Weekly Chat, Sunday September 20, 2009

Hi, all!

We also have very dusty pollen-filled air right now. Makes it very hard on my Dad. We are supposed to get thunderstorms tomorrow, so it should improve here. I sympathize with you, though.

Annette: Just wanted to say that my soapbox rant was not directed at you. Your frustration over your kitchen was fully justified. When I save up money to make a big purchase, I want it to be right and I don't want to be bullied into accepting otherwise. I'm going to be a real bear to deal with as I work on this house!

I was ranting because I had just read the new crisis statistics on hunger, homelessness, health care, and poverty in the U.S. And then I saw that 45% of Detroit children are living in poverty. And globally all the numbers are horrific... Anyway, must not climb on soapbox.

Oh Diane: Not to worry at all! I understand totally, but sometimes you hear something out of the blue that just reminds you how lucky you are. I walk with some folks here who are members of Santa Barbara Newcomers, a social group that also clues new residents in on local doctors/plumbers/auto repair shops/places to eat, etc.,  and every time we walk to the end of the wharf, we stare out at the ocean and back at the hills and wonder how we got so lucky!  I have to remember to leave my soapbox at home tomorrow since do not want to spoil family brunch with "advice" to grandson.) :-))

HA! Go ahead and sort him out, Annette. LOL I have to bite my tongue with my brother. Sigh... G'night. Have a good Sunday everyone.

Caerann - Neighbor: To answer your question to me: I'm afraid that I know very little about the falcons at the Black Dog Plant in Burnsville. I followed the Indianapolis nest, because I used to work in that area and I would walk by the nest site every day. And I briefly followed the nest at Fort Wayne, Indiana. The Indy adults raised four healthy chicks this year, but one disappeared after fledging. No one is certain what happened to her.

Have to say, though, that the conditions at Burnsville sound pretty rough for the birds. It's my understanding that the falcons were chasing swifts and other small birds into the smoke stacks and perishing. I believe that the company tried some sort of "spike" guard, but the idea failed, according to the banding report, and falcons died. I think that the power company is going to remove the nestbox there. Here's a forum with some info, but this is about all I know: http://raptorresource.org/forum/index.php/topic,105.525.html

Diane:

Carrying this over from prior thread and I truly appreciate the research you did for me on this. The Raptor Resource is precisely where I got the info about the Black Dog birds and I've tried joining their forum 4 times but have yet to be granted, probably the Admin is simply too busy. Anywho, no one ever replied to that last entry on Sept 8th about the lack of bird activity at that plant so who knows what could be going on, or not going on at the Raptor Resource website. I do hope all the birds from this year are okay and that the company relocates or totally removes the box for next season.

I see that Sheila at Alcoa Angelsea is due to "deliver" in the first week of October. Hurrah, hurrah! More birds to watch so I won't miss our Loch Garten lovelies quite as much!   =O)   

Ooooh, Caerann, I'm so glad you explained how your post got to be here!!!!  I thought I was going crazy!!! 8-\ 

Annette, AQ and Dianne:  I take a Sudafed tablet when I first wake up in the morning, and if I need it, another around lunch time to dry me up a bit.  Can't take them in the afternopon or at night though, or I have nightmares - if I manage to sleep at all!  At night I use Otravin measured dose nasal spray, and if drastically stuffed up through the day, I'l use that sparingly then too.  I use Antistene Privene for my eyes (same ingredient as the Otravin).  I've tried so many 'never fail' medications (expensive, too), dosing myself up to the eyeballs, and have had no better relief than the regime i use.  I've found the most important thing of all though, is to wash my face as soon as I come inside after being out. 

Gary: Thanks for your encouragement!

Wattle: Sounds awful. Do take care of yourself. Poor thing!

To Margaret J, I have put a personal message on your 'My Page' Regards, jsb.

sorry to hear about all the hayfever issues about. Sounds awful.

Hope the parties go well Annette and AQ. (that does seem a little strange about the birthday cake. Still, it means the birthday boy/girls is assured a cake they like:) )

Busy day for me here doing yard work so catch up later. Have a great Sunday everyone:)

Hello, all.  A sunny Sunday here, we even sat inthe garden with our coffees this morning. Getting darker earlier & earlier now, though.  No excuse for me not to be gardening this afternoon, instead of reading a book! Must clean out the bird bath to encourage more visitors, they definitely prefer clean water, don't they?

Had such a good Laugh Out Loud at all the wacky suggestions about unsolicited 'phone calls!! Thanks, everyone!

Many thanks to ANNETTE for keeping us all in order by starting a new thread today.

I get hayfever but keep it at bay by using a nasal spray (I seem to be unusual in getting it at the end of summer, not the beginning, someone told me its actually the tree pollen in that case.) Off now to do said gardening, & put more laundry on line- it's such a glamorous life I lead....

Hello everybody. Just got home from work and having my afternoon java. It has been a beutiful, sunny and warm day here, about 17 C.

Gary, You asked about the snowing here (sorry for the late answer, but I´ve been at work), Well the amount of snow varies quite a lot every winter. I live about 100 km north from Helsinki (capital of F) and we do get snow every year, sometimes less sometimes absolutely toooooo much. I will keep You updated during this winter :) 

Annette, about the pic. It is taken from the ospreycam here in Finland, in Nauvo at the archipelago sea. There is this summers beutiful ospreylads. I am going to try to put there more pics about them next week, when I have my day off.