What's New This Week? As we mentioned above the AllAmerican RunnerDuck Review now has over 6,000subscribers and growing. We would really like to thank those of you thathave referred other people to our little newsletter. One of the mostpositive ways to grow is to have a friend tell a friend. The results of thatcan be phenomenal. Be assured that when you give us a referral that we neveruse their email address for anything but sending them an opportunity tosubscribe to our newsletter. We do not spam and do not support people orcompanies that do.

Another thing we'd like to mention about our newsletter is that it'ssupposed to be a two way street. We enjoying talking to you every week butwe also like hearing from you. We also could use your help with recipes,kid's projects, gardening tips and woodworking projects. Having publishedover 100 newsletters sometimes the ideas come a little slow. If you have aproject or recipe you'd like to share we'd really appreciate hearing fromyou. Drop us a line anytime at newsletter@runnerduck.com.

     As a kid I use to love doing paint by number art. My grandparents had acocker dog called Snorkey and I once found a paint by number picture thatlooked like that dog. I still have that picture and here's a photo of it.

If you have a favorite site please send it to us so we may share it with the rest of our readers. Send it to duckmaster@runnerduck.com.

Spring Place Setting

     Spring will soon be upon us and nothing makes a table more festive than these pretty spring place settings. I made these for my sister Susie's birthday party but I won't tell you how old she is.

Here's what you'll need;

• Small clay flower pots and saucers.
• Floral foam.
• Small silk flowers.
• Popsicle sticks.
• Tacky glue.
• Ceramic glue
• Spanish moss
• Floral picks

Cut the floral foam to fit inside the clay pot.

Press the foam into the pot.
Using the Tacky glue attach some Spanish moss to the top of the foam.
Add your flowers. You may have to cut them down and wire them using floral picks.
Glue the saucer onto the bottom of the clay pot using ceramic glue.
Write the persons name on the Popsicle stick and poke it into the foam.
It's just that simple and these really do dress up a table at your party.

     We hope you enjoy Marilyn's Corner and look forward to all the fun things she brings you each week. If you have a fun project that would be suitable for our newsletter we'd love to share it with our readers. Just contact marilyn@runnerduck.com and we'll do the rest.

Remember we have all of our past projects archived on our web site at www.runnerduck.com. Just click on the Projects or Kids Only Eggs.

      We love toys that do more than just sit around for you to stare at. Toys that can be made into something get the creative juices flowing and the young minds turning. Check out all the neat blocks, gears and models we have at the link below.

(CLICK)

     The Tempos have two singers, Diane and Judy Ann. Diane is the principalsinger and Judy Ann fills in when she can't make it. They both are wonderfuland they both do a lot of musicals in the Seattle area. The reason wemention this is because Judy Ann is performing tonight and Saturday night atthe Kirkland (Washington) Performance Center in "Candide". If you get anopportunity to go we are sure you'll be pleasantly surprised at the qualityof the performance. For tickets just go to www.eastsidemusicaltheatre.org/2002-2003/Candide.html
     Don't forget that The Tempos big swing band is available for hire. If you have a special event that could use the wonderful music of a classic big band be sure to contact thetempos@runnerduck.com.

      We'd like to celebrate one of the great musician's birthday's today. Toots Thielman turned 80 years old today. Toots is the greatest jazz harmonica player that has ever lived. His distinct sound has never been matched and is recognizable anywhere. This week's featured CD is just one of about 35 that Toots has made. This is another one of those essential artists you must have in your record collection.

"Man Bites Harmonica"

Click Here

      Here's a flavorful conservation tip. Are you a coffee drinker? Do you likethe way the coffee tastes near the bottom of the bucket? Well we don'teither! As soon as your coffee is done brewing pour it into a thermos andturn the coffee maker off. Your coffee will taste just like fresh brewed tothe last drop and you won't be wasting electricity cooking it down into athick goo.

If you have a conservation tip please send it to conservation@runnerduck.com and we'll post it in our newsletter.

The RunnerDuck web site is hosted by

Once upon a time there was a young man who wanted to become agreat writer. "I want to write things the whole world will read",he declared, "stuff that will elicit strong emotions from peoplein every walk of life. I want my writing to make them scream, cry,howl in pain and anger!"

He now lives happily ever after in Redmond, Wash., writing errormessages for Microsoft.

Thanks Jean, I won't tell Mr. Gates where I got this joke :-)

Check out all the great products in the RunnerDuck Goodies Store. Show the world that you love RunnerDuck!

 
 
There is lots of other cool stuff at the RunnerDuck Goodies Store.

   THIS WEEK'S FREE RECIPE

• 1 Package, 3 oz., Soft Cream Cheese
• 1 Tablespoon Flour
• 1/2 teaspoon Salt
• 1/2 teaspoon Paprika
• 1 Tablespoon Snipped Parsley
• 6 Tablespoons Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese
• 2 Tablespoons Canned Milk
• 1 Tablespoon Minced Onions
• 1 Egg, beaten
• 1/2 Package, 12 oz., Hash Browns, separated

Mix Cream Cheese, Flour, Salt, Paprika, Parsley and Shredded Cheese.
Add Milk and Onion, mix until smooth.
Gently fold in the beaten Egg and separated Hash Browns.
Pour 1/4 Cup of the mixture onto a lightly greased skillet, medium heat, and spread to 3" in diameter.
Fry like pancakes.
Drain on towels.
Serve Hot.
Makes approximately 10 3" pancakes.

Remember, if you have a recipe you'd like to share please send it to marilyn@runnerduck.com.

     Every month we post a new recipe on our web page. Be sure and check out the NEW February recipe at the RunnerDuck Kitchen Store.
We'd be happy to post your favorite recipe there or in our newsletter and give you credit. Just drop a line to marilyn@runnerduck.com.

Have you ever wanted a really nice piece of cookware but thought it was just way too expensive to buy. Check out this week's special where you can save $100 on a very special piece of cookware.
Every week we bring you some great savings from Cooking.com. These will change every week so we encourage you to check them out. Just use the link below to start saving.

(click)

(click)

Be sure and visit the RunnerDuck Cookbook Store for other great savings on cookbooks and cooking supplies.

Heart Picture Frame

     With Valentine's Day next Friday you should have just enough time to makethis really nice heart shaped picture frame.

Click on Picture for All Images

Here's what you'll need;

• 6" X 6" X 3/4" wood. It depends on how you finish your frame as to what type of wood to use. If you plan to paint it you can use just about anything. If you are going to stain it red like ours you'll want to use a light wood like Maple.
• 1/4" plywood 4" X 6".
• 1/4" dowel, 12" long.

Using our pattern, www.runnerduck.com/images/heart-frame-pattern.gif, cut out the heart using a band saw or scroll saw.

Sand the edges smooth.
Drill a 5/8" diameter hole in each corner using a Forstner drill bit.

Using a scroll saw or coping saw, cut out between the drilled holes. Try toget as close to the tangent point of each side of the hole as possible. Thiswill save a lot of hand work later (speaking from experience :-).
Sand the edges of the cutout until they are smooth and blend into the holes.A fine wood rasp works pretty good for this.
Using a 1/2" diameter square router bit route a hole 1/2" deep, 1/4" widerthan the cutout, on the back of the frame. Be careful not to break out ofthe frame edge (again speaking from experience :-o)
Using a 1/2" round router bit, radius the edges of the cutout.
Lay your frame down on the 1/4" piece of plywood and trace the routedfeature of the cutout from the front. This is to make a backing for yourphotograph. You'll have to reach in with your pencil to strike a line.
Cut out the 1/4" plywood following the line.

Set up your drill press to drill about a 30 degree hole in the back of theframe for the support legs. Here's a picture of the simple set up weused.
Drill two 1/4" diameter holes in the widest part of the frame. Drill themabout half way through. Be careful that they do not break out on the frontof your frame (no I didn't do that!)
Cut the 1/4" dowel into two 4 1/2" pieces. You will have to adjust this tomake your frame sit level and at a good angle.
Insert the dowels into the holes and mark them as required to level theframe.
Do not glue the dowels into the frame. You may want to use the frame on thewall someday and this will make it easier to remove the dowels.
Sand, stain and finish your frame. We used watered down red acrylic paint mixed with brown acrylic stain for our color.
You can add glass to the frame and after you put your picture in you cantack the back in with brads.

We hope whoever gets this gift will enjoy it as much as you enjoyed makingit for them.

If you have a project that you would like to share please drop us a line and we'll help get it published in the RunnerDuck review. We are looking for woodworking, gardening, crafts and kids projects so send us your thoughts at projects@runnerduck.com.

     Be sure to wish your sweetie pie a happy Valentines Day next Friday. We havelots of nice gifts in our web site stores. Check them out before it's toolate. Also remember to send them an electronic greeting from 123Greetings.com.It's easy and fun. Do it now and set the delivery date for next Friday, thatway you won't forget. By the way, this really works great for anniversariesand birthdays also. It can keep you out of hot water if you are the sort ofperson that tends to forget these important events.

     If you forward these newsletters to your friends just drop us a line and we'll do it for you. Just send us their email address and we'll do the rest. Remember, we never share our email list with anyone, period! Just drop me a line or go to our registration page and sign up your friend.

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