Detayls

Once again Wildcare held its holiday party at Karen and Todd’s house. The kitchen project is complete and it is a stunner. Karen and Todd were gracious hosts as usual.

The food was astounding. We’re all getting a little complacent about it though. In 2010 it’s cheese sandwiches and diet soda!

This year David Latour graced us with a tuxedo and Melanie wore her best shoes. The tuxedo earned David some pickled eggs. We still don’t know how well the shoes worked out. Melanie?

The “secret Santa” game was fairly tame this year. In 2010 you will be required to sign a “cutthroat affidavit” to play. Much more stealing will be required.

There were at least fourteen dogs at the event. Six of them were called Tucker. We are thinking of allowing “canine participation” in the game in future. They have two secret weapons: they can tell what is inside the wrapping by smell alone and can employ “droolage” if a gift is too desirable to be stolen. Staff are encouraged to apply as canines if the cutthroat requirement is too manly. (David Latour is automatically considered “cutthroat-ready” unless he tries to recycle the eggs!)

Lisa McDowell dropped in the San Francisco Bay Area in early December 2009. She waited patiently until her friend Daniel arrived and then they nipped over to Napa for a couple of days.

Lisa had spent the previous four months on an epic trip around the world starting from England in July by flying to India and gradually inched nearer to California via Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. There are some contributed pictures from her trip in a previous album here.

One of her requests was a quick trip to Wildcare in San Rafael and she virtually demanded some Dim Sum in San Francisco. Eleven years is just too long!

She had fond memories of a trip to the Harbor Village restaurant at the Embarcadero with us for Dim Sum in 1998. Sadly the Harbor Village is no more. David and JoLynn recruited Jeanni and Grier to take us to a favorite restaurant and we all had a lovely meal.

Afterward we visited the Legion of Honor to absorb a little culture before heading home to Marin

Once again the Wildcare crew met at Il Davide for an evening to support Dining for Wildlife.

This was the year of bad jokes, silly eyeballs and human origami. Don’t miss the video at the end. Click on the picture for the gallery.

The food as usual was marvelous and nobody made a fool of themselves. Always a good outcome.

These are some photos JoLynn took at WildCare’s Gala, which was held on February 6, 2009.

Most of the staff and a good number of volunteers showed up to help, so we had enough help so everyone could enjoy the event and socialize without something falling through the cracks.

The dancing was much livelier this year, because some professional dancers were hired, and they made the dance floor a little less intimidating.

Every year WildCare of Marin has held a Christmas party for the staff and their significant others.

This year the party was held at our house for a change. The party is a giant potluck with a fabulous mixture of food and drink. The turkey and stuffing is always appreciated and Juan Carlos brought a marvellous platter of Enchiladas Molé prepared by his own hands. Other dishes included Mushroom Pie, Fennel Salad and, of course, Chili Egg Bake.

The highlight of the evening was the “Gift Exchange” as it is every year. The idea is that you bring a gift and then draw a number. As each player’s number is called, that person can choose to “steal” a previously-opened gift up to three times or open a wrapped gift. The gifts were great but, for some strange reason, nobody stole the Diffuser. The little mouse door-holder-opener was much sought after as was the cheese board.

With the tragic loss of Julie Malet this year, Anya stepped up and prepared the Egg Bake. We all toasted Julie in remembrance while her ghost helped Alison pick at the turkey carcass.

(Click Julie and Alison to see the pictures from 2007.)

We miss you Julie!

Happy Holidays everyone.

The regular crew met again this year in San Rafael to support Dining for Wildlife.

This year we chose the restaurant Il Davide and it was a huge success. When David started knocking the place down in an attempt to get a better shot, the manager even forgave us saying “I needed to wash that part of the floor anyway!”

For some reason this year was a year for faces. Allison and David Latour have both achieved “fridge” status with their renditions.

Join us next year if you dare!

The Wildcare Christmas Staff Party was held at Karen and Todd’s house again this year.

The food, as always, was outstanding and the games were fun. The mice and little fishes (smelt) were really cute and the turkey was demolished in a trice!

Click on the photo to see some other pictures.

A few of the Wildcare staff did the Dining for Wildlife thing at Cafe Arrivederci in San Rafael. A good time was had by all.

The Nature Lovers Ball was held in Mill Valley, CA on February 2, 2007. It was a wild success!

See the pictures here under Wildlife.

This year the Wildcare Staff party for Christmas was held at Karen and Todd’s cool new house. Much fun was had. Here are the pictures: