Weekly Chat, Sunday 24 April 2011

Well finally able to get on this morning - so a belated Happy Easter and thanks for the lovely cards. Thanks also to OG for letting folks know I wasn't out in the bars dancing on tabletops last night. Managed to get both the cams, but not the Forum pages or any way to get to them.     I too love old churches; not just the biggies, but also little country churches. My sister lives right opposite the one in her village and though it's only open now and then, I do like to go in and imagine what it was like when it was packed - in the old days.  Had a lovely afternoon yesterday:  Two guys with weed whackers arrived to clean up an empty lot across the road from us - they'll be building on it soon - and the noise was so awful I decided to go count whales. Got to Coal Oil Point to find everyone excited as three cow-calf pairs had just gone by!  Aaack!   But no sooner had I arrived than another Mom and baby showed up, followed by yet another pair, and then yet another pair. Close in to shore!  It was so exciting. The first pair hung about in the kelp for about half an hour feeding and the second pair caught up with them; then the first pair moved on accompanied by a small pod of dolphins that were swimming right alongside them. Just great. The bad news was that on Thursday, one of the oil rig crew boats saw 10 Orcas attack a mother and calf just a few miles up the coast; after a valient hour-long fight, the Orcas won and killed the calf. Boo Hiss. Yes, it's all part of nature, but....    Also, was watering a new groundcover with the gentle spray option on the hose end and a fat little hummingbird flew right up, took a look and sat down on the ground to enjoy a shower. So cute, sitting there fluffing up its feathers and generally enjoying itself.

Daugher is coming down for breakfast this morning and we've all been invited to brunch at a friend's house later, but may just hang out here for the day; we'll see how things go. Must go toss on some clothes....back to catch up later.

Take care all; Alan, do let us know if it was a BBQ or not!  :-)

Very late I know but did want to wish you ALL, A VERY HAPPY EASTER.

My computer is refusing to even switch on ,so I am on my OH's.  Besides problems with the site, all my favourites are not on his computer and when I got to my page, at last, my last post was on last weeks page. OH is going to be surprised to find his favourites have greatly increased.

Thanks for all the lovely Easter cards.Will try and catch up later.

Hi, all. Just came on to say that I hope that everyone who celebrates Easter is having a great day.

I was going to get caught up with everyone last night, but I couldn't get on the site at all -- except for the cam. I'll try to come back tonight and post some replies. However, we're having thunderstorms every few hours here, so if storms are bad tonight, I may not log on. It's truly crazy here. I must go do something productive now before the day gets away from me.

Everyone have a grand evening!!!

Flood aerials from S. Indiana (south and east of me). http://www.wthr.com/video?clipId=5780574&autostart=true  This will be hard on the wildlife as well as the people.

Evening all, just a quick call in today.  Belated happy Anniversary to Annette and Happy Birthday in a couple of days to AQ (crumbs, it's a responsibility saying that without checking...someone may get loads of cards when it's not true!)

I had two days at Bassenthwaite this weekend, Friday was a beautiful day and Saturday was gloomy with rain late in the afternoon.  We saw a tree creeper, a woodpecker and several red squirrels, oh yes and three ospreys!  Apparently there is another pair around and mating was seen earlier in the week on the old nest, but not when I was there.  Strangely they haven't decided to make the nest home. Got to go now, Lewis on tv...

Happy Easter to one and all. First time on today but is a bit slow.

Well the decorating marathon is now finished. Open plan 3 rooms in one and if it didn't move it was washed and if you were made of oak you were oiled it now looks and smells amazing. No more until the second May bank holiday and we mighty do spare bedroom and hallway. Garden needs attention next but will ahve to wait and see what the weather is tomorrow...not brilliant today.

OG Hope you had a good day out...photos expected.

Back here tomorrow and will try harder at responding to all you brilliant bloggers. 

Excellent day.  Church was good this morning – more I see of new Minister, more I like.  Children all stayed in all through, although not a scheduled all-age service, and they were so, so good – even several wee babies.  Mersehead was good too – but nowhere in the running for photo competition.  Took photos today, but they will have to wait till after holiday ones!  Trouble is, everyone has such high expectations!

Lindy – hey, that photo wasn’t there when I wrote this morning - lovely bright and happy picture!

Chloe – lovely Easter Egg – and calorie-free!  By the way, Amaryllis leaves had all gone, but now it’s having two more.  Poor dear, that’s four crops of leaves and no flowers in two years!

Cirrus – you are quite right.  Religions are man-made; Christianity is a gift from God, free and available, through faith by grace.

Dibnlib – the card was a sort of cheat – it was the card I made in Publisher from my own photo and printed for family and friends.  To make it a jpg format for here, I scanned it back in!  Your OH’s new job sounds much more enjoyable – I realise the less able people do need the support, but maybe it is not a job to do for too long!

Annette - pleased ad-hoc visit to Whale Count was so exciting – and for such an encouraging reason – maybe this is the beginning of a rush of calves – but sorry about Thursday’s Orca attack.  How lovely to give the Hummer a shower!  I hope you enjoyed the time with Daughter and Friends today.

Diane – thanks for the Easter wishes – I know you have different beliefs, and respect you for them.  I didn’t realise the storms were continuing – stay safe!  Sorry about the floods nearby.

Terry – pleased you were well enough to do duty at Bassenthwaite both days, and enjoyed some good sightings.

Wendy – that decorating was quick – sounds like you are really pleased with it.  Well done.

Heather – hope you had a good time.  Margo was going out for a show last night and expecting late home, and often misses Sunday on here when she spends time with her OH.  She was okay yesterday, and enjoying closer contact with Billie, as it is now spelt, being a female cat after all!

Thanks OG

Will now get on with remembering holiday, with photos!

Second day (Thursday - first full day there) we returned over Kessock Bridge to buy cheese (we have a travelling fridge) at Connage Pantry in Ardersier, then went East along Moray Firth to Brodie and finally to Findhorn. 

At Brodie Castle we had a little walk around and watched a Squirrel in mixed woodland near the walled garden: 

We learned that Ian, 24^th  Brodie of Brodie in the 1920s was famous for developing 400 new varieties of Daffodils, which are found all around the grounds. 

We took a longer walk/scooter-ride though the woods and around the lake, where we saw Ducks and a Swan on the water and Mrs Swan on her nest, and Woodland flowers.  Coming back up towards the Castle, this was the view of one of the towers and a magnificent Beech Tree: 

Nearby, we had a snack at Brodie Countryfare, where there was a holiday event including Easter Bunnies and Lambs and these lovely fluffy Ducklings: 

We didn’t see much new at Findhorn, and the only photo there was a Pied Wagtail, which we often see on this page from our own gardens!

Highlight of third day of holiday – probably of whole week – was an exciting event at the Croft.  Grandson (age 12) of our host had been given his own six Ewes last year; they were all now in lamb and expected to give birth very soon.  At breakfast on Friday, we had the news that the first Ewe delivered a Single Lamb at 6am.  At the end of breakfast she now had Twins, and twenty minutes later they had become Triplets!  We were immediately taken to see them and watched Lamb#3 stand and take its first steps!  I can’t put the photos of the wee boy on here, but you can imagine the look of pride on his face as he stood beside his first lambs – or, as his Dad said, “Mother, ‘Father’ and Lambs all dong well”! 

That morning we went to the camera shop near Beauly, and, having time to spare before returning for lunch at The Kirk Coffee Shop, went for a drive up Strathglass.  We saw Golden Eagles soaring in the sky  - rather distant! 

And this view down the Strath, with an interesting rocky outcrop: 

When we asked Daughter where we were to meet her and SiL after lunch, they suggested Culloden Battlefield, so off we went south of the Firth again!  It was just one day before the Culloden Anniversary so there were special events on, but nothing I felt the urge to photograph.  Daughter and OH went on a guided tour of the battlefield, while SiL and I watched and listened to a demonstration of the clothing, arms and battle skills of the protagonists.  Before going back to their house for dinner and to meet the Puppies, we also visited the Clava Cairns – a group of Neolithic Burial sites, of three different periods and shapes, near the river Nairn.  Entrance passage of this largest Cairn faces the setting sun at the Winter Solstice: