Biodiversity, Lady the Lioness.

I posted an article about saving whales yesterday which I think is very important as I do saving tigers. I believe it is very important that everything possible be done to convince people that such animals/mammals are part of the biodiversity of this environment and are very important to our own survival in a healthy world. Humans have been given the role of custodians of the earth and so far have done a pretty poor job although we are finally beginning to wake up to our responsibilities. When I was a young woman nobody cared at all, now thanks to all the wonderful people who have made the study of such things their life’s work, a large number of people have begun to understand the importance of our custodianship of Planet Earth. My message would be, please care.

We watched a fascinating programme on Monday about a solitary lioness known as Lady Liuwa, she was so lonely, she was trying to become friends with a bunch of photographers who were working in her part of Africa, Zambia. The photographers would not allow her to approach any nearer than 15 ft. not for fear of what she would do, but for fear of her becoming too used to humans. She would roll on the ground exposing her belly as a gesture of submission and friendliness, just like a house cat. The programme covered a number of years. In the end, they managed to translocate a couple of male lions to her region and towards the end of the programme, they were beginning to become acquainted. It is hoped that they will manage to establish a pride. I have actually just found an article from the Daily Mail (UK) which says she has mated with one of the lions and it is hoped she will soon be pregnant. To read the full story http://tinyurl.com/yawcssj

I don’t know if you like to make cookies for  Hallowe’en, but here are some really ghoulish ones: actually I think they would taste pretty good.

Halloween Eyeball Cookies

By Chef Dee on October 31, 2005

Yield: 40 cookies

About This Recipe

"Halloween treats to make with your kids. How can anything that looks so hauntingly creepy taste so good ?? My kids have enjoyed taking these to school for years, and so will yours."

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 1/2 cups peanut butter

2 cups powdered sugar

1 tablespoon vanilla

12 ounces white dipping chocolate

1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

blue food coloring

Directions

1. Cream the butter and peanut butter together.
2. Beat in the vanilla and sugar.
3. Chill for 1/2 hour.
4. Roll into small balls, chill on wax paper for another 1/2 hour.
5. In a microwave, melt the white dipping chocolate.
6. Using two spoons dip the eyeballs into the white chocolate.
7. Let cool on waxed paper until firm. Chilling will speed up the process.
8. Pour a drop or two of blue food coloring into the remaining melted chocolate.
9. Make a round iris on the eyeball, and immediately press a miniature chocolate chip in the center for a pupil, doing 5 at at time.
10. For the bloodshot effect, dip the tiny end of a toothpick in red food colouring and squiggle the lines from the pupil outward, but not quite to the edges of the ball.
11. These are quite tasty--considering how creepy they are.

Have a great day