Morning/evening all: Lovely day here. Sunny, warm, cactii are beginning to bloom. Will be keeping one eye on the volcano and the other on EJ while doing other things tonight (hmmm...). Should be interesting. Lots of chat about the volcano on the last page of the previous week. Off to start dinner; back later!
Hey Diane: Here we get little spiders that plug up tubes in furnaces - they build their houses in the summer and then here comes winter, we turn on the furnaces - and nothing. Really turned cold and very windy here again - very unusual so late this year - they had snow in Tahoe yesterday I believe thanks to a big storm over the Sierras. It's not unusual to get snow as late as Memorial Day in the Donner Pass, but I think this is more than the normal spring storm. Have been watching American Experience on PBS this evening - a history of the whaling industry. Very cute graphic for Lindybird. :-)
Wow, Annette, that cold weather is strange for your area. We are, once again, having big storms tonight and tomorrow. Surely wish I could send the rain to AQ and Wattle.
Yesterday I watched a little of The Story of Us, an in-depth history of America. That show also spent considerable time on whaling. It was certainly a dangerous occupation. Apparently, many escaped slaves took refuge on whaling boats. The show was discussing whaling in terms of the sweeping change it made in American culture, because whale oil provided an easily available light source in homes and businesses, allowing the mills, etc. to run at night.
Lindybird said: Hello Everyone. Husband and I have just been out for a celebratory 'naughty cake' and coffee at our favourite Garden Centre Cafe, as we have had some Important News. I know that all of you will be very happy for us, as you are a lovely crowd: we are to be Grandparents!
Hello Everyone. Husband and I have just been out for a celebratory 'naughty cake' and coffee at our favourite Garden Centre Cafe, as we have had some Important News. I know that all of you will be very happy for us, as you are a lovely crowd: we are to be Grandparents!
Awww Lindybird, congrats for your "situation"! Just started reading this week chatter (been a bit busy) and saw your wonderful news.
my photos in flickr
Diane: This was a fascinating two-hour program with the unifying thread the fate of the "Essex," which was rammed and sunk by a sperm whale with ghastly ramifications for the survivors (think an "organized" Donner Party). But also very interesting was the info that Herman Melville, who wrote Moby ***, went to sea on a whaling ship and wrote his book convinced that it would make his name as a writer. In fact the reverse was true - the material was too "rich" for the times; the book was savaged by the critics and he never achieved fame during his lifetime. OK off to bed. Take care all.
EDIT: OH FOR CRYING OUT LOUD you can't put the full name of a world-renowned novel without it being censored. Truly over the top!!!
Oh, my gosh, that's hilarious!!!
Unknown said: OG and Margobird: I hope you both have absolutely wonderful trips!!!!!!!!!
OG and Margobird: I hope you both have absolutely wonderful trips!!!!!!!!!
Good morning Diane and thanks for your good wishes. Will miss all thye chat while I am away and of course our wonderful EJ and Odin/
Heron 77 thanks for your wishes alsol.
Margobird
Morning, all. Sunny here but think it will only be 'sunny intervals' today.
Once again, many thanks to all of you for your kind good wishes. Diane: What a lovely card! Did make me smile this morning! - thanks! Sadly our son & wife live in the Midlands near Worcester, which is a good 1 hour & three quarters on a good day on the motorway, so can't just 'pop in' to see them. The have sent us an email of the 1st scans of the wee one, and we are seeing them again when they take a holiday in the Lake District at the beginning of June & they call in here on the way.
OG: What is a Canada Cake ?? Thought I knew most of the cake descriptions, not heard of that one! Have a great time on your holiday, and tell us all about it afterwards. (with photos!)
Emma Peel: Exams.... ooh. You will be tippy toeing around, not sure whether to ask if its going well with the revision, or whether to keep quiet and not get them stressed about it. All the Best to you all.
Heron: Like Annette, I immediately thought of the 'Birds' film when you mentioned all those creepy starlings. They are such greedy birds. Mine have been trying to do acrobatics clinging to a half coconut full of suet which we hung in the tree, I have to keep banging on the window so that the bluetits get a go at it.
TerryM: Love the idea of a 'poetry pencil' - will have to get one! Usually just scribble on bits of scrap paper with a biro, often at the dinner table - OH has got used to it and says nothing.
Annette: Well that just takes the ticket! Can't mention a famous book without censorship. Bet we can still mention Hitler and Atilla the Hun!! Yup!! You'll have to call it Moby Richard....
Margobird: Hope the packing is going well, I know I always have way too much laid out on the bed & agonise over which to take (will it be unseasonally cold, or hot??) Its exciting going on a trip like that though. I went to Venice when I was 21, just for an afternoon whilst passing by in Italy; the boyfriend & I had real Italian spaghetti for lunch & it (the weather) was so hot, I nearly passed out - it was July! Never forgot the wonderful experience of that day. Have a wonderful wonderful time, yourself.
Off to do various stuff now - have a good day, All.
‘Morning all. Weather forecast is cloudy, so the sky is very bright blue! Next question: tomorrow’s forecast is rain here - do we water the garden tonight ready to leave it, or do we trust the forecast?! ……answers on a postcard ……. AQ – liked your comment of the one DVD making its slow progress around the world’s TV stations! Heron – “The Birds” – watch out! More on the Ravens: there was one here again, then OH saw one near the woods yesterday on his way to the Council Tip (sorry, “Recycling Centre”), so maybe they are nesting there – my book says they do use woodland as well as rocky places. Diane – sorry the Ladybirds are such a nuisance in the furnace. Our native Seven Spot Ladybirds are so good in the garden, disposing of aphids, but even they are occasionally a pest in places when they reach biblical plague proportions! Loved your chick picture for Lindybird. Annette – more strange weather, I see. Will it be a painting day today? Whaling is a difficult issue – can we blame past generations for accessing the oil they had in their time? Might we have to go there again due to scarcity of mineral oil in the future? Is killing whales worse than polluting the whole seas with leaking undersea oil? ... not trying to defend them, just musing on these points … Will try to cut down on question and exclamation marks! Lindybird – our Grandsons were born in Aberdeen when we lived in Lancashire. The first one arrived in December, and we had to travel up two days after the Lockerbie bombing – I felt so embarrassed passing the town as if I was intruding on their grief. Canada Cake recipe was given to me by Dau#1’s MiL . She has a Sister in Canada, so maybe the recipe came from her. We also call it Survival Cake, because SiL always had one in his rucksack for long distance walking (such as Coast to Coast, West Highland Way etc.) Margobird – just realised I wished you a good holiday, but forgot to say Congratulations and Happy Anniversary!
Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!
Good morning original goldfinch and thanks so much for your wishes. Just about packed now ready for our early start tomorrow and hopefully volcanic ash will not be a problem, it is looking promising at the moment. Will miss EJ and Odin but I know i can catch up with everything when I come back. Don't think I can spend time on hotel internet as we are only there for 5 days and will have a lot to see.