Full Moon ~ Weather ~ Picture of the Day ~ Sea Otters ~ Cheesy Potato Casserole ~ Picture on the News ~ Save the Eagles Day

Good 34º cloudy morning.

Be super careful out there with the full moon. It certainly brings out the crazies and a lot of them are out there on the road driving!!! 

Yesterday the fog just hung out, covering my mountain and all of the sky until after 11am, then we got some sun peeking through and blue sky.

The geese were out in force in my pasture.... I counted 17 of them...

Picture of the Day ... LOL ... we have a Dick's Sporting Goods store in Medford.... I always wondered why with this name!! 

Interesting about Sea Otters...

The sea otter (Enhydra lutris) is a marine mammal native to the coasts of the northern and eastern North Pacific Ocean. Adult sea otters typically weigh between 31 and 99 lbs, making them the heaviest members of the weasel family, but among the smallest marine mammals. Unlike most marine mammals, the sea otter's primary form of insulation is an exceptionally thick coat of fur, the densest in the animal kingdom. Although it can walk on land, the sea otter is capable of living exclusively in the ocean.

The sea otter inhabits nearshore environments, where it dives to the sea floor to forage. It preys mostly on marine invertebrates such as sea urchins, various molluscs and crustaceans, and some species of fish. Its foraging and eating habits are noteworthy in several respects. First, its use of rocks to dislodge prey and to open shells makes it one of the few mammal species to use tools. In most of its range, it is a keystone species, controlling sea urchin populations which would otherwise inflict extensive damage to kelp forest ecosystems. Its diet includes prey species that are also valued by humans as food, leading to conflicts between sea otters and fisheries.

Sea otters, whose numbers were once estimated at 150,000–300,000, were hunted extensively for their fur between 1741 and 1911, and the world population fell to 1,000–2,000 individuals living in a fraction of their historic range. A subsequent international ban on hunting, sea otter conservation efforts, and reintroduction programs into previously populated areas have contributed to numbers rebounding, and the species occupies about two-thirds of its former range. The recovery of the sea otter is considered an important success in marine conservation, although populations in the Aleutian Islands and California have recently declined or have plateaued at depressed levels. For these reasons, the sea otter remains classified as an endangered species.

Sea otters came up with a perfect idea of how to avoid dangerous predators while sleeping: they sleep in water, floating on their backs! They really love sleeping in groups: up to 100 otters can gather in a sleeping raft. Not to get away with the currents, otters wrap themselves in seaweed or hold each other's paws – and it looks absolutely cute.

If you are interested in reading more about these creatures, go here:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_otter

Cheesy Potato Casserole

These easy cheesy potatoes are the stuff of legend at potlucks everywhere. Don’t count on having any leftovers, because this simplified version of party potatoes goes fast and everyone will be back for seconds

1 pint (2 cups) sour cream

1 10 3/4 oz can cream of chicken soup

1/2 cup butter, melted

1 T. garlic salt

1 cup chopped onions

1 30oz bag frozen country-style hash brown potatoes, partially thawed

2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

Heat oven to 350º.

In large bowl combine all ingredients.

Pour into ungreased 13x9 glass baking dish.

Bake 45 minutes.

***

• Make up the recipe the night before serving, cover well, and refrigerate. Remove from refrigerator, uncover and let stand 30 minutes before baking. Bake as directed and move on to prepare other more last-minute menu items.
• Sprinkle the top with chopped green onion or a handful of finely chopped parsley or other fresh herbs before serving.
• For a twist, try 1 bag (32 oz) frozen southern-style diced hash brown potatoes instead of country-style shredded hash brown potatoes. Their chunkier texture holds up well whether baked or slow cooked, and they’re a good partner as a side dish to roasted meats.

** and Karen, add some bacon!! :o) 

Historically this date...

1870 – John D. Rockefeller incorporates Standard Oil.

2005 – A mudslide occurs in La Conchita, California, killing 10 people, injuring many more and closing U.S. Route 101, the main coastal corridor between San Francisco and Los Angeles, for 10 days.

And births this date include...

1904 – Ray Bolger, American actor and dancer (d. 1987)

1939 – Sal Mineo, American actor (d. 1976)

First major actor to come out as homosexual. Stabbed to death at age 37.

1943 – Jim Croce, American singer (d. 1973)

Killed in a plane crash at age 30.

1944 – Frank Sinatra, Jr., American singer (d.2016)

1945 – Rod Stewart, Scottish singer

In May 2000, Stewart was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, for which he underwent surgery in the same month. It had been previously reported he suffered from a benign vocal cord nodule. Besides being a major health scare, the resulting surgery also threatened his voice, and he had to re-learn how to sing. Since then he has been active in raising funds for The City of Hope Foundation charity to find cures for all forms of cancer, especially those affecting children.

Stewart is known for his liaisons with women and has eight children, by five different mothers

1957 - Gregory Paul Walden (born January 10, 1957) is an American politician who is the U.S. Representative for Oregon's 2nd congressional district, first elected to office in 1998. He is a member of the Republican Party, and as of 2019 the only Republican member of Oregon's congressional delegation.

Greg is a great guy! He has worked hard to help our veterans. 

Last night on the 6 o'clock news, meteorologist Jack Church put my picture on the news! 

All I know. Nuff said. Happy TGIF. Ciao.

xo Sue Mom Bobo

Each year on January 10th, Save the Eagles Day reminds us of the majestic raptors that soar above the Earth – whether they’re well populated or endangered. Due to the work of scientists and the public, the bald eagle was removed from this list in June 2007. Poaching, pesticides, and other dangers continue to threaten eagle populations.

While the day started as a way to save a specific pair of bald eagles and to raise awareness about the species, the observance has grown to encompass all species of eagles. Approximately species of eagles populate the world. Most of the species are found in Eurasia and Africa. North, Central, and South America and Australia only account for about 14 species. However, no eagles are found in Hawaii. The most common species in North America are the bald and golden eagles. 

Eagles are powerful birds of prey. An eagle’s sharp sense of sight paired with powerful muscles, piercing talons, and beak, make them primed for the hunt. They are also monogamous, mating for life. 

HOW TO OBSERVE 

Learn more about eagles. Watch documentaries or read about them. Visit an aviary or a bird sanctuary. We’ve provided a couple of books to review, too. Participate in preservation and conservation in your area.

• The Eagle Watchers: Observing and Conserving Raptors Around the World  by Todd E. Katzner
• Eagles by Melissa Gish

SAVE THE EAGLES DAY HISTORY

Save the Eagles Day originated in the Village of Ridgefield Park, New Jersey, in 2015 as an effort to save a pair of nesting bald eagles. Late in 2014, Skymark Development Corp of Paramus brought a study forth arguing that a landfill near where the eagles nested posed health risks. The nesting pair, fondly named Alice and Al, had nested along Overpeck Creek since at least 2011. When the developer proposed a solution that included removing the tree the eagles’ nested in, the community and the Bergen County Audubon Society organized Save the Eagles Day on January 10, 2015. 

Eventually, an agreement was formed to preserve an area of the land as an eagle park. Alice and Al would continue to live out their days in Ridgefield Park and fly over the residents there. Read more about the environmental accomplishment of the area and about Alice and Al.