You know, I've been to Chicago twice for quick trips, but you made it sound like to really nifty place!  Maybe I'll have to try it again some day.  I guess I just have trouble with big cities, must be the country gal in me.  Sure wish I could write like you do 

Welcome "aboard" Gary!  Hope you enjoy and we'll all be looking forward to posts from you! 

[Anne meets Nora in Iowa!]

Anne meets Nora in Iowa!

This has been a most amazing week!  On Monday last, I flew from Toronto, Ontario to Rochester, Minnesota, and was greeted in the late evening, at the Rochester (MN) Airport by Nora (in Iowa) & her husband, Joe!  Although Nora and I first “metâ€� in 2004, on the old Kodak Board, we’ve only "talked", the last 6 years, through email, Messenger and the occasional phone call...  We’ve been through very happy and very sad times together, managing to help each other with moral support, constructive suggestions, or just a good, honest, mutual laugh.  And here we were, face to face – sharing a great big hug!  One of the best hugs I’ve ever had!  And so our week together started – perfectly!

Nora & Joe have been the most wonderful, generous hosts.  Joe has taken me once or twice daily, to the local nature walk, so that I can get my walking in for the day, with birdwatching, no less, thrown in for good measure! They’ve taken me to the Niagara Caves, which were an amazing 40F, when it was 90F outside, to Phelps Park, with it’s distinctive water fountain, to the Dunnings Spring Park, with it’s delightful waterfall and stream and to the Decorah Fish Hatchery, with it’s delightful, treed walks.  We saw the Decorah Bald Eagles’ nest, that is on cam and was used for the documentary  “American Eagleâ€�, right across the road from the hatchery.   And not to mention American stores and restaurants, that we either don’t have at all in Canada or are bigger versions of the Canadian equivalent.  Heck, Nora & Joe have even insisted that I use the master bedroom!  And they’ve bought me t-shirts, a wine bottle replacement cork designed as a penguin (he can almost fly!! – depends on how much wine I’ve actually had!!), a beautiful blue mug, with silhouettes of North American birds and animals, even some post cards to send to friends and relatives back home!  As I said, they are the most generous of hosts and I’m being totally spoiled!!

The best was saved for last – the day before yesterday, Friday, they took me to see Alice, the Great Horned Owl, and somehow...Nora persuaded Karla to bring Alice out to see me, where I was sitting on a garden wall, and Karla actually asked Alice if she would sit on my knee and she did – for a good 20 minutes!  I am still totally overwhelmed that Alice, known to me through Karla’s delightful and educational blogs – was resting patiently on my own leg...talons just barely grasping my jeans, allowing me to look at her, face to face, from 14 inches away!  It was an experience of a lifetime, never, ever to be forgotten!!

After we reluctantly dragged ourselves away from Alice, they took me to the National Eagle Center, in Wabasha MN, where I learned all about America’s national bird!  Thursday, I actually saw my first Bald Eagle – sitting on a fence post, just off the road!  I couldn’t believe what I was seeing –  a Real, Live, Huge, Handsome, Most Loved Bald Eagle!!  A nonchalant, calm and totally impressive bird – just sitting there!  And then to go the centre to see educational eagles and actually get ones photo taken standing beside a real,live Bald Eagle!!  Totally mind blowing!  It certainly was a day that I’ll never forget!!

We’ve attached some photos from our day yesterday, at Alice’s and the National Eagle Center, a combination of our photographic efforts.

I can’t thank Nora & Joe enough, for driving me through Iowa and Minnesota, to see these marvellous birds!  Those two stops alone, made the trip a memorable and awesome adventure...one I will never forget!

I’m reluctantly leaving Iowa tomorrow, Monday, but I guarantee that I’ll be back!

Anne C. (Toronto, ON Canada)

http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/sharing/shareRedirectSwitchBoard.jsp?token=660566606905%3A1839935105&sourceId=533754321803&cm_mmc=eMail-_-Share-_-Photos-_-Sharee

Have the happiest of birthdays!!!!  Nora

And a VERY belated and big THANX to everyone on my birthday wishes!!!  Those sure were fun days exchanging our baby swallows, Dale.  I miss watching them down here.

I've never joined that message board.  The link I use goes right to Seneca's page and has always worked........

http://www.falconcam-cmnh.org/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?49383.10

Same here, I saved the link to where it started with Seneca and have always gotten it ok.  Wonder why some can't 

  Anne called me last night (Sunday, April 25th) to tell me that her husband, Kevin, had passed away suddenly at only 59 years of age.  I was just in shock.  He was such a fun person and it was so totally unexpected.  When we talked earlier today I told her I would post something here for her tonight.

I know she could really use some cheering up and her e-mail is hidden on here, but if you'd like to e-mail her click my e-mail icon on the left side and I'll give it to you.

Big hugs cyber sister, Nora

Anyone have any more opinions on this bird??  Maybe I should have posted it in nature instead of OT?  Thanx 

Looking at the tail, Coop?

It's either aliens or you've been staring at those cams to long 

I usually just right-click on my choice and "open in new window" or depending on your browser's choices "open in new tab".  I usually do that with links from just about anywhere so I don't have to try and get back to the original place.

I personally use LittleBirdie a lot since you can see if someone is there in the thumbnail, but this is also fun for finding nests..........

http://mysite.verizon.net/vdziadosz/

Fantastic as always!  Too bad you didn't have time to do some falcon hunting.

FINALLY!  And I missed it by a half hour.