OMG - 2013 is 3/4 gone

Amazingly - it's the beginning of November and I've compleely forgotten about this blog. VEry quick summary - took injured eagle to SOAR in February. Took injured owl to Raptor Center in (I think) June. Downhill with heart problems since hike on Lost Creek Hiking Trail - trying to get it diagnosed - my heart is enlarged and pumping at onbly 21%. Cardiac cath showed clear arteries. Trying medication. The cardiologist (Dr. Henkel) is very nice and seems very competent. Since this started to bet serious when I tried to pick up Lillie to give her her medication, I made the decision to have her put to sleep at 17-1/2 years.

I heard my first cicada of the year.  Old wives tale:  6 weeks to first frost after hearing first cicada.  So that would make it end of August?

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Banding on Monday 7/2/12 at Maiden Rock.  Great to see all the RRP people.  Two eyasses - one male (named Sin) and one female (named Delar) in honor of Chuck Sindelar.  Amy, Dave, Bob, Jess (from DNR), Brenda & Dean (from GRE), Chuck were all there.

Lillie's Birthday - April 13th - sweet sixteen.  And that really describes her.  Made shrimp (her favorite) to celebrate - she didn't want to wait for them to cool.  I love this pictures, it almost looks like she's going to cry if she doesn't get that shrimp.

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Actual temp -9.5 with a windchill of -27.  Hard to believe I was wading the the Root River 10 days ago!

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Even more beautiful today than yesterday - hard to believe.  Forestville again but this time to cave where stream emerges from Mystery Cave.  It was almost dry.  Janet and I walked over the rocks into the cave.  I was so happy I wanted to sing --- and did.  Janet recorded me singing Nights in White Satin (which I will not post to save myself the embarrassment).  Almost like spring in January.

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If last week's spring like weather was sensational, today is even more spectacular.  With Dewey as our guide, Janet and I walked out to the new 454-acre addition to Forestville State Park along the South Branch of the Root River.  Towering cliffs.  Water looked clean enough to drink -- so we did.

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