Eaglets!

First Eaglet hatched March 27, 2012

Second Eaglet hatched March 28, 2012

Mom feeding the babies.  One egg left to hatch.

Eagles

I have been watching the eagles in Decorah Iowa with my 4-5 year olds.  It has been an exciting time learning about the bald eagles!  I thought I'd share a couple of the still shots that I took via their web cam.  The picture of the female eagle:  she is indeed panting.  It has been unseasonably warm in Iowa this spring.  These birds are used to snow at this time of the year.  They don't even get the shelter from the leaves!  This nest is approx. 80 feet up in a cottonwood tree in Decorah Iowa. 

How big is the nest? About 6 feet across, about 5 feet deep; it weighs close to 1367 lb.

Female eagle

close-up of eagle feathers

close-up of eagle eggs

rolling the eggs

  male eagle

Mom is sleeping on the eggs while dad stays guard on an upper branch.

Close up of Male's eye and beak.  Nares - the holes in a bird's beak

We have a pip!!! 3/26/12

                                                                   3/26/12 - 5:12 pm

                     

This is mom and a close-up of part of the nest. 

2 eaglets!

Dad perched on a nearby branch

Garden week to week...

March 11, 2012

March 18, 2012

March 25, 2012

Birds are coming back!

Finch

The colorful thing in the background is a suet feeder filled with some of my yarn scraps.  Birds love to use yarn in their nest building in the spring.

Dark-Eyed Junco

Chicadee

Wacadoo plants and Herbs

This is our Avacado plant!  Our friend Janda is a pro at starting these plants. 

The large leaves came after we pinched off the tiny first leaves.

We love our indoor herb garden!

Fresh basil in Spaghetti sauce and Bruschetta is so tasty!

Indoor herb garden with basil, thyme, dill and mint.

We have a bloom on our Christmas cactus!  It has been quite a while since we have seen one!

Making Yogurt

After 14 years, we are ready to venture forth and make yogurt again!  The first attempt left a rather unpleasant odor...not from the yogurt...Now, we have 14 years of knowledge and we are ready to try again!

  

Sanitizing 2 1-quart jars

plain, full-fat yogurt

1/2 gallon organic whole milk heated to 100 degrees

6 rounded tablespoons of plain, full-fat yogurt

Wisk together

Pour into sanitized quart jars

place in cooler with heavy towel for 8-10 hours.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Backyard-Homestead-Produce-quarter/dp/1603421386/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1332689264&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/The-Homesteading-Handbook-Chickens-Generating/dp/1616082658/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1332691410&sr=1-1

 

         This is one of our favorite books!                         This is our other favorite book!

Shamrocks!

Buds on the Maple Tree

Buds on the large Maple Tree.  Apparently the sap has snuck past our taps in made it to the buds! 

Apple concentrate, heated

One Gallon Glass Jar

Apple Cider and Yeast

Pectic Enzyme for clarity

Adding the juice

Adding the pectic enzyme

Yeast

Swirl it down with the juice

Adding the airlock

Now we watch for bubbles!