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NOVEMBER – Winter is setting in. With return to Standard Time the dark evenings are even longer. It will soon be dark by 6:00 p.m. here in southern Ohio. Many of our November days are just all-over grey, from grey skies to gray hills with leafless grey trees and grey atmosphere – just cold, damp and gloomy. Still too early to expect much, if any, snow. But on an occasional sunny day we might enjoy a heavy frost on lingering green leaves. And inside all is warm, colorful and cheery. All month (in my family, anyway) we are planning the Thanksgiving feast. Thanksgiving Day, a day set aside for giving thanks to God for all the blessings in our lives, is a national holiday and a major one for most of us.
Here at the Gabfest, we have the gloom of empty nests. But we also have the cheer of knowing that Millicent is settled in her warm winter home, while Breagha is enjoying his second winter not too far away. Our chat-room fires are kept burning brightly and our new TV/telly screen is always at the ready., so hopefully we can all keep our computers in working order and enjoy a little chit-chat, some music and maybe a bit of streetwalking. Special Events include the possibility of another Music Night with suggested Movie theme and a group streetwalk to some as yet mystery location.
So where is our Gabfest chat-room.? Have you ever wondered? Well of course, it is at some undisclosed cyberspace location in the beautiful Scottish Highlands, not too far from the Loch Garten nest, home of EJ and Odin.
SunnyKate I never did get to see the poppies too late as usual! OH took those photos as he went to see them. They were a truly magnificent tribute to those who died for our freedom.
Good Morning everyone!
Hello Willow, I'm glad you liked my little stories. While looking out for a few pictures to share, another story came to my mind. I'll tell it, when I post the picture. It is a cute and funny story. So here we go:
Oahu-Island, Honolulu. A view from my hotel-room to Diamond-Head Crater:
During our drive along the north-east of Oahu:
Hawai'i, better known as "Big Island". Halema'u ma'u-crater, belonging to Kilauea-Volcano
An exhausted Turtle sleeping at Black Sand Beach / Punalu ú Bay:
Bente at the historic site of Honaunau
Waterfall disappearing into the fog:
During our drive along the famous "Road to Hana"
Maui-Island:No day without a Rainbow. This time at the foot of Haleakala-Volcano:
On top of Haleakala: The altitude is more than 3000 metres. If you want to have a walk, take your time and walk slowly!
The Haleakala-Crater is about 16 kilometred in diameter. Our hiking-path leads along the right hand side and then from right to left along the small craters in the middle of the picture:
Directly at the beginning, we've lost our way a bit and ended up at this pretty little crater:
After the "Mars-Landscape" we came to this vegetated area:
Hard work: The way up to the crater-rim. Fog is comin up, too:
A Cardinal:
Kaua'i-Island: Botanic garden
To the picture with the chicken in the palm-tree belongs the promised story. Do you care to hear? So here we go:
I had been to the Botanic Garden with three other young ladies from my group, and I was at the parking-lot a little earlier. So I looked around and found this chicken. It was walking on the ground, pecking here and pecking there. Then, suddenly, it looked up, to the dates in the palm-tree. They certainly must have looked delicious, because the chicken made its neck longer and longer. Of course, this was not enough to reach the dates. So it jumped up, on top of a small rock. Then again, the chicken's neck became longer and longer, as it was staring at the delicious fruit. I began to feel sorry for the poor thing. But all of a sudden, flap flap flap, it flew up, at least four metres high into the palm-tree!!! I was astonished!!! I didn't know that chicken can fly this distance! It must have been a challenge for the chicken to hold on to the thin branches. Everything was trembling under the chicken's weight. But the chicken was pecking away most happily at the dates, as you can see. And I was very happy for the chicken, too.
Following picture: Sunset on Kaua'i:
Waimea-Canyon, the Grand Canyon of Hawai'i:
All the Hawaiian Islands are very pretty, and we had great hikes there. Kaua'i was a little muddy, and the mud consitsted of clay, I would say. After coming home, I had to wash my trousers several times to get rid of the mud completely. So you see: Hawai'i is not only for sea-bathing, snorkeling, enjoying the pretty beaches and surfing, but also for other lovers of nature. This has been a great opportunity to think once again of the good times I had there. Thank you all very much for that, and for joining me!
See you soon, Bente
Thank you BENTE I like the chicken story, and what wonderful photos
From the email "Carol's Birds"
SunnyKate2 said: June after your lovely sunny photos, here are some sad but necessary ( as the Tower hosts many activities throughout the year),articles on the dismantling of the 'Poppies'. Scroll within as there is another Video towards the bottom. Poppies 1 Poppies 2 SunnyKate Thank you so much for this comment and especially your links. However may I respectfully disagree with one point. I do not find removal of the poppies SAD at all. I think it is wonderful that people have the opportunity and WANT to purchase these lovely flowers., and that the purchase price goes toward helping veterans. For people to receive their purchases, they must be removed, nes't pas? Besides now everything can go back to normal, to return next year all fresh and new. And all with the help of volunteers!! I find this whole process amazingly inspirational and anybody involved in any way is to be praised and congratulated. In my opinion, that is. Again thanks for the links. I have only partially checked them out so far. Will continue now.
June after your lovely sunny photos, here are some sad but necessary ( as the Tower hosts many activities throughout the year),articles on the dismantling of the 'Poppies'.
Scroll within as there is another Video towards the bottom.
Poppies 1
Poppies 2
From an email
With most of USA (except Hawaii) now in the grip of a winter deep freeze, I thought I'd bring back a touch of autumn. We need a third picture, don't we, of bare tree branches covered in 5-6 inches of snow. We have 5 inches here, more in Michigan.
PS Just heard on radio news that even in Hawaii, temps have dropped. It isn't really terribly cold here ( mid 20's F) just unusually cold for this time of year. Any snow at all here in southern Ohio in mid-November is unusual and usually melts quickly. Five inches that stays as is for three days is record breaking.
June and Bente, Thanks for the lovely photos. June, Sorry you have terrible weather there. Has it stopped snowing where you are?
Kind regards, Ann
Ann, hasn't snowed for two days, but the five inches is lingering. My husband used to say "Grandma said it's just hanging around, waiting for the next snowfall"
Not bad here really, but I understand it is worse in other parts of the country. But I am skeptical of deaths. Too often people refuse to take the necessary precautions to protect themselves from the special dangers of snowfall - neglecting to slow down on the highways, for example.
CC how are you faring in Rochester? Do you get heavy "lake-effect" snow there? And DIANE? How are you in Indiana?