The Poor Potoroo

Until the other day I had never heard of the Potoroo (nor of its companion in the wild, the Quokka) but now I may be an expert. Gilbert’s Potoroo, a marsupial, happens to be Australia’s most endangered mammal. Only about 30 to 40 are left in the wild near Mount Gardner in Western Australia. A few years ago seven of them were moved to Bald Island, off the coast of Western Australia, which is in pristine condition and has no Potoroo predators.
Some interesting facts about the Potoroo:

The adult 2 lb. Potoroo has 1/2 inch long offspring which sometimes stay in a state of suspended development (embryonic diapause) while another Potoroo is conceived.

Potoroos are the most fungi-dependent mammal on earth. They eat truffles.

Always optimistic, Australians are on the lookout. If you think you may have seen a Gilbert's Potoroo, or found animal remains which you think could be a Gilbert's Potoroo, please check the sightings page which gives guidance on distinguishing Potoroos from similar animals and complete the online sighting report; alternatively, you can note down the sighting details as listed on the page and email a message to: sightings@potoroo.org

Shelves To Die For

Look at those shelves. How does Martha come up with so many beautiful ideas?

Flower Pot Cupcakes

Today's cupcakes were made with buttermilk giving the chocolate a nice tang. Under the frosting lies half a marshmallow which I stuck on while the cake was still warm adding height without additional frosting. Looks good, doesn't it?

Medicating Melancholy

mel·an·chol·y   
[mel-uhn-kol-ee]

–noun
1. a gloomy state of mind, esp. when habitual or prolonged; depression.
2. sober thoughtfulness; pensiveness.

The word melancholy is not used much these days. Not to say it doesn't exist. In ancient times, though, it was thought that the human body was filled with four basic substances -the four humors -black bile, yellow bile, phlegm, and blood. When our health is good they are all in balance but, depending on diet and activity, these humors wax and wane in the body. An excess or deficit of one results in disease or disability; too much black bile was thought to cause melancholy. Nowadays a little blue pill eliminates the excess.

Same Old

"Traditional American confidence in individual freedom has resulted in a morally and socially undesirable distribution of wealth."
Herbert Croly, 1909