Total Eclipse

Total Eclipse

by | Mar 26, 2024 | Nature

Monday, April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will cross North America, passing over Mexico, the United States, and Canada. The total solar eclipse will begin over the South Pacific Ocean.

Weather permitting, the first location in continental North America that will experience totality is Mexico’s Pacific coast at around 11:07 a.m. PDT.

The path of the eclipse continues from Mexico, entering the United States in Texas, and traveling through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Small parts of Tennessee and Michigan will also experience the total solar eclipse. The eclipse will enter Canada in Southern Ontario, and continue through Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Cape Breton. The eclipse will exit continental North America on the Atlantic coast of Newfoundland, Canada, at 5:16 p.m. NDT.

– Info courtesy NASA

Quick and Delicious Shrimp Scampi

Quick and Delicious Shrimp Scampi

by | Mar 26, 2024 | Recipes

It seems there’s a holiday for almost everything and this one is worth observing. Yummy shrimp scampi — served with a simple side salad and some crusty bread or pour over your favorite pasta.

Quick and Delicious Shrimp Scampi

Serves 4

1½ lbs. cleaned and deveined shrimp (tails left on)

4 tablespoons butter

1 tablespoon olive oil

3 cloves garlic minced.

½ teaspoon (or to taste) red pepper flakes

½ cup dry white wine

½ cup chopped parsley

Salt & pepper to taste

Melt butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. 

Stir in the garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook for 1 minute.

Add the shrimp to the pan and toss to coat. Cook the shrimp approximately 2-3 minutes, until bright pink.

Using a slotted spoon, transfer the shrimp to a plate and keep warm. 

Add the wine to the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes.

Return the shrimp to the pan, season with salt and pepper and toss to coat in the sauce.

Sprinkle with the parsley.

Serve immediately with parmesan cheese available for those who wish to add on their own.

Create a Bird-Friendly Yard

Create a Bird-Friendly Yard

by | Mar 26, 2024 | Gardening, Nature

No backyard? — no matter. You can make your deck, patio, or balcony a haven for birds. A collection of large potted plants, a bird feeder and fresh water are all it takes.

Clean Water: A birdbath, a rimmed dish, use your imagination —water only needs to be a couple of inches deep for drinking and preening. Provide a clean source and if you can afford a water feature that keeps the water moving, you will make your feathered friends most happy.

Bird Houses & Feeders: Bird houses are a wonderful way of attracting nesting birds. Match the style of the house to the type of bird you want to attract. Be sure the placement is where predators cannot invade.

Organic Practices: Skip herbicides and pesticides. You want to provide safe food. Remember, the bugs in your garden and yard provide food for your winged friends.

Habitat/Shelter: Ornamental grasses, shrubs (especially evergreen ones), and small trees provide shelter for birds. Providing hiding and nesting places protects them — especially when raising their young.

Bugs Away: One nest of baby birds can eat up to 6000 caterpillars and insects per day. They are essential for nourishing our backyard birds.

Now that you’ve created a bird sanctuary — sit back with some binoculars and enjoy watching and listening to your backyard visitors!

Bad News for Our Monarch Butterflies

Bad News for Our Monarch Butterflies

by | Mar 26, 2024 | Nature

After overwintering in Mexico, the number of Monarch butterflies dropped to the 2nd lowest level on record according to a current annual survey. Classified in the imperiled category of endangered, their status is now on a waiting list for Endangered Species.

While we can’t control drought conditions, we can help by planting Milkweed.

The hot, dry conditions in the United Stees and Canada plus urban development have reduces natural wildflowers including one we used to see all the time, milkweed.

No milkweed —no baby monarch caterpillars.

No baby monarch caterpillars — no adult butterflies.

The availability of milkweed is the only plant monarch caterpillars can eat and nectar from garden flowers feed the adult butterflies. So, milkweed is the key to the start of the monarch’s life cycle.

There is a bright side, according to monarch scientist, Dr. Davis. “Monarchs can rebound from almost nothing. Everything hinges on the availability of plants and resources in the spring.”

The goal to help save these beautiful butterflies — find/make a little space in your yard and begin a milkweed patch. They are weeds but have lovely flowers and are now available in many local garden centers or check online.

WARNING — make sure the plants you are buying are native and not nonnative tropical plants.

The is one “save endangered species” project we can do something about — this spring!

When You Return Those Clothes – Our Planet Pays

When You Return Those Clothes – Our Planet Pays

by | Feb 27, 2024 | Nature

Online clothes shopping has never been easier. Browse, click, and receive — all without the hassle of going to the store and trying on clothes in front of those fitting room mirrors that make you look a bit strange.

Not quite sure of size? Order two or three to try on at home. Return ones which don’t fit where they go to — you were going to say another customer, right?

Wrong.

Would it surprise you to know that many returned goods don’t get resold at all?

Because returns are so expensive for online retailers, it’s often cheaper for the seller to simply throw the item away rather than to inspect for damage, repackage and resell.

Some smaller retailers may resell to online resellers or donate to charities but most of the returned clothing ends up in landfills.

After construction and food, fashion has become the world’s third most polluting industry to the tune of 2.6 million tons of clothing landing in the landfill per year. That translates into 16 million tons of carbon emissions.

Eco-disaster numbers are often so huge we tend to become overwhelmed with the attitude, I’m just one person — what difference does it make.

By becoming aware and a more informed conscientious user, I, you, we can try to change our habits.

I have always hated shopping and online is so easy and a convenient way to shop. I know I won’t digitally detox but now that I’m aware of how returns are handled, I intend to be more mindful with my purchases.

It’s not hard for us to commit to redo our shopping habits and commit to less returning.

Keep in mind before you click purchase, with most on-line returns, our planet pays the price.