Honoring Betty White #BettyWhite Challenge

Actress/comedian/beloved by America icon Betty White would have turned 100 tomorrow.

But now that she's gone, how should we honor her on what would have been her 100th birthday?

One suggestion, started by someone on social media and picked up by many, is the #BettyWhiteChallenge - contribute $5.00 (or more, if you can afford it) to a local animal shelter or animal welfare society.

With that, I need to take a short cat break and show you three of the cats my guest photographer has rescued, or adopted from owners who could no longer care for them.  Let me introduce you to Leeroy, who was dropped off on her property in March of 2020.

Buttercup, who lived in guest photographer's woods for two years before she was (with help) able to trap her. 

And Bella, her daughter.

According to the ASPCA, approximately 4.1 million shelter animals are adopted each year (2 million dogs and 2.1 million cats). Also per the ASPCA, approximately 1.5 million animals are euthanized (670,00 dogs and 860,000 cats). The latter statistic, epecially, is mind boggling. 

Our local Humane Society does much more than provide shelter.  They even have an adoption program for barn cats, cats who prefer living in barns and similar situations and do not wish to become indoor pets.

A 100th birthday celebration originally planned in movie theaters  tomorrow will go on, and a major network will be airing a special program honoring Betty White on January 31.

Finally, I have to share with you today Betty White's Top 10 Tips for Leading a Long and Happy Life.

Will you be taking the #BettyWhiteChallenge tomorrow?

Johns (Pass) and near Johnson City #ThursdayTreeLove #AtoZChallenge

This week is the week that nature decided to spring to life where I live in the Southern Tier of New York State.

Because today I am doing two challenges (I'm temporarily not participating in the Ultimate Blog Challenge because it just got to be too much) I am going to start with a tree.  No, not a tree where I live near Johnson City, New York,

No, for Thursday Tree Love I give you a tree from January.  Think of it:  we arrive in Florida from the frozen north and are greeted by this palm tree in Johns Pass Village, near Madeira Beach on the west coast of Florida.  It was green!  It was a tree that could not grow where I live.  Perfect!

Johns Pass Village was so welcoming.  But that was then, and this was now.

Now, temperatures would be hot.  And, we have a miracle going on where live.

It's the miracle of spring, which makes winter suffering fade into memory.

It's seeing bare trees one day and buds on the branches the next.  I always think "how do they know when it's time?"

Then, the springtime flowers start their season.  One of the early ones is the crocus.

Like many of our bulbs (and our plants) they need the winter dormancy.  They can't grow in Florida unless you treat like annuals, or plant prechilled bulbs indoors.

So, I am going to cheat just a little.  These crocuses are not from Johnson City but grow only a mile or two away.  So why not?  It's "J" day and my theme is "Finding America through Photos."

Florida had its season. Winter.  Now, I'm in the moment here - the moment of promise, of growth, and, yes, unsettled weather, of a New York spring  We aren't done with frost or even freezes (yesterday was so cold!). And maybe not even (boo) snow. But that day of warmth is coming.

Just a few weeks away. Just a few....

Join Parul and other tree loving bloggers for #ThursdayTreeLove.

"J" day in the #AtoZChallenge.

Football or Rescue?

Tonight, much of the United States will be watching a football game called the Super Bowl whether or not they are football fans.

If you aren't a football fan, you watch for one of two reasons:

1.  To eat

2.  To watch the commercials.

And, if you don't want to watch football, there is a worthwhile alternative, which I'll discuss shortly.

If you watch the Super Bowl to eat, you probably have your menu set by now.  If not, and if you want something light, this may help.

And although we won't know this year's commercials before game time (wait, no, see below), here are some from past years.

"1984" Apple introduces the MacIntosh computer.  The ad promises that 1984 won't be like the book "1984".  Some might argue the latter had to wait until 2018.

"Avocado Secret Society" from 2017. Guac, anyone? (you may want to refer to recipe in link at the beginning of my post.)

A personal favorite - the Volkswagon "Force" commercial from 2011.

And now, for 2018, some commercials have already been leaked.  If you have a thing about "Alexa", you will love this. (I did!) "Alexa Loses Her Voice".  (Amazon promises any devices that contain Alexa won't wake up, due to this technology)

If you don't like football, there is a wonderful alternative if you get the Animal Planet channel - the Puppy Bowl (here's a taste of a previous bowl).

Here's a practice from last year.

Briefly, the rules are:  the puppies must take a chew toy and move it into an end zone.  Either end zone.  There are penalties for "excessive growling", "terrorizing the ref", "excessive hydration" (plus lots of belly rubs) and the referee has his hands full calling plays, and, er....cleaning up after the players, who may not be toilet trained.

The Puppy Bowl is in its 14th year, and all of the puppies who participate come from shelters from all over the country - they are all available for adoption, and (at least in the past few years) the adoption rate after the Bowl is 100%.

Some of the puppies this year are hurricane rescues.

Do you have any plans for the Super Bowl?  Or Puppy Bowl?  Will you watch either one?