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.
Bother. I have just spent 20 minutes 'chatting' to you all and did a quick Google for a word - and of course Googled on the 'reply' page, so the whole lot disappeared! Anyway, I started by saying I have been reading and enjoying your exchanges. Some wonderful photos, interesting tales and brilliant links.
A rather belated happy Australia Day to AQ. I see that Melbourne had a super firework display - which interrupted the Nadal/Ferrer match for ten minutes. I dare say Nadal was grateful for that. I really felt for him. What a lovely young man he is. I am sure there are many who, realising they would not win, would have just retired. I really thought that during one change over Raffa could easily have cried out of sheer frustration. I have watched a lot of the Australian Open, and have seen some cracking matches too. I also learned of an Australian delicacy, a Lamington Cake - a sponge, coated in chocolate and covered in dessicated coconut! Sounds delicious. Have you had one recently AQ? We too enjoyed haggis, tatties and neeps last night.
Thanks for the brilliant photos, chat and links. I loved the vid of the gorgeous pups, Gary, when they were enjoying scampering in the snow. Absolutely delightful and bound to help make the minds up of those considering getting another dog!! Good luck with the fence building George!
Lindy I am looking forward to your film review of the Black Swan.
I know what you mean about Scotland being 'big' OG. I have been going north for my holidays since my late teens. My ex's mother was born on Lewis and I have visited many of the islands of the Hebrides. Since being with my OH (1983 was the first holiday in Scotland we had together) we have been up at least once a year. I have said before that he completed the Munros back in 1986 and during that time our holidays were based on which needed to be climbed next, and then the wife of another climber decided she wanted to complete them, so again holidays were based on Munro location. Now we go anywhere! Which is why last year we returned to Mull and Skye, and this year we are heading north not far from Lochinver. It never fails to surprise me how far we have to travel, even from our friends who live west of Kinross. As for accents, I have a penfriend when I was at school and I met him after I left when he and his friends came down for a holiday. They were from Blantyre and it really took me some time to become attuned to some of them! Billy Connoley was known in Glasgow at the time and the lads played an LP of some of his shows - at that time I just could not understand a word. I think he has tempered it now!
Sorry to hear about Hamish Alan. I do hope he recovers under his own steam and does not require another operation. Bless him. Your snowdrops seem to be slightly ahead of mine. Currently those in the garden are looking skyward and have not yet bent down. It must be a slight difference in temperature. We always seem to be a degree colder than down the lane on the main road, despite it only being 1.5 miles away.
I think I've taken enough of your time. I have a friend coming for supper this evening, so had better start thinking what to give her!
Birdie's DU Summaries 2018 https://www.imagicat.com/
Having a rest part-way through baking. OH got things out for me, and is now happy outside. New shredder has just arrived, so we’ll look at that when we are both indoors – know what we’ll be doing this evening!
Lindy – I hope you enjoyed the film.
Margo – our birds are a bit strange today – I think they are beginning to think thoughts of spring! I too think of Billy Whizz as “Margo’s little pink cat!”
Alan – sorry Hamish is a bit better from the acute problem, but sorry to read about the chronic condition. Lovely to see your snowdrops, and the Pied Wagtail. PWs like to live dangerously around here – they walk in the roads through town, and play “chicken” with the cars, moving at the very last minute!
Alicat – so pleased with good news about your OH’s test. Will you travel on the back, or is the new bike just to be his “toy”?
Dibnlib – not really a mine of information – just get a compulsion to google everything! Trouble is, I don’t remember all the info as well as I used to – I might tuck it away for future use, but it just stays tucked!! Do you have the Gaelic yourself? We started classes when we first came here, with a lovely Gaelic-speaker from Skye. We even went for a summer-school at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, but nearly started a civil war because they had brought in a teacher from Lewis who insisted that we had been taught wrong! Then my health and mobility got worse and we gave up the classes.
Sheila – good to see you. I hope you will have a good time with you friend coming for supper – if you really don’t know what to give her, you could bake lamingtons for Australia Day!
Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!
Hi all, just caught up with all your news, even if I don't mention everyone I appreciate the goss.
OG - sounds a lovely meal for Burns Night.
Alicat - so pleased your OH has managed to pass the test.
Alan - lovely pic of the cheeky wagtail and the snowdrops
Been a miserable day here too, weather has now gone chilly.
Wildlife cams aren't always coming on stream but have just take a few of Lily and cubs as they were active.
http://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/wildlife-webcams/loch-of-lowes/
RSPB Giving Nature a Home
Hi everyone.Sorry I've vanished for a few days. The only excuse I can come up with is that I sometimes get the internet forum users version of writers block. Mainly I can't think what to write. Although I often get sidetracked. Have to confess I've started a Facebook page. Strange to think that not that long ago I couldn't be bothered with the whole internet posting thing. Turns out there loads of folk called Paul Heron. I'm the guy with the Sparrowhawk profile pic. :-)A belated Happy Australia Day, and Ah hope ye a' had a guid Burns Nicht. Thanks for the amazing amount of posts this week. Its great to hear all the news, and see all the pictures. Sorry about the lack of individual replies but this post would start to turn into a novella.Big bag of RSPB Ground Food, arrived today while me and my dad where doing the weekly messages, or shopping if you prefer. Ya dancer! Suplies where starting to run low, so I expect one or two rare vistors in Big Garden Birdwatch weekend. ;-)Brilliant talk on here about accents. A fascinating subject I could go on for hours about. The amount of subtle accent changes in west central Scotland, alone is amazing when I think of it. Paul.
Warning! This post contains atrocious spelling, and terrible grammar. Approach with extreme edginess.
Hello all, Alan sorry to hear about Hamish. Thank you for updates always good to know where they are. I wonder where our newbies are? Will anyone recognise them when they return? paula "~"
dibnlib, Diane and OG you all spoke about accents and meaning of Scottish words. When I checked out 'bourach' I came across this little gem of a site: http://literalbarrage.org/blog/archives/2005/01/21/your-scottish-slang-word-o-the-day-bourach/ Quite a selection of words and meanings to ponder on!
Both worked ourselves silly today so going out for a meal - nothing posh, just local hotel.
Lovely photos Lynette. It made me go and take a peek - lo and behold a wonderful sounds of suckling cubs! Lily moved her head and I am sure I could see them. Hope popped up too.
Have a lovely evening OG. Forget the diet!
evening everyone. Snowing again. Only yesterday i cleared what fell that day. More coming tonight.
Hope everyone's OK.
OG, enjoy the meal.
Alan, sorry about Hamish and his eye's
Shelia, hi and don't do too much. You sound busy as always