks-falls (lots of other cams at this site, as well)

	Black Bears Ely, Minnesota	http://www.bear.org/website/live-cameras/live-cameras/holly-bears-den-cam-live.html

Other Animal and Nature Sites
	San Diego Zoo and Safari Park	http://animals.sandiegozoo.org/

	The Pet Collective (many live cams)	http://www.thepetcollective.tv/livestreams/

	Critter Chat Cams Multi-Critter Site with Chat	http://critterchatcams.org/

	Friends of Felines Rescue Center Defiance, Ohio	www.ustream.tv/ffrc

	Little House Prairie Village, Kansas	http://www.tomnliz.com/Livecam/

	CC's Page of Links (scheduled for updating)	http://chatterchopz.com/links/camslinks.htm