Groucho Marx

 Groucho would have been 19 next March.  She was a feral and Bucky's aunt and Smudgey's half sister.  She was the sweetest girl and the minute I sat down she was on my lap.  Did not want to be picked up and carried but she would sit on my lap 24/7.  She had lost quite a bit of weight down to 4 pounds and yet acted like she was starving but lately she was not eating much, she had no teeth, and was not drinking as much water.  She had constipation issues and the ER vet said her muscles just could not get it all pushed out.  The past week she was very restless, pacing around the main level, circle after circle.  Sunday night she would not settle down, finally I laid down on the couch and she got on my chest and went to sleep.  Tuesday morning when I got home from an appointment I could not find her and finally found her hiding, I know what that means, and I scooped her up to the vet. It was time.  She was my second longest next to Garfield who was almost 21.  It is so quiet in the house even though BigBoy is very talkative but still when you had 3 one morning and now you have one, it is so quiet.  He is crying and wandering and looking for her and his is very clingy which is not like him at all.  So for now it is just one cat and I would kind of like it to stay that way.  Those of you with multiple pets know how much time it takes.  I know he has pancreas issues and his numbers bounce all over the place but he is mine as long as I can keep him.

It sucks to lose a pet when you have them for so long.  She is my 8th cat to be in the pet cemetery.  I am sure one day someone may dig up my back yard and wonder what the heck I was doing.

So for now God and my dad will take care of her til I can go home and be will all my kitties.  RIP Groucho Marx, mommy loves you and I miss you and so does your brother.

Lost and Found

 I was at the vet today with Groucho who crossed the Rainbow Bridge. While there I showed a picture to the receptionist of Chuffles, the little gray tom I found and one of the vet techs said hey that is my friends cat.  Sure enough Oliver came from a home about 10 miles away.  It seems he may have got out in the garage and up into her car and when his human mom was in my neighborhood he got out.  So he is home and I am sad and happy for them. 

Tough to go from 3 to 1 cat all in one day and losing Smudgey 2 weeks ago.  So for now I am down to one pet and it has been 40 years since I have just had one.

Almost Christmas

 I wore this outfit last year as I only had a few and it is kind of my ugly Christmas sweater.  Anyway it is cold and of course since I live in the warehouse it is even colder, so I am all bundled up with a week from Christmas.  I hear I am getting a very pretty outfit next week for Christmas.  Hope everyone is ready for the big day.

Chuffles

 Meet Chuffles.  I knew the minute he entered the house he was probably not going to leave cos I think my purpose in life is to take care of the stray cats that come in my yard.  He chuffles when he snuggles and boy does he like to snuggle. He is very lovable and a chunker.  He does not like can food, gonna have to work on that and needs to go on a diet.  His legs are short and while his face looks somewhat fox like he looks like a munchkin breed.  I know someone can still claim him as I have posted him on a couple lost pet websites.  But if no one does well he is mine.  Now to get him acclimated in the house with the other two. I have never had 2 toms at the same time before. Wish me luck.

Is There a Sign on My Roof?

 Smudgey will have been gone 2 weeks tomorrow.  I know Groucho's days are probably numbered. So I was just going to settle for having BigBoy for as long as I can as I know he has health issues.  Well I was looking out the dining room window and saw a cat in the cul de sac, close to my curb, there were lots of cars as the neighbor was having a party.  I thought it was the neighbor cat who often eats at my house cos they are awful pet parents, so I put a can of food out.  She always comes running when I do but this cat did not. OH that is not the neighbor cat, he started crying loud like he was scared to death.  Oh crap, I went and he let me pick him up so I carried him to the front porch and put him down thinking he belonged in the neighborhood and was just out so I thought he would eat and go home. Nope as soon as I opened the door in he ran and finally hid under the couch.  Now what do I do, I got a not so good picture and posted it in the HOA webpage and the lost pet page in hopes someone had lost their cat.  He did eat a bit ago and my two are hiding not knowing what is going on.  

I need to decide what to do do I keep him if no one claims him? or do I take him to a shelter?  

Eve and Mary

 

Take a few minutes to really look at this picture, bringing together of two very well-known women of the Bible - Eve and Mary. Seeing them together doesn't make sense, they aren't even mentioned in the same BOOK of the Bible. Or are they?

Not by name, at least.

First let's look at Eve - the despair on her face. It's the face of the knowledge of sin and shame. The forbidden fruit, still in the clutches of her hand. The serpent, still with his tight grip coiled around her leg - the same evil that holds so many of us captive today. And her hand outstretched....

To Mary.

Sweet Mary, obedient Mary. Could you imagine being a teenager and being told that you would give birth to the Messiah? See the compassion on her face as she gently comforts the ashamed Eve. And that serpent that once held Eve and mankind captive? Just like Genesis 3 prophesied, the baby she is carrying will crush the head of the serpent. All because of the One thing that she and Eve have in common.

The Babe in Mary's womb.

The Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.

Jesus.

Eve and Mary... two women you wouldn't think to talk about in the same sentence, yet two women whose stories were woven together from the very beginning. From the fall to glory, let us not forget this Christmas that we are celebrating the beginning of redemption from the fall in the garden so many years ago. The King has come, and salvation is here.

"Oh death, where is your sting? Oh hell, where is your victory?"

This beautiful piece is from From Blacktop to Dirt Road

Plan B

 So my dresser was going to get started on the next phase of my house, however she can no longer find those boxes so instead of a camper she is going to make me a house out of plastic canvas based on the camper plans.  Everyone needs a Winter project, right.  So she is off making lists of rooms, what goes in each room, etc.  I can hear her brain sizzling with ideas.  She thinks she will turn my apartment into a she shed which she was gonna build anyway, so a few changes and that will be done. And oh I need my Jeep first.

Stay tuned.

RIP Smudgey

 Smudgey was doing the squat and pee thing I know what that means,she had thrown up quite a bit and I could tell we needed to head to the ER vet.  What I did not know is she would not be coming home to live with me any more.  I know she had been a feral at least 10 years, been inside almost 2 years and the vet thought she was around 15 which is a long time for a feral.  I fed her when she was outside, loved her and gave her shelter.  At her annual review earlier in the year her kidney numbers looked a bit off so we changed her diet, etc.  A month ago she was doing the squat and pee and her numbers were up a bit.  Well tonight her kidney numbers were off the chart.  

I know she was not long for this earth as her coat was getting matted and dry, she had trouble walking and figured her time was coming, I did not expect it today.  The vet said we could do fluids and meds and on and on or I could let her go.  Her days were getting shorter and shorter.  I opted to let her go because I did not want to stress her out anymore than she was and really what would be her quality of life.

She pretty much spent all day upstairs on my bed and only came down when she was hungry.  However the past 2 weeks she spent most of her time parked on my chair right beside me. Did she know?  Did she decide she needed to spend as much time with me as she could, she always slept with me.  She would have to have her head rubbed for about 20 minutes before she settled down on her blanket and then she would be awake at 3am for another snuggle and if I was not up by 5 she was insistent.  

She was the sweetest girl and I had no idea when she came in how much of a snuggler she was.  She was my last feral I brought in.  

I loved her when she was outside and worried about her and was overjoyed when she finally came in.  

I know my dad and God are watching over her for me.

I love you Smudgey and I will see you again some day.

I May Never Be A Lap Cat

 

I may never be a lap cat,

or one who comes when called.

I may resist the hand that tries to touch

and some may think I’m flawed.

I may prefer my freedom

to your warm and cozy house

I may reject a bowl of finest foods

for the chance to catch a mouse.

But the box you put out for me,

Feels safe and warm and dry.

And I raise my eyes to thank you

when I see you walking by.

I eat the food you give me

I listen to your voice

I may never be a lap cat

but thank you for offering me the choice.

One day I’ll see the winter,

one day I’ll feel the rain,

I may grow old not knowing

there is freedom from this pain

I know you’ve tried to help me

and although my days will end

I may never be a lap cat

but I know you are my friend

(Melanie Nordberg)

(Artwork Molly Devlin)

59 Years

 59 years ago I was in 3rd grade. We were making tea towels for our mothers for Christmas. I had just stamped mine with a potato painted red. I remember the teacher was called out of the room and we kept working. She came back crying. She told us to put our name on our tea towel with a pencil and leave everything and go home. When I got home my dad was home (being a federal employee) they were sent home. He sat me down and explained that the President had been killed. I did not really understand what all that meant but we did not go back to school until the next week. When we did go back we immediately went to the auditorium and the Principal explained what happened. My mom never used her tea towel and I have it now. RIP JFK.

 

 

I Sing Because I'm Happy

 3 years ago today I interned my dad.  His favorite song was His Eye is on the Sparrow.  We sang this Sunday I totally lost it.  I love this version.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7Pk5YMkEcg

3 Years

 3 years ago today my dad went home.  12 days earlier he fell and broke his hip.  Surgery was postponed due to a UTI and when surgery happened he never came out of it, he was moved to ICU for 4 days and then the doctor said those dreaded words, there is nothing else we can do but move him to Hospice where they can take care of him until.....

I remember going in a room in the ICU and screaming til I could not scream anymore.  How could it be that my dad was going to die soon.  We had a wonderful day before going to the dentist, lunch, and the cardiologist.  I know God gave me that day.  

There are days the ache is so bad I can not function, he was my parent.  I followed in his footsteps, I was his mini me, we loved baseball (him Yankees me Dodgers) and chocolate.  We discussed and cussed the problems of the world and had many long conversations on just anything.  

There are times I see things and I know it is a sign from him.  I talk to him daily and I miss him more than I can say.  I love you dad and someday we can watch baseball again and eat chocolate together.

Halloween 2022

 I went as a mermaid this year.  My dresser brought a bucket with DumDum suckers in it for people to take.  When she was dressing me she noticed 2 of the pumpkins by the tree on the right were missing, really someone stole them?  WHY?  So from now on everything outside will be attached to whatever "ground" will be laid down.  Some people.  Anyway hope you had a great Halloween.

Pet Gala

 Got word that this years monetary donations at the Gala were the most so far. That is good because that means more money for scholarships for low income people to be able to get the training and have better jobs.  For all the crap we went through it was worth it just for this.  Thanks PJ for being a great dog to wear the outfit.

It is Almost that Time

 I got a new yard today, turning it into Fall.  Grass is pretty much dead due to no rain, flowers got froze the other night and it is almost Halloween.  My outfit is a simple orange straight dress and my sweater is in the way.  Charlotte must have visited overnight cos there is a huge spider web over my house.  My costume for Halloween is done but I have not seen it yet.  What are you going as?

PS:  Mary thanks for stopping by one of my other fav ex-employees.  Eleanor I hope you made it safely.

October the month of Halloween

 I got some decorations and a new rug and will get more as the month goes on. I also understand my yard is getting a do over and oh my model texted me a picture of my Halloween costume so far, too cute.

 

Why yes that is a spider on my headband and it glitters, love it.

Pet Gala

 So I did not go to the Pet Gala. My dresser had two nightmares about me going and decided to just play it safe and leave me at home. Probably best, one was a dog ripped me to shreds and the other I got stolen, so.  I have seen the video and pictures and sure wish I could have gone but....

Piper Jo was the fan fav and she took to her dress like she had always worn clothes. All in all my dresser had a good time and dinner was good and she got her chocolate cake.  

More Outfits for September 22

 I do love these sweaters and my dresser loves to make them, imagine crocheting with those little metal crochet hooks and thread used for doilies, but she has a ton of patterns all written and good thing I will never grow.

 

I do love my orange clothes best.  

Dress Rehearsal

 Well took the outfit for the Pet Gala today and no dog. Really some people are just rude.  SO at least we had a dry run through.  Each dog gets music to strut their stuff by and walk the 16 feet or so turn and go back.  Dinner will be afterwards.  I hope the outfit fits since we did not get any fittings cos they live 30 minutes away, so do I.  The whole thing has soured me on this and I do not care anymore.  The outfit is done and I will go and finish it, but.... I am really peeved over the way the parents are not cooperating.  I am not responsible for how the dog acts since she does not wear clothes. I did my part and the rest is on them.

Some people.....

My First Birthday

 I had my first birthday on the 17th.  Of course we had a celebration there was cake.  Well a crocheted cake but it had lots of fiber, hahaha.  I got a new outfit with a crown and a sign and well it was a great day.  OH look there are gifts and there is LightBulb my kitty. 

My outfit the week before was kind of sedate and my dresser is trying to find some shoes to better match my outfits, i think she said something about spray painting some of the shoes she has.  I really need some brown shoes cos she made the cutest brown sweater/dress/beret outfit but what color do i wear with them?

 I got a new rug and afghan for September.  

Last week the dog outfit was coming along, just need to sew on the sequins and the dress rehearsal is Saturday, I am not going but there will be lots of pictures.  

 

 

RIP Queen Elizabeth

 Sitting here with my coffee watching the procession for the final event of the Queen's funeral.  While the whole thought of a Monarchy disgusts me, I admire the Queen.  Can you imagine at the age of 10 finding out someday you will be Queen and then at age 25 that actually comes about.  She has been the Queen all of my life and it will be strange not to see her on the news or hear about her.  She was a strong woman, and in her 96 years she was never allowed to live a normal life.  No matter how you feel about the Monarchy she was a woman little girls should have looked up to.  She saw a lot in her life and had a lot to deal with. She was strong but had that fun side to her which showed everyone once in a while.  When 9/11 hit here she grieved with us.  

I know blue was her fav color but I always thought she looked best in her yellow suit.  Her style was simple but elegant and I never saw her without her pocketbook.  I recently found out she did knit and crochet and hope she actually had time to sit and zone out her world and just relax and enjoy the craft.  

RIP Queen Elizabeth you have deserved the rest.

House Finch

 

Interesting House Finch Facts! 

1. The House Finch was originally a bird of the western United States and Mexico. In 1940 a small number of finches were turned loose on Long Island, New York, after failed attempts to sell them as cage birds (“Hollywood finches”). They quickly started breeding and spread across almost all of the eastern United States and southern Canada within the next 50 years.

2. House Finches were introduced to Oahu from San Francisco sometime before 1870. They had become abundant on all the major Hawaiian Islands by 1901.

3. The red of a male House Finch comes from pigments contained in its food during molt (birds can’t make bright red or yellow colors directly). So the more pigment in the food, the redder the male. This is why people sometimes see orange or yellowish male House Finches. Females prefer to mate with the reddest male they can find, perhaps raising the chances they get a capable mate who can do his part in feeding the nestlings.

4. House Finches feed their nestlings exclusively plant foods, a fairly rare occurrence in the bird world. Many birds that are vegetarians as adults still find animal foods to keep their fast-growing young supplied with protein.

5. The oldest known House Finch was a female, and at least 11 years, 7 months old when she was recaptured and rereleased during banding operations in New York in 1985, the same state where she had been banded in 1973.

 

This year momma finch hatched 9 eggs and the yard is full of these beautiful little birds.  This was her 3rd year of a nest on my front porch.  It is so much fun to watch.  

 

 

 

 

Pet Gala

 So the top is done for the gala outfit for Piper Jo, next comes the skirt.

My double just sent texted me a picture of my hat, wow, hope I do not topple over. I can not wait to see my dress.

D27 and D36

 From RRP:

D27: Home for the Fall!

In late July, D27 sent a postcard from just inside Manitoba: the farthest north that any of our Decorah eagles have traveled. She started her fall migration on August 10, traveling 79.1 miles SSW to an unnamed lake 58 miles ENE of Sachiago Lake. After several short hops of 30 or so miles, she flew 145 miles south between August 16 and August 18, and an incredible 338 miles between August 19 and August 22! She flew within 3.9 miles of her natal nest on August 29th and is currently hanging out in the Postville area, about 18 miles south. Since January 1 of this year, she has traveled an incredible 3,190 miles. That is a lot of wind beneath her wings!

While looking at D27's map, I got curious about her daylight length profile. We know that daylight length pulls a lot of strings in a bird’s body, and we also know that D27’s daylight length changes quite a bit with the seasons and her latitude.

- Between November 15, 2021 through February 1, 2022, D27 experienced less than 10 hours of daylight per day.

- D27 was above the 50th parallel from June 1 though August 19. She averaged 16 hours and 13 minutes of daylight while she was there: an increase of 39% over her solar minimum. Her solar maximum occurred on June 23, when she experienced 16 hours and 55 minutes of day.

- D27 did not experience true night from June 1 through August 9. Between August 9 and August 19, true night went from 1 minute, 3 seconds to 3 minutes, 33 seconds.

Changes in latitude might mean changes in attitude, but they also mean changes in daylight length! Between August 12 and August 22, D27 lost over an hour of daylight as she moved from the 54th parallel to the 45th parallel. The days will remain shorter in Decorah until the fall equinox on Thursday, September 22.

D36: The Iowa Staycation Continues!

How is D36 doing? Our little homebody is continuing his Iowa staycation, wandering back and forth between the Turkey River and Ten-Mile Creek. Do subadult male eagles travel less than their female counterparts? It’s tough to say. I checked D36’s logs and he’s traveled 2096 miles so far this year: quite a bit less than older half-sibling D27! However, he traveled more miles overall in his first two years compared to hers.

- From September 1, 2020 to September 1, 2022, D36 traveled about 7,950 miles.

- From September 1, 2017 to September 1, 2019, D27 traveled about 7,830 miles. She’s flown an incredible 19,199 miles since we started tracking her on August 9 of 2017: far more than I’ve flown in my lifetime! We'll see if D36 catches up.

Holiday Already

 So here we are school has barely started and we have a day off.  It is just weird everyone trying to get back to normal when we may never get back to normal.

Oh well I have things to look forward, my birthday is the 17th and I have a new outfit and I think I spied a cake somewhere and a new cupcake recipe to share cupcakes with everyone.  My outfit this week is kind of a weird yarn but it is crinkly and I love it.  It is a bit chilly in my classroom so I asked for a sweater and got this cool shrug, it is just right.  Look at those clear shoes, they are fun, people think I do not have shoes on.  HAHAHA

I spied my muslin sample for my gala dress being made today, I need to find the perfect orange shoes for it.  Now to see what my hat will look like, can't wait to see it.

Hope everyone has a good week.

Hot Dogs and Buns

 When I was in HS I made my own clothes, you could get cotton fabric 5 yards for a dollar, patterns were about a dollar and thread and zipper and you had a new dress for about $5.  Fabric came in 36" and 45" width and the pattern had yardage for both widths.  Today buying fabric and patterns are a lot like buying hot dogs and buns.  Why they do not make the same number of hot dogs and buns in a package is beyond me.

Now fabric is 42" wide instead of 44/45" as the pattern states.  So when are patterns going to come into the new fabric width size?  I have got to the point where I buy an extra yard of fabric and hope I have enough.  That adds more money to the project and they wonder why people are not making their own clothes anymore.  Well many do not want the extra cost of $10-$15 a yard for just cotton and hoping they have enough or do the math to try and figure out how much more they need.  Because we all know that cotton shrinks a lot and you never get the true yardage you paid for after you wash it.

I will continue to make my own clothes because I get the fit I want and need and I get to pick something that does not make me look like an old lady or a 20 year old.  Hey pattern designers get with the program and fix the pattern yardages to match the fabric width.

School has Started

 Boy it is hard to get back into the groove of getting up and getting ready to go to school.  But it will be ok in a couple of weeks when I get used to it. I hope everyone had a great first week at school.  Next week I am going to be kind of subdued, too bad my orange daisy with a face button did not show. So a simple dress with vest and of course orange shoes.  

My dresser made a mock dog body, it is pretty funny but what are you going to do when you need to make sure the outfit fits for the Pet Gala.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Look what my dresser go today, too many things in the book that can be used for me. I am a lucky lightbulb.

First Day of School

 Can you believe school starts Monday already, where did the summer go.  You know I had to pick an orange outfit so I picked this dress which is just too much fun, all those colors.  I was gonna do orange shoes but these lime green screamed at me.  My backpack is full of books, paper, pencils, crayons, a calculator, etc.  

This fabric is more orange than it looks but this will be my gala dress. My dresser has enough that she is thinking of making her dress out of this too, we can match. 

Eleanor we missed you today. 

A Sad Day

 One of my favorite employees is leaving. I totally understand why, but I will miss her a lot.  She always dropped by to see what new outfit I was wearing, found cute little things for my apartment and yard and well, I am sad.  

Eleanor please make sure you stay in touch with my dresser so I know how you are and if you can stop by once in a while and see me.  

Why is it so hard to figure out what to wear on my first day of school, next Monday?  Off to figure it out and yes it will be orange.  

Meeting Piper Jo

 We got to meet Piper Jo yesterday at work.  She is smaller than she looks in the pictures and so full of energy and cute.  We had set out 4 sets of fabric, trim, etc for the parents to look at.  I really wanted the black and white with a splash of orange but they chose a different color.  I have to admit the fabric with the white paper wrapper really did look good close up to the dogs colorings.  

Unfortunately Piper does not like bows or hats or anything on her head cos I so badly wanted to have a hat so i could ride in the top of it.  Fear not though my dresser is taking me to the gala and I think she will do me in black and white and orange.  She is going in her LBD and her monarch butterfly shawl.  So we need to match.

Piper has so much energy she made me need a nap just watching her.  She also has her tail up on her back most of the time so that really changes what the skirt will look like so she can throw her tail up and over the skirt.

Anyway now to get some drawings done, get some thoughts going and start on this. It has to be done by September 24th for dress rehearsal.

Meanwhile I am going to pack my backpack this next week along with pick out my First Day of School outfit cos it starts here on the 22nd.  I am just vegging in a yellow top and purple shorts this week with yellow ballet slippers. My dresser forgot to get a picture.

Stay tuned for further Piper events.

Pet Gala

 I am so excited I am going to the Pet Gala (even though I have a cat, hope LightBulb does not mind).   It is like the Met Gala only this one is for dogs.  Dogs get dressed up and walk the red carpet.  The Grooming Project will be the beneficiary of this year's gala.  They assist low income families in obtaining jobs in dog grooming.  Anyway my dresser is helping dress a Shichon.  Of course being at Scraps there is a ton of fabric, trim, etc to choose from.  Since Scraps is dressing a dog then I of course must go along and report back.  So I have yet to figure how I am going down the runway in my outfit but we have til October to figure it all out. Suggestion is I ride on a hat worn by the dog owner, ride in a pocket on the dog, somehow get fastened to the back of the dog but the cape is a problem for that and how do i get fastened on.  Anyway, lots of white and orange preparations to be done.  Stay tuned for pictures of the dog, me and the work going into this outfit.

Good thing my dresser has my outfits done til my birthday mid September or she would not be able to sleep.  And of course there is Halloween coming up and what will I be this year, leaning towards a mermaid, or?????

Outifts

 My coloring book outfit, notice the sash has crayons on it.  It was fun to watch the kids come by, pick up crayons and color books.  I hope they had a fun week coloring, I know I did.

My outfit this week is pretty blah, just hanging out relaxing because school starts soon and then it will be busy again.

 

 I am off to start packing my backpack for school, so many items to choose from and what am I going to wear on the first day, something orange of course (my fav color) and I have several pieces to choose from.

How Does This Happen

 Remember I wrote about my Vinca in the pot that died earlier in the year but the seeds sprouted.  They were a bright pink bloom and last year I had one white bloom.  So this year I have the bright pink, a white and the small bloom in front is a light pink.  I have no idea why this is happening but it is pretty cool that I have new color of blooms from one color.  We shall see how long the new plants last, hopefully another 4 years.  

Who Am I?

 So let me go back almost a year ago and explain how I came to be.  Someone decided the store needed a mascot.  Since we collect used craft, school and office supplies, and various other things and re-sell them, the whole purpose of the store is you walk in see all the wonderful things at cheap prices and voila the light bulb goes off.  So I became a light bulb.  After much trial and error I came about.  There is a flat Scrappy for people to color and take with them and post pictures and there is a somewhat flat felt kit you can make.  But there is only one of me, well 2 but one is only my model that my dresser uses to make sure all my outfits will fit.  

Sometimes I wish I had hair there is so much more my dresser could do with me, but alas light bulbs do not have hair, so she uses hats and headbands to try and cover my huge head.

It all started last year in October when my dresser was asked to make me a Halloween costume, she had many ideas but nothing worked because I only have a 2" long body to work with.  Once the bug hit she decided I needed an outfit for every month centering on the holiday, so I became a turkey for November, had an ugly xmas sweater for December, had a snow outfit for January and so on.

Because I kept getting moved a lot around the store my dresser thought i needed a place to be, so my studio apartment happened, 2 solid weeks of drawings, measuring, painting, etc and my place came about.  I am enclosed in a box so things can not be stolen ( the 2 birds in the feeder were stolen this summer) and I could still be seen.

I have a Siamese cat named Light Bulb (duh).  The next big project is for me to get a Jeep followed by a camper, she shed, and a 2nd floor with a bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom.

I got a swimming pool this summer, you may have seen me kicking back on Facebook or perhaps Instagram.  My dresser is not on Instagram but you can catch me periodically on her FB page or ScrapsKC FB page. 

Stay tuned for my further dressings, events, etc.

My model only has the body but my dresser knows how long the arms and legs are.

Me chillaxing in my pool which is really a very large coffee mug with styrofoam peanuts in the bottom with a piece of foam covered in scrapbook paper for the water.  

(Side Note:  my dresser has been wanting to do another yarn bomb so this is her somewhat version of yarn bombing, satisfies the need for her brain to be be busy)

National Coloring Book Day

 So August 2nd is National Coloring Book Day.  Since I live at ScrapsKC my "dresser" decided to make it a day to try and sell crayons and color books and just do something fun.  So she made me a yellow dress and headband (picture to come later) and found a Smurf Coloring Book ( her dad's favorite comic) and made a basket with crayons and boxes of crayons (these are buttons in her stash--you should see her stash in her craft room. I could get lost in there and have so much fun).  Anyway I think I am going to take over her blog as she does not post much anymore or maybe I can prod her to post more.

N3

 So we all know Mom Decorah and DM2 built N3 out of camera range. Well looks like they need to be building N4. No one has seem them so let's hope they are ok.

N3 the New Nest that Mom Decorah and DM2 built over behind Walmart and the Nest that Benny Bruhling and I found back on December 16, 2020 has blown down completely last Saturday night in the bad storm they had!! I have mixed emotions. I'm Happy it blew down. It was a dead tree and not when there were eaglets in the nest! Thank God! But sadden because we don't know where Mom and DM2 are. Benny and I have already been looking for a possible 4th Nest being built by Mom Decorah and her Mate DM2 and we will continue to look for their new nest as we go forward. The hard thing is identifying once you find a new nest, is it really Mom Decorah and DM2 or just another couple? So, time will tell. I pray that we can find them even if it's just for peace of mind knowing that they are okay! But who knows how this will turn out maybe the Nest will be accessable and possibly a Live Cam in the Future!! Wouldn't that be something!!

Bob Anderson

 Hard to believe he has been gone 7 years already.  We all know he is soaring high with the eagles.  Thanks to him we got a chance to witness miracle after miracle with all the eggs Mom laid and hatched and nurtured into adult eagles.  Thanks Bob for the memories and all the work you did.

https://www.raptorresource.org/about-us/remembering-bob-anderson/?fbclid=IwAR1pipnu-dBqGm4lhWA8Ngjo19OBPhPF4O4Jjr049vERx9afZtf0LGgQGz4

D27 and D36 Send Postcards

 

D27 is currently spending time on an unnamed lake west of Magiss Lake in northwestern Ontario. Her departure was a bit of a surprise to us, since she left so late and stayed so briefly last year. This year looks more like her typical behavior: a departure in May and a summer in and around several large lakes. We have over 423 hits spanning four years in the areas on and between Sandy and Weagamow Lakes: a popular summer vacation spot for bald eagles and humans interested in finding fish!

D36 is spending late June on the Iowa-Minnesota border, flying between Lime Springs, the Niagara Cave area, and Kendallville. We've seen him as far south as Oelwein, Iowa and as far north as Utica, MN, but his range is a lot narrower than D27's. She's currently 594 miles NNW of her natal nest, while he's just 22 miles away.

Portulaca

 I love these I always call them Moss Ross instead of Moss Rose.  They bloom in the bright sun and then close up at night,  This is their 3rd year and they have filled this little pot. I may need to transfer them to a larger pot.

The Rose of Sharon has started blooming, hope the Japanese Beetles find a  new home this year.