Almost forgot about starting this one! Off to read last few posts of last week.
Brenda, the night protection shift goes from 7pm to 7am. I’ve done two now and both of the people I was doing it with had the same scheme – sit and chat and make notes on osprey doings until 10, one person goes off indoors for sleep for three hours, swap over, then wait for the relief to arrive. On Wed I was with someone until 10.30 as the official overnight person couldn’t get there until then so I didn’t get to bed until after 11 and I set the alarm for 2.30. It wasn’t long until it started getting light, about 3.30 so I set up the chairs and telescope and about 4 o’clock I could see both birds on the nest (thank goodness). While it’s dark we sit in the car, and indoors we use sleeping bags and a pillow on a sun lounger-type chair that reclines. I got home about 7.30 and was hungry so I had tea and toast and went to bed until 10.30, so, yes, I was tired at work. Then in the evening it was choir practise so I had to concentrate. At least it meant I had a good night’s sleep afterwards!
OG, I read your “beeble bum” as “bumble bee” so no need to apologise! I think I shall call them that now. Did you see my note about access to the viewpoints or did you read back in a rush and miss it? When you said you were coming to Coniston (was it?) I hadn’t realised you were thinking of calling in at Bassenthwaite, I meant I wouldn’t be able to see you somewhere else, sorry. Oh that sounds rather garbled, hope you get my meaning : ) I’ll send the info again if you missed it. I think your baby starling might be replacing Alan’s ducklings on my desktop soon, he’s a sweetie! Did you see the message from Wigtown that the last chick there hasn’t made it – the one that had to fight his way out of the egg?
Oh Annette, what a fabulous view from your hammock, I’m drooling with envy.
Terry in Cumbria
EDIT re above - I see OG and Alan have been talking about the Wigtown chick some days ago on news from other nests (I've only just seen my email from Elizabeth).
Terry: Sounds like a very demanding schedule, but you are doing very valuable work.Alicat: Hope those were baby teeth (puppy teeth/milk teeth) that Bobbie lost. Have a wonderful holiday!Patricia: Congrats to Fly and Tweed -- and you -- on the rosette wins. So sorry that Tweed damaged his joints.Brenda: Nice to have you back!!!Alan: Such a sweet baby goldflinch photo! And that duck with the red bill is FAB!Lindy: Glad that you found the problem in the bathroom before it created major damage. What a great excuse to buy flooring. Yay! What kind will you buy?OG: Loved that coo! And the swan and the little birds, too. All professional quality. Just lovely. What would we do without you?!Margo: Good for your husband, still attending head-banger concerts. :-))) I know you are very excited about your upcoming trip to LG. Such a terrific opportunity for you!
Hello to Lynette, Joan, Jay-Me, Trish, and everyone I've missed.
The wasp babies are growing fast. The Queen has enlisted another adult to help her feed and protect them. They work constantly.
Annette: Hope your grandson will be very happy living with his girlfriend. If I recall correctly, you like her. I think I remember that she proved her loyalty during the nasty wound treatments.
Oh, that Valencia Orange tree is gorgeous. What a spectacular view from your hammock. Stow House is quite regal and lovely -- such a beautiful setting. (I wouldn't want to clean that big house, though. I can barely keep my little cottage house up to a minimal standard of cleanliness. LOLOL) Thanks for posting the photos!!! And thanks for the Home Depot duck link! I enjoyed it.
re: end of the Mad Men series. You said that you will need to find another series to watch from Netflix.
I highly recommend Taken, the Steven Spielberg miniseries. It's available on DVD through Netflix. I loved that series. It was one of my favorites, ever.
I also like Eureka. You can get seasons 2006-2010 streaming, available instantly on Netflix. It's a fun, happy show. The new season starts on Sy-Fi Channel in July.
The complete series of Firefly is also instantly available (streaming). Some people think it's the best sci-fi series ever produced. I'm not sure I'd go that far, but I've enjoyed it. I've been watching it on the Science Channel on Sunday nights.
Of course, the British Primeval series, seasons 1-3, is available instantly (streaming). Your tastes may be a bit too sophisticated for this one, but I love it. LOL!
Definitely watch Taken. It's wonderful. I think you would like it.
Evening all: Daughter left at 4 a.m. this morning and arrived in Blythe at 10:30 a.m. with a couple of stops for breakfast and to let Oro stretch his legs. She had a fast ride through L.A. before the rush hour got going. It was 97F in Blythe today, 99 tomorrow and 103 Sunday, but she'll be leaving early and will get to Prescott mid-morning (85 there tomorrow, 88 Sunday). We, in the meantime, have a 30% chance of rain tomorrow and a 60% on Sunday! Amazing. Tomorrow we're also helping grandson pack and move some of his stuff, so another day of to-ing and fro-ing - OH hasn't realized yet that we may be doing it in the rain. Hammock stashed in garage for the moment.
Next week, will get serious about better eating habits - have been so busy and hassled and stuffing all kinds of treats in my face for a few weeks now. They're not high-calorie treats but just as damaging given the amount I've been cramming down. Also have not been keeping to a schedule at the gym; may join a class at the Y that promises "accountability" and which I'll have to pay for, which will certainly make me more accountable!!
Grandson took the bus to job training this morning (but got the wrong one so I had to pick him up and drop him off again). I then went off to the rose garden for several hours, tidying up my "neighbors'" beds too since one of them can't kneel down to pull weeds and the other hasn't been seen for eons; we think it's all got a bit much for her. Was a great workout; chatted to a man and his wife from Kingston on Thames who were visiting and a lady from India dressed in the most gorgeous pink sari. Ran grandson back to daughter's place with boxes for him to pack; then home to take-out salad for OH and yummy chicken-tortilla wrap for me (and two glasses of wine). Now going to do low-stress activity; namely watching EJ with one eye and some rubbish on telly with the other.
Apologies for "all about me" long post! Back later to respond to others' news. :-)
Oh geez. I just inadvertently deleted a long, long post responding to EVERYONE. I'm sick! I was clicking between Diane's suggestions and hit the wrong X. Ugh.
Diane: I've reserved Taken on Netflix, but haven't watched anything streaming yet even though our TV is set up for it.
Lindybird: I spent ages rounding up laundry last night and searched everywhere for a T-shirt I new needed washing - finally found it when I went to bed. I was wearing it!!
OG: Stow House is considered Victorian here (very popular style at the turn of the last century). It also combines a vernacular architectural style called Carpenter Gothic, which includes characteristics of Gothic style executed by local carpenters. "Colonial" in California refers to Spanish-Colonial architecture; if you remember, those photos of the Santa Barbara Courthouse I posted last year are examples of that (white walls, red-tile roofs, arches....). Also, that orange tree isn't that big - we had two until the navel went to the big orchard in the sky last year.
Brenda: Was it you who suggested a hard hat in the hammock? Good idea since those oranges are pretty solid even when you bump into them on the tree.
Margobird: Like Heather, I am agog at your OH's gigs. Amazing!
I know I haven't included half the responses I originally posted, but really did read all posts carefully. Big hugs to those I haven't mentioned. Do hope the lovely sunny weather holds for the summer, with, of course, occasional showers to keep all your gardens happy! Off now to keep an eye out for EJ and chicks and, oh crikey, someone put me out of my misery. I've had a still image - again! - on the screen for about 40 minutes. Aaack!!
Diane: Where did your post go!
EDIT: Oh I see it; on previous page.
Incidentally, does anyone know how to delete a redundant/useless post?
Annette: There's a delete button (a little red X) beside the edit button. But the delete button is only available for a few minutes. If it goes away, you can click edit, delete the text, and just replace it with the word "deleted".
Sorry you lost your post!
Re: The bedding/sheet set discussion
The following website has 300, 400, 500, 800 and even 1,000 thread count sheet sets for very reasonable prices -- even Egyptian cotton. BUT this is a discount store, not an upscale designer store, so I don't know whether these sets would be acceptable for wedding gifts. It depends on the wealth and standard of living of the bride and groom.
I couldn't care less about designer names, so I always buy my sheets here because they're a good value, they're long lasting, and I'm very frugal. Also, I no longer have access to a TJ Maxx store since I left Indianapolis. Here's the site: Inexpensive high thread count sheets I don't know whether the current exchange rate makes these sets a good deal for Brits or not. ??? Here's the current rate: US dollar to British pound
Hello & Goodbye, Everyone! Sunny again here, and I am off on a shopping mission, so sorry, no time to read all the previous posts nor comment - will do that later.