Weekly Chat (Non-Osprey), Sunday 04 August 2013

HAPPY NEW WEEK!

Last week's Weekly Chat thread is HERE.

The code for this new week's thread is WC040813 (in case you ever need to search for it from the search box).

  • MULBERRY - we have seen Major Oak in Sherwood Forest - and I sneezed my way out of the forest because of all the blooming cow-parsley!  I was quite disappointed there and at Fortingall that these venerable trees have to be propped!  But like you, I am in awe of the age of things, when I think whose feet may have trodden there before me through many generations.

    Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!

  • Sorry I haven't managed to get on here today. We have been out since after lunch. I thought you may like to see this, that is, if you haven't already read it

    Frankie Wicks wrote the following post at 7 Aug 2013 5:13 PM:

    Hi All,

    Quick update, we'll be doing some behind the scenes work tonight on the community. It's likely to be through the night and into the early hours.

    You may experience some speed issues during the work and periodically images and files may disappear and re-appear.

    Tomorrow we should then be rolling out some of the fixes. I'll tell you more about what issues are being sorted when I get in in the morning.

    Many thanks,

    F.

  • Many thanks, Brenda.

    "Birds are, quite simply, little miracles - and as such they require care and consideration."

    Magnus Ullman

    My Flickr account is here


  • Hello everyone, sorry I've been MIA but hope to get back to normal as the season and holidays come to an end.

    Margo my thoughts and best wishes are with you, and thanks to your OH for keeping us all updated, hope you soon feel well enough to be at home.

    Lindy, thanks for your Hug, the last few weeks have been hard and for Mulberry especially.  I'm so sorry to hear about Buzz, I really hope the vet will be able to get all the growth out, and he makes a full recovery :-)

     

  • Mulberry: I would dearly love to see the ancient trees in Scotland and in Sherwood Forest. It's incredible to think about what they have seen. I'd really like to take a trip to the U.K. someday. I'm so very sorry that your sister had to move away to Cornwall. It's painful when family members are no longer easily reachable. I hope you're able to maintain close ties, anyway. 

    I laughed heartily at your remarks about the Evansville Fall Festival. It's quite a popular gathering in the autumn, and the massive Ohio River is very beautiful at that time (actually, all the time).

    I should say that elephant ears aren't really the ears of elephants. They're giant, disk-shaped pastries that are deep fried and covered with a sugar-cinnamon coating. They taste wonderful and are extremely unhealthful. They're "fair food", usually enjoyed in the summer at the county and state fairs, and not eaten very often.

    Brain sandwiches are indeed slices of cow brains, covered in thick batter and deep fried. They're a thoroughly disgusting very old Ohio River Valley tradition. It's originally from St. Louis (where the Ohio River flows into the mighty Mississippi River), which was historically the location of many slaughterhouses. I've read that the Evansville festival also serves alligator stew, which I assume is a tradition originally brought up the Mississippi from New Orleans. 

    As for chocolate-covered crickets, I don't know what that's about -- certainly not a tradition here -- although some people on the rivers do eat "crawfish" (freshwater crayfish), also known as "crawdads" by the rural folks. That's probably also a tradition originally brought up the Mississippi from New Orleans. I've never tasted one. I'm a vegetarian, so I don't indulge in any of this stuff. LOL!

    I live in the Wabash River Valley (the Wabash eventually flows into the Ohio River). Sugar Creek, which is just a few minutes from my house, joins the Wabash about 45 minutes away. Dozens and dozens of bald eagles now live along the Wabash River-Sugar Creek corridor, and golden eagles are also making a comeback. Yay!

    Loved your story about the cooker delivery. Sounds like something that would happen to me. LOL! Give my best to NiteOwl.

  • OG: I hope you and George will be able to have a nice visit.

    Heather: Eucalyptus trees are gorgeous. It's a shame that yours must be cut, but it sounds necessary. Oh, dear. Pruning trees is very hard work! It's good that your OH is able to be so active. I'm sure the results of his scan will be just fine!

    Bjane: I love snakes and find them fascinating. I have a good rapport with the wild Black snake and can even touch him. I'm glad that you are well and healthy. I know what you mean about trying to get yard and outbuildings into shape. It's a never-ending, time-consuming and expensive challenge here to maintain everything -- especially difficult when you're working a regular schedule. I'd also like to work on my house interior this winter, but I don't know whether I can. Good luck with your projects!!! Always nice to hear from you.

    Lindy: I am so very sorry about Buzz's ailment. I am sending him and you my very best wishes. I will be thinking of you on Friday. My dog often had growths, but they weren't ever cancer. I hope that makes you feel somewhat better. I wish there was something I could do to help. Email if you need any support.

    Annette: I love blueberries and raspberries. You're lucky to have such wonderful produce available during such a large portion of the year! We've just had another farmer's market open up in Rockville, so I may take a trip down there soon. Hope the trash trucks didn't wake you up too early this morning. Hope everything is well where you are. 

    Okay, I typed a long post, because I wasn't sure when we'd all have access again. Everyone take care!

  • Good Morning, All.  Sunny here at present. I'm off out with Friend later so am rushing around to get some chores done before I go. (And no, Annette, I'm not dressed yet!)

    Lots of posts & not time to reply to all, but interesting reading them: thanks for your good wishes for Buzz - we realise it could easily be benign and are not too worried, just feeling sorry for him as he must be uncomfortable. We decided ourselves on the removal right away option, as if he had just had the antibio's the whole thing might have dragged on with the same result in the end of surgery being needed anyway.

    Hope that today's work on the Site here will result in improvements, but not holding my breath LOL!

  • Thought I would pop in early before you all vanish at some time today, so Good Morning ALL.

    Sorry to hear about Buzz's problems, Linda. So understandable for you to worry about the operation. I hope all goes well tomorrow. My son will be leaving his pup. Penny, with us from tomorrow, while they go on a two week holiday. Son wants to stay with us tomorrow night, to settle the pup in and make sure we know what to do ! You would think we had never had a dog before !!  She is now five months old.

  • BRENDA   Do hope you enjoy Pennys visit. Can we have pics please?

    HEATHER   That pud sounds delish.

    LINDY  Thinking of you all. It is worrying when our four legged friends have to go in for an op, esp as they get older. Fingal had a growth removed from his mouth when he was 13. As with Buzz it was done immediately then a biopsy was done. Hope all goes well.