Reluctantly Sharing a Catch

February 18, 2026 / Rebecca / 8 Comments

For a couple of weeks, the roads and lake were covered in ice. Once the temperatures rose and the ice started to melt, we ventured out to enjoy the lake’s beauty. The ice and snow added an extra layer of charm to a well-known setting.

The highlight of the excursion was watching two adult and three juvenile bald eagles perched way out on the frozen lake. Each eagle was striving to secure its portion of a sizable fish that had been caught. They were certainly putting on a show with their posturing, prancing and high-pitched cries.

“Life is filled with treasures, if you’re a lucky one. Be grateful and be humble, and share them with someone.” ~Julie Hebert

December Scenes

January 3, 2025January 30, 2025 / Rebecca / 18 Comments

Several photos that were taken around the lake during December. I was surprised to see two turtles sunning on a log so late in the year. I’m sure they will find a warmer place underwater as the big cold front creeps in this weekend.

Below is a peaceful scene of cormorants and gulls gathered at a distance from the boardwalk.

“I like to think that to one in sympathy with nature, each season, in turn, seems the loveliest.” ~Mark Twain

Note: Credit goes to my husband for the colorful slug photo.

Bird Watching

April 3, 2024 / Rebecca / 7 Comments

Birds seen recently around the levee and lake.

“If you’re not a bird watcher you won’t be very excited, though gulls are graceful in flight and striking in appearance. If you’re a bird watcher this makes you weak in the knees.” ~Bryan Pfeiffer

Nature’s Wonders

March 19, 2024 / Rebecca / 17 Comments

Purple Dead Nettles, with their pink tube-like flowers and burgundy upper leaves, were blooming along the Mississippi levee. Various types of bees were flying about among the wildflowers, attracted by their nectar.

Beautiful little Clouded Yellow Butterflies danced about over the wildflowers, with an occasional courting pair fluttering together in the air. The butterflies seemed too lively to stop and drink from the flowers.

This busy little bee, on the other hand, was sampling each little flower.

While watching the bees and butterflies, out of nowhere, a group of six eagles consisting of at least one adult and several juveniles, came swooping in from overhead. Their loud screeching and erratic flying stirred up quite a commotion.

After the eagles settled in nearby trees,

we started down the embankment of the levee to drive along some of the farmland back roads. Then we saw them. A group of Clouded Yellow Butterflies were sitting in the middle of the road, extracting salt and minerals from an area of sand and rocks.

They were a beautiful sight to watch!

“Nature is full of wonders; every atom is a standing miracle, and endowed with such qualities, as could not be impressed on it by a power and wisdom less than infinite.” ~Joseph Addison

Regal

March 1, 2024 / Rebecca / 25 Comments

Driving along the road, we spotted this elegant-looking eagle sitting serenely at the top of a cypress tree.

“There’s a nobility in his eye, a regal serenity about him. Does he not personify all that men try to be and never can be?” ~Michael Morpurgo

Among the Duckweed & Lily Pads

September 20, 2023 / Rebecca / 16 Comments

Some of the flora and fauna that add to the charm and allure of this beautiful lake.

“You can’t really say what is beautiful about a place, but the image of the place will remain vividly with you.” ~Tadao Ando

Eagles on the Levee

January 18, 2023 / Rebecca / 11 Comments

What a joy to watch the eagles as they busily go about life along the Mississippi River.

“I have not yet lost a feeling of wonder, and of delight, that the delicate motion should reside in all the things around us, revealing itself only to him who looks for it.” ~Edmund Burke

Eagles at the Levee

February 8, 2022April 10, 2022 / Rebecca / 11 Comments

We enjoy driving along the Mississippi levee at this time of year to watch these beautiful birds nesting and perching high up in the tree tops or soaring in the sky. From this vantage point, they can keep their eyes on the river in search of fish and other prey.

“If we never had the courage to take a leap of faith, we’d be cheating God out of a chance to mount us up with wings like eagles and watch us soar.” ~Jen Stephens

Down By the River

August 6, 2021 / Rebecca / 17 Comments

Occasionally, we like to take part of an afternoon and go sit down by the Mississippi River. We go mainly to watch the towboats pushing the barges …

… and to see the eagles which nest along the river.

It’s also interesting to observe the flora and fauna along the shoreline.

“Sometimes we’d have the whole river to ourselves for the longest time …” ~Mark Twain

Early March along the Levee

March 11, 2021March 11, 2021 / Rebecca / 16 Comments

It’s that time of the year when the eagles are taking turns sitting on the newly-laid eggs in their nest. This lucky pair has a perfect view overlooking life along the Mississippi River.