#flyeaglesfly

The End

When I started this page way back in 2012, it was intended as a sort of commonplace-book, a repository of images I’d encountered online and wanted to be able to find again, since link-breaking was then, as it remains, a persistent problem. Over time, TOL developed into something else: a sort of quasi-blog with a small following among likeminded quasi-bloggers—including some folks I’ve gotten to know and like during my time here. It’s been a fun project, but to steal a line from Chris Difford, I feel the blog as a horse has run its course. For one thing, after the events of the past year and more, I don’t believe we can continue to pretend social media is a purely harmless diversion. Closer to home, though, I’ve grown concerned about the amount of time I spend each day staring at various screens. Attention is a finite resource and I fear squandering it: few people, I believe, will die wishing they’d spent more time on the internet.

I won’t delete this page, at least not immediately—I still like having a place to find these images—but I won’t be adding any new content. Some of you have my email and I hope we’ll remain in touch; if you don’t have it and want it, shoot me a message; I’d love to hear from you.

Finally, I want to wish you all a peaceful 2019—Lord knows, we’ve earned it.

Cheers,

The Object Lesson

Red-breasted nuthatches (Sitta canadensis) have expanded their winter range south and east this year, an event known as an irruption, and we’ve had them at the feeder since October. They're good company: fearless, colorful, and acrobatic. The resident white nuthatches (Sitta carolinensi) are anti-immigrant and don’t like them much, but I hope they stick around.

Photo credit: Bern Krausse

Kids.

Andrew Wyeth (1917-2009), Snow Shoe, 1968

Her.

Is Campari an anti-malarial? Asking for a friend.

Holland Island Bar Light (USCG)

Gorham Mt peak in winter.