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.
OK - managed to get the cam up but it is empty. At least I can get it now!
http://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/wildlife-webcams/loch-of-lowes/
RSPB Giving Nature a Home
Lynette, lovely photo's. I forget how crowded the nest gets. Great memories.
Morning all: Good grief: Five pages already and it's only Monday morning (well, here at least). I see Scotland had a little earthquake - they must be quite a surprise.
Auntie: Glad you're feeling better.
AQ: Nice to hear that Miss Soon-to-be-15 is coming along - these kids amaze you when they all of a sudden act grownup! As Lindybird says, they "forget" to be grumpy. :-) Geez. More flooding in Victoria - can't imagine....
dibnlib: Was AQ who figured out those large words. Missed the post about your Mom - was that in the "large type" post? Do hope she's okay.
Lindybird: My Mom was in care toward the end of her life, and when she finally died, the lady who shared her room cried because I wasn't going to be visiting every day anymore. So sad. Sounds like the office outing with the staff was totally yummy! Love that little quote at the end of your posts. Thanks for Monday smile! :-) Hope you get the computer sorted. My new one is brilliant right now, though I'm having a time getting used to having the number pad on the right and still gravitate to the middle of the board instead of shifting slightly to the left. Am going to make a concerted effort not to download too much; am also keeping all my photos on a small external hard drive, but still....
OG: Funny voting on a minister. I was raised Catholic, where you - at least in those days - took what you got.
Brenda: Hope the ankle goes down soon. I have a friend who shows up in her slippers (suede with wool lining and "outdoor" soles) at book club - then she kicks them off.
Alan: That was some confrontation between the Eagle and Osprey - wonder what it was all about and who won!
Margobird: Yes indeed - tell your sis folks all over the world are rooting for her - and you too. I do like to hear about Billy Whizz - you'll have to snag a photo of him when you get a chance!
Chloe: Good to see you - I'm trying to avoid spending too much time on the computer; trouble is, when someone posts a link I feel bad if I don't go visit it, but I'm resisting as best I can; have not visited Lily or Phoebe or Trucker Steve for some time now.
Lynette: Thanks for the pix - I do hope the next batch are as easy-going as last years.
Hi to everyone else who posted. Have a nice rest of the day and Diane and Gary, stay warm!!
Love the sweet noises coming from the den.
ANNETTE Mum has Pre Alzheimers and Osteoporosis and at the moment her back is giving her a lot of trouble. Brother has said that her GP has mentioned a fracture so it would seem to be wear and tear worsened by the Osteoporosis. It is so awful she is suffering both mentally and physically and nothing we can do. She is very bent over now and gets breathless very quickly. She has been like this for a few years now and is still only 76. We are going down to visit on Thurs and will return home on Sat.
OH and I went to see "The Black Swan" yesterday. I found it a weird and confusing film (some of the time I wasn't sure what was real and what was not) but at the same time it was compelling. I can definitely see why it is up for so many awards. Hopefully Lindy will see it and will give you a proper review. Goodnight all.
I am looking for Sue C's thread which has the ringing/tagging records on a spreadsheet, which is very useful. I have a copy, but would like to post an addition, albeit a 2007 one, 'Heather'. If you have that thread bookmarked, please bump it onto the list. Thanks.
ChloeB & Tiger's Osprey Data Site
Sat track schedule Spring 2014
LG 7 days; RW & SWT nil; LDOP varies
Monday evening – warm, sunny day. Read posts this morning then got “busy” planning dates for various trips we hope to make through the year – scheduling them among probable regular appointment dates. Went to Tesco this afternoon – started an argument with them as they now lock the accessible toilet, but not with a standard “Radar” key – they tried to tell me no Tesco around here uses Radar locks – so I told the “Oh yes, they sure do!” Left comment form with my email – awaiting reply! Also posted Dau’s pressie and went to local deli for interesting cheese. Just placed an order by post to a company whose “click to order” button gives me “CGI error” screen! Why do I feel that the world is conspiring against me??!!
Thanks all for many camshots – helps a lot when too busy to look in! Pleased to read good news of Bear family (have been reading WRI daily updates) and Phoebe’s duo.
Brenda – I hope your foot is more comfortable today, especially on the drive to and from Gatwick. I hope they had a smooth journey and arrival. I also hope you can soon contact your cousins in Victoria.
Lynette – I hope you enjoyed Junior church – our child and young people numbers seemed way down yesterday. Thanks for pictures of our Loch Garten family today!
AQ – unbelievable areas of flooding down under – I guess this rain really belongs to third world African nations and that is why they are hungry. Love the Marmite/Parwill pun!
Diane – saw some of “your” snow on Big Rig Steve’s cam – he was very near you last Friday! Sorry about the cut hand – look after it! Decision on new minister is by secret ballot – it’s the Church of Scotland way of doing things because we are Congregational, not Episcopal, so a nominating committee searches and finds a likely parson. I still find it odd that they “call” a “sole nominee”, and yet we supposedly still could vote against! I guess that would mean they would have to start over! Son is still “up and down”, but he did go to the gym again today – sees his Doc this Thursday.
Lindy – loved the joke – but are men capable of double bluff thinking? You had a flying start to the week with your laundry and the kitchen floor! I hope your Son can relieve your PC of its constipation!
Alan – sorry about car tax problem – and thanks for Osprey vs Eagle link.
Margo – pleased your sister has decided to stay positive and fight the cancer with radiotherapy. Our church is “linked” with a small village parish very nearby – not united, but we share a minister, so they were also proportionately represented on the search committee. But I know that Dorset vicars are renowned for the number of small parishes they have in their care.
Chloe – good to see you again. Yes, not long now till end of March!
Annette – I too use an external expansion drive for the photo archive, backed up on OH’s same model. It makes more regular back-ups much faster, not to keep copying all the photos! As I said above, I still find it strange to be asked to vote on the minister when we virtually do not have the choice – it would make sense of they “called” two and we chose between them! I don’t follow all the links posted here – the thread itself is addictive enough!
Signing off for tonight!
Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!
Phoebes chicks being fed:
Diane - I’ve done it again, used Aussie slang! A ‘ring-in’ is an imposter, a replacement for the real thing. I haven't forgotten that I was going to teach you some Aussie lingo. Patience, patience, she cries, as the months (years?) pass her by.
Margo - A positive attitude is often the best medicine.
Linda - I had a giggle over your Monday Smile.
Latest on Jasper, the grandcat. He is starting to eat a little of his favourite flaked trout. His weight has dropped from 5.1 kg to 4.2. Dau says his backbone feels like a stegosaurus.
I picked my first tomato yesterday, a green one that, alas, was sunburnt. Expecting 36 C so I have covered the bushes in old sheets and hope it doesn't get too windy or the pegs won't hold. Off this morn for coffee with a friend. We usually talk so long we stay for an early lunch!
There's a Cooper's Hawk trapped in the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. The raptor got in through a broken window. Our Library of Congress building is topped with a vast, ornate dome that is 160 feet tall. The hawk has been flying around up there and avoiding all efforts at capture. Several wildlife organizations are cooperating in trying to catch the bird. Officials have draped a mesh net over the entire expansive reading room, in order to keep the hawk away from visitors and to catch the bird if it falls. The hawk managed to steal some bait out of a trap, so now it has eaten and won't need to eat again until Tuesday! Interesting that they can't catch the big fella. The photos are awesome. http://magblog.audubon.org/hawk-still-flying-free-library-congress
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AQ: No worries! I should have realized the meaning, because we use the word ringer for an imposter/replacement, but I was thinking more in terms of the actual ring on a bird's leg. LOL
Evening all:
dibnlib: Oh dear, that's such a worry about your Mom. Is she living alone or with your brother - sorry if I've missed previous posts about this. How far away is she from you? Would she consider moving to somewhere where she'd have more help? Will be interested to hear more reviews of The Black Swan.
jsb: Hope someone has the ringing/tagging link you're looking for.
OG: Boo to Tesco! Keep complaining. Do you need us all to write letters asking why they aren't using "radar" keys! Which "interesting" cheese did you buy?
Diane: Geez. I missed something about a cut hand? Sometimes I only catch the news when I read other folks' responses. Thanks so much for the link to the Cooper's Hawk - do you think it has some political agenda?
AQ: A burnt green tomato? Never tried one of those. I planted brocolli some time back; forgot all about it and now it's sporting pretty yellow flowers. Oh dear.
Nice day here; stuck around while landscapers started planting the back garden. OH has signed up for a lecture class (religion in history - surprise!!) at the local Uni, so I couldn't get out to the gym until 4 p.m.. Still, felt good. Hmm. Just spotted what looks suspiciously like chocolate smooshed across the arm of the chair I'm sitting in. Wonder who did that! :-)