It has been a quiet week on the stitching front. I could basically show you the same photos from last week as there is little progress in the last few days on any of my projects. So, I'll wait until next week to show you the works in progress and maybe have more for you to see.  Hope you will enjoy looking at my "turpunpkin" header photo during the month of November!

A box from Amy's arrived this week which is always a highlight of any week! Inside was this project from Labors of Love -

I have never stitched one of their birds before but I am so looking forward to stitching this eagle! Amy has written another wonderful stitch guide that certainly does justice to this majestic bird. If you have followed the blog over the last year or so you know that I have faithfully watched (via live nest cams) a couple of eagle nests - one in Norfolk, Virginia and one in Decorah, Iowa. Sadly, the "powers that be" in Norfolk decided a few weeks ago that the eagle nest at the Norfolk Botanic Gardens posed a threat to air traffic at the nearby airport and the nest was torn down. The pair of eagles that would have nested there will be "encouraged" to nest elsewhere. What form that "encouragement" takes has yet to be seen but could involve fireworks and paintball guns. It has been a very emotional few weeks for the followers of the Norfolk nest.

With the loss of the Norfolk nest, I knew I could always watch the eagle nest in Decorah, Iowa. The pair of eagles there have been followed via nest cams for quite a few years. This year new cameras were added giving better views of the nest during the day and at night. The male eagle has already been seen bringing in dried cornstalks to the nest. He does this each year and it is something that only he does. Guess he has a thing for dried cornstalks! But, wouldn't you know it, the day after the cameras went live for this season, the eagle pair decided to start building a new nest in another tree! While the new nest is just down the road from the old nest, the folks at Raptor Resource Project (who manage the cameras) have decided not to move the cameras to the new nest and disturb the nest building that is already happening at the new site.

I will really miss watching the eagles this winter and spring! I've got to investigate some other possibilities for camera viewing. If I find anything, I'll let you know. But, until then my only eagle watching will involve my Labors of Love eagle canvas!

When I ordered the eagle canvas, Jill Wilensky at Amy's said, "I can't believe it took you so long to order this canvas!" I have to mention Jill in this post because we found out through Amy's newsletter this week that she has been offered one of those jobs that just drop into your lap and cannot be turned down. I had a chance to speak to her on Friday and could just hear in her voice what a gut-wrenching decision it has been for her to leave Amy's. As hard as it is to say "until the next time" (we agreed not to say goodbye), we can all understand with today's uncertain economy that with one child in college and another soon to be college-bound that sometimes you just have to do what is ultimately best for you and your family. As sad as I feel about Jill leaving, it must certainly pale in comparison to what Jill and Amy must feel. Jill promises to help out on Saturdays when she can and to help with the Home Study projects. So, maybe we will still get to see those handwritten notes from Jill on some of our future orders that always add that special touch. The company that Jill is going to work for is so fortunate to have her and they were wise to choose her. Jill, I will miss you but I wish you much success and happiness in your new journey and I know that our love of needlepoint will always keep us in touch with each other!

Have a great week ahead and don't forget to VOTE!