HAPPY NEW WEEK!
Last week's Chat Thread is HERE.
I had several white-tailed deer in my backyard yesterday at dusk, including a large buck. They were so beautiful.
All summer, I admonished one particular Red-Bellied Woodpecker for attempting to drum on the trim around my kitchen window. Now, every time I go outdoors, the little fella chatters at me loudly. He even jumped up and down on the branch yesterday to make his point. LOL! I don't know whether he's telling me off or trying to convince me to let him eat the delicious larvae I denied him. LOL
Everyone have a great week!
Thanks for starting the week, Diane. Lovely to hear about your deer, especially when they were accompanied by the buck. A wonderful sight to see. Do you feed your RB Woodpecker ? If not, I think you are being told to do so. "If you won't let me peck your windows, then give me some food." LOL Sound as if he is becoming quite tame and a friend.
Linda, Super photographs. I do love the dog and people figures.
Annette, I hope the detour turns out to be worthwhile. Sounds like you have thoroughly enjoyed the time with your friend.
Rita, Such a memorable day out with your Granny are the times to cherish.
We have just returned from a long walk across the farm fields. The blustery wind, which kept waking me last night, is still blowing strong and my poor ears are tingling with the cold, as the wind was blowing into our faces, as we headed back home. First experience of that this Autumn.
OG, Before moving here (SW London), I lived in Chester. Before then, in Maidenhead, Berkshire. Earlier than that I was in Essex. That just about covers the last thirty two years.
The advantage of moving around a fair amount is that i cannot accumulate too much 'stuff', although I am a hoarder by nature.
Never a good idea to have too much loft or garage space. Perhaps everyone else is more disciplined than I am.
Not me, Rosy! I have way too much stuff! We don't have much attic left, as we built a bedroom into it, and our garage works as garden shed, laundry, and paint store. Nevertheless, I have a constant battle to keep stuff from invading the bedrooms - our bedroom for instance, has far too many books, photos waiting to be put into albums, and, um......shoes (don't tell Annette.....)
Annette: I hope you make it home safely with no flooding or mudslide issues. Enjoy the lovely trip.
Lindy: Very nice photos! I like the cute dog and the roof boat/fish decoration.
Brenda: Hope you enjoyed your walk. Hope your gales didn't do any damage. :-(
I don't feed the woodpeckers or any of the birds. That sounds harsh, but I'm right on a climate line where individual birds in a species decide whether to migrate or stay here for the winter. In the past, many of our winters have been mild. But in recent years, we've had those monstrously brutal polar vortex winters. I don't want to encourage the birds to stay, and then see them die if the winter's a bad one.
I think you're right about the little woodpecker's intent. I did start worrying that maybe I'd really scared the little fella, so I looked up the explanation of their calls. The call he's making at me signals "social interaction" and "excitement" -- not real alarm.
Apparently, he just thinks I'm a big, fat woodpecker. Oh, well. I've been called worse. LOL LOL
Hi to Rita, Rosy, Heather and all.
LOL LOL, Diane!!
"I'm a woodpecker, a woodpecker
Though you might think a large 'un ~
I keep alarming the little fella
Every time I barge in!
He wants my bugs, in my window frames,
But I'd rather he didn't peck 'em, all the same.
I talk back to him, when he gets excited
And we both decide our wrongs are now righted.
So daily talks mean we get along ~
Though I can't really say I'm fond of his song!"
Hello, all. Haven’t done a Sunday roast for many years, so experimenting with a piece of beef – smells good – but that might mean it will be overdone!
Linda – I wish AutumnWatch was as long as it used to be – I was quite disappointed they didn’t have more recorded daytime shots of this beautiful area (surrounding hills and forest) – and restricted themselves to a bad weather week! Also they missed out two bits of local knowledge about the Barnies: when you watch them feed, there will always be some with their heads up rather than grazing with the rest because they are keeping a look-out for danger; and among the regulars here are two leucistic families with a considerable number of white feathers in place of coloured! Good to see the Cardiff photos – they had just started the modernisation projects when we visited some years ago, and even then we were impressed by the buildings and spaces, and the cleanliness of the city. Nice Woodpecker ditty for Diane!
Diane – thanks for the new week, and the update on your backyard critters.
Annette – sorry you have a bus detour scheduled in the rail journey home; I hope there won’t be any further delays or problems.
Brenda – I am sure your first winter walk will have done you both good. Still wet here, but not such heavy rain as predicted. I am still sniffling and dribbling, so not going out unless I have to.
Rosy – you have moved about like we did, especially early on, and to some of the same areas! I grew up in Berkshire, then lived in Essex, Suffolk, Yorkshire and Lancashire before settling in our retirement bungalow here in Dumfriesshire. My OH is the hoarder, but I am a flinger, so always happy to have a clear-out to pack and move away!
Now need to take meat out of oven – hopefully!
Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!
Interesting about the B. Geese, OG. Sorry you're still sniffling: hope you are healing well, you sound as if you've dived straight back into kitchen duties. Can smell your roast beef from here: we only had cheese on toast tonight.
More Cardiff pics tomorrow.
Diane, We have had winds of 50mph along the channel, no damage here, thank you. I was just surprise at how cold it made me feel. One advantage is that the majority of the fallen leaves have vanished out of the garden. LOL The Northern half of the UK have had the worst of the storms with heavy rain this week.There are very many flood warnings.
Linda, That is a lovely ditty for Diane.
OG, I hope the roast beef was a success. I am sure ' the boys' will have enjoyed it and placed their choice of roast for next weekend :-)Sorry you still have the sniffles. In fact, I admire how you continue to recover so well since your op. X
Hello all,from Madeira.
Thank you Diane for starting the week with a lovely story :-)
Also thank you to everyone for your news. I won't attempt replies but have read all.
We are having a very relaxing holiday. Today we walked in to Funchal, the island capital. From our hotel balcony we have a splendid view of the harbour. Every day a different cruise ship arrives and OH watches with interest.( His particular interest is because his son is a Master Mariner).
No roast dinner for us tonight, OG! I hope your beef was OK. We opted for room service this evening after having restaurant meals on Friday and Saturday. Neither of us too hungry so had soup, pudding and a shared cheeseboard.
PS LINDY- not only have I not seen any dog mess, I've yet to see a dog here. Weird.
LINDA - not full kitchen duties - food handling okay, but letting OH do lifting into ovens etc.
BRENDA - beef was excellent - with roast potatoes, roast parsnips and brussels sprouts! Boys also had Yorkshire pudding (have to admit to frozen ones because of small quantity) and gravy. Was also able to freeze a full meal of leftover sliced beef in gravy for a quick meal when needed.
Blowing a hoolie here now, but doesn't seem to be as much rain as before.