Rescue from a nightmare “rescue farm”…and it’s Friday people! September 17, 2010

This horse weighed 900 pounds in July, now down to 700..

Ok, this is a story you must see tonight on 11 News at Five….about horses that were given to a “horse rescue”  place in West Virginia….because the owners couldn’t care for them anymore, but here’s the catch. The woman who runs the “rescue” place….puts these horses out to pasture with no feed and no water. They were slowly dying from hunger and dehydration. What a terrible cruelty…and worse because the place accepted healthy animals and starved them. Who would do such a thing? Collect money to care for animals and then deny them any sustenance? 

This vet said, "He's just bones covered by skin."

Luckily an investigation led to their true rescue…those in worst shape were taken to Day’s End Farm (here’s a link)in Howard County…where the horses are being rehydrated and fed, and hopefully, brought back to health.  As the vet in the story said about these horses…”They’re just bones covered by skin“.  Even these people at Days End who are used to seeing malnourished and abused animals, were shocked. 

Worker at Day's End Farm....

Honestly, it just makes me very very sad…and then very very mad. There’s just no excuse at all…I hope you’ll watch Rob Roblin’s story at five. Rob asked me  if we should warn viewers that the video might be disturbing….I told him people should be disturbed. That if you can see something like that and NOT be disturbed something is wrong with you.  So if you’re disturbed tonight, you can blame me.  Here’s a link for more details about Rob’s story…

OK, enough about that,,,happy thoughts, happy thoughts…it’s Friday people!! Friday after a somewhat stressful week. I’m gonna have dinner with my sweet daughter tonight(135% Wine Bar in Hampden), and Auburn plays Clemson Saturday night…hollah!! We’re doing bison burgers with a choice of toppings(tba toppings)…sweet potato fries and a black bean salad. And, something for dessert(hello, Sugarbakers?)…so all is well. Hope all of you have a great weekend…play nice, don’t throw rocks, and come home safe(that all takes on special significance to me after this week)…’cause we miss you.

A Pork Loin Friday night dinner…. May 1, 2009

This is my ready for Friday look....

You have probably heard from me, that 11 News reporter Jennifer Franciotti or as I  call her, J-Fran, sits right across from me in the newsroom. Every Friday morning when we see each other, one of us will say…”It’s Friday“….and the other replies, “And you know what that means.” And we nod knowingly. What it means, is that the workweek is over (usually), and Friday night and a nice bottle wine beckons. And this week has been particularly intense…with water main breaks, and swine flu outbreaks…there’s a whole lot of breaking going on, and we’ve been doing our best to cover it all….and all the other stuff in the news too. So, whew….it’s Friday!

Bring on the pork roast....

And since I am from Alabama, where we never get too far from the pig, and in honor of pigs who are getting an undeserved bad rap over the swine flu(now H1N1) thing….I am cooking a Friday night pork roast. It’s one of my favorite dinners really, and so easy. I’ve even found an easy recipe for pork loin…which shows you how to do it step by step. Sometimes I will use the little tenderloins if I’m in a hurry, ’cause they cook so quick. But the regular loin is just as good…maybe better…and lots cheaper, just takes a little longer as it is larger.

My fav prep is to rub it with crushed garlic, and rosemary, kosher salt and pepper, and plop it in the oven(yes, in a pan-that’s for my daughter)…and about an hour or so later, you’re done. Some sweet tater fries would be fabulous with it, and a salad, …open a nice bottle of red wine(my current fav-2007 Chateau Monte Oton from Spain….get this….$5 a bottle and so good), and you have a world class Friday night. 

Oh, and I have the movie Milk starring Sean Penn on dvd from Netflix….it’s supposed to be excellent. See you there!