Evening all: Don't miss the last couple of pages of last week's chat. Gary's been at it again, posting incredibly cute puppy pix!
OG: Yes, Los Carneros means "the rams" in Spanish; while La Patera (the original ranch that Los Carneros was on) is "the place where the ducks gather." In the 1700s, after the Spanish settled here, it was cattle country; then in the 1860s,about a decade after California became a state, folks from back East started bringing in sheep, which survived periods of drought better than cattle and whose wool was in demand by eastern and southern states during the Civil War when the cotton industry was decimated. Anyway, in the 1870s, the American family that owned Rancho La Patera planted the first commercial lemon orchard in the state (or the Goleta Valley depending on which source you read). I drive to Costco along Cathedral Oaks Blvd - which runs north of Lake Los Carneros - past huge citrus orchards and the remaining acreage of Rancho La Patera. As for the vineyards, they're over the hills behind Santa Barbara in the higher, dryer Santa Ynez Valley. All very complicated.
Gary: Never been to Yellowstone - was heading that way one October but an early snowfall blocked the Western entry so had to "make do" with Grand Teton National park. Sigh. If you're looking for somewhere to stay, you can always visit TripAdvisor and read everyone's reviews of the options.
OK guys, off to do a crossword and watch some rubbish on telly. Take care ALL.
And tonights pics, just two. One of Phoebe and one of the raccoon dogs with a youngster.
http://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/wildlife-webcams/loch-of-lowes/
RSPB Giving Nature a Home
Thanks everyone for your kind help. espcially Diane, - been busy all day but this morning I quickly tried the download of Flashplayer 10, which certainly seemed a likely solution, - though I think I'd done it before...?- but it seemed to install ok. However the problem is still the same, unfortunately. I just came on now and had another go, the Bear cam shows black and no action, but the Eagle one has a buffering symbol. I use IE7 by the way. and Vista.Oh well, as people on here are very good at posting pix and news I will not miss too much !
Thanks to Alicat for the lovely link to the new cubs, great to see them. I could not get Alan's link as it went to Facebook, which I do not do.
must get off to bed now, thanks again.
Well, darn it, Chrisy!
Did you reboot your computer after you installed the latest Flashplayer program -- to make sure that the new version was fully installed and cozy?
Here's a couple more ideas.
(1) Maybe Gary was right and you would need to upgrade to IE8. I just noticed a note on the Bear Cam page that says to make sure that you're using the latest version of your browser. The note is in the bottom right-hand corner. (Good job, Gary!)
(2) Maybe there's a problem with your Adobe Flashplayer settings, etc. Here's a good troubleshooting list: http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/191/tn_19166.html Check out #4 on that list. Here's a really nice Flashplayer help page. http://www.macromedia.com/support/documentation/en/flashplayer/help/index.html
(3) Maybe your Security/Anti-Virus program is blocking the content or blocking Flashplayer? You could try temporarily disabling your security program and see if that solves the problem.
(4) Maybe you need to check with a real geek! (Not me; I'm a total fraud! LOL) On the Bear Cam page, it says that if you're having trouble seeing the cam to contact WildEarth Support at this email address: webmaster@wildearth.tv
That's all I've got. Good luck, Chrisy
A strange day. It threatened to rain, then the big black clouds disappeared. Still warm.
Brenda - The floods in Victoria are widespread. I read that ¼ of the state is inundated. Just so you can imagine the area, I did some checking - Victoria is 91,749 square miles and Eng+Sct+Wales is 88,785.
Linda - You've put an idea in my head. We must have an "Office" outing around here too.
OG - I always wash out the vegemite jar or tomato sauce bottle into casseroles not to waste any flavour. BTW originally vegemite was called Parwill. . . just say this - Marmite but Parwill.
Good Morning All. Early start for us this morning as we have to drive to Gatwick to meet our son and his wife.
Murray beat Melzer ; 6-3 6-1 6-1.
AQ, I have two cousins and their families in Victoria, but obviously have been unable to contact them as yet, so I have been keeping check on the floods. As you say, there is a vast area under water, with 30 deaths and 9 missing, but the 55 mile long lake, which is on the move, could arrive midweek and they are building extra defences to try and keep it at bay. All this on top of what has already happened. Poor people are just watching their homes being destroyed.
Thanks Lynette for last night's pictures.
Off to have breakfast now. Enjoy your Monday.
Hi, all, from the frozen prairie.
AQ: That flooding sounds just horrific. Such a tragedy. Sorry the cold air I promised hasn't reached you. :-) We're getting more snow tonight. Thanks for the info about the blue-wing kookaburra. Loved that bird. I know I'm being dense and the answer is probably obvious, but what do you mean when you say that it's a "ring-in"? I watched a House Hunters program today about a couple who were buying a home in New Zealand. They were moving to an island where everyone lived completely "off of the grid". Each family supplied their own individual electricity, had their own water systems, etc. They also grew their own food. Very demanding. Very beautiful there, though. Hope Jasper is better.
Brenda: Sorry about your foot. I hope it's much improved tonight. Don't walk on it too much, so it will heal okay. It must have been a bad moon this past weekend making people accident prone. I was cutting a blood pressure pill in half and managed to cut my hand, too. It wasn't too serious, but wow did I turn the air blue!!!!!!
Lindy: Your meal out sounds wonderful. I love berries of all kinds, especially with meringue and cream. I especially love raspberries.
Auntie: Hope you are returning to good health and not having to work too hard.
Margo: Hugs to you!
Gary: Your red-tailed hawk must have been a lovely sight. Maybe he saw you running down the road and thought something was chasing you. He was watching to see what kind of animal was going to enjoy English cuisine for lunch. LOL LOL Seriously, the hawks do seem to be curious about us. Mine watches me intently. I saw it today hunting up on the ridge. I hope he found food. The cold has been very hard on the wildlife here.
Alan: Interesting to hear about the earthquake in the Highlands. Do they often occur there? Wonder if anyone felt the 3.5? Interesting article about eagle egg rolling. Thanks for posting the link. Hope Hamish is continuing to improve. My dog would tolerate having his ears and eyes treated for a couple of days, but then he would lose patience with the process and try all means of escape. :-)
Annette: I'll bet the citrus orchards are beautiful. I remember seeing them in Florida. I love "the place where the ducks gather". Did you see Nature tonight with all the Birds of Paradise. Very handsome and intriguing fellas.
dibnlib: Glad walking is becoming a bit easier. I'm so very sorry to hear about your mom. So tragic.
OG: Hope you like the new minister. Do you think the congregation will vote to keep him? How do they decide? I hope your son's life is continuing to improve daily!
Take care, all. Must do some serious housework tomorrow.
Evening all: Busy but good day - will catch up tomorrow and no, Diane, missed Nature but no doubt a repeat will show up somewhere soon!
Morning, All! - thought I was late today, but no one else from UK on here yet - you must all be very busy.
Here is today's Monday Smile, which takes the form of a joke this week :
A married man was having an affair with his secretary. One afternoon they went to her flat and were 'busy' all afternoon. Exhausted, they fell asleep and didn't wake up until 8.00 pm. They hurredly dressed, then the man told his lover to take his shoes outside and rub them in the grass and dirt. Then he put on his shoes and drove home.
When he got home, his wife demanded to know why he was so late. "I can't lie to you", he said, "I'm having an affair with my secretary and we were together all afternoon"
She looked down at his shoes and said "You lying b*^!*%d !" - "You've been playing golf again!!"
Morning all,
Linda : Thanks for the monday smile.
Brenda: Good news of Andy Murray.
Thanks for everyone elses chat and pics.
I have been having a problem taxing my car this morning. Used the normal online system as usual and to my horror it said my car was not insured. As I knew this was not the case because I had renewed it last thursday, I checked with the AA, who are my insurers, and it appears they are having all sorts of problems with their system. I now have to phone them back later when their system is up and running hopefully. I did find out from the DVLA that there is a website where you can check if your car is insured. It is www.askmid.com. All you have to do is enter the reg no and it will tell you.
Weather is dull at the moment. Current temp is 6.6c.
Osprey vs Bald Eagle:
http://blog.pancamo.com/2011/01/osprey-vs-bald-eagle.html?spref=tw
Good morning Alan that is a useful link to find out if your car is insured. Hope the AA system is fixed soon for you.
Thanks for the link to Osprey vs Bald Eagle, stunning photographs.
Andy Murray seems to playihng well at the moment, don't think he has dropped a set yet. Not seen any of his matches live but watch the replay. Pleased you enjoyed the bowls such a gentle garme.
Your weather sounds the same as our at the moment although I think we had a shower of rain during the night.
Margobird