Winter Retreat with Eagles

This past weekend, Norm and I made our annual winter retreat to Pere Marquette State Park near Grafton, Illinois, on the Illinois River just above its confluence with the mighty Mississippi. We enjoy the restored WPA-era stone lodge set in the midst of a natural wonderland. One of our reasons for the trip is to see eagles, which winter along the Mississippi and its tributaries. We weren't disappointed.




We woke up on Friday morning to a clear day and we spotted the eagle resting in a tree not far from the lodge. He or she was resting from an early morning fishing trip. After I got too close with the camera, the bird took flight (above) for the other side of the river, though. Although I tried to take a lot of eagle pictures the next day, these two turned out the best. You can just see the white head on the black body of the perching bird, if you look VERY closely.

The lodge itself was built in the 1930s and renovated in the 1990s. More work was being done while we were there, including refinishing the plank and peg pine floors in the dining room and replacing the log ends on the attic beams, among other projects. There are plans to upgrade the rooms in the coming year to bow to 21st century demands--like in-room microwaves and high speed internet access. Norm and I were returning from a midday walk in the woods to look for songbirds when I took this picture--he is keeping warm in his Florida Gulf Coast University hoodie.

As Friday waned, we went back to the river where we had spotted the eagle in the morning. The sunset began to color the hill to the east, above the migratory bird wildlife sanctuary. We startled a heron, and saw some amazing flight maneuvers by gulls, but no eagles this evening.

Just this magnificent sunset over the water of the Illinois River, still open to barge traffic at this time of the winter. During our stay we saw a lot of damaged trees from the ice storms at the end of November and again in mid-January. Nature has a lot of mending to do.

After two days and nights at Pere Marquette, we packed and headed home. It's only a 45-minute drive, so we stopped at the Riverlands Wildlife Sanctuary and Migratory Bird Refuge just west of the Alton bridge over the Mississippi. Barely into Missouri, this is one of the happenin' places for eagle watching this winter. The refuge biologists had counted 85 eagles the day we were there. The refuge comprises several ponds and marshes, along with some grassland, along the Mississippi just above the Melvin Price Lock and Dam. I counted some 40 roosting eagles, such as these in some trees above a freshwater pond. Although it was midday, the eagles were active--swooping down to the water to catch fish and circling overhead. Once in a while they would vie for a roosting spot or chase another eagle to try to steal a catch. It was windy and tooth-chattering cold, but we spent about an hour watching their antics, until we finally gave up and came home. We felt exhilarated and exhausted. The eagles should stay through February, so we hope to visit their winter haunt again before they head north in the spring.

Snow and Roses

Sunday, January 21--Norm gave me a bouquet of stunning pink roses for my birthday, and they were the talk of the town at book club yesterday. This morning they are still bright and cheery. I received many cards, e-mails, and calls to wish me well on turning 64. Thanks to everyone!

We anxiously waited last evening for the beginning of a promised 4 to 8-inch snowfall. It finally started about 9:30 p.m. as our friends were leaving the house. When I was little, I would wish for snow on my birthday so I could ride my Western Flyer sled. In Oklahoma, a January "snow" was usually a couple of inches of sleet, which made for adventurous sledding.

Overnight it snowed heavily at times, but this morning we had only about two inches of wet snow on the ground. It wasn't all that picturesque, but I took this to prove to the guys in Florida that I'm not making up a snow story for my birthday. At right, the daffodils that started emerging back in our warmer-than-usual December are peeking through the snow, promise of spring flowers to come.

Out on the plains, Norm's family reports about three feet of snow on the ground in Colby, and the local paper quotes someone there as saying it will probably still be around in March. This snow won't last that long here, but who knows what the next weather system will bring? At least the climate here is never boring.

Sociable Saturday

Saturday, January 20--We were host for the Compton Heights Christian Church Book Circle on Saturday morning. We meet once a month and discuss books and life. This month we read The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards. Norm and I fixed a brunch of egg, sausage and cheese casserole, bran muffins and apricot scones. In the picture with Norm are Marsha, Shannon, Kathy, Sarah, Melissa and Madeline. It's fun to have company!

In late afternoon we went out to dinner at Fuentes Mexican Restaurant with our friends Mike and Sandy Dixon. They have a knack for finding really good, reasonable places to eat that are easy to get to and an enjoyable place to spend an evening. The Dixons have a new Town and Country minivan; we got to ride in the back seat and help break it in! The van is named Skye. (Yes, the Dixons also name their cars. I heard someone say on a radio program recently that some 20 percent of Americans name their vehicles, so they and we are part of an elite minority.) After dinner we came back to our house for chocolate birthday cake. Yum. It was a great evening and a great way to celebrate my birthday.

Between Storms

After writing about our narrow escape from the ice last weekend, I heard from most of the family and decided they all deserve an update. This is the front yard of my cousins--Mike & Debi--in Sperry, Oklahoma. They didn't have much ice on trees nor did they lose their power, but this white stuff is all sleet, frozen solid. Their street is out there, someplace. Mike had a fall on Monday, and hurt his wrist and shoulder. Then on Wednesday night, driving home after his 3-11 hospital work shift, he lost control on the icy interstate and the car had to be towed home. It hasn't been a very good week for them!

All of Norm's siblings have checked in--Walt and Carol say they were mostly housebound in Irving but did get out to run some errands. Walt was working in his shop today since it was up to 39 degrees! Over in MIneral Wells, Maxine and Roy had lots of ice and about an inch of snow, and finally got out to do errands on Thursday. They stocked up for the next storm, and have been enjoying their fireplace and thankful to have electricity. In easter Kansas, Evelyn reported by phone to Carol that she had been snowed in until yesterday but has power and is OK. In Garden City, Don says the ice from the Dec. 29/30 storm is mostly melted although it is cold there. Their power is on, but they have friends who are farmers who still don't have electricity and may not get any for 3-4 weeks more. He and Kay are plotting for the reunion in June, which they will host. Out in Colby, Larry and Delores are snug with their wood-burning stove. Harold reports that they still have about two feet of snow in the yard, but the city streets are finally clearing up, and he and Jan are doing OK. At least everyone kept their power on and stayed warm through this past episode of Winter.

Times like these, it is great to have phones and e-mail and the Internet to keep in touch. Back in the 1940s, my Dad was stranded in Dallas for a week by an ice storm similar to the ones we had recently, while my mother and I camped out in a powerless home using gas stoves for heat. Phone lines were down and there was no way to know for sure when he would be able to drive his bus North and come home.

This weekend, more ice and sleet is spreading over Texas, and some snow is in Kansas and heading for Oklahoma and Missouri. Some of us may see 4 to 8 inches of the white stuff. It's winter, still. Although today in St. Louis it was clear and sunny for the first time in about 10 days, and Norm and I were astonished to see that it's still light at 5:20 in the evening. The days are getting longer, even when we couldn't see it. Stay well and warm, everyone.

Ice Gone, Just Winter

Our ice storm was mostly a freezing drizzle event on Saturday, and the threatened heavy freezing rain on Sunday attacked our neighbors to the west while a slight warmup (to 36 degrees!) melted most of the ice that accumulated in Round I. We were thankful to retain our heat and light, and mindful of those without.

We have been cleaning house, putting away holiday clutter, and I've been getting ready for teaching this spring semester. I have one class in Feature Writing that meets on Mondays and Wednesdays, and the first session is tomorrow. So far I have 21 students enrolled, and the department let me have a private office, so I'm all set to begin.

The photo is of Doug's amaryllis--an offspring of mom Linville's plant. It started blooming on Epiphany and the second stalk of it looks like it will open this weekend...just in time for someone's birthday. Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I'm 64?

Ice Storm Round I

Saturday, Jan. 13, 2 p.m.--Well, the first phase of the Great 2007 Ice Storm, freezing rain last night, is over. In our part of the metro area, we have 1/4 inch or less on trees or power lines, and we still have power. The outage had reached 117,000 "customers"--households or businesses--by noon today. We are thankful. This is Lois' redbud tree in our front yard.

All of the bird feeders were mobbed this morning and birds were looking for open water, too. These gold finches in winter drab were sipping on thistle seeds by the study window. We saw lots of sparrows, finches, starlings, doves, and cardinals...also a red-bellied woodpecker, and lots of squirrels. The freezing drizzle has returned this afternoon, and feeders are quiet.

The forecast is for another wave of freezing rain overnight tonight, rain tomorrow, and a final blast of freezing rain on Sunday night, before the whole thing leaves in a snow flurry on Monday. These branches of the maple tree out back, over our power, phone and cable lines, are only lightly coated with ice right now. We have a plan for dealing with the refrigerator and freezer contents if power goes off, and we have a small sterno stove for heating soup and water. We have cleaned and filled and tested our trusty Kero-Sun stove that we used back in the 1970s during extra cold winters at our previous house, and we will try that as a heat source if we lose power. If there is an extended outage, friends have offered us a warm bed--assuming that THEIR power stays on, of course. At least they have gas logs at their place! We pray for the safety of all the travelers, and anyone in the cold and dark right now, or soon to be.

An Icy Forecast

No pretty pictures to post tonight...just the news that St. Louis metro is under an Ice Storm Warning from this afternoon until Sunday night. Three different low pressure areas are to pass by south of us, sending moisture up and over the arctic air mass that is settling in from the north. We have been getting freezing rain, rain, freezing rain, fog, freezing rain since about nightfall. There is a possibility of up to an inch of ice in some of these parts when all is said and done on Sunday night. Ugh. Widespread power outages are anticipated. I'll post updates as I am able.

We know this storm has already pounded Oklahoma, affecting Judi's cousins Mike and Debi there, and some other friends and relatives as well. It has also affected other family in Kansas and friends in southwest and central Missouri. We pray for everyone's safety and warmth, including our neighbor Barb, who is traveling in some of the affected area and expected home on Sunday. Take care, all.

Mission Accomplished: Home for New Year's

Friday, Dec. 29, 2006--Our trip to Florida had three objectives: Celebrate Christmas with Doug and Matt; go to the beach; and assist with their move from a two-bedroom apartment in Villa Grande (above, second floor) to their newly purchased three-bedroom and den condominium at Jonathan's Bay, a new development off US Highway 41 in the south part of Ft. Myers. The trusty Dodge Caliber that we rented (copper, or orange, in the foreground) turned out to be very handy for the move, as we transported some objects deemed too fragile or too unwieldy to entrust to the professional movers.

All of the units at Jonathan's Bay (at right) back up to a long pond that is aerated by three fountains. The fountains are illuminated at night and provide a "white noise" barrier that keeps at bay the sound from the nearby highway. The small palms will grow to be as tall or taller than the buildings in time. There is no sign warning of alligators in the lake (as there was at the old place) but one probably wouldn't want to get too close to the bank with a small black dog. The "canvas" texture in the photo is from the screen surrounding the lanai, which is where Norm and I spent a lot of time the last two days of our trip, when we weren't helping with the unpacking, that is.


On Saturday morning I walked out of the guest bedroom and was entranced by this sight of sunlight streaming in the uncurtained sliding glass doors between the lanai and the great room. By now those book shelves are filled, the rest of the living room furniture is arranged, the dishes and pans are in their places, and two separate offices have been set up for these work-at-home residents. Sam has learned not to always bark when a neighbor comes out on an adjacent lanai or children dash to the edge of the pond to examine a turtle. The high-speed internet access is up and running. Doug is getting ready to meet his spring semester classes for the first time next week. Visitors will come frequently to stay with them, and enjoy the climate, and keep close the ties of friendship and kinship that can be stretched by long distance, but never broken. By Saturday evening we were on a plane headed back to St. Louis, in plenty of time to see the New Year in from our own front porch. May this be a home for Doug and Matt, and a year for us all, that is blessed with good times, laughter, accomplishment and love.

Sanibel Part II: Wildlife Refuge

Wednesday, December 27, 2006--After lunch, we stopped at the visitor center for the Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, which takes up half of the acreage of Sanibel Island. This refuge is part of the system of refuges located along migration routes, and it has both year-round and winter visitors. Like everything else we have seen in Florida, it is more water than land. Large lakes, inlets, bayous and canals provide all kinds of habitat for winged and other creatures. We took pictures mostly of birds, but we also saw some mischievous raccoons, several skinks (small lizards) and (maybe) an alligator.

Egrets are a staple of shallow ponds and ditches all over the Ft. Myers area, but at the refuge we saw both the Great Egret (foreground) and the Snowy Egret, which is smaller and has a black bill and bright yellow legs and feet, although you can't tell that from this picture, since the bird is wading in the murky water. How they found fish to catch, only they know.

As one drives through the refuge on a one-way road, people frequently pull over to see various birds that have been sighted. At right is a female Anhinga, sunning itself on a tangle of mangrove roots. These very long-necked birds swim under water to catch fish, then climb out to spread their wings, preen and dry off before going fishing again. Later we saw a male anhinga, which is black all over, with white stripes on its wings.

Not far from the Anhinga, we spotted this large white bird sunning itself as well. A tram full of sightseers drove by without ever realizing that we were looking at an endangered species, a Wood Stork. It had its beak tucked in its neck feathers and was hard to identify until I noted in the field guide that this bird has bubble-gum pink feet. Unfortunately, the resolution on the photo isn't good enough to show that, but they were Pink. I swear.

This Yellow-Crowned Night Heron was one of several birds stalking in a large bay off the road to the left of our car. During this drive we also saw a flock of Roseate Spoonbills, several Little Blue Herons, Great Blue Herons, Gulls, White Ibis, various Sandpipers, Brown Pelicans and White Pelicans.

Ubiquitous throughout the refuge, as well as the beach and even in domestic plantings on the island and in Ft. Myers is a wiry, woody, viny plant called the Sea Grape. A guide to the beach noted that it is planted to curtail beach erosion. It seems to be doing its job!

Our Sanibel trip was a wonderful experience of nature and shore, and we saw and talked with interesting people at both the island visitor center and the nature preserve. Our trip became more of an adventure as we tried to get back to Ft. Myers. We ran over some kind of object that embedded itself in our left front tire, but with luck we found an open filling station where a young man pulled and plugged it and made it good as new. We also spent one hour going five miles in the legendary island traffic, but even that was not enough to spoil memories of lighthouses, beaches, shelling, and marvelous wildlife.

Sanibel Part I: Lighthouse and Beach

Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2006--Finally a bright and sunny day in Florida, after a rainy Christmas. We took a day off from packing Doug and Matt's belongings for their move, and headed for Sanibel Island, a barrier island off the Gulf Coast that is a tourist destination.






Our first stop was the historic Sanibel Lighthouse, above. The keeper's house and surroundings are maintained by the local island government, and the light is still operated by the Coast Guard. It is not open for tours, but the Sanibel Chamber of Commerce had decorated it for Christmas.

Then Norm and I joined the people who were shelling on the beach. It was a rare noon low tide, and there were lots of lovely shells to pick up. Norm found one that is unusual, and I just picked up the pretty purple and yellow ones!


Also living on the beach was this pair of ospreys, who were nesting and apparently feeding some young at the top of a tall platform near the lighthouse.








At the "point" of Sanibel, just beyond the lighthouse itself, I observed the tide coming in at a 90-degree angle from both the left and right. I have no idea if this is unique to Sanibel, if it is rare or if it happens at all islands, but it seemed noteworthy. Ft. Myers is in the distance.

After shelling on the beach, in a very brisk and cool wind, we set out to find lunch and ate at a place called the Hungry Heron, aptly named. We would recommend it. Once full, we were ready to head for the Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, to see what else we could see.