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Members Enjoy Messinger Woods’ Birds of Prey Presentation at Holiday Party
Friends of Reinstein members celebrated the holiday season while enjoying homemade chili, soups, desserts and more. Members also enjoyed a special “Birds of Prey” presentation by Messinger Woods. The wildlife care center brought a great – horned owl, barn owl, barred owl, American kestrel, peregrine falcon, and Harris’s hawk. The group of 6 volunteers shared natural history about the birds and their own unique stories about each animal. Following the presentation, members were able to talk with the volunteers from Messinger Woods and get close to the birds for pictures. Santa even got pictures with the birds and passed out candy canes to the kids! Thank you to all that attended. We hope you join us for other upcoming member-only events.
Winter Message from the President
Dear Friends,
Although winter does not officially arrive until December 21, once November and the holidays fire up we can picture that beautiful white stuff falling so delicately to the ground! Ok, so I haven’t painted one of your favorite pictures, but hey, it’s Buffalo and it snows, so we have to make the most of it.
Just think of Reinstein Wood’s snowy trails as you softly snowshoe or glide along on cross-country skis, watching the snow falling slowly around you! It’s a fact that walking (or x-skiing) outdoors has many benefits for your well being. It is a major stress reliever as well as great exercise, more of which doctors say Americans both young and old sorely need!
Are you thinking: I could never walk in snowshoes, let alone put on a pair of cross-country skis! Trust me, if you can walk, you can definitely snowshoe, and you can join a “Learn to Ski” session (my personal favorite) at Reinstein Woods. So make a commitment to get out on the trails this winter and experience the beauty of snow transforming the landscape. You won’t be disappointed.
Remember, Friends of Reinstein members get one free snowshoe or ski rental, and a discount on additional rentals. If I’m around, I’d be glad to help you get started! Beyond snowshoes and skis, Reinstein Woods offers other seasonal educational programs that can help you get through the winter doldrums. I hope to see all of you at the Friends of Reinstein holiday party on Saturday, December 2. New members are welcome!
Terrence Boyle, President
Earth Spirit Presents at Holiday Party
More than 50 members of the Friends of Reinstein Woods attended our Holiday Party. Friends enjoyed Soup, Chili, salad, and an assortment of appetizers and desserts. Earth Spirit gave a great presentation focused on live animals. Visitors were able to see a chinchilla, tree frogs, hissing cockroaches, a bearded dragon, and other animals up close during this presentation. There was even a visit from Santa, who posed for pictures holding Earth Spirit’s corn snake!
Bird Brain Delight
Many people who attended the Friends’ holiday party requested the recipe for a fabulous mystery dessert brought by Valori Victor. Below is the basic recipe that can turn out somewhat differently each time. Generally speaking, just mash enough of the bottom layer mix into your serving container (a pie pan; a green plastic Christmas-tree shaped snack tray; there are no rules with this dish).
- Raw sunflower seeds and/or your favorite chopped nuts (enough to cover bottom of serving container)
- Chopped date pieces (try a fistful and continue with the scientific method of taste/add in increments, keeping in mind and tastebud-memory the amount in top mixture)
- (optional) Cherry-infused or plain dried cranberries (available where raisins are in the supermarket)
- (optional) Add a dash of almond extract.
- Raspberries (fresh or frozen) sufficient to generously and juicily cover the bottom layer
- Chopped dates (the amount depends on how many in bottom layer). I like it when the chopped dates are plentiful in the top mixture because the raspberry juice softens them and a mouthful of raspberries and sweet dates is the best. Take the scientific approach and taste/add dates in increments. Feel free to enlist tasting assistants.
- Blackberries (optional) I like that when I smash the raspberries, the fresh blackberries remain intact and offer decorative options.