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March 15, 2015
More graphics and buttons, courtesy of VacaDude, coming soon!
Broadcast Schedule |
Channel Links |
Important News |
Broadcast Schedule |
Today!!! Sunday, March 15, 2015 |
3 PM PST/6 PM PST |
No Story Writing We'll write again on April 12 (delayed a week due to Easter) |
6 PM PST/9 PM EST |
No VacaChat Broadcast.
The chatroom will be open at 6:00 PM PST (9:00 PM EST; 8:00 PM CST) |
Upcoming!!! Sunday, March 22, 2015 |
3 PM PST/6 PM PST |
No Story Writing We'll write again on April 12 (delayed a week due to Easter) |
6 PM PST/9 PM EST |
No VacaChat Broadcast.
The chatroom will be open at 6:00 PM PST (9:00 PM EST; 8:00 PM CST) |
Channel Links |
Channel Links |
The pop-out chat link still uses the old style chat.
If you do not like the changes Ustream has made to chat, use the pop-out
link. The easiest way to do this is to open the pop-out chat in a browser window. Log in. (Type a period in the chat line—hit enter. This will open the login screen.) Size this chat window to equal about 1/3 of your desktop space. Then open a new window or tab (Ctrl-T or Ctrl-N in most browsers) and use it to open the pop-out video. If you opened a new tab, you can then click on the tab and drag it to an open space on your desktop. Size it to about 2/3 of your desktop space beside the chat. Now you have both open and can refresh one without disturbing the other. You can resize either without resizing the other. I hope this helps. |
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 |
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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. |
Important News |
Our Furred, Feathered, and Scaled Babies |
We will soon have a new feature on the VacaNews website. Send us pictures of you and your pets. We'll have a page featuring all our animal family members. Send them to vacachatb@gmail.com. Make sure you include your chat name and your pet's name. You can also include your real name and location if you want to. |
It's REALLY Gonna Happen |
The 5th Anniversary International MOD Meet!!! http://www.modmeet.com/ |
VacaChat Broadcast Changes |
February's story writing and broadcast will be delayed until February 8 due to the Super Bowl (and Puppy Bowl) on February 1. |
Chatter News |
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A Note from the Dude | Chatter News |
Prayer Requests |
Vaca Blog |
Hello Vriends, | ||
I may need to keep it short today, as I am running on 15 minutes
bursts of energy. Yes, once again--I caught some kind of cold or
flu--something really nasty with a lot of lung congestion. I am
just referring to it as a fluggold. Frankly, I'm thinking I got
ripped-off on my flu shot. This is the second time I have gotten
sick in about three months. Isn't the shot supposed to help
prevent this?
I think I know where I got this--the lady who was my brother-in-law's last girlfriend had something that was hitting her lungs really bad. My sister and I went up there on Monday to process a lot of photographs in albums and boxes, and Joyce was handling those boxes and albums the night before we got there. Right around Wednesday was when I got this nasty tickle in my throat, and it has all been downhill from there. However, Monday was a very interesting step back in time, and I have been looking over scores of old photographs from my family many years ago. Most of these images I have never seen. The 3D Printing is still moving forward, though I am nearing the end of the loaner period for the printer I'm using. I am going to try to convince them to let me hang on to it for a little bit longer, but I don't know how receptive they will be to that idea. I did enter into a contest to try to win a newer, better printer--but there are a few other folks who jumped in early who have a pretty substantial lead. So if you could go cast a vote for me, I would certainly appreciate it! The link is here: https://www.facebook.com/XYZprinting/app_798353403554742 You need to click on that link, and it will take you to a place in Facebook (you do need to be on Facebook to vote--there is no way to vote otherwise). What usually happens is that a page comes up, and hidden below is the voting button. You need to scroll down to make the box appear, and it may be ghosted red. Then it will turn to solid red. Once that happens, you can click on it and that takes you to the voting page. Once there, you'll see my piece "Nimoy Tribute". Then you can place a vote, and it goes until midnight tonight. Basically, what I've learned about XYZprinting is that their printers work like a charm, but their web design skills leave a LOT to be desired. Well, that's about all the energy I've got for this window of time. Now to go back and spend some more time with my Czechoslovakian friend: Doze & Cough. |
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Cheers, VacaDude | ||
Chatter News |
Ketaki | Ketaki sent us a fun story and several pictures. It's a little long to be included here, so her story has it's own page. You can see it HERE. | ||
Jes63 | New Pictures of Jes and Bailey. | ||
Sharoot | Sharoot's featured pictures can be found
at the end of each newsletter, under Photos of the
Week. She says that since they are located at the end, then "Sharoot's
the Caboose!" Today Sharoot shares pictures of a group of critters who are celebrating Spring. She also shares more about her Harris's Sparrow that visited a few months ago. You can read about that here. |
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ChatterChopz | ChatterChopz and DotRot are proud to announce the completion and publication of a book all about CC! It's entitled Unexpected Lessons From My Daughter: The Blessings of Parenting a Special Needs Child. If you want to read it, it is available in both Paperback and Kindle formats. It's got dozens of photos of CC, from birth to present. You can view it or purchase it here: http://goo.gl/RjCFT3 (At present, Amazon has discounted the paperback version by over $4!) If you DO read the book, please leave a review at Amazon. The more reviews I get, the more likely Amazon is to promote the book. | ||
Elsalynda | Elsalynda's latest column entitled Nature in the
City: Waltham on the Rocks, is available online here: http://waltham.wickedlocal.com/article/20150310/News/150319932 Make sure you check out the photo accompanying the article!!! Elsa says, "The delightful picture is by Maureen King, and she had to stand out the freezing wind for hours to capture it!" Elsa also tells us that she has had a poem selected for publication. She says she is very excited to be a part of this book and feels like a poet in good company, with known authors. Her poem on Great Horned Owls has a page with a beautiful photo opposite. Her writing group helped her with this piece. The book, Secrets of Wisdom by Joyce Gerrish, is now available at Amazon. |
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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.) | |||
VacaDude and is family | Condolences go out to VacaDude and his family on the death of his brother-in-law, Duke after a long struggle following a stroke. Keep them all in your prayers as they continue to deal with the details of Duke's life and death. | ||
KSBorn | KSBorn was in regression for lymphoma and breast cancer. It has since returned and she's going for Chemo now. She and her doctors are attacking it vigorously and she needs our prayers. She needs our prayers for healing, for the Lord to guide her doctors, and for the peace and strength as she undergoes the treatment. | ||
VacaDude and his cousin, Kevin | UPDATE: WONDERFUL NEWS!!!!! "Our family got some news this last week from my cousin Kevin, and it was wonderful: the latest tests show that he is in full remission!! So I'd like to thank you all for your thoughts and prayers; it meant a lot to me and to Kevin. If you could extend a few of those prayers to his mother Irene, I would really appreciate it. In a cruel twist of fate, Kevin's mom was diagnosed with lymphoma--very similar to Kevin's--that was located in her abdomen. Last I heard, she was responding well to the chemo. Apparently it made for some lively chemo treatment sessions--mother and son in together! They have always been a fun family, and I really hope Irene pulls through as well." | ||
TheDaddyBird, | TheDaddyBird is also facing hip replacement real soon. Believe it or not, they rescheduled it!! Now he's waiting until March 23 for the surgery. He's okay with it now, but at first, after all the anticipation and dread, the rescheduling was a real bummer. They are doing the replacement anterior instead of posterior so his recovery time should be much shorter. His stay in the hospital is expected to be only about 2½ days. | ||
Marilyn Crabb | UPDATE:
Hi! I survived six months of chemotherapy. I'll have my breast
tumor and left axillary nodes removed on Friday, Feb. 13. Radiation will
be next. Please pray that the surgeon does a good job and all my cancer
is removed! My screen name was/is MarilynLA on UStream. (Marilyn from Los Angeles) |
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Littleguys | UPDATE:
The latest news from Littleguys:
I have been limping a lot over the past two years. Pinched
nerve. Over a year ago, I put my foot down and insisted we
find out why. Not the joints. X-ray, then MRI showed that
the discs that I slipped years ago, one is flat and the
other bulging, plus I have the "not unexpected" arthritis in
the vertebrae where the nerves come out of the spinal column
and go down the leg. Taking care of it all got delayed.
The doctors wanted to treat the Breast Cancer first, even if
it were only Stage Zero since, as they put it, cancer can
kill and pinched nerves won't. Caused weight gain, since I
can't walk as much as I used to...LOL
Anyway, finally got to go back to the doctor about my back. Three options. First one, surgery, no one wants. Second is to inject something, I think it was a type of cortisone. Third option, I start tonight, taking a pill every night that is supposed to calm down the excited / inflamed, screaming nerves.
Keep your fingers crossed, and prayers coming. I really
need to be able to get out and walk more to get rid of this
weight, and show my horses in halter classes.
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Caboval | Joey has gone to the Rainbow Bridge. Please keep Caboval in your prayers. | ||
Elsalynda | Keep Elsalynda in your prayers as she struggles with health, computer and weather related issues. | ||
GentleDoe | Please pray for me, my house, Section 8 assistance &
a resolution to this situation. My sister has POA for my father now. My
mother had it until my sister had him sign it over to her prior to her
taking him out of the assistive living home & into her home. (She now
owns half her home & dad the other half.) Dad had my home & my parent's
home put in his name alone, now my sister has POA. She has threatened to
put mom in a home & she wants me out of both the house I rented from my
father & my parent's house. I need a house to be able to keep my birds. While my birds are usually quiet, if anything disturbs them they can be quite loud. My 5 birds & 2 bunnies are the only family I have other than my human family. My mother & I have not been able to see or speak to my father since August of last year, 2014. My mother wakes up calling for my father. This is taking its toll on my mother's already fragile health. My health is also struggling but I cannot allow it to be known because I am the only one to stay & care for my mother. My mother would not last long in a home with little if ay visitation. Thank you all of the Vacafamily and Vriends for the prayers. Hope to get to check in for a few minutes, I've just recently got the internet again. |
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Shari in Memphis | Has anyone gotten any updates from Shari? | ||
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. | |||
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! |
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http://vacadude.wordpress.com/ |
A
Message from Zorro |
StoryTime News |
StoryTime Archives |
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Recipe of the Week |
A Message from Zorro |
Hello there, Everbuddy! | ||
Well, I guess mice can get human diseases after all. I
have been coughing my little mousie lungs out, just like
the Dude. Though you really don't want to see what a
mouse can cough up. It looked a whole lot better going
in, I can assure you of that. ::achoo!!:: Really, I
don't know how you humans put up with being sick so
much. Back when I was running around outside and
crawling through holes in the walls, nothing could
sideline me. Now that I've been in the central-heated
and air-conditioned spaces with the humans, I keep
getting colds and flus. I think everybody needs to go
live outside more often! ::koff::koff::
I see the Dude is heading back out to the couch to curl up under a blanket. I'm going to go keep him company. I'm coming, Dude!! |
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Yours Most Whiskerly, Zorro |
StoryTime News |
Next StoryTime | Coming Soon!
Sunday, April 12 3:00 PM PST/6:00 PM EST |
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Title | Zorro as the Easter Bunny?? | ||
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. | ||
If anyone wants to request a recipe or a recipe category, just email me.
Chocolate Chess Pie |
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In honor of the Pi Day of the Century (yesterday at 9:26:53 AM it was 3.14.15.9.26.53—the first 10 digits of Pi), I bring you a wonderful variation on a Southern classic. | |||
Ingredients | |||
1½ cup sugar
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Directions | |||
Preheat oven to 350°F. Form pie crust in a 9 inch pie pan, set aside. With a whisk, mix sugar, cocoa, eggs, butter and vanilla together until well combined. Whisk in milk. Pour into unbaked pie crust. Bake in 350°F oven 45 minutes until center of pie is set. Cool to room temperature. Serve at room temp or chilled in refrigerator. Take it over the top with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream!
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Crispy Fried Meatloaf |
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Ingredients: | |||
For the Meatloaf: |
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Ingredients: | |||
Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, combine the beef, egg, onion, milk and bread crumbs. Season with salt and pepper to taste and place in a lightly greased 5x9 inch loaf pan, or form into a loaf and place in a lightly greased 9x13 inch baking dish. In a separate small bowl, combine the brown sugar, mustard and ketchup. Mix well and pour over the meatloaf. Bake at 350°F for 1 hour. Let it cool and then refrigerate for 2 hours or more. To Fry: Set three wide, shallow dishes (such as pie plates) in a row on the counter. Put the flour in the first dish. Crack the egg into the second dish and beat it lightly with a fork. Put the panko or crumbs in the third dish and toss them with salt and pepper. Cut the meatloaf into slices and set aside. Dredge a slice of meatloaf in the flour and then in the egg. Lay the slice in the crumbs and make sure you cover every part of it. Set aside and repeat step with all of the slices. When all are coated, refrigerate for an additional ten to fifteen minutes to let the bread crumbs set. When ready to cook, poor oil into heavy duty sided pan. Heat the oil over medium-high heat until it immediately and vigorously bubbles. With a slotted metal spatula, carefully slip the breaded meatloaf into the oil. Fry until golden brown on both sides, about 1 minute per side, using the spatula to carefully turn the slices. Transfer to a plate with paper towels, sprinkle lightly with salt, and let sit briefly to drain excess oil. Serve hot. |
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Owl Cams | Other Nature Cams | Video Picks of the Week | Inspiration | |||||||
Other Bird Cams |
Owl Cams |
Puffins | |||||
Shetland Islands Puffins | http://www.shetland.org/puffincam/ | ||||
Sea Island, Maine |
http://explore.org/live-cams/player/puffin-burrow-cam | ||||
Sea Island, Maine |
http://explore.org/live-cams/player/puffin-loafing-ledge-cam These pages also contain links to numerous other nature cams. |
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Eagles | |||||
Southwest Florida Eagles
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mi6DdvVbbi8 | ||||
Black Eagle |
http://www.africam.com/wildlife/black_eagle_webcam | ||||
Decorah Eagles |
http://www.ustream.tv/decoraheagles | ||||
Berry College Eagle Cam |
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/berry-eagle-cam | ||||
http://www.pixcontroller.com/eagles/index.htm | |||||
Peregrine Falcons | |||||
PA Falcon Cam |
http://www.pacast.com/players/falcon.asp | ||||
Commerce Tower Peregrines |
http://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/wildlife-cameras/peregrine-falcon-web-camera Cam not live now but should be returning soon. |
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Pitt Peregrine Falcon |
http://www.aviary.org/PF-NestCam1 | ||||
Gulf Tower Peregrine Falcon |
http://www.aviary.org/PF-NestCam2 | ||||
Emily
Falcon Cam |
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/emily-falcon-cam | ||||
RFalconCam |
http://rfalconcam.com/rfc-main/ | ||||
Talking Birds | |||||
Watch the Birdie |
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/Watch-the-Birdie | ||||
Disco |
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 |
http://www.kansascityzoo.org/penguincam |
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Whidbey Island Back Porch other assorted birds |
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/katersch | ||||
Hellgate Ospreys |
http://cams.allaboutbirds.org/channel/27/Hellgate_Ospreys/ | ||||
Ostrich Chicks |
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http://www.ustream.tv/channel/ostrich-egg-cam-live | |||
Streaming Bird Cams |
http://www.beakspeak.com/ | ||||
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/ |
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Twin Pandas at |
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Giant Panda Cam |
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/webcams/giant-panda.cfm | ||||
Bears | |||||
Kansas City Polar Bears |
http://www.kctv5.com/category/244581/nikita-berlin-polar-bear-cam | ||||
Brown Bears and Salmon |
http://explore.org/#!/live-cams/player/brown-bear-salmon-cam-brooks-falls (lots of other cams at this site, as well) |
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Black Bears |
http://www.bear.org/website/live-cameras/live-cameras/holly-bears-den-cam-live.html | ||||
Other Animal and Nature Sites | |||||
Golden Paw-Prints Classic Golden Retrievers Oshkosh, Wisconsin |
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/golden-retriever-puppy-cam All the pups have gone to their forever homes. Camera is shut down until the next litter is born. |
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San Diego Zoo and Safari Park |
http://animals.sandiegozoo.org/ | ||||
The Pet Collective |
http://www.thepetcollective.tv/livestreams/ | ||||
Critter Chat Cams |
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Friends of Felines Rescue
Center |
www.ustream.tv/ffrc | ||||
Little House |
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CC's Page of Links (scheduled for updating) |
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Other Sites of Interest | |||||
Help in Identifying Birds | |||||
Try www.whatbird.com It's helps identify lots of birds. | |||||
Secrets of the Snowy Owl | |||||
http://goo.gl/P0trt0 | |||||
Meet Zeus | |||||
http://kittensdaily.com/meet-zeus-blind-owl-gorgeous-eyes/ | |||||
Some Interesting Information About Someone We All Know Well | |||||
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1511369/ | |||||
International Space Station Links | |||||
During a recent
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 |
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A Swimming Owl | |||||
This came to us
from windbeneathwing. Swimming owl caught on video http://www.foxnews.com/science/2014/12/05/swimming-owl-caught-on-video/ |
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Video Picks of the Week |
Kitten Stuck In the Middle
(This looks just like the little feral kitten that we've been socializing.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=go43XeW6Wg4&feature=youtu.be
Most Stubborn Cat Ever
https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/5sy1MDHZ27M?rel=0&%3bshowinfo=0
Russian Circus Cats
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODKNlhVW_GU
Cyril
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75X7G-38xBk
Train vs. Snow
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yja2VmZOfdA#t=104
Die Maiers Comedy Trapeze
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eor9b_WANEs
Inspiration or Things to Make You Think |
Never Leave the Playground
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eICg4CMd2jU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_YdPNgByOE
Typewriter Artist
https://www.youtube.com/embed/svzPm8lT36o?feature=player_detailpage
Video Tricks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2lNz1LqYyQ
Best Coin Ever Spent
This video brings tears to my eyes every
time I watch it. The sheer exuberence of the children experiencing the joy of
music is just so incredible.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wee-CSVtbY
Dream for my Child
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bdm4NBYxII
Old—New
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hIOwi5Mv8E
Fun Animations and Pictures |
Photos of the Week |
Zorro's Word of the Week | ||||||||
Just for the Fun of It |
Kyle's Jokes of the Week |
Printable Owl Craft
http://kidsactivitiesblog.com/50548/printable-owl-craft
Peanut Butter Owl Cookies
http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/peanut-butter-owl-cookies
Rice Cake Owl Snacks
http://www.repeatcrafterme.com/2012/08/rice-cake-owl-snack.html
Embroidery Hoop Owl
http://www.repeatcrafterme.com/2014/09/embroidery-hoop-owl.html
Crochet Owl Family
http://www.repeatcrafterme.com/2012/06/crochet-owl-family-amigurumi-pattern.html
Know Your Geography
Today, instead of a craft, I bring you two fun little challenges. Let's see how well you can do.
http://mentalfloss.com/article/61270/name-next-bordering-state-without-backtracking
http://mentalfloss.com/article/61476/name-countries-europe-without-missing-one
Fun Animations and Pictures |
(Limbo-er and Limbo-est to follow in the next two weeks)
Photos of the Week |
From the Dude
I thought you might enjoy this photo of the conjunction from the other night.
Sharoot's Caboose
Sharoot shares,
"It's really spring! Just ask this bale (I thought it was a herd, but Google says not)
of turtles we saw today at Brick Pond Park in SC."
Kyle's well known among his friends for his "triple
groaner" riddles and jokes. Now he shares them with VacaFamily. Enjoy! |
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Why did the leprechaun stand on the potato?
To keep from falling in the stew! |
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What would you get if you crossed Quasimodo with an
Irish football player? The Halfback of Notre Dame! |
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A government committee was formed to investigate the
emergence of Ireland as a world financial power. After months of study
and deliberation, they determined that it was due to the fact that the
country's capitol was always Dublin. |
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Remember the Rap singer Vanilla Ice? Seems that in a
bid for immortality, he donated a tissue sample to an experimental
laboratory for cloning research. Unfortunately, the sample was
accidentally combined with another tissue sample belonging to Kareem
Abdul Jabar. The result was a Vanilla Ice Kareem Clone. |
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What do you get when you cross poison ivy with a four-leaf clover?
A rash of good luck. |
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Zorro's Word of the Week |
RÉCHAUFFÉ
Pronunciation: \ray-shoh-FAY\
noun
Definition of RÉCHAUFFÉ
1: something presented in a new form without change of
substance : rehash
2: a warmed-over dish of food
EXAMPLES
The day after the holiday, it was traditional to serve réchauffés
and snacks rather than cook a full meal.
"[It] is a réchauffé, … lifted and stitched from 'The Gastronomical Me' and
other books."
— Victoria Glendinning, New York Times Book Review, June 9, 1991
DID YOU KNOW?
We borrowed réchauffé in the early 19th century from the French;
it is the past participle of their verb réchauffer, which means "to reheat."
Nineteenth-century French speakers were using it figuratively to designate something
that was already old hat—you might say, "warmed over." English speakers adopted that same meaning,
which is still our most common. But within decades someone had apparently decided that
leftovers would seem more appealing with a French name. The notion caught on. A recipe for
"Réchauffé of Beef a la Jardiniere," for example, instructs the cook to reheat "yesterday's piece
of meat" in a little water with some tomatoes added, and serve it on a platter with peas and carrots
and potatoes. Réchauffé shares its root with another English word, chafing dish,
the name of a receptacle for keeping food warm at the table.
VacaShopping for Easter
Every Easter basket needs a Dudley!!
VacaDude’s creations are sure to be treasured gifts for those special people in your lives.
Check them all out at VacaDude's CafePress store! Support our beloved
artist/broadcaster/friend!
http://www.cafepress.com/vacadude
MollyTheOwlBooks
Eric has discontinued the sales of all his books and merchandise.
of that and want one, let DotRot know
and she'll do what she can to make it available to you.