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.
Morning, Everyone. Dry here but not sunny (yet - but I can hope!) The large bedcover I washed yesterday in the bath and hung outside hopefully, is still damp, and now hanging in the conservatory. It looked so grubby I couldn't wait until Spring to wash it but at least its done, now
Have only read Annettes last post so going back now to read your posts & pics before I comment. Film Review to follow later.
ps Annette: "goss" is short for gossip!
Alicat: Good news that your OH has passed his test - I read about it yesterday but no time for replies.
OG: You do a lot of baking. I love that part of cookery and can rustle up a mean sponge, myself. Had to make a lot of our own cakes when the boys were small, and men are always so hungry! Glad you enjoyed your meal out.
Diane: Thanks for keeping us up to date on the news of the Hawk in the library story. Nice to have a happy ending.
Alan: Sorry to hear that Hamish has what sound to be quite major eye problems. Hope they can right themselves, sometimes this happens naturally. Its so annoying too, when you pay for insurance and then they will not cough up for certain conditions. I so agree that Andy Murray is on bonus time: he is unlikely to beat Federer unless he too, is having a bad day. I said to my OH the other day that its Murrays bad luck to be around at the same time as Federer, but he said that it would have been the same in the time of say, Connors, or Becker, or any of the greats. Lovely pic of the snowdrops - ours will not be out for a long time yet.
Husband spent yesterday hauling great paving flags around, to widen our driveway. Its made up with these large flags, but when we put both cars on the drive, there is little room for visitors/milkmen to get past them. A couple of years ago we had the driveway widened to allow for both cars, but I was not a happy bunny afterwards as it was not how I had envisaged. Now he says he's fed up with my griping about it! We don't need to lay lots of hardcore as the cars will not go on that bit, but at least people can now get by without having to throw themselves into the hedge as they enter. Thankfully, he has not hurt his back doing it, but is now snuffling with what seems to be the beginning of a head cold. Off now to 'hose myself down' as Annette says!
Morning all,
Lynette : Great capture of the fox on the Estonan webcam. The second picture however is wild boar and not raccoon dogs. I know it is hard to distinguish on the night cam but the raccoon dogs are smaller and have prettier faces.
Annette : The animation with the chinstrap was 'Muttley' of 'Dastardly and Muttley'
Diane : Good news of the Coopes Hawk being rescued.
Weather is dull with a few snow grains in the raw wind. Temp 1.5c. Hamish was a bit brighter this morning as the pavements and roads were dry for his walk. Not a lot else to say at the moment. Off on a shopping mission soon:
Diane - so pleased the Coopers Hawk had a happy ending, thanks for posting.
Lindy – we too have to make some changes on our driveway – now reversing car in instead of out due to position of the traffic humps, so pavers for me to get out onto are on the wrong side! I hope your OH’s snuffles do not turn into a real cold.
Weather – same. Birds – same. Nothing much to say!
Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!
Good morning all just a quick post as I have not read all posts yet but wanted to put this link on. It is of a female otter and her cubs on the River Stour which is a short drive away.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/50814175@N05/5362802983/
Margobird
Hi just got this link off lilys update page it is realy good you can see to cubs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u46j3qRWbKc
index thread
lg stats
Lovely Otter clip, margo - thanks for that.
Lindy's Film Review - "Black Swan"
Three of us went to see this, and my two friends both said that they would not recommend anyone to feel it was a 'must see' film. We went with open minds as there have been mixed reviews both in the papers & on TV. There are some brief scenes of a sexual nature, and a little swearing.
The film concerns a ballet dancer named Nina, who aspires to be the principal in the Swan Lake ballet. She has a mother who is over protective, and she also spends a great deal of time herself, trying to perfect her technique as she believes this will help her to get the part - however, the Svengali type Director of the ballet tells her that she needs to be more emotionally involved in order to act the part of the evil Black Swan - he is manipulative and adds to Nina's woes, so we witness a subtle descent into her dissolving mental state. All the claustrophobic pressures both physical and mental are shown, and we are ourselves not sure at times which things are real and which are not. The visual effects are good, and Natalie Portman as Nina acts her little socks off (or her ballet pumps!). I read previously that she spent some years preparing for the part.
I read in one paper not to expect a film 'just about ballet' and it is certainly not that, but it does like some others made in the past show how much these girls give up to be perfection. We all felt it to be a 'womens film' and that men would not be as gripped by it. You will however come out of the cinema haunted as Nina was, by both the character herself and by the music of Swan Lake.
If I started to give star ratings to films, this would get a 4 and a half from me out of five!
Good morning Alan and I love your animations. Pleased to see Hamish was a bit brighter this morning and enjoyed his walk.
Freezing cold here with snow flurries and the easterly wind just about takes your breath away. Even the bird baths had a bit of ice on them.
Hope your shopping mission not too stressful.