Annette - DD is delightful . . . but so grown-up, already, so soon!
Heather - I'm sending positive thoughts your way. We're here to be off-loaded upon. (I've done my share of ranting at times.)
Alan - More brilliant pics.
Linda - Tomasz looks as if he will be a handful. A few mins nap to recharge his batteries! I guess I've missed you but I hope you have a great time away.
Joan - The Olympic Torch titivation is like those people who put up with problems until they put their house up for sale, and lo, suddenly all the little repairs are fussed over.
OG - It was gloomy the day I visited Urquhart Castle - but nowhere near as creepy as your great pics.
Diane - Sorry, I can't help. Cars either go or they don't is the limit of my knowledge.
Our freezy weather ended with rain last night, so we had a min of 11 C.
Diane: I've had gas smells twice (um - if you get the idea!) :-) Both times I could smell it outside the car and when I was driving - I don't think it takes much of a leak to create a good-sized smell. The first time was a leak in the gas tank; I drove it home then called the mechanic next morning. He was nearby so I drove it there again, but that's NOT a good idea. The second time it was a leak in the gas line; AAA will not tow a car with a gasoline leak and I can't remember if they loaded it onto a flatbed truck and took it to the mechanics - I think they tried to fix it here (it happened at the house), but really can't remember. Either way, it's probably not a good idea to drive. Sorry - doesn't sound like you're in a convenient location for anything like this. I take it you haven't flooded the engine or anything...
Evening all: Hurray! Called in this evening and no jury duty tomorrow. It's amazing how much I've been getting done each day, thinking that maybe I'd have to be at the courthouse a 8 the next morning and then possibly get put on a jury. I was telling my OH I bet if I got a job, I'd get more done around the house instead of puttering my way through each day.
OG: Re jury duty, I have to call in every evening for 5 evenings starting last Sunday. I'm on standby with one more evening to call in. Keep your fingers crossed! Very atmospheric photos of Loch Ness. It looks quite spooky with those clouds. I have some Heucheras - familiar name is Wendy Coral Bells; they prefer the shade here and a couple got a bit burned up a week or so ago so I'm keeping an eye on them. Those under the olive trees are doing much better. My OH is a sweetie; very easy going (well, he'd have to be to put up with me, right?)
Trish2: You should try retiring - then you'd have absolutely no time for anything; I've never been so busy....hope you aren't working too hard.
Heather: Your posts weren't depressing; do let us know how things are. After all, what's the point of having a bunch of friends if you can't share worries with them.
George: I love that fresh outdoor smell on clean clothes (she says as the dryer whirls away in the kitchen!) Good you got the grass cut before the rain returns.
Alan: You'll probably get another Ark kit in the mail once the dry weather settles in. I don't know how you get your birds to pose so obligingly among the reeds for their photos! I remember the "Work Smarter" fad (and similar management-inspired campaigns) when I was working. It didn't seem to matter how smart I worked, I still had to work very hard.
Lindybird: I'm sure I've missed you; hope you have a great time away. Re the grand- and great-grand kids, amazing isn't it? I think we have to work on getting these two together; after all, didn't they arrange marriages this early back in the days of yore? :-) I mean, two blonde, blue-eyed cuties? How could we go wrong? Seriously, I was listening to the radio the other day and a librarian was talking about how, in this iPad era, young children come into her library and just love to touch books and turn the pages.
patriciat: Hope you raise lots of money for that sanctuary.
Sandra: Is there a point at which chicks will survive bad weather; too bad about the other two...
Djoan: I know the Sunday-to-Sunday syndrome; except with me it's Friday-to-Friday! Just be glad you aren't any closer to the Olympic venues or you'd probably have to paint your house and dye your hair or something! :-) I think we call hares jackrabbits here.
Lynette: Ugh. Hope your daughter doesn't take the upset at work too much to heart and that it gets resolved okay. What does she do?
AQ: My OH did all those upgrades right before he sold his LA house - I'd always hated it but it looked so nice when it sold, especially the bathroom, which was awful before; very dated. When the previous owners of our current house stopped by over Christmas, they loved our kitchen remodel - one of the things they'd kept "meaning to do".
OK, I've got the DVD of Tinker, Tailor, etc., and am going to watch that, though I suspect I'll miss Alec Guiness's Smiley. Take care everyone.
Cirrus: Those colourful photos of the exotic peacocks were breathtakingly beautiful!
George G: Glad you got the grass cut. Now would you please fly over here and help me with mine? LOLOL I swear, when I finally get all of mine mowed, I have to turn around and start again!
Alan: I enjoyed your recent photos. Very nice!!! Grebes always make me laugh when I look at them. Wonderful coot and cormorant! As always, my favorites were the ducks. That is some high water!
Joan: Nice to see you. I love that hare. I'm glad you escaped the rain and floods. Your torch rant made good sense to me.
AQ: That's the cutest little jailbird that I've ever seen!!! What did she do to get locked up? LOLOL She's gorgeous!
Trish: I'm glad that you stayed safe in the bad weather. I thought about you often.
NiteOwl: I hope you're having all good days now and recovering well.
Lynette: Terrible news about your daughter's work problems. Hope it all gets resolved for the best.
Patricia: You could mix white vinegar+salt+dish soap and pour it on the ivy. It will kill it, but nothing else will grow there, either. It would be a dead zone. I hope the fundraiser went well. That's a great cause!
Margo: Hi, there. I hope you're enjoying your time with your husband!
Heather: I do hope things are improving for your daughter (and you). All that upheaval is so dreadful for everyone concerned. I'm sending good energy for finding a lovely, affordable house. As she gets settled in a place, the situation will get better.
Lindy: Glorious photos of Tomasz and Grandpa, your handsome lads! They both look intensely interested in the book. It's good to see these children enjoying books.
Happy vacations to Lindy, NiteOwl and Mary!!! Have a good time, all.
I'll post my fox story tomorrow. Everyone have a good Thursday.
OG: Spooky wonderful pics of that castle. I noticed you commented on the Pictish Fort. Every time I try to read any Pict history, I get confused. Seems very mysterious. You'll have to explain it to me one of these days. (OG is a history expert!)
I've enjoyed the photos of the dragonflies and damselflies and other crawlies. Lovely woodpecker! I loved the photo of Loch Garten through the trees. That Forest Bog Pool was very interesting, but I'll bet there are some monster mosquitoes there that could carry away a cat!
Annette: I hope your lucky streak continues and you don't have to do jury duty. I've never been called. I figured I'd be summoned in this county when I registered my car and registered to vote, but so far I haven't.
I've looked at those Rumba machines, too. They are very expensive! I suspect they wouldn't be able to clean edges and corners, but maybe they can. Thank you so much for posting the pics of Delilah and your OH. Delilah is beautiful (such a wise little face), and what a handsome lad your husband is!
Thank you very much for the car info. I have Triple AAA and their local shop has a flat-bed truck that they use instead of towing. More money for car repairs -- the last thing I need! Stupid car...
DIANE I'm glad you've been advised not to drive the car. I really don't think it would be safe without knowing just where the petrol is leaking. Thanks for the ivy tip, I might try that one.
LINDY you've probably gone but if you catch up after I hope you had a good time. Tomasz in the last picture is my favourite.
GEORGE it's quiet here at the moment whilst folks are watching the ospreys but it will get busy again at the end of the season I'm sure. Mind you their antics at the moment are enough to make me switch off anyway.
ANNETTE - retirement - I wish but unless I win the lottery or the Premium Bonds I've got a long way to go yet!
Hello to everyone else.
Trish: White vinegar + salt + dish soap will kill anything. But it makes the ground unable to grow any plants for a long time. It's good for places where you don't want anything to grow. I've used it to kill the grass that tries to grow up in the cracks in my front sidewalk. It's less toxic than store-bought weedkillers.
DIANE - Have you been to bed at all?
The petrol problem could be that the Wasps have blocked the breather pipe just inside the tank so gas is finding another way out.
Why do Wasps like you so much - all that woodland and nearby forest to nest, and they choose your house and car!
Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!
OG: Hmmm. I love your explanation, because it sounds a whole lot less expensive to resolve. Thanks very much.
I have no idea why the wasps consider me to be their leader...
Peregrine nest attacked at Staffordshire quarry:
www.bbc.co.uk/.../uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-18423185
That's awful Alan. I guess they couldn't put up motion sensor lights/cameras......
Quick post - Have managed to get a rented house for daughter and children. Cannot believe my luck,she will be on benefits because of circumstances and most landlords will not/cannot take on tenants in that situation. I have to be guarantor but expected that anyway. Three bedroom house, nice area near good schools. I am not particularly religious but I spent most of last night hoping/ praying for help so thank you to all who have more credit with 'him upstairs' and have worked the miracle - you know who you are!!!
Another pleasant day and a good warm breeze for drying washing; wind increased and rain is forecast tonight, so tonight we only watered selected things which either looked dry or though might be sheltered from the direction rain is coming from. We also tied in a few Clematis etc which looked like wandering off in the wind!
Alan – Nessie was keeping her head down because there were too many tourists for such a shy beast! That’s the second Peregrine attack this week – I think in the one near here, the chicks were actually taken.
Lynette – so sorry your Daughter had to face a disciplinary hearing at work – very unpleasant for her. I hope the matter was satisfactorily resolved, and that she will come though it without any more stress.
AQ – I assume you were happy for the rain clouds to warm things up a bit after the freezy weather.
Annette – I hope you will not be called for jury duty tomorrow either!
Diane – I am not really a history expert – very much a “Jack of all trades and master of none”! I just seem to have the ability to retain knowledge of stuff which interests me; and I enjoy making connections. So let me read my book about the Picts before you ask me – I’ve only had it two years! We saw very few bitey things while we were on holiday – I only got bitten three times, and none got infected (unusual for me). The biggest looking Midge I have seen so far this year was outside our own kitchen window last evening! I hope my petrol explanation proves right and saves you a few $$$$.
Heather – wonderful news, I am so pleased for you all. Daughter will be so glad to know she has somewhere to go when she can get finalised down south. I know I prayed, but I also know Who worked the miracle!
Will put some pics in a separate post.
Just trying to catch up after two weeks away from home and so haven't posted. I have a lot of posts to catch up with.
Heather, I have read about your daughter's sad news and I am so sorry, but you have done so well finding her a new home and in a good area. My best wishes to you All. It will not be an easy time for her or yourself, but I do hope that in time, both she and her children will find happiness.
The wet day of our holiday was the day we were travelling south, via lunch in Dunkeld, but it had dried up when we took a break at Loch Leven. Photos from the reserve are very poor. I can't get to the hides as access is by tunnel under the road, with steps each end - RSPB and SNH are in discussions about improving this. So my photos are from the viewing gallery in the cafe and taken over quite a distance. So these are just to give you an idea of what we saw at RSPB Loch Leven (formerly called Vane Farm):
There were several Lapwing nests among the flashes, and here is the Lapwing which kept "buzzing" the Heron which was too close:
It kept circling the Heron's head closer and closer until it got fed up and moved away for a spot of fishing!
There were four families of Greylag Geese which had been down to the water, and then came back to graze. These are two of those families, the other two had slightly older Goslings:
Better photos tomorrow, as the Friday was Gardening Scotland!