What ho everyone! Lazy day for the most part - girding myself for the busy week ahead - oh for a week with no appointments, no projects, no visitors - but as they, say 'be careful what you wish for.' Several folks added pix of Lily, Phoebe, and anonymous eagles on the last page or two of the previous thread, plus some quickie posts to wind up the week (AQ may have melted by the time you read this). In the meantime, here's wishing Andy Murray the best at the Australian Open - it'll be over by the time I wake up.
Have a good Sunday all.
Just looked in on Phoebe and she must be off feeding or nearby. My how her chicks have grown, soon be outdoing the nest.
http://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/wildlife-webcams/loch-of-lowes/
RSPB Giving Nature a Home
Hi everyone.
Just checking in. Busy here. Next door, the people with puppies, the lady has been in hospital for the last few days. She should be out by Thursday but I've been helping there. Not just a quick trip in. Feed 5 "monsters", clean the pen and then "walk" them in the garden with 3 ft of snow, while they all scatter in different directions! I'm more worn out than they are!
Diane, you stay safe and thanks for the warning
It does look bad and there is cold weather to come after the storm. I saw a graphic today that approx 100 million people will be affected by this one, it's so big. We are due 3-8 inches tomorrow (Tues) but our ice won;t be here until Wednesday. I'm hoping we don't get it as think as others as we are nearer the coast. I brought some more water today, torches are ready. Our main worry is if the power goes off for days, keeping the house from freezing and the horses in water. We don't have a generator but next door do, so we may be huddling down there. A guy came in and dug out a lot of the snow on the edge of the driveway with a JCB/backhoe so we now have somewhere to push the snow into, which was a worry. I went behind with my new toy tidying and finishing off. It has been in incredible winter already.
So, sorry, I hope to catch up the next couple of days while I wait for the snow to stop so I can plough and clear:) Hope everyone's doing OK
Evening all: Hurray, hurray! Landscapers are done; won't be back until Thursday morning for final tweaks and a check on the irrigation system. Feeling very benign, in spite of yet another communication hangup with main guy. Forgive me if I relay the latest (Whine Alert!!): The plan called for a 5' by 8' trellis against the garage wall. So our man arrives and asks if it's supposed to be 5' wide by 8' high or vice versa. I refer him, (yet again) to The Plan which, if you look at the scale, shows the trellis as 5' wide, which one might conclude means it must be 8' high, yet it took another two or three go-arounds before he was convinced. Then he asked what kind of trellis do we want? Redwood ,we said, but were then obliged to listen to a list of options that were more expensive before OH repeated, "Redwood." Don't feel you have to comment - I'm just ranting away here because it's all so odd.
Diane: That sounds like one mean storm headed your way - I heard some of the emergency broadcast warnings sent out to folks in the Midwest on NPR today (part of a news story on the storm) and it didn't sound reassuring at all. How lovely you left the garage door open for the critters. I'm sure they'll appreciate it. The other thing I saw yesterday when driving home was a very healthy looking coyote that crossed the road in front of me en route from the citrus groves to an open area. No attention at all paid to traffic; it seemed very intent on something it could either see or smell.
Gary: Hope you manage to keep the power going and that the horses are okay.
Lynette: What a nice sentiment you expressed when you wrote: "You are all so thoughtful with each others problems and joys, I endorse that and apologise if I don't remember everyone in reply. Take it as read that I sympathise, enjoy, whatever with all you have to say." So nicely put! May I quote you when I'm too tired to reply to all want to acknowledge everyone's post?
Like now? Take care all. Have a good Tuesday.
Hi all! Saw a small flock (dozen or so) of waxwings yesterday! They were on a spurce about 30 meters from my balcony and almost missed them but then I heard them and was lucky enough to spot them before they flew away, they are so pretty and sound so cheerful
Lindybird, could little Tomasz be any cuter! Those big eyes are just amazing . Thanks for excellent Monday smiles!
Alan, great Goldfinch picture! Not sure if I have ever seen them “live” although we do have them here in Finland
OG, hope your sneezes are history now. EDIT just read you are felling better, great!
WendyB absolutely beautiful pics from Loch Morlich
Poor AQ, it is incredibly hot down there. And I just read that they are expecting a big storm in that area that had those terrible floods, oh dear…
Annette, so your landscaping thing should be finished today? You must be glad. That rainbow must’ve been a truly wonderful sight! And thanks for that eagle-link EDIT just read the landscapers are gone, hurray!!!
Diane, hope you are OK and don’t get too much ice and snow, please take care! That ice-thing sounds awful. It is so good of you to leave your garage door open so wild things can have some shelter!
Margobird, I’m so glad Billy is getting more and more trusting towards you and your OH. Wouldn’t surprise me much if some summer day I read your report telling that he has allowed you touch him!
DjoanS, glad you had a bluetit, I think they are so cute: small but feisty, I see them on a daily basis here
Dibnlib, What a great librarian you have!
Hope each and everyone has a nice Tuesday!
my photos in flickr
Morning all. Haven't had time to post for a few days. I sympathise with all who have problems and thanks to those who havve posted pics. Have to mention Tomasz, who is just gorgeous! He seems to have grown so fast and is a real wee boy now.
Diane You are so brave about the coming storm. Hope it won't be as bad as anticipated and that the power outages won't happen. Putting power lines above ground in a severe climate does seem short-sighted and you are probably right about the motives of politicians. Thinking of you and praying for you. Do try to keep safe and warm.
Wendyb Your pics of Loch Morlich are super - snow makes places look even better than usual, though it's always a beautiful sight, looking at the mountains across the loch. I've been trying (half-heartedly) to weed out pictures from before the digital age. It's amazing how many versions of the same views I've taken!
Greetings to all.
Morning, Everyone: Came on here to whinge about the fact that when I got up at 7.00 am, there was no water in the taps! Managed to flush the loo, and then - nothing! Went back to bed with a cup of tea provided by my poor sick OH, who had found enough water still in the kettle. However, it all seems to be trickling back on now, so I'm hopeful I'll be able to hose myself down later.
These problems pale into insignificance when reading about those of you in the US. Do hope you are all OK and can ride out this storm. Can just imagine a whole lot of small creatures and birds in Dianes garage! Do take care, and keep safe.
Am so enjoying all the wonderful Eagle pics from you all, they are indeed magnificent birds and I adore them.
I endorse Annettes reply that what Lynette said about everyone on here is so true - what a caring lot you all are. It is a pleasure to join in with you all.
My poor OH has had a bit of a rotten time with his cold - its now turned into a nasty chesty cough and he is sore from hacking. He is doing stuff and then resting regularly in between, and medicating with the Whisky. We have been waiting to see if I would succumb, but as I have not got it yet and he originally started feeling a bit 'off' around last Wednesday, we have concluded that thankfully I shall escape it now. I did have a strange pain behind the eyeballs yesterday, and was very tired, but maybe that's my system beating off the germs! We were fascinated last night by the TV programme on pain and pain management , and the workings of the brain. Terrible what some folks have to put up with, but hopefully there may be some sort of cure on the way.
Glad to hear that you are feeling better, OG. I know what you mean about allergies, I am sensitive to several things but manage to ignore it most of the time.
Off to see if the water is behaving itself. Have a Good February!
Sorry to hear of all the extreme weather. Do hope all those suffering are managing to keep warm/cool and safe.
Decided not to go to the fitness club this am, but to go for a walk with OH and Dillon instead. Unfortunately by the time we had our tea and toast the wind had turned into a gale and the rain to a downpour so I chickened out as I am still slow so walk would take twice as long as it would without me. Won't swim now as I have gone through full getting up routine and not a splash in a hurry ready for the gym/swim.
LYNETTE We got new binos from Vane Farm last year and are thrilled to bits with them. If you have the RSPB catalogue they are on page 33 no 5 (the RSPB HD binos) think we got the 8x42 but will check with OH. Our last ones were the same magnification but not nearly so good
Good Morning ALL, We have been up since 6.30 so we were ready for John Lewis, who say they can deliver from 7am. No call from them or from charity picking up our furniture.
Just popped in to sympathise with Diane. What a worrying and horrendous time for you. I can understand you being so scared and yet you still found time to take care of your wildlife. I have just read all the warnings for the storm and warnings of power outages. I just can't imagine what it must be like to have so much ice falling.
Gary, I hope you are right and that the ice does not reach you, because of living nearer to the coast, although even more snow for you sounds severe.
Both of you take care.
Oh! today's the day, Brenda! Sympathise with waiting in for deliveries - they either seem to come at Dawn or leave you waiting & wondering, all day. and you have the added problem of hoping that the charity collect to get rid of the old ones. I have my fingers crossed for you that all turns out well.
Lots happening next door to us lately - the bungalow has been sold to an elderly gentleman, who is only going to use the downstairs rooms (there are now a couple of smallish bedrooms in the loft) and he is living in a Care facility whilst his family get the bungalow ready for him - huge van delivered his furniture the other day, and a procession of vans from Currys Electrical etc, since. His daughter said to my OH that they had great difficulty getting him to part with lots of the furniture, as coming from a much larger property. They are all impressed with the views we have over the fields at the rear. Don't know if he likes nature, but they have already put up a Bird Table in the garden.
Yesterday we went to a local Garden Centre as they gave out vouchers for a free cup of tea or coffee - so had a nice mooch around with OH, enjoyed our drink, and only came out with a bag of birdseed!
Good morning original goldfinch hope your man turned up to assess materials for solar panels. My "cooker man" arrived just before 10.30 and did his usual good job and now have a sparkling cooker. So many bits I can't reach as the door drops down which makes it difficult to get right to the back. He takes the door off which I wouldn't risk doing. I made OH laugh before he went to work as I cleaned the ceramic hob myself.
I managed to post my Bird Watch results quite easily yesterday but did find this site was a bit slow at times.
Light rain and marginally warmer here but there was still ice on the bird baths when I was out in the garden earlier. I won't moan about the weather though. Queensland are having it bad again and I just read the news for USA and it seems this horrific snow/ice storm is expected in many areas. Just watched some film and looked at the forecast and it looks just horrendous.
Margobird