The AllAmerican RunnerDuck Review, a newsletter for friends and family 10-04-02

October 4, 2002

WELCOME BACK: We'd like to apologize to those of you who were looking for a new recipe on our web site October 1st. We usually try to get a new one posted the first of every month but got a little behind in things and didn't get it posted until today. You can check it out at www.runnerduck.com/rdcook.htm. It's the first of another new month and boy did this one come in with a roar down south. We're sorry for all those people that got beat up by the recent hurricanes. Here in the Seattle area we've started our fall season with off and on rain and sun. It hasn't been too bad but there sure is a chill in the air. Fall has finally started after a wonderful extended summer. The leaves are just starting to turn around the Seattle area but are really starting to get pretty in the mountains. Everyone knows about the Fall colors in New England but if you get a chance check them out in the Cascade Mountains. If you are in the Northern Washington area take a trip up the North Cascades Highway and check it out. You will not be disappointed! As we mentioned last week we finally have a winner from our last contest. Telitha Roby from Hoffman, Oklahoma, responded to our notification and she has selected one of our really nice and highly collectable RunnerDuck T-shirts. Telitha writes: "I've never won anything in my life before. I admittedly don't enter many contests, but I just love this ezine it is the best of the bunch that I get. I always look forward to receiving it each week. I hope your shoulder is getting better. Thanks Again, this is fun." If you weren't lucky enough to win one of our T-shirts you can always buy one at our RunnerDuck Goodies Store. There seem to be quite a number of you that are building the waterwheel project from our web site. We hope to bring you pictures of their efforts as they come in. We'd like to remind you that we have lots of neat projects on our web site at www.runnerduck.com/projects.htm. We are always available to answer questions and help you through the rough spots should they come up. Many of our projects are presented as ideas and don't have really fine detail. Since it's always hard to gage the level of experience the person building the project might have we make them sort of general and encourage you to ask questions. Remember, there are no stupid questions only stupid answers supplied by us;-) Ron Godin has been busy with all the arts and crafts fairs that are going on but he still has time to make a special sign for you. His rustic Adirondack art is really something to see. Just go to www.runnerduck.com/crafts.htm and see what he has for you. You are logged on to this newsletter as [[-Email-]] and receiving it because you are a friend of mine or a friend of theirs. If you would like to be removed from receiving this newsletter just send an email to unsubscribe@runnerduck.com leaving the Subject and Body blank. Thank you, Ken and Marilyn VISIT OUR HOME PAGE AT www.runnerduck.com Check Out Archive Newsletters Here	Please visit our affiliate sites listed below. Your purchases help us keep this newsletter going. Thank you!

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What's New This Week? We got our new truck! It's a 2003 Ford F250 XLT with the Triton V10 engine. We figure that will pull our fifth wheel quite nicely over the passes for many years to come. Just like proud parents we just had to share a picture with you.

We'd like to continue our discussion on kids and back packs that we started last week. Ken's physical therapist has a really good newsletter that has lots of suggestions for improving your overall structural self. Last week I said that she was from Physiotherapy Associates which is true but her actually locations is called Juanita Bay Sports Therapy.
If your kids wear back packs to carry their books and stuff to school please have them follow these tips:
Wear both straps. I know it's not cool but... By wearing both straps, the weight of the pack is better distributed and a symmetrical posture is promoted.
Make sure the backpack fits. Shoulder straps should fit comfortably on the shoulder and under the arms so that the arms can move freely. The bottom of the pack should rest in to contour of the lower back. The pack should sit evenly in the middle of the back and not sag down toward the buttocks.
Look for signs that a backpack is too heavy, which include:
Pain when wearing the pack.
Tingling or numbness in the arms.
Red marks on the shoulders.

Next week "How to select a back pack". Thanks Danielle for these great tips.

DigiTalk

Here we go again with another virus. This one called "Bugbear" is particularly nasty. Fortunately it has not spread as fast as the "Kelz" virus but the people it hits potentially have it a lot worse.
Bugbear is spreading because it is cleverly crafted and difficult to spot. It arrives in your email with a subject line chosen randomly from dozens of possibilities, including:
Free shipping!
Get 8 FREE issues - no risk!
Get a FREE gift!
My eBay ads
New bonus in your cash account
New Contests
The actual infected file is an attachment, which also has a random name. The first thing it does is disable all installed anti virus software. According to MSNBC, "The worm can be a terrific pest to corporate network administrators. If an infected machine is connected to a networked printer, that printer will begin spewing out pages of garbled text until it’s shut down, according to Symantec.
But more worrisome is the worm’s ability to install secretive key-logging software capable of stealing passwords and credit card numbers.
Infected computers are rigged with a Trojan horse component called “PWS-Hooker” that secretly watches every keystroke on an infected computer, and stores the captured information on the computer in encrypted form. The data can be accessed later by the virus writer or anyone else who happens upon the infected computer, or it can be emailed to the author.
Like we always say, "if it looks strange delete it!".

SITE OF THE WEEK

Every week we dig around to find and interesting or helpful web site for you to look at. We would really like to hear from you about what sites you like. It's always fun to share sites that you've found to be interesting or fun. Just send us an email with your favorite site and well share it with our readers assuming it's family friendly.

Do you drink coffee? Well I do! I drink a lot of coffee and love it. We've talked in the past about our coffee bean roaster and our coffee pot that grinds the coffee just before it's brewed. There are always discussions that go along with coffee drinking like, it's not healthy for you. Well this weeks site puts out some good, unbiased information about coffee.
CoSIC, the pan-European Coffee Science Information Centre, was established in the UK in 1990 by ISIC, the Institute for Scientific Information on Coffee which is based in Switzerland. It has lots of discussions on what coffee is and it's health effects. If you are a coffee drinker or have friends that you are concerned about this is the site for you.
Go to www.cosic.org and find out more about coffee than you ever wanted to know.

MARILYN'S CORNER

(Seasonal Project)

Gourd/Pumpkin Candles

Click on picture for bigger view.
It's getting to be that time of year when we need to decorate the house for fall. Halloween is just around the corner and these candles will add just the right touch to your party. This is a fun project to do with your kids but it really takes an adult to handle the knife and wire.

Here's what you'll need:

Miniature gourds or pumpkins.
Tea Candles.
16 or 14 gage wire.
A green twig or vine.
Knife.
Wire cutters.
Pliers, needle nose is best.

Cut a hole in the center of the top of the Gourd/Pumpkin the diameter of your tea candle.
Dig out the hole just enough so the candle will fit flush with the top.
Poke a small hole, the size of your wire, on opposite sides near the top. The hole should go into the candle hole.
This is where the creativity begins. Cut enough wire to make a long handle for your candle.
Run the wire through the holes in your pumpkin and twist them together. Be careful not to tear out the hole. It's best to from the wire with pliers before twisting it together.
To make a twig or vine handle tie one end of the wire in the pumpkin and twist the wire tightly around the twig or vine forming it into a handle, similar to a bonsai plant.
Tie the other end to the pumpkin.
You can make a handle out of a scrap piece of wood and just add it to the top part of the wire.

Make several out of different colored gourds. Your friends will think you are a creative genius!

We really 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.

It's time to start thinking about Halloween and what the kids are going to wear this year. One very important thing to think about is safety. I've seen some costumes come to our door that were cute but I can't imagine how the kid ever got home safely. This week we suggest that you take a look at "Illegally Easy Halloween Costumes for Kids". In Illegally Easy Halloween Costumes For Kids, Halloween costume designer Leila Peltosaari showcases one hundred easy-to-make costumes complete with matching treat bags and accessories. The simple, step-by-step instructions are enhanced with detailed full-color photos and illustrations. The color-coded, easy patterns for 3 to 12 year olds are well organized and feature a wealth of "no-sew" shortcuts and "last-minute" solutions. Highly recommended for even the most novice costumer, Illegally Easy Halloween Costumes For Kids is enhanced further with a history of Halloween, safety tips, and anecdotal background stories. With designs ranging from traditional and storybook characters to animals and clowns, to celestial beings and cultural tributes, most of the costumes can be assembled without a sewing machine and in only one evening.
You can get Illegally Easy Halloween Costumes for... for only $19.95.

Also, be sure and visit the
RunnerDuck Toy Store.

The Tempos News and CD of the Week

Ken went to band practice this past Wednesday to make sure that he hasn't been replaced. While he wasn't able to play it was good to see everyone. They assured him that after playing with the band for over 30 years they weren't going to get rid of him that easily. I would hope that after another three or four weeks the beat will come back.
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 The Tempos at thetempos@runnerduck.com.

Have I mentioned that I play in a big swing band? Have I mentioned that I love big band music? Well maybe only a couple of hundred times! We've found a new CD that is loaded with wonderful old big band music. It's called the "Ultimate Big Band Theme Collection". It features all the great big band era bands playing sixteen of your favorite songs.
You can get "Ultimate Big Band Theme Collection" this week for only $9.98.

The RunnerDuck Goodies Store

Check out our cool polo shirt at the RunnerDuck Goodies Store. There are lots of other neat RunnerDuck items also.

THIS WEEKS FREE RECIPE
Green Tomato Mincemeat

As you've probably noticed some of your tomatoes are not ripe and are not going to get ripe this year. It would be a terrible thing to throw them away when there is such a wonderful recipe for them. We call this mincemeat even though there is not suet in it.

8 Pounds Green Tomatoes

4 Pounds of Raisins

4 Pounds Brown Sugar

16 Chopped Apples (large)

1 teaspoon Salt

1 teaspoon Cinnamon

1 teaspoon Cloves

1 teaspoon Allspice

1 Cup Butter

Grind the Tomatoes and Raisins.
Add all other ingredients.
Let stand overnight.
Next morning cook for 1 hour on medium heat. Stir frequently.
Fill jars while hot and seal (no need to process).

Makes 7 1/2 to 8 quarts.

You can cut the recipe in half for 2 pies. Use 2 crusts and bake at 425 degrees F for 15 minutes and then 350 - 375 degrees F for 1/2 hour.

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. If you haven't done so yet, check out our September 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

COOKBOOK
SUGGESTION OF THE WEEK

As we often do we try to find cookbooks that compliment our recipe of the week. I certainly think we've achieved that this week. After the tremendous success of her novel, Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe, and the beloved movie that followed, author Fannie Flagg received thousands of requests from all over the world asking for recipes from the little cafe of her Alabama childhood that was the model for the cafe in her novel. Now, she joyfully shares those recipes, in what may well be the first cookbook ever written by a satisfied customer rather than a cook!
Click HERE or on the picture above for "Fannie Flagg's Original Whistle Stop Cafe Cookbook".

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

The RunnerDuck web site is hosted by

If you are looking for a great hosting service at a terrific price check them out at www.fastwirenetwork.com. If you mention that you heard about them from RunnerDuck you will get a $5.00 per month "Duck Discount" for as long as you have your account.

PROJECTS

Wheelbarrow Planter Update

Due to some unforeseen events this past week we did not get the project put together that we wanted to so we are adding this update instead.
As you may remember we built a really nice wheelbarrow planter based on an old 1902 Sears and Roebuck ad.

Click on the picture for a bigger view

We spent a lot of time making the wheel for our wheelbarrow and I have to admit it looked pretty good. The thing I didn't like about it was the size relationship between it and the wheelbarrow. It was just too small. While you could make a bigger wheel based on the same pattern we decided to go looking for something much better.
One of our favorite places to shop for odds and ends for projects is Meisel Hardware Specialties. We went on line at www.meiselwoodhobby.com and found a 10" steel wheel, just perfect for our wheelbarrow planter.

It was amazing how well it matched not only the size of our wheelbarrow but the spacing we had for the old wheel. We pulled the old wheel off and took both handles off. Next we countersunk a hole just slightly larger than the axle hub that protrudes from each side of the wheel. When we put it back together we didn't even have to run a bolt through the wheel to hold it in place. The hub protrusions sat perfectly in the countersinks when everything was assembled back together.
If you've built this project in the past or plan to in the future this is a great addition.

It will still be a couple of weeks before Ken is allowed to run a table saw and other power tools so if you have a project you'd like to share we sure would appreciate it. 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.

JOKE OF THE WEEK

With all our recent surgeries this joke seemed appropriate!

A mechanic spotted a world famous heart surgeon in his shop, waiting for repair on his motorcycle. The mechanic said, "Doc, look at this engine. I can open it up, take out valves, fix 'em, put in new parts and when I'm finished it will work like new. So how come you get a lot more money than I do, even though we do basically the same work?".

The surgeon smile, leaned over and whispered, "Try to do it while it's running!"

CONSERVATION TIP

It's starting to get darker earlier at night and staying darker later in the morning. This is causing us to turn on more lights earlier and leave them on longer. This is especially true of porch lights. Some people like to leave their porch lights on all night but we recommend turning them off at night. Some studies have shown that darkness around a house at night can actually detour bad guys and mischief makers. We've found the best thing is a timer to turn the lights off and on. This is also a good security device for when you are not around. They are not too expensive and easy to install. Most of them have a random turn on and off time that is within 15 minutes of your set time. This helps make it look more random if someone is casing your house.

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

Until Next Time...

Don't let Fall pass you buy. Get out there and enjoy the changing color of the leaves. This doesn't happen in any other part of the world so take advantage of it. Pile the family in the car and head for the trees. It's a family experience you'll always remember.

If you want to talk about something just drop us a line 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!

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