The weekend of April 28th, I will be part of the celebration ceremonies for my exhibition at the Ned Smith Nature Center in Millersburg, PA.  The show will have an interactive component, letting kids take part in the actual exhibition.  On Saturday the 28th, I'll be leading a nature walk at the center and an art class, followed by the White House Champion of Change Environmental Panel.  Please come by if you are in the area!  The exhibition is up until September.

This week was incredibly exciting!  My family and I got to visit the White House for a Holiday Reception.  While there, we were able to shake hands with President and Mrs. Obama.  I was able to tell the President that I appreciated his support for the environment and that he was a hero of mine.  He said thank you and even gave me a hug!

While I planned out my presentation for tomorrow night's TedX SJU at St. Joseph's College in Philadelphia, Jackson made a list of what he'd like to see on our visit to The Franklin Institute and the Academy of Natural Sciences. Biology photographer and author Doug Wechsler is giving us a behind-the-scenes tour of the Academy, which is a leader in the study of biodiversity.  I'm looking forward to an awesome day in Philadelphia with my lil brother and my dad.

I spent the weekend falling for fall. Although I'm not looking forward to the cold, the spectacular leaves and the throaty warbles of birds migrating through our flyaway zones inspired me to make all sorts of life-sized sculpted creations.  Over the course of the weekend, I saw some of our regulars at the feeders, like the white-breasted nuthatch, but he was joined by juvenile cardinals and the downy woodpecker.  I also spotted a great blue heron, blue birds, kingfishers, vireo, hawks, and black and white warbler, among others.  And seen here is the rare migrating Jackson wearing a handcrafted hat created by Wooly Girls in North Dakota.

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Book event at our family's favorite store this Saturday 8/20-- Black Horse Farms on 9W in Athens, NY.  I'll be hanging out from 1-4 pm-- books will be there if you want to get a copy.  Bring a can of dog or cat food to donate to local shelter and receive a signed print of one of my bird illustrations.

If it is possible that a movie could create a disease, then Riocaught me with a fever! With a viewing party scheduled tomorrow with a close friend, watching the movie so frequently I know most speaking cues, having made three stuffed characters, and sewing a costume of "Jewel" as my symtoms, my diagnosis was not good at all. Cunning Ice Age jokes, great animation, and a suspenceful plot, this movie takes great heights. The message, however, adds another 500 feet to this flight. Blu, the last male Blue Macaw, is taken from his home in Rio di Janeiro by poachers before he can fly. For 15 years, he is taken by a spunky young bookseller names Linda. Everything changes when Tulio, a Brazilian ornithologist, comes to convince them to fly to Rio to try to repopulate the species. Jewel, the female, has no intentions of being caged and cared for by strange, featherless creatures, especially with clumsy Blu along. The first night they are together, they are taken by smugglers, one of which a nasty cockatoo named Nigel. He used to be a famous T.V. star, however a parakeet saw to the end of that. His new life mission is to poach and threaten birds. The Blue duo escape them, to find themselves chained together. They meet Rafiel, a sociable toucan, Pedro, a rapping cardinal, and Nico, a smooth singing finch. The rest of the plot, well, let's just say there is an unwanted run in with some burglaring monkeys, a slobbering bulldog, a Carnival festival with a "cheep" chicken float, and a magical first flight. The message is clear. NO SMUGGLING BIRDS! Also, NEVER kick a VERY grudging cockatoo of a show. Five stars to this movie! It makes me want to go to Brazil!! GO BIRDS AND GO RIO!

Recently I went to Four Seasons Resort in Costa Rica.  Costa Rica was amazing because of its incredible wildlife.  I saw parakeets, kingfishers, monkeys and a crazy looking animal called a coati. When I went snorkeling, I swam with barracuda.

While I was in Costa Rica, I went to visit a school with kids my age.  The school had nice kids who were friendly. They wore uniforms of a white shirt with blue pants. Olivia and I were there to talk about birds.  I handed out Spanish bookmarks, notepads, and pencils while Olivia taught them how to draw.  The YSA and Disney Friends for Change helped us buy copies of Olivia’s book to give to the kids. When we were through, the students shook my hand.

At the hotel, I swam every day.  And the restaurants there were fancy.  My birthday dinner was great.  I saw the sun setting over the ocean from our table. I ate steak and there was a special dessert for me. 

When we had to leave, I was a bit sad.  I hope to visit again soon!