Weekly Chat, Sunday May 29, 2011

Time for a catch-up!

Terry: I truly enjoyed the commentary about your trip!!! Feel free to add more later.
Terry and ChrisyB: I would dearly love to see the stone circles in England and Scotland. That would be the perfect holiday to me. Seriously, if I ever hit the lottery, I will take that trip in a heartbeat!

ChrisyB: I'm so sorry that your mother isn't well. My thoughts are with you.

Joan: Beautiful pics of the avocet. Congratulations!!!
Heather: Sorry you got the hail. Hope it didn't damage anything.
Wendy: I enjoyed your post. How wonderful to see a seal. I would love that! We don't have them here. :-)))
Alicat: Enjoy your holiday!
Chloe/Tiger: Glad you had a good time at Bassenthwaite. Well done on solving the mystery.
Alan: I loved the photos of the cygnets. Such sweet little birds.

Margo: Isn't it wonderful that Billie is sitting on your mouse pad? It seems like just yesterday that she was terrified to come into the house. What a terrific relationship you have built with her.
Lindy: The street fair sounds splendid. Glad you had a good time. Congrats on your self-restraint around the cake stalls. I'm afraid that I would have indulged. I meant to say that maybe Sweetpea is just sentimental -- crying at weddings. LOL

OG: That's awful that so many birds were injured and killed during the Scotland gales. Very sad. I loved your photos of the coal tit. They look almost like our black-capped chickadees. I wonder if they are related birds. I'll have to look it up. I saw lots of guinea fowl (like the ones in your photo) on the Pete's Pond webcam this week. I just loved your photos of the geese. I've had many conversations with Canadian geese in Indianapolis. :-) I'm so sorry that you couldn't do as much gardening as you would've liked. Must be so frustrating when you are such an active, engaged person who is passionate about everything.

Hi, Cirrus, Lynette, Patricia, and everyone I've missed!

Okay. Going to lie down and see if I can watch the shuttle landing. The Space Shuttle Atlantis was rolled to the launch pad today in preparation for its final mission.  That will be the last space shuttle launch, ever.

Oh, Happy New Moon (Dark Moon) today, everyone. And a reminder that the 1st and 2nd of June (depending on where you are) is a partial solar eclipse. It can be seen in the northernmost parts of North America, Europe, and Asia. I know Auntie can probably view it, and possibly those of you in northern Scotland can see it??? Eclipse 

Annette: Looks like the stupid, stupid news media aren't going to show the Shuttle Endeavour landing. You can see it on the NASA channel, where I'm watching it. Stupid media.

Diane NASA TV is showing it. See NASA TV

Yup, Tiger. That's where I'm watching. Thanks.

Welcome home, Endeavour. Perfect landing. She didn't bounce at all!

Good morning

Back to grey skies here, but only a slight breeze. Slightly breezier up at LG where EJ has just brought a talon-full of moss or something.

The town where I work has connections to the Titanic.  Directly opposite our office is the town's War Memorial & there is also a small garden & statue of the local man who was in the orchestra that carried on playing as the ship went down.  The town is entering Britain in Bloom & part of the garden there is to be Titanic themed. I think it is this year that that is being done -there are new planters being put down the main street and they were filled last week, so we will be watching for any major gardening going on across the road.

I've always wanted to watch a shuttle launch but never had the opportunity.

I'm still making christmas cards - approaching 30 made so far (but have to admit that several of them were taken to pieces to be made again into different designs)  I'm currently catching up with some birthday cards, & also have some paints ordered to have another try at the painting that I did at weekend - a sort of easy version of folk art.  Then I have photos to sort and make scrapbooks - so I have plenty to keep myself occupied.  With family history, ospreys and of course work as well I'm surprised I have time to eat.

Re the family history - I must just say that I'm only one of many trying to photograph the churches & chapels of Britain.  I have taken quite a lot in my local area, but always had my camera with me whenever we went out anywhere for chance that we spotted any more.  I haven't had my camera with me as much recently as I have a new bag and it is much smaller - I am considering one of the cheap slim cameras to carry around.

After my weekend camping trip I'm hoping to be able to get away again this summer - I have visits to Wales and Southampton pencilled in, but at the moment nothing else.  

Hello all. Cirrus yes Mia is ours but if OH is around she only has eyes for him.  She's a real daddy's girl!

Alan - wonderful cygnet pics.

Wendyb- I bet Roy D was really interesting to listen to.

Sorry I haven't been able to post the hawk pics yet but OH hasn't transferred them to the computer yet.  He's non stop at the moment with work, allotment and other stuff.

Went to Asda at 7am, probably the best time to go as it was so quiet.  I hate it when it's busy.

Morning, All:   Good grief, Trish!  Asda at 7.00am !  No wonder it was quiet.  I also hate fighting my way through other peoples trolleys/children/buggies/confused husbands (sorry, guys!) just to get to the tomatoes/loo rolls/cereals - and everyone is so noisy these days!  - sorry, being Grumpy again.

Dull here and still cold, but we are promised much warmer weather later, and positively hot weather until at least Sunday. Hope to do some more gardening.  OH is rubbing down some of the outside paintwork ready to repaint.  We have UPVC double glazing, but there are other bits not done in plastic yet, so must keep it up to date.

Saw the Shuttle come down, on the morning News, Diane.  Sad to think that they are going to be put in museums, and that era is coming to an end.  That's progress, I suppose.  How honoured you are to be visited by a Queen!  Happy watching, and glad that so far, you have not been stung.

Watched Springwatch last night again, and must agree that there are too many bits of presenters talking and as usual these days on the TV, too much of their faces being shown rather than what they are talking about.   Grrrr,   as Cirrus usually says.  How those nesting Herons stayed on the nest in all that wind defies imagination - they were hanging on for dear life.

Must go clean some floors now, not my favourite job.

Lindybird - must admit it's usually me who looks confused in the supemarket.  OH does most of the shopping and I'm happy with this arrangement!  That's probably why I hate it so much when I do go and find it so annoying!

Wow, everyone's quiet this morning. Lazy time over, walk done.  Time for shower and then work:-(