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!
Stunning photo of a Kingfisher on Birdguides photo of the week:
http://www.birdguides.com/iris/pictures.asp?v=1&f=255395
Alan thanks so much for the link to the kingfisher pic, absolutely stunning. Wish I could take photos as good as that.
Margobird
Ditto, Alan: when the picture came up, I actually said "Oooh" it was so wonderful. Thanks for that.
Been to the Cinema with Friend: we wondered if it would be busy as last showing this week of "Sex & the City" - when we went inside, we were the only customers! Two girls arrived and sat at the back behind us during the adverts, then all 4 of us had a good laugh, as that's all this film is, not serious at all, just funny. A lot of it seems to be about the fashions, and I wished at the end that I had started to count the outfits at the beginning, as there were so many costume changes it was faintly ridiculous ( so were most of the things they were wearing, come to think of it !) - anyway, just a bit of fun.
Now will have to do all the things I was going to do today, tomorrow, so shall be busy but will still find time to watch on here.
Raining here now, with very heavy rain forecast overnight / tomorrow morning.
Just been for a walk at nearby Bodium Castle and saw our first swallows in this area, for this year ! They have definitely been hiding from us, although we have seen them in other areas. I was hoping to see a kingfisher, but no sign of them. They are proving elusive this year too, so thanks for the link to your photograph Alan. I am so sure that any photograph I hope to capture will not be anywhere near that standard, but I can dream !
Linda, I hope you did the ironing this morning, before you went to the cinema.
------ certainly did, Brenda. Left some pots in the sink, though, and daren't put the laundry on the line as doubtful skies, so that's still in the basket. The ironing basket looks wonderful now, with nothing at all in it, but that never lasts for long does it?!
Alan – thanks for the link to that wonderful view of the Kingfisher. I hope you have recovered from your grumpy patch brought on by Tesco! Lindybird – pleased you had a fun time at the cinema. Brenda – sorry it turned wet with you – but at least it was after you had a walk. It’s a wonderful June evening here – still 18 degrees and really sunny. OH is at his AGM, so I just watered the hanging baskets and did a bit of ironing, which had all dried outside so was much easier to iron than when dried indoors. Now going to make a mug of coffee and find my book.
Cool side of deck isn’t very colourful yet – just an edging of Thrift and some Marsh Orchids whose seeds blew in from the verge of the by-pass a few years ago – and the first Lupin (OH’s choice). This was taken earlier this week:
Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!
Hi, all. Just noticed that Trucker Steve's new trip is going to follow the Gulf Coast around from Florida, through Mobile, Alabama, then near New Orleans, and finally to Houston. His map indicates that he's going to stay right on the Gulf, so you may be able to see evidence of the Oil Disaster (skimmer ships, clean-up crews, empty beaches, etc.). Of course, I don't know what will be visible, but it could be interesting. I think he had to lay off for 34 hours (?) because he was all out of driving hours, so it may be a while before he begins his trip. He was sightseeing in St. Augustine, Florida, today, where there stands a very old lighthouse that is supposed to be very haunted.
Hope everyone is well and happy!
Good morning Diane. A quick visit before I'm off to archives today. I always check Trucker Steve but usually when I log on he's shut down for the night. I have seen some great views of your country when I time it right.
Big day tomorrow. Sadly our liquidamber tree is coming down. For quite a while it has been very unhealthy - we live too close to the beach and the salt winds burn off the new growth. Fsil has volunteered to assist Himself. For me it is m-o-b outfit hunting day. To add to the mix, Bride1 is minding her sister’s chn for the weekend. So, the big boys will play lumberjacks, gr-son will play on the computer (safely out of the way I hope), and Bride1, Miss 14 & I will play dress-ups.
Hi, AQ! I hope you find the perfect m-o-b outfit and that you and Bride1 + Miss 14 have a great time. (How is Miss 14? Still worrying about all of the injustices of the world? I like that child. She's going to be a great woman. LOL)
Edited to say: I hope the tree falls where it's supposed to! I have a very old locust tree that needs to come down. The thought of killing it just gnaws at my heart, but if I don't, it's going to fall on the house and kill me one of these days when the creek/burn floods and pushes it over. Its sister tree already fell last year and narrowly missed the house by the grace and mercy of the Great Divine Source.
I've just spent 2 hours pulling prickly weeds from my yard. I wore 2 pairs of heavy gloves, and I'm still trying to remove those scratchy spines from my fingers and arms. I think I'm going to have to break down and spray chemicals on them. I really, really hate using chemicals, but these things get out of control so fast. Natural weed killers, like vinegar, don't work on them. They just think it's Scotch whiskey and drink it right up. LOL
Evening all!!!!! (Had to catch up with the exclamation points!) Well family event went very well - way too much food so much of it divided up and sent off with everyone. But don't these thing wear you out? A bit like Christmas: days of organizing and then it's all over. Mid-setting the food out, granddaughter's OH decided to wander into the kitchen to pick my brains on how best to wash laundry items!! He and granddaughter disagree on to what extent you should mix whites and coloreds! What?! You're asking me what? now? while I'm trying to figure which bowls and plates to put which food on?! Chased him off nicely with as brief an answer as I could. As it was, I finally sat down and was just beginning to unwind, when it was suddenly all over and everyone picked up their plates, etc., and rushed off to the kitchen to clean up (so I wouldn't have to do anything). OH insisted on putting all the food away, but then I had to get it all out again and repack in other containers to send off with folks. Birthday cake (I ordered it from a super bakery in town) was wonderful: Light, white cake with fresh strawberry mousse and sliced strawberry filling topped with a light white chocolate frosting and more fresh strawberries. Light as a feather and not too sweet at all. Yummy. Granddaughter and OH staying overnight Saturday again before they drive back to Arizona on Sunday (it'll be leftovers or take out!). Then contractors arrive bright and early Monday with heavy equipment to break up the concrete pad in the garden where the spa used to be and level the path behind the house before installing a new drain. A noisy week ahead.
Lindybird: Good news about the bustard (an odd name for an odd bird!) Big too! OG: Congratulations on getting the potholes fixed. Lovely lupins. TerryM: Glad your boss is looking better; maybe he'll be inspired to return to work early? Alan: Wow: Interesting about the osprey sighting. Such exotic coloring on that kingfisher - isn't that unusual in the UK? I've found that supermarkets are a minefield of stacking boxes early in the mornings. Can't get down some aisles at all. AQ: Oh wow. Too bad about losing the liquidamber. They're so beautiful - we'd like to put one in our front yard, but they're notorious for getting into drains and lifting sidewalks. :-( Do hope you found a comfy wedding outfit that you'll feel good in and can wear more than once! Diane: More tree condolences but maybe an easier decision given the potential danger (and just think of all that work you've done on that house!). Will you try RoundUp on the weeds? I've been sneaking out and spraying it on odd bits of persistent Bermuda grass after using environmentally correct cardboard sheets and acres of mulch, but it's a very, very tough opponent. Haven't tried Scotch whiskey!!
OK; well apparently grandson got a speeding ticket on his way home - that kid will be paying traffic fines when he's as old as me if he's not careful. Good-hearted but way too much testosterone at this point.
Now off to rummage around in refrigerator and see what leftovers appeal....