Happy Sunday all UK folks and Hi to those in the Eastern US and Down Under and, of course, Auntie in Finland. Don't forget to check out the last posts from last week; I'll be back later to check on them myself!
Another busy day - just popping in to say "good-night!!
Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!
The thaw has definitely set in here but still plenty of lying snow. It was good to get the car out today and the most risky part was when I returned home. We live at the bottom of a hill, which was partly thawing on top of solid ice, so the drive downhill was quite interesting.
Annette, sorry about your car. I do so hate these people who damage other peoples cars and cheerfully go on their way. So often they are uninsured drivers, that is, if they are ever caught.
Like Lindybird, I just find it so astonishing how small the humming bird chick must be. Thanks Alan.
Oh, Annette, forgot to say so very sorry about your car. What is wrong with people?!? Today, security cameras are everywhere in the U.S. You'd think that the accident would be on video somewhere, so the perpetrator might be found. What a pain in the ... neck.
HI everyone: Just gone 4 p.m. here and this is the first break today. We started off this morning taking damaged car to body shop, where they said it wasn't legally driveable (having lost driver's side mirror). Well, as far as I know, if you can open the door and turn on the engine and drive off, it's driveable, right? Wrong. So immediately was put in touch with car rental agency which fixed us up with this humungous (sp?) Lincoln something-or-other - black; bulky, with more bells and whistles than my Bosch convection oven. So OH and I look at it; look at each other and I say "This is way more car than we want." Perplexed look on rental guy's face: "Most people like all the bells and whistles." I said, "I don't want to have to spend the week we have it trying to figure it out." The Lincoln didn't need the key to start it and once you'd started it, the steering wheel and seat "remembered" where they were when you last drove it and started humming and adjusting themselves; it had sensors that dinged faster the closer you got to something (only to get out and find that you still had about four feet to spare!). And it was so huge OH and I were wary of driving it. Anyway, OH has just returned from switching it for an Nissan Infiniti, which looks just like our Honda Accord.
Diane: OH was at appraiser's office in LA when it happened and we called to see if they had surveillance cameras, but turns out none on that side of the building. Oh well. Besides, in LA, they're busy chasing down murderers, gang members, etc. Smooshing the side of a parked car is waaaaaay down the list (if it's on it at all).
Don't have time to respond to all posts, but have enjoyed reading them as they're part of my "normal" routine, which is anything but normal right now.
Greetings to all and welcome to the new folks!
Weather a bit nicer here with temps up in the high 30s F for the next several days. Snow melting, hooray hoorah!
I understand Phoebe the hummingbird is expecting her two new chicks some day next week so you may want to keep checking in on her. She's pretty to look at anyway. =O)
Also, I've noticed one of the Peregrines at the Lincoln NE capitol building has been reappearing over the past few days and that's another cam you can watch live and in stills at: http://www.ngpc.state.ne.us/wildlife/webcam/peregrine/default.asp
Also, the Great Horned Osprey have been making periodic returns at sunset and sunrise local time in Bayport, MN at the Xcel Plant:
These birds are at the same plant where there are also resident Peregrine Falcons. I wonder if there have been any problems between the two species? Must investigate that and report back.
BTW Annette: I'm a career insurance broker so if you have any questions or need assistance with your claim, I'd be glad to try and help you out.
AQ/Lindybird: : We also bought "speckled" neutral carpeting to conceal bits of garden, wine and food splotches, etc.
Auntie: Yes, Oro in Spanish means gold. Forgot if it's the same in Latin.
Thanks Caerann: We're with State Farm (have been for eons) and everything seems to be going fine. We'll be out the deductible, but oh well. Thanks for the heads up on Phoebe's "due date."
Alan: Loved the video of Jewel's rescue - so sweet - and as Lindybird said, so TINY. So sad about the pelicans down South, huddling together to keep warm.
Hallo to the new folks!
Morning All. Actually RAINING here for a change, so lets hope it melts whats left of the snow. The milkman said, "it was very picturesque when it started, but I've had enough now, it can go AWAY now, please."
Annette: Know what you mean about bells & whistles. Husband always says with a sigh 'just more things to go wrong, eventually' when we are looking at another car to buy & all these gadgets are pointed out to us. Friend has just taken delivery of new car after her rear ending incident, it doesn't actually have a key & seems to know her when she puts her hand on the door handle - quote : "I can't cope with this!!" Hope you get your own car back soon.
Decorating Report; Husband went at it like a dervish, & finished painting in record time. Unfortunately, he put the blinds back on the windows when it was dry, only for me to pull one of them down almost immediately, causing a huge couple of gashes in the plaster of dormer window at the side, now these have had to be filled in ready to be painted over again! That's Life. Sorting of books & papers will be an ongoing project over the weekend, as don't want to return them all to the heaps around the newly finished room. So you see, I am a bit of a hoarder, but these things are hard to conceal. There are only so many places I can squirrel stuff away, I can see I shall have to return to some dusty cupboards & be strong about what can stay or go.....
News today that there has been a huge amount of snowfall in the Cairngorms, so the Centre at Aviemore is closed while they try to clear it for the potential skiers. The wildlife at LG must be struggling to find food (15 ft. high drifts mentioned). Have a Good Day/Night/Weekend, All.
Thanks Caerann for the capture shot and the info on the peregrine falcons. Another one added to favourites. Have a good day.
Margobird
Good morning Alan and thanks for the link. As Lindybird says you just don't realise how small a humming bird chick is and what an adventure for Jewel. I wonder if Pheobe was somewhere near and knew what was going on.
Hope your weather improving and snow shifting, another very grey day here, temperature 5.5 this morning and feels positively balmy in the garden after the freezing days we have had.