Almost forgot about starting this one! Off to read last few posts of last week.
I will do the pics later, haven't found the camera yet...
Terry in Cumbria
Good weather for Bank Holiday! Had no plans, so didn’t do anything special – in fact quite a lazy day, although I did do the ironing!!! This is my first post today. Just done l o n g round of webcams etc!
Tiger – pleased you and Chloe succeeded in getting proof that XS is SX! I hope you saw Ospreys as well as the past records! What a pity you hadn’t arranged to meet with Terry!
Terry – We shall be travelling down to Coniston Sunday June 12th, but not yet sure of our route.
Annette – Cat evicted from hammock? Can’t she wear bootees so she doesn’t pull threads? I hope you are having a good Memorial Day – and will have great gathering this evening for Grandson’s 21st! I expect your Daughter is looking forward to Saturday – no doubt she’ll see big developments with Delightful Delilah!
Cirrus – I think that quarry where Glenwhan Gardens are was just a small local one – probably just the source of materials to build the Estate house and associated buildings.
Joan – sorry you had rain – I hope you found something interesting to do today.
Lindy – I hope you had a good day out, once you shed the dressing gown!
Alan – glad you got some rain – hope it was eventually enough to do some good. Haven’t heard any news from Threave – I don’t see the local birders who are “in the know” during summer as there are no meetings, just trips, which I can’t really join in. We intend to visit again before too long, and then definitely when they fledge.
Trish – I’m looking forward to Harris Hawk photos – pleased it was a good day.
Margo – glad you enjoyed the concert and are gaining so much pleasure from Billie.
Heather – Sorry about hail interrupting your gardening attempts - my naked Runner Beans have begun to get some new leaves, so most will survive.
Dibnlib – thanks for bravely letting us know you will be in therapy – we would have wondered where you were – as you know we do miss regulars when we don’t see them. I hope it goes well, and won’t be too long before we hear from you again.
Now “time for a little something”! So, good night to all.
Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!
Cirrus, I am at Bassenthwaite, upper and lower viewpoints. I could do Whinlatter visitor centre too but I prefer outdoors, especially as there’s no camera on the new nest so they are just showing DVDs of previous years. I have also done some all night shifts for protection and I will be doing one on Wed night (I’ve told work I’ll be in late as I will need some sleep).
OG, admiring your garden trip pics, that’s something we intend to do. Can you remind me please, I think there is a garden show towards Edinburgh that you mentioned last year about this time? Re your Coniston date, I am on osprey duty that day and I guess you can’t get to the viewpoints, so no chance to meet.
Annette, I have a hammock and it actually came out last year as the weather was fairly settled! Some years it’s just too many wet days.
Trish, I told OH a few years back that I would like a bird of prey experience for my 60th, but I suspect he won’t even remember that there’s something to forget! I’ll just have to do it myself (a little while yet).
Dibnlib, hugs to you, will be thinking of you and please say hello when you can.
Had a bit of a catch up on this thread today - what a busy time everyone has had!
Interesting holidays and lovely photos, especially OG's photos.
Would have been nice to get to Whinlatter/ Dodd Wood to see Tiger and ChloeB and TerryM but I cannot get there very easily at the moment, due to looking after my mother who is not well. I am disappointed to hear that there are no benches on the way to the top view point, I will have to email Mr Fox ( lovely name for a Forest Ranger!) about it. Hope to get there soon.
OG, I don't know if you know the Coniston area already ? I like to visit Brantwood, Ruskin's house on the East shore of the lake. It is interesting and has a good Gallery and a cafe with a super view !
First time on today and just caught up with all the news, too many to reply to individually so thanks for your news.
Dibnib - sorry to learn you are having health issues but of course you have to take the opportunity when it arrives. We shall miss you but you must get yourself better, all the best.
Regarding looking at the papers in my father's ol tin box, I found his original notes in the form of a letter to my mum of the events leading up to D-Day landings (about 2 days beforehand) till about the 19th June before they had to sail for Portsmouth again. My mum had already translated his notes and I typed it up for the BBC Peoples War when they were running it. Also found his original driving licence from 1935 to 1940 before he joined the RN on war service. Looking through I also found a newpaper article relating to a distant cousin whom I knew before she died and a bit of the family history so will be able to fill in a few gaps on the family tree.
Took OH out to a lovely pub in a nearbye village for lunch and then did a bit of shopping (Food) before returning home. Weather here has been wet for most of the day although it has dried up now, still it was welcome.
TerryM - loved your description of your holiday to the Hebridies - glad you enjoyed it and got around and saw lots of things.
Have taped Spring.watch to look at later.
http://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/wildlife-webcams/loch-of-lowes/
RSPB Giving Nature a Home
Terry – I have just enjoyed reading your Part 2 - equally interesting as Part 1 – good mix of history and wildlife. So pleased you found a Corncrake! Sorry about the rain – good to have the flexibility of some nights B&B. Nothing worse than packing a wet tent – except maybe a wet dog! Look forward to seeing your photos. Good luck doing Wed night at Bassenthwaite between two working days!
Gardening show at Ingliston is Gardening Scotland – this coming weekend Fri to Sun (3rd to 5th) – see www.gardeningscotland.com
Sounds like it’s not going to be worth us visiting Bassenthwaite Ospreys, then, if Whinlatter only has info and viewing points are not accessible.
Chrisy – sorry your Mother is not well and needs looking after. Have been through Coniston but never stayed there before. First time, I threw up there on the way back to campsite, as a reaction to a huge thunderstorm in Ravenglass! We have Brantwood on the must-see list! I like cafés with a view – especially if they have carrot cake!
Lynette –pleased you enjoyed bank holiday lunch out with OH. We also recorded Spring Watch this evening.
I think it’s time I went to bed – things to do tomorrow!
Hi all: Just having a little sit before zoom off to grandson's b'day dinner (he's chosen a Chinese restaurant he likes - I was hoping for something a little more "haute" but hey, it's not my birthday). :-) Glad some of you are getting much needed rain. Had Wonderful treat this morning; went for walk with friend to Lake Los Carneros and there - down from the pathway - was the mother bobcat and her two cubs, romping and rolling around in the grass. Just marvellous! A lady and her two kids were nearby fishing, so we drew their attention to the show and we were all just thrilled watching them for about 15 minutes. Of course, no cams and no binocs handy! Cirrus: Hammocks are very easy to get into - you just flop in; getting out can be a bit of a challenge, but the very best part is just lolling with a book. That desert plant was a yucca; many types, not sure which it was. Lindybird: Oh dear - so easy to leave things on the roof of the car (or the trunk/boot!). I bet that's a Starbucks cup by the grocery bag! Snake photo? Eeeeuuuw! I'm intrigued by references to "disposable" BBQs - what do they look like? Alan: The Aberfoyle nest sounds like locations for some restaurants - doesn't matter who moves in, it never quite takes off.... Great shot of the Derby ringing. Trish: Sounds like you had a lovely day with the hawks; hope you didn't get too wet with Mia. AG: Haven't "met" you before. Hallo and welcome. Margobird: Good you enjoyed your night out; say hallo to Billie Whizz next time she wakes up! Heather: So where are you emigrating to? :-) When we put in the new garden, we chose plants that, once established, can survive on minimal or no water. We are dry from April through October, and never sure what we might get in our so-called wet season. I've pretty much done away with potted plants that need water and am going with cacti (two ii's?) and succulents. When we've been in critical drought situations in the past they've usually started by restricting garden watering and banning car washing in driveways and, at one point, jacked up water rates depending on the number of people in a household. Here in Santa Barbara quite a few years back, people were bringing their gray water to the city parks to water the trees and plants. TerryM: Your Hebrides trip sounds lovely (especially liked the B&B link!). Are you all relaxed now? Looking forward to the pix. OG: Bootees for Lightning? Hmm; must check that out. :-) Daughter is now counting the hours to Arizona I think..... Lynette: How sweet to find letters from your Dad to your Mum - I wonder about all those great uncles and aunts we never knew... Must get organized and pull on some clothes in preparation for b'day boy! Take care all and hallo to everyone I missed.
Hi all: Just having a little sit before zoom off to grandson's b'day dinner (he's chosen a Chinese restaurant he likes - I was hoping for something a little more "haute" but hey, it's not my birthday). :-) Glad some of you are getting much needed rain.
Had Wonderful treat this morning; went for walk with friend to Lake Los Carneros and there - down from the pathway - was the mother bobcat and her two cubs, romping and rolling around in the grass. Just marvellous! A lady and her two kids were nearby fishing, so we drew their attention to the show and we were all just thrilled watching them for about 15 minutes. Of course, no cams and no binocs handy!
Cirrus: Hammocks are very easy to get into - you just flop in; getting out can be a bit of a challenge, but the very best part is just lolling with a book. That desert plant was a yucca; many types, not sure which it was.
Lindybird: Oh dear - so easy to leave things on the roof of the car (or the trunk/boot!). I bet that's a Starbucks cup by the grocery bag! Snake photo? Eeeeuuuw! I'm intrigued by references to "disposable" BBQs - what do they look like?
Alan: The Aberfoyle nest sounds like locations for some restaurants - doesn't matter who moves in, it never quite takes off.... Great shot of the Derby ringing.
Trish: Sounds like you had a lovely day with the hawks; hope you didn't get too wet with Mia.
AG: Haven't "met" you before. Hallo and welcome.
Margobird: Good you enjoyed your night out; say hallo to Billie Whizz next time she wakes up!
Heather: So where are you emigrating to? :-) When we put in the new garden, we chose plants that, once established, can survive on minimal or no water. We are dry from April through October, and never sure what we might get in our so-called wet season. I've pretty much done away with potted plants that need water and am going with cacti (two ii's?) and succulents. When we've been in critical drought situations in the past they've usually started by restricting garden watering and banning car washing in driveways and, at one point, jacked up water rates depending on the number of people in a household. Here in Santa Barbara quite a few years back, people were bringing their gray water to the city parks to water the trees and plants.
TerryM: Your Hebrides trip sounds lovely (especially liked the B&B link!). Are you all relaxed now? Looking forward to the pix.
OG: Bootees for Lightning? Hmm; must check that out. :-) Daughter is now counting the hours to Arizona I think.....
Lynette: How sweet to find letters from your Dad to your Mum - I wonder about all those great uncles and aunts we never knew...
Must get organized and pull on some clothes in preparation for b'day boy! Take care all and hallo to everyone I missed.
Hi, all. Hope everyone had a nice Memorial Day/Bank Holiday! I'll catch up with everyone tomorrow afternoon. I can't be a night owl tonight, because I need to get up early and cut my grass. It was extremely hot today (92 F or 33.3 C). Predicted to be even hotter tomorrow, so I need to mow early before the temp peaks.
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Edit: Can't remember whether I've posted this before. Sorry if I have.
Hallo all: Back from dinner - food was good, g'son very gracious (hurray! another milestone); girlfriend very nice; daughter very tired. Here, the legal drinking age is 21 so he managed to put away a couple; good thing his girlfriend was driving! He decided to stay out with her and will come down with his Mom in the morning for a job interview. In the meantime, I'm off to bed.
Diane: Read your Edit but read it as Edith and started fretting that I'd missed a new person on the blog! And yes, I've had dreams come true - can be a bit disconcerting!
Morning all. Typical weather - blue sky and sunshine today when I have to go back to work after a wet bank holiday weekend. I haven't done much this weekend - read a couple of free books on the kindle, had my hair cut, and generally relaxed. And of course went to my craft workshop. I had expected to make cards or something, but I've painted and decorated the frame of a mirror.
Good to see that the wind seems to have calmed down at LG