You will never guess what we saw the other day. A bald eagle! Just sitting in a tree! What makes it so unusual is that we are not that close to a river at all. The nearest river that could support the eagle’s fishing habits is the Susquehanna. And that is about 50 miles away.
Who hasn’t been awed by seeing the eagle in its natural habitat. Wither sitting on a branch or watching a soaring eagle in the sky. I’ve been lucky that way. I have seen three eagles in my life so far. Two about twenty years ago and one just the other day. All three of my sightings were of the bald eagle.
There are only two eagles that are native to America. The bald eagle and the golden eagle. The bald eagle is the one that fascinates me the most. I guess that is because of its coloring. It seems to be very dignified, almost the proper English gentlemen, but with wings.
This eagle is also known as the sea eagle because its main diet is fish. The bald eagles body can be up to 40 inches in length with a wing span of up to 96 inches. And the eagle can weigh in at any were from 6 to 15 pounds. And if you think that is amazing, wait till I tell you about its nest. Up to 13 feet deep and up to 8 feet across, and weight up to 1 ton!
The bald eagle is thought to mate for life. But if one either dies or disappears, the remaining one will find a new mate. If at all possible, the eagle will use the same nest year after year, just adding new material to it. Which is why the eagle has such a large nest.
The Native Americans’ consider both the bald eagle and the golden eagle sacred. Their feathers were often used as symbols of honor. And the eagle is considered a spiritual messenger between the gods and man.
While the bald eagle eats mainly fish, the golden eagle eats mainly small mammals and rodents. Both eagles are about the same size and weight, but the golden eagles nest is about half the size of the bald eagles. I find that very interesting. And from what I can find, the biologists are not sure why.
I am fascinated with the American eagles. I have several pictures of them. My screen saver is of a soaring eagle. And I found an eagle statue that I will one day purchase. As soon as find a place for it, that is. I am really glad that the American (Bald and Golden) eagle are making a comeback. It was rather scary to think of our national symbol going extinct. Now if we can either teach the eagles to stay clear of electrical lines, or teach man how not to poison water ways and other living creatures. May the American eagles be around for a long, long time.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Phillie Phans
I can’t really say I’m a sports fan. Know just enough about different sports to be able to watch a game and understand 90-95% of what happens and why. Do I watch a lot of games? No. Do I have favorite teams? Yes.
I was born and raised within spitting distance of Philadelphia. But I have also lived in both New Orleans and Houston. Now, when I lived in those other cities, I paid attention to and rutted for their teams. That is, in everything except baseball.
Jimmy, Shane, and Chase are three of the best baseball players of all times as far as I’m concerned. Yes, I’m a Phillie Phan and proud of it. I watched Tug McGraw throw the last pitch back in the 70’s , and Brad Lidge do it last year. And I will be watching to the last pitch this year. Win or lose, that is my team out there and I am very proud of them.
I heard talk when I lived down south about the Philadelphia fan. About how tough we are. Yes we are very tough. Why? In my opinion, it is because the rest of the country see us as a second class city. We aren’t as big mile wise as Houston or Dallas, we don’t have the population that New York has, and we don’t get the extra large tourist crowd like New Orleans or Los Angeles. We do however have more history here than in any other part of this country. And we do know what we want. And we feel that out teams should be winners. Or at the very least, treated like winners in the news media. We pay good money to see our teams in action and we feel that gives us the right to let that team, and everyone else in ear shot, know how we feel about the game.
So if you don’t think that Phillie Phans have the right to voice there opinion, come to our city and we will show you what gives us the right. It all has to do with history really. And it all started with some men over two hundred years ago. They were loud, voice tress and demanding too. They knew what they wanted and let people know! And what did they end up with? A new nation. A Declaration of Independence. The Constitution. And The Bill of Rights.
Yes, the fans in Philadelphia are loud and demanding. But we are so very proud of our teams that it physically hurts us to see them do anything but win. And if they don’t win, we all know in our hearts that there will always be another game, another season, or a new player that can make it happen.
Go Phillies!
I was born and raised within spitting distance of Philadelphia. But I have also lived in both New Orleans and Houston. Now, when I lived in those other cities, I paid attention to and rutted for their teams. That is, in everything except baseball.
Jimmy, Shane, and Chase are three of the best baseball players of all times as far as I’m concerned. Yes, I’m a Phillie Phan and proud of it. I watched Tug McGraw throw the last pitch back in the 70’s , and Brad Lidge do it last year. And I will be watching to the last pitch this year. Win or lose, that is my team out there and I am very proud of them.
I heard talk when I lived down south about the Philadelphia fan. About how tough we are. Yes we are very tough. Why? In my opinion, it is because the rest of the country see us as a second class city. We aren’t as big mile wise as Houston or Dallas, we don’t have the population that New York has, and we don’t get the extra large tourist crowd like New Orleans or Los Angeles. We do however have more history here than in any other part of this country. And we do know what we want. And we feel that out teams should be winners. Or at the very least, treated like winners in the news media. We pay good money to see our teams in action and we feel that gives us the right to let that team, and everyone else in ear shot, know how we feel about the game.
So if you don’t think that Phillie Phans have the right to voice there opinion, come to our city and we will show you what gives us the right. It all has to do with history really. And it all started with some men over two hundred years ago. They were loud, voice tress and demanding too. They knew what they wanted and let people know! And what did they end up with? A new nation. A Declaration of Independence. The Constitution. And The Bill of Rights.
Yes, the fans in Philadelphia are loud and demanding. But we are so very proud of our teams that it physically hurts us to see them do anything but win. And if they don’t win, we all know in our hearts that there will always be another game, another season, or a new player that can make it happen.
Go Phillies!
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Bamboo Wind Chimes
Bamboo wind chimes are by far the best as far as I am concerned. Wind chimes are a very popular yard decoration. But to me, bamboo wind chimes are by far the best. They are unique wind chimes because the blend into the scenery in more ways then one. And they don’t clang like the metal ones do.
Bamboo wind chimes listen to the breezes and then repeat it back to the listener. They all but disappear into their surroundings, and their sounds are very natural. I mean after all, they are made of bamboo. Whereas the metal ones stand out, make an unnatural man made sound, and they tend to chase the birds and other wild life away.
Wind chimes should enhance the pleasures of your yard, not distract from them. Bamboo wind chimes seem to do just that. These unique wind chimes are not man made substances, but natural material. They do not rust, but given time, and I do mean lot of time, they will decay. But I ask you, which is better for your yard? Rust, and possible broken jagged pipes, or slowly decaying bamboo.
I have seen some very nice metal wind chimes, and if I lived in or close to a big city, I would more than likely get them. You need the metal wind chimes there to be heard over the noise of the traffic. But out here in the country, bamboo wind chimes are perfect. You hear them without them standing out. And they don’t chase anything away.
Bamboo is a very interesting plant. They are very fast growing, in fact, it reaches its full height in just one growing season. And can be harvested within 3 years. Most bamboo is of the true grass family. But, the “Lucky Bamboo” plant isn’t a true bamboo, but of the lily family.
Bamboo can be used as food, and not only for the Lemur, Giant Panda, Red Panda and Mountain Gorilla. But be careful. The bamboo that the lemur eats has cyanide in it. And the Mountain Gorilla goes for the sap that has fermented and is alcoholic. But some bamboo when prepared right becomes a low cal source of potassium. You can find new, young bamboo shoots in several Asian dishes.
Bamboo is used in Chinese medicine to help heal infection. It is also used in construction, textiles, and of coarse for musical instruments of all kinds. But my favorite way to use bamboo is for wind chimes.
Bamboo wind chimes listen to the breezes and then repeat it back to the listener. They all but disappear into their surroundings, and their sounds are very natural. I mean after all, they are made of bamboo. Whereas the metal ones stand out, make an unnatural man made sound, and they tend to chase the birds and other wild life away.
Wind chimes should enhance the pleasures of your yard, not distract from them. Bamboo wind chimes seem to do just that. These unique wind chimes are not man made substances, but natural material. They do not rust, but given time, and I do mean lot of time, they will decay. But I ask you, which is better for your yard? Rust, and possible broken jagged pipes, or slowly decaying bamboo.
I have seen some very nice metal wind chimes, and if I lived in or close to a big city, I would more than likely get them. You need the metal wind chimes there to be heard over the noise of the traffic. But out here in the country, bamboo wind chimes are perfect. You hear them without them standing out. And they don’t chase anything away.
Bamboo is a very interesting plant. They are very fast growing, in fact, it reaches its full height in just one growing season. And can be harvested within 3 years. Most bamboo is of the true grass family. But, the “Lucky Bamboo” plant isn’t a true bamboo, but of the lily family.
Bamboo can be used as food, and not only for the Lemur, Giant Panda, Red Panda and Mountain Gorilla. But be careful. The bamboo that the lemur eats has cyanide in it. And the Mountain Gorilla goes for the sap that has fermented and is alcoholic. But some bamboo when prepared right becomes a low cal source of potassium. You can find new, young bamboo shoots in several Asian dishes.
Bamboo is used in Chinese medicine to help heal infection. It is also used in construction, textiles, and of coarse for musical instruments of all kinds. But my favorite way to use bamboo is for wind chimes.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
VISITING ANOTHER YARD
This afternoon my hubby and I went over to visit some friends. The people we went to visit have a lot of land, mainly woods. Their yard is full of flower beds, bird feeders, and naturally bird houses. (Gee, that sounds a lot like our backyard!) Sitting on the back porch, I happened to notice several wind chimes hanging from different trees that line the yard. When the men went to “check out a chain saw“, I asked about all the wind chimes. And the answer surprised me. Their kids keep giving them to them for gifts.
Seems their daughter gives them bamboo while the sons give them metal ones. Now our friends like things quiet and relaxing, as do we. So they prefer the bamboo. They don’t stand out at all, in fact you have to really look to see them. Where the metal ones really stick out. When you think about it, yeah, metal against the woods would kind of stand out. But the bamboo wind chimes did really blend in. And the noise the metal ones make kept chasing the birds away! That was why all the metal wind chimes were closer to their vegetable garden. They not only chased birds but other creatures well.
All the bamboo wind chimes were closer to the house and mixed in among the feeders and bird houses. I noticed that even when the wind blow, the birds didn’t take off. And you really had to listen for the sound of the bamboo wind chimes. The sound was there, but it sounded so natural. Not man made. It was a very pleasant sound, relaxing and refreshing.
While us gals were talking about wind chimes, the guys were actually talking about metal detectors. Seems you can get a really nice one and they aren’t that expensive. My hubby was shown a lot of trinkets: old keys, some old car parts, a jar filed with coins (both new and not so new), and even some broken jewelry. All of it gotten with the metal detector. My hubby now wants one. And he got very specific with the kind he plans to get. Our friends have a Bounty Hunter metal detector, so my hubby has to have one just like it. At least until he gets the hang of using one, then he will want a bigger more expansive one.
All in all, we had a nice visit. It was nice to get away from the house for a while. But I am glad to be back home. Funny isn’t it, you can’t wait to go out, to get away, to be somewhere different. But once you are there, you can’t wait to get home again. I guess that old saying is true, “Home is where the heart is.” I love living in the country and this house is home.
Seems their daughter gives them bamboo while the sons give them metal ones. Now our friends like things quiet and relaxing, as do we. So they prefer the bamboo. They don’t stand out at all, in fact you have to really look to see them. Where the metal ones really stick out. When you think about it, yeah, metal against the woods would kind of stand out. But the bamboo wind chimes did really blend in. And the noise the metal ones make kept chasing the birds away! That was why all the metal wind chimes were closer to their vegetable garden. They not only chased birds but other creatures well.
All the bamboo wind chimes were closer to the house and mixed in among the feeders and bird houses. I noticed that even when the wind blow, the birds didn’t take off. And you really had to listen for the sound of the bamboo wind chimes. The sound was there, but it sounded so natural. Not man made. It was a very pleasant sound, relaxing and refreshing.
While us gals were talking about wind chimes, the guys were actually talking about metal detectors. Seems you can get a really nice one and they aren’t that expensive. My hubby was shown a lot of trinkets: old keys, some old car parts, a jar filed with coins (both new and not so new), and even some broken jewelry. All of it gotten with the metal detector. My hubby now wants one. And he got very specific with the kind he plans to get. Our friends have a Bounty Hunter metal detector, so my hubby has to have one just like it. At least until he gets the hang of using one, then he will want a bigger more expansive one.
All in all, we had a nice visit. It was nice to get away from the house for a while. But I am glad to be back home. Funny isn’t it, you can’t wait to go out, to get away, to be somewhere different. But once you are there, you can’t wait to get home again. I guess that old saying is true, “Home is where the heart is.” I love living in the country and this house is home.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Questions, I need some answers!
Okay, I have some questions. Well, actully a lot of questions. But first things first.
First, on the page where you write your new posts, under the title bar, there is a link bar. What do I put in there? I have read every artical, and watched every video that they have in Help. I can't find out what to do with it, or about that link bar. Can some one help me?
Second, just below the links bar is "Add enclosure link". What is that? Is that what I would click on if I wanted to put a link in one of my posts? Or is that the one on the tool bar?
Where is spell check? Or doesn't this have it? Oh Lord. If this doesn't have spell check, I am in for one bumpy ride. And you the reader, if I have any, will be going crazy trying to understand what I'm saying. So far I have been typing my blogs out in another program and copying and pasting them. But I may not to want to do that all the time. What do I do? How do I get spell check?
Third, I think I understand "Post Options" and have them set right. Then there is "Lables:" In my last posting, I put the title in there because that is what that post was about. Did I do Right? And what is the "show all" click on thingie about?
And one last question for now, if some kind person does answer my questions, how will I know? Will they show on the blog page? Or do I have to go somewhere else to see them? If so where?
Like I said before, I learning and trying to figure it all out. Thanks in advance for your help.
First, on the page where you write your new posts, under the title bar, there is a link bar. What do I put in there? I have read every artical, and watched every video that they have in Help. I can't find out what to do with it, or about that link bar. Can some one help me?
Second, just below the links bar is "Add enclosure link". What is that? Is that what I would click on if I wanted to put a link in one of my posts? Or is that the one on the tool bar?
Where is spell check? Or doesn't this have it? Oh Lord. If this doesn't have spell check, I am in for one bumpy ride. And you the reader, if I have any, will be going crazy trying to understand what I'm saying. So far I have been typing my blogs out in another program and copying and pasting them. But I may not to want to do that all the time. What do I do? How do I get spell check?
Third, I think I understand "Post Options" and have them set right. Then there is "Lables:" In my last posting, I put the title in there because that is what that post was about. Did I do Right? And what is the "show all" click on thingie about?
And one last question for now, if some kind person does answer my questions, how will I know? Will they show on the blog page? Or do I have to go somewhere else to see them? If so where?
Like I said before, I learning and trying to figure it all out. Thanks in advance for your help.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Dyslexia
I am dyslexic. It is no easy task to read the instructions for any new gadget or gizmo or even new programs. I have learned to try and find someone who knows all the ins and outs and whatnots of things. And try to befriend them. With the hopes that they will be kind enough to help me understand whatever it is I am trying to learn.
I had a really terrible time in school. First they told my parents I was lazy. Then they said I was stupid. Then it was that I had a developmental problem. I had to do all kinds of exercises to improve my brain function. And every summer for several years, I was in reading improvement courses. Needless to say, none of that worked.
Can you imagine being told all the time that you are stupid and dumb? And all the other kids had a ball making fun of me, including my brothers. Today, we call that abuse and bullying. But back in the fifties, it happened all the time and nothing was done about it. In some ways I think that helped make me a stronger person mentally. But in others I can see it only served to stunt me somewhat emotionally.
For me, I had to memorize every word I wanted to spell or be able to read. Why? Because for me the letters on the pages did not stay still. For a lack of a better word, they roamed. Not only that, they morphed into other letters and if I was really tired, into some weird shapes. Do you have any idea how many three, four, and five letter words a second or third grader needs to learn?
Just to let know how difficult it can be, try and read this next sentence. “Post, meco eerh.” That should read “Spot, come here.” to someone who is not dyslexic. But that is not how I would see most the time. And that was on a good day. Some days I would have to chase the letters all over the page provided they didn’t turn into something else. It was, and still is very frustrating and tiring, both mentally and emotionally.
I was never able to learn to read by sounding out letters. I had to memorize. I also had to be a mind reader. Just to follow a story I had to be able to figure out what the author was saying with out knowing the words that he used. It wasn’t easy for anyone back then if they had dyslexia. I’m sure a lot of kids gave up on school long before I did.
Don’t get me wrong, I love to read. And I love learning. It is just harder for me with some of it, that’s all. I may have to go over something four or five times before it starts to make sense. But I do what I can by myself and when I can’t go any farther, I find someone to can help me. That is what I did after I got my G.E.D. and started going to college. I didn’t graduate, no degrees of any kind. But every semester I attended, no matter how many classed I took, I made the deans list. Not bad for a kid with developmental problems that is lazy, dumb, and just plan stupid, is it.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Please be patient, I'm just learning
I was looking for a program that would help me with my typing and maybe help improve my computer skills. I have never been very good at finding my way around on the internet. In fact, the very first coarse I ever took involving a computer was back in the 80’s. I was so bad, I crashed the schools entire system. And all I was trying to do was log on! I’m a little better now. Things don’t crash as much for me, and when they do, I have some friends who can and will help me out.
Anyway, I mentioned to my neighbor that I was hoping to improve my skills so that I just might get lucky and find a job. She told me to try blogging. I thought she was totally insane. I just wanted to improve some skills, not kill my computer. But she kept talking about it and about how much you can learn and what others can teach you. So here I am. Just starting to learn about blogging. I’m sorry that you will be my guinea pig, but I feel I have to learn how to do this.
When asked what I was supposed to write about, I was told to just write whatever I felt like. That didn’t make sense to me and I told my neighbor that. She said to write what we talked about, what my hubby and I talk about. Just typing instead of talking. Oh, and keep it clean she said. If I see something that makes me mad, type it. Or if something upsets me, type it. And if I have an opinion on something, blog it. So that is what I will be doing. And I’m hoping you will be helping me.
A little background on me might help you to get to know me a little better. I am a mother, a grandmother and a great-grandmother for all of two months now. So I guess that makes me official old. That’s okay, I’ve had gray hair since I was in my late 20’s. I don’t dye it, I figure I earned every one of them. Hey, at least I didn’t start going bold like my younger brother did. My husband doesn’t mind the gray and neither do I. My hubby does have slightly longer hair than I do. If I were in the military, no one could tell me my hair was to long. Had it down past my waist for a long time, but I got tired of it so I cut off, and I don‘t think I ever want to go back to long hair. I am very happy in my old holy kneed jeans and a ratty old tee shirt. I will wear sneakers if I have to have something on my feet, other wise I’m bare foot.
We lived near a major city until we sold that house and moved to the country. It is so quiet out here it is unbelievable. We went from busy highways to crickets, birds, and frogs. From city lights at night to starry nights. From triple locking up of everything to forgetting to lock. It is a big change and we are loving it. Been here a little over two years now and I hate having to go back even for a visit.
Anyway, I mentioned to my neighbor that I was hoping to improve my skills so that I just might get lucky and find a job. She told me to try blogging. I thought she was totally insane. I just wanted to improve some skills, not kill my computer. But she kept talking about it and about how much you can learn and what others can teach you. So here I am. Just starting to learn about blogging. I’m sorry that you will be my guinea pig, but I feel I have to learn how to do this.
When asked what I was supposed to write about, I was told to just write whatever I felt like. That didn’t make sense to me and I told my neighbor that. She said to write what we talked about, what my hubby and I talk about. Just typing instead of talking. Oh, and keep it clean she said. If I see something that makes me mad, type it. Or if something upsets me, type it. And if I have an opinion on something, blog it. So that is what I will be doing. And I’m hoping you will be helping me.
A little background on me might help you to get to know me a little better. I am a mother, a grandmother and a great-grandmother for all of two months now. So I guess that makes me official old. That’s okay, I’ve had gray hair since I was in my late 20’s. I don’t dye it, I figure I earned every one of them. Hey, at least I didn’t start going bold like my younger brother did. My husband doesn’t mind the gray and neither do I. My hubby does have slightly longer hair than I do. If I were in the military, no one could tell me my hair was to long. Had it down past my waist for a long time, but I got tired of it so I cut off, and I don‘t think I ever want to go back to long hair. I am very happy in my old holy kneed jeans and a ratty old tee shirt. I will wear sneakers if I have to have something on my feet, other wise I’m bare foot.
We lived near a major city until we sold that house and moved to the country. It is so quiet out here it is unbelievable. We went from busy highways to crickets, birds, and frogs. From city lights at night to starry nights. From triple locking up of everything to forgetting to lock. It is a big change and we are loving it. Been here a little over two years now and I hate having to go back even for a visit.
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