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Borrego Springs, CA

Saturday, May 17, 2014

This could be an interesting summer

With the Festival of Birds going on in Detroit Lakes since Thursday, a number of staff and all the volunteers have been very busy.  Thursday morning I helped get things set up at the local junior college where all the registration and such would be going on.  In the afternoon, it was my mission to fill the nine kiosks located at various locations around the refuge with pamphlets, and get the refuge spiffy looking by picking up beer cans and other trash that unthinking people throw out of their vehicles.

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                   Mr. Porcupine was way up high again in the quaking aspen at my site munching away.

Friday, I was one of the leaders for a group of about 50 alternative school teenagers visiting the refuge to learn about bird watching.  That was certainly interesting.  Not surprisingly, four of the youngsters disappeared from under the teacher’s nose.  My guess is they went for a smoke, or to experience their ‘natural’ tendencies in the woods.  Winking smile  Spring fever and all, don’t-cha know…

clay-colored sparrow

                                  A new bird for the Hard Rock Bird Café…the clay-colored sparrow.

This morning, I was at the Visitors Center by 6:30 in the morning to fill all the bird feeders and hang them out.  There are bears in these here woods, and the numerous feeders are taken in every evening.  Getting them all set up take’s about 45 minutes, and staff wanted them ready to go early.  One of the tours of the Festival was of the refuge, and all the birders would be stopping by early.  The birds cooperated, and put on a great show for all the visitors.

I had a real surprise when the mail was delivered today.  There was a package for me from Sharon of The Odd Essay fame. 

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Inside were three boxes of Trader Joe’s Triple Ginger Cookie Thins.  Apparently Sharon remembered the Swedish ginger thins that I took a real liking to last summer when I was here, and sent me the Trader Joe’s version.  Thanks, Sharon!

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When I wrote about Anna’s cookies last year, I told the story of how they are Swedish wish cookies.  You make a wish, put a cookie in the palm of your hand, and tap it lightly with your other index finger.  If the cookie breaks into three pieces, your wish will come true!  There are no such instructions on the Trader Joe’s cookies.

However, Trader Joe’s box does say that ginger has been considered an aphrodisiac for almost forever.  Hmm… With four boxes of wishes and aphrodisiacs, this summer could be a lollapalooza!!  Surprised smileFingers crossedLeft hugRight hug  Oh my goodness, Sharon, I hope I’m up for it!

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy

26 comments:

  1. So in this context, alternative is not necessarily a positive thing:)

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  2. Thanks for the photo of the sparrow. Didn't know about that one. Thanks to you, if I see one, I just may be able to ID it.

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  3. Sounds like you had a very busy morning. It takes a bit of time to fill up the bird feeders each morning.

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  4. yum...I love those cookies...they also have a lemon one just in case.....ha!

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  5. Great pictures, of course! I can't get over the porcupine in the tree. Does he come down? What does Emma do? I heard something sad, today. I realize it's instinct, but Bogey found a rabbit's nest in his back yard that Michael didn't know existed. He killed three babies. Bella, his other Weimaraner who passed away would kill small animals, too. I guess it's natural to their breed? Jack and Lizzie never went after wildlife--thank goodness and they never went after it here, either. I have a feeling Bogey would be in trouble in your campground!

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  6. Being a retired high school teacher, I know exactly what you are talking about with the alternative students.

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  7. Hah! i'm gonna get me some of those cookies!

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  8. Hoy! A whole summer of good wishes, aphrodisiacs and yummy cookies! Have a blast!

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  9. I hope you are up for it too, and in fact I'm a little jealous!

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  10. Judy, you are so dang funny. You had better eat your Wheaties...you know...the breakfast of champions????

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  11. Hanky panky by High School Students...imagine that! I hope Emma steers clear of that Porky Pine...seems that there is a good crop of them this year...I have seen many road kills:)

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  12. We're expecting a report back at the end of the summer ;-) The most "out of control" kids we ever dealt with were from a private alternative school in ABQ. And what was worse was that the teachers didn't do much to make them behave. Those were high school kids... give me the little ones for a tour any time! We're on our way to Maine... hope I see a Porky this summer.

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  13. Thanks for the Sunday morning chuckle Judy!

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  14. Hey - how does one get into the free cookie deal???? Enjoy!

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  15. Remind me to stay away from ginger cookies, I can get into trouble all by myself with no outside help...

    And remember, no matter how well those cookies may work for you, you have to keep your blog "G" rated! :cP

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  16. Those cookies make me think of a career in B & E!

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  17. I'm guessing that those disappearing teenagers didn't need the benefits gained from eating your new ginger cookies!

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  18. Wow, I need to truck on over to Trader Joe's to try out ginger cookies.

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  19. That's a whole lot of ginger cookies you have there, Judy. Better get to work on those.

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  20. Oh my that will be another thing to add my Trader Joes' shopping list! Already I have 2 Buck Chuck, Cookie Butter, and Olive Tapenade that I make a point of going for (the nearest Trader Joes is 90 miles away from me!) Now I will have to try those cookies too!

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    (Blog) RVing: The USA Is Our Big Backyard
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  21. Some kids have all the luck. And your left with the ginger snaps. LOL

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  22. You are so funny!
    And so busy! Have a great week Judy!

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  23. I'll have to pass on Trader Joe's for now. The closest location appears to be 214 miles away and that is a new location that the Trader Joe's website locator claims does not exist. My anticipated route for this summer will not have me passing through any Trader Joe's locations that I can see. Maybe later?

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  24. You might want to eat one cookie at time and not devour the whole box at once.

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  25. I'm at the airport in Toronto catching up on my reading, hope you've been behaving yourself after eating those cookies for a couple of days! I only have the dark chocolate with hazelnuts...maybe it'll work, we'll have to wait and see!

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  26. You crack me up! Enjoy the cookies! What a nice thing for her to do!

    I have never seen a porcupine in the wild. I wonder if we have them here in MI, it would seem likely, we're not that much different than MN.

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