Yellow Birds for Parkinson's

News from Mike's Studio

2009-07-11T13:08:00.000-07:00

After more than 20 years of living well with Parkinson’s disease I must now sort out my shop and hang up my welder.

For three years I created the Yellow Bird garden sculptures to raise not only my own hopes but to contribute money to Parkinson’s foundations working to improve quality of life and finance research. Every bird flying has helped toward those goals.

Thank you to each of you who bought and displayed a yellow bird. Please do not stop contributing to any and all organizations that promote the value of quality in our lives.

Now it’s my turn to support Anne’s endeavor to share her culinary skills with our PD (and larger) community. In her new book, Transcending Parkinson’s Disease with Art and Good Food: A Memoir with Recipes, she will introduce you to a new and exciting palette of brain-healthy ingredients. We know, it’s one good thing to have your list of anti-oxidants but how do you put those ingredients together for optimum taste and maximum nutritional effect?

Maintaining her traditional French cooking techniques, Anne has created recipes that combine a vibrant list of antioxidants with important anti-inflammatories, adding nutrient rich ingredients in delicious enticing combinations. Light the candles and snip a fresh bouquet of flowers for the table. We think this brain-healthy way of eating could change your life!

We will continue our Yellow Bird website with blog entries, current photos and links to PD foundations. We have a few birds remaining in inventory. If you wish to purchase a yellow bird with a portion of the proceeds going to either the Michael J. Fox Foundation or Northwest Parkinson’s Foundation, please contact us by email.

Saluting Neuroprotective Nutrition

2007-10-01T09:45:00.000-07:00

Autumn Delight:
Raw shredded Beet-Carrot Slaw Vinaigrette with fresh ginger, garnished with strips of roasted red pepper, GO JI berries, and petals of calendula!

Meanwhile Back In The Kitchen

2007-08-16T12:11:00.000-07:00

Stay tuned! Very soon we'll be teasing with more richly colored and luscious anti-oxident ingredients and how best to combine and consume them.

Feedback from a Happy Owner

2007-08-16T11:50:00.000-07:00

“Hurrah!! The bird arrived—its flight to the east coast complete, and soon it will journey underground and then over the Manhattan Bridge into Brooklyn. I am very excited about it—it is amazing.”

Local Newspaper Profiles Mike

2007-08-13T14:16:00.001-07:00

A few months ago, Mike was profiled in his local paper, The Bellingham Herald. If you'd like to check out the article, point your browser to http://www.apria.com/common/aw_cmp_printNews/1,2762,572650,00.html.

Breaking News!

2007-08-13T14:02:00.001-07:00

As a premium for your tax-deductible donation to either the Northwest Parkinson's Foundation or The Michael J. Fox Foundation, we are offering one orange or yellow bird for every $100.00 pledge or twelve... an entire flock of birds... for every $1000.00 pledge. Just follow the links on our Website (http://www.yellowbirdsforparkinsons.com/) to donate. Thanks for your support!

One Thing at a Time

2007-01-26T12:01:00.000-08:00

Excuse me, young man?
Could you help me?
I need a black suit
Size 38, I think
What is the occasion, sir?
I’m going to The White House
Did you say The White House, sir?
Yes, the correspondent’s Christmas Party
My son invited me and I have a message for the President
We’ll have to tailor these pants, sir
I must be shrinking
Excuse me, sir? Did you say sinking?
I’m sorry, I have Parkinson’s Disease
Sometimes it’s hard to understand me
I said shrinking
Oh, yes. I’m sorry sir. My grandfather has Parkinson’s too. He used to be a farmer
I used to be an artist
I’d like that Garcia tie
And a coral silk dress shirt

9 a.m. Pacific Standard Time
Northwest Terminal Sea-Tac Airport
3478 miles to go
Himself,
His hand-carved maple cane with the cherry wood handle
His very own Parkinson’s disease
And his message

4:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time Washington D.C.
Belt looped in black suit pants—6 minutes
Eight small buttons on coral silk shirt –3 minutes per button
Garcia tie knotted—12 minutes
Walking through the door—2 minutes
Message in pocket
5:30 p.m. Official limousine
Bullet-proof windows, snow on the road, slippery, could be late, can’t be late
Don’t look outside
Don’t talk to the driver
Just Focus
Focus on the message
6 p.m. arrival
Under the portico, red carpet
Secret Service, CIA buffed in black leather
The West Wing, awesome power
Focusing on the door, the door
Christmas lights, music, surveillance, clearance, speed

Name, sir? Social Security number, sir? Guest of? You are a guest of whom? Sir?
All right. Cleared!
Right through that door. Follow that escort.
Another door
He froze in the doorway, stuttered forward, almost fell
Recovered

Sir? Line up here and keep moving. You’ll have ten seconds. Shake the President’s hand. Have your picture taken. It’s important to keep moving.

Ten, nine, eight, seven
Half a handshake away
Inside his black suit
Cell phone rings
Too many deep pockets
Fumbling, stumbling, feet stuttering, arms flailing
Cane flies, message aloft
Secret Service advances
Bush’s hand appears, official photo flashed

Sir! Keep moving. . . . Sir.
He’s frozen but his carefully written 5- second message keeps moving
Stuck on the ribbed heel of the secret service agent

Please, Mr. President reconsider your policy on stem cell research.

Thoughts from Mike & Anne Mikkelsen

2007-01-11T16:25:00.000-08:00

Turmeric Inspiration by Anne Mikkelsen

I have a history of caring about food, really great, no—really fine food. I studied the preparation and the presentation of food, among other places, in the kitchen of Simone Beck in Grasse, France. I love the hues and textures, the olfactory sensations of perfectly blended herbs, the juices and sauces, all the possibilities of marrying varying cuisines on our palates, platters and plates. So, in October when Mike and I attended the Governor's Conference on Parkinson's, I was intrigued by a presentation which emphasized the importance of a focused nutritional strategy aimed at fighting back against cell death. Imagine the power in that!

Recommended ingredients were antioxidant-rich and therefore anti-inflammatory. The list included some familiar ingredients like blueberries, broccoli, spinach, dried beans—black and pinto, rosemary, fresh ginger, and organic foods. But the most surprising to me was the spice turmeric—high on the presenter's list. Turmeric has the scent and taste of orange zest and ginger and the color of gold.

On the way home from The Governor’s Conference we picked up a few items: an organic chicken, dried blueberries, dried black and pinto beans, garlic, broccoli and turmeric. Here’s what I did with those groceries on that very night:

Roasted chicken, stuffed under the skin and a warm black bean salad.

Black Bean Salad

1 cup black beans and 1 cup pinto beans, cover beans with water and boil till slightly tender—approx. 40 minutes. You may need to add more water along the way.

While beans are softening, begin the dressing in a large salad bowl:

3 T red wine vinegar
juice of half a lemon
juice of half a lime
1 tsp grated lemon zest (if you don’t own a zester, it’s worth the investment)
1 tsp chopped fresh ginger root
2 cloves of finely chopped fresh garlic
½ cup olive oil
¼ cup cilantro (you can make this optional, but I wouldn’t risk it)

When the beans are slightly tender, drain and while they are still warm, add beans to the dressing. Then add 2 T of turmeric—notice the rich golden color. Add salt to taste and a few good grinds of black pepper. Add cilantro and enjoy! If you have to refrigerate this salad, be sure to refresh it with fresh lemon juice and more zest.

Roasted Chicken

Roasted Chicken—2 lb organic fryer

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine the following in a food processor: chicken liver, gizzard and heart. A handful of fresh rosemary, 2 T fresh parsley, a chunk of white onion, 4 cloves of fresh garlic, 1 T olive oil, 2 tsp sea salt, several good grinds of black pepper and 1 T turmeric. Blend ingredients until it makes a loose paste. Then gently lift the chicken breast skin and massage the paste between skin and breast meat—rubbing the filling all along the breast meat. Sprinkle 1 T turmeric on top of the chicken and drizzle 2 T olive oil over that—another beautiful sight! Bake the chicken at 350 for approximately 1 ½ hours. And that’s 1 ½ hours of pure olfactory pleasure flowing through your house. When you serve the chicken, be sure to spoon the resulting juices over each piece of meat and share the stuffing-all around.

For dessert, I made a salad of dark butter lettuce with a simple vinaigrette sprinkled with intense little dried blueberries and a pinch of turmeric. Lovely.

Want to know more about The Governor’s Conference on Parkinson's? Visit www.waparkinsons.org/events/fall_symposium_2006.html.

We sold a number of our beautiful Yellow Birds at the event. If you'd like to purchase one of these remarkable creatures and help make the lives of Parkinson's patients better, be sure to check out our website... http://www.yellowbirdsforparkinsons.com/.