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!
Morning all. Warmish but not sun here today, yet. Lots to read above, didn't have time yesterday to read here either, so will catch up later
Here is Monday's smile:
"I was out shopping with my daughter and granddaughter, Laura aged 11, when we stopped to look at some fur jackets. A few minutes passed & then Laura said "Nanny, what kind of an animal is a faux, because I've never heard of it?"....
Hello Diane I will indeed enjoy my day with the donkey, they are the most gentle of animals and really good to be up so close and personal with them.
Glad to read you are OK and not getting the tornadoes. We moan about our weather but at least we don't get these.
Thanks to all for news and pics and take care whatever you are doing.
Margobird
Lindybird. My mother took me shopping when I was a teenager and fur hats were in. (We wore hats to church in those days.) The snooty assistant tried to tell us that this special fur was "lapin". I had done some French and whispered to my mother "rabbit". We had them running around on our farm!!
Ha Ha !! AQ: v. funny !!! ; - )
Morning all,
Thanks for all the overnight chat and pics.
I especially want to wish Margobird a good time at the donkey santuary in Sidmouth. Lady P is also a great fan of donkeys and thinks they are lovely.
Weather is dull but dry after thunderstorm yesterday evening wrecked most of the flowers in the garden.
Only a short post as I have a shopping mission this morning.
Lindybird said: Morning all. Warmish but not sun here today, yet. Lots to read above, didn't have time yesterday to read here either, so will catch up later Here is Monday's smile: "I was out shopping with my daughter and granddaughter, Laura aged 11, when we stopped to look at some fur jackets. A few minutes passed & then Laura said "Nanny, what kind of an animal is a faux, because I've never heard of it?"....
Love the smile Lindybird.
Unknown said: Morning all, Thanks for all the overnight chat and pics. I especially want to wish Margobird a good time at the donkey santuary in Sidmouth. Lady P is also a great fan of donkeys and thinks they are lovely. Weather is dull but dry after thunderstorm yesterday evening wrecked most of the flowers in the garden. Only a short post as I have a shopping mission this morning.
Thanks Alan sorry about your flowers. Usually our roses get ruined by rain and high winds but as yet that has not happened although we are promised rain later today, here and at Simouth. I will enjoy my donkey day whatever, just love being able to get really close to them. Have a good shopping mission.
Morning All, Dry and grey here, with a cool breeze.
We also had some flower damage, Alan, after the Saturday night storms. The peonies were just about opening their flower heads, but there is nothing left now.
Thanks Linda and AQ for the Monday smiles.
Back to the camera now to see if Odin has arrived yet.
Re, the parcel that had been opened in transit, the replacement items have been delivered this morning. The van driver apologised for the incident, without any prompting from me, so I showed him the box, so that he could tell his boss at the delivery depot. The missing items were a Panasonic Lumix FS 10 and two 8Gb SDHC cards, approx value, £190. But the main items including a Pentax K-7 were in the original delivery and may have been saved by their bulky nature, being difficult to conceal and avoid detection.
ChloeB & Tiger's Osprey Data Site
Sat track schedule Spring 2014
LG 7 days; RW & SWT nil; LDOP varies
Murky muggy Monday morning – but dry, so Painter has returned after doing a job for someone else when we should have been away. Encouraging news from the Bear Centre again. Looks like BigRig Steve got out of Ohio just in time to miss the storms. Conflicting reports about how successful latest BP effort is in the Gulf. Awful news of an urban Fox apparently attacking 9-month-old twin girls in London. Neither of us quite 100% yet but getting used to the congestion – one day we shall be surprised to realise we have stopped coughing!
AQ – I can admire the garden designers’ work, but still like my ever-evolving chaotic collection of memories (think we discussed this on here last year!). My only concession to design is that the two beds in corners of the deck are planted one, sunny most of the day, with hot colours, and the other, partly shaded, with cool colours. Clothes are all the wrong shape for me too – but I don’t eat sausages from BBQs in the park – watched that video – thanks. Diane – pleased to read that the tornadoes left you alone on Sunday. I agree about the heavily perfumed women (or men) – I find concentrated perfume in crowded places just as bad as cigarette smoke. Lindybird and AQ – when I was little, my “Uncle” (Auntie’s partner but he had a wife elsewhere!) and my Dad bred rabbits for meat and to show. I was always promised a fur hat and matching muff from one of our bunnies, and a couple of times a pelt got “cured” for someone to make it, but it never materialised – I can remember a skin staying stretched inside the shed door until it was moth-eaten. Alan – I hope the storm-damaged plants in the garden did not include your new geraniums! BrendaH – sorry about your flowers too – here is a new peony for you from Gardening Scotland:
Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!