VacaChat News | Vriends News | Zorro's Corner | Recommended Watching | Fun Stuff | Newsletter Archives |
Vaca Shopping |
June 5, 2016
Broadcast Schedule | Channel Links | Important News |
Today!!! Sunday, June 5, 2016 |
3 PM PST/6 PM EST |
Story Writing! Join us for all the "behind-the-scenes" fun as we write the new story! |
6 PM PST/9 PM EST |
VacaChat Broadcast. Time for more fun, frivolity, festivity, and fervent activity! |
Upcoming!!! Sunday, June 12, 2016 |
3 PM PST/6 PM EST |
No Story Writing! We'll write again on July 3 (unless pre-empted by the holidays). |
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 |
The pop-out chat link no longer uses the old style chat.
However, it is still a nice way to save on memory and be able to refresh
without losing both chat and video. 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. |
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. I've only gotten photos from a few people. (The new page will be posted soon—just waiting on some graphics from TheDude.) Surely more chatters have pets that they'd like to show to the world! |
It's ACTUALLY Happened |
The 5th Anniversary International MOD Meet!!! Yes, photos have actually been posted!!! |
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Click on the title above to see the entire Laughing Outside the Box 2015 series. |
VacaChat Broadcast Changes |
Look here for any changes to upcoming broadcasts. |
On Sunday evening, September 20th, Vaca hopes to broadcast either a recording of his Skype visit with the MOD meet or a brief chat about the MOD meet. |
A Note from the Dude | Chatter News |
Prayer Requests |
Vaca Blog |
Hello Vriends, | ||
VacaDude here. Anyone up for some chatting tonight? How about
some StoryTime writing this afternoon?
I've been recovering a bit from yesterday. We got up with the Sun and drove to San Francisco to spend all day with friends and watching silent movies at the 21st annual Silent Film Festival at the Castro Theater. It was great fun, saw some really awesome movies, and didn't get home until around 2am. The highlight of the day was a British film made in 1927 called "Shooting Stars." At first we didn't know what to expect from it, but it turned out to be a very well-crafted tale of a love triangle in 1920s Hollywood. It had some nice behind-the-scenes looks at the process of making movies in the mid 1920s. That wasn't done much, so it is a great little time capsule for the industry. I have been finishing up a couple of small work projects, and should be done with that by next week. Then I'll really have to hit the pavement and try to drum up some new projects. In my off time, I have been preparing entries for more state and county fairs. I just got my entries off this week for the Solano County Fair. And then in the middle of this week, I should be hearing from the State Fair about the pre-jurying results. I sent them eight entries, and soon I will know if they have selected any to show in the contest. I have no idea what the odds of being selected are, so I am kind of nervous about this. It would be nice if I didn't whiff on all of them...I'm hoping that at least one of mine will be selected. I have never been to the State Fair, despite having lived in the Golden State all my life. If any of my photos get selected to show, I will definitely make an effort to attend my first-ever! I have been tinkering with some high-intensity LEDs and power sources in an attempt to get super high intensity light coming out of my little light-box. I used the first version of it to do some macro photography of minerals and crystals, and the results were pretty cool. I'd like to do more with that. (I'm going to show a few of these on the chat tonight) Well, the day marches steadily onward, and I want to get a few things done before the chat tonight (at 6pm PDT). Hope to see you there! |
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Cheers, VacaDude | ||
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 we have photos from Vegas. |
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Elsalynda | Elsalynda's latest column entitled Nature in the
City: Wildlife Thrives in Chill Spring Winds, is available online here: http://waltham.wickedlocal.com/article/20160513/NEWS/160518368 |
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Littleguys | We received this from Littleguys: For those of you that only know me via the internet, or have not seen me in years and years....I am the one in the turquoise blouse. http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Residents-Donate-Artifacts-for-Cedar-Fire-Monument-314003781.html | ||
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.) | |||
Jes | Jes has requested prayers. She has lost a close friend and is also facing some rather daunting medical tests and procedures. She is, of course, worried and stressed, and in need of all our prayers and healing vibes. | ||
KSBorn |
KSBorn has sent us an update. She writes, "I’m still in the midst of
chemo and hormone blocker every day. In 2008 I had breast cancer and it
returned July 2014 same breast cancer in my lung now and 2 lymph nodes
positive. I’m getting ready to have a surgery to get a port. I will
probably be on chemo for life. I have numerous tests monthly. Thank you so much for the prayers and please continue." |
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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: (as of
10/25/2015)
Amazing what an injection in the right place can accomplish! My back
started really hurting over two years ago, to the point I couldn't
show my horses "in hand" when I would have to walk beside them, etc,
and it was painful to lean over to harness them. I was diagnosed
with sciatica, meaning the hole in the vertebrae where the sciatic
nerve leaves the spine to go to the left leg was filling up with
arthritis.
But the doctors wouldn't fix it in 2014 because the Stage Zero
Breast Cancer was more important. In 2015, cancer free, it was
time to fix the back. I did get that injection for the sciatica
last summer, and some relief, but that doctor told me something
no other doctor had told me. Half of the pain I was experiencing
as I walked, stood, etc was due to the sacroiliac joint where
the spine meets the left side of the pelvis. Got a shot, well,
three right in that joint Thursday and cannot believe how much
better it is to walk and stand. Why couldn't they do that two
years ago??? Not a magic wand, but so much better,
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Elsalynda | (as of 3/27) Keep Elsalynda in your prayers. Elsa was recently in Mexico and had a great time until she was hospitalized there! Keep her in your prayers for continued good health for herself and her bird Nupi. | ||
GentleDoe | Latest update from GentleDoe (as of 1/10).
GentleDoe gives us much more information on her situation and
struggles. To read her entire post, click
here.
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Shari in Memphis | UPDATE!!!
We heard from Shari recently. She is now on the VacaNews mailing list,
so we'll be able to keep in touch with her more easily. She tells us,
"Hi guys! Shari in Memphis is alive. I've been having tons of health
problems, so that's tons of doc appointments! I have moved to northern
Arkansas, for health reasons, and looking forward to hub moving up here
in a couple of years, when he retires. It's gorgeous in the country, and
I love that we were able to find a place on a stream. Lots of wild
animals around! I miss you all. Shari (no longer in Memphis) (Shari Sides on FB)" |
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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! (No recent updates) |
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http://vacadude.wordpress.com/ | ||
Vaca YouTube | ||
Be sure to check out the Dude's YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/splinesmith/videos NEW VIDEOS ADDED!!! |
A Message From Zorro | StoryTime News | Recipe of the Week |
Hello there, Everbuddy! | ||
Boy, it sure has been hot here this last week! Pretty
much hanging around the 100 degree mark every day. It
reminds me of my childhood growing up in San Marcos. We
ended up taking lots of siestas back then! And that's
not such a bad idea for these days.
The Dude and Dudette got away from the heat when they went to San Francisco yesterday. They said the fog was rolling across the City and kept it quite nice. (The fog in the San Francisco region is sometimes called "nature's air conditioner".) They sometimes talk about how much they miss the fog of the Bay Area, but I kind of like it to be hotter out here. The Dude and I have been wrapping up some projects in the garage. Now THAT is a place where it gets too hot. We have to work in the mornings, because by around early afternoon it is way too hot to be out there. But we got some little light boxes done, and boxes that hold batteries to serve as power supplies, and stuff like that. I am learning a lot about electronics from the Dude. The main thing I have learned is where I should NOT stick my little paws when the power supply gets hooked up. The results of that can be positively shocking! Oh, and the tail can be as bad as the paws, so basically I just have to look around and be very careful when helping him when he is in his "evil scientist" mode. Over Memorial Day, he and the Dudette went and bought a ladder and a chain saw. I'm not sure what that particular combination is for, but I did see the "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" many years ago, and I got skeeered! So far the Dude has not mentioned any plans for a road trip to Texas, so I think everybody is safe. Besides, it is an electric chainsaw, so he would need a *really* long extension cord if he were going to go on a murderous rampage. Well, it is time for me to get ready to do the StoryTime, so I will see all you cats and kittens later! (Wait--I hate that particular phrase...why did I have to bring up the cats & kittens?!? ::shudder:: ) |
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Yours Most Whiskerly, Zorro |
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Next StoryTime | TODAY!!!!
Sunday, June 5 3:00 PM PST/6:00 PM EST |
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Title | The Expansion | ||
Invitation | We REALLY 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.
Slow Cooker Lasagna |
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Ingredients: | |||
1 pound ground Italian sausage or ground beef*
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Directions: | |||
Add the ground Italian sausage (or ground beef) to a large sauté pan, and cook over medium-high heat until browned and cooked through, using a large spoon to stir and break up the meet into small crumbles as it cooks. Remove from heat and drain off any excess grease. Set aside.
Layer about ⅓ of the ricotta cheese (a little over 1
cup) evenly on top of the noodles. Sprinkle ½ cup of the shredded Mozzarella cheese and
2 Tablespoons of the Parmesan cheese in an even layer on top of the
ricotta. Layer about ⅓ of the cooked ground meat in an even
layer on top of the cheeses. Layer 1 cup of pasta sauce in an even layer on top
of the ground meat. Repeat with another layer of noodles, ricotta,
Mozzarella/Parmesan, ground meat, and sauce. Then repeat with another
layer of noodles, ricotta, Mozzarella/Parmesan, ground meat, and sauce.
Then add one more layer of noodles, sauce, and Mozzarella. Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on high
for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours, or until the noodles are tender. Turn off the heat, and sprinkle the top of the lasagna evenly with the remaining Parmesan and fresh basil.
Serve immediately. (Or if you let the lasagna sit
and rest for 30 minutes, it will cut into pieces much more easily.) |
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Poolside Party Fluff |
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Ingredients: | |||
1 (3.4-ounce) package instant coconut cream pudding
and pie filling mix |
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Directions: | |||
In a large bowl, combine pudding mix, fruit cocktail with juice,
pineapple, and vanilla; mix well. Fold in remaining ingredients. Serve or chill until ready to serve. |
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Owl Cams | Other Bird Cams | Other Nature Cams | Video Picks of the Week | Inspiration |
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 |
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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 | |||||
Hummingbird University of Arizona |
Marmou (Marilyn) sent this from her new home town in Arizona. This
little lady built a nest on the end of a data cable for a future
wireless access point. http://www.pdc.arizona.edu/webcam/ENR2_HummingBird.aspx |
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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/ | ||||
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 Eight—yes, EIGHT!!—new puppies! |
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San Diego Zoo and Safari Park |
http://animals.sandiegozoo.org/ | ||||
Wild Earth Safari Cam | http://www.ustream.tv/channel/wildearth-safaris | ||||
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 | |||||
Fascinating Information about the Jeweled City | |||||
John has talked about the 1915 Panama Pacific International Exposition
(PPIE). Tzunamie found us this link: |
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http://home.comcast.net/~sgsanders/index.html | |||||
Mother Owl Takes On Snake—and Wins | |||||
Ketaki sent this in. She says, "I saw it live when it happened and it was so fast. It's too bad she didn't kill it and feed to the owlets. They could have used the food, and the snake, a rat snake, is non-venomous. But she was intent on protection. They run it in slow motion at the end so you can see her, and the inset window shows the snake coming down from the top." | |||||
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/05/150514-owl-snake-video-animals-fight/ | |||||
This Bird Song Collection Will Get You In Tune With Nature | |||||
http://www.ba-bamail.com/content.aspx?emailid=15112 | |||||
Help in Identifying Birds | |||||
Try www.whatbird.com It's helps identify lots of birds. | |||||
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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Toys for Grown-up (almost) Boys
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huQhqXiB8O0
Baby Alert!
https://rumble.com/v30llb-cute-babies-compilation.html
Can You Watch Without Grinning?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUAnLg-6QvI
Ring Bearer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhSJRGgFHY0
Dog Toy Napper
https://rumble.com/v30ffu-dachshund-pretending-to-be-asleep-to-steal-a-toy.html
Spider Web Timelapse
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WBln5lD42Y
Spreading Kindness
https://rumble.com/v30mjv-10-things-you-can-do-to-spread-kindness.html
A Zen Tale
https://rumble.com/v30mig-carrying-the-burden-a-zen-tale.html
Man and Grizzly
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BA17_TvO6vM
Saving Freedom
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiPP2VFoDJo
Rescued Horses
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvH2_l7FvtA
Mind-Blowing Magic Magnets
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IANBoybVApQ
Just for the Fun of It |
Fun Animations | Photo of the Week | Zorro's Word of the Week |
Chocolate Apple Owl Pops
http://www.frombraziltoyou.org/cute-chocolate-apple-halloween-owl/#
Owl Krispies
http://blog.book-pal.com/education/love-owls-make-these-8-snacks-for-back-to-school
Kyle Cookies
http://www.sheknows.com/food-and-recipes/articles/987733/3d-stacked-carrot-cookie-recipe
Tauntzlets Cookies
http://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/bunny-butt-cookies/ca4456e2-45c8-43c7-8d65-ebe4f12c6861
Rocky Cookies
http://heidimix.blogspot.com/2015/08/i-love-these-raccoon-cookies-they-are.html
Antique Silver Bunny
http://www.justcraftyenough.com/2014/03/project-more-tin-foil-antiquing/
From the Dude
Here's a couple of photos I took this last week.
One I took as I walked around in San Francisco last week,
and another is from a news story--somebody vandalized
one of the signs to have it say "Superb Owl"
Sharoot's Caboose
Sharoot shares,
"
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 barber win the race?
He knew a short cut! |
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Why did the baker add 7-Up to the cake mix?
Because the recipe called for baking soda |
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"I'd like two lamb chops," asked the woman to her butcher, "and make
them lean." "Yes ma'am," said the polite butcher, standing then on
end. "Which way - to the right or to the left?"
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What is a forum? Two-um plus two-um! | |||
How do you make sure no one steals your bagel? You put lox on it |
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A man goes to the doctor and tells him
that he hasn't been feeling well. The doctor examines him, leaves the room and comes back with three different bottles of pills. The doctor says, "Take the green pill with a big glass of water when you get up. Take the blue pill with a big glass of water after lunch. Then just before going to bed, take the red pill with another big glass of water." Startled to be put on so much medicine the man stammers, "Wow, doc, exactly what's my problem?" The doctor says, "You're not drinking enough water." |
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Upcoming Holidaze! | |||
2nd Week of June - Email Week June 5 Festival of Popular Delusions Day National Gingerbread Day World Environment Day National Gardening Exercise Day June 6 Teacher's Day National Applesauce Cake Day Drive-In Movie Day National Yo-Yo Day June 7 National Chocolate Ice Cream Day Daniel Boon Day VCR Day |
June 8 Name Your Poison Day Oceans Day Upsy Daisy Day Best Friends Day June 9 Donald Duck Day National Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Day Gin Day June 10 National Iced Tea Day Herb & Spice Day June 11 National Hug Holiday King Kamehameha Day Corn on the Cob Day John Quincy Adams’ Birthday (1767) |
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VERDURE
Pronunciation: \VER-jer\
noun
Definition of VERDURE
1. the greenness of growing vegetation; also : such
vegetation itself
2. a condition of health and vigor
EXAMPLES
"All right, I have to admit it. It's stunning. Even though the summer drought has leached
the verdure from the grand, sweeping lawns."
— Zofia Smardz, The Washington Post, 24 Oct. 2007
"The visit began and culminated with Can Tomas, her family house, which crests
one of
the hills on the island, providing unobstructed views of San Antonio Bay's sunsets and
the seething palette of verdure and ocher soil that composes the island's countryside."
— Nikil Saval, The New York Times, 10 Nov. 2015
DID YOU KNOW?
English speakers have had the use of the word verdure since the 14th century, when it made its
way into Middle English from Anglo-French. Like the more common verdant, the word traces back
to Latin virēre, meaning "to be green." Since the early 16th century, verdure has also been used to
refer to a kind of tapestry with a design based on plant forms. The verdure that English speakers
sometimes encounter on menus is Italian; in that language verdure refers to green vegetables
or to vegetables in general (as in "fettuccine con
verdure").
Word Family Quiz
Unscramble the letters to create an adjective derived from Latin virēre
that means "beginning to be green":
ENIRTCEVS.
virescent
VacaShopping for the Holidays
A NEW VacaShopping Site!!!
Vaca is now posting new items to Zazzle!
His new store is at: www.zazzle.com/Vacadude
The first item available is a note card or greeting card with an all new
Vaca drawing on the front.
Check it out at:
http://www.zazzle.com/owl_igloo_holiday_card-137686885203006237
Don't you need some new decorations for Valentine's Day?
Just think of all the VacaDude gifts!
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.