Memorial Day

Thanks to all who served and died so we may be free in this country.  This is one of my fav pictures.

I Have Strawberies

I was filling the bird feeders today and noticed specks of red in the yard. I thought maybe they were petals off a flower although I don't have that shade of red flowers in my yard.  Upon further up close inspection I have strawberries.  They are below the mower blade and there in the middle of my front yard I have baby strawberries.  I picked them all you can barely taste a strawberry but there they are.

Update on Decorah North Nest

This is a blog post on the recovery of DNN2 body out of the nest and what all it took to be able to do this.  Hopefully the remaining eaglet will grow up to be healthy and soar high.

http://raptorresource.blogspot.com/2016/05/intervention-at-decorah-north-nest.html

Decorah North Nest

Yesterday many became concerned when the 2nd hatch had not moved for some time.  For some unknown reason he has died.  Mom's white feathers on her head looks like she stuck her whole head in ashes and she does not look well at all either.  Many think maybe poison but why is the first hatch ok?  The nest is being monitored to see what is going.  RIP DNN2, be kind to Peanut and keep him company until some day the rest of the family gets there with you.  I hope the rest of the nest will be ok, it has been a tough season for DNN.

Update from RRP this morning:

Latest update on DNN 10am 5/26/16

Raptor Resource Project

2 hrs ·

Decorah North Mom is alive and has flown from the nest. Dad was seen earlier on the yonder perch branch, and DN1 is alive and has been exhibiting normal behavio...r. We are discussing the next steps and will keep everyone posted. I don't have time to round up photos now, but we will post some as soon as we can.

7:13pm CT - Decorah North Nest Update!
Amy reports that it has been an all day process, but permits were signed off on, a climbing team assembled, and DN2 was ...retrieved from the nest via a pole from 20 ft below. DN2 will be taken for a necropsy tomorrow with our veterinarian who works with SOAR.

Dad has been seen, Mom has been flying and is now in the nest with DN1, and while we don't know if it has eaten, it is robust and active, and there is food in the nest. Amy has photos and will write a blog that will post later tonight or tomorrow.
The camera will remain off for live viewing for a bit longer, but I do not have a timetable for when we will be live streaming again. In the meantime, thank you all for the incredible strength and support you have shown to RRP and hopefully we will have some answers soon as to cause of death of DN2

Loopy Academy Extra Credit Fabric

I wanted to make a light summer quilt for naps, etc.  I used a light flannel in the middle for a light batting and a little thickness.  This is Groucho approved.

Happy Birthday Millissa

My niece is 26 today, where did the years go.  I wish you only the best and I hope you know how proud of you I am.  I could not love you more.

Camp Loopy June

It is time for Camp Loopy, well it officially kicks off on June 1st.  I am going on my Treasure Hunt to Fair Isle by completing this cowl in these colors.  The brown is called Tea Party so I thought it was appropriate.  I am hoping the scary trees will scare off anyone messing with my Treasure Hunt.

My fabric project I am making this apron.  I figure i might need some pockets and place to keep items to help me with my treasure hunt.  I have made many of these aprons after attending a class at a store that is now closed here.  I do miss that store and the classes I took there.

We had a chance to get a goody package for every month and this month we got a bag with a zipper closure which will come in handy for treaures, maps, etc and this beautiful skein of yarn.  In down time i can make something out of it.

Loopy Adademy

This semester is almost over.  For yarn we are in the Spring Semester of our Sophomore year.  I completed all my projects and did my extra credit.  These gloves are done in Dodger Blue colors.  It is not a good picture but i do love the colors.  The fingers came out to big but they will be warm nonetheless.

This owl table runner is one of my projects for my Freshman Spring Semester of fabric.  I still have to make my extra credit project for fabric, which is half done.  I do have til the end of the month to finish it.  I have a pair of owls that love to sit on my roof in the middle of the night and hootie hoo at each other.

RIP Peanut

Like

I do not watch the Decorah North Nest (DNN).  This is the first year for a camera on that nest.  It is approximatley 5 miles from THE Decorah nest that everyone knows about.  They had 3 hatches.  If you see the little eaglet in front he was the third hatch.  Look how much bigger the other 2 are, he just was not growing.  He was only 4 days behind the 2nd hatch.  Many became concerned a couple days ago that he was not getting any food and not looking well.  God took him during the night.  Nature sucks in big ways at times and we humans being emotional creatures mourn the loss of something so precious and miraculous.  For those that watch the nest I am sorry for your loss because you grow to love these raptors as you watch them grow and eventually go out on their own.  For the raptor world we mourn the loss of another eagle.  Fly and soar high with the Decorah eagles who have gone to the Rainbow Bridge before you.  Look up D14, he was a character and I think he will teach you the ropes.  RIP little Peanut, may you suffer no more.

Ahoy Mates

It is Camp Loopy time and this time we are going on a trip.  So i am making an apron and a cowl.  Pictures to follow in June.

Project One Yarn – The June Challenge: This project needs to be knit or crocheted between 6/1 and 6/30 (with a photo of the completed project uploaded to our Project One Photo Gallery by 7/1).

Theme: Treasure Maps. It’s important to have a map along when you head off into lands unknown. You pick your destination this month. Would you like to end up in Cable Cove? On Fair Isle? In Brioche Bay? Or in Lace Lagoon? Pick one of these techniques (Cables, Fair Isle, Brioche or Lace) for your June project.  Project must use a minimum of 400 yards in a single project. (A single project meaning one item, not sets of things like a hat/scarf combo, matching shawls for you and a friend, etc. You can, however, do a pair of socks or a pair of gloves as long as they use 400 yards.) To help with pattern decisions, we will count cables OR looks-like-cables, fair isle OR looks-like-fair-isle, brioche OR looks-like-brioche, and lace OR looks-like-lace. That way you don’t have to email and ask “Would this count?”. 

Project One Fabric – The June Challenge: This project needs to be sewn 6/1 and 6/30 (with a photo of the completed project uploaded to our Project One Photo Gallery by 7/1).

Theme: Treasure Maps. Your destination this month is the Fat Quarter Coast! Pick a project that uses a total of 2 yards (or more) of fabric, and contains at least 2 Fat Quarters. (So 2 FQ’s plus 1.5 yards

Mrs Wilson's Knitting Circle

Today's lecture was all about food.  How did food affect the nutrition for the soldiers.  People were asked to give up items such as meat, wheat, and sugar so the soldiers could have it.  Donuts were a popular item during the war.  The WW1 museum has rewritten some of the recipes that were used during the war.  Many were encouraged to eat beans and peanuts.  Some of the old recipes sound good but those such as bean loaf don't.  There is even a recipe for cottage cheese.  If you want to check it out go here:  http://exhibitions.theworldwar.org/war-fare/#/in-the-kitchen.  The pattern we received was for a pair of 3 finger mittens with the thumb and index finger given their own finger, probably for shooting.  The pattern talks of widening and narrowing the fingers instead of increasing and decreasing. I definitely need to try this pattern and see what their worsted weight 100 years ago is equivalent to today.  They also used 2 pair of size 12 needles.
These lectures are free and great information about WW1.  We always get a free pattern and see others working on garments that we all have to have the pattern for.  Thanks to the museum for doing this, I thoroughly enjoy all of them.

Isn't He Beautiful?

Mr goldfinch was up eating for quite awhile this morning and despite my dirty windows he just is so vibrant.  I have seen him at another feeder but not close enough to get a good picture.

The robin has built a nest in this tree this year and not sure why.  She usually builds on the neighbor's front door wreath, maybe she feels safer in the tree in between  us.

I saw dad lizard this afternoon while working in the big flower bed out front.

My dianthias are in super pink bloom, my little rose bush I almost lost has got its second wind and my salvia are blooming.  I love these black velvet pansies.  My zinnias are coming up in the whiskey barrel, one of my fav flowers, getting them started again.

I love this time of year when everything is green and the flowers are having their first bloom and the birds are nesting and singing.