Happy new week and new month!
The world's oldest known calendar device has been found in Scotland. It's based on the phases of the moon, as well as the position of the sun, and is 10,000 years old. That's 5,000 years older than the first formal calendar devices found in the Near East, which were thought to be the earliest. The device provides further evidence that Scotland's early civilisations were much more advanced than previously thought.
saw a green woodpecker about 1/4 mile from LG when we were there last week, its was in the middle of the winding road from nethybridge, im sure i ready seeing a post from richard stating he had seen one on the reserve
l.loo
i ready? i remember
close call with this, this morning,camera settings not too good
Beautiful sparrowhawk, Lindyloo!
Our herring gulls are red listed birds. Think about that the next time you hear some flaming idiot calling for a cull of them.
After early thundery showers, it has been a lovely, cooler day. Temperature only 24c, so after shopping I was able to spend time in the garden, dead heading and pruning plants which are getting far to tall. Plenty still to do, such as the climbing roses which are heavy with flowers and desperately need dead heading now.
Alan. Love the green woodpecker photographs. We do see them in the area but saw our first one in our garden, only yesterday and has been very noisy in the woods next to our garden, today.
Lindyloo, Looks as if you were disturbing the sparrowhawk's breakfast..
OG, I usually find I use the tumble dryer and then the sun shines !! J must have been annoyed to find he was the only one to arrive last night.
Heather, I see there won't be much room in your case for clothes, but it will be empty when you return home. I think I remember you mentioning this on a previous visit. My sister has this problem when she visits her son in Holland. His daughters crave certain chocolate, even before he, or his wife put iin their requests..
Hello to everyone else. I should be around tomorrow morning but will be playing in a bowls match in the afternoon.
Hi, all.
Thunderstorms here today. I received the insurance cheque and made arrangements for the lightning-struck tree to be cut down on Monday. I'm a nervous wreck because so many things could go dangerously wrong. I had an extended discussion (argument!) with the tree service over the size of the logs that will be left and where they'll be stacked. Now I have to find someone to take the wood, before vermin take up residence in the wood pile. :-( I'll really be glad when the tree saga is over and done.
Heather: I hope you have a lovely time on your holiday! Don't pack your luggage too heavy to carry. :-)
Alan: Those green woodpeckers are FAB! They are shaped like the red-bellied woodpeckers here, and they have the red spot on the head, but their colour is unique and delightful!!!
Brenda: Thanks for letting us know about the controversy over the Abernethy Forest plans. I did a Google search and read some articles. It certainly is a heated discussion. It seems like there are underlying issues that aren't being brought out. I wouldn't presume to offer an opinion (not my place, as an American), but the issue is an interesting one. Thanks.
Clare and Limpy: I hope you all have a great time at the Dyfi!
Lindy: Lovely clematis. I hope you're having a nice time on your long weekend.
Mulberry: Beautiful photos of your trip to Scotland! I'm sorry you've had some difficult times to endure recently.
OG: I wish I could go to the Environmental Art Festival Scotland with you. Sounds very interesting.
Annette: We've had cooler than normal temps here, too. Normally, it's too hot and humid to breathe in Indiana this time of year, but temps have been a mild 75-80 F lately (that's 23.8-26.6 C), and we've broken records for cool temps at night.
Take care, all.
Oh, I forgot to say:
I've just started reading the daily Dig Diary from the Ness of Brodgar excavation site in Orkney, Scotland, where archaeologists discovered a large complex of monumental Neolithic buildings.
On Wednesday of this week, they recovered from the site an extraordinary piece of stone art -- "one of the finest from the U.K. EVER". I'm finding it very interesting.
Evening all: Nice week so far; not too busy, lots of stuff getting done around the house (thanks to our "June Gloom" weather).
Lindybird: Apparently the "safest" place to park a car in a public carpark is at the end of a row, so only one chance of getting smooshed. Re difficult relatives - I thought they were all in my family! :-) I also like the look of that boat/shed. Maybe it could be adapted for houseguests.
Clare: In case I forget, have a lovely time (and weather I hope) in Wales.
Brenda/Clare: I'm all for regenerating forests, but wonder what, if anything, it would mean for current wildlife populations. An interesting proposal.
OG: I'd keep an Eagle-eye on You-Know-Who; wouldn't want my OH posting random photos of me on the site. :-) Aha! I see some good food in your future what with all those festivals. Hope you get to attend the events you want.
Mulberry: Those pix are lovely; interesting how they can demolish structures to just sort of sink into the ground. They always seem to be doing it to hotels in Las Vegas.
Heather: When are you off to France? Good to hear that grandson is doing better; sounds like his Mom has the right attitude (though it must be hard). You can do exercises for the quad muscles at the front of your thigh that will help reduce the strain on your knees.
Lindyloo: Nice shot of the sparrowhawk (don't want to ask what it's eating though).
BrendaH: Sounds like a nice day in the garden; good luck with the bowls match.
Diane: Hate to say it, but that's quick for an insurance check. Do hope you can find someone to buy/take away the wood, especially as it's a desirable fireplace fuel. Can you advertise that it's available? Our temps are forecast to be below normal for the next week or so; good weather for working in the garden....
Alan: Love those green woodpeckers; have never seen one. Great pix taken through the window.
Have a good Saturday all, especially those off on trips and of course, Extra Special thought to Margo.
Unknown said: Diane: Hate to say it, but that's quick for an insurance check. Do hope you can find someone to buy/take away the wood, especially as it's a desirable fireplace fuel. Can you advertise that it's available? Our temps are forecast to be below normal for the next week or so; good weather for working in the garden....
Annette: With polite and restrained hostility, I reminded the insurance claims adjuster that if the tree fell on my house -- or me -- they would have to pay up some big money. So, yup, I received my cheque faster than normal. Even insurance companies understand raw capitalism. LOL!
I've debated whether to try to advertise and sell the wood, because here in this rural area lots of people heat their homes with wood, and I could use the cash. But that idea creates some problems. Right now, most people don't even know that my house is back here in the forest. This is a very "backwoods" area and a lot of folks are pretty rough (I think you Brits would say "dodgy"), and I like remaining unknown.
If I advertise, I'll have loads of strangers coming back here at all hours of the day and night. All of them men. Most of them with guns. None of them with any respect for women.
Even if they're polite, they'll ask for permission to hunt back here -- which is not ever going to happen as long as I draw breath -- and that will lead to conflict. I think I'm just going to try to find one trustworthy guy -- who knows what he's doing and won't get hurt and sue me -- to just load it all up and end my tree saga. :-)
Diane: Actually, I was thinking the comparative isolation of your home might be a reason you wouldn't want strangers to come on the property. What about a Boy Scout/Church/other local community group that might be able to use and/or sell it to raise money for their purposes. Good luck anyway.
AQ: Are you off photographing churches again? :-)
I'm off to bed.