HAPPY NEW WEEK!
Last week's Chat thread is HERE.
I missed a few days last week. I've read all your posts, but I won't try to reply except to wish everyone well.
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Some large animal has been hunting on my deck before dawn (about 5:00 am). It lands on the deck with a big thud. It's either jumping down from the tree limb over the deck or jumping up from the top step. I can hear it chase fairly large prey (probably raccoons). If it's coming out of the tree, it could be a bobcat! I have deer staying in my backyard along the creek, and a pair of bobcats could have moved in to predate the fawns. I've read that bobcat numbers are increasing a lot in this region. I'm not afraid of them; they aren't a threat to me. I hope I get to see whatever it is!
I happened across the webpages of a couple of photographers whose work just makes me happy when I look through their galleries, so I thought I'd share their sites.
The first photographer is Michael Shainblum, who photographs gorgeous landscapes and seascapes (especially with the Milky Way in the background). Here's his website (click on "Photography") and his Facebook page.
The second is George Karbus, who lives and works on the west coast of Ireland (but also takes photos all over the world). He focuses on coastal and marine photography. Here's his website (click on "Gallery") and his Facebook page.
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I hope you all have a wonderful week!
VAVANABC update at 3pm
"**NATURAL ENGLAND STRUGGLING TO COPE**
****UPDATED VAVNABC PRESS RELEASE 3pm****
I've been on the phone this afternoon with a senior figure at Natural England. They have promised a response before any cull announcements are made. With key personnel absent including the Chief Scientist himself, and with Brian May's lawyers on their case....an air of crisis is palpable at Natural England HQ......"
Morning all: Nice walk this morning; then took out an ailing lavender bush, did some bill tracking on the computer and off to lunch with friend in a bit.
Brenda: Didn't make myself clear there - my OH's records are banking/financial ones, not the musical kind. FYI, he did have a good collection of the latter and we took them to a store in Los Angeles that bought all the jazz LPs but none of the classical. :-( I advertised those locally and some young people came and took them off our hands along with an old record player. Of course, vinyl is now making a big comeback due to the sound fidelity, which is apparently superior to all the new stuff and doesn't deteriorate.
Lmac: That photo is just lovely - where is it?
Limpy: Lovely shot.
Alan: Seems like things are gearing up again there re culls...
Off to hose down; take care all.
More legal action this time over bees.
"Friends of the Earth are taking the government to court to save our bees! They're challenging the governments' decision to allow bee-killing pesticides back into our fields.
Annette - that is a scene from Auld Reekie although that description does not seem apt for this mornings views
Re bees - we have plenty around here in SW Scotland this year, but they keep drowning themselves in the birds' water dishes! Has anyone else seen this or does anyone have an explanation?
Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!
Thanks for the baby Goldfinch photos; sadly we have seen none here at all this year!
I have missed a few days on here - been in and out and round about. There are a number of events going on. Sunday we went to another cream tea and then to church; Monday disappeared at home; today we had a garden centre lunch and then shopped in Morrisons. I did finish the old ironing pile at the weekend, but more has gathered since! Tomorrow we are going to a consultation about the integration of health and social care services, and OH will also hope to finish the mowing - "rain stopped play" this evening, after a beautiful day while we were out!
I hope various people, OHs and offspring are recovering from ills, and that MARGO gets a good outcome with the water problem this week.
Heather, Margo and her OH did get to the theatre last Saturday and really enjoyed themselves. They are going to another show this week. She is, obviously, worried about the next blood tests, but has the extra week before her next chemo treatment.
OG, The bees go to have a drink in your bird bath, but sometimes wade in , too deep. They sometime need a couple of stones or something that floats for them to climb on to, so they can escape from the water. They do seem to favour some birdbaths rather than others. I have no idea why. We seem to have had plenty of bees this year. We now have far too many wasps !!
OG : I have not heard of bees being drowned but I have heard of some fledglings getting their feathers waterlogged and drowning because they cannot climb up the sides of the bird bath. The advice is to put some stones in so they can stand on them to dry off their wings.