Come one! Come all! Come to Simpson’s 24-hour buffet. An

ever-changing array of treats for the palate. This announcement must

have appeared in the Local Deer Gazette last week, for the deer are back. I

have a timber along the edge of a rock wall where I put out stale cereal,

bread crusts, that sort of thing, for the birds. Usually my best customers are

the Stellar jays. But now I have three deer who appear on a regular basis to

enjoy stale fruit loops and the burnt edges of gingerbread. (I always end up

with burnt edges before the middle gets done.)

Of course, they also munch their way through a variety of other

things too. I was watching them eat fresh dandelion flowers one day. They

were very delicately nibbling up just the flowers, which they are more

than welcome to, and ignoring pretty much everything else. But at least two

look pregnant, so I imagine fresh salad is just what the doctor ordered.

Probably full of vitamin C and folic acid, too.

PPP

Funky Fact: Many people believe deer and elk to be equal

opportunity yard eaters, but their diets are quite different. Deer tend to be brush

eaters. They eat the new growth off shrubs, trees and your

ornamental plants. They are fond of azalea buds. The new growth of evergreens is

a particular treat, which is why they are the bane of tree farmers

everywhere. Elk, on the other hand, eat much the same diet as cows. They are

grazers, eating grass and the more succulent plants, such as your flowers. The

two diets do cross on occasions, and neither one is going to pass up a nice

juicy tulip. It all boils down to this. If you want pretty flowers, plant them in

containers and hanging baskets.

PPP

April 24-30 is National TV-Turnoff Week, sponsored by a

nonprofit group called TV-Free America. They do not cite the usual arguments

against violence, program content or whatever. They focus on what TV

viewing displaces, which is family time.

They suggest that instead of watching TV, you spend time taking

a walk, reading together, or even playing board games or doing

jigsaw puzzles. The average child under 11 spends almost 20 hours a week

watching TV. Even half that amount of time can impact academic

achievement. And with so many parents both having to work, family time is

already drastically cut in many instances. This group does not forget the benefits

of TV, such as public television, nature and children’s educational

programs. They just ask that TV time be selective, quality time.

PPP

The Mountain Man and I went to see Fantasia 2000 at the Imax

Theater in Seattle last week. This was a rare outing for us, as the Mountain

Man does not like Seattle traffic. The show is spectacular, particularly the

last piece set to Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite. It is running through April

30, so you still have a chance to see it. Well worth the price of admission. Then

we ate lunch in Center House. This was really a grand gesture on the

Mountain Man’s part, because he is not used to being knee deep in toddlers. He

only looked a little hunted before I took pity on him and said we could leave

before the Hula Hoop Wizard’s performance.

We also saw two of Jim and Linda Graham’s lovely daughters there.

Susan and Beth were shepherding the grandchildren through the

children’s fun fair that was going on at Center House.

PPP

There are two special events going on at the North Bend Library

next week.

On Tuesday, April 25, at 11 a.m., you and your baby can join

children’s librarian Kathy Goble for Baby Meets the Library. This nursery rhyme

sharing time is for babies, moms and expectant moms. Learn what is

available at the library for your “bookbaby.”

Then on Wednesday night, April 26, come and hear how you can be

a Friend of the Library. This Open House, held from 6 to 8 p.m., will

explain the role of Friends and volunteers in the library. Give an hour

a month and become a new classic! Refreshments will be served, and

entertainment will be provided by Mount Si’s 18 Karat Swing band.

PPP

Thought for the Week: Laugh and the world laughs with you, cry

and your nose gets all stuffed up. Did you know that lawmakers in Seattle

have decided “It is unlawful to carry a

goldfish on public transportation unless that goldfish is lying

down“? So now that you have trained your goldfish

to “sit” and “stay,” teach him to

“lie down.” You can work on “fetch” later.

Please submit items for

North Bend Nuggets to

Pat Simpson at P.O. Box 857,

North Bend, WA 98045,

or by e-mail to patsimps@hotmail.com,

or drop them by the library.