Morning all: Much ballyhooed snow didn't materialize, we had a sunny day but very cold tonight with temps just below freezing. Spent the first couple of hours today online with Dell Tech Support after a website I clicked on (via Google) delivered a spyware program disguised as an anti-virus program (one of those things that suddenly lights up your desktop with alarming messages about threats to your computer). I ignored it and immediately launched McAffee to scan my computer, which found nothing. However, the spyware program (called Internet Security Essentials) wouldn't go away until Dell's remote support took over and did a super-scan and clean up (LOVE that service! So glad I signed up for it!)
Trish: They said it will take a while for the autopsies on the dolphins. Glad your OH remembered his training and sat still, even if Mia forgot!
Diane: Have never heard of the Nevada Triangle. Will certainly keekp an eye out for the program - we're watching DVD of The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest right now. The UK is (it's rumored) is warmed by the Gulf Stream, which perhaps accounts for the daffodils, etc., while you're still dealing with weather from what I believe is called the Canadian Shield...
AQ: Our plants are in danger of drowning right now; have moved some of the potted plants under the eaves to protect them from any frost.
Lindybird: Had big laugh at image of you scraping your pizza off the floor - I'm a firm believer in keeping our immune systems challenged!! :-)) I shall be tuned in to the Oscars from the silly "red-carpet arrivals" pre-show all the way to the final curtain call, although I must confess to shouting a lot at the telly during the entire show. I think The King's Speech will do OK; Colin Firth was nominated last year for A Single Man but didn't get it; think he stands a good chance this time round (and if he doesn't get it, you'll hear me yelling at the telly all the way to the UK)!!
Margobird: Your sister sounds like a real gem.
OG: So glad you had a chance to make various plans with son.
dibnlib: "My fried egg has landed upside down on the floor?" Maybe that happens a lot in Russia? :-))
Hi to all I missed. Have a lovely Sunday!
Welcome home DjoanS and glad you enyoued your break.
Hello to all not been on until now and this is just to read last posts for week previously and today. Thanks to all for links and pics. Will probably not get back on until Tuesday as out all day tomorrow.
Turned much colder today and we have have some pretty hefty showers.
Went shopping this morning mainly to get a jacket for LG which would be appropriate whatever the weather. Found a good one with a detachable hood and fleece lining and also waterproof. Nice and light as I don't like heavy jackets. Was going to look for another pair of walking shoes but Clarks had decided to refurbish the shop so will have to go again soon. Also got a few teeshirts as M&S were doing 2 for £10 and they always wash up so well.
Have a good evening all.
Margobird
Hi Everyone: Have been lazily sitting on the sideline just reading.
Highlights here for yesterday were a sunny walk by the Spey, Sun streaming in newly cleaned windows and about tea time opening study window to listen to a very happy but noisey blackbird. Oh also snowdrops as the last year they blended in with a covering of snow abd ice that had been here for weeks.
Sunny start to the day so a super sunny but windy walk on Lossiemouth beach where the dogs outnumbered the children. Then a drive to watch the seals just lolling about on the rocks at Portgordon and home via Glenfiddich Distillery coffee shop for coffee and scone. This part of the journey was a bit different as it turned cold and we had a hailstorm.
I am a butterside down sort of person.
Love naughty dogs it proves they have a bit of character!! So Dillon and I should get on really well and so looking forward to our lunch get together.
My road is also a bit of a mess at the moment...private owned by the distillery who last made it up nine years ago but over this time they have started working 24/7 and the lorries have got larger and larger. They now have a tiny visitors centre so I think they are inhaling deaply and putting the work out to tender.
Annette I have the same PC as you and am pleased Dell could sort out your problem. It is also worrying that thet can do it remotely......as what else copuld they get up to. Just a random thought.
Worked longer than intended in the garden and greenhouse, both before and after lunch. Greenhouse looks very ready for action, with propagators ready for seed sowing, spiders relocated (for how long?) and geraniums all repotted. Remembered that OH has to move some stuff in the loft this evening for insulation guys due tomorrow, so unfortunately church is pushed off the agenda.
Terry – pleased you enjoyed the Handel study day – and got a chance to play with another Trombonist. It’s good to see that Cockermouth is recovering well – thought we might be having a short break near there in June, but settled on further South – Coniston, Furness and around. I hope the washing dried outside. That Curlew is certainly getting some exposure – I’ve currently got Lapwing on my desktop!
Dibnlib – naughty Dillon, he should know to be gentle with you! But at least “when he is good, he is very, very good!!”
Alan – glad that HG&L was more pleasant for you today! Superb calendar pic today!
Sheila – I hope you have a great time in Switzerland – an elderly friend at church goes about 10 times a year as she and a friend have a flat – but they don’t ski, they go for the scenery and love travelling on the railways. Sounds like your repaired lane will be better than roads around here!!
Joan – welcome back – pleased you had a good time and found new places to visit.
Margo – glad you found a suitable jacket.
Wendy – Blackbirds really are getting very songful now – and pleased you saw your snowdrops this year! We ordered some new ones – well, new old ones if you follow me – traditional singles – ordered from Cambo – and they have really come good this year and are lovely, with good long stems. Also bought three Aconites, but only one thrived, and is now very healthy and pretty yellow flower. Sounds a nice day out today – shame about the hailstorm, but at least it waited till the homeward leg!
Started this before tea, but couldn’t get on to post – not by front door, back door or even down the chimney! Now coffee time again, and maybe some TV.
Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!
Welcome back Djoans.
2nd egg at the West End nest:
http://www.iws.org/bald_eagles/westendcam.html
Also 2nd egg for San Francisco peregrines.
Have just logged on and caught up with all the news.
Diane - it makes interesting reading re the bald eagles, lets hope that the fish stocks will replenish themselves in time. Of course heavy rain doesn't help by washing away the carcasses.
Lindybird - couldn't get your link up either.
Alan - glad you managed a capture on the Hillhead cam, looked at them tonight and just managed to catch the osprey on the Dunedin cam.and flying off.
http://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/wildlife-webcams/loch-of-lowes/
RSPB Giving Nature a Home
Nice to hear that DJoanS had a lovely trip to Cork. Glad you managed to get about even if weather wasn't very nice.
SheilaFE - a skylark and three buzzards, my oh my, how fortunate you were.Support both teams Sheila even if Scotland can't manage a win at the moment, perhaps with your support they will!!!!!!!!!! Enjoy your trip to Switzerland.
Hi Margobird - hope all is well with you and with all of you.
Set off for church in glorious sunny weather even if a bit nippy, came out of Church to the rain and it kept it up for the rest of the day, clearing up early evening.
Alan - loved the goldfinch pic and have copied to my file - hope thats OK.Thanks for another eagle link.
One or two eagle pics coming up;
hide and seek with this one!!
Pic of Lily coming up buts a bit fuzzy,also two more eagle nests!!To brighten up Monday morning and the start of a new working week for some!!
Margo - Sending more healing thoughts to your sister. She is wonderful, such a positive attitude.
OG - I always have to leave chips, or potato in any form, when eating out. Why do they give us so much - it’s such a waste.
Diane - 800-plus earthquakes would be hard to take even if low on the scale.
Christchurch is preparing for storms tomorrow. Not good for tottering buildings. One quarter of CBD buildings will have to be demolished, those built before mid-1970s. Suburbs also badly hit. Some bright news - a rescued woman was fit to marry as planned at weekend.
Dau2 & Sil visited yesterday bringing our grandcat. Poor Jasper was crying because he thought his outing was to the vet again. He had a bandage around his neck to prevent him scratching his rash. He apparently finds that slightly less disagreeable than a lampshade. He is on a strict boiled chicken diet to determine if the rash is a food allergy.
I tossed & turned last night, got up several times, tried all my get-to-sleep tricks, nothing helped. Fetched in the paper at 4.30 am. That's when OH arose for the day after a good night's sleep. At 5 am I fell into bed again and slept for 3 hours. Crazy. I'm turning into an owl.
Evening all: OK: And the best actor is COLIN FIRTH!! HURRAY!! And the best film is THE KING'S SPEECH!! HURRAY TIMES TWO!!
Couldn't get on the site at all this morning. Now settled in front of the telly and, as usual, the Oscar show was generally speaking its usual mediocre and lackluster self except for the odd shining or funny moments. (Major overuse of the word "amazing" by winners this year!!)
Diane: Awful story about the bald eagles. I did notice that story about the earthquake swarm; interesting, though I didn't make the connection between that and the bird/fish die offs. Didn't they have a similar swarm some years/decades back? I note they say it's not on the New Madrid fault, but sometimes it takes a quake to reveal the presence of a previously uncharted fault.
OG: Plants survived chilly night (at least I think they did). Nice again here today with a chance of rain come Wednesday. You're right about too many humans messing things up.
dibnlib: Naughty Dillon! Kids pull that stunt (misbehaving when you're relatively powerless). Glad that someone managed to grab him for you. Watch out where you "throw in" that lunch for Wendy. :-)
Alan: Lovely goldfinches; very dramatic coloring. Certainly glad the Christmas stuff disappeared from the garden center; that would be worrisome to go shopping in late February and be bumping into tinsel, etc. It's bad enough when it comes out in October!
Lindybird: How wonderful to see the fox! Tried that housework link but got a note saying it "may not be available." (And it wasn't.) If Prince Charles is anything like my OH, he has more than two of the same item of clothing. :-)
Terry: Wow. Handel's Water Music for trombone! That's some achievement; sounds like an interesting project.
Djoan: Welcome back! Which new places did you visit this time?
WendyB: You have to approve a download before before the Dell folks can access your computer. It's amazing to see the cursor take on a life of its own and watch what they do and where they go to investigate the problem.
AQ: Poor Christchurch; I've missed the latest - guess they've found no more survivors in the last few days. (Saw the item on the marriage of that survivor!) Hope you sleep better tonight!
Morning, Everyone: Woo Hoo!!!!!! "The King's Speech" has won lots of Oscars - including dear old Colin Firth for Best Actor! as Annette says, HURRAY!!! What a great night for us Brits. And Natalie Portman won for Best Actress after her huge efforts for "The Black Swan" (she had to lose weight, learn to ballet dance, and then appear in almost every single frame of the film; a massive commitment). I did not think that Helena Bonham Carter should win the Best Supporting Actress as it was not her best ever part. (& she didnt win).
Sunny here today, but a very brrr cold wind when you are out. Lots to do, so I must dash off now, after putting on the usual Monday Smile:
---- Enjoy your day!!