Four things this Friday

1. It's Endangered Species Day! I'm featuring TWO species special for today. (Don't get too excited; the first photos aren't exactly phenomenal. But the animals are, and are both endangered.) Think about endangered species today. Think about all species. Appreciate an animal. (Or a plant!) Volunteer at your local preserve or refuge. Just learn more. Go here to learn more about endangered species. You can even type in your own state to see what needs protecting in your own backyard.

2. If you're local come to Boyce Thompson Arboretum this weekend for an encore of the special events from earlier this month, which had to be cut short when the arboretum was evacuated so firefighters could stop the Picket Fire. (Which they did, right at the entrance.) Especially cool, for one final weekend: the arboretum is opening up the mansion, otherwise known as Picket Post House, otherwise known as Castle on the Rocks, otherwise known as "that house on the hill." It was built by Colonel William Boyce Thompson, starting in 1923 (construction took about 14 months), right onto the rocks (hence the name, duh). The inside is pretty cool too. Tickets for self-guided tours are $20 (admission to the arboretum itself is separate), and funds raised help support the arboretum, which raises 90 percent of its own funding. There are many other goodies this weekend -- grilled brats, live music, and their usual guided tours and arboretum awesomeness. Read about the Picket Post House here. And if you come Sunday, I might see you with a certain junior helper.

3. David's famous again! He's got an interview over at The Magnifying Glass. Thanks a bunch to Lucia for the interview. Peruse the rest of the site while you're there, and don't forget to give props to my kid. :-)



4. Aaaand ... I keep saying I'm going to hold a photo giveaway, in honor of National Photography Month. Guess what? I'm really going to! Guess what else? I have no idea what I'm doing! But I'm trying anyway. Stay tuned. For really real.