Evening/morning all:
Lindybird; Yes!! What was the Drama next door?? Oh by the way, remember the "Tiger Woods" event down the road where somone drove into a neighbor's garage? Well, heard it was yet another neighbor's young son, totally potted (drunk) who was coming home late and somehow mistook the gas pedal for the brake!! Apparently, the Fire Department was there, etc., and had to cut the (uninjured) perpetrator out of the car because the garage door collapsed onto the car. They've just completed the repairs.
OG. Ooooh. Another lovely butterfly. Thanks!
Alan: Watched the US/Ghana match - felt so bad for the U.S. team (but if they'd won, would've felt bad for the Ghana team!) They started off so lackluster; then picked up in the second half, but then hit (to me at least) a sort of slump toward the end of the second half, but picked up again in the overtime, but to no avail. It doesn't matter which team/player I support, I always feel bad for the loser. These people put so much time and effort into their games.... Soccer is so much more exciting than U.S. football where, as I've noted before, the players are all done up like Michelin men and spend most of their tiime in a pile.....
AQ: We had floor heaters in our church in Watford, and everyone huddled over them (and roasted!) during the winter months. I missed the "red card" reference in your response to Alan....."
Our new back gate got installed today. I worked in the garden (after footie!) and managed to decimate a Potato Vine. Was trying to "re-install" it on the wall, but thought I'd be clever and trim it. Big mistake. Oh well, it'll grow back.
OG - Just one week in Madeira, an island we have visited a few times before. It would be easy for me to say that it is getting overdeveloped compared to the Madeira of old, but in a way, I think I am selfish to say that, because tourism has brought some prosperity. Love the hibiscus - Its OH's favourite colour, he is always trying to get bright red double geraniums. When I plant baskets, etc, he is always complaining because i choose pink, blue, white and mauves. He calls them 'peely wally' colours! I am surprised that we are still together----
Evening all,
Having great trouble getting on this thread today. Kept getting server error.
Thanks everyone for pics and clips.
I never did think much of Englands chances in the World Cup and I am not that impressed by Germany either. Argentina play the best football and have the best player in Lionel Messi. Slight doubt about their defensive qualities but I love the way Maradonna gives all his players a hug and kiss when they come off.
Evening everyone. Coming back to my post on 24th, thank you to Annette, Aquilareen, Diane in Indiana, Original Goldfinch, Margobird, Lindybird, DjoanS and Alan P for birthday greetings. Hope I haven’t missed anyone and very sorry if I have. You are all so kind on here.
For info, FPs are Former Pupils so now Dau#1 has left school she is already an FP. Sorry I should have said but thought this one might have travelled. OG – love the butterflies. Your photos are excellent. I took Dau#2 to Butterfly World south of Edinburgh for her 5th birthday – she is now 15. It was incredibly warm in there and also remember scorpions and amazing spiders on ropes high above your head. Not for the faint-hearted and we loved it. Good luck with boiler fitting tomorrow. Auntie – so sorry to hear about your mum’s stroke and glad to hear that she is better and hopefully physiotherapy will help her left hand given time. It would be wonderful for you if you can make the trip to Pohtiolampi. GeorgeG – hope you enjoy your visit to LG and take pics to share with us. Don’t get me started on the wind farms again. Lindybird – beautiful rose. Annette and I would like to know its name when you have time. Oh I see you have said you don’t know what it is. That’s a pity but lucky you to have taken ownership of such a beauty. Thanks for updating us on drama. Poor elderly neighbour. That sounds like a very nasty injury and very kind of you to look after her house and garden while she is in hospital. Alan P – hope Lady P is recovering from ear infection – very unpleasant – and is back shopping for shoes and handbags in no time. I’m not into all the hugging and kissing in football and am always sceptical of Maradonna but I agree that the Argentinians have flair and play wonderful football. Looking forward to seeing the Dutch and Brazilians tomorrow. Margobird – glad to hear you enjoyed dancing the night away to Al Green. DjoanS – great pics of ‘Beaky’. Diane – thanks for warning about Pete’s pond site. I too have been busy with ospreys and have not visited for a while. HeatherB – hope you have a wonderful week in Madeira.
Think I have caught up now and thank you for your advice last month - you know what I mean. On Friday I finished extremely busy period, rested yesterday and will be working shorter hours for the next two months (9am-1pm). Decided I needed to slow down a bit and will enjoy being at home during school hols with girls and we have a family holiday in August to look forward to and plan for. Right now I am looking forward to Wimbledon and World Cup this week, gardening, visit to opticians, etc, etc. Catch you all tomorrow. Emma.
Evening all: Probably too late to wish you Bon Voyage Heather, but have one anyway. Gosh. Have forgotten where Madeira is (Portugal? Spain? - will check later).
dibnlib: Yes, read it was a ghastly show on England's part. Too bad.
Lindybird: Never heard of American Lions; have been to La Brea Tar Pits but can't remember that exhibit. Oh dear, cookie emergencies - I have those but usually solve them by stuffing one in my mouth. Lucky neighbors with gift of strawberries.
OG: Bamboo is awfully invasive, though I've heard Black Bamboo less so. Hibiscus are very big here - I had two in my Long Beach driveway - a red one and a lovely orange one - these were very old and grown into trees. One night the orange one just fell over in the driveway; had to drag it out of the way to get my car out next morning. Giant White Fly (not really that giant) has been a pest here for the last few years; especially attracted to red Hibiscus.
Emma Peel: Former Pupils? Thanks for explaining! Enjoy your down time!
Thanks all for comments. Take care.
Hi, all. More storms moving in so I can't hang around. Storms earlier knocked the power out twice, but it wasn't off long.
OG: I hope your boiler work goes smoothly tomorrow. I really loved that hibiscus flower. That red-orange color is uplifting. I should put that color in the house, because it always lightens my spirit. I'm going to restore an old rocking loveseat for the dining room, and I might make seat cushions and pillows in that color. I think it would be pretty with the more tranquil chocolate brown in the room. Thanks for the idea.
Heather: I hope you have a wonderful and safe trip.
Lindybird: Yummm strawberries. The white clematis were gorgeous! I like white flowers -- especially gardenias. I'm so glad that you and the other neighbors came to the aid of the woman in crisis. It would have been such a tragedy if she had not been found. She sounds like a woman with a strong spirit, trying so hard to live independently. I did have to smile about the woman who pushes the Lifeline button by hugging the biscuit tin. :-)
DjoanS: Oh, what great pictures of Beaky. Glad he's learned to thrive with his non-traditional beak. What a fine symbol of nature's resourcefulness!!!
Margobird: So wonderful that you were dancing through the night. What a beautiful memory. Here's a quote for you by Voltaire: "Let us read and let us dance -- two amusements that will never do any harm to the world."
Annette: Very interesting about your area's geology. I've read about the La Brea Tar Pit, but I wasn't aware that the tar was more widespread and the Indians/Spanish made use of it. When you mentioned the American Lion's bones, I had to Google it. Here's a picture showing what the American Lion looked like: http://www.tarpits.org/education/guide/flora/lion.html Kind of a neat site.
I will miss Pete's Pond. There's a period of time during my night when the osprey nests -- actually most of the bird nests -- aren't very active. And that was the time that a lot of animals used to show up at Pete's Pond, so I enjoyed it.
re: your question about PC security: I use Norton 360 by Symantec. All of those programs have pros and cons, but Norton has served me pretty well -- especially given that my Dad isn't very careful! :-( It's good about taking care of threats. My computer rarely freezes up, though, so I don't know what's going on with that site.
re: Mac vs. PC. I prefer Macs, but most corporations use PCs, so that's what I have to use if I want to work freelance, otherwise compatibility problems occur when everybody shares documents.
re: work. Book publishing has been in a serious decline (really in the toilet!) since the economy turned sour, so I don't know whether I can get work there, but that's what I want. Freelance opportunities are treated like state secrets, and if my colleagues have any good leads, they will keep them for themselves! LOL I may have to go back to writing/editing for big pharma (drug research). I need to get the house cleaned and do a few things around here before I start hunting in earnest for work. Thanks for the good wishes.
Hey Diane: Thanks for the American Lion link - doesn't look too different from our current mountain lions. Still haven't tried Pete's Pond; wonder if there's anything on the 'net about any problems. Take care with those storms.....
Emma Peel - Thank you for FPs. In my day they were called Old Scholars. Now I realize I haven’t heard that term for ages. I must ask some young things what they use now.
Diane - I sympathize with you in that horrible heat & humidity. And now more storms. We had another chilly night of 4 C. Himself carried out the washing basket for me this morn and declared it was a waste of time to hang it as nothing would dry, it would just freeze. Well, it was nice & breezy, so it is nearly dry. Since rain is threatening, I have all the small stuff draped on the clothes airer.
Lindybird - Many Brownie points to you and neighbour for looking after the fallen lady. I imagine she lay there thinking "I’ll be alright in a minute. I don’t want to bother anyone. I’ll get myself up if I have a little rest." My Dad had one of those gadgets around his neck but when he fell he didn’t press it because he knew they would put him in hospital. I still wonder what guardian angel prompted me to phone him. "How are you Dad?" " Not good." "Why is that?" I’m on the floor and can’t get up". Fortunately he fell beside the bed and the phone was on the bedside table. I ordered him to press his thingie as I was one hour’s drive away. The call people were great and stayed talking to Dad until help arrived. Yes, he did have to go to hospital and ultimately a nursing home, as by then he needed 24 hour care.
Annette - Thank you for the Nat Geog site. It is wonderful the things I learn from this bird blog. I have never heard of Mount Conner and had to Google it. (I have heard of William Gosse who named it - does that count?)
Auntie - Thank you for the Jukka pics. Seeing is believing!
OG - I knit jackets & beanies for a mums & bubs home. I stupidly decided to knit wee bears (6 ins tall) to go in each pack, colour co-ordinated of course. I hate sewing up and embroidery is tiresome. So the final stages have become a chore. Here is a pic of some among our crab apple leaves. The blank face? One of 8 more faces to do. <sigh>
Morning, All. A bit more clouded over here today, and rain forecast for later on in the afternoon.
AQ: Love your 'wee bears!" what a great idea, putting one in with each set of jackets etc. I'm sure they are appreciated.
HAPPY MONDAY TO ALL, & here is this weeks 'smile' -
Question: Why did the chewing gum cross the road?
Answer: Because it was stuck to the chicken's shoe....
Good Monday morning – early start for us, Boiler Man is here. Weather much the same. Had a Song Thrush here earlier, don’t often see them. Will have to face the ironing pile today as there is not much else I can do.
Alan – sorry you had server error report Sunday – I only saw that earlier in weekend, can’t remember whether Fri or Sat. English football post mortem continues. I agree about Argentina – they not only have best football, they have an Argentine former World Cup player as Manager and a national pride which England seems to have lost. I had a letter from a missionary friend there last week, headed “Vamos Argentina!” – the country is so dedicated to its team, and of course they really know how to celebrate – all this must boost team morale.
Emma – thanks for explaining FPs – guess we were all showing our age there! Pleased to read that you can slow down a bit and enjoy the summer and look forward to your holiday together.
Annette – we have a clump-forming black Bamboo too, but it doesn’t stand a chance with the other stuff spreading.
Diane – I hope you didn’t lose your power again, it’s such a pain when it goes off and on and you have to check all your equipment, especially time-switches etc. Chocolate brown is such a good colour for contrasting with any bright – just noticed I’m wearing choc brown trousers with a bright pink tee-shirt right now!
AQ – good to hear you have a nice breeze to dry the washing – so more ironing, I guess? Your knitted bears are very much like the ones our church ladies make – but never white because they are going to African countries where white is associate with death.
Lindybird – laughed at the chewing gum joke! We too might get some rain later, but we could be between two “blobs” on the weather map – never know whether they indicate specific showers or a general tendency over the area.
OH just reported we have Mr & Mrs Greenfinch feeding a chick this morning.
Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!