COLD DARK ROOM

[Tidgy's Dad]

So good to see Adam, if only for a brief pop in.

One had to say thank you for the most wonderful and unexpected gifts.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

ADAAAAAMMM!!

Hi!![emoji8]

Hi, Kathy!

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Good mornooning, roommates!
I hear the One-legged Pirate is taking orders for morning tea/coffee.
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Well, the Mongols did invent pasta.

 

[CarolM]

Here’s a friend’s video. She snorkels here about 2x a week. Now all 3 of her kids go too.

How awesome is that.

 

[CarolM]

Same for us too. The rain set in during the meal at the wedding reception (after the photos) and nobody seemed to mind. It has been raining or drizzling in the Midlands (and back home) ever since.

Normally this kind of weather in July would have everyone moaning; instead everyone is so pleased to see it

After partying until midnight yesterday we took the in-laws to the nearby to the National Motor Museum today.

JoesDad's father and uncles all worked in the motor industry. They grew up in the area surrounding the Aston Martin factory in Newport Pagnell. Aston Martin is the flash brand driven by James Bond.

My father in law was a draughtsman who trained with Aston Martin and then worked for Vauxhall and British Leyland before moving to draw aeroplanes for Airbus instead. One of the uncles was a carpenter (really!) for Aston Martin They made the full scale models which the panel beaters would use to get accurate measurements for making the bodywork. Another uncle started as a panel beater at Aston Martin and then trained as a design engineer with British Leyland and worked on development and concept.

We took photos of one of the concept cars that the latter uncle was very proud of. He had a hand in the design of the window winding mechanism that could handle curved glass... up to that point cars had flat glass in the door windows.

It's really interesting going to somewhere like this museum with people who actually worked in the industry and knew all about what was on display

We then had a pub lunch and dropped the in-laws off at their home before heading to our own.

I do hope everone has had a good weekend and that you all have a good qeek next week

Sounds like everyone had a really good time.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

The Osprey looks Angry!

It's pretty much how I look when someone I don't know takes photos of me without permission.

 

[CarolM]

Hi roommates! We found our last two of the “six forgotten giants” today. It involved an 11-km hike and of course I did a bit of geocaching along the way. Amazing, after hiking in Canada, how few insects are trying to eat you and few plants are trying to poison you in Denmark!
“Hill Top Trine”, a geocache, and some art work nearby.
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“Sleeping Louis”, “Hill Top Trine”, and more local art work:
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For those who may not know/remember, the Six Forgotten Giants were created by a Danish artist out of scrap wood and placed in woods or nature parks around Copenhagen for people to explore the outdoors.

Love seeing those giants.

 

[CarolM]

It is SO very dry here! I filled our wading pool up for my daughter and the dogs to play in and while I was filling it up a snake slithered right up and wanted a drink, I let the hose run on the ground and it took a big drink from a puddle.
I've also got a praying mantis living by my kitchen door. I noticed her yesterday and gave her a spritz of water from a spray bottle. This morning she was back and was hanging on my thermometer by the door, when she spotted me, started waving her arms around. I went and got the bottle and my phone.. she was thirsty but a bit nervous about the phone getting close.
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Shame poor things.

 

[CarolM]

I've just popped in to see how everyone is.
Still no Carol today? Does anyone know if she is OK or maybe gone away for the weekend?
It's not like her to not check in.
I had a lovely lunch with my sister's family and enjoyed watching the rain.
What a pity it can't rain every night and be dry in the day.
Looking forward to a cooler week.
Anyway I will bid you all goodnight now
So take care and have a Happy Monday!
Nos Da

So sorry to worry you Lyn. I just needed a break as last week I was quite grumpy and it didn't want to go away. So i just stayed away from everyone and took out a book to read so I could retreat from the real world for a little while. All is right again. But very sorry that I worried you. [emoji17]

 

[CarolM]

We’ve had two that were about 20 minutes from us. One was behind the SD Safari Park and they were getting crates ready to evacuate! Can you image?!?!

We almost lost our old house in 07 so I get very anxious and start planning my exit just in case. I have a few apps that I watch.

I swear my husband is always on a business trip when we have fires around here. We are lucky that we have a DC10 that drops fire retardant.

The huge one is up north and it is scary!!

That does sound very scary.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Hello roommates, sorry that I was absent, but I was working and busy with garden and animals and ... and....
Short news: My lambs where born yesterday night.
Here are some first pics
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Beautiful !

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

The amount of work these little birds put into their nest is just amazing. EVERY.SINGLE.BIT of straw and fluff etc was brought in by them!
Makes us humans look like slackers!!!

It had taken them six weeks up to that point.
If the workmen took 6 weeks making my bed, I'd be a bit annoyed.

 

[CarolM]

Good morning all. It is is still grey and a bit damp here. There are signs of green in my lawn already. It is amazing how one day od rain can let it recover from being parched so quickly.

Lots of chores to cwtch up on today, so I'll be in and oit of the CDR. I hope you are all OK.

* Shouts * COOOOOOEEEEEE! CAROL! HAVE YOU GOT LOST IN THE CELLAR?

I do hope Carol hasn't been caught by the wool spider, if she exists. Carol is the only southern hemisphere occupant of the CDR, and the only one habing winter, and the Wool Spidr may be trying to make her wear ALL that woollen underwear she has been stockpiling

Now I feel terrible for making you all worry. The funny thing is that I didn't get any notices of posts. Still have about 7 pages to go before I am caught up. Busy reading all the posts.

 

[CarolM]

Do you get moles where you are? They aren't common per say around here but I have seen their hills on my travels before!

They are very common here. If I didn't have dogs they would be ruining my garden. But since I have dogs they don't come near my garden luckily.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

My new "closed chamber". Will loaned it to me:

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Nice!

 

[CarolM]

Wearing a big bat?
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Lol

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Really nice.

Oh, okay.
Really, really nice.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Each of us could do with a little pat now and again!

I got sunburned yesterday [emoji28]

So no patting Bambam, please.

 

[CarolM]

Greetings All, lots going on (as usual)

Quick trip report from exploring Maryland’s Patuxent River.

We started off Sunday morning on the river from an area called Selby’s Landing, headed south and east a few miles and then cut up into Mataponi Creek (named after local native Indians). Lots of flowering plants, including water lillies and water hibiscus - also known here as Marsh Mallow. The best thing in full “bloom” was the wild rice that has taken over these marshy areas. The rice was planted many years ago by Fish and Game authorities to encourage birdlife and water fowl.

Wooden Bridge Spanning Mataponi Creek with Glowing Wild Rice

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We kept paddling well past this wooden bridge into areas only reachable by kayak during high tide periods. Yes, even this far away from the Chesapeake Bay the navigable waters are influenced by the tides.

The waters at the distant end are slowed considerably by thick marsh grasses and blooming algae, rice fields as well as industrious beavers that find these remote areas perfect for damming.

Crossing Over a Small Beaver Dam in Progress

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With our exploration of Matoponi Creek complete, we circumnavigated a small island and headed back up the main Patuxent River channel for many miles. Along the way we spotted Snowy White Egrets, Ospreys still with their young, American Bald Eagles, Great Blue Herons, Kingfishers, and tons of Red Winged Blackbirds. Additionally, we were treated to schools of jumping fish and the occasional splashing carp, catfish and bass that were all jumping to devour bugs on the calm waters.

After what seemed like a long, hot paddle, our lunch destination - Mt. Calvert House - was in view.

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We soon landed to the right of the estate, enjoyed our sack lunches in the shade, then took some time to explore the Stately Home.

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• Mount Calvert is one of the most significant historical and archaeological sites in Prince George's County. Its rich archaeological and historical resources represent over 8000 years of human culture. Archaeological evidence shows that American Indians were present from the Archaic Period (7500-1000 BC) through the Woodland Period (1000 BC-1600 AD). Early Archaic hunters and gathers visited the Upper Patuxent River to harvest the river's natural resources. Later, Woodland Indians farmed the land and lived in permanent villages along the river until the 1600's when European settlers arrived. Info - Mount Calvert is one of the most significant historical and archaeological sites in Prince George's County. Its rich archaeological and historical resources represent over 8000 years of human culture. Archaeological evidence shows that American Indians were present from the Archaic Period (7500-1000 BC) through the Woodland Period (1000 BC-1600 AD). Early Archaic hunters and gathers visited the Upper Patuxent River to harvest the river's natural resources. Later, Woodland Indians farmed the land and lived in permanent villages along the river until the 1600's when European settlers arrived. Info: https://www.findyourchesapeake.com/places/mount-calvert-historical-and-archaeological-park

After lunch and our quick look of the house and grounds, we headed even further up the River to where it branches into smaller shaded waters called the West Branch.

We took some time to paddle further upstream until fallen trees and debris completely blocked our way.

Time to turn and head back home

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The End.

Very interesting.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

And I’m off to bed. With or without a pat. Good night, roommates—in your own time.