Eagleholic Addiction

Posted on March 11, 2015 by Chronicles of a Blogaholic

“Eagles come in all shapes and sizes,
but you will recognize them
chiefly by their attitudes.”
E. F. Schumacher

Pittsburgh Hays Bald Eagle parents caring for their two eggs. Which are due to hatch in two short weeks.

Last year I discovered the Pittsburgh Hays Bald Eagle cam website. Everyday when I woke up, I would watch the progress of a mother and father nesting and raising three eaglet babies. It was such fun to watch these eagles both taking turns caring for the eaglets up to the day all three eaglets flew away.

My family couldn’t believe how obsessed I had become about these iconic birds. The funniest part about watching them daily was interacting with the other eagle followers. As we chatted online daily about the eaglets and the birds daily activity, we each had names for the three babies. I chose to name them after the Bonanza Cartwright family. The smallest eaglet was Little Joe, the middle one was Adam and the largest eaglet I called Hoss. All the eagle followers finally succumbed to my names, and after the babies were about three weeks old, everyone online was calling them Adam, Little Joe and Hoss. My eaglet claim to fame.

This year, once again, I am watching the eagle parents sitting on their nest in the coldest winter recorded in history. On the news tonight, they had a brief story about the family of eagles in Pittsburgh and how people such as myself are also following them as well.

I’m happy to report that the eagle following has become quite large and the public now has a name for us. I am proud to say we are called Eagleholics. I definitely will not be entering a twelve step program for my Eagleholic addiction.

Shine On

BTW,
I’ve got to warn you upfront, it’s very addictive, but if you are interested in following along, you too can become an Eagleholic by watching at: Pittsburgh Hays Bald Eagle Nest

Beginnings are The Best

Posted on March 9, 2015 by Chronicles of a Blogaholic

“Nature is infinitely creative.
It is always producing
the possibility of
new beginnings.”
Marianne Williamson

Sailing away on the beginning of daylight savings time.

Everyone loves something new. Something untouched, innocent and beautiful. Who doesn’t love baby animals or a human baby or even new car smell. No one.

Beginnings of new relationships are magical. That sensation of giddiness when you talk or walk with a new lover. The beginning of a book you’ve been wanting to read for months. The beginning of that vacation or long holiday weekend you’ve been looking forward to for years. Beginnings always add excitement, a sense of adventure and magic to ones otherwise humdrum life.

Beginnings are about allowing yourself to start over. It’s about looking, listening, and learning from what you hear and see.

That’s why, beginnings are the best.

Shine On

In Harmony with Animals

Posted on March 4, 2015 by Chronicles of a Blogaholic

“I think of my life’s work as a celebration of all of nature,
an orchestra that plays not the sounds of one musician,
the music of one species, but rather
an expression of all of nature’s songs”.
Gregory Colbert

Elephant with woman by photographer Gregory Colbert.

The other day I read, Larger Than Life, by Jodi Picoult. It’s a wonderfully written novella about a young woman researcher studying the memory in elephants. It’s the first time reading one of her books, but the story made such an impact on me, I will surely read other books by Ms Picoult.

I’ve always been intrigued and in awe by elephants. It saddens me to hear in the news about poaching in Botswana and other African countries. The thought of elephants becoming extinct frightens me. Hopefully, with the help of numerous writers, celebrities as well as photographers raising awareness of the terrible threat to these noble prehistoric pachyderms extinction will not happen.

There is one man, a not so famous celebrity by the name of Gregory Colbert who is making a difference in saving the elephant. He is a Canadian photographer/film maker who created Ashes and Snow, an ongoing traveling exhibition of photographs and films focusing on the exquisite interaction of humans and animals. Better known as the nomadic museum, these images and films are displayed in purposely built temporary structures that travel the world.

Mr. Colbert started this exhibit in 1992 in hopes of exploring the relationship between man and animals from the inside out. Ashes and Snow has been viewed by more than ten million visitors to date, making it the most attended exhibition by any living artist in history.

He is fast become my favorite photographer. Not only for his heart warming images, but for his beliefs. He has discovered the shared language and poetic sensibilities of all animals, and is working towards restoring the common ground that once existed when people lived in harmony with animals.

Shine On

Just Around the Bend

Posted on February 22, 2015 by Chronicles of a Blogaholic

“Never bend your head. Always hold it high.
Look the world straight in the eye.”
Helen Keller

Just Around the Bend on Narcissa Drive in Palos Verdes, California.

Life is but a journey with twists and turns just like a winding road. The future is hard to predict, comparable in many ways to the experience of rounding a corner in a new location and seeing unexpected sights. If an event is just around the bend in the sense of time, it generally means that the wait won’t be long.

Sometimes these bends and turns in life take us in a new direction. Sometimes for the better. Sometimes for the worst. But always in the direction of the unknown. If you’re lucky, these turns in life can make all the difference in one’s life.

Often we are very close to a destination in life, yet we are unable to see it. It’s always good to have a second set of eyes, to help you see the way. A friend will be able to see things much clearer than you. A true friend, will give you words of encouragement such as: “Don’t worry, it’s ‘just around the bend.'”

Shine On

Squirrel Family

Posted on February 17, 2015 by Chronicles of a Blogaholic

“Life is complicated, stupid, confusing and annoying.
Why couldn’t I have been a squirrel.”
Unknown Author

Momma Squirrel and her Crew

Silly little squirrels
Outside my window
Momma and her Crew

Playing, climbing,
Eating and sleeping
Their Momma needs rest too

Silly little squirrels
Outside my window
Enjoying the Esplanade View

By: J R

A few months back, a squirrel took up residence in a palm tree outside our living room. As I was working on my laptop the other day, I saw two baby squirrels and their mother hanging out on the tree. I grabbed my camera and shot some great pictures of the squirrel family.

They were just as curious about me as I was about them. Which is evident in the above shots of the squirrel family.

Shine On