Fourth Wedding Anniversary

Monday was our fourth wedding anniversary, which we celebrated in Reno, in the hotel where we were married. The hotel is no long Reno Hilton, but the wedding chapel is still there. The hotel is now called Grand Sierra Resort.

We drove up Monday morning and came back on Tuesday. We were a little concerned about leaving our three kitties alone for more than a day. We left a lot of food and water for them, but still, we were concerned.

We had a fabulous dinner at Charlie Palmer's Steak House there in the hotel...martinis and smoked salmon blini for appetizer, filets cooked to perfection with crisp asparagus, stuffed potato truffle, a wonderful Avalon wine, coffee and assorted cookies. The service was perfect. After a meal like that we really didn't feel like gambling much. Jim played a little black jack and broke even...now in my opinion, that's winning! The ride up was long and tedious - lots and lots and lots of road construction, so we were tired, so we had an early bedtime.

Tuesday morning, after a pleasant breakfast, we did a little more gambling...I won $30! Now that probably doesn't seem like much to anyone, but I hit a $100 jackpot on a penny machine. The whole penny machine is a hoax just because in order to have a chance to win at all, the bet has to be maximum, which in most cases is $1.50.

It was a good trip, which we needed. Now we're working on year number five. Ain't love grand!

Peregrine Falcons

To some bird watching seems a little dorky, but we have been watching via web cam a nest of Peregrine Falcons in Becker, Minnesota. There are 3 chicks in the nest and they are just beginning to get a few feathers. They're only 17 days old, but what is amazing, is that in about 25 days more, they will be ready to fly.
The webcam is live so we have been able to watch the mother and father brood the chicks, feed them and protect them.

Here's the link for anyone who wants to take a look at these adorable baby birds and the tender loving care their parents are giving them. http://watch.birds.cornell.edu/nestcams/camera/view?cameraID=C100059#photosTabContent

The Peregrine Falcon was nearly extinct a few years ago. Their near extinction was caused by the use of DDT. Apparently the DDT made the shells of their eggs very thin so when the mother attempted to set on the eggs, they would break. DDT was banned in the 1970s and since then, with the help of conservationists, the Peregrine is again flourishing.

Through this link several other nesting bird cams are available to explore....enjoy!