Creatures (Organisms) in My Backyard - Issue #3 - Mushrooms

 (I realize mushrooms are not a creature but having had some beautiful specimens growing in our yard and having taken these photos of them, I could not resist writing about them as well.)

There's just something about the pleasant roundness of a mushroom that appeals to me. Every time I see one growing in our yard I can't help but get a picture of it. Some might say this obsession stems from growing up in a Mario Brothers playing family. I wouldn't know.
Well, what about mushrooms? You ask. What can you say of interest about the spongy, peculiar things? Let me see... We all know mushrooms are a fungus, we learned that in the first year of biology, but what makes them grow so randomly? Out of the blue a few will grow up right in the middle of your yard.
Once I discussed this very subject with my grandfather and he said he heard they grow wherever dead wood could be found. So does this mean there is dead wood underground in the middle of the yard?
So I did a little research and this is what I found:

For the longest mushrooms were not even studied by scientists. It wasn't until 1700's did they begin to study mushrooms and for the longest they were categorized as a member of the plant kingdom. But plants use chlorophyll and photosynthesize while  mushrooms do well in sunless, wooded areas. So they considered the animal kingdom due to the fact that mushrooms absorb nutrients like an animal does, and yet they do not contain a nervous system, and other important organs. By the 1960's scientists decided to create another kingdom, kingdom Fungi, consisting of  mushrooms, puffballs, yeasts, molds, mildews, and truffles.

Mushrooms receive their nutrients from dead wood and animal matter. This might explain the randomness of their growth. But did you know that the majority of the organism is underground? Thin, web-like roots form a mat known as hyphae that release enzymes around potential food to break it down and make it readily available for the mushrooms to absorb. From these roots they send out new mushrooms forming a perimeter around the already "harvested" area, though sometimes they aren't as predictable as that.

They also reproduce through spores. This is more noticeable in puffballs, those potato-like dust clumps that entice young children to destroy, resulting in a satisfying poof and a cloud of tiny spores, sadly poisonous. Yes, I was one of those children.
Food wise, they are not especially flavorful and yet they complement certain gourmet dishes with their mild flavor and interesting texture. I, for one, enjoy them sauted with onions in butter. Some of my siblings, on the other hand, do not agree.
Though I have heard that a greater percentage of mushrooms are not poisonous, experts recommend people not to try to decide which of this percentage you have. Its best to get your mushrooms from the store so as to guarantee their edibility.

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Cunning Kitty and Patient Pups

Talk about clever! This kitty is definitely determined to get his balloons. Just too cute!

Our Lucy is full-blooded Chocolate Lab and I make her wait patiently sometimes for her food, and though she usually doesn't drool she eats just as hungrily. I thought it was just her. Now I know I am wrong.

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Creatures in our Backyard - Issue #2 - Baby Squirrel

Last month I talked about Toads which you can read if you missed it by clicking here. This month I want to talk about a squirrel, a baby one to be exact.

Every night I take the dogs to the front yard and let them get some exercise and play ball. Lucy, our Chocolate Lab, and Gracie, her pit bull/choco lab daughter, love it. Nikko, our Husky/German Shepherd mix is still quite an active boy and we don't trust him to not run away when let him loose so I play with him on a long run. While I was playing with him (he also loves to play ball) I kept hearing a squirrel barking, which isn't really unusual. I thought a cat must be irritating it so I wandered closer to see which cat it was. Then I saw the squirrel perched on a peculiarly low branch only about a meter from the ground and barking its little head off. Looking about I didn't see a cat or even a snake, like I supposed afterward. The squirrel got too edgy and took off up the tree so I moved closer still curious as to what might have bothered it, thats when I saw a little gray ball moving about on the pine needles below the tree. I've seen baby squirrels before but they are usually still very young and pink and they never survive. But this one was not pink; it had short gray fur all over and the hair on its tail was white. Its eyes were still closed but it was a squirmy little thing. I found out later that baby squirrels don't get their eyes open till they're around four or five weeks old, which, compared to kittens and puppies is a pretty good while. The little thing wasn't harmed and seemed to be all right so I left it expecting the mother to come back for it. Mum and I looked for the nearest squirrel nest but the only one we could find was too far away. They say a mother might drop her baby accidentally while moving it to another nest so we figured thats what happened.

The next morning I walked out to where the baby squirrel was expecting to see it gone or (cynically) dead. We've had some disappointing encounters with little animals like that; they never seem to survive. Anyhow, I found it still there and quite alive. So what did I do? Google! "What to do with a baby squirrel." Everyone said the first and most important thing to do is warm the little thing up. Grabbing an old rag from the linen closet I scooped it up and put it against my chest. It was so cute! Then I came in and did some more research. Checking for dehydration is the next step, and after calling the vet and some other people we realized we had to make a decision. One lady told me that the mother might come back for the baby if left alone for a while and I wanted so badly for the mother to actually take it back to the nest. We decided to place the baby back where I found it and keep watch from a nearby window. Nothing... I considered giving it a Pedialyte-like mixture recommended by some people to rehydrate it, because feeding it formula before rehydrating it would most likely kill it. In the end Mum and I took it to an animal hospital where the woman at the counter told us she was expecting a hummingbird and already had another squirrel, slightly older than this one. Squirrels do better when with other squirrels so we were glad for this.

Sadly, no quality time with cute baby squirrel but now we're sure the little thing will survive. Until next time...

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Book Review #1: Gold of Kings, Storm Syrrell Adventure Series, Book One

Synopsis:

Storm Syrrell is young woman with a passion for art and antiques just like her grandfather, and when she gets a job at her grandfather's well-known business in Palm Beach she feels she has found her niche. But then her grandfather suddenly fires her leaving her hurt and confused.
Sean Syrrell sees in his granddaughter the taste and expertise he is known for himself. But a situation out of his control hands him a choice that pains him deeply: please Storm now or save her life. The former resulting in her being fired and hurt emotionally. He tells himself that she will understand in time.

Suddenly, Sean mysteriously dies causing everyone to believe it was a heart attack. On top of this new grief and having to handle the shop and its problems, a Homeland Security agent takes a baffled Storm to a large vault previously owned by the late Sean Syrrell containing startling artifacts and an old leather journal. From the journal Storm finds clues to something that resembles a new historical discovery and the artifacts in the vault only confirm her suspicions.
While still mulling over this latest surprise, a scruffy-looking treasure hound named Harry Bennett turns up as well. He tells Storm that he was a good friend of Sean's and had worked for him on a number of occasions, and that he is just as astonished by these events as she is. The fact that Sean asked him to come to Palm Beach to protect Storm in the event of his death only solidifies Storm's fears, that Sean was murdered!

As Storm delves deeper into her grandfather's journal she is left with a choice to stay and continue her work at Syrrell's or pursue the mystery that might result in a treasure previously believed to be a myth, and the answer to her grandfather's death. With Emma Webb dealing with the federal side of things, Harry and Storm pack up their gear and start the journey following the clues, which take them to Italy, France, Istanbul, and even Cyprus. All the while it is becoming apparent they are being trailed, and after two attempts on her life, Storm depends on the sharp instincts of her bodyguard, and the Interpol-associated federal agent to watch her back while she digs deeper into Jewish history and the prospect of unknown treasures.

My Opinion:

It was a very interesting read, reminiscent of an Indiana Jones movie. I enjoyed reading it and had a hard time putting it down, which, for those who know me, is not all that common. The action was appropriate and pulled the reader in while the history laid a sound backdrop. The characters were pretty well developed though I would have preferred a little more depth all the way around, (in character and plot). The turn out of the story was a bit surprising compared to your average novel in respect to character relationships but no less satisfying.

The story is fast moving which is good but at times I got the feeling it moved a little too fast and I couldn't get all the facts. I haven't read a Bunn novel in a few years so I can't say if this is typical Bunn or just an aspect of the book.

Also, something you read in the beginning of the book seems to imply that the character believes you can never be sure of your salvation and can only hope you have done what it takes to get to heaven, denoting a belief in salvation through works. I know some people believe this, and I don't know for certain if this is what Davis Bunn believes or even intended to imply, but based on biblical facts is false. For example:

• Ephesians 2:8-9 - "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."
• 2 Timothy 1:9 -  "who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began..."
• Titus 3:5 - "not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit..."

 But as for the book, I would definitely recommend it as an exciting but lighter read.

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Bryson Andres - Talented Musician!

I'm not a One Republic fan but this guy plays it great. Excellent talent, excellent equipment. This is just one of the many videos of him on YouTube. My question is why is everyone not stopping to listen? Who could continue shopping when you can hear such awesome live music?!

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Let Us Pray For Ramsha!

Christians tend to do a lot of talk sometimes, and it's easier to talk, but its harder to do. I'm no saint. I don't pretend to be a hardworking Christian that does all the work God calls for her. I need to hear this as much as the next person. But on the other hand, sometimes doing what is right is not much more than prayer. Today I am speaking about Ramsha, a girl in Pakistan who was arrested on the accusation of having burned pieces of the Koran. The details aren't very clear to me, but then again when is news from Muslim countries vever clear. As far as I can tell, she is a girl of sixteen with Down's syndrome. Maaria, another girl from Pakistan, said Ramsha is a girl who "picked garbage". I'm not sure what that means but either way, Maaria has made an important plea for Christians, all over the world, to raise their voices in prayer for Ramsha. She doesn't stop with "Please pray", she asks us to pray that God will raise her up on the wings of eagles, that He will intercede on her behalf.

She says, "Pray for the cell she sits in, for the people around her, for the police officers in charge of her. Pray that between her and each other person there will be a hedge of angels, a hedge of mighty protection and if anyone even dares so much as to touch a hair on the head of the little one, may the Lord himself restrain them.

"May she be nourished. May she be strengthened. When she is thirsty may Jesus himself give her drink if no one is else is willing to in this heat, if she is hungry may He give her food. When she is afraid, confused or threatened may she have an experience of Jesus and his all surpassing peace. "
She quotes, " 'Let us pray that she like Peter will see prison doors open and the way before her clear to go home'." And goes on to say, "PLEASE FRIENDS PRAYER WILL BREAK THROUGH- because he is a God of love and Father of compassion- may His compassion flow through us and His spirit guide our prayers!" 

How so! We in the west have seen so little persecution that we don't feel the need to get down on our knees and petition our Father. But times are getting worse and the only hope we will find will be found in Jesus Christ. Don't stop with small prayers, let us all ask God to do BIG things, because He can, and if we ask in faith, He will.

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Fig Newton Cookies

After receiving fresh figs from the grandparents, I decided some fig newtons would be nice. But I didn't have the time to roll out the dough and do it properly so I decided to make them in cookie form. Using the basic drop cookie recipe:

• 2 1/4 c. Spelt flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp unground Celtic Sea Salt
• 1/2 c. butter
• 1 c. Sucanat
• 2 eggs
• Vanilla 

Refrigerate the dough for two hours. In the meantime prepare the fig filling.

• 1 c. chopped figs
• 1/4 c. Sucanat 

  Cook figs and sugar in saucepan for 30-40 minutes. I just turned the stove on a low temperature and put a lid on the pan, checking it every so often. 

Roll about a teaspoon of cookie dough into a ball and then flatten, pressing a hole in the middle with your thumb. Fill with 1/4 teaspoon fig filling. Bake cookies at 350 degrees F for 8-10 minutes. When finished they should look like this:









The actual fig filling recipe called for 3/4 c. sugar but I felt that would be too sweet and I'm glad I cut back. They tasted just right. But if you would prefer it add more. Its up to you. Your the cook. Never be afraid to experiment. That's what I always say.

~AmyLynn

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