We have to share the news: The Eagle has landed!

The Eagle has landed!

And he landed in this tree in our front yard about dawn this morning. Maybe he saw the red circle that Dwain drew in the air as a landing zone.

Megan hadn't even put the coffee on yet this morning, and her eyes were barely open when she sat down on the window seat facing the front yard and opened the curtains for AnnaBelle to look out.
Because AnnaBelle, not Megan, was whining to look out the window and watch her favorite show -- the Songbirds.
About that time, Megan saw an unusually big bird flap its long wings in the top of an oak tree.
What a spectacle, the bird looked too big for the tiny branches in the top of the tree to support it.
"What kind of bird is that?" she asked. "Is it a rare hawk?"
"It could be a buzzard," Dwain said of the black form in the dim morning light. That was the only thing that made sense.
Then we saw white tail feathers.
We both looked at each other and said, "That can't possibly be an American Bald Eagle ... can it?"
About that time, Dwain ran through the house searching for a camera, while Megan kept her eyes on the eagle. She was going to make sure it didn't fly off.
Dwain ran into the office to take a picture through a window with a better view. We were afraid to make a sound.

Here's what we saw as the sky brightened. Isn't he magnificent?

Seeing an eagle, every single time, is such a thrill, like the night we were driving back from Springfield and saw two falling stars. Neither of us could believe that either.

Look at that beak? Seriously, how did he stand on that little, bitty limb. He's so perfectly balanced. Such confidence.

And then he was gone. Just as fast as he had arrived. Like a magician.
After that, we just knew it was going to be a good day.

The sun came up, for what seems like the first time in a week, and exaggerated the sparkles given off by the little amounts of ice and snow we had this week.

Every season, Boat Mountain has a different look ... kind of like a painting. This was our view today of Boat Mountain from our house. Yes, that change in elevation can make a huge difference. While just a little snow and ice remained on the pastures, the mountain was glowing white-cold. Many pictures were taken of Boat Mountain today. I bet it feels important.

Here's another view of Boat Mountain this morning, courtesy of the Arkansas Forestry Commission. Such a pastoral scene.

By the time Megan started driving down Harrison Hill, the only signs of winter rested atop Pilot's Knob at Batavia. It makes quite a contrast. When Dwain first popped this image up on his computer, Megan didn't even recognize Harrison. That's West Central Avenue heading from the old junior high school into her old, familiar neighborhood.

We're ready for a warm up and resume our National Park hiking. We have 96 miles to go.
Megan and Dwain