Hi all: First off, con't miss the last page of last week's chat for lovely photo of Alan's hibiscus and OG's very informative shots of the nest at LG, showing the perch under the nest where chick #1 likes to sit.
OG. Assume plumber on the list for next week. So Boat of Garten actually has something to do with a real boat! I thought it was some obscure Scottish vernacular-ish term that had nothing to do with a boat. There was a nature program here last week about "preparing" an environment for some species that are living in an area that is expected to be threatened by higher ocean levels in the coming years. As with the Lapwings, the change has to be made gradually.
Cirrus. A 12-mile hike! I probably burned a couple of hundred calories just thinking about it.
Was in the garden all day - as I type have the soaker hose going on the camellias, which I fed and which need deep watering about twice in the summer; they're putting out buds now. Also fed the roses and plumeria. Found a volunteer duranta repens growing in one of the plumeria pots - I thought it was familiar but only recognized it today. Sun came out around 11 and lovely cool evening now.
Hope you sleep really well tonight - take care.
Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!
Hi everybody! I'm home again after a wonderful visit with my cousin in Adelaide. I got home early Saturday morning and finally fell into my own bed for a couple of hours at 5.00 am. Saturday was recovery day, yesterday was washing and sorting out day, and today is nearly back to normal. We met up with AQ and had lunch with her, which was lovely, and one of the highlights of my trip. Another highlight was that I actually SAW and Australian osprey, and got some photos of it. It was at Port Noalunga, sitting on a perching post installed specifically for the ospreys, and ws the first sighting of an osprey there for quite a long time. I'll add a photo for you, poor quality and much enlarged because he was way off in the distance, but proof I've seen one!
Smiles, Jan.
Evening all: Spent most of the day finishing my book and snoozing. Lightning is now following me around and "chatting" in a creaky voice - not a fullblown miaow!
OG: Church and a Cream Tea! What a combo. Not surprising that you guys are feeling a tad slow; you're probably right in that it's a response to the stress of the last few weeks. Enjoy the visit with your friends.
Lindybird: Daughter is coming without Oro, who is going to the local "spa" overnight. Don't think Lightning could tolerate yet another adjustment. :-)
Cirrus: Hope you had a good night's sleep. I've found that having a book close by helps when I wake up in the middle of the night; stops me from free-associating and settling on some worry or another.
Wattle: Welcome back. So good you had a rewarding visit. Geez. Did you drive overnight or fly and get in super-early? Congratulations on seeing a real live Aussie osprey!
Take care all; I'm off to bed right after Masterpiece Mystery ends (another Poirot!)
Annette: I caught the Indian Pacific train to and from Adelaide. It got into our closest stop (Parkes) an hour late at 2.35 am. The car had developed a water leak which had to be fixed before we could travel the 1 1/2 hours home, so we got in the front door about 4.30 am!
Morning, All. Drizzly & grey here today. Welcome Back to Wattle , glad you had a good trip and such fun that you met AQ for a lunch together. That photo of the Aussie osprey is just wonderful! - Well Done in getting that! (you must be pleased)
Here is this week's Monday Smile, which is another true story:
"While on holiday in Egypt, I explained to nine-year-old Charlotte that there were no pyramids near our resort. 'I'm not a bit surprised' she replied: 'They wouldn't have wanted to build them with all these hotels around...' "
Here is the 1st pic of the Tatton Flower Show - these are gladioli on a Show stand:
Have a Good Monday, All.
Good Monday morning – forecast doubtful but hung washing out anyway as we don’t want it draped around bathroom for visitors!
Wattle – sorry to hear your car let you down on the final stage of your lovely trip to Adelaide. I imagine you saw some wonderful scenery from the train. How wonderful for you to see and photograph the Osprey, as well as meeting your cousin and meeting up with AQ.
Annette – enjoy your time with daughter – pleased Oro is not coming to upset Lightning.
Lindybird – now grey and drizzly here too, since beginning this and having several interruptions! So washing is hanging wet and limp outside – am I bothered? I am sure it will dry eventually! Lovely Gladioli at Tatton – is that you in the photo admiring them? Look forward to seeing more of your pictures.
Talking about food (which we aren’t, but we often do!) I must make a confession! I ate a Cupcake! It was on the way back from the Highlands, we had seen this roadside sign for the Cup Cake Café and were ready for a stop, so we decided to try it. “Only” £2, and I had a lovely Lemon Drizzle Cupcake – being lemon, it wasn’t too sweet. OH ate a chocolate mint slice as they said they were out of Chocolate Cupcakes (although some appeared soon after!).
Plumber just phoned, so have rearranged for Thursday morning – we have jug under the drip, so no problem waiting. Also expect a courier to exchange our water filter/chiller that day, as it has stopped its cooling function.
Really must get tidied up now. Quick pic of our "cool corner" (which is no longer completely cool, since it is sporting a bright yellow self-seeded Evening Primrose!):
Good morning original goldfinch and Lindybird thanks for the lovely pics what a riot of colour..
Margobird
Hello Wattle 15 and welcome back so pleased you enjoyed your trip and the added bonus of seeing an osprey too. Must have been wonderful for you to meet up with AQ and have a good old chat. Downside of holidays is all the washing an ironing it creates.
Good Morning, Margobird. You might like this one too:
Unknown said: Good Morning, Margobird. You might like this one too:
Absolulely gorgeous original goldfinch. One of my favourites when we were children we called them ballet dancers.