tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65580691367460095562024-03-18T19:09:30.479-05:00Phoenix Fire FalconryI am a woman falconer, enjoying the Great Outdoors with a hawk on my fist.Phoenix Fire Falconryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08263206652386388429noreply@blogger.comBlogger441125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558069136746009556.post-45333990514882022322024-03-05T08:47:00.007-06:002024-03-05T11:39:59.520-06:00A Sudden and Unexpected Goodbye<p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="background-color: #b4a7d6; color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;">Dedicated to My Beloved Gryphon - the bestest dog and all around Good Girl!</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpgN4lfQcjFQn18hk2EsgdTf4ehzet55k41i76da_qlCRrS5ttUsGlz58yX9qJripT-dr3jQUGncAGPhHgpwPgmXXuKYY0Mudk_NVGq0n2OpNGoPKuApLcxmyfoAwOzLrP0pR0goYEkSnYxZzG1gEEd9pkIZyodOFiwSpVja4J-z4dyQ2NKD1FoWYMIMqa/s1016/Gryphon.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1016" data-original-width="756" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpgN4lfQcjFQn18hk2EsgdTf4ehzet55k41i76da_qlCRrS5ttUsGlz58yX9qJripT-dr3jQUGncAGPhHgpwPgmXXuKYY0Mudk_NVGq0n2OpNGoPKuApLcxmyfoAwOzLrP0pR0goYEkSnYxZzG1gEEd9pkIZyodOFiwSpVja4J-z4dyQ2NKD1FoWYMIMqa/w477-h640/Gryphon.jpg" width="477" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We really don't deserve dogs! There! I said it! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I am forever grateful that our distant ancestors let some more brave (or was it just hungry) wolves hang around the periphery of the campsite, and eventually invited them in, tamed them further, and bred them into so many useful purposes to our lives. So many of them have jobs, herding or protecting our livestock, keeping the farmyard free of vermin, getting "advanced degrees" and being the eyes and noses and reach for people with disabilities, or serving alongside our police and military to take down the bad guys with toothy skill. Above all these things, their most important job that almost all of them provide is companionship.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This girl took up that role in 2015.</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGv1oliQ8mKjQi-j9mUlN3h5S0X9xkXMjVgoiHxC18F8qIylRHEZ9436MYm98uf2v6CVm154pQC5l0GpWIZGxI1tppL6kKUdfmHbSNzfpZMTtFQgWjW0CyUWLyHLDtcATWEmDDhnF7mHky8MzNO1UgP2T6jYMD-yVKr5ITkeYjnLv8QFfsOe_kD-IfD4jT/s2048/new%20puppy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1358" data-original-width="2048" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGv1oliQ8mKjQi-j9mUlN3h5S0X9xkXMjVgoiHxC18F8qIylRHEZ9436MYm98uf2v6CVm154pQC5l0GpWIZGxI1tppL6kKUdfmHbSNzfpZMTtFQgWjW0CyUWLyHLDtcATWEmDDhnF7mHky8MzNO1UgP2T6jYMD-yVKr5ITkeYjnLv8QFfsOe_kD-IfD4jT/w640-h424/new%20puppy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">She has kept my home "decorated" ever since with what my friend calls "Dog Glitter". German Shepherds, or German Shedders as I heard them called, are quite hairy beasts, so don't invite one into your home if you don't like hair everywhere.</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilGZqaqdsjsU8GnUK2KW2m-glciseGDLfBlYDMiQlZDPFLhChsxCbY2W4AlCwvx3p29StdeAhfFB5b4Lyk3FfCNN4-BVlESYg_dOod7FEq5t4UVAwXRI7rGK8boxr0-O3VaG1NbOuQFecmyVenLW8EG5-0PxZHP1U4oP8_yHLz5tovpi2IhkiaVW6pPEK9/s2048/clean%20carpets.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilGZqaqdsjsU8GnUK2KW2m-glciseGDLfBlYDMiQlZDPFLhChsxCbY2W4AlCwvx3p29StdeAhfFB5b4Lyk3FfCNN4-BVlESYg_dOod7FEq5t4UVAwXRI7rGK8boxr0-O3VaG1NbOuQFecmyVenLW8EG5-0PxZHP1U4oP8_yHLz5tovpi2IhkiaVW6pPEK9/w400-h300/clean%20carpets.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">She was the bestest toy fetcher! But don't let her outside if the chickens are out. She wiped out my flock once, and tried again a time or two if we didn't keep her on a leash. Chicken chasing was so much fun (for her).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh99SZXpGa6VUcr_9OmQhpiXfCrlB6a7Xe_L7NFFVHe2cP80zjfbQQ-BLfY6EJfUpqvUDKBPu5AoGrOxZmTcmiwGPzRvCAgbknPfebAdEyfbZ1mk-1j8BZYLZySgr72i8SJ1tXfPr7JJ92C5utDEG0XcOR0lrB1OZmprQovF46XiP0beIKlyXrzD1XA7RC_/s489/IMG_2666.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="489" data-original-width="352" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh99SZXpGa6VUcr_9OmQhpiXfCrlB6a7Xe_L7NFFVHe2cP80zjfbQQ-BLfY6EJfUpqvUDKBPu5AoGrOxZmTcmiwGPzRvCAgbknPfebAdEyfbZ1mk-1j8BZYLZySgr72i8SJ1tXfPr7JJ92C5utDEG0XcOR0lrB1OZmprQovF46XiP0beIKlyXrzD1XA7RC_/w460-h640/IMG_2666.jpeg" width="460" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">How could such a Doofus be so dangerous? I don't know! She loved people with all her heart. She was suspicious of other dogs. I had to flunk her out of her obedience class when she was a puppy, because she was just so much bigger than all her other classmates, and intimidated them all. She definitely felt like cats should all be eliminated.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8StpFdFaWRwa5kUPSm6_JLg7z4-P46CksjqtM5y1M9ychSdQUzngpaZRbHgaWEE6LP25yVY06Yt9hYEMJAJy38-NtO8uMCGTEjIz0nfSniSLDAc23KzpsnWY34Ehg3911xtSowkmPfG0hDZkyeuaAHVINTeSRSqKbkmAcuopnJq31E-06OgOizpJXnWtC/s960/Doofy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8StpFdFaWRwa5kUPSm6_JLg7z4-P46CksjqtM5y1M9ychSdQUzngpaZRbHgaWEE6LP25yVY06Yt9hYEMJAJy38-NtO8uMCGTEjIz0nfSniSLDAc23KzpsnWY34Ehg3911xtSowkmPfG0hDZkyeuaAHVINTeSRSqKbkmAcuopnJq31E-06OgOizpJXnWtC/w300-h400/Doofy.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Sometimes, when we forgot, and were just being lazy, and let her outside late at night for a last potty break, she would see one of those wild "black and white kitties" (skunks) and got herself sprayed, never remembering to give them their space. In fact, just a week prior to this posting she found herself another one, getting a bath at 2 in the morning. She still smelled faintly of skunk on her last day. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="435" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6qwF-q27Jz4" width="524" youtube-src-id="6qwF-q27Jz4"></iframe></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Some of the best moments were when I was waking up, day sleeping for my overnight job, when she would come up on the bed and lay next to me and let me quietly stroke her head.</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAI-PRymTgVUdi6oDusbxB5KjH_3CMzrXEKbO_s6n37mMO8fQI7ehOoDpsDa9XL5bHtUl-n7j87velQQGbGBsL5hfLLs-2Nowkzh6-QaDeDYhAuWebYi3kszimpsI3PNW9kzvAfpWayXKfzXuGeZiXPcXhO7YM07CDYdeReYVi3i1tug_UIKI4bZeRgUCh/s2048/IMG_4381.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAI-PRymTgVUdi6oDusbxB5KjH_3CMzrXEKbO_s6n37mMO8fQI7ehOoDpsDa9XL5bHtUl-n7j87velQQGbGBsL5hfLLs-2Nowkzh6-QaDeDYhAuWebYi3kszimpsI3PNW9kzvAfpWayXKfzXuGeZiXPcXhO7YM07CDYdeReYVi3i1tug_UIKI4bZeRgUCh/w400-h300/IMG_4381.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">She was all too soon becoming a "grey muzzle". It is just not fair that they don't live long enough.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYi1uDCb_ii6sXw0F2DfxXWhX4dxK5qOBfIiGJaCOPNf4OX5Hvbh9__iakcPYIp9eNGgui4OOShAt6Qs_OLcrAm9Cz6ThfitQUOh0WRKSmfMeaNLxw5kqvoyyk7D4gpKg4skEOqW_BsYAIhdrM5c_47IUgKFRuiP9XCgQ5Z8MKN0_CG9CsrqH1x19ZyD2V/s2048/IMG_2269.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYi1uDCb_ii6sXw0F2DfxXWhX4dxK5qOBfIiGJaCOPNf4OX5Hvbh9__iakcPYIp9eNGgui4OOShAt6Qs_OLcrAm9Cz6ThfitQUOh0WRKSmfMeaNLxw5kqvoyyk7D4gpKg4skEOqW_BsYAIhdrM5c_47IUgKFRuiP9XCgQ5Z8MKN0_CG9CsrqH1x19ZyD2V/w480-h640/IMG_2269.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">She had one really cute trick in her, sitting up as my sister commented "like a poodle". So cute!</span></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisgPlzN7DlB6JwDhvNTIpc7sT0Ydn891WFHyHi9CzckqDm4XeLNopfCp23Wus42IlCckQrh3KGDhVKF-EG0Dj2uZAI7_txxmFJs8zyoQui3gyCQPC5AuRBSr9v4NvqiDsmHTIi7cN-giIS8hZRzVu4-jUHkVdFWP-OQo7h1oP6d4brVmvRiz6TWtwsD9jG/s1213/Gryphon2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1213" data-original-width="741" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisgPlzN7DlB6JwDhvNTIpc7sT0Ydn891WFHyHi9CzckqDm4XeLNopfCp23Wus42IlCckQrh3KGDhVKF-EG0Dj2uZAI7_txxmFJs8zyoQui3gyCQPC5AuRBSr9v4NvqiDsmHTIi7cN-giIS8hZRzVu4-jUHkVdFWP-OQo7h1oP6d4brVmvRiz6TWtwsD9jG/w244-h400/Gryphon2.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">When we got her we did already have another dog, Monty, a Jack Russell Terrier. But he went to live with my Mother-in-Law during her final few years as she missed having a dog and liked him. Not long ago I brought another JRT into our lives, Oliver. They became bestest buds.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwCLyoWvaTKqbes8QwMb9Pe3ejFKv2AN3uTZLjEs5GlSBBqSJI8cvKNZf9WGGgSPflDz3UindSkaYdSLpqvZiJYojeQ7BaaqOkh3PYruzFmzL15Y_mNzN9u2aOt4BAbzrOsjIdNKTz0iyc1ouKiH0PFV3z4n-qXEbG161_Njs-iYeZQ1QBQ9HlU-7jesRJ/s2294/IMG_4124.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1370" data-original-width="2294" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwCLyoWvaTKqbes8QwMb9Pe3ejFKv2AN3uTZLjEs5GlSBBqSJI8cvKNZf9WGGgSPflDz3UindSkaYdSLpqvZiJYojeQ7BaaqOkh3PYruzFmzL15Y_mNzN9u2aOt4BAbzrOsjIdNKTz0iyc1ouKiH0PFV3z4n-qXEbG161_Njs-iYeZQ1QBQ9HlU-7jesRJ/w400-h239/IMG_4124.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">She was so very patient with him, even letting the short-haired dog snuggle up into her to keep warm. They've been pretty much obsessed with each other ever since. As I write this, the next morning, Oliver seems lost, wondering where his big sister is. </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqB_0Cg1WRF6gL1tO3FOyjp1x228s62IKRXEFF4FBmB7wQGhOngVIwvhZ9AHZgTRlZ3K0tnkVNj7-VaGLFL5gk3v6O2MJjsaE6kcR1PUaj2rZXrkpYECCnScaw92ni7wDVgZdbTnrkDYntMf7p8nHNDqRb7tcRRh8xBCLJqa90xNbTxx1_2WFeK1T0V_pN/s1944/IMG_4208.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="1618" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqB_0Cg1WRF6gL1tO3FOyjp1x228s62IKRXEFF4FBmB7wQGhOngVIwvhZ9AHZgTRlZ3K0tnkVNj7-VaGLFL5gk3v6O2MJjsaE6kcR1PUaj2rZXrkpYECCnScaw92ni7wDVgZdbTnrkDYntMf7p8nHNDqRb7tcRRh8xBCLJqa90xNbTxx1_2WFeK1T0V_pN/w333-h400/IMG_4208.jpeg" width="333" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Mutual competing for tossed snacks was mostly a friendly game.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="428" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wFxRUj83Z7c" width="514" youtube-src-id="wFxRUj83Z7c"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">She had not been showing any signs of disease, other than those first subtle indications of arthritis, common with aging. Rich informs me on the previous evening of her last day she did not eat all of the snack bones he gives both dogs as a night cap. In the morning I noticed she had slept on the floor by my side of the bed, which is unusual as she has a nice comfy kennel in the bedroom, complete with a thick dog mattress, and either sleeps in there, or jumps up onto the bed with us. She ate her breakfast that morning, and went outside like normal.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqgXT8TxPsfgt74uGQyww3ODtdL8fXM40W6cpnJS2AJ4qaowUdNRa20Vp9BKgg8QE65AFTq9bX6W1GJejLLa6-rQjFF1QXBJi5Ju1ebt4h40CPUxzdmTPhGT1F0mL2eB3m40IyZQKSHYXzWMeodovqJVHCTI5pO2_sgJXzwCbLtL1DLIfgDdrkiEaEPoor/s2048/IMG_5315.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqgXT8TxPsfgt74uGQyww3ODtdL8fXM40W6cpnJS2AJ4qaowUdNRa20Vp9BKgg8QE65AFTq9bX6W1GJejLLa6-rQjFF1QXBJi5Ju1ebt4h40CPUxzdmTPhGT1F0mL2eB3m40IyZQKSHYXzWMeodovqJVHCTI5pO2_sgJXzwCbLtL1DLIfgDdrkiEaEPoor/w400-h300/IMG_5315.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">By late morning I noticed she was so much more subdued. I even briefly though I should go find some of the leftover dog pain medicine I had upstairs, and maybe she was just feeling achy, like I do most days. By early afternoon, Rich tried to take her outside. She laid down on the porch and would not move. OK, something serious is going on. I looked at her gums, and they were terribly pale. Bleeding somewhere! I called her vet and they let us bring her in right away.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">They started an IV, gave her oxygen, took a blood panel, and assessed her non-invasive first. After her bloodwork, they did pull a syringe full of blood from her abdomen. Internal bleeding. We had already clearly confirmed that there was just NO WAY she had come into contact with any anti-coagulant rat poison. She lives in the house with us, and is never alone outside without us. It was the doctor's best guess without doing exploratory surgery or CAT scan (X-Ray would be useless in this situation) that she most likely had a tumor on her pancreas that had ruptured. She may be too weak for surgery, would most likely need a blood transfusion, and if surviving that would need chemo, all of which would probably only buy her a few short months. I decided instead to not put her through that.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">She was peacefully released to walk over the "Rainbow Bridge" after a very tearful goodbye from Rich and Me. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I wasn't ready to let her go so suddenly. </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgus_fGFdNVNLkA6OD1yvwKh7WyfU0iNe5bIJhIBq1SpTidxnGoc048167SqMtwDFDyKRdnlJMPQDfYMzsh4FwPyc1i4yBG32XxKyCeKw_kbedV2rZYW7m-lIsyGa5km7u5KYszVF_tnt5wJdi1acuu2opZpNx7ub598XrzR7ZEsHzjqSOUJs59mdeCneQb/s1858/IMG_5313.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1690" data-original-width="1858" height="582" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgus_fGFdNVNLkA6OD1yvwKh7WyfU0iNe5bIJhIBq1SpTidxnGoc048167SqMtwDFDyKRdnlJMPQDfYMzsh4FwPyc1i4yBG32XxKyCeKw_kbedV2rZYW7m-lIsyGa5km7u5KYszVF_tnt5wJdi1acuu2opZpNx7ub598XrzR7ZEsHzjqSOUJs59mdeCneQb/w640-h582/IMG_5313.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">She filled my home with love for almost 9 years. I may not have liked all the water she seemed to slop all over the floor with her abundant jowls, or the fur that balled up into dust bunnies just everywhere. If you vacated the bed and didn't flip the sheets back up, she would take the spot, then lick her paws excessively until she left a big wet spot on the bed. I will dearly miss her big goofy self. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Be at Peace my Sweet Girl! </span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">You gave us so much love, and we loved you back.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I'm sorry your time with us was not as long as it could have been.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdni-LTws0og8CvcXTytzQoR_ozNbsZxX7hZNx0WNbsCxuY2r_M4kNwBJqLKpSTws9ZzMiKenrxWkXva-lmUOznaWYJM3VuTQ-25YiXG65RBR8eheOnKb_mhRu8etKkh_VJXLnD2wHSYp3_2pj6710MDqcLIx2kikfRBDFvrftbVGJpAZX-vdjs4KRZZEf/s650/German-Shepherd-Puppy-Gryphon-2820.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="434" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdni-LTws0og8CvcXTytzQoR_ozNbsZxX7hZNx0WNbsCxuY2r_M4kNwBJqLKpSTws9ZzMiKenrxWkXva-lmUOznaWYJM3VuTQ-25YiXG65RBR8eheOnKb_mhRu8etKkh_VJXLnD2wHSYp3_2pj6710MDqcLIx2kikfRBDFvrftbVGJpAZX-vdjs4KRZZEf/w428-h640/German-Shepherd-Puppy-Gryphon-2820.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The above picture taken by </span><a href="https://www.barbaraobrienphoto.com/" style="font-size: large;" target="_blank">Barbara O'brien</a><span style="font-size: large;"> when Gryphon was just a puppy. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It so perfectly captures her sweet charm she carried with her during her whole life.</span><p></p></div>Phoenix Fire Falconryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08263206652386388429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558069136746009556.post-55069980306531727812024-02-25T17:29:00.001-06:002024-02-26T07:20:03.547-06:00<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">At one week I was to take my wound bandage off. I couldn't wait any longer on Sunday night, one day shy of the week goal. The whole thing just felt . . . wet. It was, with my own wound secretions. I ended up pulling out some of my 2-weeks of growth leg hairs on the bottom and around the edges of the side as the adhesive had just melted into a very sticky mess. It feels good to have it off. Now I can just keep it clean with changeable sterile dressings. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The whole process of removing that first dressing reignited my leg pain. I went to bed by 6 pm and slept all night with my leg elevated. The morning found me feeling better. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">It's a journey!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="589" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TrvcAq-KJss" width="434" youtube-src-id="TrvcAq-KJss"></iframe></div><br /> <p></p>Phoenix Fire Falconryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08263206652386388429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558069136746009556.post-78301549242191177462024-02-23T07:46:00.001-06:002024-02-23T07:46:33.733-06:00<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSMaTz_CXBehw3CaY76zA3RgYW5ibHAuDixZgktYhX3wO_OUkCM6VE_JXXr9DRy6KfS9G__6AErQVZvlSIf7H6ro5ovxMGj-RaQut2evC5wAGUmvzDCnphyphenhyphene5gNa9i6IAAhVCb-NjS7DkJ8cQIhVHigPA0IjOUEaZGNhxZXQSNAH-nnnn2d1gAihVsRJNr/s715/ezgif.com-animated-gif-maker.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="715" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSMaTz_CXBehw3CaY76zA3RgYW5ibHAuDixZgktYhX3wO_OUkCM6VE_JXXr9DRy6KfS9G__6AErQVZvlSIf7H6ro5ovxMGj-RaQut2evC5wAGUmvzDCnphyphenhyphene5gNa9i6IAAhVCb-NjS7DkJ8cQIhVHigPA0IjOUEaZGNhxZXQSNAH-nnnn2d1gAihVsRJNr/w640-h426/ezgif.com-animated-gif-maker.gif" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">On Thursday, February 22 I tried out my shower chair, surgery leg extended outside the shower. It felt good to wash my hair and get clean, and my wound stayed dry, but I still managed to get the floor all wet.</div><p></p>Phoenix Fire Falconryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08263206652386388429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558069136746009556.post-89201023391689666132024-02-21T08:14:00.008-06:002024-02-21T09:25:40.617-06:00Post-Op<p style="text-align: justify;">As I work on this posting, I am Day 2 post-op, at home, fairly pain free, and just a bit groggy from one of two narcotics I'm allowed during the acute recovery phase from my surgery. Today is technically the first day of my 12-week leave, although for the first week I have to take P-Time. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I'm on a schedule of Tylenol every 6 hours, and generic <a href="https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-16849/celebrex-oral/details" target="_blank">Celebrex</a>, which is a prescription-strength NSAID, my favorite pain drug of choice pre-surgery. It works the best for arthritis. I am also on a twice daily low-dose aspirin for blood thinning, to reduce the possibility of blood clots in my legs, and a short course of anti-biotics, which is actually participating in a study of some kind that I agreed to. I also have available to me some anti-nausea medication, and stool softener, although so far I have not needed those.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">By choice, I am pacing myself with the narcotics. At night I have to pretty much stick to a 4-hour window using one or the other as that is when pain is the worst. During the day I extend the 4-hour windows if I am able, instead also using stretching and massaging my leg, which helps, and also icing. I am normally a go-go-go kind of person. I need to discipline myself to not be in such a hurry for this. Tissues can only heal so fast.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW4P7IKVcfGTETFgpSL8bZAfD8iHz26vNaLDCPXmnl3HS9h_4Ggu0XsBp0X0PLvTGoiYHb8oebmbaZGyjrpnyGZ-8WcGiW6nfHnCdxMcko-9FQHNlzhyBWrJGxI6YelIjiMoCTYXbe3j9KoLYTk5ScrHiZPj3z2jT_qeWlk0sfNymnmT8QzdOotwkQ9HhN/s2048/IMG_5270.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW4P7IKVcfGTETFgpSL8bZAfD8iHz26vNaLDCPXmnl3HS9h_4Ggu0XsBp0X0PLvTGoiYHb8oebmbaZGyjrpnyGZ-8WcGiW6nfHnCdxMcko-9FQHNlzhyBWrJGxI6YelIjiMoCTYXbe3j9KoLYTk5ScrHiZPj3z2jT_qeWlk0sfNymnmT8QzdOotwkQ9HhN/w480-h640/IMG_5270.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This picture above was from the morning of surgery. I was in the pre-op area, fitted with my surgical gown, and getting my IV. Between these two pictures was all the rest of the procedure, for which I could not take any pictures. I was allowed to bring my cell phone with me, strapped to my arm, and I was listening to music through a new headset I bought for myself just for this situation. It was on "Do Not Disturb", so would not ring at any time while my surgeon, Dr. Perry, and his Team did their work. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I am so thankful I live at a time and location where we do have advanced surgical methods that can replace a worn out joint, and anesthetic medicine so I was unaware of the entire process. Once I arrived at the surgical suite, with the 8-10 people that were in the room, I was positioned to receive my spinal catheter, and shortly after it was all ZZZZZZZZZ for me. I woke up as they began to wheel me out of the surgery suite to make a quick stop at x-ray for updated pictures of my new knee.</div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNbZvXrK6xuIONahZV1PuE0zPvhFAGOMbXozhXS28_dFxAEMFMOCVpc_JKMbi6e-6dLUDOL2AuaQ2-LnFeKWL-ZZIlHMrEYTKnIYZHSpVyxnrulrL5g_JcQWpdWW6jkyjwlCsaYQS2V9mwuzCsqM6Ubqc3tFET2J211zpAd0eRCmVSiPLwpny1J_CqsvjH/s2048/IMG_5271.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNbZvXrK6xuIONahZV1PuE0zPvhFAGOMbXozhXS28_dFxAEMFMOCVpc_JKMbi6e-6dLUDOL2AuaQ2-LnFeKWL-ZZIlHMrEYTKnIYZHSpVyxnrulrL5g_JcQWpdWW6jkyjwlCsaYQS2V9mwuzCsqM6Ubqc3tFET2J211zpAd0eRCmVSiPLwpny1J_CqsvjH/w480-h640/IMG_5271.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Look at them!! A whole new joint inserted. How wonderful!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEXziN8Z5Jg2ZLFG2mV0mb08KzC5AzN05n-dYJQOdzbx_QSwN8HP_f2c0a-EWB0DOS0Pxb6xeydc2oEBE9ej3t60RZ6fONALv0SkY5IHm-IlWtRFEEdqkkLtBPWSnsAfdAa9JHG6qjKlA-aTSHIB3n8qT9CsmTk5hgFUBQznj6EYEO8SL4-HSttuvvEyLM/s971/IMG_5272.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="971" data-original-width="852" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEXziN8Z5Jg2ZLFG2mV0mb08KzC5AzN05n-dYJQOdzbx_QSwN8HP_f2c0a-EWB0DOS0Pxb6xeydc2oEBE9ej3t60RZ6fONALv0SkY5IHm-IlWtRFEEdqkkLtBPWSnsAfdAa9JHG6qjKlA-aTSHIB3n8qT9CsmTk5hgFUBQznj6EYEO8SL4-HSttuvvEyLM/w351-h400/IMG_5272.JPG" width="351" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYbBj8LPbIx2N1QCsJk9l6_RXptOBG7X-8lPgrUjHy-_jbo6wnT1vWo5_9XIG0j7FYqhl4XU0VbPPc4vbUUleY_QWa_WmXIYKUTnOo5W2oyYQx6CgWCvodN9iPrQhW3aXcmyFre9nhO1hNMeYW9YWj4rGXmvgfLjsh8juvmyO9a9jgis1oLfAlgGa3VPxA/s971/IMG_5273.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="971" data-original-width="823" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYbBj8LPbIx2N1QCsJk9l6_RXptOBG7X-8lPgrUjHy-_jbo6wnT1vWo5_9XIG0j7FYqhl4XU0VbPPc4vbUUleY_QWa_WmXIYKUTnOo5W2oyYQx6CgWCvodN9iPrQhW3aXcmyFre9nhO1hNMeYW9YWj4rGXmvgfLjsh8juvmyO9a9jgis1oLfAlgGa3VPxA/w339-h400/IMG_5273.JPG" width="339" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I then was moved to an orthopedic wing hospital room where I would complete my post-op progress, meet up with Rich, and get to eat and drink something. As I was working through my milestones for discharge I put my mascot shirt on, and also had given out a few of the stickers I had printed. The Physical Therapist was my last visitor, making sure I could stand up and move with a walker, and reviewed going up and down a short course of stairs so I could safely transition home. Then, with a pouch full of instructions, a quick stop by pharmacy for a bag FULL of drugs, I went home. Just like that!!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPjklcDrma1mwEEs6VkA7VJS8NPx0QkAKgQ72wkJqclEF6pRLzG-7F2xYPUfT4zza-au-YcenZhferfUBsMcqFeYzrOjhhAS0lWyUL0_CueeAWiJsUSQpfqzcmg9tX8igQHOLKhyphenhyphenHydXa3EWNg2UYKISli84-fJiy7HBuTRMRoqJcItxehPTykI3olUghR/s1280/IMG_5274.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPjklcDrma1mwEEs6VkA7VJS8NPx0QkAKgQ72wkJqclEF6pRLzG-7F2xYPUfT4zza-au-YcenZhferfUBsMcqFeYzrOjhhAS0lWyUL0_CueeAWiJsUSQpfqzcmg9tX8igQHOLKhyphenhyphenHydXa3EWNg2UYKISli84-fJiy7HBuTRMRoqJcItxehPTykI3olUghR/w480-h640/IMG_5274.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I'm sleeping a lot. It is what I should do. I have a wedge so my surgical leg is elevated when I sleep, and an ice machine to help keep the swelling down. Also, I have set up an hourly alarm on my phone to remind me to do my stretches. I have some home PT to accomplish. In a couple weeks I will have a follow-up to make sure I'm on track.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">On Day 1 post op I was allowed to take the compression dressings off. I would return the outer wrap for sleeping, as compression also helps to reduce the likelihood of blood clots. In 1-week I will be able to take the bandage off and actually see my new scar.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="444" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/v0SKCxA4bkU" width="534" youtube-src-id="v0SKCxA4bkU"></iframe></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">For something which is a pretty major surgery, it was all routine and streamlined.</div>Phoenix Fire Falconryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08263206652386388429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558069136746009556.post-30402640778166717592024-02-14T06:00:00.008-06:002024-02-14T11:50:47.138-06:00<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheTHnty24wSZhFRoXAQMkFoJC3bfgD-yqGlilSuKjHVlJsJvaAnbg93vvUSU8rIqWuhHMTFO85bjtCwOJJUlVEgGa9XpgOXWcyBLu1LXUdz1I4cMFNSoPNiRgJQ3-qfWBEm3nAydaftnHFlWMl6R_c52B-RwSJ_Y_g0-AAvSYbCaJ4B2QNF3dAnxwd1brF/s4000/CrowKneeFinal.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3902" data-original-width="4000" height="624" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheTHnty24wSZhFRoXAQMkFoJC3bfgD-yqGlilSuKjHVlJsJvaAnbg93vvUSU8rIqWuhHMTFO85bjtCwOJJUlVEgGa9XpgOXWcyBLu1LXUdz1I4cMFNSoPNiRgJQ3-qfWBEm3nAydaftnHFlWMl6R_c52B-RwSJ_Y_g0-AAvSYbCaJ4B2QNF3dAnxwd1brF/w640-h624/CrowKneeFinal.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;">On Monday, February 19, I go "under the knife"!</div><br />I have been having left knee pain for longer than I can recall. I'm not sure exactly, don't remember, when it was first diagnosed, but I know it wasn't a problem before I came to Minnesota, so has to be post 2010. I don't even recall it being an issue for the first 5 years as I was working at Winona. I think it has come on since my time at Mayo, so post 2015. I measure time according to WHERE I work. It is usually the easiest measure to mark time for me. <br /><br />When I first received the diagnosis of advanced arthritis, I recall being surprised. The pain felt like I had possibly torn something, but no, it is just the ravages of time, slowly slicing away at youth. I have managed it mostly with steadily increasing amounts of daily anti-inflammatory medications, NSAIDS, with ibuprofen being the best, and topical applications. Mostly, it has been managed fairly well, not interfering with my ability to move, to work, and to enjoy my passion of falconry, albeit not to any kind of heroic level. I get around, but seldom run anywhere.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">One of the first things I have asked my healthcare provider was if it could possibly be rheumatoid arthritis, as I have a positive maternal familial history for this. My mother, my aunt (her sister), and my grandfather all suffered from this disabling disease. There is a blood test for this. I have had it done twice, and both times it has come back negative. If twice, then I must have had an initial diagnosis when working at Winona, as I was under a different provider, different insurance, so maybe this all does date just prior to 2015. Anyway, it is apparently just good old-fashioned osteoarthritis . . . the inevitable injury of time and age and joints just wearing out. My most recent x-rays indicate my right knee is also affected, but it does not bother me nearly as bad as the left. The left has been a pain in my posterior for quite some time.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I did have fluid removed in 2019, steroid injections, and was fitted with and wore a professional knee/leg brace for awhile, but it healed up, and returned to its mostly tolerable level of pain. This all changed this last year between October and November. Since that time I have consulted with Orthopedic Surgery, and have been approved for Left Total Knee Arthroplasty. That's happening five days from now, from the writing of this post. I still have three work shifts to finish up, then will be on medical leave until mid May. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I am of a positive outlook, but still a bit nervous. This will be my first surgery that I can remember. I had tonsils removed probably around age 5 or so, I don't remember exactly, and definitely don't remember the details. After all my pre-op appointments a week ago, I decided I wanted a mascot for the whole affair, thus my cute little crippled crow up there. I have ordered a couple shirts for Rich and myself to wear as I am recovering. They should arrive by Thursday. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The surgery is proposed to me to be "day surgery". That just seems nuts!! After the procedure, which my surgeon says will take about 45 minutes, I will be moved to recovery where I will awake from anesthesia, then be moved to a hospital room. If through the day I meet goals of being awake and able to stand and move with aids, and most likely also demonstrate an awake bladder and bowel (a nice way of saying able to urinate and/or defecate) I will be discharged home with care by Rich. This is all under the Mayo umbrella, but I will actually be admitted to Methodist, which is the hospital downtown right by the Clinic. I work at Saint Marys, the original founding hospital of Mayo, about a half mile West of downtown Rochester, but all orthopedic surgery happens and patients recover at Methodist. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Here is a concise video of what will happen to my knee. This is a super cleaned up version. I have sought out actual procedure videos which are far more graphic. Let's just say I will be quite glad to be unconscious for all this. I don't want to hear the doctor sawing and pounding with hammers and drills, which he most definitely will be using.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="470" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IU7WZ5Yc_8U" width="566" youtube-src-id="IU7WZ5Yc_8U"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Interestingly to me, he will be using a robotic-assisted device. There are several of them in use, but his surgeon team member who has met initially with me (Mayo is a teaching hospital, so there are always new "baby docs" learning everywhere) told me they use one called VELYS. It is a more precise way to map the area of bone to be excised, and allows for extremely minute balancing of the hardware being installed. I did find a long video demonstrating this. Watch at your own discretion. This does show an actual surgery with exposed bones. Not everyone's cup of tea! While uploading it to this blog post I also find it is "age restricted" so you will have to follow the link to watch it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="488" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8y-vGLEpDjM" width="587" youtube-src-id="8y-vGLEpDjM"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I found this very interesting video below presented by a Mayo Orthopedic Surgeon from Jacksonville, Florida from 11 years ago. It covers some of my journey, although I never did the rooster comb injection. Also, the technology must have improved since then, as I am told my surgery will take about 45 minutes, and the plan is that I will NOT stay in the hospital but discharge the same day, if goals are met. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="476" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4Mk9GZ7-Dz8" width="572" youtube-src-id="4Mk9GZ7-Dz8"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I am also amazed that I will not be under general anesthesia. In other words, I'm not going to be totally konked out! I will be having an epidural for pain management, and will be administered a "twilight" medication, so will snooze through the procedure, monitored carefully by an anesthesiologist, but in a possibly arousable state. !!?? I trust this will be fairly similar to the colonoscopy I had a few years ago. I don't remember any of that either. It must be a drug that puts you into a sleepy state where you don't lay down any memories. Possibly <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/midazolam-injection-route/description/drg-20064813" target="_blank">Midazolam</a>. Maybe I'll find out exactly what that drug is this next week. Either way, I asked, and was told YES that I may wear a headset and listen to music, so, that is what I'm going to do!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Here is a very extensive video of placement of an epidural and/or spinal. WARNING - LOTS OF NEEDLES! The medical professional in me finds these kinds of videos very interesting! Respiratory Therapists are usually under the jurisdiction of the Anesthesia department, with a Medical Director in that field, although my own range of practice doesn't rub elbows with them. Patients under general anesthesia are intubated and on a ventilator operated and monitored either by an Anesthesiologist (doctor) or CRNA (nurse anesthetist), as that form of anesthesia does eliminate the respiratory drive. The kind of anesthesia I will be receiving will not require intubation, so will be much less invasive.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="493" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DtzI5bX7NyA" width="592" youtube-src-id="DtzI5bX7NyA"></iframe></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">What more can I say here! I will be under the care of some of the best doctors and nurses. After all, it is Mayo Clinic! I have trust in their skills and abilities. Since my approval for surgery I have found other people who have had the surgery, and they are all positive about their improved health. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I do so hope I have excellent outcomes, and will return to mobility and less/no pain. Losing this falconry season was very distressing. Hopefully this next season I will be fit on a new knee and a spring in my step.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><p></p>Phoenix Fire Falconryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08263206652386388429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558069136746009556.post-22763591472843474512023-12-17T08:32:00.001-06:002023-12-17T08:32:06.309-06:00Staying With a Friend<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="527" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Q8qASoPa6NI" width="634" youtube-src-id="Q8qASoPa6NI"></iframe></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I made the decision, and she was in agreement, for my falconry bird, Seneca, to go and stay with my friend Foxfeather for awhile. I have been out of the field fairly fast this season. I'm hoping to find a solution to my knee. As of this writing, I have an appointment tomorrow morning with Orthopedic Surgery. Maybe a new knee will return me to normal ambulation. Fox runs a foundation, as well as a wildlife rescue. Seneca was moved into her empty falconry mew. She will try to reclaim her for flying this season. My girl is definitely no longer at flight weight, and Fox will need to establish a relationship with her, as you can see on the video she does not recognize her authority! If all goes well, Seneca will come home after my recovery. </p>Phoenix Fire Falconryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08263206652386388429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558069136746009556.post-20150577823621964752023-12-12T07:55:00.012-06:002023-12-28T15:22:29.706-06:00Elimination<div style="text-align: left;">So my knee saga continues, but hopefully in a more positive direction.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNyABi9yhfX4LgKOlPGk9Y62tO567njv6ou0XanAxyL0sCkWgJQcyrin7BBkygDdecDcgpIPqGcGd_6NPlFhuxnClDNOYgyB-Wm8QIFTfsg4MkjFH80Z6T2gpwpkF92hpPFPeX0iuQrbN5CcMvO75V8WdEph9TH4v_ODhKCz_JI3dF9a7yFxVcfnDQ5m49/s2090/Leg%20Brace.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2090" data-original-width="1502" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNyABi9yhfX4LgKOlPGk9Y62tO567njv6ou0XanAxyL0sCkWgJQcyrin7BBkygDdecDcgpIPqGcGd_6NPlFhuxnClDNOYgyB-Wm8QIFTfsg4MkjFH80Z6T2gpwpkF92hpPFPeX0iuQrbN5CcMvO75V8WdEph9TH4v_ODhKCz_JI3dF9a7yFxVcfnDQ5m49/w288-h400/Leg%20Brace.jpeg" width="288" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;">I have come to believe that all this was kicked off by my receiving my fifth Covid-19 vaccination, with the difference being this year I received the Moderna version. All the times before it has been the Pfizer-BioNTech. I will state clearly that I am not "anti-vax" in any way, shape or form! All I know is that for me, in this particular situation, my extreme reaction happened after I received my booster this year. It almost feels and appears to me that I was stimulated into an auto-immune reaction, which targeted my weakest joint, my left knee, which has been diagnosed with arthritis even before 2019. I don't remember exactly when I got that original diagnosis. Maybe even back to 2015, or before I began working at Mayo. The knee pain has existed, and locks sometimes, and I have coped with it through abundant doses of NSAIDS, mostly Ibuprofen, some topical applications, and a great deal of just ignoring it.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This all changed recently!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I am documenting this timeline for my own purposes. These are my own subjective observations. Little of this is backed up with any kind of rigorous science, but then again, I'm the only one that has to live with the results. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>A TIMELINE OF EVENTS</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">* October 9-15 had Covid again, for the second time. The course of this illness was very mild, with mostly upper respiratory symptoms.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">* October 27 I twisted my right ankle. This is important to include because as a result of this I put extra, unnecessary strain on my already compromised left knee.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">* October 30 flu & Covid vaccinated, one in each arm. I had a very strong reaction to what I assume is the Covid shot, as I did get both at the same time, but have never had anything other than a sore arm for the flu. Was the strong reaction because I had just gotten over an active Covid infection? I would go on the next couple days to experience body-wide aching, especially in my lower extremities.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">* November 8 I pushed hard hawking. I regretted it terribly the next day. I have been mostly handicapped since that time for walking. I bought a cane to help me offload weight from my left knee.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">* I had excruciating pain over the work weekend of November 10, 11 & 12. Along with pain, I felt weakness, and an overall sense of dread. I was even having a difficult time controlling my emotions.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">* I called out sick for an OT shift I had previously agreed to on November 13.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">* I saw my physician assistant on Tuesday, November 14.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">* I was placed on work restrictions from 11/14 to 11/21. Along with that and my normal work schedule, I would have 12 days off from work to rest. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">* I was referred to Sports Medicine on November 20 for fluid removal and steroid injection. This helped the acute pain, but the chronic pain persists. Walking for any distance is still very difficult.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">* I pulled my professional knee brace out of storage, which I had received in 2019 when I had my first fluid removal and steroid injection with Sports Medicine. I have been wearing it at work. It helps when I have to be mobile for many hours.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">* I rejoined the DAHLC (Mayo employees' fitness center) and started attending on December 5 to strengthen some leg muscles, and just general physical exercise. Swimming is great!</div><div style="text-align: justify;">* As of December 11, I am off work for a week (actually 11 days) of pre-requested vacation time.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">* I have an appointment set on December 18 to see Orthopedic Surgery. Am I a candidate for a new knee?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I have come to believe that with the modified auto-immune response that I felt during the worst of this, my body's sensitivity to what I eat has been brought into laser focus. Specifically, anything with white flour. I have noticed in the last many years that consuming bread products seems to contribute to my arthritis, and I have reduced eating this. It is annoying, but not debilitating, and very depressing, as I do love good bread. Well, my body now seems to be extra primed to react to this food group. The question that I have now is what else?? Are there other foods I should avoid as well?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So in a quest for knowledge, for my 11 days off, I will be experimenting, and each day try something different, almost exclusively, other than also consuming items that I know are anti-inflammatory (vegetables, salad greens, bone broth, chicken, fish). My body will tell me the next day with pain if I need to avoid those foods.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Yesterday, I started this experiment with only having bone broth soup with onions, carrots, cabbage and some roasted chicken. This morning I feel . . . Good! I'm still morning stiff, like always, but nothing that a little stretching doesn't alleviate. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO0w_9DOxVTVm6f-KV8XziRKSUBjbepD7ciRrZa7LX6S3f-m080acCX8YIqCPr6I3oXPsh1EelgqYBiuwIFvZuUYr1aohwY4ES1ZfuANUpRrtf0qY1sQltrEQOQx0nskUpHCQQEc7iew5iRVoW0922GoM5JIhr59_EaraPyT9dzxiYyoy8sTqm-L-01H_9/s1860/IMG_5183.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1688" data-original-width="1860" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO0w_9DOxVTVm6f-KV8XziRKSUBjbepD7ciRrZa7LX6S3f-m080acCX8YIqCPr6I3oXPsh1EelgqYBiuwIFvZuUYr1aohwY4ES1ZfuANUpRrtf0qY1sQltrEQOQx0nskUpHCQQEc7iew5iRVoW0922GoM5JIhr59_EaraPyT9dzxiYyoy8sTqm-L-01H_9/w400-h363/IMG_5183.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Today I will have eggs. Probably a lot of them!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Results As It Progresses</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Eggs - Good/OK to Eat</div><div style="text-align: center;">Oatmeal - OK in limited quantity</div><div style="text-align: center;">Tomatoes - OK in limited quantity</div><div style="text-align: center;">Milk - No Go, Sadly! I reacted as strongly as I do to wheat/bread. 😞</div><div style="text-align: center;">(It was goat milk, and whole. Maybe I should try skim cow's milk)</div><div style="text-align: center;">Corn/Cornmeal/Corn Chips - OK in limited quantity</div><div style="text-align: center;">Cured Meats - Bacon, Sausage - Seems OK, but I won't eat much personal choice.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Rice - Sensitive, but maybe not as much as wheat and milk. Dry brown rice!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>On the List to Test</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Hard Cheeses</div><div style="text-align: center;">Pasta (is it as bad as bread??)</div><div style="text-align: center;">Yogurt / Sour Cream</div><div style="text-align: center;">Lentils</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Phoenix Fire Falconryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08263206652386388429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558069136746009556.post-25646968900071965252023-12-08T11:28:00.075-06:002024-03-18T19:08:58.549-05:00Nest Cams 2023-2024<div style="text-align: left;">Let's get this list started, as I am "grounded" and not doing any falconry (see previous post). I will add as the birds get their breeding schedules going. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsUpGA2wMQ3q17xshjQz_juDffDjZBIFT4Riw__4ucKQkyT4COQ89mMdzHLQVZNCx4cL3WzL9KwF4g7WWaYTE7OK1F9EX9xJ0ZStzQvlGVhBp-SJGxb2WmFM3RgAYbP5UQ0XZaafpW_0kz9r2NXAz_Aqll0vjevqMXBcB30qsm7K-G7C2arWduUHoPSlRR/s645/Egg%20Cup.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="645" height="347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsUpGA2wMQ3q17xshjQz_juDffDjZBIFT4Riw__4ucKQkyT4COQ89mMdzHLQVZNCx4cL3WzL9KwF4g7WWaYTE7OK1F9EX9xJ0ZStzQvlGVhBp-SJGxb2WmFM3RgAYbP5UQ0XZaafpW_0kz9r2NXAz_Aqll0vjevqMXBcB30qsm7K-G7C2arWduUHoPSlRR/w640-h347/Egg%20Cup.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Of course, it all starts with <b><u>Bald Eagles</u></b> down in the Southern States</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@WindowToWildlife/streams" target="_blank">WindowToWildlife - Captiva Eagles</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">First egg hatches 12/17/23.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Second egg hatching 12/19/23.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Parents are named Connie and Clive. Chicks are Cal and Lusa. On 2/16/24 Lusa dies of unknown reasons. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@SouthwestFloridaEagleCam" target="_blank">Southwest Florida Eagle Cam</a><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I believe this is the nest last year that lost the female, and the male raised his chicks by himself. There was a new female that showed up, and was in the periphery, but the male did all the work. I guess now she is the queen at the nest.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@EagleCountry/streams" target="_blank">Eagle Country</a><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Abby & Blaze. 2 chicks, Swampy and Meadow. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@wildliferescueofdadecounty/streams" target="_blank">Wildlife Rescue of Dade County</a><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@ETSUEagleCameras/streams" target="_blank">ETSU Eagle Cameras TN</a><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Boone and Jolene</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@FOBBVCAM/streams" target="_blank">FOBBVCAM Big Bear</a><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">First Egg 1/25/24 at 1655</div><div style="text-align: left;">Second Egg 1/28/24 at 1359</div><div style="text-align: left;">Third Egg!!! 1/31/24 at 1800</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">As of 3/12, no hatches for any of the eggs. :-(</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Oh My Goodness! For the last few days, early February 2024, there has been a major storm hitting California. Jackie (F) and Shadow (M) are the names for this pair of eagles. They have been buried in snow. They are taking turns to keep their eggs warm and safe.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge0wEVwxqCKC8iju0UwoYgF8Bv_NdjUwcontnSe6aBxFX5JmDm8VrNr4JU3f0ka3hEQ3KqsmbS-FJxkX57D791Kg4Gvjs5Rm1NrrALOA7o776cmIrCMRLNGw4qE2jpd4OKt9v3PZPmQ67Z-L9GsoRzFwKeHwvlUQglELi-oBLCsI5nk3T2f55g0laHK6D2/s1395/JackieSnow.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="818" data-original-width="1395" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge0wEVwxqCKC8iju0UwoYgF8Bv_NdjUwcontnSe6aBxFX5JmDm8VrNr4JU3f0ka3hEQ3KqsmbS-FJxkX57D791Kg4Gvjs5Rm1NrrALOA7o776cmIrCMRLNGw4qE2jpd4OKt9v3PZPmQ67Z-L9GsoRzFwKeHwvlUQglELi-oBLCsI5nk3T2f55g0laHK6D2/w640-h376/JackieSnow.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>This is not my video, but a good capture of all the snow covering Jackie up.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="358" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AHm_yM0nMEk" width="431" youtube-src-id="AHm_yM0nMEk"></iframe></div><br /><div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.raptorresource.org/birdcams/" target="_blank">Raptor Resource</a><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">North Nest</div><div style="text-align: left;">Egg #1 on 2/15/24 around 2:17 pm.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Egg #2 on 2/18/24 around 2:49 pm.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Hatchery Nest</div><div style="text-align: left;">They constructed a new nest out of camera range. :-(</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red;">Goose Cam</span> - It looks like they are shopping for a high tree nest again this year. Maybe even 2 pairs of geese looking for sky apartments.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Egg #1 laid in the night 3/9/24</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.raptorresource.org/trempealeau-eagles/" target="_blank">Trempealeau</a><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Mr. & Mrs. T</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/rnTsOesC6hE?si=ZP5qk7N1_lnFuoFK" target="_blank">Channel Islands - California</a><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Audacity & Jak</div><div style="text-align: left;">As of 3/16 something happened to their only egg, broken. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.littlemiami.org/baldeagleslive" target="_blank">Little Miami Ohio</a><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Bette & Baker</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@FriendsoftheReddingEagles" target="_blank">Friends of the Redding Eagles</a><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Liberty & Guardian</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://hdontap.com/index.php/video/stream/cardinal-land-conservancy-bald-eagle-nest-live" target="_blank">Cardinal Land Conservancy</a><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Bonnie & Clyde </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u>White Tailed Eagles</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@LatvijasDabasfondsOnline/streams" target="_blank">Latvia</a><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Two nests here (Kemeri & Durbe). Looks like one had collapsed, but is now being rebuilt.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Ay Jeeze!! First egg laid in one of these nests (Kemeri) on 3/10, but plopped down just outside the "rails", and there it remains. Mom on the nest, did pull at it a little, but insufficient effort/intelligence to pull that egg in under her. If it stays there it will freeze and be unviable. It stayed there!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">3 days later, 3/13, second egg arrives, this time in the bowl where it will be cared for. First one was never rescued.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This pair named Rasene (F) and Akacis (M).</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@komitetochronyoroweaglecon1326/streams" target="_blank">Komitet Ochrony</a><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">1st egg noticed on 3/8, but maybe laid previous day.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@orlanbeloxvost/streams" target="_blank">Orlanbeloxvost</a><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.vogelbescherming.nl/beleefdelente/zeearend" target="_blank">zeearend - Netherlands</a><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u>Golden Eagles</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@stelianbodnari/streams" target="_blank">stelianbodnari/streams</a><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Two choices here, and one looks to be active!!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@Kotkaklubi/streams" target="_blank">Kotkaklubi</a><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Estonia - I first noticed egg #1 on 3/17. Pair are Helju (F) & Kalju (M).</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u>Red-Tailed Hawk</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/ndnr3bwdRzE?si=ot7i5Z-hfl3a8yWW" target="_blank">Cornell Nest Cam 1</a><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/OjJELDvfOyA?si=F_mc9VRoB0CU_oie" target="_blank">Cornell Nest Cam 2</a><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Egg #1 arrived on 3/17 in the afternoon. Big Red sat tight for a long time before anyone could get a peek at the new egg.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@WindowToWildlife/streams" target="_blank">Windows To Wildlife</a><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Angel and Tom have been working on the nest, so hopefully chicks here this year.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u>Goshawks</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Culkof-YIcw" target="_blank">Latvia</a><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Nestorations in progress.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/skXe7mWaxTc?si=4ydYYtHkPOzRR2s3" target="_blank">Kanakull</a><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u>Red-Shouldered Hawk</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This nest is showing signs of "nestorations" so watch to see if it is occupied.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">As of 3/13/24 around 2 pm first egg laid.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Egg #2 on 3/16.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And Look! On 3/16 I finally saw the pair together. The male flew in and gave his mate a small snake. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqMUjomeKVUWhCUl5mYj1b4BqTzqNO-N0Q3kzAXfsgSQqLEeTnMrWtt5IdgvoYKw5u_jX45LQWVeQJhOBOWaZsrgArkjzRq74tRa5pw4TZcQ_dCtGDnJZJ3EQoTBCOzLits2DuljxMgRsXmFti-6ifFsTZSPbRmXubTI8Z5W3is4pYqUUb5CFOklPUDgE_/s811/Red%20Shoulder.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="649" data-original-width="811" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqMUjomeKVUWhCUl5mYj1b4BqTzqNO-N0Q3kzAXfsgSQqLEeTnMrWtt5IdgvoYKw5u_jX45LQWVeQJhOBOWaZsrgArkjzRq74tRa5pw4TZcQ_dCtGDnJZJ3EQoTBCOzLits2DuljxMgRsXmFti-6ifFsTZSPbRmXubTI8Z5W3is4pYqUUb5CFOklPUDgE_/w400-h320/Red%20Shoulder.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/4yqZ5mp4vu4?si=tDqTz3B6Qh_xLZHt" target="_blank">Red-Shouldered Wake Forest</a><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u>Peregrine Falcon</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Mayo Nest</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://history.mayoclinic.org/falcon-program/" target="_blank">Mayoclinic Falcon</a><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Great Spirit Bluff</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.raptorresource.org/birdcams/gsb-falcons/" target="_blank">Raptor Resource GSB</a><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Oh my goodness!! I just stumbled upon this myself while I was nest peeping on 3/12, and did capture it with my cell, but my video was not quality. Shortly after, Raptor Resource uploaded their own capture. Competition for good nest sites, a mate and hunting territory is quite fierce! The smaller male here is Newman. He's been at this site for several years, but been through several females. The current one on site is named Lisa, and she is banded, so they know where she came from. In this encounter an unbanded female thought maybe she could have this site. The two girls get into a serious fight over it. Ultimately, the unbanded female leaves. Newman is just there waiting to breed with whichever female prevails. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="475" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JB-jMhHqVFM" width="571" youtube-src-id="JB-jMhHqVFM"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Some pretty good cams in Italy (I think).</div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@birdcamit/streams" target="_blank">Birdcamit</a><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And just because I sometimes like to look in on a warm, flower-filled room, here is the live cam of the Sunken Garden at the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://comozooconservatory.org/mmc-sunken-garden-live/?fbclid=IwAR2Fr7BK3iAtKWA3L3iUfeRGqq9jPk9AE9GPVEJn2db5QQyAADTFDsO3J0A" target="_blank">Como Zoo Conservatory</a><br /></div></div>Phoenix Fire Falconryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08263206652386388429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558069136746009556.post-26555976144179814222023-11-19T08:52:00.005-06:002023-11-20T12:07:58.499-06:00Benched!!<div style="text-align: justify;">For now, as I write this, Sunday, November 19, my 2023/2024 Falconry Season has come to a crashing halt. It remains to be seen if I will be able to salvage any part of it. I hope so . . . because sitting in the house right now is driving me nuts!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">For quite a few years I have been dealing with advancing arthritis, especially in my left knee. For the most part, I've been able to work around the pain, and can still walk, and perform my daily tasks of self-care and housework, as well as work full time at a job that sometimes has me on my feet quite a bit. This has come to a screeching halt as of November 9.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">To my mind, it is actually a stacking of events and conditions, as I still suspect there may be more going on right now than just the debility of my leg. That remains to be seen after tomorrow. I will be seeing Dr. Stephen Wisniewski, a physiatrist, for removal of fluid, and hopefully a game plan on what to do next. Unfortunately, I may be looking at a knee replacement at some point in my not too distant future. The longer I can put that off, the better, but returning to normal walking would be the first goal. For now, I'm using a cane, and just treading across the yard is a challenge. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So, how about some medical pictures. These are my x-rays from this last Wednesday, November 15. The first one is anterior (the front side of me). Look at the lack of space on that left knee, which is on the right on the picture. Those two bones are NOT SUPPOSED TO TOUCH!!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdD229pbkp1Q_kD0SqXlc6XIFP5Kqwc_kXlw0KusADcbtXVHIcc0QElwRd9hzrMC9jnZGLwfAEbozSytkMvHzwZiJq5JHvn90kdcPPFSnSaHEJRv9ehZJJdvFz4rV9P23RLf86YfWJk-4pUj6_UtjLOQUjIKqjgr9Usnfg7D0IJwHUTp1Ng9mVsl5rN4UP/s800/xray1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="793" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdD229pbkp1Q_kD0SqXlc6XIFP5Kqwc_kXlw0KusADcbtXVHIcc0QElwRd9hzrMC9jnZGLwfAEbozSytkMvHzwZiJq5JHvn90kdcPPFSnSaHEJRv9ehZJJdvFz4rV9P23RLf86YfWJk-4pUj6_UtjLOQUjIKqjgr9Usnfg7D0IJwHUTp1Ng9mVsl5rN4UP/w634-h640/xray1.jpg" width="634" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Here is the view posterior. This time that troublesome knee is on the left. Compare the space difference between the two, and you can see how that left knee joint is just rubbing away, causing all kinds of trouble for me.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ08RUynhRHgpXkGtU58P-gSZq-vl0RkN8RKxRgpQ4acISra-kwmbR4-vrceQ1Wudm3y6lBoB9kTE0jFfOadYKmYwpTD3-Z4WWpyhw3S7jDMe0yd4atnrxynKZfozHC-gn9c7C0aaoCXg-L1OMZRha46p1bj8bklchgTfiU8Bhwexfh5mVgN7DmTpIX3-U/s756/xray2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="728" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ08RUynhRHgpXkGtU58P-gSZq-vl0RkN8RKxRgpQ4acISra-kwmbR4-vrceQ1Wudm3y6lBoB9kTE0jFfOadYKmYwpTD3-Z4WWpyhw3S7jDMe0yd4atnrxynKZfozHC-gn9c7C0aaoCXg-L1OMZRha46p1bj8bklchgTfiU8Bhwexfh5mVgN7DmTpIX3-U/w616-h640/xray2.jpg" width="616" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Below is a lateral (side) view taken as I lay down on the x-ray table. It mentally hurts me just looking at what I feel all the time.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmX5MFsEIu2FtlyBogFo9C7kZVjTq8zwAwnc4CK5ViTWGiOXWUlXPatvfaTIqqg11W2eLXryOP2mzL1gp-bWyWPktMdcWj5qfOtYHNuXgX7_Xk4tTzmWQLK77k-2w1QLYny7Oe40qbT38HWK5fPLsJzMQsbKb00cibqZ-TkzMrxR5YUkh2eKGqRXmje_7Q/s931/xray3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="931" data-original-width="841" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmX5MFsEIu2FtlyBogFo9C7kZVjTq8zwAwnc4CK5ViTWGiOXWUlXPatvfaTIqqg11W2eLXryOP2mzL1gp-bWyWPktMdcWj5qfOtYHNuXgX7_Xk4tTzmWQLK77k-2w1QLYny7Oe40qbT38HWK5fPLsJzMQsbKb00cibqZ-TkzMrxR5YUkh2eKGqRXmje_7Q/w578-h640/xray3.jpg" width="578" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">According to my medical record, the radiologist that read these "films" (funny to call them that, because x-rays are no longer developed like old-school photography, but is all digital now), what you are looking at above is:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i>"Tricompartmental arthritis left knee with marked medial compartment narrowing. Advanced patellofemoral arthritis. Moderate effusion or synovitis. Degenerative changes, right knee."</i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I'm hoping after the procedure tomorow, and maybe some physical therapy, I can at least regain somewhat normal ambulation. Whether it will be good enough to return me to uneven fields and falconry is the daunting question. If I had any other bird, I would cut them lose and just focus on my own recover, however I have found in Seneca a bird that I truly would like to hang onto for awhile. I feel bad that I cannot offer her free flight right now, but there is no way I can chase after her. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As for other concerns, some aspects of my physiology are sympathetically joining in on the pity party. Leading up to the day all of this changed, I had mildly sprained my right ankle stepping into the street in front of my house, resulting in my almost face-planting. Because of this, I put extra unwanted strain on my compromised left knee, which probably helped to exacerbate the situation. Also, I received my yearly flu and Covid vaccination a few days prior. I found out later, from my primary healthcare provider, that the Covid booster offered this year was different from what the staff have received in the last couple years. I did have a very strong reaction to it, body wide aching. However I sucked it up, and on Wednesday, November 8, I flew my bird for the last time this season, so far. I pushed myself because she was ready, and it was a nice day, even though I didn't feel the greatest. For her part, she did smack a rabbit in the very thick brush we were working, but strangely as I toddled my way over to her, not quick enough, she lost her grip and it got away. She must not have had a very good hold of it through all the bramble. We hunted a little longer, but I was just in so much pain I called it a day early. I was just about bed-ridden the next day.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I have been dealing with the leg pain, but I'm also having pain from my low back into both legs, and they feel strangely weak. I also fatigue very easily right now. I really don't know what is going on, and maybe after my procedure tomorrow, and some physical therapy, I'll be on the mend. I hope so, because Google gives up so many horrifying alternatives. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">For now, I'm benched. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Hopefully not for the whole season . . . and definitely hopefully not for good. </div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">UPDATE 11/20/2023</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Procedure today in Sports Medicine. My doctor removed 73mL of synovial fluid from that joint space. He joked that it was a record for him, and that I deserved a trophy. I'll just be happy with return to functionality. In its place, I received a steroid injection. Now I am home resting my leg, with several more days off. Hopefully the healing commences.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdNgNystUyvuXREKaQc5P1WqSzBXSEdzC8VcA-HsQiSzBLDWaV5-cZZuxcKmkls5GdOMOFnRQc6ESMPh1uPgIpTRPAbiOFAWmR3O-NW_4yErovpP7CKaYNDlpbpwxML0KV2eCBoUkp0V4xlxyty97Wb_XrHmQUD2Nvop9SQ0Om1YdsVBKOir4QJCtbDW2z/s1861/IMG_5136.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1689" data-original-width="1861" height="580" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdNgNystUyvuXREKaQc5P1WqSzBXSEdzC8VcA-HsQiSzBLDWaV5-cZZuxcKmkls5GdOMOFnRQc6ESMPh1uPgIpTRPAbiOFAWmR3O-NW_4yErovpP7CKaYNDlpbpwxML0KV2eCBoUkp0V4xlxyty97Wb_XrHmQUD2Nvop9SQ0Om1YdsVBKOir4QJCtbDW2z/w640-h580/IMG_5136.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Phoenix Fire Falconryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08263206652386388429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558069136746009556.post-61638664337991139252023-11-16T11:48:00.023-06:002024-03-14T11:45:16.624-05:00Bird Feeders
<p>Recently I have been spending a fair bit of time at my computer having started up knitting again. I enjoy pulling up YouTube videos of live bird web cams to listen to, so decided to make a list to pull from for my own use. Click if you like.</p><p><br /></p><p> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@syrpentina/streams" target="_blank">Syrpentina New Jersey USA</a></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@justbill/streams" target="_blank">Justbill North Carolina</a><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@BirdWatchingHQ" target="_blank">BirdWatchingHQ - Ohio, South Africa, Czech Republic</a><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@CornellBirdCams" target="_blank">CornellBirdCams - Multiple</a><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@cedarviewbirds1210/streams" target="_blank">Cedarview birds - Lancaster, PA</a><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@NashvilleBirdCam/streams" target="_blank">Nashville Bird Cam</a><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpqNNOW29m0" target="_blank">North Texas</a><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@PixCams" target="_blank">PixCams - Multiple</a><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@stuarttingley/streams" target="_blank">Stuarttingley - New Brunswick</a><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@CanadianBirdNerd" target="_blank">CanadianBirdNerd</a><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@RedSquirrelStudios/streams" target="_blank">RedSquirrelStudios - High Definition Finland</a><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@LiveBirdsPoland" target="_blank">LiveBirdsPoland</a><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@hansnatuurkanaal" target="_blank">hansnatuurkanaal - Netherlands</a><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@iguanadanbirding" target="_blank">Iguana Dan Birding</a><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@mojavebirdlife" target="_blank">Mojave Birdlife California</a><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@gettysburglivecam9188/streams" target="_blank">Gettysburglivecam</a><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@BrownvillesFoodPantryForDeer/streams" target="_blank">Brownvilles Food Pantry For Deer (Birds too)</a><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@FoothillsBirds/streams" target="_blank">Foothills Birds</a></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@mustangrunfeeder" target="_blank">Mustang Run - Florida</a><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@c-valo/streams" target="_blank">c-valo - Key Largo, Florida</a><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@birdsofpooleharbour/streams" target="_blank">Birds of Poole Harbour - Dorset, South England</a><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@user-nq2pb9kg1r/streams" target="_blank">Far East somewhere - Can't read!</a><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@BadgerlandBirding" target="_blank">Badgerland Birding - Wisconsin and Many Locations</a></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.viewbirds.com/feeders.htm" target="_blank">Viewbirds.com/feeders</a><br /></p>Phoenix Fire Falconryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08263206652386388429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558069136746009556.post-36109705408129699952023-11-01T20:02:00.005-05:002023-11-01T20:04:02.246-05:00Second Bunny to the Bag<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="522" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5X7yhRO7N0w" width="625" youtube-src-id="5X7yhRO7N0w"></iframe></div><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwn-H8Co7L6NVFFM6eaJXHmxhPY4uNatAueqRWB8yx5hnMVS5ajrzFHjg0QSgjbEp2ENSvdEzTdi0beCycH3y-FFigxyw8lrziLvxjsM3sMTRCCTL8_rllHYkpCI7PgzAFARP4FfeROgcL8eE13Mdpg53CpKf7FCBxL6HV9ooOsvk7pxwPf7UVZ2fYlrig/s2048/375754294_1058070672020639_6188580935440987735_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwn-H8Co7L6NVFFM6eaJXHmxhPY4uNatAueqRWB8yx5hnMVS5ajrzFHjg0QSgjbEp2ENSvdEzTdi0beCycH3y-FFigxyw8lrziLvxjsM3sMTRCCTL8_rllHYkpCI7PgzAFARP4FfeROgcL8eE13Mdpg53CpKf7FCBxL6HV9ooOsvk7pxwPf7UVZ2fYlrig/w480-h640/375754294_1058070672020639_6188580935440987735_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEIhTfW2BWob6VK806IUKf3WtDjUBJiIyUiTF7fQlryqMnzeOgeZV9rOSEgQID2A40eKb_qYmvQgwJYZP-ARJIuqBtj_rIA8-mZfV1IRFu8BPjQ4_7YWAT-Oh4UMlGhf4bdOVrDyT9cdx0aW4Ji5AH7BEW6qGXDbgtsQG7lmEVaM5yrUpm7rF7arKxgC5P/s2048/395102204_1062912784732724_5853250095893475888_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEIhTfW2BWob6VK806IUKf3WtDjUBJiIyUiTF7fQlryqMnzeOgeZV9rOSEgQID2A40eKb_qYmvQgwJYZP-ARJIuqBtj_rIA8-mZfV1IRFu8BPjQ4_7YWAT-Oh4UMlGhf4bdOVrDyT9cdx0aW4Ji5AH7BEW6qGXDbgtsQG7lmEVaM5yrUpm7rF7arKxgC5P/w480-h640/395102204_1062912784732724_5853250095893475888_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Phoenix Fire Falconryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08263206652386388429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558069136746009556.post-61369493160085092612023-10-29T05:30:00.001-05:002023-10-29T05:46:23.372-05:00First Bunny for 2023-2024 Season<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6U7VrEi4VMgdHu4GC3KBm1yDKiVchzdBUM3cYE1Yy-rN6rj1O-VN_K8JyTdHa2a0bo8lAxxzRiliudyOcnnF7Ye6XdOjw62yFfegclJaWf6HinSTIOeLLfv7XvgFzkdx1Dj3S9Rcf3WT50WTrkuIAums2bweC0U9GcDcWCdmX21dAKGOCngitD1QHNhht/s3485/First%20Bunny%2023-24.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3397" data-original-width="3485" height="624" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6U7VrEi4VMgdHu4GC3KBm1yDKiVchzdBUM3cYE1Yy-rN6rj1O-VN_K8JyTdHa2a0bo8lAxxzRiliudyOcnnF7Ye6XdOjw62yFfegclJaWf6HinSTIOeLLfv7XvgFzkdx1Dj3S9Rcf3WT50WTrkuIAums2bweC0U9GcDcWCdmX21dAKGOCngitD1QHNhht/w640-h624/First%20Bunny%2023-24.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Seneca has resisted my efforts to bring her to last year's flight weight, but consistently returns to the low 1410s, and is responsive enough at that weight. I decided to go ahead and start our season. First flight was in my yard, mostly to verify her quick response to the lure. The second effort found her very distracted by squirrels, but the cover was so thick to disallow much contact. Third effort was at the park in Spring Grove, where on an unusually warm day we didn't see any squirrels, so moved to Sprague Woods in Caledonia, where we moved nothing.</div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNjGpTllwlQoJDTo18OkGdMYKQAAk5bRGlID4Ui0jcxp4a7yLfm-ERdf2d9uVsC4Vb6s7B98_zHPP_VJ-r9DVIBwha0itJQDq4-Ptsi35DuI-KiXj0Wd5filBHMRmLAOVzmN4YAms22hZn7gNk35e7t9BrOWCTrORFcw7hQFL_8BJ1LqdRXqwWI4_P6b0i/s3626/First%20Bunny%2023-24a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3061" data-original-width="3626" height="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNjGpTllwlQoJDTo18OkGdMYKQAAk5bRGlID4Ui0jcxp4a7yLfm-ERdf2d9uVsC4Vb6s7B98_zHPP_VJ-r9DVIBwha0itJQDq4-Ptsi35DuI-KiXj0Wd5filBHMRmLAOVzmN4YAms22hZn7gNk35e7t9BrOWCTrORFcw7hQFL_8BJ1LqdRXqwWI4_P6b0i/w640-h540/First%20Bunny%2023-24a.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">On our fourth free flight on Thursday October 26 in the brushy area by the fairgrounds in our little town, we moved several bunnies, and she contacted with the approximate fourth one flushed to start the season. I let her crop up to a ridiculous amount to remind her how rewarding following me and pursuing what I flush can mean for her.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkGsrTLLG62EmNY_j1Lyn2kAu1gmob5Go2Gq1stslK4KgIsZvaO7RYeg7xbsMLO8liTxXPOXb9JKpDnoy50g1KmvxvJ_Tcro8wITPjfljnqaUi0bczq5aXQHGpjVj0Fnkgvz2ec8jBc9qY0iJurc9QJzxYr27km2Y790pipP7GKe_W_A59Xwfe8NzsInRS/s4671/First%20Bunny%2023-24b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3852" data-original-width="4671" height="528" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkGsrTLLG62EmNY_j1Lyn2kAu1gmob5Go2Gq1stslK4KgIsZvaO7RYeg7xbsMLO8liTxXPOXb9JKpDnoy50g1KmvxvJ_Tcro8wITPjfljnqaUi0bczq5aXQHGpjVj0Fnkgvz2ec8jBc9qY0iJurc9QJzxYr27km2Y790pipP7GKe_W_A59Xwfe8NzsInRS/w640-h528/First%20Bunny%2023-24b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Phoenix Fire Falconryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08263206652386388429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558069136746009556.post-10082385041257261382023-10-28T05:17:00.006-05:002023-10-28T05:33:25.377-05:00What I Did on My Autumn Vacation<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #ffd966; color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">What I Did on My Autumn Vacation</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I often use this blog as a diary of life, because so many of my memories just slip away if I don't document them. It is my normal habit to take my long "priority" vacation from work sometime around the beginning of October. In many years, this is prime hawk trapping time, and also the time of year to get any current hawk on the wing for the season. Mostly, I have been using this time to just get some stuff done. As of the start of this posting I still have a week of time left. I hope to get Seneca, my current falconry bird, flying next week. I have mostly been doing a lot of organizing and de-cluttering, but trying to fit in some fun stuff too. Unfortunately, I did have a bout of Covid take me out for a few days. I recovered quickly, but it kept me from mingling much out in public so I would not share. It also limited some activities with Fox and Roman, as I especially did not want to share with them. They have a trip planned next month and I don't want to be the one that prevents that because I am generous with the most recent version of the virus going around. More on that later.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjMV1E8BkhR2Y0Ms8gUhnJpeygxjPbPP2rP2_9Dm8N-dZ3jRL3Ywt7nxXYJ3cnylyWceTNL4bJWyB-vROTAfzVI8s-MznxV-UpLx8G4fCCN2xBRor_HhMnWFFywTWJl6_LiK8i7qcJbqMwtpoZ0kGTqugnElb-ElS02TqGSDjp95jf7SQqneCxgmGlp6_2/s3088/IMG_4987.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjMV1E8BkhR2Y0Ms8gUhnJpeygxjPbPP2rP2_9Dm8N-dZ3jRL3Ywt7nxXYJ3cnylyWceTNL4bJWyB-vROTAfzVI8s-MznxV-UpLx8G4fCCN2xBRor_HhMnWFFywTWJl6_LiK8i7qcJbqMwtpoZ0kGTqugnElb-ElS02TqGSDjp95jf7SQqneCxgmGlp6_2/s320/IMG_4987.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I was able to start my 2.5-weeks off by leaving early on the morning of October 2. I took a picture of myself in my hot tub, thumbs up for the start of my vacation. I also took a picture of the Eastern horizon, with Venus shining in the dawn sky.</div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZXz3Ef1VKoSjLisNvzMNUTmHRdhODkuXc0hbJVVJbGlFwf7_597tQdOVUjzMRE3PoPcrGFGy1_r8qvBus3Dtjh0pXnT7aqz37EhPjpRKPKjpzOSZEikvqGh6SETYDfvNAV7Z4HWfRF1KRMLOOJFXe4tf7KzzK8tNe7LQh8tSlvWQLR8hlDXm43-EhZnvs/s4032/IMG_4988.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZXz3Ef1VKoSjLisNvzMNUTmHRdhODkuXc0hbJVVJbGlFwf7_597tQdOVUjzMRE3PoPcrGFGy1_r8qvBus3Dtjh0pXnT7aqz37EhPjpRKPKjpzOSZEikvqGh6SETYDfvNAV7Z4HWfRF1KRMLOOJFXe4tf7KzzK8tNe7LQh8tSlvWQLR8hlDXm43-EhZnvs/w480-h640/IMG_4988.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">After a couple hours of sleep I awoke, and quickly jumped into a project that has been wanting to be done for some time. The arrangement of the bedroom I share with Rich has been bothering me for awhile. The heating/AC vents into and return ducts out of the room have been mostly blocked by the arrangement of and then clutter. In order to address this problem I found a free program online that allowed me to map my room and the furniture that needed to stay in there. I was able to print a concept of what I wanted the room to look like. It would take a week, but I did get Rich to help me make it a reality shortly after the design. Previously I had addressed the location of the big dog's kennel (each dog has their own bed in the bedroom for the humans), which had blocked Rich's access to his side of the closet, which was then mostly under utilized. With that fixed, I set my sights to fix the rest of the room.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY8ZvZavCV1VrryqLG_iIILhLeE-G8xQf_znb3NA7I1Vu43NJgOZzLwvNeb8jaK-oFJKOYHi-sL3n5EiIVPv8sUu694JxF3uHZFQNDODdZ8VOtiVocIJZKeqdqpSGKrNDpqcAh5pnmW3UxBQq-Kfa7XGqIoq2dBE7lTTgxM1j6qD386hQjzmVT_rfFCEO3/s1459/room%20map.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1058" data-original-width="1459" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY8ZvZavCV1VrryqLG_iIILhLeE-G8xQf_znb3NA7I1Vu43NJgOZzLwvNeb8jaK-oFJKOYHi-sL3n5EiIVPv8sUu694JxF3uHZFQNDODdZ8VOtiVocIJZKeqdqpSGKrNDpqcAh5pnmW3UxBQq-Kfa7XGqIoq2dBE7lTTgxM1j6qD386hQjzmVT_rfFCEO3/s320/room%20map.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Almost fortuitously, I heard a timely podcast from a show that I follow on NPR (Radiolab). It addressed the concept of living a long life, as in the experience of time dilation. Apparently, the concept revolves around doing new things. Our brain feels like it has done so much more when we are laying down new memories. When we go about our routine, doing tasks that we have experienced many times, our concept of time speeds up or just blurs out, but when we are having novel experiences the passage of time can slow down. Here is a link to that podcast. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wnycstudios.org/story/secret-long-life/" target="_blank">Secret to a Long Life</a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I decided to try and fill my vacation with new activities, as much as was possible and within budget. A quick phone call to my best friend Darla found that she didn't have anything going on in her life, any commitments for any jobs (she house and pet sits) for a few days, so she spontaneously tossed an overnight bag into her Blazer and drove into the night to come visit us for a few days. It allowed me to tick off one thing on my life list that I've wanted to experience. I'll just leave this image. I know what it means!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOrEdp2dDuk8585UFFGXyYKHePHbbT_RsqkhNG_t0hEMBHzg3sHUEoVWygNv0QAmDr-WY4XoWBtgle8CZ7FCtJ2Jlv1w6gIM83YxKVliQ34ZGvEuWtgGDdUR6bMJYQcCn0Iy5OvTccoaNSTWwR2VSD1hK65TRvTpD9-1BK4o5amZufOjh7Gzk_Tj8ksXfg/s309/Native%20Care.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="173" data-original-width="309" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOrEdp2dDuk8585UFFGXyYKHePHbbT_RsqkhNG_t0hEMBHzg3sHUEoVWygNv0QAmDr-WY4XoWBtgle8CZ7FCtJ2Jlv1w6gIM83YxKVliQ34ZGvEuWtgGDdUR6bMJYQcCn0Iy5OvTccoaNSTWwR2VSD1hK65TRvTpD9-1BK4o5amZufOjh7Gzk_Tj8ksXfg/s1600/Native%20Care.jpg" width="309" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">With Darla watching our place for a day or so, Rich and I struck out on a quick day's trip up North. My goal there accomplished, I bought him a tasty dinner at an Irish Pub in Saint Cloud, the Olde Brick House. Of course, he got the bangers and mash, which is what he normally gets. It's one of his favorites! The whole idea of finding an Irish Pub wherever you go reminds me of this song:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="399" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/H53p6lYM-h0" width="481" youtube-src-id="H53p6lYM-h0"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Unfortunately, I couldn't buy him a "pint", as he was driving, although I usually do when we go to a pub for dinner. There were no bodhrans being played, but there was some sporting event on the TV. Rich was positioned to see it. I don't really care! I had my usual, Irish Stew. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKlcO9ibWfS2Hi-YkgaUxIaA7mCjdWZLhN2CuUmDOTdeSYcYaR-A7G9PKnBVLj13f_q-cbJ0vaWtYHBIXr0BKw7DL0N2jZV-bVq1GGvwITqZ7ILbJ5XNnIRCRpLCueoT6gdMbOAg2E3T9LqqrSKiaSmjPCSrUEIMHp3I-PzB5YEhaGaMNJ8Y2k0OyvNTqJ/s4032/IMG_4992.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKlcO9ibWfS2Hi-YkgaUxIaA7mCjdWZLhN2CuUmDOTdeSYcYaR-A7G9PKnBVLj13f_q-cbJ0vaWtYHBIXr0BKw7DL0N2jZV-bVq1GGvwITqZ7ILbJ5XNnIRCRpLCueoT6gdMbOAg2E3T9LqqrSKiaSmjPCSrUEIMHp3I-PzB5YEhaGaMNJ8Y2k0OyvNTqJ/w640-h480/IMG_4992.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">After returning home we spent the next day enjoying our friendships, with Darla as our guest, and then taking her that evening to share dinner with Fox & Roman. I don't have a lot of friends, but the few I have are very close. The next morning Darla had to return to her life, so we ticked off another thing I have wanted to do for a long time but hadn't yet, and we went to breakfast at a restaurant in La Crosse, called The Breakfast Club. It is 80s themed (our generation), with emphasis on John Hughes movies (think The Breakfast Club, and Ferris Bueller's Day Off). It was a fun breakfast!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.breakfastclub-pub.com/" target="_blank">The Breakfast Club</a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz3RuJcjvqhaAKU0tep9sxyKegMCxFyfU7p9_0XUI938Nfn7mH_5Mj1zicWJvhkJTjbs_Kzb9evtnnCMxYNoeaBNXPQyA2ZBMNx4GNuGdTMU6Qd3bak5CnjjEjJHOAUzrRWwbdRFtZDaSryc5wVi-r-bxxINaLZALqrMMX3u1ZMTa3_veoaiWHH4K4cVQF/s4032/IMG_5003.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz3RuJcjvqhaAKU0tep9sxyKegMCxFyfU7p9_0XUI938Nfn7mH_5Mj1zicWJvhkJTjbs_Kzb9evtnnCMxYNoeaBNXPQyA2ZBMNx4GNuGdTMU6Qd3bak5CnjjEjJHOAUzrRWwbdRFtZDaSryc5wVi-r-bxxINaLZALqrMMX3u1ZMTa3_veoaiWHH4K4cVQF/w480-h640/IMG_5003.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Rich and I both had tater tot dishes, which were scrumptious! Oh look, a Rubik's Cube to play with. There was also a Where's Waldo on the wall. I never did spot that bastard while we waiting for our food.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhICTXi6yRbsRl2zyijW5vIokEt5YMv_GY1dk_igjcVwouszYZteIZtyjxjw0l1zEUsxkQNAvQ1IUkFH2zORW4ZE-G_Y8hPmuqahbXwJjpxDn-mOp1vVFFUpMJagNUMOJQfUnQpUni7nOkHUTuhyuyqoe_2DBUclNYBxqdim4jdHJsdAJSiAzm1oPh8ADoz/s4032/IMG_5004.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhICTXi6yRbsRl2zyijW5vIokEt5YMv_GY1dk_igjcVwouszYZteIZtyjxjw0l1zEUsxkQNAvQ1IUkFH2zORW4ZE-G_Y8hPmuqahbXwJjpxDn-mOp1vVFFUpMJagNUMOJQfUnQpUni7nOkHUTuhyuyqoe_2DBUclNYBxqdim4jdHJsdAJSiAzm1oPh8ADoz/w640-h480/IMG_5004.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Breakfast accomplished, Darla headed home, and we probably went and picked up some auction items.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEu9xK3_RoVnc0B3r4A81NKqYg4io7Ut5IpsMsYeuxyrhWm3YRoW9ZMAFFpHIddetyDjjVFhKdN7N6AHH9Z33wajGsE3fbvOdPafi1vAszrgqy6YCuxu4B_7D5o0P9RQyv9LJtVE5q-tkDvxOavdHZ2eiG3lJq5FDAibY3D9jGhwjh1293c2yJrVL_1gH9/s4032/Save%20Ferris.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEu9xK3_RoVnc0B3r4A81NKqYg4io7Ut5IpsMsYeuxyrhWm3YRoW9ZMAFFpHIddetyDjjVFhKdN7N6AHH9Z33wajGsE3fbvOdPafi1vAszrgqy6YCuxu4B_7D5o0P9RQyv9LJtVE5q-tkDvxOavdHZ2eiG3lJq5FDAibY3D9jGhwjh1293c2yJrVL_1gH9/s320/Save%20Ferris.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Rich had taken that first weekend off to share with me while I was off, so on Saturday, October 7, we took another little road trip, but not as far. This time it was to Montgomery, Minnesota. We hit up a Czech bakery, arriving one hour before closing, so I could try some kolacky, which is a fruit filled bun, although by far I thought my apple turnover was better. </div></div><div> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguFhIqzfKlvN8egAlHJ6YYlJ4baqJT9L5RQqJMLYOUt_czBOx3fwr_UuTl3m-xcfJSelNcglOwfH2CQ17WLHt9ljcCTw6ElUakcL68PqleIHprDrWXnh2D8CYJAFSVMbE32ESAFMquS__JvTnPS5OlKcMUQXCnXPP9uA0MJvul6MRtY8GyKx_YiWwGZtNx/s4032/IMG_5014.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguFhIqzfKlvN8egAlHJ6YYlJ4baqJT9L5RQqJMLYOUt_czBOx3fwr_UuTl3m-xcfJSelNcglOwfH2CQ17WLHt9ljcCTw6ElUakcL68PqleIHprDrWXnh2D8CYJAFSVMbE32ESAFMquS__JvTnPS5OlKcMUQXCnXPP9uA0MJvul6MRtY8GyKx_YiWwGZtNx/w300-h400/IMG_5014.HEIC" width="300" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">With a container of pastry I thought some fresh apple cider would wash it down well. We navigated to a local orchard, which also just happened to be having a Fall Festival, with live music and other food options. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAOQukMsxB5HNn3i4Z12h0c1RnKDSd7bolUp1d_n8ufDdLo7QdOGnVDsDVw0WyVBn4dDW4bS7HyAhWZPGvfMLGwk4ubsb2STofHr0sMVuMf15W0n1wHsj53kZQd8_JYkTPBygEQbOB5Omltacn7Bfd3624EmbFhqzW-V-rX-_06C6evwwo_qnoX7HZFcjh/s4032/IMG_5007.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAOQukMsxB5HNn3i4Z12h0c1RnKDSd7bolUp1d_n8ufDdLo7QdOGnVDsDVw0WyVBn4dDW4bS7HyAhWZPGvfMLGwk4ubsb2STofHr0sMVuMf15W0n1wHsj53kZQd8_JYkTPBygEQbOB5Omltacn7Bfd3624EmbFhqzW-V-rX-_06C6evwwo_qnoX7HZFcjh/w300-h400/IMG_5007.HEIC" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I didn't feel like having any hard cider, which was available, but snagged a 1/2 gallon of fresh pressed apple juice instead. We then avoided the crowd at the orchard and went to find a local park to enjoy our pastry and beverage. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK5M-OFyg5Un8_T7QUXH3OI94ksYVwzEWOmy2Xtz4P_MbUvTGp39Y9yJAEoaBtx8M1r4JV-M9UtqdQ3XPwOUpfojyjQP4svpA72e4z-RaDLCt8N2Bv-V-bimTDTwRUcaLnBueYvzHsD3w2fYCz4v3U11QavqWsaUHf6LlJZNAYBSKyShSJULIUwXRT7uHX/s4032/IMG_5006.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK5M-OFyg5Un8_T7QUXH3OI94ksYVwzEWOmy2Xtz4P_MbUvTGp39Y9yJAEoaBtx8M1r4JV-M9UtqdQ3XPwOUpfojyjQP4svpA72e4z-RaDLCt8N2Bv-V-bimTDTwRUcaLnBueYvzHsD3w2fYCz4v3U11QavqWsaUHf6LlJZNAYBSKyShSJULIUwXRT7uHX/s320/IMG_5006.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBZwZqvXv5F8S-c4zKM-8weh8TTTYuYncVIyeBEaQUOmIIaux9vKBTRqX0mrhmNPbxGCOy9w3rI0PrE2GyVO4A0PjHLuy3-NiVh7irwiRGCSVsLFwMRZA5QWQl2i2WUZLKzIKrORPhWdkd6dmDcBLR7ENS2gmdTGg_HXPrFeIMUhUB_mYaFGGwMOeGtXqY/s4032/IMG_5008.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBZwZqvXv5F8S-c4zKM-8weh8TTTYuYncVIyeBEaQUOmIIaux9vKBTRqX0mrhmNPbxGCOy9w3rI0PrE2GyVO4A0PjHLuy3-NiVh7irwiRGCSVsLFwMRZA5QWQl2i2WUZLKzIKrORPhWdkd6dmDcBLR7ENS2gmdTGg_HXPrFeIMUhUB_mYaFGGwMOeGtXqY/s320/IMG_5008.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I realize I took a lot of pictures of Rich, and what I was eating, and not myself. Oh, look at that apple turnover. So flaky! Fall treats are the best! Yummy!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFlGQ2PBe2qvp1k7U4eonAazHkThDsP70ytinD26s-E7SyhwlzW1r0Prbcg02OkUCEBzM-ZrgJLVSYTmkyKWSx_U28ucp68X_8nzxIr79Dzvd95xHBsd7bpr96CD02q-l984mLIJGI5XwGhXCWa9bLAu8cxX-Qe0d-eTCNx2qZhHK8M_Ot53XLiDHdLtXB/s4032/IMG_5009.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFlGQ2PBe2qvp1k7U4eonAazHkThDsP70ytinD26s-E7SyhwlzW1r0Prbcg02OkUCEBzM-ZrgJLVSYTmkyKWSx_U28ucp68X_8nzxIr79Dzvd95xHBsd7bpr96CD02q-l984mLIJGI5XwGhXCWa9bLAu8cxX-Qe0d-eTCNx2qZhHK8M_Ot53XLiDHdLtXB/s320/IMG_5009.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">After our snack I wanted to make up for not being able to buy Rich some beer for all the driving he had been doing over the last few days. Montgomery also has a brewery, so off we went for him to try a flight of beers. I was rested enough to do the driving from here on out. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijt1c_p9I3rEEXhA6AExSX2X67fYkoCKozNDWEi_2SlgLpNchKruq7a6ObHEnrmoe9BGb2G3o5Y0ynDykERicHw0e3voggN1Rsh0x-hl5QLrwc-gG9s378kQY-qnoRm_f5EPL7m4WseFrUoipM3KhW-z2yHZmxQzEb5aIIfQaCDZn1c8GM8p6DXL3HV6av/s4032/IMG_5010.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijt1c_p9I3rEEXhA6AExSX2X67fYkoCKozNDWEi_2SlgLpNchKruq7a6ObHEnrmoe9BGb2G3o5Y0ynDykERicHw0e3voggN1Rsh0x-hl5QLrwc-gG9s378kQY-qnoRm_f5EPL7m4WseFrUoipM3KhW-z2yHZmxQzEb5aIIfQaCDZn1c8GM8p6DXL3HV6av/s320/IMG_5010.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am not a beer fan. Never have been, and have no interest to acquire a taste for it, but Rich does love a brew now and then. It's a nice gift I can give him from time to time.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhndtrtd9vlWUaSQIAzmd0yhmWsW6ZquvC-i4OMGY6HHkLAvGA4csTVlp7Esv0nHn214i0b8NHGzW2qJs7wBGL0Aplro-YXotrJwD9OTzikek6Mv0d_daYWYeivJvyDr39uUoQToQObUkr5mtWNTjeZ2fa0VGn2x_OZUmr17Rh6SurAkuylxVI6scGoG8q1/s4032/IMG_5011.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhndtrtd9vlWUaSQIAzmd0yhmWsW6ZquvC-i4OMGY6HHkLAvGA4csTVlp7Esv0nHn214i0b8NHGzW2qJs7wBGL0Aplro-YXotrJwD9OTzikek6Mv0d_daYWYeivJvyDr39uUoQToQObUkr5mtWNTjeZ2fa0VGn2x_OZUmr17Rh6SurAkuylxVI6scGoG8q1/w480-h640/IMG_5011.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There was one last thing in Montgomery that I was interested in trying, their local pizza place, but it wouldn't be open for another hour when we were there, and we were still pretty full from pastry and him beer, so we started navigating home, and looped through Owatonna, where I found a non-chain pizza place. We got the giant Hawaiin pizza to take home, which we would enjoy for a couple days.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGW-pmjzauw0HXlI8KszN3HYAyZg41DKbBPvsD0_EaljVO3J8__xbokUvYP5LEodqXJ6nzKdo_u6c3Wegb7vxnJQAlIv_kE_2ilexxPPbjOOCqgUebN5L1Z6YIZu79JuKMUjjXWenZVCg_AjJW2YpHbSn5VCgCRv0rju4TjWBxQG20dvopMnR0KnAmwvPr/s4032/IMG_5017.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGW-pmjzauw0HXlI8KszN3HYAyZg41DKbBPvsD0_EaljVO3J8__xbokUvYP5LEodqXJ6nzKdo_u6c3Wegb7vxnJQAlIv_kE_2ilexxPPbjOOCqgUebN5L1Z6YIZu79JuKMUjjXWenZVCg_AjJW2YpHbSn5VCgCRv0rju4TjWBxQG20dvopMnR0KnAmwvPr/s320/IMG_5017.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It was quite good! Gotta love hand tossed pizza!</div></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZwrEZa9NM5LN1rFj9OOZzc7r5tDKC1MHysrBe01kHOfqABzIv8s4R5OekUUilGinhq8l_A3ano6DgKRvK0ikXJiRGF2DoBvGA9a1CxmE2DGiLPJmcoPCzy5yldAzfdhb5GXFrl6YeMb27ELdJfilM_3f2hTbpCWq5cdtT7qImpqwdqspZHi5GVR-rVmOG/s4032/IMG_5016.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZwrEZa9NM5LN1rFj9OOZzc7r5tDKC1MHysrBe01kHOfqABzIv8s4R5OekUUilGinhq8l_A3ano6DgKRvK0ikXJiRGF2DoBvGA9a1CxmE2DGiLPJmcoPCzy5yldAzfdhb5GXFrl6YeMb27ELdJfilM_3f2hTbpCWq5cdtT7qImpqwdqspZHi5GVR-rVmOG/w640-h480/IMG_5016.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The next day Rich burned off all his pastry and beer and pizza by cleaning out the goat enclosures inside the pole barn. The accumulated hay and poop packs down and has to be shoveled out, then hauled to the compost pile. Rich does this thankless task for me, as it also justifies the owning of and allows him to play with his skid steer.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiID-QSLn7pzkeQsC2WrBps1MQrZq4uZGe83blJl6MwFgDjihAU5ckq3Na7aGs5oKFD0Ssb8sThUcVLdxyBdxrvHrQuAhsQgLOeH1KbVWUr-934BAjYyZSkhE-tBNuiBOOFA3zJ0Yu-P0flvaVS15mZZ8ps_KhyphenhyphenxTICsAW8XKLKjj-fdABzXQ962zbMfiCe/s4032/IMG_5018.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiID-QSLn7pzkeQsC2WrBps1MQrZq4uZGe83blJl6MwFgDjihAU5ckq3Na7aGs5oKFD0Ssb8sThUcVLdxyBdxrvHrQuAhsQgLOeH1KbVWUr-934BAjYyZSkhE-tBNuiBOOFA3zJ0Yu-P0flvaVS15mZZ8ps_KhyphenhyphenxTICsAW8XKLKjj-fdABzXQ962zbMfiCe/s320/IMG_5018.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">On the day of Darla's departure, Thursday October 10, and for the following overnight of, I stayed at the farm with Rich's dad, Cletus. In the last month he had experienced a stroke. Due to the family reacting quickly and getting him to medical care, the damage was limited. However, now at home, he is still a little unsteady on his feet, so needs someone there to keep him safe. My two sisters-in-law have been taking turns at this task. They asked if I could spend a night on that Thursday, and I was happy to help. Unfortunately, Cletus was incubating Covid, and I caught it from him, as did several others. On the day Rich was doing the skid steer work, I was developing a fever. This bout of Covid was not as difficult as the first time I caught it, and only lasted a few days with the worst of symptoms, but it did go on to exacerbate my occasionally experienced vertigo, which is never fun. Cletus was able to get the anti-viral medication, so he also had a mild course and recovered. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPXHpeHX8QobQZTP12S6trNtrd6LWLEMtFiJEwkkHWoDpo1e5rNWx2MHNWrO0spIVFPTy3piZK3wo9rfITPkdMNC_-_HEo1PbKkLsHYS0Gbcytu03eJInXnCwLsCPrtND6UeoqS5mnHl3BrL0gvJfXDFvuapPt7lh25I1_zjgSTgCupHKQ8zPi9AtA4ooe/s4032/IMG_5019.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPXHpeHX8QobQZTP12S6trNtrd6LWLEMtFiJEwkkHWoDpo1e5rNWx2MHNWrO0spIVFPTy3piZK3wo9rfITPkdMNC_-_HEo1PbKkLsHYS0Gbcytu03eJInXnCwLsCPrtND6UeoqS5mnHl3BrL0gvJfXDFvuapPt7lh25I1_zjgSTgCupHKQ8zPi9AtA4ooe/s320/IMG_5019.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I rested a few days, but by Wednesday I was a little stir crazy to do something. I decided to take advantage of a Wednesday Big Wash Discount in Rochester and took several of my quilts that have been needing to be washed in a big machine. Gotta love those giant washers and dryers, and the discount day made it not too expensive.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAdMRYNDhpH4qjRp5g2gZIx-mCyyrHQ9g6RCH4nr4gKr8cUHoBtVIfc6FndqvYR8RPKJcFfPlzH8rolgTwTHT2MkJS7hWtKh3-GzshkHRKinjfso60wHtuqq5v7BEyxgAJtNtKGRjee31IABpOItSw_timePNEnUJVVvTIzWv3nz8l0QsducHzAdxDwyy6/s4032/IMG_5022.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAdMRYNDhpH4qjRp5g2gZIx-mCyyrHQ9g6RCH4nr4gKr8cUHoBtVIfc6FndqvYR8RPKJcFfPlzH8rolgTwTHT2MkJS7hWtKh3-GzshkHRKinjfso60wHtuqq5v7BEyxgAJtNtKGRjee31IABpOItSw_timePNEnUJVVvTIzWv3nz8l0QsducHzAdxDwyy6/s320/IMG_5022.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Big washing was followed by going to the farm and bringing our goat bucks back from their summer vacation. It is best to keep the bucks, the breeding boys, far far away from all our girl goats over the summer, while they raise babies. Bucks have only one purpose, to make new babies, and it is now time for them to return home to begin that process for Spring kids.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilUeqoz4fp1JBTTxTkxseUxOnH2Ue6nIpdK7d4JTOW4suQPL_CxK513lItwxDVTndiVbuWTI-ue0fI8vVp0iOsvpN5PmuAuPRJucw8jnQcUIaM1RSVADaJcRXqB2lAwHy5xvwWt-922widP16z2CsRbS3KkwMKUUB2_B2kA7rELTR0NE6wze5qGqsH1BAV/s4032/IMG_5026.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilUeqoz4fp1JBTTxTkxseUxOnH2Ue6nIpdK7d4JTOW4suQPL_CxK513lItwxDVTndiVbuWTI-ue0fI8vVp0iOsvpN5PmuAuPRJucw8jnQcUIaM1RSVADaJcRXqB2lAwHy5xvwWt-922widP16z2CsRbS3KkwMKUUB2_B2kA7rELTR0NE6wze5qGqsH1BAV/w400-h300/IMG_5026.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I usually stagger the breeding into two or three windows as I do not want to be dealing with laboring mammas all at once. The first set were paired up as soon as we got home for hopeful mid to late March births. I will set up the second window for mid to late April births, hopefully avoiding any kiddings at the beginning of April of next year, as we have plans for a family gathering of my sisters down in Texas.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1lVOOMeosSoFWP6oBUNnIWtxbF1Cab6sy6Qo9EgotaCdhIiT4CdPmNEPY3zrCQXykEgmtDKou8dxM9T-8ptsm4sZARjzkfCq2CbZ7ez0OWHLyvMV-KQjrcmI4VXxRyOTy7Poxzr3APKsy_WYXntaK_M7HUx54NAZ_AjpYVhCTIQ3HpbcjgFWj8tnG7HsH/s4032/IMG_5027.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1lVOOMeosSoFWP6oBUNnIWtxbF1Cab6sy6Qo9EgotaCdhIiT4CdPmNEPY3zrCQXykEgmtDKou8dxM9T-8ptsm4sZARjzkfCq2CbZ7ez0OWHLyvMV-KQjrcmI4VXxRyOTy7Poxzr3APKsy_WYXntaK_M7HUx54NAZ_AjpYVhCTIQ3HpbcjgFWj8tnG7HsH/s320/IMG_5027.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Thursday, October 12 was the big bedroom furniture moving day.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ygdsMeIkPx9o18H7KncPYH0u-AvPj8UMlMcL_q4CZDswInLU2_9vjEw2dC2pXycLOC7YjEoky6vKcIIaVE2txuAlK5lnv1825i98vYang6TkFiOtbGNRR-0P7PESbDxMX_kZax7AubB-8FRxN_gyoMhyphenhyphen1Ir079foYE4wbSkfidgtBgWytqibPbgtxBwU/s15712/IMG_5028.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3628" data-original-width="15712" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ygdsMeIkPx9o18H7KncPYH0u-AvPj8UMlMcL_q4CZDswInLU2_9vjEw2dC2pXycLOC7YjEoky6vKcIIaVE2txuAlK5lnv1825i98vYang6TkFiOtbGNRR-0P7PESbDxMX_kZax7AubB-8FRxN_gyoMhyphenhyphen1Ir079foYE4wbSkfidgtBgWytqibPbgtxBwU/w640-h148/IMG_5028.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Above is a panoramic picture of the BEFORE. Below was the AFTER.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsTwD-35O714PEHF7eKKB1OtIJYo-Le7cRELfZsVMoVM-akY2pel6Ywzmt8Qa9FzI_bSz-uT7eoz0WaE-UFjItWeoNBbBWbPWgiSqFAXXE-q6WQiK7zgS0dWiYFz94TBl8dDR1zEFEy6FPqnT-wRnzTi117I_ZJJxCS9khmxlYUZ3muWsNk4SsDLBIGWyX/s15484/IMG_5029.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3628" data-original-width="15484" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsTwD-35O714PEHF7eKKB1OtIJYo-Le7cRELfZsVMoVM-akY2pel6Ywzmt8Qa9FzI_bSz-uT7eoz0WaE-UFjItWeoNBbBWbPWgiSqFAXXE-q6WQiK7zgS0dWiYFz94TBl8dDR1zEFEy6FPqnT-wRnzTi117I_ZJJxCS9khmxlYUZ3muWsNk4SsDLBIGWyX/w640-h150/IMG_5029.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I am so very happy with the results. It gave me the opportunity to clean the room, although the stained carpet really needs replacing and the walls could use some new paint, but I'll be happy for now with just rearranging the room, and doing a declutter and clean out, and making Rich do the same.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="364" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1sXMtQ5_APo" width="438" youtube-src-id="1sXMtQ5_APo"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I would go shopping over the weekend to find a picture for over the bed and get some baskets to organize some of my stuff on top of my dresser. I went through all my clothes and cleared out many good but unused to donate, and made Rich do the same, and organize his stuff. I am happy with the results of our work.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgv__k11raCSuUSxqkOPk1B62nmkFyuTVntn2g-xCe6_c4cesNDXry4Hh_4mMQUbUU-91Yw8cYPXgiP3EgJK3CTP5Zz0suE6npo5_xPDXWdq-hMOBWDc1vUdDIGFIkv0nwl7boYl3fjIqyAe6UoJmkTs5Nx3Uqp_g1iPZtI_iQFcTs1wOnZkRmRboV847t/s4032/IMG_5034.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgv__k11raCSuUSxqkOPk1B62nmkFyuTVntn2g-xCe6_c4cesNDXry4Hh_4mMQUbUU-91Yw8cYPXgiP3EgJK3CTP5Zz0suE6npo5_xPDXWdq-hMOBWDc1vUdDIGFIkv0nwl7boYl3fjIqyAe6UoJmkTs5Nx3Uqp_g1iPZtI_iQFcTs1wOnZkRmRboV847t/w400-h300/IMG_5034.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_vIlQGUys_NrTIbjk5RVqkIbuAKvkCuWFkpxbDFV02NqHc9RbsoZREf6fXfv__py5oSGbAl-EIuXJmCsELkRkPIZILtxDYS8g8a24Nbz3VOTPuoC1xGgPZ1dWmk8SRI0gHZpTrqDxYME93twt1ZdDreasJ3cPNqNFbzS5FIDP-rYPcU2bc_rcn3F4JFzU/s4032/IMG_5035.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_vIlQGUys_NrTIbjk5RVqkIbuAKvkCuWFkpxbDFV02NqHc9RbsoZREf6fXfv__py5oSGbAl-EIuXJmCsELkRkPIZILtxDYS8g8a24Nbz3VOTPuoC1xGgPZ1dWmk8SRI0gHZpTrqDxYME93twt1ZdDreasJ3cPNqNFbzS5FIDP-rYPcU2bc_rcn3F4JFzU/s320/IMG_5035.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I also began the process of going through some of my boxes of books downstairs that I have held onto for far too long. Some were taken into our local library that was about to have a book fair and donated, a few nice kid-friendly books were tucked into one of the Free Libraries of which there are several in our town, and then a whole lot more were taken to the Cities, to the Half Price Bookstore to put back into circulation. There are still a lot more books in boxes to sort through, but I ran out of time and energy for the task.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho0kuLlDbTw1ZQgrRAGlWahGXcM3Wvb5XqONJrGinh6qwTT267AWCXAh30Fc9IFurkvttI0d792kr1OBNOG86mQEfSnh-GQ73YToyKxs-KiT1VGniOGst2elRndp4Pu8lwf9U062dZol59wC1EFO5COt2z0fmSkPzuQyEoGi1wslDlqJmUvBInMwQZ2W5q/s4032/IMG_5033.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho0kuLlDbTw1ZQgrRAGlWahGXcM3Wvb5XqONJrGinh6qwTT267AWCXAh30Fc9IFurkvttI0d792kr1OBNOG86mQEfSnh-GQ73YToyKxs-KiT1VGniOGst2elRndp4Pu8lwf9U062dZol59wC1EFO5COt2z0fmSkPzuQyEoGi1wslDlqJmUvBInMwQZ2W5q/s320/IMG_5033.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">On Saturday October 14 there was a partial solar eclipse, or Annular, if you were in the path. The moon would not cover the entire sun, but a good portion of it if in the path. Minnesota was far East of the ideal path, so it would just appear to be a bite out of the sun. However, it was a very cloudy day, so I didn't get to see much of anything. It did allow me to practice with my smaller telescope, of which I had previously purchased some solar filter paper and made a cardboard attachment to the end of the scope.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSdBQHm5kM5shtqC3kdseX_4VOVE4aDYLqV5TFS-LlXtfRIRJGSZ1pjBJvyNvwtXJDF9kuzUB4XLJPPPEUKeO6egNlsJ2SsaYp0BucmEaUbRaAlr7qe7-Eb0DQh__OshSopp3NwW4Do_N8OOnFnl40tQAtOX7C41_ZnKziWrkqpWuD9HD3K6sDqoDfAfL0/s4032/IMG_5037.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSdBQHm5kM5shtqC3kdseX_4VOVE4aDYLqV5TFS-LlXtfRIRJGSZ1pjBJvyNvwtXJDF9kuzUB4XLJPPPEUKeO6egNlsJ2SsaYp0BucmEaUbRaAlr7qe7-Eb0DQh__OshSopp3NwW4Do_N8OOnFnl40tQAtOX7C41_ZnKziWrkqpWuD9HD3K6sDqoDfAfL0/s320/IMG_5037.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I did get to look at the sun when it peeked between the clouds, but was never long enough to get a picture of it with the telescope.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPNsNeTKlKtAvPfxX8TvnZWKc6GEi8IDhzI3JwC75yjOEaNB0KpHVkVjDqEVyZu_Vxdq973b3GQmSv2uc_up6U0yZnFpwXKVGanqeOy1AM3H_sgwxeSz3lCYp5PFydfCbnfygBMBhXHEoX-RqEmtr78p1nX4sSvg7_HmRCHby2ahdP2CVBPpT1LuhLLl8t/s4032/IMG_5038.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPNsNeTKlKtAvPfxX8TvnZWKc6GEi8IDhzI3JwC75yjOEaNB0KpHVkVjDqEVyZu_Vxdq973b3GQmSv2uc_up6U0yZnFpwXKVGanqeOy1AM3H_sgwxeSz3lCYp5PFydfCbnfygBMBhXHEoX-RqEmtr78p1nX4sSvg7_HmRCHby2ahdP2CVBPpT1LuhLLl8t/s320/IMG_5038.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I did get a picture with my cell phone looking through some solar glasses. It's a neat effect below.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2mJDUeX3XfZfaKX0_WT1cwmza5TLT0ShrgT0dsCyvubWqiWxSycxWRiCvAQ7i5-LRH3smw1xZ9Yp2CENu8hf8ga4t55tM7z8TxROYpoSBhmTUIBQJF6jh04giVLC5IzxG0uNtXakK2_4ptmC6tKn0uTkWkbba9xDaChn2ksGos2Y_bEhRHk-_99TmWVRZ/s4032/IMG_5039.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2mJDUeX3XfZfaKX0_WT1cwmza5TLT0ShrgT0dsCyvubWqiWxSycxWRiCvAQ7i5-LRH3smw1xZ9Yp2CENu8hf8ga4t55tM7z8TxROYpoSBhmTUIBQJF6jh04giVLC5IzxG0uNtXakK2_4ptmC6tKn0uTkWkbba9xDaChn2ksGos2Y_bEhRHk-_99TmWVRZ/w480-h640/IMG_5039.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Mostly, this is all I saw . . . lots of clouds.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdIXTwC9EXmZPwzjNCJikRCtRqfj6Wc2no6dk5uwoZy5g7WRxW22njP5ckI2XFmQRfzFbuElcxJxYRLOy-yuzAQkslRhqAuqLS2QrbCdfc3yAHh0jXXohG9YMZmQ1mHtyiPjwDiy6Z1DVLIhnBJYVBX_WzFHN0ZMj56jfDqeEJX13FaDYtM9c6cQ8N1HxP/s4032/IMG_5046.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdIXTwC9EXmZPwzjNCJikRCtRqfj6Wc2no6dk5uwoZy5g7WRxW22njP5ckI2XFmQRfzFbuElcxJxYRLOy-yuzAQkslRhqAuqLS2QrbCdfc3yAHh0jXXohG9YMZmQ1mHtyiPjwDiy6Z1DVLIhnBJYVBX_WzFHN0ZMj56jfDqeEJX13FaDYtM9c6cQ8N1HxP/s320/IMG_5046.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>My friend Sharon, who lives in New Mexico, was in the annular path, so did share this picture, which I stole and have posted here. There is another total solar eclipse next April 8. I plan to be in Texas on the line of totality.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkLDxgKiOdrV_l2cnpy5cpnpp0cV2fjpN2iA3nGSjRXEJNDkp7Qpzih6k77EPFjXOjtSSccF7XdTj8kIH9zT54hc9YWRuLA-3SuO5z4d5b0UKfQZ_aCJwMBUmVczUOUX0Jz5b5Z08GbdZC21QtA0HyvoDvbk3UUetQvlm3FHd_d1m-MhQwQFFj2on4vzBJ/s2048/SharonEclipse.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkLDxgKiOdrV_l2cnpy5cpnpp0cV2fjpN2iA3nGSjRXEJNDkp7Qpzih6k77EPFjXOjtSSccF7XdTj8kIH9zT54hc9YWRuLA-3SuO5z4d5b0UKfQZ_aCJwMBUmVczUOUX0Jz5b5Z08GbdZC21QtA0HyvoDvbk3UUetQvlm3FHd_d1m-MhQwQFFj2on4vzBJ/s320/SharonEclipse.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">By Sunday October 15 I was testing clear . . . </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhswV-idIHsUw2s1kS_kUeXqEQ1wiorJipv_DFjdSSHRT97Hr0hSLG9ozvDcU7tgb_tKED0cUt_sFV5r0LZeSnq58L6hVFfEIqtDkLxqJy6Mr8HyhbGcOV3TLsmm7zoCtGOFFP8M1YVP-PgeLFdDBRODzZf42SRjRZs4GxqpuuSoT-0R_D05yvYdJHvC3XG/s4032/IMG_5048.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhswV-idIHsUw2s1kS_kUeXqEQ1wiorJipv_DFjdSSHRT97Hr0hSLG9ozvDcU7tgb_tKED0cUt_sFV5r0LZeSnq58L6hVFfEIqtDkLxqJy6Mr8HyhbGcOV3TLsmm7zoCtGOFFP8M1YVP-PgeLFdDBRODzZf42SRjRZs4GxqpuuSoT-0R_D05yvYdJHvC3XG/s320/IMG_5048.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">. . . so I packed up Seneca and we went to visit Fox to get a beak trim, called coping, equipment inspection, and have a backpack installed, which will hold her transmitter on her back. This was getting her one step closer to starting up the hunting season.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKn2wZc1PRqrxuXDC1brAwH0GMjkjiJl4O35wahunuLJ4BdYaP6fL41VsHmgr3CkAmwGWFyKPS0G9sU5y_NBWz7s5KSOHqRnpmKCXHTQh1_aEmASZQpWlrHykrv09zScd2p6ByiD0ugcdz9VVIAV-AHBv5U_v6-PBS1WyhODufE8BQQRY1gd-dDKA5_47D/s2946/IMG_5049.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2676" data-original-width="2946" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKn2wZc1PRqrxuXDC1brAwH0GMjkjiJl4O35wahunuLJ4BdYaP6fL41VsHmgr3CkAmwGWFyKPS0G9sU5y_NBWz7s5KSOHqRnpmKCXHTQh1_aEmASZQpWlrHykrv09zScd2p6ByiD0ugcdz9VVIAV-AHBv5U_v6-PBS1WyhODufE8BQQRY1gd-dDKA5_47D/w400-h364/IMG_5049.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Just a selfie with my girl!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg21SCUn5tPvye5CljbJ5Q5FbZ1PN0GBbIAhGRanzmWXDRKvUbCGSGykknQLM5yaQdRz4jXyvjAy8C2VAbVUOQALdPX1frWXl9jWoKNPsA5dIRJk_3a9i22wfVQk4pIl3fhCvN5yZcuRKdKs-2aGPurzQhu9rd8iwS2vEqqhgWI8G7DqgNz6F2ELknm4Xug/s3088/IMG_5053.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2316" data-original-width="3088" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg21SCUn5tPvye5CljbJ5Q5FbZ1PN0GBbIAhGRanzmWXDRKvUbCGSGykknQLM5yaQdRz4jXyvjAy8C2VAbVUOQALdPX1frWXl9jWoKNPsA5dIRJk_3a9i22wfVQk4pIl3fhCvN5yZcuRKdKs-2aGPurzQhu9rd8iwS2vEqqhgWI8G7DqgNz6F2ELknm4Xug/w640-h480/IMG_5053.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Below, I present this baking accomplishment. I won't say too much about it. I know what it means!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir_oKWwtlNcJbKymAnj57F0f6nO-NQfj6S4k7S3eZQx4fAl3e-_11L6KIwPFySyh9Hl4Cjb-pduUWkvb5MWjKyD6tUOXjMuDXyXh7XY-4TEQCDgJGW8O-bFh-QG9sJ4n2wE6vH1PIDtH4XidxyLTEaUcxfCiaZkpel0gcJojMn5xoVTsleLybhlueIKNaB/s3440/IMG_5059.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2818" data-original-width="3440" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir_oKWwtlNcJbKymAnj57F0f6nO-NQfj6S4k7S3eZQx4fAl3e-_11L6KIwPFySyh9Hl4Cjb-pduUWkvb5MWjKyD6tUOXjMuDXyXh7XY-4TEQCDgJGW8O-bFh-QG9sJ4n2wE6vH1PIDtH4XidxyLTEaUcxfCiaZkpel0gcJojMn5xoVTsleLybhlueIKNaB/s320/IMG_5059.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Unfortunately, during the execution of this slightly harder than normal brownie making, I dropped one of my large Pyrex bowls, which shattered into a million pieces. That was fun to clean up. The dogs seemed to want to walk through it all as I scrambled to prevent them from cutting their paws.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj09UrXq2YHUTlvK42cQU4yAnReXWqWuKAoHflJa49N6XqQB7tr_5WFrFpDJkPV3OlgpZ1hcoN3vtO2kjwK16UtonhTxff4qV_aoYNkCEDrmD-o1aSD4iQGc4kjz6_nlQPqx1Leey3ILBNuzQ4NrXPo_GFouUU_MN5vfrHcTNGojdCnOcWFNsDJcc8EkjVU/s4032/IMG_5058.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj09UrXq2YHUTlvK42cQU4yAnReXWqWuKAoHflJa49N6XqQB7tr_5WFrFpDJkPV3OlgpZ1hcoN3vtO2kjwK16UtonhTxff4qV_aoYNkCEDrmD-o1aSD4iQGc4kjz6_nlQPqx1Leey3ILBNuzQ4NrXPo_GFouUU_MN5vfrHcTNGojdCnOcWFNsDJcc8EkjVU/s320/IMG_5058.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Tuesday October 17 was Seneca's first free flight day for the year. It was short, just flying around my yard, and she did try to chase a squirrel, but I didn't give her too much time on the wing. She came quickly when I tossed the lure. That afternoon, with hawk safe back in her mew, Rich and I drove up to Red Wing to the Duluth Trading store, where I found a new clearance hunt duds. It is not as thick as the one I was currently using, but the price could not be beat, and will work just fine. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAS8je7yPox2xZASpKoH1LaSBhFIzqjGKIQEuYZ01R6oPJfTRg4ZysfBp_ILA94XgjJYr90flPzL80PTI81JXUygEjVOMWs8wb9eHVJoZy4ImBijgwXxyH8GWnex9kcOGk9kh_ZOfkkBP_qas-pp_RXb1ynog5WBNoM7T4oaqsybWTM4wYRsBNkSeU2vaB/s3126/IMG_5063.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2430" data-original-width="3126" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAS8je7yPox2xZASpKoH1LaSBhFIzqjGKIQEuYZ01R6oPJfTRg4ZysfBp_ILA94XgjJYr90flPzL80PTI81JXUygEjVOMWs8wb9eHVJoZy4ImBijgwXxyH8GWnex9kcOGk9kh_ZOfkkBP_qas-pp_RXb1ynog5WBNoM7T4oaqsybWTM4wYRsBNkSeU2vaB/w400-h311/IMG_5063.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Wednesday, October 18 was reserved for seeing the Como Sunken Gardens, and checking out a few things at the Como Zoo. I really wanted to see the Minnesota Zoo, but because I had been sick with Covid I was not able to arrange a trip with Fox and Roman to join us. I had also wanted to camp a night with Fox, but that also didn't happen because of my sickness. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgol-eoyfy71bu1kuYF7N5ZBtcuFGWiDispHE4TKyGKmceYYOfkw8QvNiWBwIRpgxDowEOWHML1LWNAjOeVtNzftSEArFKPBszLEaTb8sfQ-QykX73zf8wP4lP6iEii-kgpFxBvCx7RJ_3HVhu1momas-kJ9Ip2UfaKTH9xD4tA_K4_UV4xoXtqIsETSyH0/s3088/IMG_5073.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2316" data-original-width="3088" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgol-eoyfy71bu1kuYF7N5ZBtcuFGWiDispHE4TKyGKmceYYOfkw8QvNiWBwIRpgxDowEOWHML1LWNAjOeVtNzftSEArFKPBszLEaTb8sfQ-QykX73zf8wP4lP6iEii-kgpFxBvCx7RJ_3HVhu1momas-kJ9Ip2UfaKTH9xD4tA_K4_UV4xoXtqIsETSyH0/w640-h480/IMG_5073.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Marjorie McNeely Conservatory rotates out their flower show every few months. Normally I want to go somewhere in February to March, because I am just tired of winter and snow, but this fall show was different, and as always beautiful. I've never seen them use so many succulents to decorate.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaemKK43UDsNtlULq6BF01aGpNSI9qHcCy3Dgcyambu4Vre6IhsZ7YLpZYPeAJr12qAfvcOwvhP4uBwnKu-1gBszQbZNNr_LyFUDrs8ZzyAsJIC0NTxoKZaOSisMuGk6lRuUVudcQPQ_skjZvjZxtz5gDeIKlzRHiOJeTtyfCbzQlnFKZdG6tcfSybtFCG/s4032/IMG_5066.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaemKK43UDsNtlULq6BF01aGpNSI9qHcCy3Dgcyambu4Vre6IhsZ7YLpZYPeAJr12qAfvcOwvhP4uBwnKu-1gBszQbZNNr_LyFUDrs8ZzyAsJIC0NTxoKZaOSisMuGk6lRuUVudcQPQ_skjZvjZxtz5gDeIKlzRHiOJeTtyfCbzQlnFKZdG6tcfSybtFCG/w480-h640/IMG_5066.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzSmlsZR2X4YClgOpnIfA_gK7KS5mqOIA2qQS-h_H8nzaLbWZfn3oMwq9xcxaDIzLqZEZv11OGLy7aqq2douSiR2E445ZKhtykkXG12Hdk_ugBwJ-cB0Cyi9mFlDKGTDYfzqjLzAGee1TixMVQekaJ7Dx9PQNNYSvd5a7MaIceMu_W0X8HtVE7QkXvkt7M/s4032/IMG_5076.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzSmlsZR2X4YClgOpnIfA_gK7KS5mqOIA2qQS-h_H8nzaLbWZfn3oMwq9xcxaDIzLqZEZv11OGLy7aqq2douSiR2E445ZKhtykkXG12Hdk_ugBwJ-cB0Cyi9mFlDKGTDYfzqjLzAGee1TixMVQekaJ7Dx9PQNNYSvd5a7MaIceMu_W0X8HtVE7QkXvkt7M/s320/IMG_5076.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It is ALWAYS Beautiful!</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8aq5dzZ0VTiiAhbgvG4-GhEJEhQMTfJNnEoLxTREanhrnvZZBhtYNm22Pf-3JckxMDRjhaURv8mPwtBth_xid9vYh16BHpyBjhwEpKOohn4Wb8r97Jlh7N4kzZJPzQ-3l6IEr8gP8sT3VM1fUp5O0CUD_VhnJACdR7cr9RHR0_9kjM0GJLXWh5jpUg-uL/s4032/IMG_5082.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8aq5dzZ0VTiiAhbgvG4-GhEJEhQMTfJNnEoLxTREanhrnvZZBhtYNm22Pf-3JckxMDRjhaURv8mPwtBth_xid9vYh16BHpyBjhwEpKOohn4Wb8r97Jlh7N4kzZJPzQ-3l6IEr8gP8sT3VM1fUp5O0CUD_VhnJACdR7cr9RHR0_9kjM0GJLXWh5jpUg-uL/w480-h640/IMG_5082.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The chrysanthemums were just enormous!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheYlY3h9xwXInRN1qeeHY5VMjOIwUGwdvHudu3j7s07Zp_gqTGhzKELWsqk5qj5eBocWBH64l5Hn38hJravxlVrPzo-gJir28Rxs_7B364xS0YvYUELp97d08OZ3c9BeUCdxMjFYNgcchm21jvA6URWfcsOlR1J99H062jBpLGisZIdA8oJx_nRAKWW8uy/s4032/IMG_5080.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheYlY3h9xwXInRN1qeeHY5VMjOIwUGwdvHudu3j7s07Zp_gqTGhzKELWsqk5qj5eBocWBH64l5Hn38hJravxlVrPzo-gJir28Rxs_7B364xS0YvYUELp97d08OZ3c9BeUCdxMjFYNgcchm21jvA6URWfcsOlR1J99H062jBpLGisZIdA8oJx_nRAKWW8uy/w300-h400/IMG_5080.HEIC" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAaHZGAw-QZ2ByyEhmFyL7BQJbb7xzZrXl9PBMTzW93dHCcde8pORE0jstj5cVZlkb0y-cTgOGIWttZN91dQ0XNN6cvMVjaVEhPESYHhuzM4Py0AbgvXnkXq9u5fWhfIxBVw3bXuhU2yYL8LtS4wffiM75_ya71qgxlBrfFDBuAgznqSjDcnF4qCIWbYA2/s4032/IMG_5086.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAaHZGAw-QZ2ByyEhmFyL7BQJbb7xzZrXl9PBMTzW93dHCcde8pORE0jstj5cVZlkb0y-cTgOGIWttZN91dQ0XNN6cvMVjaVEhPESYHhuzM4Py0AbgvXnkXq9u5fWhfIxBVw3bXuhU2yYL8LtS4wffiM75_ya71qgxlBrfFDBuAgznqSjDcnF4qCIWbYA2/w480-h640/IMG_5086.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp8Edfa3JzjoRWNltj-DL4DMxaxKqnjaLx799UwWDiMgFVc1mnD22SEWIn64tiaCGVYqeRxbgDGZq6LbIqCTGMe9Jiqk0-9rRBm-WA_0KM8LfM-NYPHwWjC5cRgmFWtBD3mVssBNal8-HNxjLAwwum7V-aDjweZoPmz0JddO63W0_k8RxPXRJR1dEaHg8E/s4032/IMG_5085.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp8Edfa3JzjoRWNltj-DL4DMxaxKqnjaLx799UwWDiMgFVc1mnD22SEWIn64tiaCGVYqeRxbgDGZq6LbIqCTGMe9Jiqk0-9rRBm-WA_0KM8LfM-NYPHwWjC5cRgmFWtBD3mVssBNal8-HNxjLAwwum7V-aDjweZoPmz0JddO63W0_k8RxPXRJR1dEaHg8E/w300-h400/IMG_5085.HEIC" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">One of the other reasons I wanted to visit was to see the new snow leopard cub. The Como Zoo's female, named Alya, gave birth this summer to a single cub, that would eventually be named Willow. She was born with a congenital defect to her eyes, and the vets decided it would be prudent to remove them, as she would never have vision with them, and to prevent further complications. In the last couple weeks she was released into the outdoor enclosure with her mother, and seems to be navigating the area just fine without eyes. As a captive animal, it will not be a problem for her. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3aAtiIxFdwtrMWVhO3CVTQoKwkDPkZjFuP8Gdx_yXJiZinR_3I91VsrSX_ZxEK_E4NTkhIvxmzEs2JGsQEgZISwTrwDgaYcwF32pFaYBP7LiAwfZOCXqpC8YuLHw7g_PIcSGXYRtlvc9RqASQZC1Hzz028gB2gDEUOfeC-9hsp2U3s4yimjk08iL6EfOd/s2165/snow%20leapard%20mom.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1506" data-original-width="2165" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3aAtiIxFdwtrMWVhO3CVTQoKwkDPkZjFuP8Gdx_yXJiZinR_3I91VsrSX_ZxEK_E4NTkhIvxmzEs2JGsQEgZISwTrwDgaYcwF32pFaYBP7LiAwfZOCXqpC8YuLHw7g_PIcSGXYRtlvc9RqASQZC1Hzz028gB2gDEUOfeC-9hsp2U3s4yimjk08iL6EfOd/w640-h446/snow%20leapard%20mom.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I was there when one of her keepers was doing some target training on her, to teach her to come when called for a food reward. This will allow for future moving her from one area of her enclosure to another to maintenance and clean her environment. The video below is not the greatest as it is taken through the fencing, but is good enough to see what was going on. She is very pretty, fluffy like her mom.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="363" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TKad2pNmSZA" width="436" youtube-src-id="TKad2pNmSZA"></iframe></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">After the zoo we visited the Half Price Bookstore to get rid of some of those books I cleaned out. I discovered a Portillo's nearby, so treated Rich to a couple Chicago style hot dogs.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcYnwyc93-zI3MlKZD9wPknoZCjTJuf4_B59DQ1aLvMWRtPGLGI0s-snXQ_m6DY2vdm4wxQ5Hv-13JB-Epz2svxEUubKEkFXPxhaffKGyBsLirHXc1Wqcv7lvavLwxdzWsZ-KCJpSQwiXipuRQHZvalkFuOLGgr3D99sU1x6oDFMlxqrdf3X6np5ToRQBq/s4032/IMG_5093.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcYnwyc93-zI3MlKZD9wPknoZCjTJuf4_B59DQ1aLvMWRtPGLGI0s-snXQ_m6DY2vdm4wxQ5Hv-13JB-Epz2svxEUubKEkFXPxhaffKGyBsLirHXc1Wqcv7lvavLwxdzWsZ-KCJpSQwiXipuRQHZvalkFuOLGgr3D99sU1x6oDFMlxqrdf3X6np5ToRQBq/s320/IMG_5093.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">It was a nice break away from my routine. I always appreciate time away from work. I sometimes, most of the times, wish I didn't have to work so I can enjoy more free time and hobbies, but having money in the bank account is nice too. I did accomplish many things while not at work, many cleaning projects that needed to be tackled. For now, it's back to "the salt mine", and within the week the start of the 2023-2024 falconry season. </div></div>Phoenix Fire Falconryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08263206652386388429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558069136746009556.post-90396855014643927802023-09-29T10:52:00.007-05:002023-10-28T05:19:19.608-05:00Rescues<p style="text-align: justify;">I am one of the people in this Southeast corner of Minnesota that can go capture up injured raptors to first bring to my friend Foxfeather for stabilization (she is our local wildlife rehab professional), for eventual transfer up to either the University of Minnesota Raptor Center or the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center for non-raptors. On September 28 I got a call for a vulture down. I was able to locate this poor unfortunate bird with the help of the person who had reported it. Eventually I found that the bird was put down, as its injuries were too extensive, and its condition very poor. When I caught it, for the 30 seconds I held it before placing into the box for transport, a whole bunch of mites jumped off the bird and onto me. This is not a good sign, when parasites are looking for any available source to abandon the host they are on, especially when the new host is not a much warmer bird. I had to go right home and take a shower!!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWlV6nGynIzNTGinP7WSeAZHuZfST0Igo9MdN9tDHHRAY8DUlLosZZZFYf1wkkINPznH4PmOtV1Ynabd-nsGdjZ5BRZe8Tg8mMGeQBthGquVEiV6SXyRrL7Oy20Hn78OOUnZCEkW8EPIKKHws4eo10Vk3nvwne4uDIgnOAkeGm_BvywWceT6pXFE6k9Goo/s1280/photo_2023-09-29_10-16-42.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWlV6nGynIzNTGinP7WSeAZHuZfST0Igo9MdN9tDHHRAY8DUlLosZZZFYf1wkkINPznH4PmOtV1Ynabd-nsGdjZ5BRZe8Tg8mMGeQBthGquVEiV6SXyRrL7Oy20Hn78OOUnZCEkW8EPIKKHws4eo10Vk3nvwne4uDIgnOAkeGm_BvywWceT6pXFE6k9Goo/w640-h480/photo_2023-09-29_10-16-42.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A short time later on the same day I was contacted for a supposed Merlin in someone's back yard here in my little town of Saint Charles. I was just a little skeptical, as this is an uncommon bird for our area, and many people don't know how to properly identify raptors. </div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigl162dByet8P3xifrqiXvc0LQgt2nsyFtlBv02HUkCYWLESxFL3U-aM6lMzVUc6fBOjFPf4r7xhBuTcpTjbpWA21cvoGpVuJWbYvXLA6eyblABgD7adEO7XmWPwYivw2nOrai8hyphenhyphenDZu12NwUh_3i2r4ZehIjglculbvn2SQ2RYe5uRuiSURZmpc0KCRDp/s1013/MerlinRescue.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="781" data-original-width="1013" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigl162dByet8P3xifrqiXvc0LQgt2nsyFtlBv02HUkCYWLESxFL3U-aM6lMzVUc6fBOjFPf4r7xhBuTcpTjbpWA21cvoGpVuJWbYvXLA6eyblABgD7adEO7XmWPwYivw2nOrai8hyphenhyphenDZu12NwUh_3i2r4ZehIjglculbvn2SQ2RYe5uRuiSURZmpc0KCRDp/w640-h494/MerlinRescue.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Rich and I responded, and walked around the large backyard not finding the downed bird, then turning, and looking in some shrubs next to the house . . . . and Holly Sh**t!! It really IS a Merlin!! This is an intermediate sized falcon, larger than our smallest kestrel, but smaller than the iconic peregrine. I happened to have brought along my box of assorted hoods just in case. I popped one onto its head to keep it calm for its journey to Fox.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJnBHGfhNt3YEDkvW12nrtwDVbe-I0KrjG0AocFYIT_DlyjgRflLlYroZ7QDeWIk2EtEq0etbCD-kQUTpdG6RKr2fGVy-6AuylHwgeaD5U-5mDIOvft3gXJu9djpy951F9NEBuEnOsULHLGHifQs2oKaeR9SlehNN3v859-B7CtXraC-6w9lutRN02pqn8/s849/MerlinRescue2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="776" data-original-width="849" height="584" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJnBHGfhNt3YEDkvW12nrtwDVbe-I0KrjG0AocFYIT_DlyjgRflLlYroZ7QDeWIk2EtEq0etbCD-kQUTpdG6RKr2fGVy-6AuylHwgeaD5U-5mDIOvft3gXJu9djpy951F9NEBuEnOsULHLGHifQs2oKaeR9SlehNN3v859-B7CtXraC-6w9lutRN02pqn8/w640-h584/MerlinRescue2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This bird too unfortunately was deemed beyond saving, and was euthanized by the Raptor Center, but for a brief moment I was able to hold this little bundle of fire. Falcons truly are very wonderful creatures, even when they are injured.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNed9_cifLZ0jEcbBE9VySpOtGFpRopUB78qRUtIDifAaX-rEw1jHqSpnmVCoI9lnCteGbHhoDF7HtV8W_r6Zs4_XjGU1qKtwRd_rMwD-oO-LSoFqDfynMKqYFXHSBrR-vn_60lqueISaEIKFtpGH2Nqn96k0xm66_Tcfc5R4b8AiRBnPQ5v_5TYpoVnqx/s1280/photo_2023-09-29_10-17-00.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="978" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNed9_cifLZ0jEcbBE9VySpOtGFpRopUB78qRUtIDifAaX-rEw1jHqSpnmVCoI9lnCteGbHhoDF7HtV8W_r6Zs4_XjGU1qKtwRd_rMwD-oO-LSoFqDfynMKqYFXHSBrR-vn_60lqueISaEIKFtpGH2Nqn96k0xm66_Tcfc5R4b8AiRBnPQ5v_5TYpoVnqx/s16000/photo_2023-09-29_10-17-00.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Phoenix Fire Falconryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08263206652386388429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558069136746009556.post-72723149371686092082023-09-02T17:58:00.032-05:002023-09-11T09:44:36.264-05:00Camping and Satisfaction of a Bucket List Item<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCLngGDrch4i6_60EX6mua-zYEEl_up1A0YiCJBRxLnyL_8WmjTfzFj5Pepa9zlVPNsp0Ggaae19ko9dVhdolFD43FPJFn-sFkERejmJu9yCEiFPS6pap4zFr88W4PvhwLdo_3ViVuefx9PPE4LvKv3BDIpA2Uz81kdW9kVgGQ1bhB6UUOdpUcKEUqJWMB/s2048/IMG_4874.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCLngGDrch4i6_60EX6mua-zYEEl_up1A0YiCJBRxLnyL_8WmjTfzFj5Pepa9zlVPNsp0Ggaae19ko9dVhdolFD43FPJFn-sFkERejmJu9yCEiFPS6pap4zFr88W4PvhwLdo_3ViVuefx9PPE4LvKv3BDIpA2Uz81kdW9kVgGQ1bhB6UUOdpUcKEUqJWMB/w480-h640/IMG_4874.JPEG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">It has been quite a few years since I have gone camping. My gear has been gathering dust, and a few mouse droppings in the closet downstairs where it is all stored. Recently, I felt a need to get it out and put it to use. I almost spent a night at a local State Park, until some unexpected rain cancelled that plan before I purchased a site for the night. Minnesota has gone all digital now for park access. It is slightly annoying in that the camp site fee is usually about $25 to $30 for the night, but every transaction charges a $10 fee to use the service to make the reservation. There is no other option! The State is going all "Ticketmaster" on us. I don't mind the money going to the parks. I do mind that they seem to have to hire out the service for reservations, who make a profit off it, because the State can't build their own reservation system that doesn't charge to use the service. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">It has been way too long since I have had any time off from work. I am not the only one! I do have 18 days off coming up in October, which can't come soon enough. I want to do more camping then. However, recently over a 6-day window off I got from smooshing my normal 3-days-a-week at each end of a 2-week schedule, I was able to sneak in a first camp night out. I coordinated it to tick off a "Bucket List" promise I had made to Rich.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">There is a couple of "Big Dumb Boats" up in Duluth. Rich seems to really like touring things like that. I am quite indifferent. In an effort to make sure we also do stuff he is interested in, I tried to fit in seeing the last above water and not scrapped for steel Whaleback ship, the <a href="http://phoenixfirefalconry.blogspot.com/2022/09/quick-door-countywisconsin-run-around.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">SS Meteor (click to follow link)</span></a>, which is permanently dry docked, having been retired in 1969 after sustaining a fatal injury to her single hull. Her owners chose to not repair her, and instead sell her to be a museum piece. We missed being able to see her last year because I didn't make a reservation. I made one this year to assure he could see the spider-infested thing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNWWViVoR2ri-c08Zy57cCnWXehDXbmIwNzBzsb1mZf08UGeI6w2X9Hn3kA2Rpb1eRKSa4Xk16XvBlgnoKF77WUHBgviHALfW3EMulcEuFxushFSKlr5UZVMAbiXS9O8SPubhqfFnaQuXUWJcZWUFhwQmtdaoVing9-6pXV7lSU7oShIZSjfloPVilkflI/s2048/IMG_4897.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNWWViVoR2ri-c08Zy57cCnWXehDXbmIwNzBzsb1mZf08UGeI6w2X9Hn3kA2Rpb1eRKSa4Xk16XvBlgnoKF77WUHBgviHALfW3EMulcEuFxushFSKlr5UZVMAbiXS9O8SPubhqfFnaQuXUWJcZWUFhwQmtdaoVing9-6pXV7lSU7oShIZSjfloPVilkflI/w300-h400/IMG_4897.JPEG" width="300" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I picked a State Park not far from Duluth/Superior for us to set up the tent and enjoy a night under the stars. The closest park is Jay Cooke, but I went for the next closest one a little further South, Moose Lake.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ5K7Yfsazuw2AoZ5T2_ydIms-mLJ9PBfxPzHEUZSNhaSB5frZGa6b41yFAVFo_gd16dkmjHbQAp2PFaqxbbj6zaUp54pSVuT7e4xbgVOqr_p6C6Kp56BnqWd6FrR42ehravzVKb299sEjfIgvzK-KkhoeQJFJtSNWrD3YXFOt9f7vm8E32YvX2c-bPEuz/s2048/IMG_4872.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ5K7Yfsazuw2AoZ5T2_ydIms-mLJ9PBfxPzHEUZSNhaSB5frZGa6b41yFAVFo_gd16dkmjHbQAp2PFaqxbbj6zaUp54pSVuT7e4xbgVOqr_p6C6Kp56BnqWd6FrR42ehravzVKb299sEjfIgvzK-KkhoeQJFJtSNWrD3YXFOt9f7vm8E32YvX2c-bPEuz/w400-h300/IMG_4872.JPEG" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We were camping on a Wednesday night, so not a whole lot of competition for sites. I had also picked what is called a "walk-in site". The walk-in part is probably about half a football field from where you park the car and where the camp site is located. It does allow you to be just a little bit more isolated. Add to that the minimal other campers in the park, and none in the sites right next to us, and the experience is rather a private one. We hauled our stuff to the camp site. I set up the tent. Rich started the fire to cook our dinner. A couple of industrious rodents, a ground squirrel and a red tree squirrel, foraged and played and scolded us from the canopy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOzis5Fxsc20nB2i42Ezpg5GehzNWtluyWdEWGBb8z5ITGRx4wM40UNLsk2P8MnYI0o6z0X5AVMVI27B0jZqFkJBjpgHrg_KLRtGDDwzOcYfIU-35o98A7p47bDNwJzNTCdl9i7eZ0gIvPhbRd4Khk9MN75sINqXAxDDlvI9h9tMUVDIQztrKMwbV_JMNR/s2048/IMG_4869.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOzis5Fxsc20nB2i42Ezpg5GehzNWtluyWdEWGBb8z5ITGRx4wM40UNLsk2P8MnYI0o6z0X5AVMVI27B0jZqFkJBjpgHrg_KLRtGDDwzOcYfIU-35o98A7p47bDNwJzNTCdl9i7eZ0gIvPhbRd4Khk9MN75sINqXAxDDlvI9h9tMUVDIQztrKMwbV_JMNR/w320-h240/IMG_4869.JPEG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">We've not slept on the ground for several years. I was OK with the plan, but My Man was not particularly thrilled by that arrangement. Well, we can't afford a fancy travel trailer, so ground sleeping it is. I do have a nice air mattress and a cozy sleeping bag for two.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNN39Z82sNXIGFdnq4ohK_NpSjVUBldUH7Gmoeu_hjSIz9CT4qKQ985RBA1GEiKnklQtGUKtTTCThzuTaHCCuGlS2bLMJUCoSTnHkFU4UgsejQy4SMocH8F1bhhnbRoh0xhyHDIAEV51kCa2GKiG19HGu4hYBKWxvAy4zTjo6kfr8OlTq06lJj7uBtZD0V/s2048/IMG_4868.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNN39Z82sNXIGFdnq4ohK_NpSjVUBldUH7Gmoeu_hjSIz9CT4qKQ985RBA1GEiKnklQtGUKtTTCThzuTaHCCuGlS2bLMJUCoSTnHkFU4UgsejQy4SMocH8F1bhhnbRoh0xhyHDIAEV51kCa2GKiG19HGu4hYBKWxvAy4zTjo6kfr8OlTq06lJj7uBtZD0V/w300-h400/IMG_4868.JPEG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The path to my car above. Rich chilling below after starting the fire.</div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbJf1NBm2OtsXaycchopkxqkkFvxYbBwu8EXbWgn6kJyXUUBpLIhbWANpFeI0WDNJS9RrywVTiUVlcX1rfxBkyGQR_MPCCrC4BhVVMKOK9fIMN8XYiA_UO7yjNrKJvdazC2_6KJG3piLs2s34pDG18YBIMxo954WQLg7B35xU9PUON4kANiwFL8zRM-aF8/s2048/IMG_4870.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbJf1NBm2OtsXaycchopkxqkkFvxYbBwu8EXbWgn6kJyXUUBpLIhbWANpFeI0WDNJS9RrywVTiUVlcX1rfxBkyGQR_MPCCrC4BhVVMKOK9fIMN8XYiA_UO7yjNrKJvdazC2_6KJG3piLs2s34pDG18YBIMxo954WQLg7B35xU9PUON4kANiwFL8zRM-aF8/w400-h300/IMG_4870.JPEG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Me chilling, waiting for the wood to burn down some before grilling our dinner.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLnSD1oc9TjlefyC5cGw-CMQRdSHZFQbFd_UD0xV0e1sQqhUrmaIzbPg1Ns51erBdyhvLnencHunJbYHPSXLEkm3bKYe3equ65D8XKzd8Xh8ZGimeGk7gTspRmJIXjhVGjkU2s5itpd8B4ek0z1E0-nO04bF0MHC8b1tpex8VdQ3eEDPJDh2TA2S68ucbi/s2048/IMG_4883.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLnSD1oc9TjlefyC5cGw-CMQRdSHZFQbFd_UD0xV0e1sQqhUrmaIzbPg1Ns51erBdyhvLnencHunJbYHPSXLEkm3bKYe3equ65D8XKzd8Xh8ZGimeGk7gTspRmJIXjhVGjkU2s5itpd8B4ek0z1E0-nO04bF0MHC8b1tpex8VdQ3eEDPJDh2TA2S68ucbi/s320/IMG_4883.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Steaks on an open fire, with beans. YUMMMY!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ofQQ3ii_rhBcB7btOqPnMJZ8mT8JZDhA66LkHu5OQEw16cSzRn0obXjSJepzv4hpFdAbfxvZvTmSOuCFAYBpBHIfJ3dXDYH3kP2mxsRTQUPLbs-aIXzPsSqM0jXzbrAVd-rU0l_Gj32FRgWNCwcxyODu7zl77NtCQXKZAOtxoDviBdHZAw2mrUFWJ1Wn/s2048/IMG_4877.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ofQQ3ii_rhBcB7btOqPnMJZ8mT8JZDhA66LkHu5OQEw16cSzRn0obXjSJepzv4hpFdAbfxvZvTmSOuCFAYBpBHIfJ3dXDYH3kP2mxsRTQUPLbs-aIXzPsSqM0jXzbrAVd-rU0l_Gj32FRgWNCwcxyODu7zl77NtCQXKZAOtxoDviBdHZAw2mrUFWJ1Wn/s320/IMG_4877.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I enjoyed my dinner with a ginger beer (I don't like "real" beer).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia28b5bXjjk0OZzCsnwfGNU-JKy3-n_ZxkE7jDxgNrS1mpIrzYR7Gj-7Ezq_jGtYxl3A9QfiSLzvQ-H9KmQAdiS8-wLvU16Pp9AwNTIAtMWEuBDhGGT8vWx-a5HXnu9B-3q5NEgacKLg-QSiRf3N1XVtbpIRFvTTm1rL0le7bXj_VvVM6bPm2k8JPGt9aZ/s2048/IMG_4879.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia28b5bXjjk0OZzCsnwfGNU-JKy3-n_ZxkE7jDxgNrS1mpIrzYR7Gj-7Ezq_jGtYxl3A9QfiSLzvQ-H9KmQAdiS8-wLvU16Pp9AwNTIAtMWEuBDhGGT8vWx-a5HXnu9B-3q5NEgacKLg-QSiRf3N1XVtbpIRFvTTm1rL0le7bXj_VvVM6bPm2k8JPGt9aZ/w480-h640/IMG_4879.JPEG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Rich had a "real" beer. Well, as real as a berry-infused beer can get.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMinLx1VW5Rb3XlAygKfxRMOW2spsNd3sFOkH819lis3r3kf-AS62JvBugoJIxUDEYaNsTOdZeK0gMlIfK89AMdJjR54mxTyRDWsHwABhOihBSZdpomCvyrE3Cnyjw95B64Dp9cF2NUKbY-zmDBHyOxdeoQr95kiUlwnW0PoLS6Uhnm-lZqzYu-gDyzD0E/s2048/IMG_4880.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMinLx1VW5Rb3XlAygKfxRMOW2spsNd3sFOkH819lis3r3kf-AS62JvBugoJIxUDEYaNsTOdZeK0gMlIfK89AMdJjR54mxTyRDWsHwABhOihBSZdpomCvyrE3Cnyjw95B64Dp9cF2NUKbY-zmDBHyOxdeoQr95kiUlwnW0PoLS6Uhnm-lZqzYu-gDyzD0E/w480-h640/IMG_4880.JPEG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">After our dinner we cleaned up and secured away any food, not leaving anything out to attract racoons or bears. I do think we were far enough up North where bears may roam around. Then we just enjoyed the fire as the sun went down. I had not brought any marshmallows. **Darn!** We were far enough away from good cell signal to make staying off the technology time suckers easier. I think there was a game going on that Rich would have liked to follow, but I was just fine with being in the moment. As it got dark a barred owl awoke and called a few tentative contact calls. Later in the night the local coyotes sounded off for a few minutes. The night was clear and still, and would remain that way. I left the rain flap off the tent. Around 9:30, with it getting dark, and no digital distractions, we decided to go to sleep early. One last stop down our path to the toilet vault, and we crawled into our sleeping bag.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Many years ago we purchased a sleeping bag for two. It is quite cozy, but maybe just a little smothering for the partner sleeping in the fold side of the bag, instead of the flap side. I snagged the flap side. Just worked out that way. After all, I was the one that made the sleeping arrangements. We did awake around 1 in the morning, and struggled out of the tent and shuffled down the path for another bathroom break, old people that we are. The August Blue Moon was large in the sky lighting our way.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="508" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vRCJyCn44I4" width="610" youtube-src-id="vRCJyCn44I4"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">In the dawn that followed, I captured a quiet morning outside the tent window, as I snuggled down in the cozy sleeping bag. In the distance you can hear traffic on I35. The whole time of our visit at our camp site it was calm. There was some bird song, but not that much. It was late in the summer, and has been very dry, so many of the song birds have probably already abandoned the North woods for places down South, where there is more rain and insects. Briefly a pair of loons on the nearby lake called out, probably contacting each other, but their song was so fleeting I could not catch a recording.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="506" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GrPZlIR1y1Q" width="611" youtube-src-id="GrPZlIR1y1Q"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I got up and promptly made coffee. I have become very much a morning coffee drinker. I came to it late in life, mostly enjoying tea up until my 30s. I consider myself somewhat of a coffee snob. I buy my beans whole from a reputable roaster and grind them at home. I make my cup with a square of dark chocolate, and a good amount of cream. For this trip I decided to try out something new, and purchased a French Press. Oh My God!! What have I been missing for so long? Pouring boiling water over fresh ground coffee and allowing it to steep pulls out so many more flavor notes to the coffee. This is probably going to become part of my regular morning coffee routine.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCuTDctZV-EyQtPKHDTQJp5XRyEgD28gjbrPrR7N_TaKwEwLvtCdGgiiPy7agVMHicUaKO6DM8OikPjNGZEJdgc84N3NBDcHaIsdsMaD5VTwro_qIKX7qe527oA7VXuBLLUlHLQjhtdkp2-3OQgohxRzsDc-FQKNZZ2z2gEZkm1RWYLwKjTrmNBwqjoXGT/s2048/IMG_4889.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCuTDctZV-EyQtPKHDTQJp5XRyEgD28gjbrPrR7N_TaKwEwLvtCdGgiiPy7agVMHicUaKO6DM8OikPjNGZEJdgc84N3NBDcHaIsdsMaD5VTwro_qIKX7qe527oA7VXuBLLUlHLQjhtdkp2-3OQgohxRzsDc-FQKNZZ2z2gEZkm1RWYLwKjTrmNBwqjoXGT/s320/IMG_4889.JPEG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Morning Coffee is GREAT! Morning Coffee in the Woods is even BETTER!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-sXuT-X_EERlkq4PseZUsbtOhGDk0vwqadFIQDUuwDVS1eMCA67GWHGlNuNZ0a5q2t11kW2j5mtCHyBN-Q5o_uqT39wZsbx0geWgP8-bliLhYciJzwZYRd7yJCZHayY-Eb4GIBWykLsZuC-TnJvRm10kFxuKURHd6-wnXvyZnyeLr_OjFDC7FITy6GBcE/s2048/IMG_4890.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-sXuT-X_EERlkq4PseZUsbtOhGDk0vwqadFIQDUuwDVS1eMCA67GWHGlNuNZ0a5q2t11kW2j5mtCHyBN-Q5o_uqT39wZsbx0geWgP8-bliLhYciJzwZYRd7yJCZHayY-Eb4GIBWykLsZuC-TnJvRm10kFxuKURHd6-wnXvyZnyeLr_OjFDC7FITy6GBcE/w480-h640/IMG_4890.JPEG" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We would pack up our tent and gear, and go in search of some breakfast. But first, we visited the lake that is part of Moose Lake State Park. Oddly, it's not Moose Lake, which is just a little further East. Below is a panoramic picture of Echo Lake, at the point where there is a swim beach. Click the picture for a bigger view.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX5R0F1upFadX15ngjpTOSxHeuMnAfHQruULzdd6WDGtK10w_1sXxTsDFBFg4OI4E83PHZenSRMDZWCaNa2WTylIuBqwt3GjJ293jSzpAtvQzXUXCVaqxtvknoz7FqCHnBfRErZiiBFbeTe8fZOpWIXeWFaGNVwvOG1d2MJwCK7xmedeCb0kok-k5ForD3/s9361/IMG_4894.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2689" data-original-width="9361" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX5R0F1upFadX15ngjpTOSxHeuMnAfHQruULzdd6WDGtK10w_1sXxTsDFBFg4OI4E83PHZenSRMDZWCaNa2WTylIuBqwt3GjJ293jSzpAtvQzXUXCVaqxtvknoz7FqCHnBfRErZiiBFbeTe8fZOpWIXeWFaGNVwvOG1d2MJwCK7xmedeCb0kok-k5ForD3/w640-h184/IMG_4894.JPEG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9y0o3rZ0MUGMx0oErfxsIYIj6KmcQFEvlKu0Yqe0vAxTiKN0dNVT41lrm3DTVJpETdGAX9yYbAoBnJtggsuwp7LVw7m-6oakJ0z85oCBvIXyRAm7LVt5HaPbITqyyrQaC_wGIwvuf2kajjdpNsAd2zaO-zT884xjFAZINgU8dcHq3GhTdK-PVB8Ntm9wm/s2048/IMG_4898.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9y0o3rZ0MUGMx0oErfxsIYIj6KmcQFEvlKu0Yqe0vAxTiKN0dNVT41lrm3DTVJpETdGAX9yYbAoBnJtggsuwp7LVw7m-6oakJ0z85oCBvIXyRAm7LVt5HaPbITqyyrQaC_wGIwvuf2kajjdpNsAd2zaO-zT884xjFAZINgU8dcHq3GhTdK-PVB8Ntm9wm/w480-h640/IMG_4898.JPEG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">When traveling, I like to find small diners to patronize. They usually have the best food in the area, and supporting non-chain establishments goes further to benefit the local economy of the town being visited. Also, usually, there is no real choice other than a local small diner. We scored our breakfast at the <a href="https://www.lazygrills.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Lazy Moose Grill (click to follow link)</span></a>. The breakfast specialty was their Kalevala Hash, which according to the menu is a "unique signature breakfast potato made with russets, sweet potatoes, grilled onions, bacon and a mixture of tasty spices." You can see it above on my plate. It was quite good. They had cute coffee mugs for sale, so I bought one to add to my coffee cup collection at home. If you visit me, I will invite you to pick from an assortment of beautiful and sturdy coffee mugs, then fill it with coffee, or other drink of choice, and sit down and visit.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia8WmB0RWsvlICrHfndFJd3NV6g_NrtM_tEWDIz-U0nBIWya5Up-CdsDpTIGdJ_s-w2u_MvkNpZCoe-xQ_wXuW1hnDKFpT6523QHFEre0ZJkAn-1lSh35vKHr508bVqoZ7sI7JrOhT0MKyfpNd3BMgTxK07P3JUM98MngBd0V4iYoalbO-eOSdBnolmu0s/s2048/IMG_4899.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia8WmB0RWsvlICrHfndFJd3NV6g_NrtM_tEWDIz-U0nBIWya5Up-CdsDpTIGdJ_s-w2u_MvkNpZCoe-xQ_wXuW1hnDKFpT6523QHFEre0ZJkAn-1lSh35vKHr508bVqoZ7sI7JrOhT0MKyfpNd3BMgTxK07P3JUM98MngBd0V4iYoalbO-eOSdBnolmu0s/w480-h640/IMG_4899.JPEG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">After breakfast we made our way into Duluth, and beyond to Superior, and got down to the serious business of checking off the "bucket list" item of letting Rich finally visit the Meteor. As ships go, it is rather small. Most of the freight delivering vessels on the Lakes have become quite large, limited only by the dimensions of the locks they must pass through on the Lakes. Our reservation was for 11:30, but we were early, and the tour guide was willing to let us go at 10:30. We had the tour all to ourselves, despite this being a terribly popular tourist hot spot. 😆 Are you catching my snark?? Being a stationary object right next to water, and in the warmer months, it was absolutely covered in spider 🕸 🕷 🕸 webs. For whatever reason, spiders like to be near water. I let the tour guide and Rich lead the way. Working on such a cramped, industrial ship like this seems rather depressing to me, with tight spaces, an extremely hot and dangerous steam engine, minimal comforts, and limited bland food. I take small comfort in knowing that when she would have been operational, women would not have been part of the crew. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRl-pzElFbwtBUfBANOYbj2yp1mCOsz6iG8B9a0N1e5K8yAO_6Ez5xsWAI4Ukqm-8zM-P-zFMnUhxG1f9jnKFeG3klgBPYlByt7cFdVYJ-04KAPeHCoPqinSarAEB-kptBHIOJCpX1fmkAr5XN9_ZmLHPhdtLSBM2CXDehSkuWkDgKCFyat7PhfWaUTv07/s2048/IMG_4901.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRl-pzElFbwtBUfBANOYbj2yp1mCOsz6iG8B9a0N1e5K8yAO_6Ez5xsWAI4Ukqm-8zM-P-zFMnUhxG1f9jnKFeG3klgBPYlByt7cFdVYJ-04KAPeHCoPqinSarAEB-kptBHIOJCpX1fmkAr5XN9_ZmLHPhdtLSBM2CXDehSkuWkDgKCFyat7PhfWaUTv07/w480-h640/IMG_4901.JPEG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thumbs up for Rich finally getting to see the Meteor.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDFuCx9lJJp9H3M5scGQHe_whPd9b1XXbtNA4uHvkksa8RlZdp-sQV6DMNjrrbQW-2dlWmLVVD7u78rx7WKcv5JgIKHs2cXrkjPA1P5lDjBEFGLew9l95RbC5FvBtZ4GccYuZV4tn3htnEHeaO5rKxvtEfXCl_YeZWoJ2in1nAQ2HGZ4sfWm_Q9aVRrnXM/s2048/IMG_4902.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDFuCx9lJJp9H3M5scGQHe_whPd9b1XXbtNA4uHvkksa8RlZdp-sQV6DMNjrrbQW-2dlWmLVVD7u78rx7WKcv5JgIKHs2cXrkjPA1P5lDjBEFGLew9l95RbC5FvBtZ4GccYuZV4tn3htnEHeaO5rKxvtEfXCl_YeZWoJ2in1nAQ2HGZ4sfWm_Q9aVRrnXM/s320/IMG_4902.JPEG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Rich seems to like visiting tourist locations like these derelict ships. Maybe in a previous life he was a sailor. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ixDjiICGE-nc94kJRgH7s0zdunYVUbOAlGwWvKQAaLZo8MEQSKTUhqr4Cuzt9S-BcltgOORRib-VdH-tqA08wXGg2tRVqijOGFLj3bCZ-0DIqS7NQ5UQvjoXGT2fuYj1EtkOk8sX5A8jdaq6fHauGl3ViRVxs6NSle2LcBheh7Kjsf5Cl-a53TkrcF95/s2048/IMG_4903.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ixDjiICGE-nc94kJRgH7s0zdunYVUbOAlGwWvKQAaLZo8MEQSKTUhqr4Cuzt9S-BcltgOORRib-VdH-tqA08wXGg2tRVqijOGFLj3bCZ-0DIqS7NQ5UQvjoXGT2fuYj1EtkOk8sX5A8jdaq6fHauGl3ViRVxs6NSle2LcBheh7Kjsf5Cl-a53TkrcF95/w640-h480/IMG_4903.JPEG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">One of the most dangerous, and thus high paying jobs on the ship was the oiler. A man's entire responsibility was to go over all the points in the giant boiler engine that had to be constantly lubricated. Imagine that this is done while the engine and all its parts are moving, and you understand how they lost fingers, frequently. The boiler room, per the tour guide, was often 120℉, or hotter. What a miserable place to work.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc4djbsCkdtbxRytk0ZwxwAqpv4s5046lPe1RGxwogAfV9zUKvvg3xEJ4ipn66VO8eD7CftBTqbEzH6JDsg5Cd9PSa3jwRYtPOIxOop116J5TC_qWidsI4_Ob7bY_TOkTrByVBbENkVVBSyjZv1hehzykF8h7qZHtzRyO5sM3UTbjbj7a1-7QCtBZVvcAL/s2048/IMG_4904.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc4djbsCkdtbxRytk0ZwxwAqpv4s5046lPe1RGxwogAfV9zUKvvg3xEJ4ipn66VO8eD7CftBTqbEzH6JDsg5Cd9PSa3jwRYtPOIxOop116J5TC_qWidsI4_Ob7bY_TOkTrByVBbENkVVBSyjZv1hehzykF8h7qZHtzRyO5sM3UTbjbj7a1-7QCtBZVvcAL/w400-h300/IMG_4904.JPEG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2dP7SltdM3-JtQBLQeRdlGIEqp1DnFAv9ViAmfKM2LHai1DyRhAOBlneaS04Pwq_3__jQevxKuN8gmBxMy7pjm35emxteWprl0iy5PqOwwC-wfHloZJbxXmJXtdc89bTnBuXvqDs6hzh0Oumf200_n-LG6YgNLJxRxdL-YxGR57ue_DBAQo6jIkSZqZPS/s2048/IMG_4906.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2dP7SltdM3-JtQBLQeRdlGIEqp1DnFAv9ViAmfKM2LHai1DyRhAOBlneaS04Pwq_3__jQevxKuN8gmBxMy7pjm35emxteWprl0iy5PqOwwC-wfHloZJbxXmJXtdc89bTnBuXvqDs6hzh0Oumf200_n-LG6YgNLJxRxdL-YxGR57ue_DBAQo6jIkSZqZPS/s320/IMG_4906.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Rich seemed pleased to finally tick off this tour. I think he first mentioned it to me way back in <a href="http://ladyhawker.blogspot.com/2009/06/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">2009 (click to follow link)</span></a>, when we first visited Duluth together, when I took my exam that allowed me to become a Respiratory Therapist. We have since visited Duluth many times, and just about every time he speculated if we could get over to see the Meteor. Well OK, now we FINALLY did it!!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidPgCsz8_4SXmGSv8SH8MhF8dpkDoyhhjb82_BgnYlC33zOt6BL83R3jTpDmQpb7jc9OiXf9mKUT2MTKpCHFoK8diNlrjO7tRzWlwoYL9848qLM_nDCap_fCgHSlFnCaFq0bfNoVrZC-gBSHr1R-brOoxrvJysm1BDc1hc_YUAWkLB8SQ3-ur1mWMtRj9V/s1507/RichShirt.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1507" data-original-width="1377" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidPgCsz8_4SXmGSv8SH8MhF8dpkDoyhhjb82_BgnYlC33zOt6BL83R3jTpDmQpb7jc9OiXf9mKUT2MTKpCHFoK8diNlrjO7tRzWlwoYL9848qLM_nDCap_fCgHSlFnCaFq0bfNoVrZC-gBSHr1R-brOoxrvJysm1BDc1hc_YUAWkLB8SQ3-ur1mWMtRj9V/w584-h640/RichShirt.jpg" width="584" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He even has the T-Shirt to prove it. He appears meditative in the accomplishment . . . or I just caught him blinking.</div>Phoenix Fire Falconryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08263206652386388429noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558069136746009556.post-55966891623371158052023-07-28T11:39:00.035-05:002023-09-12T10:17:35.804-05:00Illinois Trip - 'Cuz I Gotta Get Outta Town<p style="text-align: justify;">From Saturday/Sunday overnight July 22-23, 2023 to Wednesday July 26, 2023 I made a whirlwind trip down to Illinois to visit my niece and her family, and my best friend Darla. It has been a long stretch of work, and I needed to <i><b>Get Outta Town</b></i> even for just a short break. I had not gotten any of the Personal Time off at work I had asked for, but my boss was able to reschedule some days on my schedule that allowed me a 6-day block off. That's enough for a road trip!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzYI5Rj1rrOuumliS7p7wAhgDfAhb1kv61snwf_yDHB8RJIHrQpoJjsP-Oz_e5Xch_r24XtGntAdLV2F2BWVtkQfR642P7fe2FzIYFK-JI3nHQIdxanO97KADSDbzBazQbOtO_hT7WOs-zeH3EnHOf-QGZ0m2zJ4qEUsh-Dq_I9xEs2CsgYspR8Od2TPCe/s2048/IMG_4760.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzYI5Rj1rrOuumliS7p7wAhgDfAhb1kv61snwf_yDHB8RJIHrQpoJjsP-Oz_e5Xch_r24XtGntAdLV2F2BWVtkQfR642P7fe2FzIYFK-JI3nHQIdxanO97KADSDbzBazQbOtO_hT7WOs-zeH3EnHOf-QGZ0m2zJ4qEUsh-Dq_I9xEs2CsgYspR8Od2TPCe/w640-h480/IMG_4760.JPEG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I never had any kids. Mostly didn't want any, and for a brief time in my life with my first husband we thought about starting a family, but it just didn't work out. Ah well! However, my two sisters each had two daughters, and I was able to know my sister Jennefer's daughters as they grew up into wonderful young women. I sometimes regret not being able to live near any of my blood kin, but I am able to connect once in awhile with Erica and Sarah, who both live within a reasonable drive from me. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">For the start of this little road trip, after working the overnight shift three days in a row, I came home on a Saturday morning and slept myself out for the day. Awake in the late afternoon/early evening, I prepped the house, kissed the husband, packed my car, and was out on an overnight drive down to Illinois. Driving in the middle of the night is definitely the way to go! I would arrive to my niece Erica's home in the morning as the sun rose. She and her husband Sean were already up with the older of their two children, Audrey. Their son Ethan was sleeping in. We spent the morning catching up and just being family.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As we moved into late morning/early afternoon I went out shopping with Erica. We found a favorite coffee/drink place she likes to visit and had some fruity non-alcoholic beverages. Shortly after we found tacos!</div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaz-miD7ak5EsEBsAwHay4XdyPj0G0_iceHnkanLQV9LqUhf0LXEvWg-F8aNfMnOqFWgf-g_lSqZpucDcjpCaa9UVwanqr4L-zo8HQDY4ovXRDTlmBKyuShsKRSBtayXAt44YojbkzBLtzMuFx8b8eRDIOU-cBmQp0N9lY3SYDDviZnJXtYmX-LScx48VW/s2048/IMG_4748.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaz-miD7ak5EsEBsAwHay4XdyPj0G0_iceHnkanLQV9LqUhf0LXEvWg-F8aNfMnOqFWgf-g_lSqZpucDcjpCaa9UVwanqr4L-zo8HQDY4ovXRDTlmBKyuShsKRSBtayXAt44YojbkzBLtzMuFx8b8eRDIOU-cBmQp0N9lY3SYDDviZnJXtYmX-LScx48VW/w400-h300/IMG_4748.JPEG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I'm not always the best aunt. I don't always send gifts for Christmas or Birthdays, but I did bring some gifts with me on this trip for my great niece and nephew. Once Ethan awoke, he quickly took to the giant blocks I brought for him. So glad he likes them! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhie91xbNQ07kLZiTkGP_WkKJWHLW91k7aIXrU-_d0zq1q5M9HAO05vQ2Sg2Za0E-C4wsPiExWTFpSdtonrfiKi_FnSdqtelf9GUlAgHnl12ChsV0YUkJ5YreSdb6Yy_JqOfTKUi4vep7SRzjPWUHUY0kYZNOHUJvZEDRpuE9Py2kTKAmDwHJQzi6nKDQsZ/s2048/IMG_4750.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhie91xbNQ07kLZiTkGP_WkKJWHLW91k7aIXrU-_d0zq1q5M9HAO05vQ2Sg2Za0E-C4wsPiExWTFpSdtonrfiKi_FnSdqtelf9GUlAgHnl12ChsV0YUkJ5YreSdb6Yy_JqOfTKUi4vep7SRzjPWUHUY0kYZNOHUJvZEDRpuE9Py2kTKAmDwHJQzi6nKDQsZ/s320/IMG_4750.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Audrey is in a sparkly magical animals phase, so a light up unicorn was just the perfect gift for her. </div><div style="text-align: center;">💜💖💛💚💙</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='474' height='394' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzpfzTt2X-0DgbFNIf8vMEYaEB62sY6chAIkx3NVDoXY1IQt-hbaGjYDU-PP8VstXtNpXwJxDs_sbjhwgL3XA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Being in the middle of goat milking season, I had some fresh chevre to share. Audrey is quite adventurous when it comes to eating as a child. She didn't mind trying the soft cheese, and liked it.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilIQ_NairQSGSV0u0IsaDArPcbehyWGYEuOwMNq_nUx_K4yzdUpQKEHjqjrDG9pOUS_9JT7tOP9D7Vtne0Uarjv8Jevd-kg3SJ-_yiBQvlNbNuQ8pkLn7o-oLfMjxoUcTt_X93DozhLRunycyTG-yr004Q4SK-Y3JNt8CPnMvsHV1OmOvtBNIhDnXpPizx/s2048/IMG_4754.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilIQ_NairQSGSV0u0IsaDArPcbehyWGYEuOwMNq_nUx_K4yzdUpQKEHjqjrDG9pOUS_9JT7tOP9D7Vtne0Uarjv8Jevd-kg3SJ-_yiBQvlNbNuQ8pkLn7o-oLfMjxoUcTt_X93DozhLRunycyTG-yr004Q4SK-Y3JNt8CPnMvsHV1OmOvtBNIhDnXpPizx/s320/IMG_4754.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One of their two giant cats was sure to come over and say hello. Big Friendly Marshmallows!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYZa0-5rSgilYTP9ooPNoTN2ClhLyuxFtj-yB8rVYoGkXp77HMdt-04y9aZwCaC0sx9HIe1klTuMNZJTEsV4Ew0uKWouCw8aavjEpiMdqxqrvufYQtvzscUlCycGuHOGklohdXms5AkwLNK0qQN5iwM3k-iZHuDIfZ4OJOW5o0vlEQEGKrJScFCrVc2uxe/s2048/IMG_4749.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYZa0-5rSgilYTP9ooPNoTN2ClhLyuxFtj-yB8rVYoGkXp77HMdt-04y9aZwCaC0sx9HIe1klTuMNZJTEsV4Ew0uKWouCw8aavjEpiMdqxqrvufYQtvzscUlCycGuHOGklohdXms5AkwLNK0qQN5iwM3k-iZHuDIfZ4OJOW5o0vlEQEGKrJScFCrVc2uxe/s320/IMG_4749.JPEG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">After visiting all that morning and early afternoon, I would lay down for a nap in their basement, as I had been awake now for most of the previous 20 hours. It was enough of a reboot to see me on the next leg of my trip, to drive North about an hour and meet up with my best bud Darla. It was so very nice to connect with my niece and her family.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">I drove that late afternoon/early evening into the sunset to arrive at Darla's home just as she was returning from one of her jobs up in the Chicago area. She is a professional house and pet sitter, and keeps herself busy with that side gig. Once I arrived and unloaded what I needed, we settled into sleeping, as we were both fairly tired. The fun would begin the next day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFPTEuyGXtK3wyywWiRKDNBRgZOiEMHfoSKZ5DHQ97oXaTmvLFjH9VsZlwdqJNn9x_JTAO_VEKGsAG7gqOKh7JteWs-j4AVfOj2svdK_jtVTHZQ_QoMZpTBta2H0w1RoChwtg3-BDuNaZ95CLvZT5MjkOCvrTlhECd7UojaDPvIodOWIWG1iZgVWNupb-Y/s828/IMG_4786.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="621" data-original-width="828" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFPTEuyGXtK3wyywWiRKDNBRgZOiEMHfoSKZ5DHQ97oXaTmvLFjH9VsZlwdqJNn9x_JTAO_VEKGsAG7gqOKh7JteWs-j4AVfOj2svdK_jtVTHZQ_QoMZpTBta2H0w1RoChwtg3-BDuNaZ95CLvZT5MjkOCvrTlhECd7UojaDPvIodOWIWG1iZgVWNupb-Y/w640-h480/IMG_4786.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Once awake and everything we needed packed into her old car, we drove into the urban hellscape that is the Chicago metroplex. It's Darla's stomping grounds even if she no longer lives there. She wanted to do lunch at the famous <a href="https://www.thedockatmontrosebeach.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Dock at Montrose Beach (click to follow link)</span></a>. There we both ordered way too much food, and would share between us for a fabulous lunch. I had the cod basket with nachos. She had quesadillas and friend chicken fingers. No alcohol! Just cold water on this hot day.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGq7YMCw1qQB0ekApn6gJYkGST9aQfzVbz6K50Ml9r_JVbL_fR1ir9j3KtWHfEWKX4BD1QFSM89sOT4gIzw6g66abIi7q1uwD_8GJSiY3Mfu86Mh-jCz9fRv_Tot8gpuNM9OKCXOPv9_Rkol6Y1Yl0gqQoKZMzhTUTgWuZ3iNH09E5a8zOTbixYDKQwgyQ/s2048/IMG_4768.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGq7YMCw1qQB0ekApn6gJYkGST9aQfzVbz6K50Ml9r_JVbL_fR1ir9j3KtWHfEWKX4BD1QFSM89sOT4gIzw6g66abIi7q1uwD_8GJSiY3Mfu86Mh-jCz9fRv_Tot8gpuNM9OKCXOPv9_Rkol6Y1Yl0gqQoKZMzhTUTgWuZ3iNH09E5a8zOTbixYDKQwgyQ/w400-h300/IMG_4768.JPEG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1JMKYJf9lqvNaURC4f9b0HZZ31UBZesK0MKznEur4zDHYB-k9LIVWySRFwfUuRQrj2WbSjNSoDc8iWuFKG513rxNqKuqwSkrCTIVgljhJIkKoem9Kp5nvid8Yok9DZhI18GhLjE5rgEkH10I3hogrYsTSj0ukBypllNuMDXiPHktXxQSi24AZu2VvW6Qt/s2048/IMG_4767.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1JMKYJf9lqvNaURC4f9b0HZZ31UBZesK0MKznEur4zDHYB-k9LIVWySRFwfUuRQrj2WbSjNSoDc8iWuFKG513rxNqKuqwSkrCTIVgljhJIkKoem9Kp5nvid8Yok9DZhI18GhLjE5rgEkH10I3hogrYsTSj0ukBypllNuMDXiPHktXxQSi24AZu2VvW6Qt/w400-h300/IMG_4767.JPEG" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Darla assures me that this is quite the famous landmark for Chicago, the beach and all. Currently it is also famous in that a rare species of plover have taken up on the nesting areas off to the side of the beach, in the Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary. Click below if you want to read about the nesting pair. The area is roped off to give the birds the best opportunity to raise their chicks to fledging.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='550' height='457' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwprH5PXBYi0FVQ7JZqwO9yy49eALkZUKrQJQe7Qy4uCNsINK5yQfZwRbk1alwMsqqpKTd4zzEAani5O7X3pw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.chicagopipingplovers.org/montrose-beach-piping-plovers" target="_blank">Chicago Piping Plovers - Montrose Beach</a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4HXfKXuHk_XZMwe1CUU-xX4RoQj7U_lALSeKRoMydDVuqLDAqerVtOdwPtwXVlYxWNZr57mnwoGIWWgSAGKWhDkvlxCWP8R8msN2R_wiuiXFFiWoYEjgms3XN-WGcVcjnP4Jd0vykuCdOehfPJQfAwedP5TZnwTaXnvTk2ANx0EtMVS1EXrH3JdZIxtSO/s1765/362963307_662994555408657_5101060602114379473_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1765" data-original-width="1078" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4HXfKXuHk_XZMwe1CUU-xX4RoQj7U_lALSeKRoMydDVuqLDAqerVtOdwPtwXVlYxWNZr57mnwoGIWWgSAGKWhDkvlxCWP8R8msN2R_wiuiXFFiWoYEjgms3XN-WGcVcjnP4Jd0vykuCdOehfPJQfAwedP5TZnwTaXnvTk2ANx0EtMVS1EXrH3JdZIxtSO/w390-h640/362963307_662994555408657_5101060602114379473_n.jpg" width="390" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">After lunch, we walked a little in the Bird Sanctuary area not closed to people. The summer wildflowers are in full bloom, and the red winged blackbirds were defending nests in all the prairie overgrowth. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='638' height='530' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwYTUbKkzy09CCJ-JmD1KNROLKM4D6rkZSg-VrxWlMUS5vhzw6X5HE8-ut4BaiEvlPIF9Owunb3LEkkvJsdmA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Gratuitous wildflower pictures, just because flowers are beautiful!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvzen3e4gBJCqEUYD8IyNGfN80zGreW5UapqKGSoxCVXkx59YLRlRaSzPe66xNWfVOLASXPnl7kOJtDeUUaMDdaG-qBxQjOrv7nahXvmiUD_KaqkGkkHkcNriEQQu4CTtnuRcYCmx_0TPd1kRlDerCv582_ol6wNG0YhFm4bbi-J9WbS_VkBwSmmG27O-n/s2048/IMG_4771.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvzen3e4gBJCqEUYD8IyNGfN80zGreW5UapqKGSoxCVXkx59YLRlRaSzPe66xNWfVOLASXPnl7kOJtDeUUaMDdaG-qBxQjOrv7nahXvmiUD_KaqkGkkHkcNriEQQu4CTtnuRcYCmx_0TPd1kRlDerCv582_ol6wNG0YhFm4bbi-J9WbS_VkBwSmmG27O-n/w480-h640/IMG_4771.JPEG" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR2avAQJpUWUWHzsm2bgDDJZjWH-hcKqy4g72HzW81Xfe_fPGQ0PPuiJARSc7bfZAjHcWeVwQMvmjcJwzibM5v65bkCGHmFBPwj_Q3Er44ZzSSknet97TTV28jo6We8Oxvx-N8XKzJFlJv9nypd7_QnfW9g-0w0JI_lSlN3jFPg0HDbeDEqo4Jq16pFqTu/s2048/IMG_4773.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR2avAQJpUWUWHzsm2bgDDJZjWH-hcKqy4g72HzW81Xfe_fPGQ0PPuiJARSc7bfZAjHcWeVwQMvmjcJwzibM5v65bkCGHmFBPwj_Q3Er44ZzSSknet97TTV28jo6We8Oxvx-N8XKzJFlJv9nypd7_QnfW9g-0w0JI_lSlN3jFPg0HDbeDEqo4Jq16pFqTu/w480-h640/IMG_4773.JPEG" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN5e3OMfKBnA3Dg4_S8aDa30yVtnERG00SWUavYxnK_WFZrHmIBtp8lPUCxoqPzLaom3FQwTV_oRit4KZLPpxkrCZStdXg6zbSrovNAhqkRYj1FBEUNDJuZvcibrje62s-7P79ucFwFfAdgTDcV6qLPEwUDzQozq8BDQ6MZOdHYD9o3H2afUc8aPDPYw9i/s2048/IMG_4777.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN5e3OMfKBnA3Dg4_S8aDa30yVtnERG00SWUavYxnK_WFZrHmIBtp8lPUCxoqPzLaom3FQwTV_oRit4KZLPpxkrCZStdXg6zbSrovNAhqkRYj1FBEUNDJuZvcibrje62s-7P79ucFwFfAdgTDcV6qLPEwUDzQozq8BDQ6MZOdHYD9o3H2afUc8aPDPYw9i/w480-h640/IMG_4777.JPEG" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHGdY8FnoIyNeRr9O8U2iB6Id_dM_sVXjkFYoOOmRv_2VufBLAutLDQDzpP96AO9E4IH4ZaUXiKULKhYMry1G_A5lxdKNjxalgG_yftbJrjT064iE33oNo7A_y1pihm8qUTRowcO96LyMams21wyG7U1X9gyPn3-6KTa7aFjJvykEpjT1CWtgghpSlHgCI/s2048/IMG_4776.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHGdY8FnoIyNeRr9O8U2iB6Id_dM_sVXjkFYoOOmRv_2VufBLAutLDQDzpP96AO9E4IH4ZaUXiKULKhYMry1G_A5lxdKNjxalgG_yftbJrjT064iE33oNo7A_y1pihm8qUTRowcO96LyMams21wyG7U1X9gyPn3-6KTa7aFjJvykEpjT1CWtgghpSlHgCI/w480-h640/IMG_4776.JPEG" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">After walking around Montrose Beach area, Darla drove me around interesting places in Chicago, and then made our way closer to our destination that evening. I've wanted to see the Blue Man Group for some time. Sharing it with a friend is even better! We still had plenty of time to kill, so found some nice little coffee shop in Lakeview to while away some time.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgkjHs_Yg7YOedS5QEZ5VUgujkkTYbDITUvOLugWcnH9OPXbdqZ0ttSNOcJeqT2g3hSZer_KkZd3kSbqIcI0-GEeLICx3fOUS6iI5D6SuyLIYv3VMi9xCH8MziGgpgRRUqcYMiTBU2RGcg83i2TE-KlUAD1gK_fNTASe3lNqKt1FuGcEVsQIN-1RpKB_Ew/s2048/IMG_4780.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgkjHs_Yg7YOedS5QEZ5VUgujkkTYbDITUvOLugWcnH9OPXbdqZ0ttSNOcJeqT2g3hSZer_KkZd3kSbqIcI0-GEeLICx3fOUS6iI5D6SuyLIYv3VMi9xCH8MziGgpgRRUqcYMiTBU2RGcg83i2TE-KlUAD1gK_fNTASe3lNqKt1FuGcEVsQIN-1RpKB_Ew/w480-h640/IMG_4780.JPEG" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizYS8hs5BCqXKeP5hzrdQyUPlhnaWvKV2TSxh28AT2hSfBrRyzutw8vO_EzFcC0cRGBUxEuPCMnypBSIcX8oet2iv208ivAGeDd-qrVA6lFvvn1Y4cBf5-hdu0OQAnBYo93isf7Xt56ZGMCF6q-gikK2Nc1-EBNJs9zPzYmjq-Bbp8ALT6jZltVgDoq5ee/s2048/363482227_281939687755582_6370925591610650087_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizYS8hs5BCqXKeP5hzrdQyUPlhnaWvKV2TSxh28AT2hSfBrRyzutw8vO_EzFcC0cRGBUxEuPCMnypBSIcX8oet2iv208ivAGeDd-qrVA6lFvvn1Y4cBf5-hdu0OQAnBYo93isf7Xt56ZGMCF6q-gikK2Nc1-EBNJs9zPzYmjq-Bbp8ALT6jZltVgDoq5ee/w300-h400/363482227_281939687755582_6370925591610650087_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The place we chose also serves up bread. I love bread!! Bread does not always love me. This particular shop had a bit of a Hispanic vibe to it. They also sold pastries and sweet treats behind a counter display. I don't know what this is called, but it is a dark chocolate and chili bite, rich with chocolate bitter and chili fire. Very Good!</div></div><div> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFsC04_lfnQPlUC2FwjRP8FHAjBNMsTTiGTiaMiojDb7626LjcuE45w1jnV-GypshIAmIvRHxy1Sjm2UEY8UW2On1IujhRTIvtyWKH6mDTbt5zIe36dVfuLLkywpdo42gyOuXEZqSKeMY8dBPVd70XQKQYWZNn2gQ76lpxJFAj84bc8zyR1_59zi6gCAC7/s2048/IMG_4781.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFsC04_lfnQPlUC2FwjRP8FHAjBNMsTTiGTiaMiojDb7626LjcuE45w1jnV-GypshIAmIvRHxy1Sjm2UEY8UW2On1IujhRTIvtyWKH6mDTbt5zIe36dVfuLLkywpdo42gyOuXEZqSKeMY8dBPVd70XQKQYWZNn2gQ76lpxJFAj84bc8zyR1_59zi6gCAC7/w480-h640/IMG_4781.JPEG" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2QAsNG7JjH1FIEuVrH2nWnRdN2Ozs1TwCiH48Ka5XTWxd41wN3ul3zr_Qhb_XwBWorWpLAjJfLsQyE1cdtP6zMstyKfR6De7p_SaMQu51MQuEtYrsZCaMb1HCLAkSR5qWcllGb5X6Fb7jaNFBdHniQwzT46ll3HHevr47QrhI6zenb4tfK9_Y3_4vNLpV/s2048/IMG_4789.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2QAsNG7JjH1FIEuVrH2nWnRdN2Ozs1TwCiH48Ka5XTWxd41wN3ul3zr_Qhb_XwBWorWpLAjJfLsQyE1cdtP6zMstyKfR6De7p_SaMQu51MQuEtYrsZCaMb1HCLAkSR5qWcllGb5X6Fb7jaNFBdHniQwzT46ll3HHevr47QrhI6zenb4tfK9_Y3_4vNLpV/s320/IMG_4789.JPEG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Our little snack accomplished, we checked into our Airbnb for the night, left our luggage, then made our way to the theatre to find parking and snag our seats.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiifAaC4rVUMHJcL5i2jSuPCNMxvhDKbvgOH5veMcH6WEeAPMlQyRSmH2TwPfCcunHlCchtMGhaOb6FvdIxp9fW2aGqHX2cVe5T5k5HB9F3MWnB-aZw8ZEJ_az2lPx3TPgwi4KC3s60o41xzkmsqMc_ghHNgA5Gqyk7AQIbk5UWGHSdL1TbNUaXYcbYABXr/s2048/IMG_4790.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiifAaC4rVUMHJcL5i2jSuPCNMxvhDKbvgOH5veMcH6WEeAPMlQyRSmH2TwPfCcunHlCchtMGhaOb6FvdIxp9fW2aGqHX2cVe5T5k5HB9F3MWnB-aZw8ZEJ_az2lPx3TPgwi4KC3s60o41xzkmsqMc_ghHNgA5Gqyk7AQIbk5UWGHSdL1TbNUaXYcbYABXr/w300-h400/IMG_4790.JPEG" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">What to say about Blue Man Group?? It is not for everyone, but it is a lot of fun. The humor is a bit snarky in a non-insulting kind of way. There is quite a bit of audience participation, so best to not sit too close to the stage if you don't want to become part of the show. We chose balcony seats to keep out of the way and watch the fray from above. It was a lot of fun, and I'm glad I got to share it with my friend.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='582' height='484' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dySOnOhjm7DV5K3Pob7l9GmUOElJaM5jPf8H0FGq1lNEo3pQ_WsezI2IqpFBzuurgFr0swujSSvkzTnVhDgPA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">After the show, and the very busy day that we had shared together, we returned to our Airbnb, a very nice home in Wilmette, Illinois. The hosts are Bahai, and apparently there is a Bahai Temple in Wilmette, of which they are members. Darla stayed up late to visit with them, but I checked out having been awake for too many hours the previous few days. The following morning I would have a delightful shower in the airy bathroom, with a bright window in the shower, and then enjoy their kitchen and dining room all to myself. Their home is beautifully decorated and a very calm and inviting place. I had coffee and toast from the bread I bought the day before, with a few nut bars and fruit offered to guests. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFRD4CsJZvtZ6YMFrR7_dXx42BmCt-sWt-gsOjFdexUSenZeD6UovAdXzEBP0bzVlBwZWgpszvG7uroNy2I9MvaeaNYfkuYm-nUCuBRTYvVgV_iRnzP78Ye5CtujnkWu25H2zCo45ldRV5vT1Po7guUsKk3dWGCpGOfcRMuBUB0GE5Wz8dbj9Irdwl54Xa/s2048/IMG_4792.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFRD4CsJZvtZ6YMFrR7_dXx42BmCt-sWt-gsOjFdexUSenZeD6UovAdXzEBP0bzVlBwZWgpszvG7uroNy2I9MvaeaNYfkuYm-nUCuBRTYvVgV_iRnzP78Ye5CtujnkWu25H2zCo45ldRV5vT1Po7guUsKk3dWGCpGOfcRMuBUB0GE5Wz8dbj9Irdwl54Xa/w480-h640/IMG_4792.JPEG" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">An urban rabbit foraged in the garden outside the window.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYOuTDE70xyN889HUoW94C9tnd66bhKF6EY5V1JzcmCifL93Ts6CH-3p_gF-MBkC5ZBff4E7jEAvn9a51RqULY94wO04Xs2sCS3c8ckpyCXxB1LguCnxyTH6CscZfPphBfQaW34dLj-Ed8stVeUGP8Z7E4w0JwTU0-s_8mRDWlEFWsXkD6SKM2IRg0YQZj/s2048/IMG_4793.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYOuTDE70xyN889HUoW94C9tnd66bhKF6EY5V1JzcmCifL93Ts6CH-3p_gF-MBkC5ZBff4E7jEAvn9a51RqULY94wO04Xs2sCS3c8ckpyCXxB1LguCnxyTH6CscZfPphBfQaW34dLj-Ed8stVeUGP8Z7E4w0JwTU0-s_8mRDWlEFWsXkD6SKM2IRg0YQZj/s320/IMG_4793.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">After Darla got herself up and moving, we packed up our things to make it out before the checkout time, then continued our adventures in the Chicago area. We would go check out an Asian Market Place as suggested by Fox, called <a href="https://mitsuwa.com/ch/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Mitsuwa (click for link)</span></a>. Leave it to Fox to know where all the best food places are. She loves Oriental and Indian food, so knows the best places for that. The establishment is a grocery store, but also has an indoor courtyard where you can select from a variety of fresh made food. Not being particularly hungry, we opted for a bubble tea, and shared some dumplings.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyDADFv4LXX86lgYpPQ9szTS4vnskYU9S-xCaqPEneCHMqsKMN2d35DOuHr-eHiFihbpazyqfWPF5fv_mWmij0jfS3XmrmWqXuFr2-BFvqM6DjStENNwVB2LumhmLj2lQMw2OIrINGbm0qJu1pkggAdAVmxkhc_tnPpTW8ZXcniJYzcHVi9GYdtrq4kHRN/s2048/IMG_4794.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyDADFv4LXX86lgYpPQ9szTS4vnskYU9S-xCaqPEneCHMqsKMN2d35DOuHr-eHiFihbpazyqfWPF5fv_mWmij0jfS3XmrmWqXuFr2-BFvqM6DjStENNwVB2LumhmLj2lQMw2OIrINGbm0qJu1pkggAdAVmxkhc_tnPpTW8ZXcniJYzcHVi9GYdtrq4kHRN/w640-h480/IMG_4794.JPEG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEOjK5ArWKPJB9C7psAr31Iz4naXUXQ7VoLgvhjuIJBQAGu-fMcUoSlEUJ-0SjaV1tJ2w0xsAPWr1IoEvrgbj83p0F_LwnTaWcWRYlKYHWMO3_SEfCRGpcZvfCd3j719fHYyfQBvEpKD3zSxa-rcnvfjhdivDF2N4JxpWTLfeaLN5HUnSPRlQhEHx98mde/s2048/363467717_665950368719775_4985623955722946939_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEOjK5ArWKPJB9C7psAr31Iz4naXUXQ7VoLgvhjuIJBQAGu-fMcUoSlEUJ-0SjaV1tJ2w0xsAPWr1IoEvrgbj83p0F_LwnTaWcWRYlKYHWMO3_SEfCRGpcZvfCd3j719fHYyfQBvEpKD3zSxa-rcnvfjhdivDF2N4JxpWTLfeaLN5HUnSPRlQhEHx98mde/w300-h400/363467717_665950368719775_4985623955722946939_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I would also buy some mochi for our next adventure. What is mochi you may ask! Well, package I bought is below. It is a soft rice paste that encloses a fruity center. Some mochi has ice cream inside. The texture is soft like marshmallow, with a dusting of corn starch to keep it from sticking to everything. An Internet search found way too many resources, so if you really want to know, go search yourself.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbHO0ZNBPVsrR4MkmFNp7ZQAKYCh2d6fPXbBi8S4uIKoQLOaIa50NWibqdjHEkWcNxveSAROFyMP8LLrsslz-d-5e7C-ahSaTlaVI1I4GL2px8uGhNzJcKImFsadZLsZ1QLt-_m3MtOOfrhOOEpzlgSEU0A24IBK0GZize0awgihRZHVq8hPvNBJHm00G2/s2048/IMG_4797.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbHO0ZNBPVsrR4MkmFNp7ZQAKYCh2d6fPXbBi8S4uIKoQLOaIa50NWibqdjHEkWcNxveSAROFyMP8LLrsslz-d-5e7C-ahSaTlaVI1I4GL2px8uGhNzJcKImFsadZLsZ1QLt-_m3MtOOfrhOOEpzlgSEU0A24IBK0GZize0awgihRZHVq8hPvNBJHm00G2/s320/IMG_4797.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Our next destination was to the movie theater, and a unique one to Darla's credit. It is called <a href="https://www.hollywoodblvdcinema.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Hollywood Boulevard Cinema in Woodbridge (click to open link)</span></a>. It is creatively decorated, with 10 theaters, all themed. We saw Oppenheimer in the Super Hero themed theater. It is unique in that it has a full bar, and you can order food in the theater. We had a nice show. Here is a link to an advertising production that gets you a feel of the place.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="384" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rmlcURIsp6k" width="462" youtube-src-id="rmlcURIsp6k"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRgI6vX1HdiPZ5GKXcN0pMiE6SGurt7-tMcXXTLrXVPOr9KlE0mMnF0j-YKtXke6rhz9v8448FNMdfJT1kpbTo8tdBtOD-jVgtO4mxSHirwG7lgetL-4mXmFNdrMkscL13hd2gSciBZlAbUNfuJ3-Z6TYxJXZv3DHDDWOjEF2GfXYtD1r4hdChdScA1wjc/s2048/IMG_4801.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRgI6vX1HdiPZ5GKXcN0pMiE6SGurt7-tMcXXTLrXVPOr9KlE0mMnF0j-YKtXke6rhz9v8448FNMdfJT1kpbTo8tdBtOD-jVgtO4mxSHirwG7lgetL-4mXmFNdrMkscL13hd2gSciBZlAbUNfuJ3-Z6TYxJXZv3DHDDWOjEF2GfXYtD1r4hdChdScA1wjc/w480-h640/IMG_4801.JPEG" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">See a movie with a friend . . . Best way to spend a day!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='600' height='499' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxXTBKR442mQYT7rNlV9BRuTRNwiGsaqQeR8nRIV5BS7ftKGosCXMaJswnKc7SlAGqJrVUduEpxou8gnmM-fQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div>After the movie, and needing to get back to her place, we opted for some quick food, and what better choice than a Chicago hotdog, from <a href="https://www.portillos.com/index.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Portillos (click to follow link)</span></a>. She assures me that this is not the <b><i>AUTHENTIC</i></b> Chicago dogs, and those can only be snagged from hot dog carts down town, but hey, it's close enough!!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY6c6OYIl-CNhgW91hweiRbi9NTgypoTWv6psLrEXD4kGG52bQdRktO9xkR5ZakrGUcj_WdnrOr6gRKHtsy9SDNZDcvMhTGVO4l_pkBNkv-9Bs7apU-ja1yEf6RX4JCTusSezt1i6n8HjtTDLgZQKLEdyUryzl0iK_zNGdEb3rWWSVAWkxuTUhPsBGCQEf/s2172/IMG_4806.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1448" data-original-width="2172" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY6c6OYIl-CNhgW91hweiRbi9NTgypoTWv6psLrEXD4kGG52bQdRktO9xkR5ZakrGUcj_WdnrOr6gRKHtsy9SDNZDcvMhTGVO4l_pkBNkv-9Bs7apU-ja1yEf6RX4JCTusSezt1i6n8HjtTDLgZQKLEdyUryzl0iK_zNGdEb3rWWSVAWkxuTUhPsBGCQEf/w640-h426/IMG_4806.JPEG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">They were quite good! We got a two dog option, and shared one each.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8eBSM5momTIkPJUVVQ1BCBeXAZwMFtyE6UCtZFSrdno7z9fajfkIy9xnAhkCkuUg_zT_JpHsEs7mU569UEtysqu7piZ_tEom7_5cRdnCYHbB_eQ48Cih4KrgVq_fMU2QXOvnLS_EIJ4k06sxVh56-14gdQqbd5sI9Zp5hWCej89k6onQqlDwhJ8wSKjye/s2048/IMG_4802.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8eBSM5momTIkPJUVVQ1BCBeXAZwMFtyE6UCtZFSrdno7z9fajfkIy9xnAhkCkuUg_zT_JpHsEs7mU569UEtysqu7piZ_tEom7_5cRdnCYHbB_eQ48Cih4KrgVq_fMU2QXOvnLS_EIJ4k06sxVh56-14gdQqbd5sI9Zp5hWCej89k6onQqlDwhJ8wSKjye/w300-h400/IMG_4802.JPEG" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div>We returned that evening to her home a couple hours drive away. I was up early and on the road to get back home, as it was just a very short window I had to get away. Still, a very good way to spend a few days when you really need to get outta town. Thanks Darla!!</div><div><br /></div><div>On the way home I stopped at another Asian market in Madison, <a href="https://www.globalmarketfoodhall.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Global Market Foodhall (click to open link)</span></a>. This one I found a couple months ago, but was on a quick road trip with Fox, so that is why it was selected. What did I get? More dumplings!!</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOHQTLQLHso46URvpjEKGrKahVFnYISxFNPE_RwxY5thjnHA15--Nxds9DbRq8l0FjRvepHfQKe-uT0A_e6epD7qeAmhe_zMUqhfraeQSVO5I2veIJeOY7kokT1DQ4bth6Z1CylDCk4-kH1yKqokniQXpFvMSfSplbkOe5aM0jyETvU8OycpgOV-5CL4Vh/s2048/IMG_4807.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOHQTLQLHso46URvpjEKGrKahVFnYISxFNPE_RwxY5thjnHA15--Nxds9DbRq8l0FjRvepHfQKe-uT0A_e6epD7qeAmhe_zMUqhfraeQSVO5I2veIJeOY7kokT1DQ4bth6Z1CylDCk4-kH1yKqokniQXpFvMSfSplbkOe5aM0jyETvU8OycpgOV-5CL4Vh/w300-h400/IMG_4807.JPEG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div></div>Phoenix Fire Falconryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08263206652386388429noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558069136746009556.post-66094045865776432572023-05-08T22:03:00.002-05:002023-06-10T23:08:45.458-05:002023 Crop of Baby Goats - Second Batch<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4liHJgVluTUpQlzzOiYGOSNrxdKuPB8YuMWCvQ2nDH-NBMkq8qBxdhCSUNrETpjAOkybKDSVRmpNgJglwikHC6bHIV4rs3YbUClmYrTEpbgOcLRtNVGNChbcneb6qxOq9XfpO2NJLQGjw2fAq9xk4G9HGJMjGGaPOZ9tetq751NTGBZzHxg7WEVqldg/s2048/IMG_4511.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4liHJgVluTUpQlzzOiYGOSNrxdKuPB8YuMWCvQ2nDH-NBMkq8qBxdhCSUNrETpjAOkybKDSVRmpNgJglwikHC6bHIV4rs3YbUClmYrTEpbgOcLRtNVGNChbcneb6qxOq9XfpO2NJLQGjw2fAq9xk4G9HGJMjGGaPOZ9tetq751NTGBZzHxg7WEVqldg/w400-h300/IMG_4511.JPEG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The second set of "Wide Loads" will download their cargo during the month of May. Quinn, again on the far right, was the first to go, on Saturday 5/6/2023. She had an even set, a big buckling and a smaller doeling.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgErQpvkOz2H2ncBqEdxysthkI-btz-FrV9Be_uAbaKSETlLZlb6NSnje5gKxN5RKMZseY3D67m543t_nMdJYIanNDk7-oqP9chiR_y_l8lf_ytBAVO0CWqI3ub31iyQfx5WLHnxRBXoqfnukTz_dEP8jNWiVZ_ovc8xGHixQPGHszxIX0xDJkNIdEOxw/s2048/IMG_4535.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgErQpvkOz2H2ncBqEdxysthkI-btz-FrV9Be_uAbaKSETlLZlb6NSnje5gKxN5RKMZseY3D67m543t_nMdJYIanNDk7-oqP9chiR_y_l8lf_ytBAVO0CWqI3ub31iyQfx5WLHnxRBXoqfnukTz_dEP8jNWiVZ_ovc8xGHixQPGHszxIX0xDJkNIdEOxw/w300-h400/IMG_4535.JPEG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>I have started milking my first set of mammas now. Fresh milk for the Summer! The first thing I made with it was yogurt.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijTuSypazP8AnytHnS_F4lPNb5xEhpDCGIZWof9b83a7TUcY3iWeh7MRcO2GYBizrpjQ3EWWwUpwaaEztq_ESOyK4utlIwXMpAA2XqDEq4iUOSy8eCyoW3wlavAMFvpT0vh8JLm3hnrP1ozFkh3pquYRKFXsp327sdbbC6Cu0P-NpA1N09Z46abTDoYQ/s1834/IMG_4508.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1834" data-original-width="1714" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijTuSypazP8AnytHnS_F4lPNb5xEhpDCGIZWof9b83a7TUcY3iWeh7MRcO2GYBizrpjQ3EWWwUpwaaEztq_ESOyK4utlIwXMpAA2XqDEq4iUOSy8eCyoW3wlavAMFvpT0vh8JLm3hnrP1ozFkh3pquYRKFXsp327sdbbC6Cu0P-NpA1N09Z46abTDoYQ/s320/IMG_4508.jpeg" width="299" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I also finally organized my milking equipment. Rather than laying it out to dry on the kitchen table, or take up space by the sink, I got a little cart to put it all on. Sweet!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqvn4aXHe3LJ9oDgyXZgxVlZQO_43uBv9UBpRFWlhWJcF62yMJIZDy3CS8Cjh6Ok5k-tgjMNuhWzC_kDCUVaE8yitfFnKXfG4wbV8lYgTqSWrLnQp0VqvGRCFWATj8fw4yPOUwDkPnN0xiXkcmPJclRKYfOC8DEQEN1DGnXJ55iA8pUxnoTXKg3_gVzA/s2048/IMG_4515.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqvn4aXHe3LJ9oDgyXZgxVlZQO_43uBv9UBpRFWlhWJcF62yMJIZDy3CS8Cjh6Ok5k-tgjMNuhWzC_kDCUVaE8yitfFnKXfG4wbV8lYgTqSWrLnQp0VqvGRCFWATj8fw4yPOUwDkPnN0xiXkcmPJclRKYfOC8DEQEN1DGnXJ55iA8pUxnoTXKg3_gVzA/w300-h400/IMG_4515.JPEG" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In order to get milk, we had to start separating the goat kids from their mammas about 12 hours before when I want to milk them. This allows their udders to fill, and not be constantly sipped off by their babies. After about 2 weeks you can do this. It is called "milk sharing'. All these kids are closer to 4 weeks old. It was time.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We had to first remove my three bucks from the outside pen they have been in. They went to the Hanson farm for the Summer, far away from the girls. The outside pen is located inside the pasture fence. It also serves as the stepping stone to integrating new kids. In a few weeks I'll set them out with the whole herd.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="358" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jXfbMI102rk" width="430" youtube-src-id="jXfbMI102rk"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><br /><div><b>I've returned to this posting at a much later date to post family pictures of each doe and her kids, for future reference.</b></div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6erijdvp-GePJioguDPTMfY6w1iWjmXXISm2UjNDbq_852IRsl_gxHO_Ivm30Y3ZcPrmcsmpaViz3tBHwKrSMKzm9Ye7XK7o9uv2iKzJI4GldrZUISo5RXdlCQAvizgHqFqDX-5UHgncOpZFxllCGvJVSu3P3daHVXj8izoBh4Burgj424qh5jHIAEQ/s1533/Cashew%20Crew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1223" data-original-width="1533" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6erijdvp-GePJioguDPTMfY6w1iWjmXXISm2UjNDbq_852IRsl_gxHO_Ivm30Y3ZcPrmcsmpaViz3tBHwKrSMKzm9Ye7XK7o9uv2iKzJI4GldrZUISo5RXdlCQAvizgHqFqDX-5UHgncOpZFxllCGvJVSu3P3daHVXj8izoBh4Burgj424qh5jHIAEQ/w640-h510/Cashew%20Crew.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Cashew May 11</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFNqTamW1U13u7t0I--z4xqSB6aQJnu9sHRU9yqETynvuHRVQOKkIL0BgKbrqVbFgd7nswj2QGayBJr6VpgfXhkol5X7C9mYMsoNSqfPegAtX4N7oBxtbFG-b_O2p_R66eMputnot6zfoo8Hda0zl9TLlMdxx4NsVYqcnU6LH4kkAqK2v5OdMfElHC5A/s1268/Quinn%20Queu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1268" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFNqTamW1U13u7t0I--z4xqSB6aQJnu9sHRU9yqETynvuHRVQOKkIL0BgKbrqVbFgd7nswj2QGayBJr6VpgfXhkol5X7C9mYMsoNSqfPegAtX4N7oBxtbFG-b_O2p_R66eMputnot6zfoo8Hda0zl9TLlMdxx4NsVYqcnU6LH4kkAqK2v5OdMfElHC5A/w640-h446/Quinn%20Queu.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Quinn May 6</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Phoenix Fire Falconryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08263206652386388429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558069136746009556.post-2115928370329652872023-03-29T12:49:00.014-05:002023-06-10T22:58:34.719-05:002023 Crop of Baby Goats<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik92JfcI6Jla5z1MzJoEckAqts27p-NuICNlv1IuzDh2Fl--80sATJ_EMDBk2jCWUZ_PO9ZlcDiq2JmRYpuh-aJpBq2AF1YabIuU2IxI5XM5vmTdgCXsSlW9aO4vq_ASk2-0aCYCxdCmC_fhulfrp4-ug1DjH4EbBjQwvtAi2L0hzaoYRTk_n-wFdOGQ/s2163/IMG_4427.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1454" data-original-width="2163" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik92JfcI6Jla5z1MzJoEckAqts27p-NuICNlv1IuzDh2Fl--80sATJ_EMDBk2jCWUZ_PO9ZlcDiq2JmRYpuh-aJpBq2AF1YabIuU2IxI5XM5vmTdgCXsSlW9aO4vq_ASk2-0aCYCxdCmC_fhulfrp4-ug1DjH4EbBjQwvtAi2L0hzaoYRTk_n-wFdOGQ/w400-h269/IMG_4427.JPEG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This is the picture of the "Wide Loads" bellied up to the food trough on the evening of March 28, 2023. One of them, Winnie, the second from the right, who is a first freshener (first time having kids) would go on later that night to be the first to give birth to the first of the baby goats for this year. That's a lot of firsts!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivNyJzX0qP4mIGxx1eMdiv5tqjHKwOj0XgmVuf2u9-Xf0zgSNBtMfTAnGhjeoYD3UodfuwwyESPsv7H44JQ3d7XbFrCn8hWB2iNx2WGlRoEXoUfNFmugzMi9ZeyDqiFosJCKN3JVgxczDizEvkNcizkc96j5j6fX-rX8ph0B5SR5E44id414xrjS4PQA/s2104/IMG_4432.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1496" data-original-width="2104" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivNyJzX0qP4mIGxx1eMdiv5tqjHKwOj0XgmVuf2u9-Xf0zgSNBtMfTAnGhjeoYD3UodfuwwyESPsv7H44JQ3d7XbFrCn8hWB2iNx2WGlRoEXoUfNFmugzMi9ZeyDqiFosJCKN3JVgxczDizEvkNcizkc96j5j6fX-rX8ph0B5SR5E44id414xrjS4PQA/w400-h285/IMG_4432.JPEG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">It was cold this evening, teens on the thermometer (Fahrenheit), with a dusting of snow overnight, but all these mammas had been moved into the pole shed a week ago and tucked in warm awaiting the arrival of their babies. The heat lamp and mamma Winnie's licking helped to dry them off and keep them warm overnight.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8PoIBIvSPQYqCUDFnwvWvXZQwdepw1cKlrxjhKevudvMgXwlmLJoIK-tmYnMDSXTdkppbI29K7z8UXe-wmxIJdJbZeZweMlk2_Zr4nCdqQt4lzb3ipUwYMRS_H6A8bTBaT7qgOw0aKgqGxWkAg3u7LNw4BOFgNWEdOr2nhqmz9sx8anxr-lQ2uV3nVA/s2048/IMG_4435.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8PoIBIvSPQYqCUDFnwvWvXZQwdepw1cKlrxjhKevudvMgXwlmLJoIK-tmYnMDSXTdkppbI29K7z8UXe-wmxIJdJbZeZweMlk2_Zr4nCdqQt4lzb3ipUwYMRS_H6A8bTBaT7qgOw0aKgqGxWkAg3u7LNw4BOFgNWEdOr2nhqmz9sx8anxr-lQ2uV3nVA/w300-h400/IMG_4435.JPEG" width="300" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrq95RaXOCJNvGW-lGL6NftpwK6CI2kl2-qJUObrKlcsMu1q_gZguD2qzbzHETUS69-hPFfcG_VAE63ZT9tRc3RFCDbJj_IJHzfd3Wl83mc7p5sQ7IMA00m9S-5Q-U5nMf5-Aa_oBqewA86yxJaEup8YL4fGE3tSEm0HTUzb5ON-QGsNYwRJpFMefdsw/s2048/IMG_4433.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrq95RaXOCJNvGW-lGL6NftpwK6CI2kl2-qJUObrKlcsMu1q_gZguD2qzbzHETUS69-hPFfcG_VAE63ZT9tRc3RFCDbJj_IJHzfd3Wl83mc7p5sQ7IMA00m9S-5Q-U5nMf5-Aa_oBqewA86yxJaEup8YL4fGE3tSEm0HTUzb5ON-QGsNYwRJpFMefdsw/w300-h400/IMG_4433.JPEG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ayn__bSPvvQ" width="482" youtube-src-id="Ayn__bSPvvQ"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kdaE9ArACWg" width="477" youtube-src-id="kdaE9ArACWg"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These are the pictures and videos the next morning. Welcome Babies!</div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXe8u-pu_KrCd6FnxFOB-BRn6oe5PKPmVI27oI2eOvnVqYr7MZFs2J4_SSNY6SOB7cH_wvZFbFTgoPmYcdoiG2P8QmWEhoUSHA1PCbjH7JwUMTU0NmEqs2-gB9JW3brBpKQOe1G5auzPzoyzcbAcMJSdj8HFF1ggLtWGyQcME24KfH8-nhA9ic00F_Ww/s2048/waaa1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXe8u-pu_KrCd6FnxFOB-BRn6oe5PKPmVI27oI2eOvnVqYr7MZFs2J4_SSNY6SOB7cH_wvZFbFTgoPmYcdoiG2P8QmWEhoUSHA1PCbjH7JwUMTU0NmEqs2-gB9JW3brBpKQOe1G5auzPzoyzcbAcMJSdj8HFF1ggLtWGyQcME24KfH8-nhA9ic00F_Ww/w400-h300/waaa1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF53xzZdW_5mOYsGjaoZD6QI4ze8vu4_PPrpwGwOZ_aa89uEpV80erB3xLXtv5mGOJL_1x5adf7k6hMsTaSOLLEoPwyjCcQk5-iTJA66sSt9-3C1KW1bZnpXiaLGwVVzwmi-Qvt71WIlkpizgYIbh1ZD9JQ-LHei6Oi0JHJcqOwls4njZ4rIV-njBvyw/s2048/waaa2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF53xzZdW_5mOYsGjaoZD6QI4ze8vu4_PPrpwGwOZ_aa89uEpV80erB3xLXtv5mGOJL_1x5adf7k6hMsTaSOLLEoPwyjCcQk5-iTJA66sSt9-3C1KW1bZnpXiaLGwVVzwmi-Qvt71WIlkpizgYIbh1ZD9JQ-LHei6Oi0JHJcqOwls4njZ4rIV-njBvyw/w400-h300/waaa2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="362" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vdA10bgCHSw" width="479" youtube-src-id="vdA10bgCHSw"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><br /><div><b>I've returned to this posting at a much later date to post family pictures of each doe and her kids, for future reference.</b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBWqTNp5EoPoz3DpmFbI_uwtHYC0gPW83D_OBcCp-0LfPCMCFByVMNUiPLu9q498x0xiBpXQxgyb_RHWkp0u7B0atPUIoX-NAEOnUYZovYItF-ewevETaP58oXhpFVhnn5S_dXt27T8vwqO0Y71oq-s3us009Y2ConxMbwL2U5ubzQawWyHXsrBshmDw/s1358/Winnie%20and%20Golden%20Boy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="909" data-original-width="1358" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBWqTNp5EoPoz3DpmFbI_uwtHYC0gPW83D_OBcCp-0LfPCMCFByVMNUiPLu9q498x0xiBpXQxgyb_RHWkp0u7B0atPUIoX-NAEOnUYZovYItF-ewevETaP58oXhpFVhnn5S_dXt27T8vwqO0Y71oq-s3us009Y2ConxMbwL2U5ubzQawWyHXsrBshmDw/w400-h268/Winnie%20and%20Golden%20Boy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Winnie gave birth to two kids on March 28, but for some reason, the white one, as seen in the pictures above, was found dead about two days later. I have no idea why. She would go on to take good care of her Golden Boy, who favors one side of her udder. She is giving an incredible amount of milk out of just the one, so I'm looking forward to next year to see what she can produce with both udders in production. Her Golden Boy is relatively friendly.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"> </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings;"> </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings;"> </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings;"> </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings;"> </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings;"> </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings;"></span></span></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBW0salsOv4_3QrRem0XCpb4EaqK7l72e_cnoxCMOvCs9-t9lEyZGdL2oRV8er8YUO5mLAWtVii4-uOXmZpunBx2bW6NdhYpyo5ZBI7KLuWQKuuDMY_dJ4MpO1KHVyfXVNQ7eBVb8HtVcF26Qz4SXZYNav6XDNCqrDwSdhaXBCj3k_-Hg93pKNRYyaeA/s1606/Harley%20Lambs.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="548" data-original-width="1606" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBW0salsOv4_3QrRem0XCpb4EaqK7l72e_cnoxCMOvCs9-t9lEyZGdL2oRV8er8YUO5mLAWtVii4-uOXmZpunBx2bW6NdhYpyo5ZBI7KLuWQKuuDMY_dJ4MpO1KHVyfXVNQ7eBVb8HtVcF26Qz4SXZYNav6XDNCqrDwSdhaXBCj3k_-Hg93pKNRYyaeA/w640-h218/Harley%20Lambs.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">On March 29 Harley had three kids, but the last one was still in its birth sack when I came out to check on her. It was already suffocated and cold. I would lose several kids this birthing season for this very reason. I don't know why sometimes goat moms don't always lick all their kids right after birth. It is frustrating when this happens, as I try to pay close attention to when kidding is happening, but I can't catch them all while they are giving birth. She was left with an even set, a buckling and a doeling, which look more like lambs than kids.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: x-large;"></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZvXsOTEXb8_CppxzXsLHRSA3mJrtNSgKkA9Xpa2B4AwsN1jc65iPa8v3OftyjJ8S95-k4HDebJguMl7hvXBAFBh9o2xL-S04WeKzIYUF1NXU3Tb1VyB9QszoB-DGGyJYDmfhKGWyTwTLXcfjIyGHXEE3RvRTC97tu4HVTYnLzEqg74Z4Q1Ab0S2UpQg/s1691/Fuzzy%20Three.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="909" data-original-width="1691" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZvXsOTEXb8_CppxzXsLHRSA3mJrtNSgKkA9Xpa2B4AwsN1jc65iPa8v3OftyjJ8S95-k4HDebJguMl7hvXBAFBh9o2xL-S04WeKzIYUF1NXU3Tb1VyB9QszoB-DGGyJYDmfhKGWyTwTLXcfjIyGHXEE3RvRTC97tu4HVTYnLzEqg74Z4Q1Ab0S2UpQg/w640-h344/Fuzzy%20Three.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Fuzzy had triplets on March 31st, and she has been a great mamma. With several losses this year, she was not responsible for any of them. She has also gone on to become a truly terrific milker. I'm getting at least 1300 grams of milk from her, and frequently more, which is fantastic! She has the softest udder. The smallest white kid is the only doeling (female), with the other two being bucklings (boys). The runny backside of the girl is left over from earlier when they went out into the pasture. Sometimes kids get what is called scours when they first start eating green grass and leaves. She's fine now, but still has dirty pants.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: x-large;"></span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzC_KKYg-PlaZIGBSSLTvoBzMlpH1HQNS4uVnwy4N8BO-NRiPy7Q59hoKgqfJi_CwOhROrlCXepxc1ItwfXt-DNLuTIHxGzKudKVO9wei_9oQaTFHKUrwVq3n2bxJrBHwzppXR9aGunhFaW6U-MHHD_r_L3pK-0P5UrpJALGJ_6dglw2sNw_yDroJQTw/s1530/Biscotti%20and%20Two.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1167" data-original-width="1530" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzC_KKYg-PlaZIGBSSLTvoBzMlpH1HQNS4uVnwy4N8BO-NRiPy7Q59hoKgqfJi_CwOhROrlCXepxc1ItwfXt-DNLuTIHxGzKudKVO9wei_9oQaTFHKUrwVq3n2bxJrBHwzppXR9aGunhFaW6U-MHHD_r_L3pK-0P5UrpJALGJ_6dglw2sNw_yDroJQTw/w400-h305/Biscotti%20and%20Two.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Biscotti gave birth to an even set, a dark brown/black buckling and a black doeling on April 6. I briefly put her on the milk stand, which I have never done before, but she was just such a stubborn old nag who was just too much trouble to deal with than the milk I got from her, so I stopped trying.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLN1c_nD4AVq3LLFVq_fcH37L0oD_iqWRBizOhLYeMwBgaK7MqqpYCTdzi2ZqPM0bWtEnH_0JqxWBTSH-kOdK4IFwb4JyJNGRNB7X0XQBmE4n_g8yPXC2dvnufufJCN5et5tWQWUIbHW0cVkGyhUZQV-5UE4dWdXVGeuWvpFwk6mIfCbUT1qKiMqe9CQ/s1609/Biscotti%20and%20Two%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1277" data-original-width="1609" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLN1c_nD4AVq3LLFVq_fcH37L0oD_iqWRBizOhLYeMwBgaK7MqqpYCTdzi2ZqPM0bWtEnH_0JqxWBTSH-kOdK4IFwb4JyJNGRNB7X0XQBmE4n_g8yPXC2dvnufufJCN5et5tWQWUIbHW0cVkGyhUZQV-5UE4dWdXVGeuWvpFwk6mIfCbUT1qKiMqe9CQ/w400-h318/Biscotti%20and%20Two%202.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Phoenix Fire Falconryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08263206652386388429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558069136746009556.post-12281592690056299902023-02-25T21:19:00.000-06:002023-02-25T21:19:03.078-06:00End of the Season<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="496" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/s7sBBtCFXds" width="598" youtube-src-id="s7sBBtCFXds"></iframe></div><br /> <p></p>Phoenix Fire Falconryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08263206652386388429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558069136746009556.post-80826684945205770092023-02-14T12:35:00.002-06:002023-02-14T12:39:29.027-06:00Walking Into the Sunset<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnYf6qEPIxLQoUyEQAhLvQM19YKtbQ2f8H9WVVJAcY8DLKptLnUACSXibtMAlUurDEB3mgPwq78egp6vc_q4Q3Mxu_ZHR2wl4DgaOuCCxsuSplJWsz8pJ8UQNKanMx__X8vGWsrtm0yNZloZyCCB0X6ev3Yd5i_OX4rts3eC0lkdgPHUwzi-JDuTG8LA/s2048/sunset%20hawk.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnYf6qEPIxLQoUyEQAhLvQM19YKtbQ2f8H9WVVJAcY8DLKptLnUACSXibtMAlUurDEB3mgPwq78egp6vc_q4Q3Mxu_ZHR2wl4DgaOuCCxsuSplJWsz8pJ8UQNKanMx__X8vGWsrtm0yNZloZyCCB0X6ev3Yd5i_OX4rts3eC0lkdgPHUwzi-JDuTG8LA/w480-h640/sunset%20hawk.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div> </div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBaIVwpkAd82peBgM5VZ5BGC3eo-qNkKPYpRU217sb3qA0qqjU8yInRXd0onLRFTal_Q7amyxVw22l38XPtWmPXrVfUgcjNC7JLuepSaWxTExc4alq0eUwxZqlESSSEiUXYS7P4PcmMV52qyAth6mp_SSWgxs6MgD1RuBuCuDzS6b9e1OiT5_usH8aBg/s1600/IMG_4325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBaIVwpkAd82peBgM5VZ5BGC3eo-qNkKPYpRU217sb3qA0qqjU8yInRXd0onLRFTal_Q7amyxVw22l38XPtWmPXrVfUgcjNC7JLuepSaWxTExc4alq0eUwxZqlESSSEiUXYS7P4PcmMV52qyAth6mp_SSWgxs6MgD1RuBuCuDzS6b9e1OiT5_usH8aBg/w300-h400/IMG_4325.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Bunny #2 after that January dry spell. We worked really hard for this rabbit. The snow is starting to melt in some places, but is still pretty deep in some other places. This was at one of our hunting spots I had not visited yet this year, so lots of bunnies to try for.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOn6vI5hBJsoHH3aiGr-YAu2cTe8cYUgPLnr4bCXnI0BU2UHrbfJwCs39XN5z--FsytzA38Cmo7AjMFRkV5mo7iK_xr2LPDPxKTJZuwpjn-7dNAxKg0Qwm8Il34QmD6k4br64gFISymdN4nifRYv4Nwki7GSuw8LW-MpWWtU24XRvaOTdDm6hj634oRQ/s1026/IMG_4318.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1026" data-original-width="908" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOn6vI5hBJsoHH3aiGr-YAu2cTe8cYUgPLnr4bCXnI0BU2UHrbfJwCs39XN5z--FsytzA38Cmo7AjMFRkV5mo7iK_xr2LPDPxKTJZuwpjn-7dNAxKg0Qwm8Il34QmD6k4br64gFISymdN4nifRYv4Nwki7GSuw8LW-MpWWtU24XRvaOTdDm6hj634oRQ/w566-h640/IMG_4318.JPEG" width="566" /></a></div><br />Phoenix Fire Falconryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08263206652386388429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558069136746009556.post-28802721602093571132023-02-14T12:29:00.005-06:002023-02-14T12:32:31.534-06:00Winter Break<div style="text-align: justify;">I have been on a week of vacation. When I asked for the time off, I indicated maybe I would go someplace warm. Well, that didn't happen! However, I did have a nice week off with Rich, and we did get out of town for a little break away.</div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtpUNEc9P4LLPl3tjW1cMiRhQIXNiUfESNjzd8gPgNuH4pSBULdMAAfH1FNRalCMluTm7sRMwb8vhOZdI5fEzGtHBg3EmNZa6dftfGpLciuofJQ7glH6RCjS78pTa4ztn5jIR8CbifHTTf8ouJi_v2BDxHiNr2GzXx--gcYa3g7MH1KqP1PK2cpFpJzA/s2048/IMG_4315.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtpUNEc9P4LLPl3tjW1cMiRhQIXNiUfESNjzd8gPgNuH4pSBULdMAAfH1FNRalCMluTm7sRMwb8vhOZdI5fEzGtHBg3EmNZa6dftfGpLciuofJQ7glH6RCjS78pTa4ztn5jIR8CbifHTTf8ouJi_v2BDxHiNr2GzXx--gcYa3g7MH1KqP1PK2cpFpJzA/w480-h640/IMG_4315.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Today, Thursday February 9, 2023, the last day of my break, Seneca and I ended an overly long dry spell where we have not scored any kills. Between the holidays, my inviting people to join us to hunt, which Seneca has indicated to me she really does not like by flying off, the bitter cold, and the ridiculous amount of snow that has been hard to tromp through, it has been over a month since we added anything to the game bag. That ended today with a pretty easy fall onto a bunny I kicked up after only about 7 minutes in our chosen field.</div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPb8lT2JGa_sPvE75aNMoRJuTpm6coE6Rq31bPy0Kvn_DWe38JekacHJAPcSlUfw36DKCm1Ar78MljiyWr1j12N2YgkhPrHcifO2mxdg0RMV06sBkixavDPVutmSS1Nj0tb0ujSf_5zX4hFI3X2HWbwC234oz-3iA-QkLYP5qp68g_7tEqFSW2qxH8TA/s2048/IMG_4311.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPb8lT2JGa_sPvE75aNMoRJuTpm6coE6Rq31bPy0Kvn_DWe38JekacHJAPcSlUfw36DKCm1Ar78MljiyWr1j12N2YgkhPrHcifO2mxdg0RMV06sBkixavDPVutmSS1Nj0tb0ujSf_5zX4hFI3X2HWbwC234oz-3iA-QkLYP5qp68g_7tEqFSW2qxH8TA/w300-h400/IMG_4311.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I'm posed here above with her, stuffed to the gills, with one of my hunting places that I just may lose. The owners of the land have sold it, and will be vacating in March. The new owners, an investment company he tells me, may just bulldoze the place down and build some unwanted urban sprawl. That's really too bad, as this is a really good site just loaded with bunnies. Why do we need another strip mall? That is probably what will get put there.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLIDKBhgF6A3CHOZu9T9fbjSIAgozN1Z7vETz2iFV-7WK_bVADdmJLQ4WtSow3ZyLzcVHZOfQxUGgoVASofjOMdm3st5-EqKqoFGxYo0D9-8_Ja3CaUAXIb6SrUvXISARoEiipmHAWJlfEihieV6tae4p8CZzXNftwFUFSuYdia8PvkKw4ZyX-oEnscg/s1497/Resized_20230205_122040.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="892" data-original-width="1497" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLIDKBhgF6A3CHOZu9T9fbjSIAgozN1Z7vETz2iFV-7WK_bVADdmJLQ4WtSow3ZyLzcVHZOfQxUGgoVASofjOMdm3st5-EqKqoFGxYo0D9-8_Ja3CaUAXIb6SrUvXISARoEiipmHAWJlfEihieV6tae4p8CZzXNftwFUFSuYdia8PvkKw4ZyX-oEnscg/w640-h382/Resized_20230205_122040.JPEG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Over the previous weekend, we made a quick trip to North Dakota to visit with my niece Sarah and her husband, Sam. They live in a small town in the Southeastern corner of the state, where Sam is a chemical engineer at the major employer in town, an ethanol plant. Sarah has the ability to work remote, and does so as a Software Engineer. They have a nice home they share with two dogs, with one being a cute puppy.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-81rfJ_VnpVtJv_Ni5fwLU3eh6UMlPXpfT1acNikUNrdd198rv4elZ2FemZS9YMKA2vzML-t9nkd5V9nO3abah7LtvmV9VBwS2Mt5nr4F4vLPlsuxz29Q9JTgRFhgV0bJQkUqw45GRzbtUowKRN6nZ3E_-UClUYml8HCpdiRSM1kLbwEXvCYivJKj5w/s1825/IMG_4280.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1723" data-original-width="1825" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-81rfJ_VnpVtJv_Ni5fwLU3eh6UMlPXpfT1acNikUNrdd198rv4elZ2FemZS9YMKA2vzML-t9nkd5V9nO3abah7LtvmV9VBwS2Mt5nr4F4vLPlsuxz29Q9JTgRFhgV0bJQkUqw45GRzbtUowKRN6nZ3E_-UClUYml8HCpdiRSM1kLbwEXvCYivJKj5w/w400-h378/IMG_4280.JPEG" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The weekend trip was to also include my other niece Erica, Sarah's sister, but at the last minute her kiddos came down sick, so she had to stay home with them. Because I didn't want to take up guest room space, leaving that option to the sisters, I arranged for an AirBNB not far from the little town we were visiting. I now realize I didn't take many pictures of the place, but to be fair, we weren't there much over our two-night stay. It was a cute little guest cabin next to a ranch house in the country. The snow was piled to ridiculous height. When we arrived it was super cold, negative on the thermometer, but warmed up a little bit over the weekend to a more comfortable temperature. Here was a picture outside the door with the sun coming up on Saturday morning.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5B8P1ph9PiHQuWslQ4iH2mWruap_kU997hOjmYCJyemfC15NA6ep1I7IQsV1sO89NT0oKAbvde6MRViOJizOAYvljhfP0SV072c_WZMPdaYVZkJU3HDOd7eGgZPfw8jwNyp9Ln0PggPDfixwTmMLjq3pv00AyHVJI4O1AQGfYy-LLpWeOMsDkWRZK7w/s2048/IMG_4277.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5B8P1ph9PiHQuWslQ4iH2mWruap_kU997hOjmYCJyemfC15NA6ep1I7IQsV1sO89NT0oKAbvde6MRViOJizOAYvljhfP0SV072c_WZMPdaYVZkJU3HDOd7eGgZPfw8jwNyp9Ln0PggPDfixwTmMLjq3pv00AyHVJI4O1AQGfYy-LLpWeOMsDkWRZK7w/s320/IMG_4277.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">When we first arrived, after checking in and tossing our bags into the room, Rich cut the corner out of the ranch a little too close as he tried to avoid a UPS truck turning in. We went off and into a snow pit. Thankfully, our host had a tractor, and laughed it off as something his wife does from time to time. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAI6smCQEvJ80FJFGxb55QNEzHZrYFsJixD8orbMGFRgzhcFxMlZpFuI4INo9FmyrcdMwPVROMolsdbFb_kUqH4-hMwyYsWtXxrv3pLHiCXfAwi1xoSMf4Flz1KwA2fvagD93-JCjElvmHpyqPyvifqOMgn0Gpvi1D1NPJNLEyNYsp1dPKRycAI8k0RQ/s2048/IMG_4276.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAI6smCQEvJ80FJFGxb55QNEzHZrYFsJixD8orbMGFRgzhcFxMlZpFuI4INo9FmyrcdMwPVROMolsdbFb_kUqH4-hMwyYsWtXxrv3pLHiCXfAwi1xoSMf4Flz1KwA2fvagD93-JCjElvmHpyqPyvifqOMgn0Gpvi1D1NPJNLEyNYsp1dPKRycAI8k0RQ/s320/IMG_4276.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We stopped in town on Saturday morning on our way to Sarah's home to pick up some creamer for coffee. I had to take a picture, that they too have a small grocery store named Miller's. That is the name of our own little grocery store in our home town. I'm fairly certain it is two different people named Miller that own the stores. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb3OUQqFGjPS8dUQlYBTnLC0dpwfHLT1nqpcL3CZJj3YdYTJZpd6vlzAMnBKooni5g95dnwydl3lbFMEVusrk9XHg_xriBA0YlWfdKsw6xJimpSTh3FswqcOlyZYg0UqzGYyW0M1zY4M8nDJxldJKYSWMcaDPmUMLpR-enYWQo8LyKjfiID9cN6JRyvQ/s2048/IMG_4278.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb3OUQqFGjPS8dUQlYBTnLC0dpwfHLT1nqpcL3CZJj3YdYTJZpd6vlzAMnBKooni5g95dnwydl3lbFMEVusrk9XHg_xriBA0YlWfdKsw6xJimpSTh3FswqcOlyZYg0UqzGYyW0M1zY4M8nDJxldJKYSWMcaDPmUMLpR-enYWQo8LyKjfiID9cN6JRyvQ/s320/IMG_4278.JPEG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">After breakfast Sarah joined us for a trip to Fargo. We drove around for awhile seeing if we could find any of those giant jack rabbits that were seen in the suburbs in <a href="https://www.mprnews.org/story/2015/02/04/revenge-of-the-jack-rabbits-in-fargo" target="_blank">2015</a>. We did find a few places that might have a cottontail or two, but no jacks were found. We then checked off something else on my bucket list - going to the <a href="https://www.prairierosemeadery.com/" target="_blank">Prairie Rose Meadery</a> in town. Rich and I have been through <a href="https://phoenixfirefalconry.blogspot.com/2017/09/touching-four-corners-and-few-in.html" target="_blank">Fargo1</a> <a href="https://phoenixfirefalconry.blogspot.com/2017/10/touching-four-corners-and-few-in.html" target="_blank">Fargo2</a> a couple times, and each time this place was not open. Today it was! We each got a flight of 4 sample glasses of various meads made and bottled here, then shared and selected to purchase several bottles to take home.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3RVc4ZEVWKQW205JsBjDlz6rw5vwejSRl5YCCCtyLzL6YYPCOG7gCcNRcDQwPjQPFtd_MCkLuR3nw67EfRMUUb-N8n_RR0zhrRS1J6yKah0YT30rR3b99cAS2wN6Vegr3wouBFNxqrhUfBzU-_50OKtqwV_DGJZiUYLTFdy2xJDFw7T37-knLXc_4Fg/s2048/IMG_4279.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3RVc4ZEVWKQW205JsBjDlz6rw5vwejSRl5YCCCtyLzL6YYPCOG7gCcNRcDQwPjQPFtd_MCkLuR3nw67EfRMUUb-N8n_RR0zhrRS1J6yKah0YT30rR3b99cAS2wN6Vegr3wouBFNxqrhUfBzU-_50OKtqwV_DGJZiUYLTFdy2xJDFw7T37-knLXc_4Fg/s320/IMG_4279.JPEG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We then stopped by <a href="https://www.boppasbagels.com/" target="_blank">Boppas Bagels</a>, which we have visited before in Fargo, to pick up some of their "famous" rainbow bagels. On Saturday, they were all out. We did return early Sunday morning only to find they hadn't made any! So much for their signature bagel! However, the employees were kind enough to make some for us fresh. We returned in about an hour and a half and took home 6. I thought this was a very nice little gift for our neighbor girls who took care of our goats for us while we were away. They also got paid for the job. This was just an extra "Thank You"!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAUFrkfxrZFnKrhHVg-NEGDsOpwQiBYjr059csywQ-YziGbK4-4kIJrYC9PIoyEOfTNAt_66Q89RhmxIYDZ9Pignfu5MV3XzKQolMvKakcZFxsddRKsgM7PQjUKH5BLgWUeqof6OzfMxoqKLf2sJDEJGiZAJuYEh93LCpAtN0MlCuqrc0XUnz6Jf2yRg/s1989/IMG_4281.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1580" data-original-width="1989" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAUFrkfxrZFnKrhHVg-NEGDsOpwQiBYjr059csywQ-YziGbK4-4kIJrYC9PIoyEOfTNAt_66Q89RhmxIYDZ9Pignfu5MV3XzKQolMvKakcZFxsddRKsgM7PQjUKH5BLgWUeqof6OzfMxoqKLf2sJDEJGiZAJuYEh93LCpAtN0MlCuqrc0XUnz6Jf2yRg/s320/IMG_4281.JPEG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I had brought Seneca along, and got all the permits, just in case we could chase one of those jackrabbits, if we found them. Well, that was a bust. Of the places we found that could have bunnies, only one looked remote enough for me to attempt a hunt, however it turned out to have way too deep snow to even try. My niece's home has several low cedar bushes around the periphery of the house which are blanketed in snow. There is abundant bunny sign. I put Seneca up a tree and tried popping out any bunnies that were hiding in the bushes. I only kicked out one, and that after she had already registered her dislike of being watched by more than just me and Rich, and had flown too far away to take advantage of the slip. I just called her down and called it a day.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The next morning, out the kitchen window, I caught this picture. See him? See Mr. Bunny-Foo-Foo there, full well knowing there is no hawk perched waiting to catch him. That's a Lucky Bunny . . . for now!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcPVrVPSuk7kObP_TYAZLpvWx0ULZd_8CdAFHkOr-QxZ729pRNpSC2Vgvu-Vjc1YUHzA1ydXUg87DqsEgc-jSBrDbEpyjaI1dDFW3hBkfZnXjFJdd4mWevUrh1WP85I3_3pLfh_FhLBnn9f6HbkZVzcJGDSGnoWFQYH-5AB7KkBP-FGKVacfJUeV0t2Q/s2048/IMG_4282.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcPVrVPSuk7kObP_TYAZLpvWx0ULZd_8CdAFHkOr-QxZ729pRNpSC2Vgvu-Vjc1YUHzA1ydXUg87DqsEgc-jSBrDbEpyjaI1dDFW3hBkfZnXjFJdd4mWevUrh1WP85I3_3pLfh_FhLBnn9f6HbkZVzcJGDSGnoWFQYH-5AB7KkBP-FGKVacfJUeV0t2Q/s320/IMG_4282.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">When Rich and I returned home, later in our vacation week, I decided it was time for what is turning out to be a yearly migration during mid-winter to visit the <a href="https://comozooconservatory.org/category/como-gardens/" target="_blank">Sunken Garden at the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory</a>. The floral display there changes every few months, and the indoor spaces offers a very nice, fragrant green break from the dreary winter outside. On this visit it was the lillies that perfumed the room the strongest. In a little over a month they will have the actual Spring Display, which usually has lots of flowering bulbs. Maybe I will have to go again. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIT1Usv8aZj-cPiH3wcNv5uvW_5_ORBxcZr51fzBgyHD4E8oE76pU_3eYyyr4_Y-EtHnYVNNXvqYe6cgDycx4jlEljBGmC9ww7l2sctJSG0ftb61meuC5ZNBKHg9rMqVamawzIVLej5sJUl8JYqPMii7CMyT7zYBNCsOSvjD-hyS7XF1gZrNv0QH8jZw/s1786/IMG_4301.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1762" data-original-width="1786" height="632" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIT1Usv8aZj-cPiH3wcNv5uvW_5_ORBxcZr51fzBgyHD4E8oE76pU_3eYyyr4_Y-EtHnYVNNXvqYe6cgDycx4jlEljBGmC9ww7l2sctJSG0ftb61meuC5ZNBKHg9rMqVamawzIVLej5sJUl8JYqPMii7CMyT7zYBNCsOSvjD-hyS7XF1gZrNv0QH8jZw/w640-h632/IMG_4301.JPEG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The fragrant Lillies!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRlqRih6bFyKaemxyG9TesDDi4IduGNfWB6nCBmB6RjVACU0pyUlFa9ZZ_mk3sgG5UIpf3wn2I1_Lir79BmxaDcGa4aLQRVYgh3rKJgNCvQkO_LwSJinezr_P6dzGKAZK5-Q5EptaynKzOxUYgYBgr76ebAvP8zLqePoOlJHQsmeXJf66HZ-LkMGDHug/s2048/IMG_4288.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRlqRih6bFyKaemxyG9TesDDi4IduGNfWB6nCBmB6RjVACU0pyUlFa9ZZ_mk3sgG5UIpf3wn2I1_Lir79BmxaDcGa4aLQRVYgh3rKJgNCvQkO_LwSJinezr_P6dzGKAZK5-Q5EptaynKzOxUYgYBgr76ebAvP8zLqePoOlJHQsmeXJf66HZ-LkMGDHug/w300-h400/IMG_4288.JPEG" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">They had two of these, which I have never noticed before. It is a wreath made of succulents. Very unique! I wonder how they water it??</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbIGert6cD7csp_VpMm4oI40DnemAJEtLr80j4B8ynwIrMuO4aUb6X_y6J8LkKNI69XOp8oVwO_4MBADmHPoO4G2Md2w4pachAoCEToAEcQozKfHbfI8oq_kiu4wKppB1V6EubWaff1vkWK6UHOFUb1FJeV5_3S3pN57cYCu4R6GvWBIF3JMXkuNL2RQ/s2048/IMG_4287.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbIGert6cD7csp_VpMm4oI40DnemAJEtLr80j4B8ynwIrMuO4aUb6X_y6J8LkKNI69XOp8oVwO_4MBADmHPoO4G2Md2w4pachAoCEToAEcQozKfHbfI8oq_kiu4wKppB1V6EubWaff1vkWK6UHOFUb1FJeV5_3S3pN57cYCu4R6GvWBIF3JMXkuNL2RQ/w480-h640/IMG_4287.JPEG" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Overlooking the room. Those tall spikes are fox gloves. The nice thing about being able to visit in the middle of the week is that there are less people to rub elbows with while enjoying the flowers. Kids too! They should be in school. Click the picture for a larger image to enjoy.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqOd9_LgpHNufJXmtsaHtfQjrs0FUlIf8SRslrXNf8ReXdYbJnbb0y0Af0kQFO0OW4DgwJcmr8W52Axy8_ClIvEChRI4rPWUSKzwMpiIMYy6NClqVBYd8u84QRLAzN8yLXwgw0YDRg29fziPnUpB1Gge2DLsCJpmFRtjsUhWIxPPhLl4yWn-Na2IuCZg/s2048/IMG_4295.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqOd9_LgpHNufJXmtsaHtfQjrs0FUlIf8SRslrXNf8ReXdYbJnbb0y0Af0kQFO0OW4DgwJcmr8W52Axy8_ClIvEChRI4rPWUSKzwMpiIMYy6NClqVBYd8u84QRLAzN8yLXwgw0YDRg29fziPnUpB1Gge2DLsCJpmFRtjsUhWIxPPhLl4yWn-Na2IuCZg/w300-h400/IMG_4295.JPEG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div>Attached at the back of the Conservatory is a Bonsai display, and just outside that is the Japanese Garden. It is closed right now for winter, to reopen once it warms up, however the view made for a picturesque Winter Scene. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoN9gBX-iheex-phzzkg2ot_v8wRUsBAG3_0ius0_uvBriaslWYpy-H7l-h-Y5duqxA7I8hFGqcGco3ztQTn9t6I0ibizX8LIb5fxKDJWK3NAjuBZ9qxS0hNu0aa5zcPDJUZRCEhzJ6IvOujRRbfPi71YP0odlxc4BUcrOnsV0kNmjFBdiVgpFHp1ssQ/s2048/IMG_4303.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoN9gBX-iheex-phzzkg2ot_v8wRUsBAG3_0ius0_uvBriaslWYpy-H7l-h-Y5duqxA7I8hFGqcGco3ztQTn9t6I0ibizX8LIb5fxKDJWK3NAjuBZ9qxS0hNu0aa5zcPDJUZRCEhzJ6IvOujRRbfPi71YP0odlxc4BUcrOnsV0kNmjFBdiVgpFHp1ssQ/w300-h400/IMG_4303.JPEG" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Me and My Man in front of the flowers.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTbmAaRwFcJyvSxzuUKS4vZePWmVc6kGqu61a82HZiY7DnQ2k9BwadNsSfy9qeDNkLyw9iS9VunwpSt3SGpwxQ8RtD6vRipehr4B7zpQbej7PstGKAd9DxFJ45G1aXiDz7vb2wBLVj81V7hIoD6n12rG4OSvArjbZCieKDKH4YxGM0-4rQg7chKSlGCw/s2048/IMG_4292.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTbmAaRwFcJyvSxzuUKS4vZePWmVc6kGqu61a82HZiY7DnQ2k9BwadNsSfy9qeDNkLyw9iS9VunwpSt3SGpwxQ8RtD6vRipehr4B7zpQbej7PstGKAd9DxFJ45G1aXiDz7vb2wBLVj81V7hIoD6n12rG4OSvArjbZCieKDKH4YxGM0-4rQg7chKSlGCw/w640-h480/IMG_4292.JPEG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">After the gardens we went looking for another place I've wanted to check out, <a href="https://potterspasties.com/" target="_blank">Potters Pasties</a>. It sells pasties, which are tasty pastry wrapped meat and potatoes. The place was tucked away, with a back door entrance and down in a basement, but was worth searching out and waiting for the flakey-crusted goodness.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNkEwJ_sH0L7vQ1V4SqIQRyvP0RbWlgck-IjN1EJg7i1JLb_V3sXaQQ5tRjOcixyy9qqhQRXErTMoYixTNSjWaFuO_fufFkjCNX_ExD7a9oNQNOZ6pqYs2kBqXIvoPijX5T2Our-x1ltzBoBCzWaBWCgfAY3fj5RkaT3QuCdv7y2CiL_ocLl9wQtYx5w/s2048/IMG_4304.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNkEwJ_sH0L7vQ1V4SqIQRyvP0RbWlgck-IjN1EJg7i1JLb_V3sXaQQ5tRjOcixyy9qqhQRXErTMoYixTNSjWaFuO_fufFkjCNX_ExD7a9oNQNOZ6pqYs2kBqXIvoPijX5T2Our-x1ltzBoBCzWaBWCgfAY3fj5RkaT3QuCdv7y2CiL_ocLl9wQtYx5w/s320/IMG_4304.JPEG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It was a nice break away from the winter routine. It would have been nice to actually go someplace warm, where you can step outside in shorts, but there was not a whole lot of time for that. For now, we return to endure the rest of winter. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">January was a dry spell for our hunting season. I took Seneca out as often as I could, but there were days it was just too cold to be out, and other days the snow was so very deep it made making any progress to find bunnies to kick out almost impossible. The season will come to a close soon. I love this girl very much, and will definitely be keeping her, molting her out over the summer, and hunt again next year.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijfMZQsaXJ6IkzgImpV_cwekm_wlwNPphSyYSijZ8DYHTvGhsfTcO1oyhRMbuoljO7rPAvBV8GnzgfbQUZTVei2PP5YcX1-xKx0td9fb86MgPNDYLR-Pwt0cgxnW7_ER_ebOb9FzlEcKpwB5aVaS1YpebbU5IWu4ECXKP6EPgrsA11b4l5m9lqxOkxFg/s1833/IMG_4253.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1715" data-original-width="1833" height="598" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijfMZQsaXJ6IkzgImpV_cwekm_wlwNPphSyYSijZ8DYHTvGhsfTcO1oyhRMbuoljO7rPAvBV8GnzgfbQUZTVei2PP5YcX1-xKx0td9fb86MgPNDYLR-Pwt0cgxnW7_ER_ebOb9FzlEcKpwB5aVaS1YpebbU5IWu4ECXKP6EPgrsA11b4l5m9lqxOkxFg/w640-h598/IMG_4253.JPEG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div></div>Phoenix Fire Falconryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08263206652386388429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558069136746009556.post-91989539001692154512023-01-10T06:44:00.054-06:002023-06-22T21:11:47.141-05:002023 Season Live Nest Cams<p style="text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-size: large;">2023 Season Live Nest Cams</span></u></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">I will add them here as they become active.</p><p style="text-align: center;">This is for MY reference, because I like nest peeping at raptors. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcJuTXh5AhkPK-IVLvyskUO4HQr3vDKJDOA70KV4BwaHmYiuoeQgdxyhsaaUZf3YIiPG_RvbAx8GA-edgD1QBCz40NOzqsFX5ZNZeKL0ZDSb91R5CZpSnK_afo3f5g8YLJqgHBaGxruKWvzRHSbxYPwDyo62TPLjwMJBqUvKpLpBA45ijS77o8cY2jZA/s2048/bird%20cams.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="775" data-original-width="2048" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcJuTXh5AhkPK-IVLvyskUO4HQr3vDKJDOA70KV4BwaHmYiuoeQgdxyhsaaUZf3YIiPG_RvbAx8GA-edgD1QBCz40NOzqsFX5ZNZeKL0ZDSb91R5CZpSnK_afo3f5g8YLJqgHBaGxruKWvzRHSbxYPwDyo62TPLjwMJBqUvKpLpBA45ijS77o8cY2jZA/w640-h242/bird%20cams.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I came across this cartoon in the middle of baby season. Definitely belongs here.</div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><u>Bald Eagles Go First!</u></b></p><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@SouthwestFloridaEagleCam">(1570) Southwest Florida Eagle Cam - YouTube</a></div><div style="text-align: left;">The female in this nest has gone AWOL, but the male is doing a pretty good job of taking care of his chicks. There is an occasional interloper/possible unmated female looking to horn in on the deal?? </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Chicks have fledged!</div><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@WindowToWildlife">(1570) Window To Wildlife - YouTube</a></p><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@KNFcams">(1570) bald eagle - YouTube</a></p><div style="text-align: left;">Big Bear <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@FOBBVCAM">(1609) FOBBV CAM - YouTube</a></div><div style="text-align: left;">I dunno about this pair. PIP watch on 2/15, but parents have been spending a lot of time off the eggs.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">3/7/23 - Ravens eat the eggs. They were not fertile.</div><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@PixCams">(1624) PixCams - YouTube</a></p><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.dullesgreenway.com/eagle-cam/">Eagle Cam - Dulles Greenway</a></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">Our "local" eagles, up here in Minnesota/Iowa, won't start laying until February, with hatch in March, but the adults are working on the nests and pair bonding.</p><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.raptorresource.org/">Raptor Resource Project: Bald Eagle and Bird of Prey Cams</a></div><div style="text-align: left;">North Nest <a href="https://www.raptorresource.org/birdcams/decorah-north-nest/">Raptor Resource Project: Bald Eagle and Bird of Prey Cams</a></div><div style="text-align: left;">First Egg Laid 2/20/2023 late in the evening (8:50 pm). DNF went into a zone for 50 minutes after laying before she finally tucked egg in under her blanket.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">There has been a long delay, and no #2 egg here in the expected window. Will there just be one this year?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And now, lots of drama at the nest. Egg left exposed for too long. Not viable. Male continued to sit, but egg broke on 3/22. Will they re-nest?? Nope!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Hatchery Nest <a href="https://www.raptorresource.org/birdcams/decorah-eagles/">Raptor Resource Project: Bald Eagle and Bird of Prey Cams</a></div><div style="text-align: left;">First Egg Laid 2/25/2023 afternoon. Second egg laid 2/28/2023 afternoon.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Hatch of first egg started 4/4. There is a fuzzy chick on the morning of 4/5. First chick would not survive his first day, but second chick doing fine. These are apparently new parents and they had to learn all about how to care for their baby. Unfortunately the first chick paid the price of their inexperience.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Geese are Baaaaaaack at Decorah unused nest. They have their own cam now. Seven eggs laid, six hatched, one didn't make the jump.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="395" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uoYyqJhRiOc" width="476" youtube-src-id="uoYyqJhRiOc"></iframe></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/features/webcams/index.html">DNR Web Cams | Minnesota DNR (state.mn.us)</a></div><div style="text-align: left;">First Egg Laid 2/15/2023</div><div style="text-align: left;">Second Egg Laid 2/18/2023</div><div style="text-align: left;">3/1/23 - one of the eggs broke :-(</div><div style="text-align: left;">Chick hatches late on 3/26. Welcome baby! No siblings to fight over food with.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Sadly, early on the morning of 4/2 the nest collapsed. Baby did not survive.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WoIXL7wJAZs" width="481" youtube-src-id="WoIXL7wJAZs"></iframe></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u>White Tailed Eagles, Latvia</u></b></div><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@LatvijasDabasfondsOnline">(60) Latvian Fund for Nature - YouTube</a></p><p style="text-align: left;">Latvia - a favorite to listen to, especially in their mornings. Very nice background bird singing. Chick hatch on 4/14.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Somewhere around 5/7 or so something wrong with the cam. Maybe a baby pooped on it. Not sure.</p><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@Kotkaklubi">(136) Kotkaklubi - YouTube</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@komitetochronyoroweaglecon1326">(179) Komitet Ochrony Orłów Eagle Conservation Committee - YouTube</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@orlanbeloxvost">(314) orlan.beloxvost - YouTube</a> (Also Imperial Eagle)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u>Golden Eagles</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@stelianbodnari">(139) Stelian Bodnari / Association Wild Bucovina - YouTube</a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Lucina (female) and Caliman (male) have their first egg in the nest as of 3/23/23. Second egg laid 3/27. Chicks hatch starting 5/5 and 5/7.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@Kotkaklubi">(139) Kotkaklubi - YouTube</a> (monitor for addition - not looking active)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u>Red-Tailed Hawks</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/cams/red-tailed-hawks/">Red-tailed Hawks | Cornell Lab Bird Cams Cornell Lab Bird Cams (allaboutbirds.org)</a></div><div style="text-align: left;">After sooooo much anticipation and concern that she may be too old for eggs (this gal is 20 years old) she finally put the first precious egg into the nest on 3/30. Second egg arrived during the day on 4/2. Third egg morning of 4/5.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">May 6 is first hatch. Second follows on 5/7. I didn't notice date for third egg.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">First fledge on 6/22.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ySfsCrRzbw">(194) Stormy & Sunny’s Alameda Health System (AHS) Hawk Camera - YouTube</a></div><div style="text-align: left;">(Nest not used this year. Keep here for reference next year.)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQ0mCowoEUI">(194) Angel the Leucistic Red Tailed Hawk - Nest Building - YouTube</a></div><div style="text-align: left;">First Egg on 3/24/23! Second egg on 3/27?</div><div style="text-align: left;">First hatch 4/28/23. Then sadly the next morning, when the new male first meets his chick, he does not know what it is, and kills it.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RFRxkcECKYs" width="434" youtube-src-id="RFRxkcECKYs"></iframe></div><div><br /></div>BIG learning curve on this nest. Tom does not seem to get the message he needs to bring food to the nest. Angel gets tired of waiting and goes and does it, but leaves baby at home alone. There are Blue Jays and Mockingbirds pestering the nest. Hopefully enough food will come in to keep it alive and growing.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="363" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/y3bljJYRPIs" width="437" youtube-src-id="y3bljJYRPIs"></iframe></div><br /><div>Tom seems to be slow to learn to not hurt his chick, and then to bring food. Some nail-biting times. Hopefully he'll learn his role.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihmMwNPuSjyUZA7i0-0Y060VMzETBZB01EhAHCsDWvgMmIgc0cJqCkQvRrzbIci2BwE1kuuPo5KVPD_SZCZPJhJJnKl_60CvTum0Ook7ANeSWwggIONeceO_IgIptsXiXrFrmfh54cgd9cA16af9zdR7SPb97mMARrQrkDtLKf2fC6EepUlpDgx-9GsLXj/s1144/Tom%20and%20Deyani.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="874" data-original-width="1144" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihmMwNPuSjyUZA7i0-0Y060VMzETBZB01EhAHCsDWvgMmIgc0cJqCkQvRrzbIci2BwE1kuuPo5KVPD_SZCZPJhJJnKl_60CvTum0Ook7ANeSWwggIONeceO_IgIptsXiXrFrmfh54cgd9cA16af9zdR7SPb97mMARrQrkDtLKf2fC6EepUlpDgx-9GsLXj/w640-h488/Tom%20and%20Deyani.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Tom would go on to learn his job, and he and Angel raised up a single chick, which would be named Deyani. She/He is not leucistic, but definitely lighter in color with more white, and the tail has Krider's qualities to it. The chick fledged on 6/20, but would come back to the nest for food when the parents brought it in.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Below you can see Deyani with her mother, Angel. The camera on the nest foreshortens everything, so towards the bottom looks larger than at the top, but I think it likely Deyani is female. You can see the tail better here. This young hawk also does not have the orange chest which is common in the Eastern RT juveniles in and just out of the nest, but fades as they get closer to migrating in September. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsbrpYWwnMi4sEKBw1NpWKloiKPiDTdCQ_tK2URLcVnXGLKvHXXhptVt7wCbEP32IvftKUDeDSjGxlYFVdUyJmxSjn4sK_4ARnG2ocPsHBeeQIsAfbHsBOo2kXdK8DKz1OHygiZpSYI_uzWb9Cp8NJ0ApggEWEBRPc0knCPEPkZfjWXyP1CslPRMvqhvTH/s1031/Deyani.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1031" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsbrpYWwnMi4sEKBw1NpWKloiKPiDTdCQ_tK2URLcVnXGLKvHXXhptVt7wCbEP32IvftKUDeDSjGxlYFVdUyJmxSjn4sK_4ARnG2ocPsHBeeQIsAfbHsBOo2kXdK8DKz1OHygiZpSYI_uzWb9Cp8NJ0ApggEWEBRPc0knCPEPkZfjWXyP1CslPRMvqhvTH/w400-h331/Deyani.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Here is more of a close-up of the tail. Best to grab the pic while I can. Deyani is in and out of the nest, and soon will not return. Camera is stationary, so can't move around to find her.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiidceiHWq1vnhgIv0drDoD-3SVP2rjkBa2gMod0506D7Q-zUUtuQZ_4ULrmboYR7XH7YHEaMytoq55Qgy_pl3Prh8gn5PkSDNmhL_p1cePNPFU5uTCY6jwAdF4VdGPSnoTBkSklVFNsdza5Vsjv83K2h5NYKC9Ga9lE-Owslhn4_rwYSGetvvGyQDJWKf4/s586/tail%20shot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="583" data-original-width="586" height="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiidceiHWq1vnhgIv0drDoD-3SVP2rjkBa2gMod0506D7Q-zUUtuQZ_4ULrmboYR7XH7YHEaMytoq55Qgy_pl3Prh8gn5PkSDNmhL_p1cePNPFU5uTCY6jwAdF4VdGPSnoTBkSklVFNsdza5Vsjv83K2h5NYKC9Ga9lE-Owslhn4_rwYSGetvvGyQDJWKf4/w640-h636/tail%20shot.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxQkhFgIZkc">(290) Angel the Leucistic Red Tailed Hawk - Nest Building In Full Swing - Long Range PTZ Cam - YouTube</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@njitwebcam1868">(235) NJIT Webcam 1 - YouTube</a></div><div style="text-align: left;">(Ledge Nest)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">A new nest just discovered at Beth Israel in Boston, MA. Two nestlings just hatched, late April.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Link: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/-3hwZzZ3NBc?feature=share" target="_blank">Boston RT Nest</a></div><div style="text-align: left;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3hwZzZ3NBc</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This link may change. Just go to it, and click on the home address. They seem to reset the stream from time to time.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u>Red Shoulder Hawk</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUBr9wEkgJU">(314) Red Shouldered Hawk nest in Wake Forest, NC - YouTube</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Started with 3 chicks. One disappeared somewhere.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u>Peregrine Falcon</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://history.mayoclinic.org/falcon-program/">Falcon Program | Mayo Clinic Falcon Program</a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Hattie and Orton, our local pair. Sometime in the night of 4/28-29 the first two eggs hatched. Other two followed in next couple days. All seem to be doing well.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u>Goshawk</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@Riigimets">(314) Riigimets - YouTube</a></div><div style="text-align: left;">First egg 3/27</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKEDQedN7N8">(602) Goshawk Live Nest Cam | RSPB Loch Garten, Scotland - YouTube</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://nestkastlive.nl/">Nest boxLIVE (nestkastlive.nl)</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u>Raven</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://byko.is/krummi">Raven (byko.is)</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u>Ferruginous Hawk in Michigan</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Link to look at movement . . . in case it comes my way.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://motus.org/dashboard/#e=profile&d=animals&s=356812104225477">Ferruginous Hawk #356812104225477 Motus Animal Summary</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u>Great Bird Feeder Cams</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Definitely not all inclusive! Just a few favorites!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@LiveBirdsPoland">(239) Live Birds Poland - YouTube</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@hansnatuurkanaal">(239) HANS NATURE CHANNEL - YouTube</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWh93l9snW90iP2ybPHikAg">(334) WildEarth Djuma Cam - YouTube</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@AllenBirdcam">(239) Allen Birdcam - YouTube</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@KenLittle">(239) Ken Little - YouTube</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8Y-zKxOmXw">(306) Southeast Bird FeederWatch Live Stream, From Statesville, North Carolina, ~26 daily species. - YouTube</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@peecnature">(239) Los Alamos Nature Center/Pajarito Environmental Education Center - YouTube</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV0JA7VcAzz2babadVxeW_w">(239) Liz Stanley - YouTube</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div>Phoenix Fire Falconryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08263206652386388429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558069136746009556.post-63208670615771823612022-12-13T22:49:00.008-06:002023-01-10T07:01:01.288-06:00Second Squirrel of the Season at the Community Garden<p style="text-align: justify;">I was able to take Balaa out for another adventure, this time at the Community Garden in Rochester. It is usually known to have bunnies. We did flush several, but my girl is showing the tendency to take a distance perch, and is somewhat solo hunting. I may be flying her a bit too high, but sometimes have many days between windows to hunt, so have been siding with keeping her well fed instead of hunt sharp. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8dsaRIKbeIVQ4pgPVibTcZwqoyBj7VSWkAUgIdPWNZgrLJgUvqRWT-AHhvmhySmf2334teLzwLBEu8hIXJTQRuchpdcjAj4r-w6Cjv3UG3MTlIYqj_ILUigzXzEugWyMFavVb45y5OsCtIBcPL8khgtGnbG2_qBBjL9A8XmpCo2xjtE49mDSDhy0XEw/s1129/IMG_4170.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="959" data-original-width="1129" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8dsaRIKbeIVQ4pgPVibTcZwqoyBj7VSWkAUgIdPWNZgrLJgUvqRWT-AHhvmhySmf2334teLzwLBEu8hIXJTQRuchpdcjAj4r-w6Cjv3UG3MTlIYqj_ILUigzXzEugWyMFavVb45y5OsCtIBcPL8khgtGnbG2_qBBjL9A8XmpCo2xjtE49mDSDhy0XEw/w400-h340/IMG_4170.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>As we worked the frozen marsh to kick up rabbits, she went after a squirrel in a tree just the other side of the creek. She caught it! However, that then required me to get to the other side to get her. Thankfully, prior to our frozen season getting going, we were relatively dry, so our creeks froze at a low level. I could not get up over the other bank, but Seneca was on her squirrel close enough that I could reach up and grab her, and drag both her second squirrel catch with me and her off the edge, and tip toe over the ice back to the side I was on. </div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ_MoiJLPAGcMoX7f95d7IDvs9I4BxkRB7dj28pW7zNEhRLDNO19HwLIBoUpKqCZahd0XigETDMbTZ-5G4nKDerhDTmS_zH5cKH6o7gvE61EqcpGdGL6i4Qp4bgAHqzi0slXPWckZ-r3TJZklACFgcBvMCOiYvKJTRzy4VglABbWJ3EjUUvy4Y--Qmcw/s1280/IMG_4171.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="959" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ_MoiJLPAGcMoX7f95d7IDvs9I4BxkRB7dj28pW7zNEhRLDNO19HwLIBoUpKqCZahd0XigETDMbTZ-5G4nKDerhDTmS_zH5cKH6o7gvE61EqcpGdGL6i4Qp4bgAHqzi0slXPWckZ-r3TJZklACFgcBvMCOiYvKJTRzy4VglABbWJ3EjUUvy4Y--Qmcw/w480-h640/IMG_4171.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">When I loaded this clip up on YouTube, I guess now if you select it to be "public" they automatically put it into rotation on their shorts. It got a whole lot of views, which was not my intention. Some "helpful" yahoo out there commented that "that is not how you hold a hawk, you are going to hurt her." Well, I was not holding the hawk, I'm holding the squirrel. She's holding the squirrel, and could let go at any time if she wanted. I'll make sure to tag those short videos as private, to keep unsolicited comments to a minimum. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="364" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iQjCJSUcl0g" width="439" youtube-src-id="iQjCJSUcl0g"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>Phoenix Fire Falconryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08263206652386388429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558069136746009556.post-75936626677657096572022-12-04T19:41:00.004-06:002023-01-10T06:52:52.180-06:00An Afternoon with Balaa<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnqAkktauFk7OkPnpb9cGJteiUUM-V7qNg_MoYW4GI_ltbF9HROx5VYM9luNiy97x9nnt61KZVcDvVN1t8QrJ9Y2joiSnAL9AAz509Ktx6zG5RXrMrH3g4WDkWCcUnBvcZo-LkBhd5Kokbj8OwsygPdQSqHntrJAEiHUADXTP8nmS8-xu7iYL_TFnm0Q/s1280/IMG_4166.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnqAkktauFk7OkPnpb9cGJteiUUM-V7qNg_MoYW4GI_ltbF9HROx5VYM9luNiy97x9nnt61KZVcDvVN1t8QrJ9Y2joiSnAL9AAz509Ktx6zG5RXrMrH3g4WDkWCcUnBvcZo-LkBhd5Kokbj8OwsygPdQSqHntrJAEiHUADXTP8nmS8-xu7iYL_TFnm0Q/w225-h400/IMG_4166.JPG" width="225" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Over the month of December my friend Foxfeather had a visitor from Seattle, one of her dear friends Anna, known as Balaa. She was game to go out hawking a couple times with Seneca and me, and kick the brush for us.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="384" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Bq7XHoUEV2k" width="462" youtube-src-id="Bq7XHoUEV2k"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">On the afternoon of these pictures, I selected a place right in the heart of Rochester that I have not visited for many years. It is now an abandoned building, and the bunnies have taken over the place. We flushed so many, but Seneca was not following particulary closely, so we didn't get to see a close up show. When it came time to pack it in, and me call her down to the lure, she did not respond. I could faintly hear her bells, so followed that lead. I found her on the ground, well tucked into a bunny she caught that we did not see at all.</div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBo_l03-JwOx9O5dqAKoGEPvU_lwsf1yKgp7sxW2O_SaM4hkF8L01NBKOs4V1FluqWuXYjxeGEqNssFzHwrk7kCFXqHeBMarnRD4RF0iu8187hXGi4nbrDsTgl2kHS_o8gJPTy4M8WR8TGul8rpBWUPubEhnNXUsmFeSa43kKpR5ksu-3azRkGMNh-Mg/s1280/IMG_4164.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBo_l03-JwOx9O5dqAKoGEPvU_lwsf1yKgp7sxW2O_SaM4hkF8L01NBKOs4V1FluqWuXYjxeGEqNssFzHwrk7kCFXqHeBMarnRD4RF0iu8187hXGi4nbrDsTgl2kHS_o8gJPTy4M8WR8TGul8rpBWUPubEhnNXUsmFeSa43kKpR5ksu-3azRkGMNh-Mg/w360-h640/IMG_4164.JPG" width="360" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I let Balaa hold her, as that is something I know folks who love wild animals, especially raptors, like to do if they get a chance. I know I wanted to do just that prior to getting my first falconry bird.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSc8RRQ11HxqAKtH_aGEaOuhe4A_45boA9Uq_vP7VIyV_mzSlwUbsgI0KkXkE6Uk3fYpdanpryEcS_WT6o4FWUIZnGwDafn_tMx4Z1OgAe43uCOjYBPSf1VNOqVMApPkOcoBIILVeJAY23RZT7KC376753c21zFNL9v7Lb5Y7If4hTpCciQAwSm4UY4Q/s2048/IMG_4161.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSc8RRQ11HxqAKtH_aGEaOuhe4A_45boA9Uq_vP7VIyV_mzSlwUbsgI0KkXkE6Uk3fYpdanpryEcS_WT6o4FWUIZnGwDafn_tMx4Z1OgAe43uCOjYBPSf1VNOqVMApPkOcoBIILVeJAY23RZT7KC376753c21zFNL9v7Lb5Y7If4hTpCciQAwSm4UY4Q/w640-h480/IMG_4161.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Balaa took these pictures and was kind enough to share them with me for the blog.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKQ0hYCQH5lhIApRWv-878ESwQHUOXmYbDWkSWTRMcbN42_S3pIYCKpalY0srujsFUIWBuF19ktLnzmbxsb9T2q36tpLVNxym6Ie1-FTzJmPj0SfYh8C5T14FZJIKLyQa-VDR7LhlU-xTn2tBvWKxFlr0X5L-EqhFBxTb44ojXBEZDkBmzAB1kAmm-LA/s1280/IMG_4163.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKQ0hYCQH5lhIApRWv-878ESwQHUOXmYbDWkSWTRMcbN42_S3pIYCKpalY0srujsFUIWBuF19ktLnzmbxsb9T2q36tpLVNxym6Ie1-FTzJmPj0SfYh8C5T14FZJIKLyQa-VDR7LhlU-xTn2tBvWKxFlr0X5L-EqhFBxTb44ojXBEZDkBmzAB1kAmm-LA/w360-h640/IMG_4163.JPG" width="360" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-size: x-large;">THANKS BALAA!!</span></u></b></div><p><br /></p></div>Phoenix Fire Falconryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08263206652386388429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558069136746009556.post-28719396578898295302022-11-24T19:55:00.005-06:002022-11-24T20:01:15.380-06:00First Squirrel<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdzJeRKWQgYCUQn7dX5kyGRPN3W4tn-Rv30MbzeOoXFklAG64575eozPXV7ZNVWNlZFWLQ__0AbywCnCxFpVzws4R399wWr-OXc-5JlXT231GGTzLyPUaV2gY8DNeu5fWcfexU2r_kuRh3yytrvVdXr-LnTtRE5ZTQStjRBfzvSNnYIam7w4uRXoVVTQ/s2048/IMG_4143.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdzJeRKWQgYCUQn7dX5kyGRPN3W4tn-Rv30MbzeOoXFklAG64575eozPXV7ZNVWNlZFWLQ__0AbywCnCxFpVzws4R399wWr-OXc-5JlXT231GGTzLyPUaV2gY8DNeu5fWcfexU2r_kuRh3yytrvVdXr-LnTtRE5ZTQStjRBfzvSNnYIam7w4uRXoVVTQ/w480-h640/IMG_4143.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Today is Thanksgiving, and I am oh so very thankful to have this wonderful bird as a falconry partner.</div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">We planned for just a little extra time to fly her before we had to join the family for the big meal. I decided we would hit up Sprague Woods in Caledonia, as we have not been there yet this year. I almost faltered in this decision as we were on our way, and almost sidetracked to another very small place we often can pop a bunny or two out of. However, the falconry gods gave me a sign that I should forego the easy choice and continue with the more challenging Woods. The "sign" was a pair of bald eagles sitting in the trees right over the small brushy place. Sure, I know they would probably have bumped as soon as we stopped and got out of the car, but I'd like to believe something urged me to go for the harder challenge. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">As we drove up into the place where we park, two squirrels were on the road, and scampered off into the woods were we would start. Good Sign! I set an alarm as I only allowed us a half hour window so we would not be late. When I released Seneca she was all business, and took to the high tree tops immediately. She followed well, then began to move out in front of us. We circled around this small woods, and about 20 minutes in she came diving into a nearby tree, and smacked her first squirrel. As she came down, she glided off deeper into the woods. However, it's not that big of a place, so she did not go far.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">After passing through a barb wired fence, and getting my coat snagged, I came to her where she was trying to hide her squirrel under a downed tree. She had the whole situation under control, like she's been hunting squirrels her whole life. This is the first one she has taken with me. What she was doing before last year, I don't know, but I am so very happy to add this quarry to her check-off list.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH1BGuDKufk5w8jHC1369zOWNcPMA_Mvd6_8DK_sGi-qG3N1TUanqoaxpZHGnKZx8oiV4ZHECQAqGJ3eD-rdPJw-M00e59pZP_oFOEEEUAP73oU91fkbhlbiUQs73_qnddbvPb5e0PEEZGHy23HCtlQG9xlkcwY52kgjJJp93OGz9ksQ4vPiqTvEn55A/s2048/316237039_1075479486452592_7683737696291874738_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH1BGuDKufk5w8jHC1369zOWNcPMA_Mvd6_8DK_sGi-qG3N1TUanqoaxpZHGnKZx8oiV4ZHECQAqGJ3eD-rdPJw-M00e59pZP_oFOEEEUAP73oU91fkbhlbiUQs73_qnddbvPb5e0PEEZGHy23HCtlQG9xlkcwY52kgjJJp93OGz9ksQ4vPiqTvEn55A/w480-h640/316237039_1075479486452592_7683737696291874738_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It has been just about the perfect day. We made the lunch on time, and had a really nice afternoon with his family.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc0XgjFv8po4UYfbm5w0kNz5vNQWJuX053jo7YqLImU4pCLtfUuhRnTsI73ZTWmtLZ6LEVdXmhompZHozX9ucwqidltilQkfI_9cSL0Hm_jdYXZS2XbuEa5pwIOuqhmsigPzZF-Db5I_b6KUwxz9Nss_vS2iUB6ioSeVU3-c5Vcu8CJkGTDvSs8AgXXw/s2048/316352272_672416907665782_6738143723585767493_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc0XgjFv8po4UYfbm5w0kNz5vNQWJuX053jo7YqLImU4pCLtfUuhRnTsI73ZTWmtLZ6LEVdXmhompZHozX9ucwqidltilQkfI_9cSL0Hm_jdYXZS2XbuEa5pwIOuqhmsigPzZF-Db5I_b6KUwxz9Nss_vS2iUB6ioSeVU3-c5Vcu8CJkGTDvSs8AgXXw/w480-h640/316352272_672416907665782_6738143723585767493_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>I am enjoying so very much hunting with this girl!!</b></div>Phoenix Fire Falconryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08263206652386388429noreply@blogger.com0