Hi all: Don't forget to check last few comments of last week's chat and a lovely photo from OG - of Loch Garten I assume. Alan: Wonderful close up of EJ on the last Daily Update. Thanks to everyone else for all the news from far and wide.
Just in from Earth Day event, which had a lot more transportation (electric/natural gas, etc) options on display this year, including bikes of all shapes and sizes (SB is a big bike town with lots of bike paths, even throughout downtown). Spoke to a friend of a friend there who is setting up a raptor rescue center at the Natural History Museum; also the California Condor group who are trying to figure out how to set up a live cam at the condor feeding station in the back country. They're thinking maybe solar power, but then there's the problem of relaying the signal,etc. If that's successful, they may try one at the nesting sites, but the problem is that condors don't nest in trees - they like caves, so a logistical hurdle for further down the road. Not to mention the "permit" hurdles, which are major given that the condors are still highly endangered. In addition to the usual solar, green, organic farms, foods and other community display booths there was the usual band and "green" gifts area. Didn't buy anything but did visit my friend with his spiffy electric car and bumped into another friend - a "Master Gardener" at another booth where we sat and chatted for an hour.
All quiet on the LG and LOTL nests right now; doesn't look windy or wet.
The spectacled bear cubs are awake and full of energy tonight. They are climbing all over their mother, who is trying to sleep. http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/Amazonia/default.cfm?cam=ABC
Also:
The female owl at BOT is beginning to scrape the floor with her feet in preparation for laying her eggs. She's also breaking up pellets with her beak as cushion, so egg-laying may happen tonight. The average date for a first egg at that nest is April 17, so she is late this year. I just saw the male bring her a big rodent, and then mate with her. He nuzzled her with his beak and cuddled a bit before leaving to hunt again. They are so lovely with each other. Last year, she had quite a hard labor with her first egg (I watched). http://www.thewebbroadcastingcorporation.com/barnowlcam_nestcam.html :-)
Tiger: It sounds like you and Chloe have had a moving and memorable time in Wales. Wonderful that you got to experience so much nature!
Lindybird: Your day sounded delightful. I asked my Dad whether he would enjoy oatcakes, and he thought that he would.
Annette: I hope that you had a terrific anniversary celebration.
OG: I do hope that your son is recovering from his illness!
I have enjoyed all of the family history posts today.
Hello Everyone!
Please think good thoughts for me as I negotiate a job offer made today (Thursday) at a very nice firm only a 15 minute commute from home.
Tiger: Thanks so much for posting the Irish census info. I too am of Irish descent on my mother's side and her people are from County Clare. We may yet find more information on her father, she was adopted in the 1920s, so the records have been very hard to come by.
O.G: I can promise you from personal experience that South Dakota is indeed very flat and boring to drive through except for the southwestern part of the state. If you've never heard of it, Wall Drug in Wall, South Dakota is a real hoot and a must-see tourist attraction. http://www.walldrug.com/ When a friend and I drove to the Black Hills for a vacation in 2001, we stopped and had lunch and a tootle around Wall Drug on the way home. Very good times!
Okay, I'm off to bed now. Hope everyone is well and I'll be back with more news on when I start my new job!
Hi all: Back from dinner at SB City College. The meal included four courses with five choices for each course (sigh - we could only choose one from each course). I started with Prawns with avocado and a cucumbery-plus something else relish; then Chicken Satay. Main course was Butter Poached Lobster with spinach (and something else); dessert was Berry Tart with Orange Marscapone ice cream. OH started with Triple Cream Quiche with Salmon; Alligator Cheesecake (alligator from Louisiana! very mild tasting); Grilled Sea Bass, and Lemon Lava cake with berries for dessert. All portions were modest but the entire meal was just right and had many more flavors/textures than I describe. Oh, and a nice Malbec to start with, then a local Chardonnay, which the student server kept pouring - but not too much. Very pleasant - and so much more relaxing than last evening!
Caerann: Hurray! So you got an offer? Brilliant!! Do let us know how the negotiations go. :-)
Oh, Caerann, I can't even express how happy I am for you. Be tough and negotiate well for yourself! You deserve it. Keep us posted. WONDERFUL!!!
Annette: Sounds like your dinner was a great success! Very innovative cuisine. Lemon Lava cake sounds divine. So happy for you.
Diane: Hope you got the dishes done! I'm about to call it a night. Take care all.
Good night, Annette. I'm going to have to shut down my computer soon. Storms moving in. They had 35+ tornadoes in the midsection of the country. Probably won't be that bad here. Lots of rain, though. Hope everyone has a good day.
Just read all the news, will reply re the queries, later today. Meantime here the skies are still much quieter than normal at this time, only 4 deg C in Surrey at the moment. But the weather is clear and sun is up.
ChloeB & Tiger's Osprey Data Site
Sat track schedule Spring 2014
LG 7 days; RW & SWT nil; LDOP varies