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.
Still grey here this afternoon. Went out bravely this morning with an umbrella, to do various errands in the Town. When I got to the supermarket, had a phone call from my OH offering to rescue me from the rain as I would have had to walk back with two bags full of shopping whilst trying to hold up the brolly at the same time! Must say I got into the car gratefully, with my damp bags etc. & was looking forward to a hot cuppa when we got home. It is much warmer the last few days but we gather that it is going to go back to being cold and wintry towards the end of the week. Roll on February! (And a Happy Burns Night to all you Scots!)
Little Sweetpea is indeed growing fast and is a lucky boy as he has adoring parents & 2 sets of happy 1st time grandparents, too. Yes, those are the hands of my OH, as Grandad was holding him whilst my son waved a favourite toy above his head to make him smile for the photo. Of course, we all just love him to bits. I'm wondering if he will be like my son, who was a very happy baby himself, and was always smiling.
Am hoping to go to see "The Black Swan" tomorrow at the cinema, so will post a review later.
margo: Keep thinking to myself about Billy Whizz, and your remarks that your OH thinks he is a bit like Bagpuss!
Thanks to All for the posts and pics - lovely pic of the little Eaglets, Alan.
.....and more lovely pics of the magnificent Eagles!! How majestic they are!
Alan - have now managed to get the link for the Jordan Lake cam via google. The NC State Univiersity site?
http://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/wildlife-webcams/loch-of-lowes/
RSPB Giving Nature a Home
Afternoon all ... a bit of a grey day here, but not cold! I haven't posted for a few days (nothing much to write about!), although I have been reading ... so too many posts for individual replies ... 7 pages already and its only Tuesday!!!
Lovely pic of Sweetpea and lots of lovely wildlife photos. Thanks to Diane for the link to the hawk in the library ... poor thing, I hope it gets released from there soon.
OH has been working nearly every day lately ... (you would never think he was retired!), but he has decided to keep a week free next month so that we can have a few days away. We are looking to go to the Cork area in Ireland as we have been there several times and love it. Fingers crossed that the weather will be ok.
margobird - sorry the news about your sister wasn't good, but great to read that she has such a positive outlook herself ... and that you are doing the same!
Thanks to everyone for chat, pic, links etc.
Take care.
EDIT - Happy Burns Night to anyone who is celebrating today!
Joan - avid bird and nature watcher in Northumberland!
Index Thread
Morning all;
dibnlib: Good that bro is so close to your Mom and that she's in a good old-fashioned community where folks keep an eye out.
Lindybird: OMG - what a gorgeous baby - he really is a cutie!
I see that the landscapers are here and already planting things in the wrong places - sigh. Off I go to sort them out - again. Thank heaven the lady who helped with the design is due here within the hour...
LINDY you are so right, there is no more appropriate a word than magnificent for those 2 eagles. Interested to know your thoughts on "The Black Swan" as I did not know what to think. Definitely glad we saw it though. "The Kings Speech" was a much easier film.
MARGO As OH says Billy the Whizz looks like Bagpuss, am I right in assuming he is pink???
Phlebotomist was off with flu (!) so one of the nurses did my blood test, successfully! Celebrated with decaff latte and toasted teacake at Coffee Lounge. Pleasant afternoon out. Dinner under control – Burns with a twist!
George – you keep mentioning places to eat – need to pass through your area twice as often to take them all in! We sometimes call at Baxter’s at Blackford when travelling up A9 – very pleasant – have also visited the one at Selkirk. Pleased you have your fence wood ordered – not long now till you can get your canine companion!
Margo – Scotland is big – that’s why we all complained when BBC had that silly weather map making it look so small a few years ago, and they had to change it! It takes us 5-6 hours to get from here to Son who lives just south of where Dibnlib is, or Daughter just north of Inverness – and there is loads of Scotland beyond there, till you reach Durness or Thurso – not to mention the Northern and Western Isles!!
Lynette – so pleased you got your swim on the regular day this week!
Lindy – guessed who the hands belonged too as I was sure you said he had been a farmer, and they look so like the hands of a dear friend of ours when we had our first daughter! I too keep imagining a pink cat in Margo’s garden!!
Joan – good to see you back again! Nice that you have a holiday soon to look forward too. I hope your back is good now.
Annette – sorry you are having planting trouble again – hope landscape lady arrived on time to sort them out!
Is anyone else having birds notable by their absence this week? I am sure they know it is Big Garden Bird Watch next weekend – they always seem to go missing for that! Chaffinch numbers are normal, but starlings about halved, Blackbirds only in ones and twos, only one Robin and two Dunnocks … etc … and all this not at the same time.
Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!
original goldfinch I think the birds know when the Garden Bird Watch is on. I have noticed fewer this week. Never know the best time to do the count. We always did it after I had put fresh food out but stopped that because they chose not to come. Will probably do it at about 11.00.
Margobird
dibnlib just looked up Bagpuss and you are right he is pink. I think it is the facial expression that makes my OH think he looks like him. Having said that I often think OH might be a bit colour blind. Can't imagine billy being pink. He has been around as usual and I would love to know where he goes when it is raining.
Here's a video of the Cooper's Hawk in the Library of Congress. I called the bird a "fella" but actually it's a juvenile female. http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/bestoftv/2011/01/21/exp.tsr.todd.hawk.library.congress.cnn.html
Here are the Library of Congress blog updates about the bird's ongoing status: http://blogs.loc.gov/loc/2011/01/time-for-another-hawk-update/ Hope she is freed soon.
Will catch up with everyone later tonight. Must do housework. :-(((((((((