Eagles at Tara Pointe & a ? for you

Sue
- September 04, 2002

Nature Dan, There is a place in Grafton, Illinois called Tara Pointe, it is the home of Mrs. Margaret Wright, when first built for her and her husband Larry now deceased (he died during the Super Bowl game when the St. Louis Rams won on January 28, 2000) it was just going to be a home for the two of them. Larry decided to share the beauty of his home high on the cliff overlooking the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers so he turned their home into a bed and breakfast. There is a special room, that you may take a glass elevator to the top floor which houses a very comfortable room with binoculars, spy glasses and telescopes to watch the Eagles that nest in the trees out on the islands. You may brave the cold weather and go out on the decks that surround the back portion of the house, or you may sit in the breakfast room, living room or great room, or even be lucky enough to have the room that has its own great view to watch the Eagles. There are cottages that can be rented and you can walk the fields high above the town of Grafton and watch for as long as you want. I was very fortunate and was able to go last year and enjoy the peace and tranquility and the beauty of our American bird, the Eagle. Alot of people travel what used to be called the riverroad, and now is officially called the Great American Waterway Expressway. There are spots where you think you are going right off into the river, but you don't. The river flows right next to the highway. When there is a flood, usually the town of Grafton, gets flooded, but Margaret shared the secret of getting out the backway, which wasn't an easy task. The people in the little cars look up at Tara Pointe and wonder what it is. What pleasures they miss by not finding out. Even though the weather gets really warm in Mid America, we do have the Eagles in Grafton for about 6 months out of the year. Wisconsin is further north, but I feel fortunate that I can see them for a little while. The 75 mile round trip is worth the drive. I just wanted to share that we get some chance of seeing the Eagle. Question for you, you may have already done an article on this, but I have not seen it. In April when my son got married, I pulled into our driveway about 7:30 in the morning and across my field in a tree sat the most perfect whiteish-gold colored horn rimmed owl I had ever seen. It was absolutely breath taking. I was once told my a Japanese lady that an owl given as a gift was a sign of good-luck. I felt that was a silent blessing for my son and his fiancee on their wedding day. Is it possible that you could do a story on this type of owl? Thanks Dan for sharing your stories, and thanks for the letter that I received last week. I am putting the letter in my grandaughters scrapbook. She already knows how we keep your stories in a folder in the computer. Young ones are more experienced on these computers, which is fine, but hope they take the time for the great outdoors. Sincerely,Sue