What's New This Week? Back in June we mentioned the Mars Exploration Rovers that we launched to explore Mars. In July told you about spaceweather.com that describes the weather conditions on Mars. This week Mike Strasburg tells us that it might be a good time to go visit the planet. You see Mars is closer to the earth than it's been in 60,000 years. We will be just 55.6 million kilometers away and this should cut down your travel time by quite a bit.
Actually, the reason we mention this is because you can see the red planet as the brightest thing in the sky, next to the moon. With just a good pair of binoculars you can get a pretty good look at it. For more information go to www.space.com/spacewatch/where_is_mars.html

     Actually this is not as much a site as it is a neat little program. Have you ever wished you had an alarm clock on your computer? It would be great to remind you to go do something when you are deeply engrossed in surfing the web or writing a newsletter. Another good use for an alarm clock is to remind you to get up and take a break from the computer. It's hard on the eyes and body to sit there for hours staring at the screen.
Talking Alarm Clock can remind you of important dates and events by using a popup dialog, sound notification or Microsoft Agent character animation. You can schedule one-time reminders or recurring events (daily, monthly, weekly) and also limit alarms to certain Windows users. The program runs in the system tray and offers an attractive and easy to use interface that allows you to add new alarms easily.
We got this program from www.mywebattack.com which is a great resource for all kinds of programs. While you are there downloading Talking Alarm Clock snoop around and see if there are any other programs that might interest you. For Talking Alarm Clock go to www.mywebattack.com/gnomeapp.php?id=106812.

Tin Potpourri

     Do you still have some tin left over from last weeks project? Well here's another great little project you can make with it. Be sure and get the help of an adult to cut and bend the tin. It can be very sharp and cut you.

• Tin panels. You can get them at most craft stores.
• Hanky
• 1/4" Ribbon
• Potpourri
• Other Decorations

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.

As you can tell from our welcoming story the band had a great time at these two summer concerts. That's it for public appearances right now. If you want to hear and dance to The Tempos I'd recommend hiring them for your next event.

     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.

      My all time favorite bass player is Ray Brown. This CD brings us nothing but the very best he has to offer. Mr. Jim from Missouri has this to say about this album, "Ray Brown is without a doubt, one of the greatest bass players ever...always in the fun-mode...moods that take on every aspect in the music genre. Performing with Ray is - Gene Harris (piano) and Jeff Hamilton (drums), one of the most compatible threesomes ever to go with their creative styles, and blending to perfection.
Of course there are stand outs - "SUMMER WIND", always associated with Sinatra and Nelson Riddle, but what a great performance this group shells out..."THE REAL BLUES", the Ray Brown tune keeps the gang low-down-diggin' the blues, Harris clearly has the pulse of the moment..."LI'L DARLIN'", composed by Neal Hefti for the great Count Basie, this was one of Basie's stock numbers - but listen to Ray's arrangement, feels real good the way it just flows from each musician.
The entire album is a "gas" - that grooves and loaded with fun the guys are having, is evident from the audience reaction - Concord has captured the moment - "Live At The Loa", and we are there to enjoy the moment...so spin this CD, sit back and give a listen to some the best jazz you'll ever hear!

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Remember, we have a link on our web site, www.runnerduck.com, to our ever popular Grammy® Shopper site. If you haven't been there yet just click HERE to see all the 2003 Grammy® winners complete with links to purchase any one of them.

The RunnerDuck web site is hosted by

      We have offered up about 100 conservation tips over the past couple of years and now we'd like to hear from you. Obviously there are different concerns in different parts of the country and in the world. Please take a moment and send us your suggestions for conserving just about anything. As you know, conservation is not just water and power but all resources that can be wasted. While some of your suggestions will have already been covered by us in previous newsletters we'll publish any new ideas we get in future newsletters. Please take a second and drop us a line at conservation@runnerduck.com.

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

This weeks Joke was forwarded to us by Frank M.

An old man decided his old wife was getting hard of hearing. So he called her doctor to make an appointment to have her hearing checked.

The Doctor said he could see her in two weeks, and meanwhile there's a simple, informal test the husband could do to give the doctor some idea of the dimensions of the problem.

"Here's what you do. Start about 40 feet away from her, and speak in a normal conversational tone and see if she hears you. If not, go to 30 feet, then 20 feet, and so on until you get a response."

So that evening she's in the kitchen cooking dinner, and he's in the living room, and he says to himself, "I'm about 40 feet away, let's see what happens."

"Honey, what's for supper?" No response.

So he moves to the other end of the room, about 30 feet away. "Honey, what's for supper?" No response.

So he moves into the dining room, about 20 feet away. "Honey, what's for supper?" No response.

On to the kitchen door, only 10 feet away. "Honey, what's for supper?". No response.

So he walks right up behind her. "Honey, what's for supper?"

"For the FIFTH time, CHICKEN!!!!"

   THIS WEEK'S FREE RECIPE

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 August 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.

"Blueberry Peaches, Red Robin Pie, An annotated Cookbook of Mississippi Gulf Coast Recipes" by Stella LA Violette

We were looking for a cookbook to compliment this weeks recipe and stumbled across this wonderful sounding cookbook. While it doesn't have a whole lot to do with blueberries it does have a lot to do with wonderful cooking.
One person that reviewed this cookbook wrote the following, "Blueberry Peaches, And Red Robin Pie is a wonderful cookbook for lovers of the foods and fruits of the Mississippi Delta. A believer in using fine, fresh ingredients, cook Stella presents her luscious no-nonsense recipes for salads, chowders, soups, of course seafood, meats, poultry, and side dishes such as Dolce Acorn Squash. Stella does not believe in substitutions or skimping on ingredients. Blueberry Peaches, And Red Robin Pie is all about real food, real enjoyment, and real living. It is an altogether delightful cookbook."

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

RunnerDuck Note Pad

     Marilyn came up with this cute idea for a note pad and I liked it, so I made it. A lot of times that's how we come up with our projects. We hope you enjoy this one as much as we did.

Here's what you'll need:

• 6" X 24" X 1/2" Poplar
• 1/16" diameter wire 6" long
• White and Orange Paint
• Glue
• A Pencil
• 3" X 5" Note Pad

Here is the pattern and larger pictures of this project. Just click on the picture below.

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Trace the Pattern onto the piece of wood.

Cut out the duck.
Cut two small pieces large enough for the feet. Trace the foot pattern onto one piece. Put the two pieces together with double backed tape and cut out both at one time.

Cut a piece 4 1/4" X 1 1/4".
Glue the feet onto the piece and the piece onto the duck body as shown in the pattern. Clamp them in place until dry.

Bend the wire 90 degrees on both ends just a tad wider than the note pad. Cut each end to about 3/8" long.

Put the note pad on the duck so that the bottom of the pad is just a little above the toes of the feet.
Mark both sides of the pad at the top. Using the wire mark the location to drill the holes.
Drill two 1/16" holes through the duck body.
Adjust the wire to fit into the two holes. Check that the note pad will hang on the wire when it is inserted.
Remove the wire and apply a small amount of glue and put it back in. Leave just enough space for the cardboard of the pad to slide through.

Paint your duck and put a picture hanger on the back.

Like all of our projects this would make a great gift or fun to use for yourself.

We hope you've enjoyed this project and have good success with it. Remember, if you ever have any problems with our projects just drop us a line and we'll try to help. Since we build every one of these projects we have a pretty good idea of how to get through them. We also make lots of mistakes so we can help avoid 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 .

     If you want to talk about something just drop us a line at duckmaster@runnerduck.com any time, we like to talk about most anything. We are always looking for content for our newsletter so if you have something to add we'd love to publish it. Assuming it meets our strict family oriented requirements!

     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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