Christmas Cactus

Something has made the Christmas Cactus very happy. The blooms are so gorgeous and plentiful.  It certainly seems to be happy where it is currently living in the bathroom window.

Happy Thanksgiving

I wish for you all a very Happy Thanksgiving.  I am so grateful for everything I have in my life especially this year.

I found this pic on Facebook, how beautiful is this, oh Italy how I love you and if your government was not so anti what I want in a gov, i might consider moving there.  So for now I can dream.

Where the scenery becomes a home for your soul. Discover Radda in Chianti, a place of stone and wine 

Mystery Yarn

Do you have some mystery yarn in your stash. Not sure what weight it is?  Check out this article and it may be able to help you.
http://blog.loveknitting.com/how-to-figure-out-yarn-weight/?utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=21112016_blog_yarnweight&utm_medium=post

I Need One of These

Last Hurrah

We may get a frost tonight but for sure in about a week we will get our first real freeze.  I went out and took pics of the remaining garden for this year.  I wish I could keep them through the winter but alas nope.  It is still really nice for mid november for here.  I had cleaned out my flower beds this Spring but parents needed my attention for most of the year and so maybe next year I can get my flower beds back in order.

My red cherry plant is going nuts, i need to pick them today.

This is a tomato plant that started growing about a month ago, have no idea where it came from, has blooms and tomatoes which aren't gonna make it this year,maybe next.  My petunias going for one last bloom.

The wild radish is out of control, it spreads and has these pretty little purple flowers.

This marigold showed up in the middle of the wild radish, just a splash of bright yellow in the flower bed.

The zinnias are going for round 2 this year.

These zinnias seems to have wanted to jump barrel so they have started their own little village which is ok cos i was gonna fill this bed anyway with flowers.

Some of my Favorite Birds

Happy Halloween

Today is my parent's 62nd wedding anniversary.  I hope they have a great day.
When I was a kid and dad would be assigned to attend a new school for a new piece of equipment at his job we would pack up and go to OKC for temporary duty.  We always stayed in these apartments at Parkview Village on SW 23rd street.  There were probably about 200 units.  Everyone's mom made candy apples, popcorn balls, etc and my brother and i always brought home a paper grocery sack full  of candy.  OH the days of not having to worry about anything and knowing that everything you brought home was safe and good.  It has always been my fav day:  make believe and candy what more could you ask for?

Scones

I took a cooking class today at the Culinary Center.  I have never taken a cooking class and I had so much fun and learned so much.  I went with my 3 knitting bffs.  It was my belated birthday event.  We made a lemon scone and an apple yeast bread.  I learned you should weigh your ingredients because the dry ingredients can pack down quite a bit such as flour when you use a measuring cup. When you use a scale be sure to pour slowly and let the grams on the scale catch up to what you have put in the bowl.    I learned that you should not really use instant yeast as it is to be treated differently than regular yeast.  Regular yeast needs to be poured on warm water and let float to the bottom of the pan.  Also bread flour should not be used for scones but mostly yeast breads. Bread flour has more protein.

I brought home a batch of lemon scones and the dough for the apple bread with the apple and cinnamon/mace combo to make up later.  So in the morning i will make up my bread and let the house smell wonderful.

I love scones and they are easy to make but you have to barely mix the ingredients so the gluten does not make tough scones when they cook. Don't overbake them either  They are great because you can make them plain or put just about any flavors in them you want.

I will definitely take more classes and this was so much fun and I learned a lot.  

It's Time Already

Today they turned on the new cameras for the Decorah nests.  The picture is so clear and I can't wait to see the eaglets up close and personal like never before.  I checked in today and no building up on the nest yet, but soon, so soon.  Check out the new cameras.  See you at the nest.

What If I Find a Dead or injured Bird of Prey?

The Raptor Resource has written up a summary of what to do if you find a dead or injured bird of prey such an eagle, hawk, etc.  I am going to keep the phone numbers in my phone and hope I never need them.

http://www.raptorresource.org/learning-tools/dealing-with-dead-or-injured-bald-eagles-and-other-birds-of-prey/

Mrs Wilsons Knitting Circle

The is the second year for our knit group.  Every time we meet we get a pattern that was used to knit for the soldiers.  Today we saw some actual garments and many were 100 years old.  I love the short grey vest and the gloves.  The socks looked brand new.

RIP D25

9/27 post per RRP: D25 passed away yesterday due to car accident. D24 is ok.

We are sorry to let everyone know that Brett and his assistants found D25 yesterday dead alongside a road between Maynard and Westgate, IA. He was likely scavenging a raccoon carcass when he was struck and killed by a vehicle. His body will be sent to the National Wildlife Health Center in Madison, WI for a necropsy. All of us find it heartbreaking to lose another eagle. It is one thing to know that first-year bald eagles have high mortality rates and another to see it reflected in the lives of eagles we have come to know and love.

We have tracked six eagles to date: D1, D14, Four, Indy, D24, and D25. All six grew up in a world heavily impacted by human beings. The fish hatchery provided an excellent source of food, shredded cornstalks provided insulation for the nest, and light and electrical poles provided perches for fledgling eagles just learning their wings. But poles also present electrocution hazards; powerlines, cars, and buildings present collision hazards, and everything from gutpiles to landfills to confined feedlots present a route for potential toxins that can maim or kill scavengers. I want to believe that we are making headway in reducing electrocution, poisoning, and collision deaths. Certainly, bald eagles as a species are thriving. But it still hurts to lose an eagle we know.

How did Brett know there was a problem? Sensor data was static, D25's location hadn't changed significantly, and the area was not one in which Brett expected an eagle to stay for an extended period of time. After finding D25's body, which he was able to locate because the transmitter was still working, Brett decided to check on D24, who was about 40 minutes away near New Delhi, Iowa. We are pleased to report that D24 is doing well.

As one of our Decorah Mods, Pyrmum1 said, "May D25 fly high with the other offspring from Mom & Dad Decorah taken too soon".

The photo of D25 making early morning takeoff was taken by David Lynch at 5:40AM on June 28, 2016. Thank you to David Lynch for sharing his lovely photo and to Brett Mandernack and his staff for sharing their data. Through Brett's study, we have learned that power infrastructure, agriculture practices, collisions, and habitat change/loss all contribute directly to deaths of Bald Eagles. These lessons can be terribly painful, but they also enable us to preserve and protect raptors. Whether it is by driving slowly, picking up trash, reporting collisions and electrocutions, advocating for safeguards on power lines and poles, using lead-free ammo and tackle, preserving habitat, or sharing information with family and friends, thank you for doing what you can for birds of prey.

Let's Go Dodgers!

The Dodgers have clinched their 4th consecutive National League West title today defeating the Rockies in 10 innings.  Postseason play will be against the Washington Nationals on October 7th.  Congratulations, way to go!