Card from a certain card writing bear.

Hiya Blog Pals.
Little Fox here.  I am just hanging out with my pals Grinnell and the Easter Bunny.  Easter Bunny wanted to mention that he is on vacation but will be back on the job next Spring. This fox has had many neighborhood walks and I was telling my pals about the cool bird I saw today.  I don't know what kind of bird it is.

Does anyone know what kind of bird this is?

My roommates mentioned that I received some mail today.  I can't believe how big this letter is. It's addressed to me and I assume it's beary important. 

It came with this cool stamp from Canada.  Are those mountains in the Canadian Rockies? 

Lot's of stickers on this card.  Looks like Sandy is sending cards with lots of stickers to Gramma too.  Good idea. 

This card is from Sandy's trip to the Yukon back in 93.  I have always wanted to visit the Yukon and Northern Territories.  I even had my travel agent look at hotels in Yellowknife.  Unfortunately there is a short travel season so it hasn't worked out yet.

This card is of an old mine and Sandy said that he choose it for me for it's archeological value.  I will have to consult my textbooks to learn more about the mine (yeah, a project to help pass the time).

Wow, Sandy almost wrote a book. He mentioned that he's still supervising the decluttering process.  Also, he mentioned my state is in the green for Covid-19 (which is a good thing).  Our cases are pretty stable (although we have had an increase lately).  Sigh.  It's important to stay at home but this fox is so ready for a proper adventure.

Sandy mentioned that he was happy to get away on vacation last year since he too is pretty mcuh stuck at home.   Sandy also mentioned Sequoia who is also bored out of his mind.  He's on high alert protecting the roommates since they are both at home working.  

Here's a better picture of Sequoia.  I can't figure out how to rotate pictures in the new blogger (sigh) and Sequoia wanted a good picture on the blog. 

Thanks Sandy for the nice card(s) and providing this fox with some distractions. Sequoia wants me to mention to the roommates that it's time a groom.

Happy Independence Day

Hello Stuffy Pals!  Little Fox here.  I just wanted to wish everyone a happy and safe Independence Day!  Today, I am celebrating by having some fresh salmon (well, fresh from the grocery store).

Patiently waiting for the marinade to marinate my fish.  Patiently waiting for the humans to fire up the BBQ.  I wish they would use coal instead of propane (grumble grumble).

Where's the finished product?  Well....this little fox could has minimal patience and ate it hot off the grill. 

Happy Independence Day everyone. I will leave you with nice fireworks over Fort Vancouver (one of the larger shows west of the Mississippi (except for this year, where it was canceled because of Covid 19).

That reminds me.....stay healthy blog pals.

Visite des jardins et une belle carte d'Ajdin

Little Fox here.  I am doing my best to stay home and this fox is experiencing cabin fever.  Luckily I got some mail from Beanie.  This is odd, it has a US stamp.  Is Beanie in the US right now?  A mystery.  

Mystery solved!  It's from Ajdin.  He wants to know if I have done any socially distancing hikes.  Sigh..... I haven't been on a proper hike in months.  Perhaps there is an adventure for me  in the near future?

It's such a nice day.  I should  take a walk through the garden.  Looks like I will have to get the humans on cutting the grass sooner than later.  Do you see the garden in the background?  Cilantro, lettuce, arugula and onions.    Fresh arugula is the best.  Anyone ever have it before?

In this raised bed we have three types of tomatoes growing.  One cherry tomato plant, one early girl, and one glacier tomato (an early variety as well).

Down this long line of planters we have basil (it's ready to go), peppers, and another cherry tomato (sweet 100s).  Why are these in planters?  Well, we ran out of raised bed space and this location gets a lot of sun. 

To get some exercise I decided to climb this cherry tree.  The cherries should be arriving soon. 

Not ready yet....but close.  Did you know the modern day maraschino cherry was perfected Oregon State University?  Yep, Professor E. Wiegand was approached by Oregon cherry growers in 1919 to find a way to preserve the Queen Anne Cherry which grew well in Oregon but had a mushy consistency and didn't preserve well in traditional canning process. 

Wealthy Americans who traveled in Europe came back to the United States and wanted to have maraschino cherries like they had in Europe. Long story short.......he created a way to better preserve these cherries and now Oregon is a "world player in the maraschino cherry industry" Now-a-days Oregon is the major producer of those neon colored cherries adorning bars and ice cream parlors around the world.

Oregon Encyclepedia

Are these Queen Anne Cherries? Nope, they are Van cherries and they are delicious (but not ready to eat)

Besides basil and salad greens what else can a little fox eat in this garden? Let me check in on the strawberries.   They were planted last year and did OK they are doing much better this year.

Wait?  Do you see it? Yes, strawberries (and they look like they are ready to eat).  

I'm a lucky fox.  Thanks Ajdin for the card.

Stuffy Class: Be who you want to be with Reindeer.

Hello Blog World.  Little Fox here. I wanted to introduce our guest lecturer for this stuffy class. My friend Reindeer is going to teach a class on a subject that is very deer (get it, deer as in Reindeer) to his heart.   

Reindeer has been around the blog for a while.  If you need to familiarize yourself with Reindeer check out these former posts:

Reindeer helps out

Preparing for special guests

Cooking with Lfox

As you might gather stuffy pals my friend  reindeer likes to be helpful.

Take it away Reindeer. 

Stuffy Class with Grinell!

Little Fox here.   This weeks Stuffy Class is with my pal Grinnell.  

As you can see Grinnell is a little shy but he's a friendly chap. 

Grinnell was named after Grinnell Glacier at Glacier National Park in Montana. 

He travels with me in the car with me on my adventures but  he doesn't really like to partake in the adventures (hiking, wine tasting, beach walking etc.) with me.   

That's Okay.  You might wonder what he does while waiting for me to finish my adventures?  Great question.  A little background.  Grinnell is a master picnicer.  Yes, that is a real thing.  He has a BA degree in Picnic Science from San Bernardino Valley College, Big Bear Campus.  Take it away Grinnell. I'm going to finish my dinner. 

------

Hello everyone.  I'm Grinnell and as LF mentioned I pretty much live in the car.  Besides winning a prize in Sandy's Art Deco Contest (hey Sandy when are we going to do another one)?????  I am an avid traveler (I always go with the humans and LF on trips) and while they are out doing hiking etc. I am happily picnicing.

Today's class involves how to have a good picnic. 

Step 1:  Get a plate and set up your picnic.  I have two hard boiled eggs (us Lions need their protein), a nice turkey sandwich, some gorgonzola crackers (from Trader Joe's) and apple. Every good picnic pro knows to have a balanced lunch.

Homemade hummus to enjoy on the crackers and the thin sliced apple. 

I don't know who came up with the idea of cheese and apples but they go very well together.  Maybe, I can research that combination of foods for an advanced degree is Picnic Science?

This lion likes to stay hydrated (just water in here.....nothing more).  I had a whole semester on reusable picnic wear.

Now. a first class picnic doesn't come together on the seat of ones pants.  It involves research.  Location, location, location.  First, I chose a nice park to visit.

Then I suggest planning some other activities to do  in the area.  I found a local ice cream shop nearby.  Back in the day it was a drive in but now the drive in part has been replaced with picnic tables.  

What should I have?  Sundae?  A couple of scoops of homemade ice cream in a bowl?  Should I get both? 

Perhaps this monkey with an ice cream cone can help me decide?  Looks like he wants me to get a burger and an ice cream.  

In the 80s, the owner of Alf's saw an ad in a newspaper for a monkey (the kind that runs the organ grinder).  So she did the logical thing....she bought it.  Tore out 1/2 of her restaurant to make a monkey cage and she takes the current monkey (named Elvis, not the original one from the 80s) back home every night.

Elvis wasn't there at the time I visited......apparently he had left the building. :)

Students.  To sum out a picnic needs lots of things.  Location, Good Food, Reusable beverage container, and an ancillary activity to complete after eating.  PS - I decided on the ice cream bowl.  Two scoops (roommates were paying).  One scoop was Raspberry Ribbon.  The other scoop, Cherry Cheesecake.

I hope you have enjoyed my Stuffy Class.  

-Your pal Grinnell. 

Stuffy Class: Comedy with Kermit the Frog

Little Fox here.  Our next Stuffy Class is a class in comedy, keeping an audience interested and how to get a crowd warmed up.  We are very honored here to have the one and only Kermit the Frog as our instructor today.

Thanks LF.  Kermit here. I am so glad you decided to attend my class today. I hope my class lives up to the hype.

Looks like an audience is already forming.  First rule of showbiz....never start on time.

An hour later my crowd is beginning to gather. 

Second rule of Showbiz:  Never let your audience get too close to you as a performer.  Odie is pushing the envelop and is pretty close.  I might need to call in security. 

Next rule: Timing is EVERYTHING.  My audience is ready to go. 

Helpful Hint:  Start off with something tried and true. I think I might open up with the rainbow connection.

Rainbow Connection is always a winner.

To have good comic timing you need a good stage (sounds weird but trust me.)  Check out my impromtu stage.  My road crew is solid, they know my needs as a performer.

You will notice that when you are telling jokes it's okay to laugh at your own joke.  As you can see here.....I can't stop laughing.  The audience love it.

The final thing this class was supposed to address is how to keep an audience interested.  For me, it's not a real problem but I know for newer comics or rising stars sometimes you need to keep an audience going to keep the buzz alive.

My advice: 
Only play in clubs where there are two drink minimums and if the club doesn't offer that service be sure to bring your own drinks with you for the audience. As a professional I always bring a jug of fine wine to make sure the audience has a good time.

Thanks for attending my class.
Kermit....out!!!!!

Bear Mail (Round 2)

Hiya Gang.  Little Fox and my pal Unnamed Fox (he's the youngest fox in our Skulk).  My roommate went shopping and saw a deal on Strawberries and these berries are from a well named company. Even though grocery store berries aren't as tasty as farm berries us foxes have to support Fox owned brands.

Washing the berries (and prepping them later on in the day) is a human job. Us foxes supervised.  Do you see the honey in the background Jerry? 

While we are waiting for the berries to fully dry we decided to open a recent letter from Sandy.  

Yippe! After reading Droopy's post about Sandy's PostCard Saga I was waiting for one.  Looks like mine came a few days later than Droopy's but it arrived none-the-less.

Sandy is correct that I, Little Fox, am missing my hikes.  Some places are open but roommates are afraid they will be too crowded with all the other hikers so they have made the executive decision to wait-a-while before hiking again.  Interestingly, Sandy mentioned that some Canadian hikers are having a tough time maintaining the 6 feet social distancing.  I can't speak for the hiking trails but Sequoia has mentioned humans down here don't seem to understand the idea of 6 feet social distancing either.

Cool homemade stickers of the Alcatraz  Sandy wants to know if Reindeer has any good vegetarian and/or vegan recipes and he does!!!!!   Reindeer wants to know if you have ever had Jackfruit Tacos? You can make them Vegan and/or vegetarian.  They sell Jackfruit in the can at Trader Joes (you have those up there???).  Check out this recipe.  https://itdoesnttastelikechicken.com/easy-vegan-jackfruit-tacos/

Another neat handmade sticker of Muir Woods.  Muir Woods is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.....hmm I wonder if Alcatraz is part of that recreation area too? 

Reindeer chimed in again and said there is a restaurant in Eugene Oregon that replicates diner food but it's all vegan. Next time you come on down to Oregon Sandy I will make sure you get to the Cornbread Cafe.

https://www.registerguard.com/special/20180523/comfort-food-all-way-through-at-vegan-cornbread-cafe

Here's there menu:  http://cornbreadcafe.com/eugene-menu/