Welcome to another week. Lots of Dunedin osprey and Hampton eagle pics on last week's thread. Also Margo's Billie and some uncomfortable-looking cats.
A belated Happy Birthday, Brenda
Diane - Careful, you may get called as a witness to that accident on the Dunedin cam. LOL
Linda - Thanks for posting pic of Margo's "flat" cat.
Dibnlib - Well done on 60 lengths.
Patricia - That's just not fair, your OH getting shingles on top of everything else.
Heather - A steep learning curve for your bro. Hope your sis-i-l's sis responds quickly to treatment.
OG - When you finish your pics, would you do mine too?
We woke this morn to rain; not showers, actual rain. Too bad it's too late for the vegies but the lawn should recover. Family gathering this pm for Miss16's birthday. Yikes, now she will be able to get her driving L plates.
I don't what happened to Brenda's pic. Try again.
Evening all:
AQ: Thanks for starting us off!
I see the weather has taken a dramatic turn in the UK. Hope you'vre all staying warm. This has turned out to be a very fattening and sugar-loaded birthday! Had nice breakfast out with friends. One showed up with a pastry box from a local French bakery that held two yummy looking concoctions all prettily presented. We'd just about finished breakfast when the restaurant's owner came over to chat to my friend (they've known each other for eons) and my friend mentioned we were there to celebrate my birthday. So the lady (a remarkable looking 82-year-old) says to me: "Do you like chocolate or white cake?" Oh, well, the thing was that I still had more than half one of her lush creations (strawberry white cake with strawberry mousse filling and white chocolate) stashed in the refrigerator, so I said "Chocolate" and the four of us ended up taking home a generous portion of cake each, on the house, too! Very sweet, but I've OD'd on sugar and now most of the above is in the freezer for future reference. Not sure I can face another over-indulgent day tomorrow, so OH and I may postpone my dinner out for a few days. Daughter had a great drive out of LA very early this morning and practically flew to Blythe, where she's staying for the night before a leisurely drive to Prescott in the a.m. Guess who's babysitting her guinea pig? Now to try to respond to posts!
Good to know that barometer-tapping is alive and well. I don't have one, but compulsively check online weather satellite sites at least twice a day. Sounds like last week was the time for haircuts.
Diane: I hate unloading and putting away groceries. It's worse when OH tries to help coz then I never know where he's put stuff and forget I bought it. Re Sandra's photos, that's either an accident or the SUV is jump-starting the red car... Hey, that critter on Brenda's card looks like it's been snacking on my birthday cake!
Brenda: Happy Birthday!
Heather: Hope your bro's sister-in-law does well with the cancer treatment. They do seem to be getting better are targeting individual cancers these days. I'm sure your bro appreciates your calls.
AQ: Good luck with your meals while your OH is at loose in the kitchen. I have some strawberry white cake I can send along..... Love the "hoeing" definition.
Trish2: Hope you enjoyed the long weekend and that Mia's paw heals quickly.
Alan: Must be nice to see your goldies again.
Margo: Brrrr. Made me shiver just thinking about you sitting with wet hair.
Lindybird/Margo: Thanks for the shots of the famous Billie - I can see why she'd have a hard time staying on that shelf!
Lynette/Sandra: Great shots there! Thank you.
Alicat: Wish Bobbie happy birthday. How sweet about the bear!
OG: Hope your power is okay until the fix arrives. We've been through the "musical photo piles" several times; also the matching of unidentified ones with characteristics in others - what a job!
patriciat: I was talking to my sister on my birthday about her grandson who has an awful case of chicken pox (the root cause of adult shingles). I told her I'd had a shingles shot (at Costco) a year or so ago; she'd never heard of shingles shots for adults. Do you know if they have them over there?
dibnlib: Hmmm. Contortionist cats, eh? That sort of thing always make me feel a bit queasy.... Bravo on your swimming 'record.' Hope your meal at The Green Inn lives up to expectations. OMG - that cat in the railings - amazing!
Hope all of the above makes sense and that I haven't muddled responses. Will make other replies tomorrow. Fading fast here and about to head off to bed. Have a good Sunday all!
HAPPY NEW WEEK!
News for This Week
The full moon is Tuesday.
How will this change affect birds and other wildlife?
Here's a stunning new development that will change all of our lives very soon! The U.S. and Europe are changing the laws and rules that regulate UAVs (uncrewed aerial vehicles). Many of you probably know these as drones. These are small aircraft that are remotely controlled and have no pilot.
Up until now, drones have been widely used only by the military, but new laws will allow civilian drones to be used for a variety of scientific, social, and commercial purposes.
On the one hand, these vehicles can be used for positive ends, such as monitoring the environment. For example, an Australian research team is using drones to document climate change in Antarctica. The drones can also assist in disaster relief.
On the other hand, what will be the effect on birds if our skies fill up with unmanned drones used by big business, for example, carrying advertising, photographing real estate, and dispensing pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers? In Germany, drones are already being used to inspect wind turbines. In France, they inspect high-speed rail lines for damage. They could also be used for highway and building maintenance.
In addition, drones will play an increasing role in surveillance and policing. (Military drones are already used for these purposes inside the U.S., for example, to hunt illegal immigrants.) The new rules will expand their surveillance use by private corporations, policing agencies, and governments.
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I'll be back later today to do replies. Have a good Sunday!
LINDY/MARGO thanks for the Billie pics. She knows which side her bread's buttered. MARGO her cold, hungry days have obviously long been forgotten.
Not a good start to our day today. OH got up and took Mia in the garden. I sat on the side of the bed and looked out and felt sorry for the blackbirds desperately hunting for something to eat but everywhere under inches of snow. I put on my dressing gown and some socks under my wellies and went straight out to clear snow from the feeders and ground tray and replenish the food. My hands became incredibly painful in the cold snow and I don't know if that was the cause but I suddenly started to feel very wobbly. OH had already gone in so I followed. I leaned over the kitchen counter but knew I had to lay down as I felt so sick and faint. So I laid down on the kitchen floor still in my wellies and had to stay there until I recovered after a few minutes. OH then instructed me to lie on the bed for a while which I did. The pain in my hands has now subsided. I've been doing a little reading in the internet and wonder if the pain was the cause. Quite a frightening experience.
Good Morning: All white here, and cold. No more snow forecast though, thank goodness, and just 'cold' weather for the next few days. Not good for those travelling, lots of pics on the News of those struggling through it all.
Thanks to AQ for starting us off on another new week (where does the time go??)
Will def. do some replies later, as having a 'lazy' day here today ( & not going out of the door, LOL!). But concerned to read Trish's entry, above, do take care of yourself Trish - it could be that the cold was a shock to your system as you must have come straight outside from a warm environment, and I read a warning the other day that it can be bad for you.
Just went to run a bath - I only have about 2 a year - no water in the taps, at all!! Aaaaaargh! OH has gone to neighbours to see if theirs is off, too.
EDIT: It is! Going to get dressed and wait to see if they can fix it in the next few hours. We keep some bottled water in the garage, to make hot drinks with in an emergency, thank goodness: can't survive without our cuppa.
Sorry to hear you had a bit of a turn. do take care of yourself TRISH
Morning all,
Lots of snow here today. 3 or 4 inches I reckon. Current temp 0.9c. Not going anywhere today in this.
Linda : Sorry about the water being off. Very inconvenient.
Trish : sorry you felt unwell after going out in the cold.
Thanks to everyone else for the chat. May have to do some snow clearing now.
Lindy: I hope your water comes back on SOON!
Trish: I hope you recover completely and rapidly!
Everyone stay warm and safe in the U.K. bad weather. Stay indoors today! Best wishes to all.