Hi folks: Don't forget to check the last pages of the previous chat for links, comments, and all the usual twaddle. :-)
Good morning & happy solstice day to all (would wish happy Saturnalia as well, but I doubt there's too many followers of the Ancient Roman religion on this site).
While browsing my work's computer this morning I've come across a couple of screen captures of Garten that I took from the stills camera in August. Before I have to delete them I thought I'd post them here to remind us all of last summer.
Here's the other one:
Morning all and happy winter solstice to you too Sandy. Great pics of Garten and it brings it all back. I wonder where she is now.
Gary : Great pictures of the retrievers. One of my favourite breeds of dog.
This morning I will be venturing into the frozen wastes on a dangerous shopping mission. Now is the time when I wish I had a sledge and 4 of those Huskys to pull it. Of course I will keep in constant touch with base.
Shortest day and now 94days 7hours etc etc until the ETA of the ospreys.
Weather
Sunny Dry Uncomfortably cold Temp 0.4c feels like -4c , Sunrise 08:08 sunset 15:48
FAB
Morning all
A lovely sunny morning here but very cold ... the small amount of snow we had is still frozen solid and the road outside is a nightmare!
Sandy - a lovely reminder of Garten
Alan - keep the countdown going :))
I'm out for Christmas lunch with a friend today, but fortunately I'm getting a lift.
Gary - love the pic of the dogs - so friendly-looking and well-behaved by the look of it!
I hope everyone takes care in the ice/snow/wind/heat - whichever applies to you
Joan - avid bird and nature watcher in Northumberland!
Index Thread
Morning, All.
Just popping in (puff, puff, huff...) in midst of Christmas preps & cleaning missions-
Sandy: Thanks for great pics reminding us of dear Garten, as Alan says, cant help wondering where she is now...
OG: also, loved your garden pics of the doves. Thanks!
AQ: Your kind picture of warmer skies was very welcome this morning, it is cold & frosty here, & the roads are bad. Manchester Airport which is not far from us, is closed down for part of the day due to the weather. Have just taken a very careful walk in the garden to feed the poor fluffed out birdies & put hot water in the bird bath for them.
Gary: Oooh! Gorgeous doggy pics, I can't resist that breed (don't tell our Heinz 57 Dog) The pie wasn't suggested by me, but still I hope you enjoyed it ; - ) . The avatar is a frustrated attempt to be Christmassy as I tried to make a "Christmas Card" from a funny penguin picture I have, but it won't load, so have changed my avatar to a pic of our tree from 2007, when we last had a 'real' tree: we now have a large artificial one which I nearly break my neck on, as I won't let anyone else near it & I can only reach the top with a ladder- one day I'll have to give in and just have a table top one, but not yet. (so glad to hear you & yours are all OK)
Alan: Hope shopping mission is accomplished without incident- every trip now is fraught with danger.
I don't have house cleaning elves, & just wish I could get rid of the ones who keep moving things around- they're never where I left them I'm sure. Off to do exciting things like clean bathrooms & fill up washing machine again : where do all these dirty clothes come from, for just 2 people?
Have a Good Day & Keep Safe, All.
Patriciat – pleased you got there and back – stay safe! Apparently a few computer gremlins around - and not all in cold weather!
Sandy – great reminders of Garten – first one looks very threatening – actually I notice by the time that it was the second one – maybe someone approached her perch on “Garten’s Tree”!!
Happy Winter Solstice to all (N. hemisphere)! Quite bright this morning, so doesn’t feel like the shortest day, but nice to know it is all onwards and upwards from now – and just think what will be happening at Loch Garten on 21st June!!
DjoanS – enjoy your lunch and keep safe!
Lindybird – thanks for dropping in! I’m lucky – my “weekly elf” came last Thursday and will be back New Year’s Eve because she doesn’t like New Year anyway. My “daily elf” has been ironing the duvet cover this morning - he does that in return for me doing shirts because he doesn’t do very well with them! OH actually does a lot around the house because I can’t do so much now, but I join in with what I can.
Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!
Diane thanks for the links about the awful weather in the US. Glad you are OK and still have electricity. Lots of snow in the UK but not as bad as thise. We are lucky here as we have only had a light dusting. The trouble is temperatures are not getting above freeazing for most of the day so the roads are very dangerous especially minor roads as they do not tende to get gritted or salted. It is raining now but with the promise of sub zero termperatures to night the road will be very icy again tomorrow.
I have been out and sorted out my garden birds, knocking the ice of their feeders and putting fresh out for them but now it is raining it will probably be frozen solid again tomorrow. I have to admit I was very careful not to go over on the ice. My OH put salt down and made me a path to walk on to get to the feeders but I trod very warily I can tell you.
I had thought about Gary too but he seems OK and says they have only had 11 inches which to us in the UK would be a lot.
Have a good day and take care.
Margobird
Lovely pictiure of a blue sky aquilareen/ We have had blue skies but freezing termperatures with it. After a light dusting of snow overnight and a hard frost on top it is now raining. This will cause big problems when it freezes over tonight. We live at the bottom of a hill and my OH managed to get up OK this morning even though it was very icy but I think it will be worse tomorrow.
thank you gary for those wonderful goldie pictures. do they have advent calenders too. we won't give Dillon too many treats on Xmas day as he has an easily upset tum, but he also has a new cuddly bunny and a tugger. Took some of his old toys to our local SSCA. Glad you are all OK
Morning Alan how I agree with all the comments about Copenhagen. My OH had said it should be done by video conference instead as you say a terrible waste of time and resources - what about the carbon foot prints we are always being told about.
We haven't had a lot of snow here in Poole, just a light dustng for the last couple of nights. Troublew is it has frozen solid making untreated roads extremely dangerous. It is now raining and there is a promise of sub zero temperatures tonight so it will not be a good day to travel tomorrow.
I have been out putting fresh food out for my garden birds and defrosting the bird baths. OH cleared me a pathway by putting salt down but I was extremely nervous out there but all is well and I managed without going over.
Yes there is always chaos when we get some real winter weather we don't seem to be very good with it at all. How sorry I felt watching tne news and all these poor people who got stuck on the trains in the Channel Tunnel. I wonder how long it will be before the trains are running again.
If you go out with Thurnderbird or shopping do take care.