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.
Just watching Phoebe and its quite windy there, she is doing her best to hang on to the nest
http://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/wildlife-webcams/loch-of-lowes/
RSPB Giving Nature a Home
Heron77 said: AQ: Had to laugh at the helicopter joke. Of course if I was is a situation like that, I'd have started a sing along, begining with: If You're Happy and You Know it Clap Your Hands.
AQ: Had to laugh at the helicopter joke. Of course if I was is a situation like that, I'd have started a sing along, begining with: If You're Happy and You Know it Clap Your Hands.
And every mother would join in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Unknown said: AQ – sorry about all that heat – I assume you’ll be at the Archive keeping cool. What happened to the proposal to close it which you mentioned some time back? Heard that resourceful woman story before, but it still makes me smile!
OG - It is the National Archives that closing, the State archives are safe (for now!). The Nats are going to "co-locate" with the state archives but we don’t know yet when (lease runs out end March) or how. No archives today, closed ‘cos it is Saturday. But I do have to brave the heat - I forgot to drop library books off yesterday and book one is overdue. I shall dash out when it opens at 10. I’ve already covered my precious tomato bushes in sheets, 26C at 9 am and the sun feels fierce.
Margo - The tennis started last night at 7.30 pm our time. A nice relaxing evening watching others exercise. LOL I’m getting plenty of knitting done while watching. Girls final tonight
Auntie - wonderful news about the eagle. And I managed the Translate button.
Evening all: Busy here with one thing and another (though more like five things and six others!). Lots to do prior to driving to Arizona with daughter in a couple of weeks, especially since the landscaping caper has had us tied to the house. Culling plans sounds highly suspicious. Here's hoping Murray does well Down Under.
AQ; Sympathies re the heat.
BrendaH: Here's hoping no rain for furniture delivery and that the charity folks show up before John Lewis
Thanks all for pix and posts. Will catch up in next day or two. Yawwwwn. Snooooze.
Hi, all. Haven't posted for a while. The site has had problems, and it seemed like I always caught it at a bad time. By the way, the library hawk is recuperating well, and the rehab folks say that she's "eating like a horse" -- scarfing down everything they feed her.
Have meant to say thanks to everyone (dibnlib, OG, Alan, Sheila...) for all of the wonderful information about accents and dialects in Scotland and throughout the UK. I thoroughly enjoyed reading all of your posts. I would so love to hear each one of you!!! Oh, and I, too, think Gaelic is beautiful. I also like to hear Scots spoken. I can't remember my Scottish great grandmother very well. I seem to recall her having a rough, hard accent.
Just terrible about the proposed culling of corvids and birds of prey. It's not my country so perhaps I shouldn't comment, but Alan's posts sound like the truth to me.
Alan: I am so very sorry about Hamish's condition. I hope he fully recovers and doesn't have to undergo an operation. I'm sending healing energy to the little blue dog. And I certainly hope you can make the insurance pay for his care -- as they should.
AQ: That heat is terrible. I'd rather deal with the cold here, I think. Hope your tomato bushes make it.Brenda: Hope the new furniture arrives after the old is collected. I also hope that it looks as lovely as you envision.Auntie: Terrific story about the white-tailed eagle! I so hope you have fully recovered from your illness.Chrisy: So glad that you're now able to get all the cams. I felt bad that you couldn't watch the bears.Margo: So glad that Billy Whizz finally arrived! Hope you're taking good care of yourself.Joan: So happy that you've booked your trip to Ireland. Wish I could join you. Have always wanted to see Ireland and Scotland. Hope you have a wonderful time.Lindy: Loved the movie review. You're such a good writer. Gary: I hope you're safe. What is causing all of those super blizzards to hit the east coast?! That was an awful storm. You're going to have to curl up with those cute puppies to keep warm.
Sheila: Thanks so much for the Scottish slang site. You asked about snow here. We've had about 35 inches so far this season. That's well above normal for central Indiana, but we've not had the monster blizzards that the Northeast -- and Gary -- have endured. Luckily, we've had brief periods of melting. We're already under advisories for a storm predicted to hit on Monday or Tuesday. :-(
OG: I'd forgotten that you are originally from England. You said that you grew up in the south of England. I can't remember; did you live near the New Forest area? I'm fascinated by the New Forest, and I've read about the history there (middle ages). Pleased that your solar panels are working well in the increased light. I'm so glad your son is improving. I wish him all the best.
Paul: Lovely woodpecker photo!
By the way, all, I am so relieved! I heard the pileated woodpeckers today. Yay! I was beginning to think that they had perished in that last arctic cold spell. So glad they're okay. Must sleep now. Have a good weekend, everyone.
Good Morning, All! Yay! Got on here 1st time, this morning, after a couple of frustrating days. The sun is doing its winter thing of being very bright and low in the sky, shining on the frosty fields outside and looking rather like a Christmas card that got lost in the post.
Have only read Dianes post, just above, so no comment yet on any other - glad that the Library Hawk is OK Diane, and that you still have your p. Woodpeckers!
My accent is mixed, by the way, I was brought up in Bedfordshire in the South, and then moved to Liverpool when only 9 years old, so have a southern accent with a little of the North mixed in! Can sound like a Beatle when required! as I cultivated my Scouse when a teenager, so as to mix in. My OH is born and bred Cheshire, so has a wonderful soft Cheshire burr to his vioice. So too, I think, have our sons.
Looking forward to the Murray match tomorrow!
Good morning all have not read other posts yet below is link to Ted & Honey's cam at the Bear Centre.
http://www.bear.org/livecams/ted-lucky-cam.html
Margobird
Alicat: Tiny baby fish! ~Congrats! how exciting. Do let us know how they go on.
AQ: Sympathy over the hot weather - I just go limp when its that hot and it is not conducive to getting much done around the house. Enjoy the tennis.
Lynette: Glad that daughters eye seems to be OK after all. Good that they are on the ball, and checking it out.
margo: Wrote yesterday (but it got lost!) that I was glad that Billy Whizz turned up after all - bet you were a bit worried there. We had a lovely Robin bouncing around the feeders yesterday- then I saw him having a spat with another Robin, as they do. Out of the corner of my eye I could see a splash of red - and there was yet another Robin, in the tree, watching them both fighting! Of course, all 3 are identical, so I have no idea which ones I have been watching lately.
Annette: Nice to know that the landscaping is continuing apace. How good it will be when all is finished and you have your garden back to yourselves again.
Was incensed to read about the proposed culling of birds - what on earth is going on? There should be more publicity about this, nationally.
Have a Good Weekend, everyone.
Sorry Alan should read through all posts as I can see you have already posted the link to the Ted and Honey cam. Lovely views of them fast asleep this morning.
Hi Diane so pleased to hear the library hawk is doing well and hopefully it will not be long before it can be released. Good that your pleated woodpeckers are around and had not perished in your recent arctic spell. Good news that you missed the monster blizzards but I do hope Gary is OK, it sounds dreadful. I see you are expecting more bad storms so take care and hope not too much snow will fall.
I am fine and being positive about my sister, will hopefully be able to go and see her again once she has completed her 10 days radiotherapy treatment.