In a spring forest filled with wildflowers, a fawn cautiously approaches a furry being he hasn't met before. From our book, "Lost in the Woods". Photo by Carl R. Sams II.

Do you get out and enjoy nature? I did this past Sunday with a close friend at Proud Lake State Recreation Area in Milford, Michigan and it felt great! We even saw two deer grazing in a meadow, which made the hike even more special.

In the article, “Do you underestimate the joys of nature?” in Psychology Today, the author cites an article, “Underestimating nearby nature: Affective forecasting errors obscure the happy path to sustainability.” He points out that the researchers found that people are not very good at predicting the amount of pleasure they’ll experience from getting out in nature.

It seems there are psychological benefits to enjoying nature, something those of us who spend time outdoors already know.

Get Out and Enjoy Nature
So go ahead-get some fresh air and exercise and Get Outdoors!

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More photos in front of Main Street Art during Milford Memories 2011.

Both photos were taken on Friday, August 12, 2011. The weather was perfect and the festival streets were packed!

Mothers, teachers, grandparents, children and friends all crowded around to view our children's books, movies and plush toys.

Suzanne from Main Street Art tells the story about our books to customers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Coyote attacks on dogs in southeast Michigan are on the increase. A friend who runs a dog rescue group told me this morning that a number of dogs in Milford have been attacked by coyotes recently, according to a veterinarian she spoke with who works in Milford.

Watch the short video below of Chip Acey of Springfield Township, Michigan as he speaks about coyotes attacking Reggie, his 110-pound Labrador Retriever. “He was attacked by two coyotes. He was trying to fight. I ran out with a pistol and scared them away, took my dog to the vet,” Acey said in the article, “VIDEO: Coyotes attack dog in Oakland County yard”

Video Link
Dog attacked by coyotes in Springfield Twp.

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Oliver is a beautiful brown bear who was rescued last spring by Animals Asia after being trapped for 30 years on a brutal bear farm in China. This photo shows Oliver walking on grass at Animals Asia's sanctuary-happy at last! Photo credit: Animals Asia

Do you want to help rescue bears? You can learn about endangered Moon Bears and their battle to survive the cruel practice of bear farming.

My friend and previous co-chair of our Milford, Michigan based Animals Asia Michigan Volunteer Group, Melissa Malinowski, is giving a free presentation about the practice of bear farming this Tuesday, May 10, from 7-8 p.m. at Aquinas College’s Jarecki-Lacks Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

A question-and-answer session will take place from 8-8:30 p.m. for those interested in learning simple yet effective ways to help end bear farming and help rescue endangered moon bears.

Learn more in the article, “Unleashed: Hear the message of the ‘moon’ bear rescue and practice of Asian bear farming“.

Schedule: May 10 Presentation
7:00pm sharp – 8:00pm: Introduction to bear bile farming.
8:00pm-8:30pm: Optional Q&A Session.

Most suitable for mature audiences.

RSVP by May 9th to melissamalinowski@hotmail.com or 616-365-9176 as seating is limited.

For more information: West Michigan Animals Asia Volunteer Group on Facebook. Event page on Facebook.

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Main Street Art has our new carousel display filled with our entire product line.

Welcome Main Street Art, our newest dealer! Located in beautiful downtown Milford, Michigan, I think they are one of the best art supply stores in Michigan.

You will find a nice selection of art supplies and gift items, along with terrific service. They support a couple of great charities too.

“We are really happy! We like to deal with local artists. Carrying books, movies and plush by Carl R. Sams II is ideal for our customers, many who have children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews,” said co-owner Barb Moorhead.  

With Main Street Art in downtown Milford as a dealer, our local customers now have access to one stop shopping for our entire line of New York Time’s children’s books, award-winning movies and stuffed toys. Main Street Art will soon be carrying our nature prints by Carl R. Sams II.

Visit Main Street Art
432 N Main Street. Located three stores south of Commerce Road on the east side of Main Street.

Visit Main Street Art on Facebook.

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Jasper (left) spent 15 years trapped on a brutal bear bile farm before being rescued by Animals Asia. Jasper is a now very happy moon bear living on an Animals Asia bear sanctuary. Photo courtesy Animals Asia.

Jasper is a very happy moon bear! If you care about animals and would like to learn how you can help end cruel bear bile farming to save majestic bears like Jasper, we have good news.

The Animals Asia Michigan Volunteer Group is giving a free presentation about how to end bear farming this Wednesday evening, February 16, from 7:00pm to 8:30pm at Hector & Jimmy’s banquet room in downtown Milford, Michigan.

Learn more in the article in The Milford Times, “Learn about Asian Bear Farming, how to stop it“. RSVP and learn more about the February 16 presentation in Milford. Come on out, meet like-minded people and do something that will make you feel good. Free refreshments too!

Learn More
Animals Asia Michigan Volunteer Group Facebook page

About Jasper and the Photo at Top
Taken from Jill’s Blog: It was time to take a break from three days of endless health checks, post mortems and funerals and it was time to keep a long-awaited appointment with the bear I knew would give me some relief. Jasper didn’t let me down.

As I stood on the observation deck (with Tamara and Juanita from our Hong Kong office), overlooking his den, Jasper looked up to make sure he was being admired and casually, but purposefully, strolled over to Beau (on the right) who was sleeping peacefully by the pool and, without any hesitation …. bit her bottom!

Jasper has never been anything but playful – the peacemaker of the whole sanctuary – but this time he’d gone a little too far. Rudely awakened from her dreams, Beau spun around in rage, snarling at the animal that had snatched away her peaceful slumber.

And Jasper looked up at us with the most wonderful surprised look on his face, as if to say “What did I do?!” If I didn’t know better, I’d swear he was laughing…..as were we.

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Students from Spring Mills Elementary School in Highland, Michigan screened our new movie, First Snow in the Woods: The Movie. Spring Mills Elementary School is part of the Huron Valley School District.

I took some quick video with my small pocket sized Flip video camera. Watch the video to see the children’s reaction to First Snow in the Woods: The Movie.

We want to thank the wonderful staff, including Media Tech-Librarian Mrs. Phyllis Brantingham, teacher Mrs. Sheryl McGraw, and Ms. Jenny Rayner, and the talented students at Spring Mills Elementary School for their very helpful comments and insight and for welcoming us into their school.

First Snow in the Woods: The Movie will be available in early fall. Clink here to watch the trailer for First Snow in the Woods: The Movie.

Keep posted. More video clips from Mrs. McGraw’s class will follow.

Share This Video
Share this video with your friends by clicking on the “Share/Save” button below. Please feel free to comment too!

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Huron Valley School Board Member Lindsay Cotter, and Kirt Manecke from Carl R. Sams II Photography, hold up the books being donated to help kids read. Photo by Carl R. Sams II

In keeping with their tradition of helping kids read during March is Reading Month, Carl and Jean donated 185 of their Find My Friends board books to the Head Start program at Huron Valley Schools Apollo Center near Milford, Michigan.

Carl and Jean are also donating their award winning In the Woods series (Lost in the Woods, Stranger in the Woods, First Snow in the Woods) of children’s picture books to the teachers at Apollo Center so they can read to the children and teach them gentle lessons of nature.

Huron Valley School Board member and Milford resident Lindsay Cotter collected and delivered the books. Lindsay said, “They are putting the books in the hands of the children that need them the most. Reading is the key to their future. The kids are so excited!”

We want to thank Lindsay Cotter for helping us make this happen and for delivering the books.

Created in 1965, Head Start is the most successful, longest-running, national school readiness program in the United States. Nearly 25 million pre-school aged children have benefited from Head Start. Learn more about Head Start.

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