Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Pandas, Recliner, Beans,

Yesterday, Bao Bao the Giant Panda left DC Zoo to go to China. I understand the Chinese wanting to conserve pandas and they are doing a great job, but Bao Bao was born at the DC Zoo and I think she should belong to that zoo. The agreement is any Panda born in another country has to be returned  before it is 4 years old. Pandas must wonder what on earth is happening to them. The Chinese lend Pandas to zoos for a few years and then they have to be sent back. I know they are planning to introduce as many Pandas as possible back into the wild, but I think that is only the babies which are being acclimatised over the years. Saw a movie about it on TV. However, I suppose they need her for breeding purposes. The Chinese really seem to have got an excellent breeding programme under way. I wonder what all this shipping back and forth costs. I understand they are no longer on the endangered list which is great. Later I heard that breeding is exactly why they want her back. She went back in a special plane with better treatment than a first class human passenger, lots of bamboo and even some sugar cane which they called Panda caviar.

I am very upset, my recliner broke last night. I can no longer lift the foot rest up into position, well I can but it won't stay there.  I have contacted a place called Furniture Medic by both email and phone message but not heard anything. Maybe I should try somewhere else. I think, but of course am no expert, that a spring broke. Checking the price of new loungers, I hope it a) can be repaired and b) won't cost too much. It is, or was, such a comfortable recliner. This is the same idea although not the same chair.

Originating in the UK, I love runner beans which I have seen in the States labelled flat beans or pole beans . In fact, in the UK we have several types of runner beans but here, locally, I can get the flat ones now and again - they come from a grower in Ontario called Zing Healthy Foods. I checked them out and found this somewhat different, to me, way of serving them. I normally French cut them. I bought some more beans today and will try it out. Since I started blogging I have tried a lot of different recipes. Good for me/us.

Amazing European Runner Beans in Olive Oil

150 g (1 package) Zing! European runner beans, trimmed and sliced into 3 inch pieces
1 yellow and 1 red Zing! pepper, sliced lengthwise
1 small clove garlic, finely chopped (small?)
1/2 Tbs olive oil
1/2 cup (125 ml) water
salt and black pepper to taste

1. In a skillet, sauté garlic in oil until tender and just turning brown. Add the Zing! European runner beans, salt and pepper. Mix well and sauté 1 to 2 minutes. Add the Zing! red and yellow peppers and sauté 2 minutes. Add 1/2 cup (125 ml) of water and simmer until the liquid has evaporated and the beans are tender. Enjoy hot or cold. Serves 2 as a side dish.

Source: ZingHealthyFoods

Have a great day

12 comments:

  1. I'd like to send back all the bugs that have come into our country from China over the years, stink bugs being a nuisance right now. I understand that beetles have entered the country in pine furniture produced there. Ridiculous that they want their baby pandas back. Maybe we could send them some deer.

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    1. I didn't know stink bugs came from China Denise. Never come across one. Maybe in venison form?

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    2. They showed up in my neighborhood last year. They do not damage anything but get into the house for warmth in the winter. I think they came into mine on the doorwall tracks. Pretty hard to seal those off and still use the door.

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    3. I gather they can really cause a nasty stink Denise

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  2. I looooove pandas. They are the cutest! Sorry about your recliner though.

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    1. They really are gorgeous aren't they JoJo? Me too, can't seem to find anyone to repair it at the moment.

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  3. Sorry to hear about your chair. That happened to Cole's chair at school and Chad was able to fix it. The chair had been my dad's, so it had sentimental value and I was happy he could fix it.

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    1. This was a second hand chair and one of the most comfortable I have ever had. Turns out it is a Lazy Boy so maybe they can fix it. Have a call in. Otherwise, can you send Chad up please.

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  4. Bummer about the recliner.
    I didn't know China had the corner on the panda market. Can a country legally own all rights to an animal?

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    1. It is but hopefully Lazy Boy will fix it for me.

      They have a big breeding programme - seen programmes on TV about it. Their object being to release the pandas back into the wild eventually. They need her for breeding purposes to strengthen the blood lines of the animals. Dunno about legality, but then I have always figures countries can't really own their land areas. Man should be able to travel where he wants. Of course these days that would include terrorists and such.

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  5. I agree with you about the Pandas who all must go back to China. If they are born here. Think they could stay here but I guess this is the contract laid out so the zoos around the world can showcase these loveable animals. That is a bummer about your recliner but I hope you can get it fixed and that it will be cheaper than expected.

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    1. As you say Birgit, it's in the contract. But I still think the zoos should be allowed to keep the offspring. They could always send another panda to breed with them. I have contacted Lazyboy so am hoping they can fix it.

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