Hi all:
Lindybird: I responded to your post at the end of the last Weekly Chat.
Hey, Annette. I saw you online and thought I'd say hi. Are you getting the heavy rains? Any danger of mud slides, etc., where you are? We have frost tonight. The trees are beautiful here, all red and orange. Was your kitchen remodel officially finished? Contractors all gone now? Haven't seen aquilareen for a couple of days. Have you been watching the New Forest Autumn Rut webcam? I love hearing the bucks/stags roar! The squirrels are gathering the last of the walnuts here, and they have walnut stains all over their little faces.
(Thanks, Teresa, for your last post to me. Hope that experience never happens to you again! Nature can be awesome in her power.)
Hey Diane: No rain due 'til Tuesday- the forecasts have a way of evolving so we'll see what actually arrives. The folks in the Mission Canyon area will be watching developments closely since they had the most recent fires. Our bad one was July 08 and a combination of agencies did aerial "spraying" of the hillsides with some kind of composite material immediately after the fire to stabilize what earth remained and protect any new growth; they also built debris racks in the canyons to catch anything that might come down and cut back a lot of vegetation along the creeks. But they're still spraying the Mission Canyon hills, so that could be iffy if we get a heavy and prolonged rainfall at any time this winter (the threat of mudslides actually remains for up to four years after a fire). The final city inspection of the kitchen electrical/plumbing is next week; then we have several days of tidy up stuff along with minor tweaks to some other parts of the house. I've checked in with the Autumn Rut cam but haven't seen or heard anything; have seen squirrels on the Abernathy cam. We spent most of the day cleaning out gutters and getting stuff that doesn't need to get wet into the garage, which has no new appliances in it but somehow still seems jammed!!
You must've tootled off to bed by now, so will catch up tomorrow. Stay warm.
Take care all.
Sunday 3.45 pm. Overnight min temp 16 C. Currently 28 C. Oh dear, summer is coming. I have been busy this week and barely had time to read postings. So many videos to watch too. I finished "Scotland Revealed" (hope one of our local channels picks it up - we usually get UK programs 5 months later). Now I have discovered how to watch on my computer some of the TV progs I miss. Why does TV have 2 good things on same time and then nothing the next 3 nights?
Diane. I'm glad your floods weren't as bad as you dreaded. I'd love to see your squirrels. The few I saw on my trip were such busy little things.
Cirrus. We have had good rains this last winter. The reservoirs are nearly full, in fact authorities have been releasing some of the water - much to the anger of some people who want it diverted. Our River Murray, on which we rely for a large part of out water supplies, is very sick. So much water is taken out of the Murray for irrigation and in other states by rice & cotton farms. The Lower Lakes near the river mouth are in danger of drying out. This would mean the Coorong, an important bird habitat, is in danger too. Some Councils have established wetlands so excess rainwater can be returned to the underground supplies. But too little too late. Or too much talking and not enough action.
Lindybird. I love Scotland. But the looooong plane trip from Down Under. . . From home to B&B door is over 30 hours (and we live near the airport!). Adelaide-Singapore (6½ hours), then 5-6 hours wait in airport, Singapore-London (13 hours). Add in the extra time for security checks, luggage collection. No wonder I have been heard to say "Never again" as I staggered out of our airport. Last trip was 3 planes as I returned Edinburgh-London-Singapore-Adelaide. <big sigh> But I shall probably do it again, finances permitting.
Annette. Love your pics. This chat thingie is so good for learning about & "seeing" other places in the world.
Sunday morning! Nice pics, Annette. Aquilareen, I totally agree with you about "chat thingie". When one hears news on Tv etc. from all around the globe, the news have different meaning if one "knows" somebody in that area. Oops... what a clumsy sentence, but I trust you folks understand what I mean
my photos in flickr
Morning all and happy Sunday.
Have fun at the conkers Alan and let us know if you go:)
AQ, that is a LONG trip with all the changes. I would need some time between trips to get over it and forget the experience as well!
I know what you mean Auntie.
Just got back from the World Conker Championships and what a laugh it was. I will download some photos later. In the meantime check out this conker :
what a great nut Alan!!!!!! LOL
Hope you enjoyed it.
Hullo All!
Partly sunny and a very chilly -2.2222c aka 36f here today. I don't know if anyone else is keeping up with the Palemale and Lola website but the pictures change daily or several times a week, I'm not sure which, and those posted as of now include an Osprey flying over 5th Avenue. Here's the URL in case anyone needs it again:
http://www.palemale.com/
Oh my. Big doings at Oundle! What a hoot. My sister and husband went to the National Ploughing Contest nearly Ely yesterday - lots of lovely big old horses with brass tack; then they went to the Harvest Festival at Ely Cathedral - said it was a wonderful day.
Off for quick hallo to daughter; back later. Have a nice evening!