Welcome to the new week everyone. Harelady updated us on her return to Suffolk today (Sunday) and she'll be returning to London next Sunday for funeral services the following week.
Lindybird: Thanks for the lovely photo of the poppy.
Pat O: I enjoyed reading about your power-golfing holiday. Hope you have a good trip home.
OG: When do you expect the deck to be done? (Is it a wooden deck or a patio area?)
AQ: Disconcerting that the snowflakes (snowdrops?) are so very early.
Meanwhile, while took Ms D up to the local Natural History Museum last week where, among other things, we enjoyed a visit with some injured and rescued raptors, now living happily ever after in the museum's gorgeous grounds. In the first photo, Ms. D is cozying up to a peregrine falcon that had been shot (she looks a little uncertain, but I know the guy who handles it and he assured me there was no problem). In the second photo, she's looking a lot happier being friendly with a gorgeous barn owl.
AQ: Lancefield Mechanics building looks very smart - and Snowflakes are so dainty! Here's hoping you get some decent rain soon.
dibnlib: Seaweed oatcakes??!! That's a new one for me.
OG: Holding the birds wasn't offered and the handlers were pretty protective. All the birds have been at the garden for some years and all, except for the peregrine falcon, had been hit by cars and were partially blind in addition to having wing damage. The falcon had been shot. :-( There was also the tiniest and sweetest little Western Screech Owl that had been found as a baby and was completely blind. Apparently, when early ornithologists first spotted it, they noted its physical similarity to the Eastern Screech Owl, which is true to its name, but the Western Screech Owl has a much quieter and more limited song.
Heather: Nice to think of you zooming back and forth between family members - you must be a super Mom to be so much in demand!
Lindybird: What a cute little pig! I loved the movie Babe. :-)
Forestboar: A double-edged sword, but from others' posts it sounds like there are ways to protect the inheritance. Good luck. I liked the judge's comeback to the defence - the things they come up with!
The Prescott Valley branch of the family has a new member: A cute little black goat that Ms. D named Prince Eric (no idea where that came from! Oh wait, I just Googled it and it's a pesky Disney character. Poor goat) Anyway, he's going to help keep the weeds under control. They also found the tiniest baby rabbit - so small it fit in the palm of my daughter's hand, but the poor little critter didn't survive and was buried with appropriate ceremony and some pretty weeds
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Good Morning, All. Yes, Heather, the weather brightened, after we'd been out to a cafe and treated ourselves to a super lunch of home made quiche with side salad. I bought a new wall clock for our conservatory at home, and some bird seeds, and we came back to sit out on our deck while we had the chance.
AQ - love the Snowflakes - so pretty. They must look good when in a big clump.
Hoping to go to Glaslyn today. The forecast is for rain after that, so we may well go home again tomorrow.
Here's today's pic:
"Don't keep fussing, Mum!"
Good morning all.
AQ - I Googled Lancefield after I had looked at your pics. Interesting snippets of history!
LINDY - happy to read that the weather brightened up. I heard a dire forecast for rain up as far as the Solway Firth either late today or tomorrow. I was half asleep but ears pricked up when I heard the words Solway Firth and 15mm of rain. I wonder if OG will be rained on? At least it looks dry for her hospital visit today.
ANNETTE - I'd forgotten about Prince Eric. I have a hard job keeping up with these things:-( Isla's birthday party next Saturday has a Moana theme. That I do know about since the girls watched the DVD here recently. All I can say is there is no way that I am wearing anything remotely like a grass skirt.
And a goat? Interesting, but won't he be lonely? Cue for baby goats, goats milk......
We've had a couple of rain showers this morning but I must make the effort to do some outside work. Right now, Mr and Mrs Blackbird are gobbling up all the cherries that they have removed from the tree. It is usually starlings that visit en masse and eat all the fruit. I've yet to eat a cherry from that flipping tree.
All good at hospital - details later - things to do right now!
Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!
Heather: I got the Peter and the Wolf DVD from the library while Ms. D when she was here - it was the real actors/animated version. She was enthralled and joined the characters in their triumphant march at the end. I'm going to order it from Amazon... I read the reviews and apparently it retains all the music (which some of them don't???) It's a cute version. Gosh, your grandkids are growing up fast. I assume Amy is doing well these days?
OG: Good everything went well today - you'll be zooming around before long. :-)
Sounds like rain is in the forecast for you guys. Stay dry.
After three weeks I did over half the journey home today - almost 250 miles, with another 190 tomorrow. If only Scotland wasn't so far away ...! I waved to OG as I went past her town. Now in Derbyshire - not a sign of rain at all, but I don't think I'll get away with it tomorrow ...
Hello, again, after dinner. As I said, the hospital visit was good. I didn’t have the nasty man do my X-ray, so didn’t come away with bruises this time; instead, it was two young ladies and they did both images with me sat in the wheelchair that the porter used to take me there, with my leg on another chair and a banana board for the plate to sit on. I saw the boss this time, not one of the registrars, but my consultant surgeon. He was thrilled to see me walking into the consulting room, and told us that at one time he had wondered if I would ever walk again, due to the complexity of the surgery, my age and my other medical conditions. I was pleased that he appreciated how hard I had worked to continue what he had successfully begun. We still don’t know how much more progress I can expect, but he told me that he will be happy for rheumatology to resume my previous medications, and we can see whether that helps my endurance. He will see me again in a few months, meanwhile I am to be gided by how I feel.
Dibnlib – glad you had another enjoyable walk by the canal. I am reading a book about the Highland cattle raiders, and there was mention of a castle near Dores which was believed haunted after a particularly bloody episode, and known as “Spirit Castle” – I think the real name was Castle Mona. It fell into ruins, and its foundations were lost in the building of the canal.
Annette – does the Screech Owl really produce a “song”? !!! Goats get on well with other animals – over here, they are often bought as “companion animals” for lonely Horses or Donkeys.
Linda – your Sunday sounded really good, and I am sure you will have got to Glaslyn/Pont Croesor) today. Probably two really wet days to follow, so wishing you safe home.
Heather – no rain here today – just a few fine drops against the windscreen on the hospital carpark and nothing at home. Will probably get heavy rain overnight and tomorrow, then showers the next day.
Pat – sorry I was out when you waved – must get in touch for future journeys – will try to PM. Enjoy your night in Derbyshire – which part?
Harelady – still remembering you and yours – I hope you got back to Suffolk without incident and can relax with your memories.
OG: So pleased to hear that things went so well at the hospital, and you're making such wonderful progress.
Pat: Safe journey home, on your lengthy trip.
Have had a much better day than we expected! The sun came out here and there, and we made our way down to Glaslyn, where we found quite a few visitors there already, including a young Swedish couple. The three chicks already have some feathers, and as our volunteer Steve told us, they were barely moving even though the male had brought a fish in, as they were already so full of fish! Pics another day.
In the Visitor Centre, there was a breathtaking piece of artwork on display - a sky scene of an osprey in flight, painted on glass. I bought a raffle ticket to get the chance to win it as it's been donated by the artist. I seriously loved it - I am always drawn to glass objects.
No sign of the otters which have been seen there in the river in the last twelve months, but it's great news that otters are returning to so many rivers.
We tore ourselves away, and then drove off to visit the Blackrock Sands, which are huge - Bonnie enjoyed a good snuffle round and a run about.
This afternoon, we had a late salad lunch outside and then my OH finished his latest book. I dozed!
Packing now as decided to return home tomorrow, in view of the wet weather to come.
OG: Sounds like you made your doctor's day! I bet they often see all their work undone by patients who don't follow through with therapy, etc.. "Song" isn't the right word for Western Screech Owls - I was thinking that as I typed it - it's more like a quiet warble. The lady handler got it to respond by saying "dibble,dibble,dibble" quietly and it responded with a series of little burbles. Hard to describe, but very endearing. Will be interested to see how the goat gets on with the horses and dogs. I've rumors of a pig too (they used to have one called Piggy Sue when grandkids were young).
Lindybird: Safe drive home. I love glass artwork too - it reflects so much light and changes with the light. Good luck with the raffle ticket.
Went zooming off this morning to Tai Chi class and to do some errands - all without my wallet, driving licence, credit cards or cash!. Duh. Am about to head to yoga, etc. now, but fully prepared this time!