Little River Trail Run 2012

Registration is filling up fast for the 7th Annual Trail Run to be held Saturday, January 14, 2012. The run features a 10 mile as well as a 7k course again this year. The 10 mile course usually runs the Ridge Trail, North River Loop and most of the single-track mountain bike trails. The 7k course follows the North River Loop trail, portions of the South River Loop trail and a section of the beginners mountain bike trail.

Since parking for large events can be a challenge at the park, participants are encouraged to carpool. A raffle will be held for vehicles that come with four or more occupants.

The Trailheads, who organize the event, will again be donating a portion of the proceeds to the park. More information can be found on the Trailheads website:  http://www.trailheads.org/lrtr/index.html.

Last year saw a challenging course after a snow/ice storm covered the trails and brought down a number of trees. The year before it was really, really cold. What's in store for this year? The forecast looks like temperatures in the upper 40's for race day. Keep your fingers crossed!

Bird Suet Recipes

 



Woodpeckers enjoying a suet snack.

A great family activity and one of our favorites for winter programs at the park, making suet treats for the birds is easy and can attract a variety of wildlife to your yard. Here are a few recipes to try but the best thing about suet is that you can experiment with many different ingredients and the measurements don't have to be exact. If you don't have a suet cage, you can use something like an old yogurt container or even a muffin tin for a mold, place a string or pipe cleaner in the middle of the container with enough hanging out so that you can tie it to a branch, add the mix and freeze.





"Little River Blend" Bird Suet Recipe

1 cup chunky peanut butter

2 cups cornmeal

2 cups quick cook oats (uncooked)

1 cup lard

1 cup flour

Optional: bird seed, raisins, nuts, dried fruit, pretzels

Melt lard and peanut butter together and stir. Stir in the remaining ingredients. Pour the mixture into a square container about 1-1/2 inches thick. Allow it to cool, then cut it into squares and store in the freezer.

Audubon Society  Suet Blend

2 lb. Lard*

6 c. Cornmeal

3 c. Wheat flour

4 c. Oatmeal

2 c. Peanut hearts

Soften the lard to room temperature. Stir in the other ingredients a couple of cups at a time until the mixture is quite thick.  Freeze the mixture in tuna cans or plastic tubs about 4 inches by 4 inches in size.

*Audubon Society recommends not substitute shortening for lard.

It Must be Love  Suet Blend

1/2 pound lard

1/3 cup black oil sunflower seed

2/3 cup mixed wild bird seed

1/8 cup chopped pecans or peanuts

1/4 cup raisins

Melt the lard in a crock pot, microwave or stove.  While suet is cooling, stir ingredients together in a large bowl. Place the suet into the mixture and mix thoroughly. Pour or pack into molds, feeders, or any household item. Refrigerate until hardened or freeze.

Bird Bread Machine Fruit Nut Bran Bread

2 1/2  cups bread flour

1 tablespoon dry milk

1/4 cup bran flakes or raisin bran

1/4 cup dried fruit bits

1 cup water

1 teaspoon dry yeast

Bake this fruit bread recipe in a bread machine in BAKE LIGHT MODE. When cooled, hollow out the loaf. (Save the bread to add to a different suet recipe.) Melt a suet cake until it is sticky not hot. Mix in a little birdseed then pour into bread cavity. Put in refrigerator to set the suet. Place in a dish for the birds to enjoy.