Weekly Chat, Sunday November 21, 2010

Lindy: LOL! One more post and I will feel caught up. I've missed everyone.

I LOVED the photo of you, Lindy. Aren't you beautiful and elegant!!!!!!!!! Just like I pictured you. Congrats on your new stove. I hope you like it and that it's simple to use. Mine has a nasty finish on the top that makes it very difficult to get clean. Grrr. I always turn the air blue when I have to clean the top of it. Wish I could throw it out and get another one. Want to trade? :-)

I'll bet you are on pins and needles waiting for Sweetpea's arrival. I still maintain that the birth will be Friday morning. And I think she'll be a big, healthy baby. I so enjoyed your lovely poem and so did Dad. He always says that you're a great writer.

OG: I hope they are finally nearing completion on your road work. Your whooper swan photos were glorious, but my favorites are the Tufted Ducks! I want them for my burn/creek. You are always so kind (reading between the lines of my posts), and I appreciate very much your concern for me and my Dad. You show way more caring than our family does. Hope you are feeling well; it sounds like you've been busy, what with making puddings and all.

AQ: I so hope that the locusts don't reach you. Such devastation. Hope your summer isn't so hot this year, and you have an end to the long-term drought. Sounds like you've had your hands full with teenage anxst. Please send me chocolate cream pie. I love it. I have to make my Dad a sweet treat for tonight. Trying to decide between cherry cheesecake, chocolate chip cookies, or peanut butter fudge. I imagine that in some ways you're glad that the weddings are over and you can return to your regular routines (library visits, etc.).

George: That's a great cat. Beautiful coat and eyes. Thanks for your kind comments to me.

Annette: Sounds like a good idea to include more roses in your garden plan. You will enjoy them. Hope you're having a good Thanksgiving. You asked about our day. My brother and the rest of the family didn't show any interest, so it's just Dad and I. I'm making my Dad barbecued spare ribs. Not a very conventional Thanksgiving meal, but he loves it. LOL I'll have something vegetarian later. I know you remain concerned about your granddaughter. Try not to worry (easier said than done). I hope doors open for her that will make her life easier and more financially secure.

You asked about my new avatar. I looked around for some new ones for me because I was bored with mine. :-) This one is a NASA photo of a sunburst over Earth. Will probably try out some other new ones, too. The rose suits you well. Bright and cheery.

Gary: I bought a Dell printer. I always buy Dell products because I've had good luck with them. The computer and printer I bought in 1998 is still quite functional. And I am using my Dad's Dell Dimension (XP) that is aging but still works well. This is the printer I bought (the V515w-Red):  http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&cs=19&sku=224-6615&baynote_bnrank=0&baynote_irrank=3&~ck=dellSearch The quality is supposed to be exceptional but the downside is that the ink is a bit expensive. It's on sale for $70 off.

Ok, folks, very sorry for my long posts today. I'll try to stay more current now. Always glad to read all the posts and hear everyone's news. I treasure all of you.

Gary: Fantastic!!!

Washy hated water jumps and I was on the sidelines when he didn't refuse for the first time ever. Everyone new as I gather I can be very loud and proud. 

Lovely pony Wendyb !  And that photo is great, Gary!  very brave ! 
 I did go riding quite regularly a fair while ago, not owning a steed though, and was never confident enough to do any more than some small jumps in the school ! Some nice rides out though.

I can relate to the cooker cleaning, Diane, as my mother recently got a new one, as hers broke down, it's a ceramic hob, and it needs polishing after every use, - think I will hang on to my ancient cooker, radient rings, as long as possible. Well I use the microwave a lot, anyway...

ChrisyB I have a ceramic hob, my second, this time no knobs and with the right stuff very easy to keep clean as I hate anything that needs taking apart.

Wendyb,-  My brother did get a silicone spray which has certainly helped the polishing, which he does on his visits as he likes things shiny.!   it is true that my old one gets bits in many crannies.

My new stove has a ceramic hob, as did the old one - do have to wipe them down & make sure nothing builds up on them, and bakes on, but otherwise they are easy to clean.  (for anyone not bored with the subject now, we did manage to have a nice bit of fish last night, cooked in the new oven - so success all round!)

Diane!   <blushing>   - elegant I am not! - it must be the hat!     I have another favourite hat for holidays, which I jam on my head, and is a bit like an upturned cooking pan, and most inelegant, so used the new one when walking around the expensive parts of the town! - photo was taken in the posh new marina & we pushed our noses up against the glass of the expensive designer shops.

MARGO  good news you have been accepted to volunteer at LG I am sure you will remind us close to the time and OH and I will make sure we visit and see you during your stay.

Hi, EVERYONE. 

I've been SO busy since EJ and Odin and offspring left that I've only had time to add a few lines to Richard's main blog.  Today I've looked at several of these pages and felt I MUST reply to some of what I've been reading.

Sorry not to answer all the threads and I care about all of you.  You are all lovely people and I'd love to have a grand meeting of all of you at one place in the world all at the same time.  It's just not feasible so this blogging is the next best thing.

Lindybird:  I've identified your caterpillar as a Swallowtail (Papilio machaon).  Also, hope "Sweetpea" arrives safely and soon.

Tiger:  The Aurora Borealis hyperlink was very WOW and even DOUBLE WOW!!

Alan:  Could I see a waxwing in Leicester?

Lynette:  I have a busy singing schedule ahead.  Hope my voice lasts!!!!!  When I was working I ALWAYS had a sore throat at Christmas - maddening as I had been to ALL the rehearsals!!

Auntie:  Our daughter has just been the victim of a hit and run driver; so many sympathies.  At least our daughter had the sense to weigh up, "Do I value my life more than my car?  It's my life.  My car can be damaged; I need my life."  How sensible is that?  Needless to say OH and I are VERY proud of her.  And very upset on her behalf.

Annette, Gary and Diane:  I am half American half English.  Love your sense of humour, Annette, it's SO like my own; Diane, so sorry for your father and love to you both, and the baby eagles pic is lovely; Gary, your dear horse has such a beautiful expression.

Margo:  I'm so pleased that you have the important letter about your June stay at LG.  You'll be fine travelling there on the train.

OG:  Your photos of the geese are great.  Our daughter [the one with the damaged car] has a flock of geese fly over twice a day over her new home.  She came back to us one day before she moved in and was so overjoyed that they flew directly overhead.  Great to know that bird loving can be passed on to the next generation!

To Everyone else:  I'm sorry I haven't individually replied, but I'll try to log in a little more frequently in future.  Hard, though as there is so much to do.

Love to you all for now, Daisy Ray.

Thanks Diane and good wishes for your Dad too.

WENDY   Lovely pics of the Spey, we lived at Mosstodloch in the early 80s so the Spey was just a quick walk away.