HAPPY NEW WEEK!
Last week's chat thread is HERE.
I hope everyone has a wonderful week, especially OG and Eagle-Eye, who are on holiday.
I had a wondrous experience on Thursday. Temps had cooled a bit, and it was very windy. I went outdoors, just to check my patch. I saw R. T. Hawk come from the direction of the creek flood plain. He was riding the thermals and soaring around and around. If a bird can look happy, he did.
Shortly, his big pale mate came from the same direction. She, too, was floating gracefully on the thermals. She saw me and stared at me for a minute or so, then she started soaring downward, floating in circles in my direction. She kept watching me and moving closer. I froze and made sure she could see my open hands (so she'd be reassured that I didn't have a gun).
She descended quite close to me, and I thought for a moment that she was going to come to me. I thought about holding my arm out to see whether she'd land, but I was afraid I'd scare her. She never screeched at me, and she wasn't diving aggressively -- just floating above me and looking at me curiously. Finally, she caught a thermal and lifted back up into the sky.
R. T. Hawk had been unconcerned, and he was soaring over the creek. His mate followed in his direction, and then they flew toward the ridge together.
I was very honored to see her so close.
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The annual Perseid meteor shower will appear on 11-14 August. The waning crescent moon guarantees dark skies, so the meteors should be dramatic. Folks in the northern hemisphere should see 50 meteors per hour, with a third of that number in the southern hemisphere. Most of the meteors can be viewed in the wee hours before dawn, but you could get lucky and see a beautiful earthgrazer in the earlier part of the night. Info HERE.
NASA government photoLabelled public domain (copyright free)
Enjoy your time with your daughter, Annette.
Hope you have now been able to relax more, Linda.
A lovely evening, before tomorrows storms arrive.
Hello all
LINDY- sorry that your BP results don't look too good at the moment. Let us know what your GP advises xx
I am up to date with everybody's news but a bit tired this evening, lots of family phone calls!! Hope to catch up properly tomorrow.
I hope that the forecast storms will not result in too much damage in the South.Take care, all.
Did anyone see this on the BBC website? There's also a link to the Tate Gallery; you can search by county. I looked at Hertfordshire - they only had 44 shots, mostly of fields....
www.bbc.com/.../uk-england-33863300
Hi, I am sympathising with Linda about the BP testing! I had nasty bruising on my upper arm due to the tight squeezing. I showed the nurse and she did seem to think it was unusual. It was really painful and I do not want that again in a hurry! Could be due to 'bingo wings' though...
I am having a blood test tomorrow as went on to the higher dosage two weeks ago.I also think it is not a fair test if tensing up when it goes off. I will see what the GP says about it.
Anyway I have had a nice visit with my brother, and visited Rutland Water on the Friday. The Shallow Water Hide did seem a longer walk away than when I went a few years ago! Pleasant though, with birds singing and butterflies and dragonflies too. I also went in the Waderscrape hide, the newer one. No good showing photos as they are too far away, I need a better camera.
You have my attention, Annette. Thanks for the link. I would love to see if I could identify any of them. My attention was also drawn to the explosion in China, which was also on the same page.
Chrisy, Best wishes for your blood test tomorrow. After your and Linda's experience with the BP band. I am hoping I never need it, but if ever necessary I suppose I will have to do it.Pleased to hear that you enjoyed yourself with your brother and that you visited Rutland.
Some nice news, I went to the Dodd Wood view point today for the first time this year, and on the way up who should I meet coming down but TerryM, along with her black labrador! She still volunteers there on some Sundays, but was visiting with a friend today. So we had a nice chat, she just does Facebook now, apparently, which I don't.
Glad to see that you had no problem walking up to the viewing point, Chrisy, especially the upper viewpoint. Thanks for the news of Terry, I remember her as being an enthusiastic volunteer. So glad to hear that she still volunteers. I am on FB, but only for checking sites and info. I don't post in any forums or chat.
Hi all. Cute picture of Matthew, Lindybird. Talking of gardens did anyone watch this weeks "Love your Garden". It was amazing. They managed to get hold of wild meadow turf (all planted with wild flowers) to put down one side of the garden it looked amazing. The garden was for a family whose husband/father has terminal cancer. They made a really good job of an enormous garden.
Managed to get up to speed with my swimming yesterday - its been busy lately so haven't managed it. Also my new PC should arrive tomorrow so hope I don't have any glitches and can get it up and running fairly quickly. Managed to find a second hand one on E-Bay so didn't pay premium price. Its an ex corporation one.
Hello George, nice to hear from you. Do hope that you get word for scans before too long. Glad an ex colleague was able to help out with a new gate. Don't suffer, if you need a new knee, have one. I did 2 years back and although its still numb and tender at times I don't get the pain that I use to get. Go for it!
OH dibnib, you're have problems with your puppy too. You'll both have to go to behavoural classes if there are such things in the doggy world. Seriously though, do hope you both manage to train them to be better behaved - although where would the fun be!!!
Clare - enjoy your time at Minsmere.
http://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/wildlife-webcams/loch-of-lowes/
RSPB Giving Nature a Home
I like it HeatherB.
Enjoy time with your daughter, Annette.
I much prefer British Lamb but I'm afraid I get my shopping online via supermarket of choice and it works for me. Occasionally I go in "live" so to speak.
Oh AQ, a marathon nannying then, good job s-i-l popped in at lunchtime. Do hope you are both feeling a lot better.
We've not had rain here and the International space station is supposed to be going over around 10.30pm but its too cloudy, also the meteor shower is supposed to be at its best tonight!
Hi Brenda, Afraid I only went up as far as the lower view point, and had to take it easy on the steepest bit! Was actually resting on the half way seat when Terry appeared on her way down.