Close To Home

Our hearts and prayers go out to all those who lost dear ones and property in the tornadoes and storms that ripped through Alabama and other southern states yesterday. 

If you'd like to help, the Red Cross is taking donations for Alabama residents affected by the storms yesterday. To donate, visit the Red Cross website or text "REDCROSS" to 90999 to give $10.

Thank you

Japan

Catbird reminded me that we can help by donating to the Red Cross. 

You can text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation or go to their website and donate any amount.

United Airlines is also giving you incentive to donate. They will reward your generosity with Mileage Plus miles. Through April 30, 2011, Mileage Plus members can earn a one-time award of 250 Mileage Plus bonus award miles for donations between $50 and $99, or 500 Mileage Plus bonus award miles for a donation of $100 or more to the American Red Cross.For more information or to donate follow the link above.

Thank you

Certified Humane

image from Certified Humane

As we've so publicly stated on our web site, We Love To Eat! I will say it again, We Love To Eat! My husband and I are both in the Food Service industry. We both like to cook mostly because we love to eat. And a big part of our enjoyment of Good Haven House is getting to enjoy regional southern food when we're here. BBQ, fried chicken, gulf shrimp, gumbo, hush puppies, pecan pie.........Mmm, Mmmm, Mmmmm, I'm making myself hungry just writing about it!

*Meets the Humane Farm Animal Care program standards, which includes nutrious diet without antibiotics or hormones, animals raised with shelter, resting areas, sufficient space and the ability to engage in natural behaviours.


Until recently, I never thought much about where my food actually comes from (unless I forgot to water the tomatoes in the garden!) But it's come to my attention that the way food comes to our markets and tables is not benign.

Please, whenever possible, use locally grown and Certified Humane food products.
Factory farming is harmful to not only the animals that are made to endure it and the farm workers forced to use these methods, but to human health and our society as a whole.




These practices are hard to think about and look at. But we DO, as individuals and as a society, have the power to take action and change the way food comes to our table.

"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated" -Gandhi

Thank You, Susan

10 year old raises thousands of dollars to help with the oil spill clean up

MEET OLIVIA BOULER
A 10 year old bird lover

Image via Facebook

Olivia's raising money in a unique way to help with the oil spill clean up of birds and wildlife in and around her summer home in Orange Beach.


Image via Facebook

I encourage you to read the full story
and if you'd like to, donate to The Audubon Society, The Sierra Club, The Weeks Bay Foundation, The Mobile Bay Estuary Program or the National Wildlife Fund to help with the Gulf recovery.

Let the Bouler's know by sending an email to nadinebouler@hotmail.com, Olivia's mom, and they'll send you one of Olivia's drawings.

Even if you can't donate, you can send Olivia a message letting her know what a great thing she's doing through her mom's email, nadinebouler@hotmail.com, or her Facebook page,
"Save the Gulf: Olivia's Bird Illustrations"



image via Facebook

I had to share this story with you as it brought tears to my eyes when I read it.

This girl deserves recognition and praise for what she's doing.

She's a great role model for all of us.

Thank you, Olivia, for the inspiration and the hard work.

-Susan

Take Action

Please consider taking action and contacting President Obama to say stop all oil drilling off our coasts.

Click here to follow the TAKE ACTION BUTTON through the Sierra Club link to send a message to President Obama.

OR

get in touch with your Senators and Representatives to say the same thing

Phone

Your Senator and Representative can be called via the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121.

Write

Your Senator at U.S. Senate, Washington, DC 20510.

Your Representative at U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC 20515.

Look Them Up Online

Look up your Senator or Representative online.

Contact the President

The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W.
Washington, DC 20500
Comment line: 202-456-1111
Fax: 202-456-2461
Email instructions: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact

Thanks, Susan