ahhhhhhhhh

Next time you get the urge to get a puppy, tune in to the Puppycam! Maybe it will cure the urge...or maybe fuel the flame! (In which case, check your local shelter or, here in Chico, the Butte Humane Society first, for the pups and kitties most in need of loving homes.) If you decide the puppycam fulfills your needs for now, you can always donate your time or items (blankets, towels, food etc.) to a shelter near you.

Dog Cat Rat

Click here to watch this amazing video. Apparently the Mayor of Santa Barbara filmed this clip and sent it out as a holiday card.

As the man says in the video, "Now can't we all just get along?"

Had to share this. : )

Artfull Bras

Members of Quilters of South Carolina have been busy creating pieces for The Artfull Bras exhibit (click here to see more photos of the entries) for Breast Cancer Awareness The exhibit consists of "fifty original works of art which are unique, entertaining, humorous, and beautiful to make the public aware of breast cancer, to memorialize those lost to the disease, and to honor survivors."

The exhibit will tour South Carolina until Oct. '09 (Breast Cancer Awareness Month), at which time the pieces will be be auctioned off, with proceeds going to Best Chance Network, a South Carolina agency that provides cancer screening at no or low cost.

When I started quilting wayyyy back in about 1975, my sister Barb said, "Now Laura, you know that's just for old ladies!" Begging to differ, I informed her that I considered quilting to be an art form. Little did I know how the art of quilting would evolve in the coming years! With amazing pieces being displayed and judged in such places as Paduka, Kentucky and at Pacific International in Santa Clara, CA, quilts have come a long way from the log cabin pattern women pieced together on the prairie! (A personal favorite of mine the first 10 years or so of my quilting career.)

I've been a member of Annie's Star Quilt Guild here in Chico since about 1990. What a great group of quilters! We meet monthly (1st Thurs.) at 6:30 at the Masonic Family Center. We have over 200 members of every age and skill level. In addition to educating members on new techniques, most meetings showcase a nationally-known quilter. Also, the club has made and donated hundreds of quilts of all sizes to such organizations as Catalyst Women's Shelter, Meals on Wheels, Feather River Hospice, and many others. Feel free to contact me if you'd like more information or to attend a meeting. And mark your calendar for the big QUILT SHOW Oct. 24 & 25, 2009!

Fruit Salad Anyone?

I was out hanging sheets to dry today on my "solar clothes dryer" (don't you love the smell of line-dried sheets?) when a tiny flash of white caught my eye. Wow! The little bare root "fruit salad" tree planted just a few weeks before (by my handy friend Evan) already had a few blossoms! (Of course, I insisted he shovel a few scoops of my great homegrown compost into the soil, which I'm sure helped nurture this little beauty.)

I had called around to the various nurseries here in Chico to find mine and ended up going to Hodge's Nursery (9681 Midway, Durham), where I received great service and helpful information. (Dangerour places, those nurseries...it's like walking into a Ben & Jerry's after fasting for three days!) But I limited my purchase that day to the fruit salad tree. (The blossoms are popping out on the Santa Rosa plum and Independence nectarine branches; the other two branches are Elberta peach and bleinheim apricot.)

I noticed plenty of bee activity on my nearby rosemary, so let's hope for some fresh-from-the-garden fruit salad this year!

Orion Does it Again!

Three cheers for Chico State journalism students! It seems The Orion (the Chico State newspaper) once again won several top awards at the Associated Collegiate Press national journalism convention last weekend. This is the largest and oldest national membership organization for college student media in the U.S.

According to today's Sacramento Bee article, the Orion was awarded first place for general excellence and overall design in the "Best of Show" for 4-year colleges and universities. Additionally, video editor Rodolfo Vazquez of Woodland won first place for interactive multimedia content for his video on the band Ozomatli.

These awards are generally considered to be the highest national honors in their field, and are unofficially known as the "Pulitzer Prize" of student journalism.

One of my proudest moments in high school came when the principal announced over the loudspeaker that I had won 1st place in a statewide high school newspaper competition for an editorial I had written. So I can imagine the excitement our Chico State students must be feeling. Congrats!!!

(Click here to check out The Orion online.)

Facebook Fun

Are you a fan of Facebook yet? I've been a member of this "online social network" for the past few months and have enjoyed staying in touch this way, especially with friends and family I don't get to see as often as I'd like. It's really pretty easy once you get the hang of it. (I was going to say "Even my mom is on FB," but SHE'S the one who got the rest of us on email when it was new!) If you have a digital camera (and know how to use it), you can post photos of your kids, pets, travels, activities etc. for your friends to enjoy.

Stay in touch with a particular group on FB by creating a page for that group. I've put together the "Burghardt Family Clan" as a way of allowing my family members to easily connect, share photos, videos, information etc. (Still trying to get the fam on board with that one!) I also belong to the Facebook-Live Chico, Northern California CRS Chapter and Soroptimist International of Chico groups, among others. (What is a Soroptimist, you ask? Click here for a clip from an incredible video my friend, fellow Soroptimist member, and Emmy award-winning documentarian Jeanne Rawlings filmed recently!)

FB is fun, it's free, and it's spreading like wildfire (not just for the teeny-boppers any more--how's that word for dating myself?)! Check it out for yourself. If you're already on, "friend" me if you'd like. If you sign up and have questions, feel free to email me. It takes a village to keep up with technology these days!

Yelp!

Whether you're new to town or a 4th generation Chicoan, you may find the Yelp web site an interesting place to check out reviews of area restaurants and shops. (Or if you are planning a trip out of town, check into venues of your destination.) You'll see real reviews by actual customers. Can you guess to which local restaurant this review refers? "Could this town get any cooler? They even have their own brewery and it rocks! I love that its filled with locals who come after work or for lunch for a burger and some beer...this brewery is classy in a really comfortable kind of way serving some really good food if you know what to order." You guessed it, the world-renowned Sierra Nevada Brewery and Restaurant! (My son Kiel worked in the restaurant for a couple of years, and it was a great place for a young person to be employed.)

Next time you're trying to figure out where to go for some good eats, try Yelping. You may just expand your culinary horizons!

First-Time Buyer Tax Credit

What's this about a first-time buyer tax credit? (Part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, a.k.a. the Stimulus Bill.) Well, if you haven't owned a home in the past 3 years, and if you qualify under the income and various other guidelines, you may be eligible for an $8000 tax credit if you purchase a home to use as your primary residence before 12/1/09. Click here to view a simple graph outlining the details (courtesy of Diana Sanford of Stanford Mortgage; thanks, Diana!). How do you know whether you qualify for the tax credit? Click here for a brief article detailing the requirements.

This tax credit, combined with bargain-basement prices and low interest rates, create a true window of opportunity for first-time home buyers. If you know of anyone who may qualify, please pass this blog post along. They will thank you for years to come!

Afro-Cuban All Stars

Wow...energy, talent and charisma combined! I just attended an amazing performance by the Afro-Cuban All Stars at Chico State Laxson Auditorium, courtesy of Chico Performances.

The super-cool Juan de Marcos Gonzalez lead the band to stardom in 1998 with A Toda Cuba le Gusta, the first album to be recorded during the now-famous Buena Vista Social Club sessions. (Toward the end of the evening, Gonzalez expressed his hope for continued improved relations between Cuba and the U.S., something he feels is likely with the new U.S. President, "Who I like!")

The 14-member band had people on their feet in no time, with their crazy-good rhythm and hot horn section. Their choreographed moves brought the energy up a notch, as the Shaft-like conga player joined the drummer and percussionists in keeping that Cuban beat humming (including one tune in 7/4 time!) The last conga player I remember seeing in a suit and tie was Ricky Ricardo. (Click here to see "Ricky"--aka Desi Arnaz--at his "Babalu" best!) But all these guys were decked out in spiffy suits, some with classy hats (fedora, beret) to boot. All in all, a great, energetic concert performed by supremely accomplished musicians. I'm thinking the only thing that could have made it better was...more cowbell. : ) (Click here for a little YouTube taste of the music.)

Springtime in Chico

Only February, and it's SPRINGTIME in Chico! This corner of Vallombrosa and Mangrove (across from Chipotle) is absolutely my all-time favorite "bloomin' spot" at this time of year. After my mom and I visited the Farmer's Market this morning (wonderful, fresh produce!), we swung over to see whether the blossoms were out. You betcha! Next time you're cruising downtown, swing by and check it out. The blossoms only last a few weeks, so don't miss 'em!