Red Panda Network/ Orchard School Fundraiser

*****UPDATE!*****

The Fundraiser has been moved to next week, Wed Oct 10 - Fri Oct 13 @ 3pm- 5pm and Sat Oct. 14 @ 7am- 3pm.  Order your pies now!

Come one, come all and join me at this week's Fundraiser for both the Orchard School and the Red Panda Network!

Location:
The Orchard School
360 Passaic Ave
West Caldwell, NJ 07006 

Time:
Wed- Fri @ 3pm- 5pm
Sat @ 7am- 3pm

Homemade goodie baskets on sale for $25, pumpkin pies for $12 and a whole slew of garage sale goodies. 

Free guinea pigs for anyone who wants!


The Red Panda, or “firefox,” is often referred to as the “lesser panda” in deference to the better-known giant panda. Others prefer “first panda” – Western scientists described it 50 years earlier, and gave pandas their name. Few people outside its native habitat have even heard of the red panda, let alone seen one.

THE RED PANDA NETWORK is advocating for the creation of the PIS Red Panda Protected Forest, the world’s first Red Panda Reserve. Our mission is to ensure the survival of the red panda and its habitat for future generations to study, experience, and enjoy, is being put into action.

Why is this area so important?In 1999, a group of Himalayan conservation experts identified this area, called the Panchthar-Ilam-Taplejung corridor, or PIT corridor, as the highest conservation priority for the vanishing Eastern Himalayan Broadleaf Forest–the cloud forest of he Himalayas.

This area is comprised of one continuous ridgeline, with India to its Eastern side and Nepal at its West. On the Indian side is Singhalila National Park, where the forest and its numerous endangered species are protected. The Nepalese side of the ridge is a different story. Rampant, haphazard development has claimed large portions of prime red panda habitat. Red pandas travel from the eastern side to the western side of the ridge unaware of the political lines drawn by humans. They are caught and killed by local herding dogs and their habitat is cut down for grazing and agriculture.

The Red Panda Network is committed to creating the world’s first red panda reserve here, where approximately 25% of Nepal’s Red Panda population is found. With your support, we can preserve this magnificent region, allowing both humans and red pandas to thrive.

Check out this ADORABLE video of the red pandas playing in the snow.  If you don't love them after watching, you must have a heart of stone.



For more about the Red Panda, check out the RPN's website:
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Playing with Sugar

I decided to test my artistic abilities at cake decorating.  Here are some of my creations for you to peruse:

This was my very first flower bouquet for a cake. I had taken the first of three cake decorating courses offered by Wilton at various locations (I chose a local Michael's by me), and this was the final project for the class, for which I received a certificate of completion and a coupon for the next course. I do plan on taking the next one, but I have decided to take a pottery course first.  I start working on the potter's wheel next week and I am extremely excited about it.  I have some experience with the wheel and am looking forward to honing my craft even more.

I made the cupcakes to my right for a fundraiser for Japan after the Tsunami of 2011 destroyed much of Northern Japan.  The company I work for held a bake sale on Take My Child to Work Day which was a really nice thing for the children to be a part of.  Instead of sitting in Mom or Dad's cubicle playing with rubber bands, the children were able to sell baked goods and other donations such as candy or Japan rubber band bracelets and plants, etc.  They had a blast and we were able to raise a nice amount to donate to the Red Cross.

The cute petal cups were purchased at a local Michael's store that has a big selection of Wilton products.  The pastel M&M's were a lucky find because Easter had just finished and the Easter candy sales had just begun.  I still need tons of practice at perfecting my drop flower technique but I think I got the icing swirl underneath down pretty well.

Here are some cute safari themed cupcakes I made for a colleague of mine who was holding her son's first birthday party.  I took a shortcut and bought the cute animal faces pre-made, along with the wraps on the outside of the cupcake wrapper, but I did bake them and fill them with vanilla pudding, then I added the icing grass with my spiffy new piping bag.  Overall they were a hit!

Here's a side view, showing the cute cupcake wraps that I found at Michael's.

This weekend I am attempting to make crab cakes with a red pepper puree dipping sauce and a cherry pie.  The last time I attempted crab cakes I could not get them to adhere, so check back Monday and see if I had success this time around!
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