Hi everyone: Don't forget to check the final posts of last week's chat for tips on ordering stuff through the mail and what to do when a package has been tampered with and/or items never arrive in the first place! Also, OG is back and had a lovely time and may post photos if she can find some without total strangers blocking the views! Brenda/dibnlib: Americans aren't "allowed" to go to Cuba because - oh don't get me started. But a friend of mine did go there - he had to go somewhere else first and then pop over to Cuba on the QT before heading back to the States. Tiger: Nice to see you. Emma: "They" have just approved a bunch of wind turbines offshore of Cape Cod - one of the most famous scenic places on the U.S. East Coast! I'm fascinated to see what happens since I can't believe the moneyed and well-connected folk with fab houses in that area would allow it to actually happen. Diane: Yes, I read some comments on Trucker Steve's blog about some negative folk on Facebook, but no idea what that was all about and, like you, had no inclination to find out! He's heading to Florida next...
Since folks on here are talking about it, thought I'd mention that BP's curly headed CEO? didn't endear himself to anyone last week when he said he was eager to "get his life back" after the spill. A nice option for him when those killed and their families won't ever have that option, not to mention the wildlife.
Haven't been around much today - Farmer's Market and errands this morning, then this afternoon went on our Gray Whale "thank you to volunteers" boat ride on the Condor, which typically does whale watch cruises for tourists, etc., but was just for us this afternoon. Mike, our main GWC guy, works (unofficially) with the captain of the Condor during Gray Whale season. The Condor calls us when they see whales heading our way while we let them know when we have whales around Coal Oil Point. A win-win arrangement for everyone. Today, we left the harbor and immediately found ourselves in a pod of dolphins - a huge pod of about 700, Mike estimated, in full hunting mode. Just an amazing spectacle; we were surrounded by them. The dophins on the outer edge of the pod were leaping out of the water in coordinated groups of four or five - one of the rangers said she'd seen that behavior before and speculated that it may be a way of driving the fish into a particular position to facilitate feeding for the rest of the group . We could see fish jumping - literally for their lives. Other dolphins were behind the boat and still more right beside us, riding the wake from the bow . Immediately in front of the bow the dolphins were swimming (all this very fast) upside down, their bellies exposed and our guide explained that this was normal hunting behavior - that they can better see the fish from this position. Just amazing. Then we headed 9 miles out to track two humpback whales - a cow and calf pair, which we followed for about 30 minutes, watching the mother roll on her side to feed on krill; then saw the calf breach, which was a real treat. They served us wine and food, but I didn't partake since we were in a heavy swell and my innards were feeling a bit odd. That wasn't helped by the diesel fumes or the very strong perfume that two young women were wearing. I haven't had problems on boats before, but as they say, there's always a first time and this was it. Suffice to say I made it to a quiet corner at the rear of the ship before.....
Probably going to bed early tonight! Granddaughter and OH arriving Wednesday, so a busy week ahead. Take care all!
Heather B said: Writing here just now to make sure that this thread gets to the top of the page again: dibnlib & HeatherB : you have inadvertently written at the end of last week's thread.....
Writing here just now to make sure that this thread gets to the top of the page again:
dibnlib & HeatherB : you have inadvertently written at the end of last week's thread.....
BTW, I see that I had managed to get my post on this thread, earlier. First time, it came up server error, I tried a bit later and obviously on the wrong Chat page. I think that there have been a few server error messages around today. (Not that I am trying to excuse myself!)
Hi, Annette. The turf roof building behind is the croft (well, a mock-up of one corner)! The old crofts and even black houses sometimes had turf roofs way back – though not with the solar panels and wind turbines that this one has! Modern growing roofs – usually sedum for low maintenance – are proliferating here – daughter’s office in Inverness has one. Margobird – sounds like a busy week coming up – enjoy your donkeys on Tuesday.
This garden was thought by many to be the star attraction. The planting was good, but the garden was very impractical. The vertical structure was provided by rusty steel reinforcing rods, the deck was an island reached only by stepping stones. To see it, one had to climb on steps, because when they exhibited it at Chelsea, it was a sunken garden but at Ingliston even the show gardens are not allowed to excavate. OH took pictures for me, but towards evening we went round again, and with less people there, I was able to tackle the steps and see for myself.
Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!
Thanks, folks, for all the interesting info, pics, etc. For those who suffer from travel sickness, have you tried Sea-Bands? I used to cross the North Channel (between Northern Ireland and South-West Scotland) in a daze, thanks to travel sickness pills but now can be compos mentis all the way.
Have just spent a weekend doing a dog agility competition, not very successfully, but thankful that I could run to compete. I have very thin skin because of steroid treatment for asthma, and got a skin tear on my leg, thanks to Tweed's attempts to warn off another dog. 10 very unpleasant minutes in a minor injuries department (you don't want to know the details but iodine and open wounds involved) and we were reasonably fit to compete - didn't tell the nurse how I intended to spend the weekend!
OOOH, Patriciat, that made my eyes run just thinking about the iodine! I hope you didn't overdo the running in the competition, and that your leg will soon recover .
Evening all: Had a very relaxing day. Puttered around a couple of garden departments in stores - one had propane BBQs on sale: "Clearance: Now $249.99. Originally $249.99." Hmm. When I pointed it out to a young male assistant, he said "Oh, that's the price - they probably ran out of clearance signs." ???? Then came home for long chat on phone to sister in Lincolnshire, who says the weather has been humid and ghastly but was better today. Then flopped in deck chair in the garden and read/napped for two hours. Am reading "The Man Who Ate His Boots: The tragic history of the search for the Northwest Passage." by Anthony Brandt. Fascinating, but horrifying too.
OG: Those rusty rods in that garden? We have some of those in our garden and we haven't even started redesigning it! They're the sort of thing I'd topple right into - after tripping on the stepping stones and falling in the pond.
Patriciat: Iodine!? Do they still make that stuff? Boy. I certainly remember it. Does it still smell the same? Yuk. Thanks for the tip re Sea-Bands - we have similar stuff here. This was the first time I couldn't "talk" myself better on a boat - typically if I can watch the horizon, or something stable, I'm okay, but we came back in fog...
OH is wondering if dinner is being served tonight. Better sort out something....back later.
Thanks OG for the wonderful garden pics. I shall not go and look at my weed-infested garden - just image it as it should be. LOL
I forgot to mention that the m-o-b outfit doesn't actually fit moi. Skirt too long, jacket too long and a few adjustments needed here and there 'cos I am not a perfect shape. (Who is?) Earlier my joke that I would wear the same to both weddings was not received very well, so two outfits I may never wear again. And I believe that Bride2 has chosen a very similar colour for her bridesmaids, so this is definitely for 1st occasion. Elopement sounds my preferred option!!!!!!!!
Recently a kookaburra in Sydney was rescued because she was too fat to fly. She was 40% overweight because she had snacked on so many sausages from BBQs in a park. Given her own personal trainer and a flying program 3 times a day, she's lost weight and is soon to be released. Try Googling "obese kookaburra" for video.
Oh dear AQ: I hate having stuff I don't wear hanging in the closet. Can you get separates and mix tops? If you get simple stuff you might be able to wear it again; dress it up with fancy scarf or something..... I'll check out youf fat kookaburra later.
Hi, all. Many tornadoes in the Midwest last night, but we are fine here.
AQ: Glad to see you back. Hope the headache completely disappears. Oh, my stars, that poor kookaburra. I hope that they release it into a different area where it can't be fed sausages.
Sue C: Thanks for your post. I will look in on the Chichester peregrines. Patriciat: I hope your leg heals well and soon. GeorgeG: Sorry that your BiL's operation was more serious than expected. I hope the chest infection clears soon. Margobird: Enjoy the donkey carer trip!!! I would really enjoy taking care of those gentle fellas. Tiger: Thanks for posting the oil disaster map. I can't comment on the disaster because anything I would say would not be printable here -- just a long series of asterisks.
OG: Thanks for posting the garden photos. I have enjoyed them very much. My favorite was the Barony "Autumn Gold" entry. So serene and peaceful. I adored the pale blue stone with the green plants. Just perfect. To me, that one's the winner. The Dundee "Plantsman's Garden" was very lovely. I liked the balance of color in that one. The "21st Century Croft" garden was very innovative and beautiful. It would not be practical on my property, because the paper wasps would waste no time in building huge nests in the screens on those panels. Oh, they would dearly love those! LOL I did really like that entry, though. I didn't care for the last garden. I liked the plants, but that structure would quickly become a moldy, rusty mosquito pit here, so I can't really look at that one objectively. I just hear buzzing in my ears. LOL
Annette: Your ride on the Condor sounds spectacular -- except for the seasickness. How wonderful to see such an enormous pod of dolphins hunting. And what a gift to be able to watch the humpback cow and calf pair. What a special trip!
So very sorry that you were overcome by seasickness. I used to spend a lot of time on the Gulf of Mexico when I was married. I was only seasick once, but that was enough. We were on our relatively small boat on very choppy water. Up and down. Up and down. And you're right about the fuel fumes; that makes it so much worse. At first, I was afraid I was going to die, and then I was afraid I wouldn't. :-)
As for the heavily perfumed women: I would have tossed them overboard, I'm afraid. LOL
Hey Diane: Was just looking at the tornado damage in Ohio; hope the bad weather passed you by. All better this evening. Getting ready for granddaughter and OH visit this week and family get together Thursday - at least that's what's scheduled now, but you have to stay flexible with our group!