Donna and family, Jeanne's words said it all better than I could ever hope to do. Your decision to release Bucca from his illness was both the hardest and most loving gift you could have given him. I'm so glad you and your family heard his final purrs saying that he loved you as much as you loved him.  Difficult as it will be for a long while, you can be sure that the love between you and Bucca will stay always in your heart.  My husband and I have gone through this heartache too many times.  It's so unbearable that we swear we will never take on another animal to cherish because we can't stand to go through it again. Still, we eventually do just that because it's so lonely without a furry companion who loves us no matter what. We like to think that loving a new cat or dog in need of rescue is passing on the gift of unconditional love we were given by the ones who came before. Our current kitty is, to us, a wonderful mix of all our previous pets and keeps them fresh in our memory every single day.

Dot in PA

[Donna, my thoughts are with you on this sad day. Bucca will always be in your heart because of the love you two shared, and that can never be taken away. I like to imagine all our former beloved cat companions playing happily together somewhere. I am so sorry.Dot in PA]

Donna, my thoughts are with you on this sad day.  Bucca will always be in your heart because of the love you two shared, and that can never be taken away. I like to imagine all our former beloved cat companions playing happily together somewhere.  I am so sorry.

Dot in PA

I suspect we're reading only a small portion of the greedy wholesale slaughter in the oceans.  This particular fish got me to wondering ... on the Jersey shore where I spent my childhood summers, these fish were called "stri ped" bass (2 syllables). Is that the common pronunciation everywhere else? My uncle used to tell a story about uncovering a German spy in their midst during World War II when the spy said he was from Forked River NJ (pronounced as the 2-syllable "For ked River" but the spy said it as a one syllable word, so my uncle knew that this person wasn't really from that area.

Dot in PA

[Sorry (especially Nicole) that I somehow managed to misspell "Joyeux" in my card. Duh Dot in PA]

Sorry (especially Nicole) that I somehow managed to misspell "Joyeux" in my card.  Duh

Dot in PA

[Merry Christmas to all you falcon fans!Dot in PA]

Merry Christmas to all you falcon fans!
Dot in PA

[That was wonderful! Thanks for sharing.Dot in PA]

That was wonderful!  Thanks for sharing.

Dot in PA

[Soooooo ... which logo is the winner? Dot in PA]

Soooooo ... which logo is the winner? 

Dot in PA

Starlings are a major pest in my area - they eat all the suet in no time and viciously peck at any other bird that tries to get a share.  If you get tired of your greedy starlings, you could try what I do and put a baffle on the rope/chain just above the suet cage. Very few starlings seem to be able to fly under it and grab on at the bottom of the cage but woodpeckers, chickadees, nuthatches, and titmice manage just fine. 

Dot in PA

[Am I correct in assuming that we are each supposed to vote only once for the new logo? ???Dot in PA]

Am I correct in assuming that we are each supposed to vote only once for the new logo? ???

Dot in PA

[I just voted. My compliments to all the artists who submitted entries. Many thanks to Shaky, Lou, and the rest of the committee who found this method to get a logo and then winnowed through all of them to allow the rest of us a chance to have our say on the final two.Dot in PA]

I just voted.  My compliments to all the artists who submitted entries. Many thanks to Shaky, Lou, and the rest of the committee who found this method to get a logo and then winnowed through all of them to allow the rest of us a chance to have our say on the final two.

Dot in PA

[Thanks, Shaky! Bumper stickers, decals, magnets for around $5 or a little higher is just the sort of thing I had in mind. I think they would need to have some bright color in them to be appealing. Peregrines are wonderful creatures but their coloring is not especially eye-catching. A design in color like some of the proposed logos, the Birdadorable-type graphic, colored text accenting a black design, etc. would be great. I would then be able to support the falcons in a small way without being sad that I can't afford the $55 bathrobes and the $35 sweatshirts.Dot in PA]

Thanks, Shaky! Bumper stickers, decals, magnets for around $5 or a little higher is just the sort of thing I had in mind. I think they would need to have some bright color in them to be appealing.  Peregrines are wonderful creatures but their coloring is not especially eye-catching. A design in color like some of the proposed logos, the Birdadorable-type graphic, colored text accenting a black design, etc. would be great.  I would then be able to support the falcons in a small way without being sad that I can't afford the $55 bathrobes and the $35 sweatshirts.

Dot in PA

[Since we're baring our souls lately, here's my problem. I would dearly love to purchase many of the items from the rfalconcam stores because they're beautiful and raise money for the falcons. But I absolutely CANNOT afford them because I am a retired senior citizen on a limited fixed income. Is it at all possible to come up with cute but less expensive merchandise? I'm thinking of small things such as decals, bumper stickers, magnets, and memo pads. What I'd really love is to be able to buy embroidery patches or transfers to sew or iron on my homemade tote bags, a favorite tee, or a quilt square. As an example, I can only imagine how beautiful logo submission #73-74 would look as a full-size color transfer on a shirt or bag. Also, I collect free graphics to use in my personal emails and would be happy to purchase the right to be able to use the winning logo when I email a friend.I do realize that such items would not bring in tons of money. Still, I doubt that I'm the only one in this group who cannot afford the current merchandise, so perhaps quantity of sales might make up for the affordable price. Just something for the merchandising committee to think about ... Penny Pinching Dot in PA]

Since we're baring our souls lately, here's my problem.  I would dearly love to purchase many of the items from the rfalconcam stores because they're beautiful and raise money for the falcons. But I absolutely CANNOT afford them because I am a retired senior citizen on a limited fixed income. Is it at all possible to come up with cute but less expensive merchandise?  I'm thinking of small things such as decals, bumper stickers, magnets, and memo pads. What I'd really love is to be able to buy embroidery patches or transfers to sew or iron on my homemade tote bags, a favorite tee, or a quilt square. As an example, I can only imagine how beautiful logo submission #73-74 would look as a full-size color transfer on a shirt or bag. Also, I collect free graphics to use in my personal emails and would be happy to purchase the right to be able to use the winning logo when I email a friend.

I do realize that such items would not bring in tons of money. Still, I doubt that I'm the only one in this group who cannot afford the current merchandise, so perhaps quantity of sales might make up for the affordable price.  Just something for the merchandising committee to think about ...

  Penny Pinching Dot in PA

[These logo submissions are all fantastic! How sad that only one can be chosen. Of the new entries, I like:#107 - sleekly abstract and very powerful#99 and #97 (look alike to me) Like the 2 colors and the flow of the falcon#94 - sleek, abstract, very different. Love the facial expressionDot in PA]

These logo submissions are all fantastic!  How sad that only one can be chosen. Of the new entries, I like:

#107 - sleekly abstract and very powerful
#99 and #97 (look alike to me) Like the 2 colors and the flow of the falcon
#94 - sleek, abstract, very different. Love the facial expression

Dot in PA

[I see that time is running out for logo submissions, a little over 11 hours left. There are some nice new ones this morning to look at. It is going to be very hard to decide. Will the committee do the choosing from the feedback posted by various members?ANNE,Anne, I'm so glad you have thought things over and are ready to give this forum another try. Dot in PA]

I see that time is running out for logo submissions, a little over 11 hours left. There are some nice new ones this morning to look at. It is going to be very hard to decide. Will the committee do the choosing from the feedback posted by various members?

ANNE,Anne, I'm so glad you have thought things over and are ready to give this forum another try. 

Dot in PA

[Wow! logo #77 really rings my bell too - lots of motion and a very detailed falcon. I like it on all the colors. #73 bottom (no buildings) is the same falcon plus "Rfalconcam" text, which I prefer. But in that one, the bird is not as detailed, maybe because it's a little smaller with the text included??? If this design is popular with everyone, before making a final choice, perhaps the committee should talk with a graphics art professional as to which one or which color would print out best on clothing and other merchandise. Dot in PA]

Wow! logo #77 really rings my bell too - lots of motion and a very detailed falcon. I like it on all the colors. #73 bottom (no buildings) is the same falcon plus "Rfalconcam" text, which I prefer. But in that one, the bird is not as detailed, maybe because it's a little smaller with the text included???  If this design is popular with everyone, before making a final choice, perhaps the committee should talk with a graphics art professional as to which one or which color would print out best on clothing and other merchandise. 

Dot in PA