Evening/Morning all: This week should bring more interesting news about Mallachie. Check the last few entries of the previous Weekly Chat for another photo of Queenie and other input from bloggers!
Hope you all got your clocks, microwaves, coffee pots, TVs, etc., organized for the next six months. And when did BST replace GMT, at least in the summer. In the US, standard and daylight savings time have had a long and fascinating (and apparently often confusing) history, given that we have three times zones for the contiguous states. DST is another matter, with most states changing but some not, but at least we don't have 30 minute increments like they do in Australia!
TerryM: The GE Help window is pretty clear re tours. I do recall that it took several "clicks" to get the thing started. Other folks commented on that and I had the same experience in the beginning but then it was okay. I tried to copy and paste some of the info onto your page, but it included boxes with images and they didn't copy. I'm sure other folks will have more helpful info. Good luck. Too bad lovely Queenie isn't around any more. When my daughter and I were away the other week, we stayed at a place which is a favorite "drop off" spot for folks wanting to "lose" cats. They had three cats when we were there, which hung around the garden entrance to the dining room waiting to be fed (by the staff). One night, the cats were served prime rib, all nicely chopped up for easy digestion!!!!
Alan: So. Are you treating us all to a trip to Loch Garten next year with your lottery winnings or will we be depending on the webcam again? :-)
Gary: Dying to hear about your English food outing (what was it really like?)
OG: We grow tomatoes outside here but my friends who do often fence them and other veggies in to keep various critters, including deer, from snacking on them; not to mention snails. My sister has expressed some frustration with EU rules - specifically not being able to buy French cheese off a market stall (I think that was it). Is following EU rules a bore or do you think it's generally for the good?
Caerann What a gorgeous windowful of little kittens. They are darlings.
Morning/Afternoon All! It's awfully quiet on here but tis early still, I suppose. =O) Waiting for the latest on our girls!
Annette: I ended up doing just a bit of cleaning in the garden as it was an interesting birding day in the city with 3 Turkey Vultures, 1 Red-tailed Hawk and either 3 or the same Sharp-shinned or Cooper's Hawk coming around but not getting any House Sparrows munching on snacks I'd put out. Sharp-shinned and Cooper's are very, very similar so even if the bird is seen perched you can't always tell them apart. Anyway, it's rare to have Turkey Vultures in Chicago so migration is a great time to see them even if they have a face only a mother could love.
AQ: I'm so glad you like the kittens. Maine Coon are good breed of cat with generally a very sweet disposition and their adorable stripey faces make them even more irresistible. Some get very large though and I never knew they don't actually finish their growth until age 3 or 4! I learned a lot about them, all thanks to TerryM. =O)
Afternoon all,
This morning I went for a walk in Barnwell Country Park after visiting the recycling centre at Oundle. Always go to Oundle recycling centre as the place is spotless and well laid out and looked after. At Barnwell visited the Kingfisher hide but unfortunately no kingfishers today. Did notice that the water level is getting very low. This is the second very dry month in a row, unusual for autumn.
Weather today on TI :
Dry Cloudy , Temp 15.4c , Wind W 13mph , Visibility 50kms , Humidity 63% , Pressure 1017 hPa rising.
NEW BLOG - MALLACHIE IN THE GAMBIA
Those birds certainly like to keep us guessing as to what they'll do next.
Still mild and almost warm weather here, it's an amazing autumn, & sorry, to those north of the Border, but as Alan says its also ridiculously dry, can't remember it ever being like this before. Went off this morning to find a Country Park we've not been to before, Astbury Mere C.Park, near Macclesfield, Cheshire. Found lots of coots & small ducks, also six swans who were not impressed by our Dog splashing about; he always goes straight into water without any hesitation so although he ignored the ducks & swans, they eyed him with some suspicion. Had a great smell of large damp dog in the car on the way home.
TerryM: Thanks for the penguin pics, they seem to know when I'm looking in, and go and hide!
Caerann: The cat pics were lovely, especially the kittens! Seem to remember that Turkey Vultures were not beauty queens by any stretch...
Gary: Not heard yet how you got on with your 'English' meal.... dying to know what you ate, and what you thought of it. What was on the menu? Roast beef & Yorkshire Pudding? Fish & Chips? Toad in the Hole? (don't worry, folks, its not a real toad...)
Annette: Glad to hear you are enjoying the finishing touches to the new kitchen. Do you have a table in there for breakfast etc. or is it just for producing amazing cuisine? Always think its nice if there's room for someone to sit & chat to you while you cook but it's not possible in ours, except for one stool to perch on.
Hi everyone:)
Sorry, seem to have not had much time this weekend and today. Not on I tell you!!
Lindybird, the place wasn't really that English but I had cottage pie which was very nice. Quite like home. (however I had to give some away to my friend who wanted to try some , which is fine. However ,he ended up not eating it as he was full. I was not best pleased...) Alison had chicken pie which was OK but I think I made the best choice (I did offer to swap as well)
I would have gone for toad in the hole as well. Nothing like a good "toad" LOL
One of our party had roast beef (very nice) and yorkshire pudding (terrible!!) Very dry.
Over here, yorkshire puds are also called "pop overs" and you have then with jam, as a sweet cake. Sounds strange but is quite nice!!
Anyway, off to check on what I have missed.
Alan, thanks for the blog info. GO MALLACHIE AND ROTHES
Tues 8.05 am. Blue sky, getting warmer, 25 C expected today. Where is everyone - so few posts this to read this morn. Wowee, methinks Mallachie is keeping her distance from big bossy sister Rothes. Not looking forward to reduced coverage, but I guess I'll survive LOL
aquilareen said: Tues 8.05 am. Blue sky, getting warmer, 25 C expected today. Where is everyone - so few posts this to read this morn. Wowee, methinks Mallachie is keeping her distance from big bossy sister Rothes. Not looking forward to reduced coverage, but I guess I'll survive LOL
Good morning to you - and nearly g'night for me - just having my final look in before closing down and having supper drink. It really has been very quiet on here today.
After weekend events and a gentle day today, back to ensuite workmen tomorrow (Tuesday) - plasterer expected. It was good not having them here today - new cleaner started and she could have access to our bedroom without all their tools and jackets! She seems an excellent find - better than the last one who just couldn't clean!!
Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!
Caerann - thanks for Maine Coon info and pics, what sweeties those kittens are. Now I am online at home and not just at work I'll be able to look up things on t'internet too, I didn't know they carried on growing for that long. Queenie was about 20 pounds but not fat just big, I suppose they have to get there slowly or they would outgrow their strength.
Gary - I was going to join in asking about your English dinner but you have reported. I like shepherd's pie best out of that lot, although you have to cook the shepherds for a long time as they are quite tough. Yorkshire pudding should have gravy on then it's not dry. Crumbs, you'll be telling us you put custard on it next...
OG - we came to the Lockerbie Jazz Festival a few years ago, but haven't made it recently, we're into modern jazz. Used to go to Appleby but they're not getting a grant any more so can't afford to put it on.
Alan - I've only seen two kingfishers, lucky you to have a kingfisher hide, they're beautiful.
Yes, it looks like a quiet day today, didn't take long to get caught up this evening. I knew it would be a lovely day today, just because we're back at work after the wet weekend.
Terry in Cumbria
Hi everyone: Have been gone all day and now home at 4:45 p.m. and just poured an early glass of wine. Driven all over heck and creation with one thing and another. Have begged off an outing tonight and think I'll plop down and stare at telly and be a vegetable. WIll read blogs more thoroughly later, but sounds like a quiet day all round (except here!).