Weekly Chat, Sunday, May 1 2011

Afternoon all: Geez. May already? This happens every year!

Sitting in garden with laptop! Under umbrella in shorts and trying to ID a pale pink hybrid rose I didn't think I'd bought but which is now blooming like mad. I went out to buy orange/apricot/peach and yellow roses and have no idea how this pale pink one got into the mix. Also, it doesn't have a little metal label, which the others do, and I'm wondering if it didn't get into the wrong bin at La Sumida, where I bought six bare roots. In the meantime, Amber Flower Carpet and Julia Child roses are doing brilliantly...  Met friends for breakfast this morning: Had a egg-white and seasonal veggie mix - won't make that mistake again! Very boring and challenging since nothing stayed on my fork. Was forced to rectify the situation with a cafe au lait and a boysenberry and lemon scone!

Diane: I have a visor and a sweathshirt with a hood that I wear on windy days at the whale count. That's it! Daughter has several cowboy hats, including one with a woven decorative band she made from hair taken from Cimarron's tail (the horse she had to put down Feb 10). I'll check out Trucker Steve next.

Alicat: Bet you had fun with Bobbie. Have you sorted your naughty OH yet? :-)

Wendy: Dolphin visit sounds like fun.

Sheila: Argh! Take care of that knee. Geez. A 1.5 hour wait for food? Did everyone complain loudly?  Apparently, several of our channels repeated the wedding video throughout the day yesterday; I'm watching the recording a bit at a time; can't stand to be inside on a lovely day.

OG: More fab azaleas! Good news that son is trying the part-time option; hope it works out for him. Really understand "more money than sense," which also applies to grandson who, sad to say, doesn't have much money, so .....! Still, he's young yet and as always, we live in hopes. Little vole looks awfully sweet.

Hallo also to Lynette. It's past 4; can now officially start new Weekly Chat!

  • Well done to the SNP for the landslide in the Scottish elections despite Westminster trying to stop this ever happening. I am sure they will look after the wildlife better than any of the other main parties.

  • SheilaFE said:

    What's the difference between psychology and clinical psychology?    

    Thanks, Sheila, for enlightening me about the blue sticking plaster – do you have to keep it on from one session to the next?

     

    I don’t know the technicalities of the Psychology, but I think for Clinical Psychology you go into it via the medical route and include general medical training, a sort of hands-on science.  I assume the other kind is a more theoretical science and might be used in education, criminology or research - or in industry/business to set and analyse those silly psychometric tests, etc.

    Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!

  • George - lovely to hear from you again but oh dear, can you not go back to your doctor and see if they cannot get you in any sooner.  The medication may be the answer and the sooner they get you on the right dose the sooner you hopefully will be feeling better. Glad you are still able to take Diesel out and that you are getting out yourself.   Take care and we are all thinking about you and hope you are feeling much better soon.

  • Welcome bjane nice to have you on board and thanks for the link. There are other cams and the following are pics I've taken just a few mins ago.  Hilton Head - and you can just see the chick by mum.  Decorah eaglets spreadeagled, and the Dunedin 3 all growing up now. And of course Mother Goose at Montana Baywell camaflaged chicks

  • Just spent time catching up with email and snailmail correspondence, so no photos tonight - sorry.  I have to admit that to try to keep in regular touch with all the missionary contacts, and with specific elderly friends, I now draft one monthly update and customise it for each one!

    Just as we finished watering young plants in greenhouse, big raindrops started to fall again, but the paths are only slightly damp, so it obviously didn't last long!  Worried about my tomato plants , they look weak and yellowish, so have tried a "kill or cure" feed this evening - really seems to be very early to be feeding them but I think they need a tonic!  Going to a Science Fair in the morning, and then to an Open Greenhouses Day at one of the Garden Centres.

    Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!

  • Alan you've managed to get the feeding time at Dunedin, all I got was 3 little ones having a stretch and very well camaflaged.

    OG  - it looked threatening this morning but then the cloud broke and we had sunshine allbeit hazy at times, humid , but no rain. All the garden plants are dying because of lack of rain. Don't bother to water as they are not prized possessions just perenials that keep coming.

  • Hi, all. Hope everyone had a nice Friday. I have a remaining patch of grass to cut (finally dried out after the flooding), but decided against doing the job this evening. I looked out the window, and 3 rabbits had found some red clover, which they were eating with obvious enjoyment. They were hopping about with unrestrained joy, as if they'd found a great delicacy. They looked so happy that I decided not to disturb them. I'll have to blame the bunnies when the grass reaches my knees. :-(

    George G: I had a feeling that you were poorly. So sorry that you've been ill. Take care of yourself and do whatever it takes to get the care you need. Here in the U.S., we sometimes have to get very demanding in order to get good care. So be bold on your own behalf, my friend. I'm sending good energy to you!!!

    bjane: Welcome to you! So good to have another blogger from the U.S. heartland. I hope you'll enjoy the site and this thread!!!

    Alan: I hope Hamish the Brave recovers fully and no other problems are found. Poor puppy doggy.

    Lindy: So glad that Buzz is now in good health! Lovely photo. Your countryside is so beautiful. Loved your marmite story. The UPS delivery guy showed up here unexpectedly the other day, and I had to scramble for some appropriate clothes. Looked in the mirror after he left; my hair was wild, and I looked a fright.

    Gary: How dare you wash all the good stuff off of TT! LOL!

    AQ: Loved your photos. The stained glass window is so beautiful. Glad your knees held up. You must be getting so excited about your upcoming European holiday! I hope the weather is good for your trip. The Science Channel here has been heavily advertising a special TV program this coming Tuesday about Cane Toads in Australia. Do you have them in Adelaide?

    Brenda: Sorry that it will take so long to repair your laptop. :-(

    Sheila: That's terrible news about the golden eagle. What is wrong with people?!?

    Margo: Sorry about your pond emergency. I don't do well with crises when I first wake up. Actually, I don't deal well with anything when I first wake up. :-)

    Annette: I know what you mean about not looking at this site in the morning. I deactivated my Facebook account this week, because I was just wasting too much time online. I really need to start exercising some self-discipline, because I have a very long To-Do list for this summer.

    I hope Terry has a wonderful holiday.

    re: dust bunnies: My house is the habitat for the largest species of dust bunny in the world! :-)))

  • OG: I love science fairs. Who is sponsoring the one you will visit tomorrow? I'll go with you, 'kay? :-) Hope your tomato plants respond to their feeding and perk up. Glad you liked your new cleaner. Hope she works out well for you.

    Good luck to your daughter at York. I wish her all the best in her studies. You must be so proud of her!!! Also, congrats on her keyboard result. Such a talented young woman!

    I loved all the photos you've posted, especially that photo of the barnacle geese. The gorse banks pic is beautiful. When people talk about the "gorse fires", that plant is the one that is so flammable, right? Thanks, too, for the lovely LotL photos. I loved the pheasant and the woodpecker pics. I have several species of woodpecker here, and I love them all. A red-bellied woodpecker family has lived in my back garden for years. I name them all "frog" because they hop along my deck rail. They look similar to the one in your photo.

  • Unknown said:

    Diane, I now have visions of you swinging through the trees on the thick tarzan vines. I love the sounds of your land. Our gardens would just not be right in your setting. 

    Brenda: I will tell you a secret. Shhh...don't tell anyone.

    I had an old vine that had grown up a tall tree, draped itself over several big limbs, and was growing across my lane (driveway). It was very thick and unbelievably tough, and I was afraid it would damage vehicles coming down the lane.

    I tried in vain to pull the vine down. One end worked loose, but the other end remained solidly attached high in the tree. I fetched a ladder and intended to cut part of the vine down. 

    Then the spirit of Tarzan overcame me! On a crazy whim, I grabbed the end of the vine, held on tight, and jumped off the ladder. I couldn't hang on for very long, but I swung out over the grass. It was so much FUN!!!

    I ultimately used a saw to cut the vine, but it was a glorious moment of childlike freedom!!! LOLOLOL