Morning after the snow

It snowed from Friday afternoon to early Saturday morning. We woke up to over 8 inches of the fluffy white stuff. I know this is just a flake compared to the amount of snow most of the country has had, but this is the South. We don't get snow that often. Below are some pictures for our snow.

First the artsy photos.

Now for the fun. The dogs had the zoomies.

 

 

The Eagles Have Landed

There are several places in USA and Canada that have cameras looking in on eagle nests streaming live to the world wide web. The eagles on the east coast have already laid eggs. The constant winter snow storms have been brutal for the eagles, but the season is early and those that lost eggs in the storm can lay new ones.

One of my favorites nest to watch is at Norfolk Botanical Garden. This pair raised 3 eagles last year.They have 3 eggs and have stayed on the nest through each storm. The  first egg was laid January 31, the second was laid February 3 and the third egg was laid February 6. They should hatch around March 9-10.

Below shows dad tending the three eggs.

Mom on the nest.

Dad is staying strong during a snow storm.

There is a cam in West Virgina about 75 miles from Washington DC, on the campus of  the U.S. Fish and  Wildlife Services' National Conservation Training Center. This nest has had a very hard time because of all the snow. She was laying eggs in last weeks snow storm and lost them due to the weather. The nest became completely covered in snow except for the small space where the female diligently stay on the nest.  Now there is less snow. Both eagles have brought new sticks and grass to the nest trying to build it up again. I know she has laid at least one new egg. This camera has sound.

It's hard not to place human emotions on these birds while watching. I have to remind myself that this is their world and I am the visitor. They have been dealing with adversities far longer than I have. The bond between the female and male eagle is wonderful to watch. Right now the mom spends more time on the nest, but dad does take his turns. It is fun to see one rearrange sticks on the nest and then the other puts them back. I hope you enjoy watching the eagles as much as I do. I have a few more nest cams on my list, but will save those for another day as the eagles are not in the nest yet.

It's Snowing

January Bead Journal Project

Once again I am participating in the Bead Journal Project. This is the third year for the project and my second year to participate. I managed to get 7 of 12 months finished the first year. I skipped last year, but felt drawn to the project this year. With 287 members, there are three different group blogs. One, Two, and Three. Photos are not suppose to be posted on the main blogs until April, but there are many links to current work.

Below is my completed January page. It is the Woman in the Moon on a 4 by 4 inch square.


I was having a difficult time deciding upon my theme this year when I realized that December 31, 2009 was a Blue Moon. The moon has always fascinated me. As a child growing up on the high plains in the panhandle of Texas I remember staying out at night with my girlfriend watching the moon rise and gazing upon all the stars. The skies there were clear and there was little light pollution, so the Milky Way filled the sky. So the first piece had to show the Milky Way. I know most think of it as the Man in the Moon, but throughout history the moon has has more connections to the female. It seems fitting that it is a Woman in the Moon.

I think it is going to be fun to explore the moon through bead embroidery. I have a list of my favorite songs that feature the moon. I'm not sure where I'll go after that, but I do know I have the moon to inspire me.