Greetings to all friends near and far from Northern Nevada, home of the Washo and Pyramid Lake Paiute tribes. I send prayers that all is well and you are surviving this dreadful winter of snows, keeping warm and cozy.

I apologize for the newsletter being late this month. I have been without a computer since late January. Now, here I am, back online and so happy to once again be in touch with you.

We have been lucky enough to have some spring-like weather the last few days and it feels wonderful to sit outside in the afternoons and watch the quail, squirrels, rabbits and hawks out behind my home. I moved back to where I used to live by a little mountain that abounds with wildlife, sage and intriquing rock formations. There is even a cougar or black bear that comes around occasionally, but I have not seen either yet. About six years ago a small black bear was rescued from this area and taken further out in the mountains where he had come from. I used to hear the cougar scream at night and one time, when I was walking home just at dusk, I heard the most hauntingly, loud scream from the cougar. He was just above my apartment sitting on a large rock up the hill, his sillouette outlined against the clear sky. It was quite scary yet beautiful and awe-inspiring at the same time. As much as I admired and respected him, I moved pretty fast to get inside and lock up for the night.
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Award winning author, Sandi Ault, has written her fourth book in the WILD MYSTERY series. WILD PENANCE is now available - so if you are a WILD fan get your copy now to enjoy and add to your growing collection of the series. Here is a link to my book review of WILD PENANCE:

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art21485.asp

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Here are links to my January articles, I hope you enjoy reading them, and as always, I welcome feedback:

Guardians Of The Canyon
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art21474.asp

Sparrow and Buffalo
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art21476.asp

Venison Pot Roast With Red Potatoes
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art21477.asp

Ababinili And Creation
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art21479.asp
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I thought you might like a recipe for a late winter supper. It will not be long before we can all get back outside and start the ol' barbeque up again. In the mean time, try this to warm you up on a cold winter's night:

VENISON STEAK BAKE WITH SHITAKE AND ONION

I usually use chuck steak with this recipe, but if you like venison give it a try in this delicious bake. The long, slow baking process will really tenderize the meat.

2 pounds venison or chuck steaks, one inch thick
1 envelope onion soup mix
1/2 pound shitake mushrooms, chopped
1 medium onion, sliced
1/2 green pepper, sliced thinly
1 one pound can tomatoes, drain and chop but reserve 1 cup of the liquid
1 tablespoon steak sauce
1 tablespoon corn starch
1 tablespoon chopped parsley
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 tablespoon butter or margarine

Line a large baking dish (like a lasagne pan) with enough foil to bring back over top of entire contents, spread butter in center of foil. Cut steaks to serving size pieces and arrange on foil by slightly overlapping the steaks. Sprinkle with onion soup mix, mushrooms, green pepper, onions and tomatoes. Salt and pepper to taste. Mix the tomato juice with steak sauce and cornstarch. Pour this over the meat. Bring foil up and over meat, seal edges tightly and bake for two to three hours at 350, no peeking!
Carefully roll back the foil, this will be extremely hot so do not burn yourself! Sprinkle parsley over meat. This makes four good size servings. Serve with fluffy mashed potatoes and fry bread or your favorite dinner rolls.

Sometimes a long cold winter can become very depressing. The act of preparing and cooking up a delicious meal that will bring praises of gratitude from family and friends can really cheer us up.
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Till next time, may your heart and moccasins always find a happy path. Take care. Blessings and walk in Harmony and Balance.
Phyllis
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http://forums.bellaonline.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=postlist&Board=140

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Phyllis Doyle Burns, Native American Editor
http://nativeamerican.bellaonline.com

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