Debt Free

I am giddy this afternoon because my lender told me my house is paid off and I don't have a car payment or large credit card payment (it gets paid off monthly) so I am now debt free.  My goal was to be debt free 5 years after I retired, well it is 5 years and 5 months, so I consider I met my goal.  You never think you will get here and most people don't.  I know God has blessed me to be able to do this and I can't thank Him enough for allowing me to accomplish my goal.  I have some work to do on the house and after seeing my city has non-stop 7 hour flights to Iceland, I guess I have some plans for all that extra money plus I think I will give some extra to buy a motorbike for our sister church in Muhalaze and get the pastor some wheels. Do you know he sometimes walks 2 hours to give communion, I can't imagine that.  Anyway it is a good feeling to be debt free and I know it will take awhile to sink it but...

Decorah North Nest

This is from RRP on why the eaglets passed.

We are sorry to announce that both eaglets at the Decorah North nest died yesterday. To recap: Mrs. North laid one egg on February 25. That egg broke on March 16th, but she reclutched on April 12th, laying one egg on the 12th and another egg on the 15th. DN7 hatched on May 18th and DN8 hatched on May 20th.

Why did the eaglets die? As we learned last year at Great Spirit Bluff, blackflies carry a pathogen that overwhelms the immune systems of young birds. Today's blackfly strike, combined with the extreme heat and humidity, was more than the eaglets could take. The North reclutch was inspirational, but we all worried that the late hatch might negatively affect the eaglets - and it did. As John pointed out, what happened at the North nest shows how important the hatch window is in the larger picture. Insect hatches that overlap the vulnerable developmental stages of eagles and falcons can have devastating effects.
Even knowing that our eagles are truly wild, it is really hard and unfair to watch them seemingly succeed, only for their eaglets to perish. Sherri expressed what all of us are feeling when she wrote: "We were given a miracle gift and got to know two eaglets who showed us their fierce and feisty nature for seven and five days...that is what I will hold onto, and the determination and dedication of these parents." Both parents did their very best to shelter their eaglets from the gnats and the weather. We will continue to love and cherish our eagles and falcons, collect information to help us understand the challenges they face, and act on their behalf. Goodbye, DN7 and DN8 - it was wonderful to know you. A tribute video: https://youtu.be/hxyn-7Ojxq0.

Party Day

My niece is finally here and we are having a belated birthday party and graduation party with her grandparents who live here as well.

Of course it has to be Harry Potter themed, so on short notice here is the dining room decorated on a short timeframe.

Dementors are to be darker and more dense but Joans did not have the black cheesecloth they were to have and I did not have time to dye the white cheesecloth so we fabric stiffened netting which works but not as well.  There are 2 hanging on the ceiling.

The candy plate has snitches, chocolate frogs and spiders and lemon levitating drops.

And because she likes the Slytherin House it is silver and green.

Sunrise and RIP

I like to get up early and get my day started. One of the great benefits is you get to see the sunrise. This morning it was so different than normal and how gorgeous.

 On a sad note both little dandelions passed yesterday at the Deocrah North nest.  Mom had laid an egg in Feb and it cracked.  Apparently she was fertile enough to lay 2 more later. However they were not very old and still in the dandelion stage and could not thermo-regulate and deal with the gnats.  So yesterday they passed.  That nest has had nothing but trouble but they never give up.  So RIP little ones and soar the thermals with your other siblings. 

Dear Dad Decorah

Today I am going to allow myself to grieve your loss.  I have tried to have hope that you would be found but it appears it is not going to happen. It will be a week this evening we last saw you.  You filled the pantry that day and huddled with mom one last time to shield the babies from the snowstorm.  Did you know you were not going to see them again and spent one last moment with your beloved and the babies?
We know you chose mom after you lost your first wife.  You taught mom how to be a great mom and she is, just look at her take care of the babies.  I know she misses you greatly as she cries so much now as does the whole world who adores and loves you so much.  We miss you so much.
I imagine you are sitting in heaven with Bob Anderson watching over mom and your territory.  Did you choose this new male hanging around the nest. Did you tell mom you picked your replacement?  Is that why she does not seem too bothered by him getting close to the nest?
I hope when you passed you did not suffer too much.  So Goodbye Dad, we love you and always will.  To us you will always be Dad Decorah.  Soar the thermals with all your children who have gone before you.  You will forever be in our hearts.

One of my favorite pics is when Dad would sit on the Y Branch at N1 and survey his territory. 

You left
And forgot to tell my
Heart......

Where Are You Dad Decorah?

One of the last times we saw dad with mom protecting the babies on 4/15/18.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4xfPVjuTTU

Hearts all across the world are breaking knowing dad has been gone for almost a week now and no one knows where he is or what has happened.  I fear for the worst, if only we knew so we could move forward.

We miss you Dad.

Dad Decorah

Dad was last seen at the nest on Wednesday with mom protecting the babies. He has not been seen since.  No one knows what happened or where he is.  These are the last pics I have of him.

Tajari and Necco Wafers

First of all Tajari is one today.  I remember being glued to the computer for 3 hours watching be born.  It was pretty cool.  It has been fun to watch him grow.

On a sad note Necco wafers, one of my fav candies, may be no longer.  I have been known to eat a while large roll in one setting.  I picked up some the other day and put them away and hope to pick up some more just in case.

http://www.foxnews.com/food-drink/2018/04/10/candy-fans-hoarding-necco-wafers-now-that-confectionery-company-could-close.html

Happy Birthday D20

While we are busy watching the newness of D29-D31, D20 is 4 today.  If you have watched the nest for a few years you know what an ordeal he went through with a broken wing.  He will never be on his own and lives at Soar in Iowa.  So Happy Birthday D20 (aka Decorah) and may you have  a fishy day.

Decorah

Yesterday there was quite a bit of activity because there are 2 little fuzzy bobbleheads that need to eat and they also bonk each other, a skill they need to learn to not have their food taken away from them later in life.  About noon the snow started and at one time  it looked mom was sitting in a huge bubble bath.

Squeee Alert

The sunrise was pretty this morning on the nest.  We got a few peeks at D29.  How cute they are in the fuzzy dandelion bobblehead phase with those racoon eyes.

Easter Eagle

D29 hatched a few minutes ago.  How cool that we have an Easter Eagle.  Now how long before we get a peek cos that nest cup is very deep this year.  Maybe mom figured they escape so easily she is building a wall around them. Hey even the eagles have a wall. 

You Can Not Silence Me

9 mins ·