Heads Up...Amazing Feats of Strength

Well, our lives do seem to revolve around Aurelia lately. Yesterday afternoon Sarah came over for a piece of Barb's rhu-barb pie. Said she and Rellie were going to Target shopping...but, we talked her into leaving Rellie with us. 3-1/2 weeks and growing. Had my first experience (in maybe 30 years) with a "projectile" baby corsage.



And a trip to see great grandma Carole. Holding a baby is so comforting...for both.

Baby...Baby...Oh Baby

I'd like to introduce our new granddaughter:
Aurelia Ryan DeFor, 8 Lbs 15 oz, 20-1/2",
born Thu Aug 23rd at 5:45 AM.













Finger and Toe count was successful!








































Barb and "Aury"













Grandpa Steve, proud Papa Peder, and Grandpa Ken










Grandma Barb, and Grandma Donna













My Three Generations...Barb, Sarah, and Aurelia.













Uncle Ryan and Aunt Carrie













Grandpa Steve













Grandma Donna
















"The Ballroom" Labor/Delivery Suite
at Methodist Hospital










Hospital food was the pits...so...

Floating my boat...Well, almost!

So close. I've always said if I ever got a boat, it would be a pontoon. I missed one many years ago, at the U of M. 22 footer, on a trailer for $2000. Friday, Biology at Macalester announced that they were selling their research pontoon boat (22 footer, w/trailer and 50hp motor) for $2000 or B.O. Needed some work, but they were using it up until last week. Then the questions: were to work on it, where to store it, would we use it enough to make it worth the effort. This morning I asked Biology if they'd hold it for me for a couple of days, then went out to take some pictures of it. I ran into Mike O'Connor, the head of Plant Operations (and two of his workers), who was also looking at it. We looked it over, talked at length about what the pluses and minuses were. Later he called me, and said his wife had OKed it for him to buy. In the mean time I kept thinking about where I could put it to work on it. Too big for the garage. And I don't think Jane would like it sticking over on her garage pad. With good no answer...I told Mike to take it. I'm sure, at about 3 o'clock tomorrow morning I'll think of the perfect solution, but...it was fun to dream.

Wrong...wrong...wrong

I wish to make a retraction from my last post. One of the eagles was fishing on the lake, and the baby was perched on the branch by the nest, this morning. I'm not sure if (s)he has been hiding in the nest, or has flown and returned. ???

Empty nest syndrome!

Early Wednesday morning the "baby" eagle was doing the "chicken dance" back and forth along the branch to the left of the nest. Stretching and flapping it's wings as it moved around. One of the parents was watching from the branch in the far upper left. Yesterday neither Barb nor I saw the baby, but I did see one of the parents fishing at the lake. This morning...it looks like the baby has flown away...and the parents have also left.

So ends the story of our baby eagle... for this summer!

My babies...soon to come...and soon to go.

Saturday, on our way back from our 4:30 AM walk, Barb and I spotted a garage sale sign for "baby stuff". It was a block from our house, so on the way back from the grocery store (later) we stopped. I made my first "baby" purchase...a "jogger". I'm not sure if we can really get our soon-to-be grandbaby up at 4:30 in the morning to go for a walk...but maybe next spring! We also called Sarah about the sale...she scored big time. She checks the internet for "new prices" on things she'll need, so knows what's a good deal.


and...


This morning on the way back from my walk (Barb slept in...good for her.), I checked in on our other baby. Momma and Poppa eagle are almost always together now, on the "fishing perch" over the lake. The "little one" was out of the nest and sitting on a branch. I have a feeling that it's just a matter of days before it really trys it's wings.

Our Baby Bald Eagle...Good Night Moon!

This is 6AM, on my way back from my walk around Lake Nokomis. Earlier, I saw one of it's parents sitting on their favorite fishing perch on the east side of the lake. Yesterday we saw one swoop down, grab a fish out of the lake, and head back for the nest...with a crow in hot pursuit. The close-up was done by holding Barb's digital camera up to Grandma Jerry's spotter scope. Click on the pictures for enlargements.