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.
Hullo all! Apologies for being so "speechless" lately, just trying to get back to normal working routine and got to admit this heat definitely is wearing me out. Must be the hottest July here ever LOL Humidity at work is around 60% (very poor AC...) and been feeling like a used dishcloth ;) It is easier at home where one can use as little of clothes as one wants but I suspect if I would go to work wearing only t-shirt and knickers, well... ;)
Have enjoined every post here and just can't reply them all but appreciate them all, thank you. OG, brilliant photos from LG!!!! Margobird, have heard Lion King is very good, hope you enjoy it, and hope your washing won't get targeted again :) Heron/Paul, can relate your feelings 'bout seeing osps live - just saw my first ones this summer, what a treat! Lindy, what can I say about your poems, just brilliant. Glad that DjoanS's kitchen is coming along well. Nice to see Cirrus chatting here. And absolutely each and everyone, Thank you all for chat, pics, sayings and all, have a nice Thursday!
my photos in flickr
Evening all: Lots of house stuff today - friends arriving tomorrow for a day or two so wanted to stock up with food, wine and make sure everything in order.
Lindybird: Congrats on the weight loss, but watch out, I swear even reading about cheesecake puts on the pounds.
OG: Yes, did read about the Peruvian freeze. Amazing. We must've been wearing the same shorts and school hats - but we did have Panama hats for the summer. Mine were always hand-me-downs with burgundy and white bands showing the fleur de lis (Joan of Arc symbol), which was pink because the red had run into the white! It was always out of shape with a droopy rim. Was wondering about HM! Lovely clematis.
Margobird: Not surprised you didn't put the weight back on - you're out dancing every night! :-) Glad the birds gave the laundry a miss today.
oh dibnlib! What!? Not feeling good? Can we do anything to cheer you up? :-) I'm always staring at other people's gardens.
Cirrus: Hope the RSPB's care package arrived; I must confess I picked up a giant bag of birdfood at Costco today..
Djoan: Kitchen re-fit sounds like it's proceeding apace. I don't think handkerchiefs were hygienic regardless of where they were kept
AQ: Oh dear. I've missed news of fires. but see that one is in the Sequoia area and the other some distance behind L.A. Nothing around here.
Auntie: Do hope the weather settles back to normal; humidity is very hard to tolerate when it's combined with unusually high temps - no matter where you are.
Sorry if I've missed anyone. Have a good Thursday folks; not sure how much I'll be on the next couple of days, but will at least check in to make sure no-one has fallen down a hole.
Morning All: Dry here at least - we can see a long way South from the back of our house, and there are enormous back clouds rolling along in the distance, very dramatic.
Glad its seems back for Normal, on here again - had huge problems last night so unable to reply to various posts.
Here is another pic of the Flower Show to start the day:
-Pelargoniums (geranium family) & Begonias.
Normal 0 false false false
Hi to you AQ , Auntie’ and Annette
been feeling like a used dishcloth
if I would go to work wearing only t-shirt and knickers, well... ;) Had to have a laugh at the mental picture Auntie
Oh Lindy yes, many congrats on your hard work with the weight loss
I too missed news of the fire AQ - I do so hope wild life was not harmed (well, humans too of course!!)
I wish handkerchiefs were popular today and ‘taught’ to be used. I do get fed of customers sneezing all over the fresh fruit and veg in supermarkets. What ever happened to the ‘’Coughs and sneezes spread diseases’’ attitude. And far be it for a guy to carry a handkerchief !! (Whose fault is that I wonder ? mum, teacher, wife, girlfriend – mmmmmmmmmm)
Do hope you are feeling much better today Dibnlib
EDIT what a glad sight Lindy
I’ll be out a little later till about mid pm so you can just bet (Annette) that the bird seed will arrive whilst I’m out. Sigh.
Just thought I'd stop in and give a quick hello. Have been shopping online, ordering myself some clothes for the first time in ages!!! I think the last time I ordered any clothing, women were still wearing some of the out-dated items you all have been discussing!
AQ: Speaking of ghastly garments for women, I know what you mean by suspender belts, but rollons? I don't know that one. Oh, well, they don't sound like anything I'd be caught dead in anyway! :-))) I made a solemn vow in 1987 that I would never wear uncomfortable clothing or shoes again. I dress nicely and modestly, especially when I was working, but I won't wear anything that restricts my movements or is truly torturous. All of my high heels, etc., went into the rubbish bins long ago. Good riddance!!! LOL!
I do, however, have a button box with 3 generations worth of buttons in it.
Auntie: We know you're working very hard and your work is important! Just stop in for a chat whenever you're able to. :-) Hope it cools off there; wearing a T-shirt and knickers to work perhaps might be a bit too comfortable. LOL!
DjoanS: Glad that the kichen remodel is going well. Did you see that both owlets have fledged successfully? One is busy in the nestbox this evening busily figuring out how to eat a Rigor Mortis Rat. Oh, my stars, that's gruesome!dibnlib: So very sorry that you didn't get to go on your short holiday. Hope whatever's ailing you is on the mend very soon. Take good care of yourself, dear!!!Annette: I hope you have a grand time with your friends!Cirrus: So glad that you have greenfinches again!Hello to Margobird, the Dancing Queen!George G: Best wishes to you and your family.Lindy: CONGRATS on the weight loss. I know how difficult it is. Reward yourself some way. Lovely flower pic!Heather: My brother's fiancee has a son serving in Afghanistan. He's very young, and she, of course, worries about him constantly. The families of service men and women endure such hardship and sacrifice. I wish your family all the best.
OG: Gorgeous clematis. Thanks. By the way, thanks, too, for the astilbe info! My grandmother used to grow a very old variety of cockscomb here. It was so beautiful. When I was little she always sent bouquets of the blooms home with me. I so wish I had some of it now. It looked like this: http://www.hort.purdue.edu/ext/senior/flowers/images/large/cocksco2.jpg Oh, just read the end of your post. The needle person couldn't find any blood in you at all!?! Hmmm. Have you been consorting with vampires???
jsb: "Landscape gardening" sounds very artistic. Looking forward to pictures.:-)
Sorry to anyone I've missed. It's nearly 5:00 AM here, and still almost 80 F / 27 C. And the humidity is 95%. Seriously. Everyone have a good Thursday.
Morning all,
Thanks for all the chat and links and pics,
Lindybird : Another nice pic of the garden show.
Auntie : It seems to be surprisingly hot this summer in Finland. The weather seems to be getting more extreme. We have had an extraordinary dry spell here with hardly any rain for months. I managed to catch an osprey at the fishing pool last night. Here is the pic I took:
The weather is sunny spells this morning with more cloud and scattered showers this afternoon.
It seems the RSPB servers were completely down yesterday, but all seems well this morning. Bled beautifully for the Phlebotomist yesterday afternoon! Finished some local charity quizzes and wrote my remaining holiday postcards in the evening – can’t do them while we are away, can never settle to it and OH talks while I am doing it – and he never writes any (when he was working, I sometimes even did the one to his office – which was sent while we were away!).
Dibnlib – sorry you have been bad again, and that you missed the theatre as well as your trip north. Will you try again this month, or leave it for longer evenings next year?
Margobird – pleased about yesterday’s clean white washing!
Lindybird – had fresh Runner Beans last night – wonderful, my favourite. Liked that garden with the pastel shades – all fitted together, but enough contrast of colours and shapes to make it interesting.
AQ – could never see the point of roll-ons and other “shaping” garments, they only push the unwanted bits from one area to another!
Auntie – can imagine it must be difficult getting back into work routine after several weeks of holiday. Our humidity has been around 65% this week, but temps not so hot as yours.
Annette – I reckon I absorb calories through my nose, and here I am sitting while Canada Cakes are baking (sweet and fruity)! Pleased fires are not near you. Have agreat tim ewith your friends – sounds like you are well prepared!
Lindybird – lovely Begonias and Regal Pelargoniums – nice to see them together and with some good foliage; so often Pelargoniums are displayed on their own.
Cirrus – I’m with you on handkerchiefs. Properly used and washed I think they are much better than tissues. I hate seeing tissues dropped on the floor, or even in waste paper baskets – that must be worse than discreetly tucking a hanky away. Only trouble is, lack of pockets in modern clothes!
Plumber has been – successfully. Now awaiting courier with replacement water filter/chiller. Cleaner will be here this afternoon. Dry and mostly sunny, so I hope OH will mow and strim, and I might do some dead-heading and weeding.
Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!
Some replies: Nice to see auntie but we know you have a busy schedule, just pop in now & then! Sorry its so hot.
Thanks to AQ for the sayings -how true they are! Sorry to hear you're not well, dibnlib- and what a shame its meant cancelling things - do look after yourself. We are all waiting to see if Djoan's kitchen gets finished today, now! Hope they make good progress, anyway - & it might all be done by the weekend, just think
Annette: you are keeping busy in absence of your OH - hope you enjoyed time with your daughter, and have a bit of fun with the next visitors. (glad the fires had nothing to do with your area). OG: I shall lend you some of my veins! - when I go to donate blood, they always say " Oooh! Look at these lovely veins" before they jab the needles in! Nice to know I'm good at something. Margobird: Luckily I enjoy cottage cheese & love tuna fish, so eat a lot of those mid day. I find I can put on weight just looking in a cake shop window, so have to watch everything that goes in very carefully. This was just my initial target, there are at least two more targets to reach - so I'll keep at it!
Diane: "Roll Ons" were strong tubes of elasticated fabric with usually, suspenders for your stockings attached at the bottom of the tube. They were H##l to put on & off, and made you feel that you couldn't bend in the middle to pick anything up off the floor. Thank goodness the fashion went out! Do hope that as you have revamped your wardrobe now, you realise that the Bustle and the powdered wigs are out at the moment, fashion wise.... Thanks for congrats on the weight thing, long way to go yet all the same, this is just the start. My rewards will be as it comes off, to be able to get into various things which are hanging in the wardrobe unworn for ages, or some, not even worn yet at all.
Have a Good Day, All. Can't believe the weekend will soon be looming. Where does the time go, please?
Hi, OG we overlapped - glad the plumber has been - they are hard men to find these days.
Sometimes send postcards myself on return from hols - esp. when its abroad, as even these days they can come back long after your return. Why is it that men don't write them?
EDIT: That's a fantastic picture, Alan - said so last night but my post didn't post.
Missed your posts Diane, Alan and Lindybird.
Diane - enjoy your new clothes when they arrive! You haven’t missed anything not encountering roll-ons – you are too young, I think. Our mothers decided we should be “supported” which meant an attempt to conceal even the smallest rounded tummy under these ghastly things which were a stretchy tube (no lycra back then, so a sort of woven elastic fabric) too tight to pull on, so you had to roll them on – and they pushed your belly up to make a spare tyre! Son was saying only yesterday, some of his session workers turn up in high heels and fashion clothes and can’t actually do any real work. Ooooh! That cockscomb is a lovely colour – so bold! Sorry about your continuing hot and humid weather – I hope your new clothes are loose and floaty to keep you cool!
Alan – well done with the osprey fishing shot! I hope your rain will be enough to be helpful – I always think if it’s going to be wet, it might as well be very wet – so long as it knows when to stop!!
Lindybird – so you’ve snuck in again with your replies! I’ve always had difficult veins – had to use back of hands on occasions – and once my ankle (ouch). A doctor once said she hoped she would never have to use a vein to resuscitate me! This present Phlebotomist usually does well, but Friday was just no good at all! Sorry I’ve repeated your explanation of roll-ons for Diane. On to your next post – my OH doesn’t do Christmas cards either, or even birthday cards for his side of the family!