Friday, January 24, 2020

Decorah Mom

DEC Mom has a irritated eye

Raptor Resource Project

·
We know that everyone has some concerns about Mom's right eye. We first started getting questions on January 20, when sharp-eyed watchers noticed that she appeared to be keeping her right eye mostly or completely shut. We took a look and noticed the same thing, but couldn't determine the source of the problem. Her eye wasn't bloody and she was behaving like a normal territorial adult eagle. She got some rabbit fur stuck in the upper outer corner of her right eye on January 14 and appeared to have ice building up on her 'eyelashes' or rimal bristles, which could have contributed to her eye irritation.
Our camera operators finally got an opportunity to get good photos of Mom's open right eye today and we sent them to Dr. Laura. She confirmed that there was some kind of issue, although she doesn't have a way of diagnosing it or determining its severity without an exam. Whatever the cause, Mom's eye is clearly irritated and she's reacting in the same way we might: closing her outer eyelids, blinking her eye, and sometimes rubbing her head on her shoulder. Keeping her tender eye closed will aid in healing and help protect it from wind and cold, while her nictitating membrane will keep it moist and help swipe any material that may still be stuck.
Given that Mom is still behaving normally and spending her time at the tops of trees, there is nothing we can do. As the videos below shows, Mom is capable of using both eyes and can fly, land on the nest, hop-flap up to and perch on the Skywalk, and move materials around the nest. We'll continue to monitor her and collect reports from local observers while we wait to see what happens moving forward.

Monday, January 06, 2020

You've Got Mail

I love this movie, yes it is cheesy but it makes me think and laugh and smile.  I am working on my Dodgers Christmas tree because I finally found Dodger blue ornaments. 

One scene Meg Ryan mentions a bouquet of sharpened pencils.  OH I know that feeling, I collect pencils, (my fav aunt gets me pencils all the time when she goes somewhere). I probably have over 500 and yes I use them. I love school supply weekend, and I rush to get mine, not that I need them but there is the excitement of new pencils, spiral notebooks.  A notebook is 70 double sides of a new adventure for only a quarter.  I use them to write out the rows of a pattern I am working on.  Then i have the notes if I ever want to make it again or someone needs some help on that particular pattern.  I have a notebook full of designs to work up someday. 

This movie has you look at life in a different way and that is what my dad did with his dementia.  He would sit in his chair, look at the birds and watch people come and go and make up stories about what they were doing. He would tell me about things that he witnessed during the day or thought he did and he looked at life in a whole nother way.  Watching the movie makes me realize dad lived in a world only he understood and was often too funny. 

I often just stare out the window to check on the birds and squirrels and see things I never saw before even though I have been here since 1996.  What did you see today in a different light. 

Monday, December 16, 2019

Christmas Cookies

We just had our Cookie/Candy sale at church. We had more candy than ever and even had an overflow table stacked with duplicates to be filled in slots as needed.  It was a very successful 5 hour sale. We also serve chili for lunch.

When my dad worked, on Black Friday mom and I would spend all day making cookies, decorated sugar cookies, spritzes, any kind of Christmas cookie we wanted to make.  We would take a box and cover it with paper and decorate it.  That next Monday dad would take it into work and the guys he worked with enjoyed the benefits of our day.  It was so much fun and the guys enjoyed the cookies so much. 

My last year of working I did this for the guys I worked with. It was a lot of work but it was worth the effort.  The cookies did not last long though and when gone, well I was not making any more.

Make a batch of cookies and take them to someone, it will be one of the best gifts you can give.


The Dollar Bill



Do your children know this? – Do their teachers? – Do you?
Who Was Haym Solomon?
Read this fascinating history of the $1 bill all the way to the bottom to know about Haym Solomon. You may be in for quite a surprise!
On the rear of the One Dollar bill, you’ll see two circles. Together, they comprise the Great Seal of the United States. The First Continental Congress requested that Benjamin Franklin and a group of men come up with a Seal. It took them four years to accomplish this task and another two years to get it approved.
If you look at the left-hand circle, you’ll see a Pyramid.
Notice the face is lighted, and the western side is dark. This country was just beginning. We hadn’t begun to explore the west or decide what we could do for Western Civilization. The Pyramid is uncapped, again signifying that we weren’t even close to being finished. Inside the Capstone you have the all-seeing eye, an ancient symbol for divinity. It was Franklin's belief that one man couldn't do it alone, but a group of men, with the help of God, could do anything.
“IN GOD WE TRUST” is on this currency.
The Latin above the pyramid, ANNUIT COEPTIS, means, “God has favored our undertaking.”
The Latin below the pyramid, NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM, means, “a new order has begun.”
At the base of the pyramid is the Roman numeral for 1776. (MDCCLXXVI)
If you look at the right-hand circle, and check it carefully, you’ll learn that it’s on every National Cemetery in the United States. It’s also on the Parade of Flags Walkway at the Bushnell, Florida National Cemetery, and is the centerpiece of most heroes' monuments.
Slightly modified, it’s the seal of the President of the United States, and it’s always visible whenever he speaks, yet very few people know what the symbols mean.
The Bald Eagle was selected as a symbol for victory for two reasons:
First, he isn’t afraid of a storm; he’s strong, and he’s smart enough to soar above it.
Secondly, he wears no material crown. We had just broken from the King of England.
Also, notice the shield is unsupported. This country can now stand on its own.
At the top of the shield there’s a white bar signifying congress, a unifying factor. We were coming together as one nation.
In the Eagle's beak you read, “E PLURIBUS UNUM” meaning, “from many – one.”
Above the Eagle, we have the thirteen stars, representing the thirteen original colonies, and any clouds of misunderstanding rolling away. Again, we were coming together as one.
Notice what the Eagle holds in his talons. He holds an olive branch and arrows. This country wants peace, but we will never be afraid to fight to preserve peace. The Eagle always wants to face the olive branch, but in time of war, his gaze turns toward the arrows.
An (untrue) old-fashioned belief says that the number 13 is an unlucky number which is almost a worldwide belief. You’ll almost never see a room numbered 13, or any hotels or motels with a 13th floor. But think about this:
America, which relies on God (not a number) to direct and lead, boldly chose:
13 original colonies,
13 signers of the Declaration of Independence ,
13 stripes on our flag,
13 steps on the pyramid,
13 letters in “Annuit Coeptis,”
13 letters in “E Pluribus Unum,”
13 stars above the eagle,
13 bars on that shield,
13 leaves on the olive branch,
13 fruits,
and if you look closely,
13 arrows.
And finally, notice the arrangement of the 13 stars in the right-hand circle. You’ll see that they are arranged as a Star of David.
This was ordered by George Washington who, when he asked Haym Solomon, a wealthy Philadelphia Jew, what he would like as a personal reward for his services to the Continental Army. Solomon said he wanted nothing for himself, but he would like something for his people. The Star of David was the result. Few people know it was Solomon who saved the Army through his financial contributions ... then died a pauper. Haym Solomon gave $25 million to save the Continental Army, money that was sorely needed to help realize America's and our freedom and independence from England.
Therein lies America's Judeo-Christian beginning.
Most American children do NOT know any of this. They aren’t taught because their history teachers do NOT know this. (They were not taught!)
On America's Freedom:
Too many veterans gave up too much to let the meaning fade.
Many veterans came home to an America that did not care.
Too many veterans never came home at all.
They served, they died for you and for me.
I hope you will share this page with many so they can learn about the UNITED STATES DOLLAR BILL, and what it stands for.
America is at a critical juncture. Let's do whatever we can to save her while never, ever forgetting:
It is God in whom we put our trust!

Thursday, December 12, 2019

The Sky is on Fire

Sometimes the sunrise only lasts a few minutes but oh is it gorgeous.  This morning for about 5 minutes the sky looked like it was on fire. 




Thursday, November 28, 2019

Thanksgiving

Today just sucks, my dad is not here and he would so love to have his pecan pie.  He would only have wanted that, maybe the angels made him a pie.  I remember one time when I was a kid and dad was going to school in OKC at the FAA Academy he had the flu and it was Thanksgiving. He suggested to mom we go out to eat and he only wanted his pecan pie. 

And today my refrigerator died, no more death in my life, be it people, or material objects,  I am not a fan of stores being open on holidays because it is all about the greed, but today I am thankful Best Buy is open so I can get the process started of me getting a new one.  This one only lasted 10 years, I expect at least 20 and these things ain't cheap either.

What I am most thankful for today is the day before my father's demise started we spent the day together.  We go to the dentist together and although he hated going there he loved them and they loved him right back. Because it took longer for me than him they would sit him out front and give him coffee and a cookie.  We went to Panera for lunch as it was in between our doctor appointments. He had his coffee and potato soup and we split a sugar cookie. Then he had a cardio appointment and got a clean bill of health.  We had so much fun and solved the world's problems and just enjoyed the day together.  I never figured it would be the last time I would spend with my dad that he would know who I was and be well enough that we could enjoy the day together.  Thank you God for letting me have this one last day on earth with my dad. 

Thanksgiving Proclamation

If you have never read this go here and see what Lincoln did for Thanksgiving.  Thank you Mrs Hale.

http://www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/speeches/thanks.htm

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Acceptance

I was looking through some old magazines mom had in a stack and found this:  It is from Eleanor Roosevelt.

You have to accept whatever comes, and the only important thing is that you meet it with the best you have to give.

Sounds like something my dad would have told me. 

Friday, November 22, 2019

Feeling All Alone

Today it is dark and cloudy and there are threats of that white stuff that my dad and I hated so much, yep snow.  I got 2 pieces of mail on how to deal with the loss of a parent.  I don't need a book or pamphlet to tell me how I might feel or how to deal with it, I need my dad back.  I am not one to feel alone or lonely but today I do.  More cards of beautiful words from people wanting me to now they are thinking of me and praying for me.  I don't feel any of the stages except I just miss my dad.  I know he is at peace now and that is what is best for him but... I don't have anyone to watch baseball with any more, or cuss at the democrats for how they are ruining the country, or solve the world's problems, or him sharing his chocolate with me, or us sneaking a cup of coffee in the afternoon when mom is not home, or all the other simple things we did.  Is it supposed to hurt this much, like my heart has been ripped out.  I just miss my dad. 

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

CFA I Apologize

I wondered when word came about CFA not supporting 2 Christian based organizations and dropped them like a hot potato.  I got caught up in the left trying to get me to divorce myself from my fav fast food restaurant.  So I apologize and will not be giving them up.  Here is the real truth.

Chick-fil-A made commitments to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and to the Salvation Army in the past. Their giving model was multi-year commitments, which varied with each charitable organization. These terms were always communicated clearly to the recipients in writing. Again, I know this first hand. Such was the case with the 2 organizations mentioned above. CFA’s commitments to them have reached their term and are now over. CFA is in no way obligated to continue to give to any organization into perpetuity. So while you may be hearing that “Chick-fil-A “dropped” these organizations suddenly,” and then infer (quite wrongly) that it is due to a shift in values or capitulation to the LGBTQ mafia, that is simply not the case.
What’s changed is not CFA’s mission or values, but their giving strategy. Their express desire is to reevaluate their giving annually. They’ve stated that the $9million they’ve set aside in 2020 will go to youth education, combatting youth homeslessness, and fighting hunger. Ok. Doesn’t get my engine revving, but ok...not my call to make. I get to decide where the Satterfield family and Emmaus Road Church gives and where we focus. I don’t get to decide for CFA.
To some, it appears to be capitulation, and I understand that feeling. But know that it is merely a feeling - a suspicion, a misgiving, an impression. If you haven’t been in the top-level meetings, or heard first-hand from those who were that this whole thing is driven by the fear of the Left, then you have NO BUSINESS speculating to the detriment of a company that has only been faithful to Biblical principles for 73 years.

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Dear Chick Fil A

We are done.  You have always been my favorite fast food place.  I stayed when you got rid of my chicken salad sandwich and cole slaw.  I waited in line one day for 45 minutes when the left went to attack you.  But now you have done it.  You have caved to the left and I can only imagine you will lose a lot of us who have always stood beside you.  So as much as I hate to I am leaving. 

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Make it Stop

Yesterday as I finished moving mom out of the apartment she shared with dad I felt like I was saying goodbye to my dad all over again.  Then I found out the lady I sat by at church for years who I loved died of pneumonia yesterday morning.  She was such a sweet lady.  It had got to the point where she could not help with the sales anymore but she came in and packaged crackers in baggies for the lunch soup we served.  She did not think it was much but like I told her, I would have to pull someone off the floor helping set up for a couple hours and you save me from doing that.  What she did helped more than she thought.  RIP Vadeen, I loved you and our row at church will be so empty now. 

Monday, November 11, 2019

There's a Hole in my Heart

There's a hole in my heart
That can only be filled by you
 And this hole in my heart
Can't be filled with the things I do. 

My father died a week ago today.  There is a huge hole in my heart that will never be repaired.  He was 95 1/2 and lived a hell of a life.  It was so sudden he fell and broke his hip and never came home after 10 days of being in ICU and hospice.  He had dementia, afib, and had to use a walker to walk.  I was going to have to put him in Memory Care soon and he would have hated it. 

His brother and sister and parents went before him.  He had not seen his sister for almost 60 years. I can only imagine the beautiful reunion between them.  He always hated he never got to spend much time with her here on earth.

He is whole again and is well, no more diseases that can't be cured.  I miss you dad so much, you were my best friend we could talk about anything, you gave me advice, taught me how to take care of myself and to be strong.  My mom always said you are just like your dad, that made me so happy.  I love you dad and am so proud to be your daughter.  Someday I will see you again and we can solve the world's problems.  Until then...