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!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00skw0h/Food_Programme_Cupcakes/
Cupcakes on Radio 4, the epitome of the British establishment good taste, no pun intended. :o)
ChloeB & Tiger's Osprey Data Site
Sat track schedule Spring 2014
LG 7 days; RW & SWT nil; LDOP varies
DjoanS : There is also news on the grapevine of another pair of ospreys in the Kielder water area.
Alan - haven't heard anything yet locally about another osprey pair ... will keep my ears open! I do know several singles were sighted earlier in the season though.
Joan - avid bird and nature watcher in Northumberland!
Index Thread
Dear RSPB, this is not an advertisment!
I thought that two of our loves/weaknesses are brought together here:-
http://hummingbirdbakery.com/cupcakes/
Out of the mouths.........from a four year old at lunchtime today, looking for a toad, hiding in a concrete pit in the garden. "Are they camouflaged? Maybe that's why we cannot see it?" Then we saw it. "Hmmm," she observed.
The little girl had just released her butterflies at the weekend, five Painted Ladies, from five Painted Lady caterpillars. These are sold in 'kit' form, with all the food, instructions etc.
jsb said: Dear RSPB, this is not an advertisment! I thought that two of our loves/weaknesses are brought together here:- http://hummingbirdbakery.com/cupcakes/
Oh dear! This is SAD! An insult to Humming Birds!!
Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!
Planted up some alpines this afternoon. Had a few drops of rain, but not the forecast storm, and not enough to stop painter, OH and myself all working outside. This evening we watered hanging baskets, wall pots and greenhouse plants. Got little tomatoes forming now! Just done a quick sweep through various happy families, now a quick catch up here. DjoanS – lovely white Clematis – ours aren’t blooming yet - must be later varieties. We don’t grow peonies – parents used to have them, but we decided right through that they take up a lot of ground for a short flowering season, which is often spoilt by “Wimbledon rain” anyway! But I do like to see them. So pleased about your local Ospreys – and hope there is another pair – there is certainly room for more around Kielder Water. Lindybird – remember Norton Priory as a very restful place – so glad it stayed dry for you. Jsb – listened to beginning of cup-cake prog, will listen in full later – thanks. So, they are an invader species, like grey squirrels and mink!
This picture from in the Floral Hall at the show is for Dibnlib and her OH!
Up early today well before sunrise. It is now daylight and 8 C. We've had a few mornings down to 5 this week and max of 15. A few showers every few days, so the weeds have gone mad in the garden. Maybe later I shall inspect them.
My mother would have censured "damn" and few other words that my father used - but he never used in the presence of females. Apparently the shearers had a signal (whistling?) to warn each other if a woman came in earshot. They must have been unpleased with my young sister who was always hanging around the shed !!! Let's see if instead of that other naughty diminutive of Richard, the censor allows Rick.
Cupcakes? New? No way!! My mother always made them. I think we called them buns. She often made 2 log cakes and a batch of small cakes from the same mixture. The little paper cases were called patty pans.
Himself has just been called by his magpie. He is singing for his breakfast (Maggie, not Himself LOL). He is the one with a broken beak and he often calls down a 2nd mate with a similar problem. No 2 does not sing for his supper. Some days we have visits 2 or 3 times. When Maggie has had enough he runs away into the garden.
AQ - good to see you "live" tonight - I should have gone to bed, but have returned just to turn off my computer after OH used it for a special print run (my printer is better than his). The cupcakes we are talking about are huge concoctions - big as muffins - and they have really rich topping in ghastly shades of orange, pink, green etc and are decorated with more colours and ... anything goes! These are not the neat little iced cup-cakes our mothers made for birthday parties etc. They were selling for about £3 each at Gardening Scotland - don't know how that converts into $s.