N3

 Mom Decorah and DM2 built a new nest in the area.  They kind of fooled us the past couple of weeks bringing grass and large nest rails in to the nest and eating there, which is something they don't do when they are ready for eggs.  It has been confirmed Mom has laid an egg in the new nest, so this year will be like when D15-16-and 17 were hatched and we got a daily picture daily of the babies.  This would have been my 10th year watching the nest, so I guess we will have to wait until next year.  Good luck to Mom and DM2 this year, maybe we can get a glimpse of the hatch when they fledge. 

A Yuge Sad

 Rush Limbaugh has passed.  There were many days I listened to him and he let us know what was going on.  Conservatives thank you sir for what you did for us and our country.  RIP, you will not be forgotten.

Smudgey

 It has not been above freezing since Feb 6th and we have been below zero the past 2 nights. Many days we hovered around 3 degrees.  I have a feral that I have fed for 10 years and she is probably a year or two older than that.  I fixed her up a feral bed in the front and under the deck. I know she uses the one out front, she watches the birds.  She comes up on the front porch and eats.  She was missing for 47 hours last week and I feared the worst.  Then there she was up front laying in the sun.  It was 2 out and when I went out to feed her she ate a lot and as I was coming back in the house she followed me in.  Well here was my chance.  I had always planned to see if I could bring her in someday, well my someday came.  It was to be -8 that night and I did not think she would make it, so I did not let her back out.  She is hanging out upstairs and seems to not be as freaked out as I thought she might be.  The other 2 are not so sure even though at times she would come in wander around and rub noses with them, now she is in the house and not leaving.  I need to feed the birds this morning and will put her in the bathroom so I can open the doors without her escaping.  I do not need another cat in the house but sometimes God has a plan for us that we don't know about. So my someday to bring her in has arrived and we will see how it goes.  She is a tuxedo and related to Groucho, they had the same dad.

Welcome to the house Smudgey.

Happy Birthday Dad

 Happy Birthday Dad, the day would be filled with lunch (probably fried chicken), lots of chocolate because yesterday V-Day candy went on sale and then there would be pineapple upside cake.  It has been bitter cold for the past 11 days and I know you have your long johns on and are bundled up.  We are fine here, you know I had to finally get a new heater after 21 years, was I lucky or not?  Anyway I know grandma has something special for you.  I would have brought mom to come visit today but as you would tell me "I don't want you out in the weather, just call me and we can do this another day."  So mom has a couple of appointments next week and we will come see you then.  I love you and I miss you a lot. 

Life is a Journey

 

Another Sad Senseless Eagle Death RIP D35

 

We are sorry to announce that RRP Board member Brett Mandernack found eaglet D35 dead on January 29, 2021, along the banks of the Iowa River just south of Iowa City. 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.

A necropsy by Kay Neumann of SOAR found that D35 was killed by acute lead poisoning. To learn more about her diagnosis and what you can do, please follow this link: https://www.raptorresource.org/.../d35-killed-by-lead.../ #gettheleadout

 

 

I Only Make for Those Who Understand What Goes Into A Handmade Item

 

Winter Reading Challenge

 The local library has a winter reading challenge from Jan 15-March 15. The theme this year is Missouri, either about the state or an author that lives here.  I have chosen my books and mapped out how many pages I need to read per day in order to meet the challenge.  We have to read 5 books.  Each year they design a coffee cup and then there are some grand prizes.  It is fun to see if I can find books to meet the genre. Last winter it was science fiction which is not something I read but I did find 5 free books for my Kindle and I did enjoy them, but still not my genre.  I prefer murder mysteries and westerns, and nonfiction.  It is a windy snowy day so what better day to start the reading challenge.

New Year's Snow

 We started the new year with an inch of sleet followed by 3 inches of snow.  This morning the fog coated the trees.

Goals for a New Year

 

Merry Christmas

 Christmas was my dad's favorite holiday. On Black Friday he would get the tree out and find the right place in the house.  Out came all the ornaments and the lights and the tinsel.  The tinsel went on one piece at a time, never just throw it on cos you will be picking it all off and made to put it on one by one where dad told you to.  I finally convinced him not to have tinsel with a cat in the house.

When we lived in Carlsbad, New Mexico we would go to the rich part of town.  We had cocoa and cookies and we would look at the decorations< I drooled over the houses and dreamed one day I could live in one.  Before we went home we drove up to the top of a large hill and looked down on the city, it was so beautiful.  This was our Christmas Eve celebration.  

For the past few years I had bundled my dad up with cocoa and cookies and off we drove to the rich houses.  Rich people often have really cheap ugly decorations.  I had my favorite houses in the 2 places we went and dad would often comment on the decorations or if there was a house he really liked he would yell stop and we would just sit for a minute and watch the decorations.  

This is my 2nd Christmas without my dad and the first one that really has hit me hard.  Last year he had died in November and I was so busy moving my mom to a smaller apartment one she could afford and do all the paperwork and get my dad interred I did not really have the time to sit and think about what it would be like to not have him here for Christmas.  I did not put up much this year, I was going to go all out for dad but I just couldn't get past him not being here.  Maybe next year.

So dad, I hope you found some favorite decorations across the country and that grandma made you cocoa and cookies.  Merry Christmas Dad, I miss you and love you.

Oh The Smell

 There is nothing better than baking something with yeast in it.  The house smells good for hours first with the several risings of the dough and then the actual baking.  I needed to make some cinnamon rolls for a brunch tomorrow for knit group.  I have a book with nothing but cinn roll recipe in it.  I know I could go buy some but really when you can take 4 hours and make a batch.  I will put a slight cream cheese icing on them.  I hope there are one or two left for my breakfast the next couple of days.  I love to bake but hate to clean up the mess.  

My Dad Loved Christmas