• Chef Paula Deen accidentally hit by charity ham
ATLANTA (AP) — Celebrity chef Paula Deen got an unexpected serving of ham — across her face.
The Food Network star was helping unload 25,000 pounds of donated meat for an Atlanta food bank on Monday when someone threw one of the hams like a football and accidentally smacked her.
Deen tells WGCL-TV: “I thought it busted my lip, but it didn’t.”
Though smiles and laughter, Deen added: “I’m OK. It just knocked me for a little bit.”
She says she was unloading hams when she tossed one to a man, who then said “Back at ’ya.” Thinking he meant it only as a sentiment, she turned around to get another ham when the errant swine came at her.
“He really meant, ’Back at ’ya.”’
Later, she tweeted: “I haven’t met the ham that could stop me yet!”
• Sparkling reindeer-dung jewelry sells at Ill. zoo
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (AP) — Sparkly reindeer-dung necklaces are going on sale at an Illinois zoo that hopes to attract the same holiday shoppers who swept up its dung Christmas ornaments last year.
The limited-edition Magical Reindeer Gem necklaces will debut Friday at the Miller Park Zoo in Bloomington.
The $15 pendant necklaces contain dried, sterilized reindeer droppings — sprayed with glitter — on a beaded chain. They’ll be available at the zoo’s gift shop, or by mail for $20.
The ornaments are back, and 450 have already sold this season. About 1,500 are still available for $7.50, or $10 by mail.
Miller Park Zoological Society spokeswoman Susie Ohley admits it’s a bit silly but estimates the zoo could make $16,500. The zoo lost $200,000 under city budget cuts this year.
