Fall Colors

 I have vibrant red gold leaved trees in the fall in my yard and neighborhood.  I love the colors, they put red glows throughout the house when the sun it out. 

 

 

I have no idea what he was doing but here he is, look up.  Mr Squirrel getting a bird's eye view.

 

 

 

More on Ozzie

http://www.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com/page/content.detail/id/545716/CROW--No-suffering-in-Ozzie-s-last-moments.html?nav=5011

Mrs Wilson's Knitting Circle

Today's lecture was about the voluntary aids.  These were women from the upper middle class and elite who had servants and never learned how to do the basics.  They were given 6 months of training which including learning to cook, clean and bandage.  They were then sent overseas to be used where they were needed.  They worked 6 months and had 7 days off.  They paid for their uniforms but their travel and other expenses were paid for.  We saw a picture of the hospital and what it looked after it was bombed.  If something or someone had the red cross on them they were to be safe territory and not be bombed or killed.  One of the difficulties they had to deal with was diseases no one had ever seen before.  Many neighborhoods and towns male population was wiped out due the men not coming back home.
 
Each of these lectures provide us with a look at WWI and those involved.  Plus we get a free pattern of the times that the Red Cross provided to those who were knitting for the soldiers.

There is a PBS mini series called Crimson Fields that talks about the aids and what happened during the war.  http://www.pbs.org/program/crimson-field/

RIP Ozzie

CROW - Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife, Inc.

1 hr ·

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Ozzie, the bald eagle, co-star of the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam. Ozzie passed away last night at CRO...W due to complications from his recent injuries that included multiple severe lacerations and a broken toe in each foot. Ozzie was brought to CROW for a second time on Sunday, September 27, after he was found weak and injured in a North Fort Myers backyard. He arrived at CROW late at night in critical condition, unable to stand and fighting septicemia (a bacterial blood infection). It is highly likely these injuries were sustained from a fight with another bald eagle near the nest that was documented on the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam Facebook page. It was also reported that he had been entangled in barbwire.

A necropsy will be performed on Ozzie at the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study (SCWDS) at The University of Georgia and we will share those results with you when they become available. We would like to thank everyone for their support and unwavering belief in CROW during Ozzie’s rehabilitation and recent stay. Your endless words of encouragement carried the CROW staff through challenging times.


I did not watch this nest but I did follow them on facebook.  Earlier Ozzie was in rehab and recently released.  He wen to claim his nest and wife back and got into a fight and back to rehab.  Poor Ozzie.  RIP and soar with the thermals with the Decorah eagles who have gone before you.

Garden Life

I never know what I might see in my yard.  Every day is a new sight.  I have this huge hummer that likes to sit in a tree and preen herself.  You have to look towards the top of the first picture and to the right, she kind of blends in.  I have never seen one this big before.  Mr Cardinal came for a bite.  And the mushroom, well I think I hear Smurfs earlier.  And this dragonfly is a gorgeous color, I spent a couple days chasing him around the yard before I finally got a picture of him.

 

D20 Update

9-18-15 ~ Update on Ambassador Decorah
Kay reports that Decorah is still doing a fairly normal molt. His two favorite places to perch are on a stump and the bow perch. There is no new photo of Decorah as the staff is still keeping minimal contact to avoid any stress during his feather molt, but he does still "chitter" chat when Kay talks to him. Look below for a video of Decorah chatting with Kay from May, 2015.

Always a favorite video …. Decorah chattering with Kay, May 2015
https://youtu.be/xlLfFeUGnUA
Complete history updates on Decorah while at SOAR
http://www.soarraptors.org/DecorahTraining.html#September

Crafters Secret

No I have no secrets to share with you but I do have a yarn review.  If you have a Hobby Lobby you know they are only carrying their brand of yarn.  I found a brand called Crafters Secret which is almost identical to Red Heart.  Their dishcloth yarn is just like Sugar and Cream.  I don't like the idea that I had to pay $2.29 for a skein of dishcloth yarn but you would pay that much for one in the store and it would not last forever.  I used the Sinkmate dishcloth pattern which you can find on Ravelry. If you dont' like I-cord don't go there because you start with 76 rows of I-cord and pick up the middle and knit til you are out of stitches. 

You get 57 grams or 95 yards or 86 meters for $2.29.  I used 37 grams for the Sinkmate, so I have 20 grams to use with another color. I do have some gold that I am going to put the rest of the skein with.

I like Peaches and Crème better because I find it to be a softer yarn, prettier colors and much cheaper, you can still find it at Walmart for $1.47.  I think Sugar and Cream is the same expensive price now, so if you want to make dishcloths and only have a Hobby Lobby it will work just fine.  My only complaint is the price. 

#MandalasForMarinke

If you look at the first blog on my list on the right hand side you will see Mandalas for Marinke.  I never knew of Marinke or her work until she was gone.  She took her life because of depression.  I can not begin to even try to imagine what it must be like to live with demons in your head that won't leave.  This project was started in her honor.  I chose to participate because this is not something that can be fixed with surgery or a pill, it needs to have attention.   Look at the many shootings that have been by mentally impaired individuals.  I chose these colors because they remind me of the sun.  I always feel better on a sunny day even if it is the middle of winter and the temps are in the single digits.  Sunshine just makes you feel good.  Check out the blog to look at the mandalas and the beauty of their work.  A mandala can be simple or detailed but like snowflakes and people no two are the same. 

WOW

This was just posted on my feed in facebook.  Personally I find it a very powerful picture.  We are in trouble as a country and we need help quickly.  The WH is destroying us faster than we can keep up with all the changes. 

Never Forget!

In case you want the Budweiser commercial here is the story behind it.

http://fox4kc.com/2015/09/11/the-true-story-behind-the-911-budweiser-commercial-that-only-aired-one-time/

After 32 Years It Is Time To Part Ways

In October 1983 I purchased this sleeper sofa.  I thought it was about time for a new one and based on my track record it will be the last one I purchase. 

The old one is very heavy and no charity will pick up a sleeper so when we have our neighborhood garage sale in a couple weeks I hope it finds a new home. 

The new one is smaller and not a sleeper and I love it.

A New Decade

Officially in a few hours I will start a new decade in my life.  I have no idea where this past one went but it is gone and there is no looking back.  The best part of it is I retired and it is pure freedom. I am busier than when I worked BUT I am doing what I want to do.  This next decade brings the final journey of my parents moving to an independent living/assisted living facility, my niece will get her degree and hopefully a great job and a house.  All I know is there is a new chapter of my life about to get written and I wonder what all it will entail. 

As I was eating lunch at moms I realized this was probably the last birthday meal and cake she would ever make me.  She fixed my favs, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, frozen corn, homemade baking powder biscuits and an orange cake with buttercream frosting shaped as a cat face.  There was my usual gift of fig newtons (my fav cookie) and the decorations on the table.  Fixing a big meal like this tires her out and I told he we could go out but she insisted.  So I will savor every moment of today and treasure it always.

My parents got me a stool for my spinning wheel and when I get them all moved and settled next spring I hope to be able to get back to learning how to spin.  My mom also got me an orchid and hisbicus, new plants.  I love plants and they grow very well in my house.

My mom's Siamese cat is a hoot, he was a stray and look how beautiful he is.

Getting Old is Not For Sissies

My parents are beginning the last journey by moving into independent living next year.  They will be in a brand new facility and it is sweet.  I am ready to move in myself.  So now we are starting to clean their house and they need to get rid of at least half of it.  So mom and I started in her craft room.  I was in 3rd grade when Kennedy was shot.  It just so happened that the day he got shot we were making tea towels for our moms for Christmas.  We used a potato and I used red ink for her fav color.  I remember I was hemming it when our teacher came in, told us to put our name on the towel and grab our stuff and go home.  We had no idea what was going on and did not understand what all it meant, but we went home.  My mom never used the towel and we found it today, she kept it all these years, so now it is in my possession.  Oh the memories of stuff we found today and the tears that were shed.  Getting old really sucks and knowing that your parents are on their final journey makes it all the harder.  At least I live 10 minutes away so I can help them through this.