RIP Sue Grafton

If you are not familiar with Sue Grafton she wrote the alphabet books, starting with A is for Alibi. I have read up to S and have the rest I think, if not I will get them. Kinsey Millhone is her main character who is a private investigator.  See if you can find her books you will like them and then try to read them all.  Y was just released and there probably won't be a Z to finish the alphabet.

 https://media.bookbub.com/blog/2017/12/29/mystery-author-sue-grafton-death/

Deja Vue

We had snow again this morning, the last bit from Sunday morning was not all gone. However today was bitter cold and tonight will be close to zero or below.

Many have asked why I hate winter so much.  I was born in LA and then we moved to southern New Mexico.  We had snow once for half a day and it was all melted the next day.  When I was entering Junior High we moved to Des Moines, egads my first experience of winter.  One day mom and I were going somewhere in our  Falcon station wagon. Mom could not stop at the bottom of the hill and we slid out into traffic on a busy street.  When I opened my eyes I looked at a telephone pole.  It scared my mom so bad she has never driven in weather.  It took me until a couple of years ago to ever feel somewhat comfortable driving in weather. 

I don't like the cold, I much prefer the warmer weather being inside and outside and being able to do all I want to like have flowers and leaves on the trees, etc. 

Anyway we had another inch of snow this morning.

Merry Christmas

When I was  a kid Christmas was a yuge deal.  The tree, the cookies, the food, the festivities, the church programs, and then the gifts.  We made lots of cookies and apple santas and we cooked and ate and it was great. We would drive around town and look at the Christmas lights.   Now I go to the Assisted Living Facility where my parents live and we did have a great meal.  I do miss cooking and baking, all the festivities, the game playing, etc.  I hope families today understand how much it means to spend the time together and create memories. Although the activities are gone, the memories are still there.  Maybe someday when we have all gone up yonder we can have that Christmas again.  

First Snow

We had our first snow early this morning. I don't do winter and I don't do snow.  Having been born in  LA and then living in southern NM until I entered Junior High I just don't like it.  There are always lots of wrecks the first snow because somehow people forget in a just a few short months how to drive in it.

I think it is a good day for vegging the Netflix and knitting and let the idiots have at it.

Have You Noticed?

The past few years I have hardly seen Christmas lights on the outside of houses, not many decorations and even the amount of cards I receive have been far and few between.  This year so many of my neighbors have decorated the outside of their houses.  There are lots of lights, blow up ornaments, and those lights that shine on houses with the glitter like look.  I have a large stack of cards I have received as well this year.  Could it be that people feel like celebrating Christmas again?  We don't feel there is such a war on Christmas as in the past?  Are people feeling better about things?  I'm not sure why but there is a feeling of Christmas in the air this year and it feels good. 

An Advent of Gratitude, Who is Joining Me?

Cookies

Today is National Cookie Day.  Who doesn't like cookies?  I am not talking about the computer cookies, but the kind you eat.  We are having our Cookie and Candy sale at church this weekend and I am been on Pinterest trying to find some easy Christmas cookies. I found several recipes and some candy ones as well, so this week my house will smell wonderful.  Good thing too because this morning it is 66 and the rest of the week it will be in the 40's during the day and 20's and below at night. A great chance to warm up the house.  I have 40 pounds of flour, 15 of sugar and 10 of butter and other goodies.  I think I am ready. 

When I was a child on Black Friday mom and I would drag out all the cookie making stuff, get our cookbooks out and the cookie cutters.  We spent the entire day making cookies.  We would get a box and decorate it and fill it with cookies. My dad would then take them to work and the guys would have cookies until the box was empty.  It was a lot of work and a lot of fun.  We had so many decorated sugar cookies.  A couple of years before I retired I did the same thing.  Cookies are always appreciated no matter who they are made for.

So will you join me this week in making some cookies. Perhaps give some away. I always make a treat bag for my trash and recycle guys, and postman.  My neighbors get a tray as well.  Make some cookies, warm up the house and then sit with a cup of coffee and have one or two.

There is a Glow In the House

There was a glow in the house this morning as the sun rose.  The house was all warm with a splash of pink and orange.  While these may look like a sunset they were taken less than an hour ago.

The Christmas Cactus is going crazy this year. she is blooming her little heart out.  I am hoping the pitiful one beside her grows more this next year and will bloom next year.  Mom had almost killed it so I took it home and it is growing.
 

 

National Monopoly Day

Monopoly is my favorite board game.  I have been known to play by myself because no one wants to take the time to play a game.  I have several versions the latest being Cat Monopoly.

Known as one of the most popular board games in the world, the game that was originally based on a board game designed by Elizabeth Magie in 1902, Monopoly has been played by an estimated more than 5 million people since 1935.

So who wants to come over and play a game?

RIP Sophie

Such a beautiful girl.  Gone too soon. My niece's cat.  

Miss Paisley and Miss Rose

All 6 dolls are done, finally.  What a pain they were to make but they are cute and I hope some child will enjoy them for years to come.

I Have a Dilemna

Tomorrow is Halloween and it is Game 6 of the World Series, what am I going to do?  They are on the same day and same time.  I have decided Halloween will take a back seat this year because I can celebrate it every year, but I can't celebrate my Dodgers in the World Series every year.

Miss Lilac

I forgot to post doll #3.

Miss Gertie Blue

Doll #4 is done.  I had to go to Facebook and ask for a name and I combined the ones I got into Gertie Blue.

Better Buttonholes

http://www.whistlinggirlknits.com/tutorials/

You make a garment and need to make buttonholes, we all know the simple one knit 2 together and yarn over and then pick up the yarn over on the way back for a small button.  Or we cast off and then cast on on the way back. But they never quite look right.  Well these buttonholes are beautiful and next time I need some I am going to try this method.  Looks like it will take a few minutes but you don't want a beautiful cabled sweater with crappy looking buttonholes.

New Yarn

I always walk through the yarn aisle in Wal-Mart to see if they have anything marked down to use for my charity projects.  I  had read a post about a new yarn they had.  I did find it in a couple colors and bought a skein of purple to try.  The name is Mainstays and it is acrylic. It says use a size 9 needle but that would be way too large. It is a light worsted almost like a DK. It is scratchy and kind of a limp yarn.  It was cheap at $1.97 for 397 yards.  It was ok but not likely I would buy it again for the scratchiness and gauge it does not produce.  But if you are looking for a cheap yarn for something this would be the one to get.  It is distributed by Wal-Mart but made in you got it China.

Going to the World Series

I would love to be able to go to the World Series but alas I don't have that kind of money.  But my team is going and I will be there watching every game.

New Giraffe?

Is there a new baby on the way for April and Oliver?  Will Tajari have a new sibling in 2019.  Afterall she carries for 15 months which means that would be right after Christmas 2018.  The vet has cleared April for another pregnancy and Oliver got the green light, so will she be showing soon?  At her age I am sure they are concerned for her health, but guess we will see in a few months as to whether we are on baby watch or not.

Miss Butterfly

Miss Butterfly is done.  2 down, 4 to go.

Mandalas for Marinke Project

You may or may not remember I participated in the Mandalas for Marinke project.  Marinke was a young woman who battled depression and it finally got to be too much and she took her life.  She was becoming a name in the crochet world and used crochet to battle her depression.  I don't remember how I came about the project but people were asked to crochet mandalas and send them to a woman in San Fran.  She was to collect them, put them together in a book and have an art exhibit.  Well that day has come.  Depression is a real battle that many face and this is one way to bring it to the forefront and make more people aware that this is a real issue that many deal with, not just someone having a bad day.

Anyway here is the link about the exhibit and book.  I plan on getting a book and wish I could make it to one of the exhibits.

http://www.crochetconcupiscence.com/2017/09/save-the-dates-mandalas-for-marinke-art-show/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+feedburner%2FvrOxc+%28THE+REAL+CC+FEED%29

Miss LadyBug

I was in Half Price Books and found this book on making rag dolls. These look like fun and I talked Paula and Sandy into helping me make them.  To my stash I went to find fabric, ribbon, thread, buttons, and whatever else we need.  Wash the fabric and cut out the pattern for the dolls and clothes.  After 1 1/2 days we have one complete doll done.  These are not for the faint of heart and because of all the pieces they do take a long time.  Saturday we cut out all the pieces, got the yarn for the hair, got the buttons and embroidery thread.  Today we made Miss LadyBug.  They will also have a quilt that matches their clothes.  So our first doll may I present Miss LadyBug.

They're Back

The Decorah Eagle Nest camera was turned back on Saturday.  Mom and dad have been busy bringing in new sticks to build the next back up for next February when Mom will once again lay eggs.  This will be my 7th season to watch the events of the nest and it never gets old.  Come join us and relax while learning about the eagles and watching nature at it's finest.

I Haz A Sad

Today is the last day I can get my chicken salad sandwich at CFA.  I was there yesterday for lunch and I will be there today as well.  They have given us the recipe, but I doubt it will be the same.  First they gave up the cole slaw and replaced it with kale, really who eats that crap?  Now my sandwich is gone, what next the waffle fries?  I won't be at CFA as much as I used to as I need to find something new to eat there.  I was gonna give them up but I can't.  The waffle fries and lemonade are enough to keep me coming back. I do like the southwest salad but the bbq sandwich is a no for me, that bbq sauce is to overpowering.  I may have to try the chicken sandwich.  So for today it is a sad world.  I know they said it was not a big seller but...

D24 and D27

Raptor Resource Project added 2 new photos.

· 9 mins ·

Wonderful news! We have maps from D27 and D24 tonight! D27 is staying down near Postville and D24 is in the Decorah area. While we aren't sure how long D24 has ...been in Decorah, I saw an eagle with a transmitter last week near the junction of Highway 52 and the Upper Iowa river in Decorah. I asked Brett if D27 was in Decorah, and he told me she wasn't. I thought I was looking at a juvenile, but I believe I saw sub-adult D24!

It is wonderful to get postcards from both eagles. Fly high and strong, D24 and D27! D24, don't forget to call now that we've heard from you again!

Why America Needed Trump

Someone tweeted this to me yesterday...I thought it was a good recap on why, otherwise normal people, are not offended by Trump, even though he confirms daily that he is the crudest of all Presidents. When at war, we need a true warrior - most come with unapologetic mouths and Trump is no exception. I'm convinced his economic plan is desperately needed at this time in our young 240 year history. Saving our country is priority 1! A country who is economically superior, can fight off threats more effectively than a weak, broken down country crumbling under its own debt - I'd say 20 trillion is about the breakpoint...how much are you willing to pass down to your children/grandchildren to figure out how they will survive as a country? 🤔.
From a friend..
Trump's lack of decorum, dignity, and statesmanship.
My Leftist friends (as well as many ardent #NeverTrumpers) constantly ask me if I’m not bothered by Donald Trump’s lack of decorum. They ask if I don’t think his tweets are “beneath the dignity of the office.”
Here’s my answer:
We Right-thinking people have tried dignity. There could not have been a man of more quiet dignity than George W. Bush as he suffered the outrageous lies and politically motivated hatreds that undermined his presidency.
We tried statesmanship. Could there be another human being on this earth who so desperately prized “collegiality” as John McCain?
We tried propriety – has there been a nicer human being ever than Mitt Romney?
And the results were always the same. This is because, while we were playing by the rules of dignity, collegiality and propriety, the Left has been, for the past 60 years, engaged in a knife fight where the only rules are those of Saul Alinsky and the Chicago mob.
I don’t find anything “dignified,” “collegial” or “proper” about Barack Obama’s lying about what went down on the streets of Ferguson in order to ramp up racial hatreds because racial hatreds serve the Democratic Party. I don’t see anything “dignified” in lying about the deaths of four Americans in Benghazi and imprisoning an innocent filmmaker to cover your tracks. I don’t see anything “statesman-like” in weaponizing the IRS to be used to destroy your political opponents and any dissent. Yes, Obama was “articulate” and “polished” but in no way was he in the least bit “dignified,” “collegial” or “proper.”
The Left has been engaged in a war against America since the rise of the Children of the ‘60s. To them, it has been an all-out war where nothing is held sacred and nothing is seen as beyond the pale. It has been a war they’ve fought with violence, the threat of violence, demagoguery and lies from day one – the violent take-over of the universities – till today. The problem is that, through these years, the Left has been the only side fighting this war. While the Left has been taking a knife to anyone who stands in their way, the Right has continued to act with dignity, collegiality and propriety. With Donald Trump, this all has come to an end. Donald Trump is America ’s first wartime president in the Culture War.
During wartime, things like “dignity” and “collegiality” simply aren’t the most essential qualities one looks for in their warriors. Ulysses Grant was a drunk whose behavior in peacetime might well have seen him drummed out of the Army for conduct unbecoming. Had Abraham Lincoln applied the peacetime rules of propriety and booted Grant, the Democrats might well still be holding their slaves today. Lincoln rightly recognized that, “I cannot spare this man. He fights.”
General George Patton was a vulgar-talking, son-of-a-bitch. In peacetime, this might have seen him stripped of rank. But, had Franklin Roosevelt applied the normal rules of decorum then, Hitler and the Socialists would barely be five decades into their thousand-year Reich.
Trump is fighting. And what’s particularly delicious is that, like Patton standing over the battlefield as his tanks obliterated Rommel’s, he’s shouting, “You magnificent bastards, I read your book!”
That is just the icing on the cake, but it’s wonderful to see that not only is Trump fighting, he’s defeating the Left using their own tactics. That book is Saul Alinsky’s Rules for Radicals – a book so essential to the Liberals’ war against America that it is and was the playbook for the entire Obama administration and the subject of Hillary Clinton’s senior thesis. It is a book of such pure evil, that, just as the rest of us would dedicate our book to those we most love or those to whom we are most indebted, Alinsky dedicated his book to Lucifer.
Trump’s tweets may seem rash and unconsidered but, in reality, he is doing exactly what Alinsky suggested his followers do. First, instead of going after “the fake media” — and they are so fake that they have literally gotten every single significant story of the past 60 years not just wrong, but diametrically opposed to the truth, from the Tet Offensive to Benghazi, to what really happened on the streets of Ferguson, Missouri — Trump isolated CNN. He made it personal.
Then, just as Alinsky suggests, he employs ridicule which Alinsky described as “the most powerful weapon of all.” ... Most importantly, Trump’s tweets have put CNN in an untenable and unwinnable position. ... They need to respond. This leaves them with only two choices. They can either “go high” (as Hillary would disingenuously declare of herself and the fake news would disingenuously report as the truth) and begin to honestly and accurately report the news or they can double-down on their usual tactics and hope to defeat Trump with twice their usual hysteria and demagoguery. The problem for CNN (et al.) with the former is that, if they were to start honestly reporting the news, that would be the end of the Democratic Party they serve.
It is nothing but the incessant use of fake news (read: propaganda) that keeps the Left alive. Imagine, for example, if CNN had honestly and accurately reported then-candidate Barack Obama’s close ties to foreign terrorists (Rashid Khalidi), domestic terrorists (William Ayers), the mafia (Tony Rezko) or the true evils of his spiritual mentor, Jeremiah Wright’s church.. Imagine if they had honestly and accurately conveyed the evils of the Obama administration’s weaponizing of the IRS to be used against their political opponents or his running of guns to the Mexican cartels or the truth about the murder of Ambassador Christopher Stevens and the Obama administration’s cover-up.
So, to my friends on the Left — and the #NeverTrumpers as well — do I wish we lived in a time when our president could be “collegial” and “dignified” and “proper”? Of course I do. These aren’t those times. This is war. And it’s a war that the Left has been fighting without opposition for the past 50 years. So, say anything you want about this president - I get it - he can be vulgar, he can be crude, he can be undignified at times. I don’t care. I can’t spare this man. He fights for America! *Evan Sayet*

Going to the Playoffs

Craig Johnson

Last night I had the privilege of listening to Craig Johnson for an hour. He is very funny and can tell a story that will have you laughing til your stomach hurts.  Don't know who he is, how about Walt Longmire. If you don't know who Walt Longmire is, you should just stop reading now.  Craig Johnson writes the Longmire books that have turned into 6 seasons on A&E and now Netflix. This will be the final season.  I have not read the books because I was engaged in the TV series and I understand the books and TV shows don't really match up. So I figured when the TV series ends then I will start reading the books.  I have always loved Westerns; the movies, the TV shows and the books.  Walt Longmire is a sheriff in a county in Wyoming. He is a man's man, a real cowboy.  Robert Taylor plays Walt Longmire and is a perfect fit.  The reason he was selected for the role is because the author was asked to look at DVD's of possible actors and Robert Taylor was the last one.  During the pilot show he goes to a woman's house to deliver a death notification. When she opens the door he removes his hat.  That is who Walt is a real gentleman and voila we have Walt Longmire. He is very easy on the eyes as well.

If you have not checked out Longmire it is worth the watching.  But you may have to watch the shows several times as there are many storylines as one main one as to who killed Walt's wife.  I will be sorry to see the show end, but maybe as the rumor goes there will be a TV movie for each book kind of like the Jesse Stone books.

In case you have not looked up  Robert Taylor yet here you go:

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0853079/

Never Forget

http://www.michellesmirror.com/2017/09/a-great-way-to-never-forget-make.html#.Wbaky7pFzIV

Tomatoes and Dragons

I love cherry tomatoes especially the yellow ones. I got this one plant of yellow bells and holy crap batman, it is growing like there is no tomorrow, it is crawling over the brick flower bed onto the front porch. I hope I dont go out the front door one day and it eats me.

The Rose of Sharon is finally blooming, I think she got too much rain and not enough sun.

The fennel and larkspur have got a second wind with the cool temps and rain. I have never grown larkspur but i will again.  I have a new caterpillar.

This was a sunflower until the deer overnight ate all the flowers about to pop out.  That deer sure would taste good on my plate.  

The marigolds are providing for some seeds for next year.  I love marigolds in all the colors and love the smell as well.  This one thinks the grass is greener on the other side.

 

  NO this is not a flower.  I was asked to make this little red dragon for part of a item to be auctioned at the Irish Center Gala last week.  He is a Susan B Anderson pattern.

D27 Whereabouts

Raptor Resource Project

47 mins ·

D27 has been busy! "Our girl" (as Brett sometimes calls her) left the Fountain/Preston area between August 19th and August 23. She traveled southeast to the Mississippi river and headed north, passing several of our peregrine sites on the way! After a quick visit to La Crosse, WI, D27 turned southwest. She is currently located near Caledonia, MN, about 27 miles north of her natal nest.

A lot of birds are on the move right now as migration begins and juvenile birds disperse.We're hearing about peregrines noisily defending bluffs, migrating nighthawks and warblers, and concentrations of red-tailed hawks along roadways and ditches. Interested in what might be heading your way? Check out Cornell's BirdCast for migratory bird forecasts and news: http://birdcast.info/
As always, thanks to Brett Mandernack and the Eagle Valley crew for sharing their data with us! If you'd like to dive a little deeper into D27's travels (or any other eagle we've tracked), visit https://www.raptorresource.org/eagle-map/.
Fly strong, D27! Our little eaglet isn't all grown up yet...but she's sure gaining her wings.

Clouds

It is Eclipse day, laying out in the driveway about the size of a fingernail left of the sun.  It got eerily quiet and the wind completely died. In the distance I hear fireworks and half of my neighbors are out.  It had been cloudy most of the day and then the sun came out.  The more we laid outside the more the clouds came. It got darker and quieter and then bam there is one big ass cloud. Really you could not wait a few more minutes?  I got to see some flares and the cloud move over the sun and the final ring, but nothing else as the sky opened and we barely got in the house before the rain came.  Oh well, we go to see some of it so all is not lost and the food my friends brought well, we had quite the feast.

Just as everyone got there the thermostat died so good thing I have ceiling fans and it is not beastly outside or we would have been eating in the basement.

Hope you go to see the eclipse today cos it was pretty cool.

Learn the Lingo

How many times do you come across an acronym that you just can't figure out.  If you work for the government they have way too many and each agency has their own for the same letters, it is like you need a dictionary to look them all up.  Knitting also has their own lingo, so to keep up with your fellow knitters, her you go:

It's A Girl

Many thought D27 was a girl and sure enough she is.  They put a transmitter on her and now we can watch her. She was my fav this season, the crazy stuff she did like falling out of the nest, the refusal to fledge and her constat squeeeeeing for mom and dad to bring her food.  May you soar the thermals and soar high and may we watch your travels for a long time.

A bit from RRP on her catch and putting the transmitter on her.


Persistence Pays Off - a post by Brett Mandernack about the fitting of D27's transmitter.
It is early August and I have one satellite transmitter (or PTT) yet to deploy on a young eagle. Dave and Ann Lynch spent two solid weeks in late June/early July perfecting their craft of artful presentation of fish to the Decorah fledglings, yet the “kids” instead chose to food-beg loud and often and insist Mom or Dad bring them food at the nest. There was no evidence of any of the fledglings ever picking up a fish during that time. In previous years we’ve had multiple fledglings coming to the same spot – the mulch pile – for some easy meals, and usually within just a few days of watching and waiting for our talented trout tossers to appear.
When visitor attendance diminished at the hatchery in late July, all three fledglings were still being spotted with regularity by several of our sharp-eyed eagle watchers. Hatchery biologist Brian Malaise and I kept in touch often and he and his crew again put fish out in the same spot. Lo and behold, the female, D27, began showing interest and eventually took advantage of these easy meals each morning. One of the males was believed to have also helped himself to the free offerings.
We chose Monday, August 7 to attempt to capture whichever youngster decided to come to bait. My wife Carole, Eagle Valley Technician Ryan Schmitz, and I arrived at Willard Holthaus’s shop by 5:15 AM and quickly set the padam noose trap baited with three nice hatchery trout. Weather was perfect: 58 degrees, mostly clear sky, light wind. All equipment and supplies were laid out in the shop in anticipation of a successful capture. Then we watched and waited. A few adult calls were heard from near the nest tree by 6:05. Then at 6:15 an immature eagle appeared from the west just above treetop height. I speculated it was large enough to be female D27. She landed in the maple tree briefly, then headed toward the mulch pile, looped over that area, perhaps checking out what food might be there, then circled back and landed on the mulch pile. We had placed a small trout atop the mulch pile, which she decided looked like a great appetizer. She rather daintily ate the fish and began eying the three trout just two feet away. She walked inside the padam, grabbed a fish or two in a foot, and tugged at them a few times as we all watched intently. When I was convinced she had a noose around a toe or foot, I gave the call to “GO, GO” and Ryan and Brian sprinted ahead to secure her. She was captured at 6:18, hooded, and taken to the shop where she was weighed (9.48 #) and had several measurements taken. The composite of those measurements revealed she is a small female. The entire process of getting measurements, banding, and fitting of the PTT was fluid and seamless.
Within an hour of capture we were ready to release D27 and begin what is likely the final chapter of the Decorah eagle tracking story that began with our beloved D1 back in 2011. After placing her back on the mulch pile, she quickly oriented herself and flew north alongside the N1 Cottonwood tree to settle along Trout Creek.

More Caterpillars

Today i was looking at my fennel in the whiskey barrel with some larkspur. Hey what is this? I have 2 large caterpillars munching away.  I read the adults munch on fennel and the caterpillars munch on the milkweed.  I have seen nothing on the milkweed but here are these 2 big boys, looking they are ready to cocoon soon. Maybe I will have some butterflies afterall.  On the bottom picture you need to look below the stalk that is pretty bare and there he is.  On the top picture look under the top spead of seeds.

Mrs Wilsons Knitting Circle

Today the lecture was about the silk thread embroidered post cards that were made during the war.  These postcards were either mailed or taken home.  They look like hankies cut and glued on post cards with the back available for a note to send home.  They are beautiful and so delicate in intricate.  I don't think I could do this kind of work.  Th colors of the different countries that were our allies are used in the decorations. There are several butterflies and they have the different flag colors in their design. 

Bob Anderson

Has it been 2 year since Bob Anderson left us to soar with the thermals and those eagle gone to the great beyond.  In case you don't know who he is:  He was the man behind Raptor Resource Program who gave us the Decorah Eagles nest cams.  He also was big on getting the  Peregrine Falcons back into the numbers enough to keep them around for a long time.  He never seemed to sleep and even had a cam of the birds in his back yard. I am sure he is looking down  on the latest 3 and thinking all is good and knowing that he gave us a look into nature that we may never have had.  Thank you Bob for all you did to save these magnificent raptors that you loved so much. 

RIP Sweet Julius

http://www.marylandzoo.org/2017/07/heavy-hearts-maryland-zoo-says-goodbye-julius/

Since the watch of Tajari's impending birth and afterwards there have been many baby giraffe's born.  However Julius had difficulties from birth just a month ago. Every thing was tried to save him but alas nature sucks today and he is gone.  RIP Julius, we loved you for the short time you were with us.

The Left is at it Again

https://townhall.com/columnists/michaelbrown/2017/07/13/untitled-n2354545?utm_campaign=socialflow_townhall&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social

I have two female cats.  One is named Bucky Crookshanks after Bucky Cat in the Get Fuzzy Cartoon and Crookshanks is the name of Hermione's cat in Harry Potter.  One is named Groucho Marx because she has the Groucho mustache.  Bucky is a long haired black cat with a bit of white.  Groucho is a tuxedo cat.

So I have probably misgendered them according to the article. No I did not ask them if they wanted to be spayed, they were the product of stray females who had litters and I did not want to deal with them going into heat and all that goes with that, knowing they were never going to have kittens.  I did not ask them what they wanted to be named either.  When I want them both to come with me to the basement if we have a bad storm, I often say come on girls and they come.  They don't look at me and say why do you call me girl.  They pee like a girl and their DNA is a girl, so therefore, they are girls.  I can't change that.  God make them girl kitties and I am not about to go against what He made.  Those of you who know me know my girls are my children and they are spoiled; but to think they get a say in what happens to them is not gonna happen.  They could care less.  As long as they have food, water, a clean litter box and a lap to sit on and toys to play with and they live inside 24/7 well they don't care. 

Like so much crap the left spews today this is another person who needs some serious help. No wonder the country is in  the mess we are today.  

Edible Eagles

Before PETA comes swooping in these are eagle cookies and they are just too cute. I would have a hard time eating them because of their cuteness.  I am sure if I tried to make them it would be a Pinterest fail, but they would be cute to make.

http://noblepig.com/2010/07/edible-eagles-for-the-4th-of-july/

Bye Bye CFA

Those of you who know me know that I love me some Chick Fil A. I waited years to get one close to my house and now I live in between 2 of them.  But sadly they have caused me to re-think whether I eat there anymore.  First they got rid of the cole slaw and replaced it with a kale salad. Seriously who eats that crap?  We live in the midwest, we eat cole slaw, we don't eat kale, that stuff is nasty.  Now I see today you are getting rid of my Chicken Salad Sandwich, you have gone toooooo far now.  That is the only thing i eat there, the meal with the sandwich, waffle fries and lemonade.  Why do you need to do this, are you catering to some coastal peeps who don't like eating comfort food?  Do you think this will make your die-hard customers happy?  I can't even think about this because it is so wrong.


https://thechickenwire.chick-fil-a.com/Food/Recipe-Chick-fil-A-Chicken-Salad?utm_campaign=chicken_salad_recipe&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=paid-social&utm_content=mox_facebook_post_063017

I"m Not Leaving

The next morning D27 hopped around to a few branches and flew back to the nest.  She appears to not be leaving ever.  Maybe she figures as long as she stays mom or dad will bring her food and she will always be taken care of.  It does not work that way come time this Fall to start working on the nest for next Spring, she will be chased off.  In her own eagle time she will Fledge but until then we can watch her antics and squueeee for food.

She did fledge later this afternoon. Guess she decided her siblings were having too much fun and mom/dad told her to get packing.  So now the empty nest syndrome sets in until next February when we have a new batch of eggs.

Fly high and soar the thermals 26, 27, and 28. May you live a long eagle life.

Eagle OverBoard

This evening d27 was playing in the nest, practicing hovering and oops went overboard.  Those pesky crib rails are gone and there is not much to keep from going over the edge of the nest.  About 1:40 on the video you can see her go over.  Boots on the ground found her in the nest tree several feet below on a branch.  She is ok, but needs to get flying to get back to the nest.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7dBJzGRcFc

2 Fledged, 1 To Go

D28 fledged this morning.  That leaves D27 left.  They say males fledge first, so is 27 a female?  Be safe D's and soar high. 

First Fledge and New Camera

It is that sad time of year when the eagles are beginning to branch, hover and actually fledge.  D26 fledged today. Congratulations.  Also there is a new camera at the hatchery that we can watch them fish and learn more life lessons.  It is almost time to say goodbye to D26,27,28 and wish them safe soaring and riding the thermals.  We will miss you.

BTW Taj turned 2 months old yesterday.

WWKIP

Today is World Wide Knit in Public Day.  Besides knitting at the WW1 museum for Mrs Wilson's Knitting Circle the Fiber Follies knit group at the Irish Center had Reuben sandwiches with horseradish (boy were they yummy) and knit at Browne's Irish Market. We now have a sign and embroidered shirts to take when we go somewhere as a group.  It was a fun day knitting with friends.  I hope you knit somewhere in public today.

Mrs Wilson's Knitting Circle

Our lecture today was all about the jobs women had in WW1 from phone operator to nurses and doctors to the donut girls to working in the munitions plant to just about anything.
The women who worked in the munitions plant did have gloves to wear and there was no OSHA to protect them.  Because they used sulphur in the ammunition their hands turned yellow and when the children were born the babies were yellow, hence the canary babies.  Some of them made up to 12 pounds a week and many thought it was terrible a woman would make that much money. 
Many of the women went to work and left the oldest child in charge to mind the little children.  The women would work all day and then stand in line for food and gas that was rationed.  They then went home to prepare the food and take care of the children and the house because their husband was off to war.  With my allergy to sulphur I could not work in the munitions plant but I think i would have loved to be a donut girl. 
Women were thought to be the weaker sex and therefore needed to be protected, but yet they basically worked themselves to death working a job and taking care of the kids and house.  Definitely not a weaker sex.
Some of the women had pekinese dogs.  They used to groom them 3 times a day and weave the fur into the wool the soldiers wore.  When the men had sores the wool was too scratchy so the dog fur helped make it softer for them to wear.
Knitting was also a big part of what women did to make clothing items for the soldiers.  Even though women were thought to the weaker sex they played many a big role in helping out with the war.

50 Days Already

Has it been 50 days since Tajari was born already?  This is a great article and what a cutie he is.  He is already 6'6" tall and getting taller by the minute. I love it when he skips around, he is just so stinking cute. 

http://www.inquisitr.com/4267662/celebrating-50-days-of-tajiri-baby-giraffe-is-a-nod-to-his-dad-oliver-says-jordan-patch/

I Am No Longer Safe Even In My Own Home

As we progress into 2017, I want to thank you all for your educational Facebook posts over the past year. I am totally screwed up now and have little chance of recovery.
I can no longer open a bathroom door without using a paper towel, nor let the waitress put lemon slices in my ice water without worrying about the bacteria on the lemon peel.
I can't sit down on a hotel bedspread because I can only imagine what has happened on it since it was last washed.
I have trouble shaking hands with someone who has been driving because the number one pastime while driving alone is picking one's nose.
Eating a little snack sends me on a guilt trip because I can only imagine how many gallons of trans fats I have consumed over the years.
I can't touch any woman's handbag for fear she has placed it on the floor of a public toilet.
I must send my special thanks for the email about rat poo in the glue on envelopes because I now have to use a wet sponge with every envelope that needs sealing.
ALSO,now I have to scrub the top of every can I open for the same reason.
I can't have a drink in a bar because I fear I'll wake up in a bathtub full of ice with my kidneys gone.
I can't eat at KFC because their chickens are actually horrible mutant freaks with no eyes, feet or feathers.
I can't use cancer-causing deodorants even though I smell like a water buffalo on a hot day.
Thanks to you, I have learned that my prayers only get answered if I forward an e-mail to seven of my friends and make a wish within five minutes.
Because of your concern, I no longer drink Coca Cola because it can remove toilet stains.
I no longer buy fuel without taking someone along to watch the car, so a serial killer doesn't crawl in my back seat when I'm filling up.
I no longer use Cling Wrap in the microwave because it causes seven different types of cancer.
And thanks for letting me know I can't boil a cup of water in the microwave anymore because it will blow-up in my face, disfiguring me for life.
I no longer go to the cinema because I could be pricked with a needle infected with AIDS when I sit down.
I no longer go to shopping centers because someone will drug me with a perfume sample and rob me..
I no longer answer the phone because someone will ask me to dial a number for which I will get a huge phone bill with calls to Jamaica, Uganda, Singapore and Uzbekistan.
Thanks to you I can't use anyone's toilet but mine because a big black snake could be lurking under the seat and cause me instant death when it bites my butt.
And thanks to your great advice I can't ever pick up a dime coin dropped in the car park because it was probably placed there by a sex molester waiting to grab me as I bend over.
I can't do any gardening because I'm afraid I'll get bitten by the Violin Spider and my hand will fall off.
If you don't send this e-mail to at least 144,000 people in the next 70 minutes, a large dove with diarrhea will land on your head at 5:00 p.m. tomorrow afternoon, and the fleas from 120 camels will infest your back, causing you to grow a hairy hump.
I know this will occur because it actually happened to a friend of my next door neighbor’s ex mother-in-law's second husband's cousin's best friend's beautician!
Oh, and by the way...
A German scientist from Argentina, after a lengthy study, has discovered that people with insufficient brain activity read Facebook posts with their hand on the mouse.
Don't bother taking it off now, it's too late.
P. S. I now keep my toothbrush in the living room, because I was told by a Facebook post that water splashes over 6 ft. out of the toilet.

Reviving the Gym Clothes

When I was in Junior High we had these gym clothes, they were bright blue and one piece.  They were a bitch to iron as they were cotton and one piece. If you had to pee you better get a head start trying to get out of that thing before you already went. Now men are getting into the gym clothes of yesteryear.  Really who thinks these are attractive.  What man would be caught dead wearing these?

http://www.esquire.com/style/mens-fashion/news/a55081/romper-for-men-romphim/

Camp Loopy June

It is time for Camp Loopy again.  This summer we are experiencing dinosaurs.  When I was a kid I had several blue and purple plastic dinosaurs that were several inches tall.  I loved them.  So I am using a potholder pattern and expanding it to a rug in lemon yellow for my main bathroom upstairs.  Go to the Loopy Ewe blog and check out Camp Loopy and join in.  It is a lot of fun.  You get put in a group to share your virtual camp with your group and get lots of great patterns to make in the future.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/fanciful-flower-potholders

Hostas

The hostas are having a great Spring.  The one is out of control.  This fall I may to take the day lily out and put it some place else and the small hosta on the other side of the monster may need moving as well.  I have one out front but the rest are in this one bed.  One thing about hostas is the weeding is pretty non-existent.