Enjoy the Outdoors. Love the Planet.
All about Nature, about the outdoors<>I love it, photograph it and protect it.
Make ’em, don’t bake ’em!
You may not have realized that today is a very special day, but it is!
It’s National Cookie Day! Yes, I do keep my eye on such things!
Yes, you’re very welcome!
I made cookies in honor of N.C.D., and they’re my total favorites. They’re a chocolate, peanut butter and oatmeal cookie!
And it’s a no-bake recipe!
I know that some of you may not have realized that there are ways to make cookies–and very good ones, at that–without firing up the oven at all.
But there are ways! And I’m quite serious when I say that this is my fav cookie recipe, bar none!
I hope you’ve done something special for this celebration! You might be like me and enjoy home baking.
If that’s not the way to go today, why not stop by your favorite bakery and come back with a dozen delights of your choosing?
Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a celebration to get to! I just need to pour a glass of milk and I’ll be good to go!
“Bulldog Ben” Basile
Photo credit Ben Lawrence Basile
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!
Today is the day! And I certainly do want to wish one and all a most happy Thanksgiving Day!
As I write this, I’m reminded that I do have much for which to be grateful. It’s a pretty long list, but suffice to say life has treated me pretty well.
I’m so aware today that many folks have not had fortune smile on them much; my thoughts go out to them today.
I’m thinking that most of you will, at some time today, reflect on your blessings. That’s a good thing. And not only on this day that invites us, so to speak, to do that.
It’s a good habit to cultivate throughout the year.
Feeling grateful today, I am,
“Bulldog Ben” Basile
The banner photo is not Ben’s. He believes it to be covered under Fair Use.
I did get back there and…
I enjoyed my camping trip to Tosohatchee WMA just beyond Christmas. That awesome but tiny little town is the last community before the Orange-Brevard line.
Had a good time but I did learn one unpleasant lesson: even in a Wildlife Management Area, where you can go days without seeing another human, you really should keep your car locked at all times.
Or, at the very least, you shouldn’t keep that hatch up while you’re doing stuff at your camp site!
My awesome camp coffee maker flew away! Bummed. But I have another. Just couldn’t get the juice of the sacred bean on this trip!
Still very glad I made the trip and got my outdoor fix for the next week or two.
Then I’ll have to have another, or I’ll start getting a little cross-eyed and stuff!
I did get some good pix. Including the banner photo at the top. That was on the extreme edge of Tosohatchee, where it dead ends into the St. Johns River.
Herons and thieves. What a combo! So glad to have gone. Planning the next excursion…
“Bulldog Ben” Basile
Photo credit Ben Lawrence Basile
Heading back to Tosohatchee!
Haven’t been camping in about three months or so and I’m going through withdrawals! No, that’s not a joke!
So I’ll get my next “nature hit” in about a week’s time and I’m all jacked up over it!
I like the Tosohatchee Wildlife Management Area for camping. This will be my fifth trip out to this choice nature spot and my second camping outing there.
You may remember from a previous post that you need a hunting permit to hunt Florida’s WMA’s but not to camp. You just can’t camp in any hunting season.
It’s quite primitive. No hook-ups of any kind. Porta Johns and no showers. So it’s real camping. I’m one of those campers who carries a boat load of propane and every kind of battery powered device know to man, so I do just fine in these spots.
It’s also a time to take a jillion photos, so that’s a big part of the allure of camping for this puppy. I’ll have plenty pix to share on the other side of this very welcome outing!
If you love Nature like I do, make sure you get out there in the middle of it soon! Your Mother’s calling…
And you best answer!
“Bulldog Ben” Basile
Photo credit Ben Lawrence Basile
Let’s Celebrate! Catnip for everyone!
I’m happy to let you know that today is National Cat Day!
I’m a long-time admirer and lover of cats. And although I don’t have one sharing my life now, I’ve been exploring ways to get a cat back into the picture for some time.
The main reason this day was declared is to highlight the need to adopt cats all over our feline-loving nation. That job goes on every day of the year, of course, but focusing on that today would be a very good thing indeed.
If you’d like to visit a site that’s all about giving a forever home to one of our furry friends, here’s a link to adoptapet.com where you can learn more, see some very cute specimens of felinity and even get the wheels turning if you’re ready.
And if you’re not familiar with AdoptaPet.com, they are the largest non-profit agency in America devoted to adopting homeless cats and dogs.
Enjoy National Cat Day! And if you’re already sharing your life with Whiskers, Tigger or Smokey, give ’em an extra ear-scratchin’ for me, would you?
Cat-fancier “Bulldog Ben” Basile
Featured photo of Riley B. Kitty by Benjamin Basile
Sheldon is New at the Zoo!
There are three fine zoos within easy driving distance of my part of Florida. I love them all.
The Brevard Zoo in Melbourne is a real pleasure. I’ve spent many hours there checking out the wildlife and I’ve done the zip line, too. A fine facility from start to finish.
And now they have a new dragon! No, I’m completely serious!
His name is Sheldon, he’s an 11 year-old Komodo Dragon and you can find him in the Lands of Change exhibit!
If you’re anywhere around Central Florida, take a trip to Melbourne and pay a visit to Sheldon!
And tell him Bulldog sent you!
“Bulldog Ben” Basile
Photo credit Ben Lawrence Basile
Deer in the Enchanted Forest
That seemed like a catchy title, so I went with it!
Alas, there are no actual deer in this forest. Let me explain…
I did a photo feature in mid-September about a little oasis of tranquility close to my neighborhood and about 200 yards from one of Central Florida’s busiest highways.
It’s just a patch of serene and unspoiled nature, and it’s situated on the southern edge of a development known as “Deerfield”.
As I took a second look at the photos I shot on that lovely September afternoon, two more pix jumped out at me faster than a frolicking fawn on a frosty February morn!
The first is the lovely banner photo you saw when you clicked over just now.
And the second is the image of that beautiful and bucolic scene you see below.
I hope you find some beauty in your world today. Maybe in an unexpected place. Maybe even close to home.
I hope you take a second look at something familiar and see something of great value. Something, perhaps, that you’d passed over before.
“Bulldog Ben” Basile
Photo credit Ben Lawrence Basile
Don’t Worry, Bee Happy!
If you read much news and you’re pay attention to anything relating to ecology, no doubt you’ve heard that bees are not having such an easy time these days.
It’s not so easy to be a bee, trying to live, thrive and survive!
So much has been and is being written about it. I’m not going to try to add anything original to the discussion
I did, however, come across an interesting article recently which talks about one group in the Netherlands that is working towards making it easier for bees to work their magic.
I recommend the feature highly. It’s from NBC News and will only take about two minutes of your time today.
If you’re inclined to dig just a bit deeper and get some very good practical tips on how you can do your part, you’ll find some great info here.
I have read quite a bit on the subject and without “beeing” Debbie Downer, I will say that the outlook for bees and for anything related to protecting the natural world and our environment is not so good.
But having some practical tips at hand is a very good thing to help any of us who’re concerned and paying attention in our efforts to get things moving in a better direction.
“Beedog Ben” Basile
Ben is not the owner of this fine photo. He found it here.
I’ve been waiting for this!
It was beginning to seem like September 29th was never going to come around!
Finally! It’s National Coffee Day, you juiced-up Java heads!
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m heading back to the kitchen. My second pot is brewing right now and I’m going to be there when it finishes!
“Javadog” Ben Basile
Photo credit Ben Lawrence Basile
Only One Breakfast Choice Today
I found out last night that today is National Pancake Day. So, of course, this puppy was going to have pancakes for breakfast no matter what!
As it turned out, I had no milk in the house, so I ended up at my favorite eatery in the whole wide world. That would be Cracker Barrel.
Here’s the disclosure: I do work there, so you might think that’s what’s behind my glowing recommendation.
But that’s not the case. I did not come to love it after working there; I work there because I loved the place.
I love everything about it. The food, the distinctive Southern theme and ambience. The consistently excellent service. Love it all.
And the yummy pancakes are a part of that!
Now, it doesn’t matter at all how or where you celebrate National Pancake Day! I care not one whit about that. IHOP and Perkins would also be excellent choices today!
But you must shove pancake matter and some awesome flavor of syrup into your pie hole before the clock strikes midnight!
You simply must!
And if you’re not sure where you want to get in on the fun, remember Cracker Barrel is open until 10 PM and we serve breakfast right up until we turn off the grill!
Full of pancakes and contentment, I am,
“Bulldog Ben” Basile
Additional note: this blog posting is based on my own impressions and opinions of a well-known and well-loved American restaurant chain and is not any kind of official communication from CBOCS Inc.
© 2018 Ben Lawrence Basile
Photo credit Ben Lawrence Basile
Enjoy the Outdoors. Love the Planet. 
Recent Comments