"WHY WE CELEBRATE THE 4th OF JULY!"

“WHY WE CELEBRATE THE 4^th OF JULY!”

Maybe a lot of people even here in America don’t know why we celebrate the fourth of July nor those of you reading this who live in other countries.  The United States of America became a country on this specific date in 1776. Prior to that date, the thirteen colonies here were ruled by England. Each colony had been governed by English rulers and the colonists who had settled here had suffered enough from their rules.

Thomas Jefferson [who would later become a president] wrote the Declaration of Independence: it took him 17 days to write it. This declaration was signed by prominent men that time and just by writing their names at the bottom of that piece of paper meant a death warrant for all. But they signed it and it was sent to England---where it was not received with happiness. It was received with furor!

Nonetheless, we became a country on July 4, 1776—the United States of America with thirteen states. And that declaration brought war to us with England called the American Revolution. But we won that war which was started here. Ironically, Thomas Jefferson would die on a fourth of July as would John Adams [another president but not a signer of the declaration.]

Today, every 4^th of July is celebrated by all Americans in some way be it parades, picnics, baseball games or events and with fireworks! Always with fireworks! Our fifty states celebrate this day which is really called “Independence Day” with much happiness. After all, it is a date that we became a free country.

Happy 4^th of July!

Sherry Hill

"IF YOU ARE AN AMERICAN, DO YOU KNOW THE BILL OF RIGHTS?"

"IF YOU ARE AN AMERICAN, DO YOU KNOW THE BILL OF RIGHTS?"


Every year when I taught school, I would ask my second grade students if they knew their rights as written in our constitution. And every year, the first response I would get was "You have the right to remain silent..." That is not a right but the Miranda Act which is not set forth in our rights or the amendments added to our Bill of Rights.


I sincerely hope every American takes time to read the Bill of Rights and the amendments. Sometimes all of us just plain simply forget them--and trust me, they need to be read. If one were applying for United States citizenship, he or she would have to know these rights. Do you?

The First 10 Amendments to the Constitution as Ratified by the States December 15, 1791 Preamble Congress OF THE United States begun and held at the City of New York, on Wednesday the Fourth of March, one thousand seven hundred and eighty nine. THE Conventions of a number of the States having at the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added: And as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government, will best insure the beneficent ends of its institution RESOLVED by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, two thirds of both Houses concurring, that the following Articles be proposed to the Legislatures of the several States, as Amendments to the Constitution of the United States, all or any of which Articles, when ratified by three fourths of the said Legislatures, to be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of the said Constitution; viz.: ARTICLES in addition to, and Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America, proposed by Congress, and ratified by the Legislatures of the several States, pursuant to the fifth Article of the original Constitution. Amendment I Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. Amendment II A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. Amendment III No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law. Amendment IV The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. Amendment V No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Amendment VI In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence. Amendment VII In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law. Amendment VIII Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. Amendment IX The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people. Amendment X The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

*From billofrights.org

Sherry Hill

"AND THAT'S WHEN THE MADNESS STARTED!"

“AND THAT’S WHEN THE MADNESS STARTED!”

Everyone knows that some days are really good and then there are some that just make you want to crawl back into bed or maybe wish you had stayed there. I had a day like that last week:  Should have known how it would be one of those days of madness. For starters, when I got out of bed, I put on my shoes and stepped out of one causing me to fall into a nearby table. Repositioning myself back to standing, I went out into the hall only to discover that my dog had knocked over the floor fan and it was still running. Picked up the fan and headed down the hall into the kitchen—big mistake from the get go!

Opened the fridge to get my daily caffeine fix—iced tea [it was in a glass] and when I picked it up, I spilled it all over the floor! Still with half-opened eyes, I grabbed the paper towels and cleaned up that mess and had to remake the tea. By this time I was dizzy and hadn’t sat down yet and so I did:  Have a loveseat in my kitchen and a round table in front of it. The table is one of those beautiful blue and white mosaic ones but with all the stuff on it, you’d never know that—in fact, you can’t see any blue and white for the stuff that has accumulated on it. Must be ten bottles of nail polish, several small bottles of paint, numerous magazines and heaven knows what else. [I do know how that stuff got there!]

Set down my glass of iced tea [I drink it out of wine glasses—makes it taste better or at least I tell myself that] only to knock off a bottle of turquoise nail polish! And did the lid stay on it? Of course not. Got back up again to get more paper towels and some cleaning spray. I squirted it on the polish and had a huge turquoise smear all over the floor which took forever to get off. By this time, I was out of paper towels: That should have been an omen right there! And all of this happened within a thirty minute time frame.

Back on the loveseat and drinking my iced tea when I realized that I had the air conditioner set too low; grabbed a nearby blouse and stood up to put it on but one sleeve decided to fling itself onto a big vase on my kitchen table. When that sleeve hit the vase, another smaller vase inside of it flew out and landed on an antique butter dish breaking it to smitherines.  The big vase only cost twelve dollars, the smaller one a dollar and as for that antique butter dish? Priceless and in about forty pieces. I could tell this was a day of madness and it would be relentless and it was!

If I had a blood pressure monitor, I am sure it would have been sky high. Decided to get a Pop Tart [I live on those things] and after opening up the package, I dropped one on the floor and my dog just happened to be right there, grabbed it and inhaled it on the spot. No, I wouldn’t have eaten that one but after all that had happened, what would I expect?

Back to the loveseat again to sit down, drink my iced tea and read the morning paper when the phone rang: It was a friend but one of those who can talk your ear off and there is never any way to say “I have to go!” After listening for an hour and having a numb ear, I finally got those four words out and hung up the phone and reached behind me to put the phone back on the hook. But guess what happened then? I missed getting it back in its place and the phone fell down behind the loveseat!

Remember all that stuff on the table that I described? I had to move that table out to get the loveseat away from the wall; when I moved the table, tons of things fell off and I managed to secure the phone from behind the loveseat. By this time, I had pulled my back out and was looking very much like “Rumplestilskin” and feeling every bit of it and then came the task of bending over and picking up all that stuff that fell off the round table.

The day of madness did me in and it wasn’t even eleven o’ clock in the morning! Too many accidents and too much picking stuff up did me in. Knew darned well that if I stayed up things would only get worse and so, I went back to bed and stayed there finally going to sleep at some point.  Some days are like that and if you get several clues, take it from me:  Stay in bed cause the madness will get you!

Sherry Hill

"THE DISAPPEARING THANK YOU NOTES"

“THE DISAPPEARING THANK YOU NOTES”

If you have received a handwritten thank you note lately, consider yourself lucky for it is now a lost art. And that is so sad. I was raised to acknowledge gifts by writing a thank you note—still do. Today’s generation is oblivious to doing this simple task: Granted it takes a few minutes to actually write something and then mail it but they prefer to either ignore receiving a gift or choose to send an email thanking someone.

I wonder if those who don’t write thank you notes realize how much it means to receive one—it’s not that the giver expects it but more it means that the gift was appreciated. And this fact leaves the giver wondering if that person even received the gift for things do get lost in the mail. Limbo is not where the giver prefers to be.

To those of you who take time to write a handwritten thank you note, I applaud you! To those who don’t and are of this now generation, take heed:  There will come a time when you will wish you had received one. It’s such a small thing to do and yet the impact has so much credence. And besides, it makes you lt will make you feel like a better person. Remember that cereal commercial with “Mikey?” The tag line was “Try it. You’ll like it!

Thank you notes are not costly to buy and neither is a pen. I double dog dare you to write a thank you note if you haven’t. You might just brighten up someone’s day with such a small thing to do.

Sherry Hill

"A COMPUTER PROBLEM"

As we all know, sometimes we have trouble with our computers.

I had a problem yesterday, so I called Eric, the 11 year old next door, whose bedroom looks like  Mission Control and asked him to come over.  Eric clicked a couple of buttons and, presto, he solved the problem.

As he was walking away, I called after him, 'So, what was wrong?

He replied, 'It was an ID ten T error.'

I didn't want to appear stupid, but nonetheless inquired,
'An, ID ten T error? What's that? In case I need to fix it again.'

Eric grinned. 'Haven't you ever heard of an ID ten T error before?

'No,' I replied.

'Write it down,' he said, 'and I think you'll figure it out.'

So I wrote down:  ID10T

I used to like Eric

*I got this in an email; wanted to share it with you. Have no idea who wrote it.

Sherry Hill

"THINK IT WAS A CURSE?"

“THINK IT WAS A CURSE?”

About thirty years ago, I was downtown shopping with two of my best friends. Both of them had blonde hair and mine was so dark brown that it looked black. We were in a big department store browsing around when I felt someone grab me by my left shoulder. Turned around to see a foreign looking woman who then proceeded to scream at me in a language I have never heard before! It wasn’t Spanish or French [I know those two pretty well] but not identifiable—but her tone was! She had dark hair and dark  eyes like me but we looked nothing alike at all.

She was in a rage. And then she grabbed my arm and wouldn’t let go of me. I shoved her arm down and my two friends were standing there in utter shock as to what to do. One looked at me and I got the drift: We were going to run out of the store and all three of us did! Bad thing was that that woman was running right behind us and chased us all the way down the opposite end of the street. And again, she grabbed me! I screamed at her and my friends and I took refuge in a store; luckily  she didn’t find me or them.

Two days later at home, I was walking my huge collie up my street. Had on three inch macramé wedge heels and of course my dog would pull me into a huge pothole! It was summer and I thought that my foot was fine; managed to haul my dog and myself up the street to a friend’s house and looked down at my foot. It was huge and the pain was intense. Thankfully, my friend walked my dog home for me and helped me home. That evening I wound up in the emergency room and after an x-ray, found out I had a fractured right foot. Swell not.  That was curse one.

After my foot healed, the cast was off I was doing fine: My two sons young and helpful. Decided to go to a yard sale [I was hooked on antiques and into country at that time] and found a huge wooden box for three dollars. Loved it. Dragged it inside that afternoon and set it in the kitchen thinking I would take it down to the basement later that day. But this and that happened and my family avoided the box. Wish I had for I ran into it barefooted and broke three toes on my left foot. Back to the emergency room again but nothing could be done—except to live in pain for weeks. Curse two.

Toes were healed, fractured foot had returned to normal and all was right with the world—that is until I picked up an antique cast iron doorstop in my house and it fell on my left foot! Couldn’t walk and was taken back to the emergency room again:  Foot was x-rayed and turned out to be a bad sprain. I hobbled around for a couple of weeks with a black and blue foot. Curse three.

More and more things happened to me accident-wise that were really unbelievable and it went on and on. In fact, in 2000 I tripped on something in the carpet in a store and fractured my right knee! I’m not saying that the woman put a curse on me but it sure did seem so. She was desperate to grab me for some reason. I had never seen her before or afterwards. Sometimes you just never know who will grab you and start something! If someone does that to you and speaks in an unknown language, run for your life! Who wants a curse?

Sherry Hill

"THESE ARE ACTUAL STORIES AND ADS--WHEW!"

Sherry Hill

"THREE JUVIES RESPONSE"

“THREE JUVIES RESPONSE”

To you who have watched us patiently

And saw us grow in our nest in the tree

And sent such warm wishes to all three

Know that there must be something reasonably

It has to be for we can sense you truly.

We have taken each step for it is natures’ call

We’ve stumbled, walked and had to fall.

But our feathers are big and so ready to spread

That we no longer want this nest for our bed.

So when we fledge and then truly fly

It’s what we were meant to be doing so please don’t cry.

Be happy for us to take our flight

We were born to do it with all our might.

And when we are gone know this

That if you see us make a big wish.

Wish us long lives that are trouble free

And that we live out our destiny.

We were born to spread our wings and fly

And soar up above you in the huge sky.

We may see some of you perfectly

And if we do, remember us three.

And don’t forget our mom and dad

Who taught us so well with all they had

Check in on them to make sure all is right

For we will love them with all our might.

This is our response from us to you

And Bob and you made our dreams come true.

Sherry Hill

*Google Decorah Iowa eagle web cam: runs 24/7

Whose addicted to this? Me?
Juvies are eaglets. Won't have white heads, gold beaks or golden eyes till they are four or five years old.http://www.ustream.tv/decoraheagles

"WORRY"

“WORRY”

I just to worry all of the time! Worried if someone left an umbrella and felt as if I had to find the owner. Worried if I had everything finished I said I was going to finish and add about a gazillion more things and that would have summed up me in a nutshell.

Eleven years ago, I got blindsided by a series of events that numbed me with worry for four straight years. Started going through a divorce, broke my knee and my mother died—all that happened in one year. One would have been bad enough but the latter was extremely hard for me to take as I am an only child. Took almost a year to be able to walk again without a brace and my knee is all right—but it sure has become a good rain indicator. As for the divorce, that took four years!

I worried so much, wrote out my life on legal pads for the never ending divorce and wondered if I would survive it all but I did. So many twists and turns during that four year period that I’m not sure I could live through a repeat –nor would I ever want to. It was going through all of this when I got a revelation from a cousin of mine: She told me to stay away from negativity in any form—tv news, people or anything that would drag me down.

I trusted her one hundred percent for she had had cancer and it was also in about eighteen lymph nodes. Her doctor gave her about five years to live. That was over twenty years ago and she is cancer free. Her way of thinking led me to quit worrying [it didn’t happen over night trust me!] about what I couldn’t control and what I could control. And she was and is so right: If you watch negative things, you become that way and start worrying. If you are among people who are negative in their every way of thinking, you will be as they are and dragged down even farther.

Remove yourself from negativity on tv, online and from those who relish in it—miraculous things happen to you once you strive to do such. Yes, I still worry but not like I used to at all: I have come to take one day at a time and see what transpires. If it looks like an overload, I relegate certain things to the back burner. It’s amazing the things I worried about that had no importance whatsover. And no doubt you have discovered the same.

Aside from what I’ve written re worry and negativity, just remember what Scarlett said in the movie, “Gone With the Wind:” “After all, tomorrow is another day!” Worry will always hang over our shoulders but try doing the great advice my cousin gave me—such great wisdom and aside from that, it works. And Scarlett wasn't wrong either.

Sherry Hill

"GOT MULCH?"

“GOT MULCH?”

The other day I realized that I hadn’t bought any mulch for outside for several years. Guess my biggest reasons for not getting it are three-fold: When it rains heavily, the mulch disappears. Those bags are hard to lug around. And it can get expensive.

How did we all become mulch obsessed? When I was little, I never heard of it; no doubt no one else did either. No one used it around plants or trees. No one. Everyone had either trees or shrubs in their yards but flowers were always out in the back yard.  It was a given.  Considered tacky to have flowers out in the front yard!

This went on for years—the plain yard that was easy to take care of except for trimming shrubbery and grass mowing. Then in the seventies came the advent of hanging plants for outside and the macramé phase. Everyone jumped on the bandwagon on macramé hangers for flowers or plants. Either some people learned to macramé or they bought these hangers for plants.  In my case, I bought them.

After this phase, came the doing of clustering potted plants or flowers together on a front porch or sidewalk. Took off like a bang! And then people started using window boxes for flowers—everyone did it if their window ledges were big enough.

I’m not really sure when the mulch phase started but am guessing about fifteen years ago or maybe a little more. If a person didn’t have mulch around all shrubbery or plants, he or she was outnumbered. And the craze only got worse.

Face it:  Some people are just plain mulch addicts. And so are people who own businesses: They hire people to put down tons of mulch around shrubbery and trees.  It’s expensive and has to be added to for mulch fades and/or disappears over a period of time. Granted it looks nice but who started this mulch craze? Have no idea.

As for me got mulch? That would be a no. I am worn out with it. Real nature doesn’t have mulch around plants or trees—never have seen it in the woods ever. But if anyone sees it there, then know that a mulch addict has been there perpetuating the craze.

Sherry Hill

"RED FLOWERS ON HILL"

"RED FLOWERS ON HILL"

Amid the mess, here is one of my paintings: I used acrylic. Inspiration came from a cheap picture I found at one of those stores where things don't cost much. I was intrigued by the red flowers when I saw that painting since red is my favorite color--first thing I noticed.

This painting went through a lot of changes: There is much underneath it. Sometimes I get disgusted and paint over what I already painted. As you can plainly see there are more paintings stacked up behind and in front of this one: I'm one of those stackers. Not a good thing but true!

After I finally finished this painting, I felt like it was time to quit on it for I liked the composition far better than when I started on it. If you paint, I'd love to hear your feedback: Are you like me in painting over a painting because you don't like what you decided to do to it?

Sherry Hill

"IT'S RAINING CATS AND DOGS!"

"IT'S RAINING CATS AND DOGS!"

I have no idea where this expression came from or how it started but I've heard it all of my life. Am sure that it stunned a lot of little kids and made them go outside to see if it really was raining cats and dogs!

Yesterday where I live the rain was coming down in torrents. Really bad storm with high wind as well.

Only cat and dog I saw were my own and luckily for them, they were inside. And so was I.

Every year when I taught school [second grade,] I'd ask my students about this expression: They all knew it but a lot always questioned it. Best thing I did was to explain that it meant it was really pouring the rain. And I'd have them draw a picture of cats and dogs falling in  the rain.  Those pictures were hilarious: Kept a lot of them for years.

If you hear the expression "It's raining cats and dogs" and don't know what that means, I hope you do now. And no need to look outside for the real things. They won't be there.

Sherry Hill
 

"HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!"

“HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!”

To all of you fathers/ dads out there: Happy Father’s Day! Know how much you are appreciated by your loved ones. To all of you reading this, all of us had dad or we wouldn’t be here obviously. As for my dad, I only got to live with him for seven years for I didn’t get to see him till I was five and my parents got divorced when I as twelve.

But in those short seven years he gave me so much. He gave me the love of the outdoors as he took me swimming, fishing and hunting with him; taught me how to play horseshoes too. I could probably have beaten most of you readers for he taught me how to curve the horseshoe. [Not up on my horseshoe skills now at all.]

Aside from those teachings, he also gave me the gift of acceptance of others and for that I will always be truly grateful. He came from a huge family in Illinois where most of his ancestors were farmers or the like. But he [along with his other siblings] set his goals high along with some of his brothers: They opened up the first body building studio ever in Hollywood, California. Do know that prior he attended college for two years and while working at the studio, got drafted. Served nine years in the army.

His love of the outdoors, acceptance of others and his personality made him one great dad. In retrospect, I just wish I could have spent more time with him:  Guess we all wish that who are children of divorced parents. I lost him nineteen years ago and found out through his sister, my aunt, that he had died. The shock was unbearable. And now I find myself questioning this and that as I guess most do who have lost a father—and those questions will never be answered.

He had remarried long ago. What I have that belonged to him are his favorite cufflinks, a pen and my memories. The tangible is not much but the “gifts” he gave me can’t be measured for they are a part of me. And I am so grateful to have had him for a dad. When I was born, he mailed a record to my mom for me: “Daddy’s Little Girl.” Still have that 45 record. When I hear it at weddings I attend, can’t help but cry for I was his little girl. All of us were daddy’s little girl or boy. Cherish that. And be grateful for what your dad gave you—far more than the gift of life. Far more. Love. And oh how I loved him!

Sherry Hill

Check out on you tube Al Martino's "Daddy's Little Girl"

"ANSWERING MACHINES BUG ME!"

“ANSWERING MACHINES BUG ME!”

As we progress day by day with more technology, the everlasting answering machine on phones is still there. And it really bugs me! Yes, I have an answering machine and don’t leave it on much—that bothers my friends a lot. I like caller id for I can tell who has called and always return a call if I can.

But there are people who leave on their answering machines with that recording and even if you leave a message, they never call back! Hello! They can see who has called them. Maybe I’m wrong but I think it’s rude. What if I had an emergency, left a message and still didn’t hear back from that person? I realize that there are times when a person can't talk, is sick or just plain doesn't feel like talking. Trust me, I have been like that myself lots of times.

Sad that our lives have come to this for some people just don’t have time—why is their life so busy? Granted most work, multi-task, have families and relatives but seem to have no time to return a call. When I worked, had my sons at home, I returned calls. But wait—this is 2011.  And it doesn’t look like calls are going to be returned much at all. Sad!  It’s the “Me” generation now and that is a far swing from when I was a young adult. As I write this, my answering machine is not turned on: It may never be again. Something to think about!

Sherry Hill

"COMFORT"

“COMFORT”

Comfort has a lot of meanings—it could be something that you put over you such as a throw but the most used meaning of this word is to give solace or make someone feel better. All of us need comfort in our lives and when we don’t get it, it makes matters far worse.

Since I am on facebook, I have seen a lot of friends reach out for comfort in the way of a prayer, a hope or just to get help. And the friends respond and care. Whether some follow through is a different matter but I may never know. But at least they reach out.

You never know how much you can do to comfort someone who is lonely, grieving over the death of a loved one or desperately needs attention; all you have to do is offer some words of comfort or be there to give it.

Such a small gesture but oh how important it is. Comfort can be words, a big warm hug, a phone call or an email—just reach out and give some when needed. Not only will the person who needs it be grateful but you will feel better after giving it. Trust me as there have been times when I needed comfort so much and was fortunate to receive it. And I count myself lucky.

Sherry Hill

"THREE BALD EAGLES ON A NEST"

“THREE  BALD EAGLES ON A NEST”

I’ve been watching these three since they hatched and it was from a friend that I found out about them—for these eagles are on UStream in Decorah, Iowa and it’s online. The web cam was put there by Bob Anderson for his job is observing bald eagles; he not only observes but operates the web cam at times and records data. This is his project and he graciously let us in to watch.

Imagine watching them closely as they are 80 feet up in the air on their nest: It’s an experience that over 100 million have witnessed. These three “juvies” have the best parents ever: They are diligent, caring and would give their lives for their babies if they had to. On chat, I have learned just about every term that applies to bald eagles from “mantling” to a “nicitating” eye lid.

No doubt some people don’t watch this and they have missed the experience of a lifetime for it is as like watching young babies with their parents: There is the desire on the babies’ part to be snuggled, fed and cared for. Week by week they have become observant of their surroundings and are curious. And week by week, you can see the change in their faces—for they are on the nest with no where to go and they are becoming more curious every day. Their wings have grown from almost nothing to a wing span of five feet. They flap their wings, hop and sleep a lot. Sleep comes after they have been fed fish or some animals by their parents and this produces a “food coma.”

First mom and dad fed each eaglet by mouth with tiny pieces of fish; this went on for weeks and weeks. At this point, dad drops off a fish and there is a scramble among the three to retrieve and eat the fish. And usually one gets it and eats it whole! Meanwhile, the other two look up in desperation for dad to drop off more fish and he always does. If one “juvie” doesn’t get any fish, dad makes sure to feed it himself, sometimes taking bites for himself.

During all kinds of weather from snow at the beginning of their birth to pouring rain this past week, mom and dad have protected these three. Usually it’s mom who stays with them during inclement weather and prior, she had stretched out her wings for coverage. But now the juvies are too big to fit underneath mom and so one or two will stick its head underneath her feathers. First of the week, it was pouring the rain and there stood mom getting drenched [but her feathers are waterproof as are all full grown bald eagles as well as the juvies now] but determined to keep her babies safe.

The juvies are hopping high and exercising their huge wings at this point—sometimes hitting another one in the face while doing so. The nest is over six feet wide and it’s getting crowded now and more so when mom and dad join them. Rest assured that the nest is strong as it weighs about one thousand pounds and is 80 feet up in a cottonwood tree! And day and night, mom and dad are always close by in another tree: They do not leave these babies alone. But they are letting them sleep alone more now so that they will become independent—for that is how nature is.

As a watcher [along with millions] it is so hilarious to see a juvie see itself in the metal casing of the web cam! One will stare and stare and you can come to believe that it is staring at you: The camera is that close. And what faces they have—so inquisitive and so cute.

By the fourth of July or maybe sooner, they will start to fledge and that means flying. But first they will do branching which means that they will jump from branch to branch first before they get their wings ready for a real flight. And no, they will not resemble their parents for they won’t get their white heads, yellow beaks or yellow eyes till they are four or five years old.

For the millions of us watching this unbelievable experience, it is a once in a lifetime chance to witness the birth and growth of these three bald eagles as well as their caring and beautiful parents.

When they finally take flight and leave the nest, I along with millions, will be thrilled and saddened at the same time for I have bonded with them even if it is in a vicarious way. When they soar for the last time, my heart will be with them forever. And I will forever be grateful for this awesome experience to have been there from the start of this wonderful viewing of birth, life and the entire bald eagle living process.

Rob McIntyre, the president of Raptor Resoure Project, passed away  while attempting to help a neighbor in Minnesota after the horrible tornado. He suffered a fatal heart attack. And his passing created a huge void with those he was associated with in the project. Didn’t know him but had seen his photos and information on the Raptor Resource Project home page online and he had spent his life working with bald eagles.

Rest assured that when these three juvie bald eagles take off, Rob’s spirit will be flying with them in the form of an eagle: How could it not?

I’d like to thank everyone including RRP and UStream for providing this unique experience for letting us all be right there in the nest—even if we are looking at it on a computer monitor. I’ve learned so much, witnessed so much and laughed when chatters write a post till I think that I am definitely an “eagleholic:” No, I don’t think it. I know I am one. Kudos to the moderators who selfishly are giving their time to keep order and civility on the live chat: You guys rock. And kudos to Bob Anderson who has panned the camera so much so that we can get views that are breathtaking.

If you’re out and about, don’t look down.  Look up! You may just catch the site of a bald eagle soaring above you and you will be witnessing a miracle in feathers. This raptor is the top of the food chain with only man being its enemy—they are nationally protected by law. And well they should be. And also well that they are our national symbol—freedom, strength and majesty is what America stands for and so does the bald eagle.

Sherry Hill