What are you doing today?

[Clix Pix]

Ah, that can be frustrating when one has a specific idea in mind and then when arriving at the scene realizes that for whatever reason (usually weather) it just is not going to work out. That would've been a terrific shot if you'd been able to get it! There surely will be other opportunities....

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I'm watching a few car review videos, - idriveaclassic - made by a wonderful British (English) woman named Steph, who specialises in video reviews of older cars (mostly 60s-90s, but she has some lovely videos of earlier cars).

I like her stuff; firstly, it is refreshing to see a woman do car reviews; and, secondly, I love her enthusiasm and her encyclopaedic knowledge of her subject matter and material, and I love also, how she approaches the cars (invariably with affection and respect) and their owners (likewise). There isn't a snarky or nasty minute in any of her videos, yet there is nothing cloying about them either, just enthusiasm, enjoyment, fun, knowledge and respect.

 

[lizkat]

Ah, that can be frustrating when one has a specific idea in mind and then when arriving at the scene realizes that for whatever reason (usually weather) it just is not going to work out. That would've been a terrific shot if you'd been able to get it! There surely will be other opportunities....

re the bold: or one can hope so anyway. I was really disappointed a few weeks ago when one of a late clutch of hermit thrush fledglings actually popped through a missing windowpane area and into my deck proper for a look-see. I thought HOLY SH^T!!! and backed away from the door and then raced into the library for my iPhone ---which is sometimes just sitting on top the microwave by the back door, but luck of the draw, no way that day.

Of course when I came back, the little one had decided uh no this is not for me, and had departed the scene. I have in several years seen a hermit thrush pair and their nestlings in the conifers along a hedgerow to the east of my property, but had never seen one show up so close to --never mind actually inside-- a barn, shed or deck. This one must have been attracted to the berries still available in a honeysuckle out behind the deck, or the foliage of the jewelweed near it that I had not cut back. This is what they look like, such a sweet bird.

 

[Clix Pix]

Ooh, what a pretty little bird! I don't think we have those around here -- gotta grab my Birds of Virginia book! -- but, yes, that is the bane of any photographer's life: the shots that got away..... Sometimes other opportunities come along, other times they don't. That's why when I'm out shooting and I see something, I shoot it, even if I don't have the right lens on, or the weather is blah and the lighting bad, just because I might never have the chance again. Back in the summer I did a bunch of photos of our turtles and the water birds standing on a partly-submerged branch in the water.....got quite a few images of various subjects hanging out there at different times as they all happily sunned and/or preened themselves, waiting for the next fish to come along. Then one night we had a big storm, and the log was shifted so that it drifted a ways in the water and now is in a different spot entirely and apparently nobody likes it, as they aren't hanging out there at all.

Liz, I hope one day you'll get another opportunity to shoot your local Hermit Thrush birds!

 

[Clix Pix]

I'm watching a few car review videos, - idriveaclassic - made by a wonderful British (English) woman named Steph, who specialises in video reviews of older cars (mostly 60s-90s, but she has some lovely videos of earlier cars).

I like her stuff; firstly, it is refreshing to see a woman do car reviews; and, secondly, I love her enthusiasm and her encyclopaedic knowledge of her subject matter and material, and I love also, how she approaches the cars (invariably with affection and respect) and their owners (likewise). There isn't a snarky or nasty minute in any of her videos, yet there is nothing cloying about them either, just enthusiasm, enjoyment, fun, knowledge and respect.

I decided to take the day off from thinking about cars, researching further on cars and making any decisions..... My baby is not quite a classic or an antique but she's definitely getting up there in age! I love looking at beautiful classic vehicles; in some ways the cars we have available now just can't begin to match them, even though of course they're loaded with tech to make them safer, more drivable, whatever. The old classics, especially the ones prior to the time frame you've mentioned here, were real beauties and were much more distinctive than what we see on the roads today. Real head-turners in this day and age. Now IMHO most of the modern cars look pretty much the same, regardless of who the manufacturer is. Not only that, all the manufacturers seem to have the idea that everyone wants a black, silver or white car -- there are very few new cars being offered with more interesting colors, from what I've seen, or they are limited to only certain models, and no, a candy-apple red automobile is not in my dreams, as those are instant cop-magnets! LOL!

 

[Alli]

I finally came in around 2, after eating my grilled cheese with raspberry pepper jelly on the deck. Then I made hubby take me to Publix for cake and ice cream. That’s what’s for dinner tonight!

Lots of interesting things out there today though. Now that most of the hummingbirds have gone, the bees thought they had the feeders mostly to themselves with only butterflies as competition. But today a wasp showed up and decided he was just as addicted to sugar as the rest of them!

He is the first to actually put up a fight with the bees.

Then I watered my plants, and accidentally got a butterfly. Snapped a photo of him before I helped him up so that he could properly dry off and fly away.

Finally...we have a yard filled with gorgeous elephant ears. But in the 25 years we’ve lived in this house, we’ve never seen them bloom. Didn’t even know they bloomed!

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Well, I have just watched a video of Steph (idriveaclassic) reviewing a Plymouth Fury from 1960 (her first ever review of an American car).

A genuine pleasure to watch.

 

[Clix Pix]

I finally came in around 2, after eating my grilled cheese with raspberry pepper jelly on the deck. Then I made hubby take me to Publix for cake and ice cream. That’s what’s for dinner tonight!

Lots of interesting things out there today though. Now that most of the hummingbirds have gone, the bees thought they had the feeders mostly to themselves with only butterflies as competition. But today a wasp showed up and decided he was just as addicted to sugar as the rest of them!
View attachment 818

He is the first to actually put up a fight with the bees.

Then I watered my plants, and accidentally got a butterfly. Snapped a photo of him before I helped him up so that he could properly dry off and fly away.
View attachment 820

Finally...we have a yard filled with gorgeous elephant ears. But in the 25 years we’ve lived in this house, we’ve never seen them bloom. Didn’t even know they bloomed!
View attachment 817 View attachment 819

Alli, what a wonderful yard you have, with so many opportunities to feed the local wildlife and also to just admire them..... Love the photos!

 

[Alli]

Alli, what a wonderful yard you have, with so many opportunities to feed the local wildlife and also to just admire them..... Love the photos!

Thanks! The back yard has become quite a refuge, and we are spending more and more time there.

 

[fooferdoggie]

I used ride with gps to map this route it was one they already had and I just changed the start and stop point. we were on a great forrest trail that started somewhat paved then paved then dirt and rock and everything in-between for about 8 miles up. there were offshoots that there was no way to get the tandem up and it lopped and the path it looped too was a narrow and way to steep path to ride the tandem on. I didn't even know it but we went by the cemetery my grandma is in. we have done more climbing y about 500 feet but this was a steady up hill pretty much the whole way. we missed a turn and gone down faster but then had to ride on the streets back where we started the climb. ended up being 45 miles total. may be the last day this year we could ride this path when it gets muddy it wont work on the tandem. serious drop-off on this ride but not like we were right on the edge. I wonder how many tandems have come up here? I bet we were the only ones.

 

[Alli]

Got up, took my Boniva, and went for a walk. It’s finally cool enough in the morning to do that again. And I can shed some of this pandemic-induced weight. I see my doctor tomorrow and she is not going to be happy with me.

 

[lizkat]

I see my doctor tomorrow and she is not going to be happy with me.

Please. Last time it was a raised eyebrow and "well at least you're headed in the right direction" when I had managed to lose six pounds out of a recommended 20.

Today though I'm working on a different sort of shedding program... ditching some online news subs that I don't want to renew after the elections. I was not put on earth to support journalism singlehandedly, so it's time to cut some of these options off before the promo rates expire and I get a bill that more than makes up for whatever deal they cut me. Anyway I can't stand the ones that run 16 weeks... I like deals for a year... stick a reminder on my calendar to cancel two months before the outfit's big payday arrives and so head it off at the pass.

 

[Eric]

I used ride with gps to map this route it was one they already had and I just changed the start and stop point. we were on a great forrest trail that started somewhat paved then paved then dirt and rock and everything in-between for about 8 miles up. there were offshoots that there was no way to get the tandem up and it lopped and the path it looped too was a narrow and way to steep path to ride the tandem on. I didn't even know it but we went by the cemetery my grandma is in. we have done more climbing y about 500 feet but this was a steady up hill pretty much the whole way. we missed a turn and gone down faster but then had to ride on the streets back where we started the climb. ended up being 45 miles total. may be the last day this year we could ride this path when it gets muddy it wont work on the tandem. serious drop-off on this ride but not like we were right on the edge. I wonder how many tandems have come up here? I bet we were the only ones.
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Really enjoying posts and photos on these rides, keep them coming.

 

[fooferdoggie]

Really enjoying posts and photos on these rides, keep them coming.

I dont take a huge amount of pics always it can be boring. this Forrest had little change in the 8 miles up. its hard to get a good pic that shows the dropoff and such with so many trees. I also dont aways wat to stop for pics. too bad my wife cant take them since she is not driving

 

[DT]

Did this, will be dropping them off in person today

 

[DT]

Was tempted to write LOL next to trump's name, but we need every vote to count

 

[rdrr]

Today, I am freezing my little rdrrs off. Damn cheap work delays turning on the heat, and this building is brick, so it just radiated the cold indoors. I swear it's warmer in the sun outside than in here.

 

[ronntaylor]

Today? Returning to 2/3 power walks a day after oral surgery last Monday. It was good during the first walk (3.5 miles) even though I was a bit winded and achy at the end. Suppressed the strong urge to stop at Dunkin' for celebratory jellies.

 

[lizkat]

Today? Returning to 2/3 power walks a day after oral surgery last Monday. It was good during the first walk (3.5 miles) even though I was a bit winded and achy at the end. Suppressed the strong urge to stop at Dunkin' for celebratory jellies.

Glad you're feeling more up to normal routines...

It's amazing to me how disciplined I am about not rummaging about in the top of a kitchen cupboard (for delicacies that I hide behind jars of dried beans) after I've come from the dentist, no matter if just for a cleaning or something more of a hassle. Unfortunately in a matter of days the hidden contents of that shelf edge forward in my mind again even if I don't go out there and raid the cupboard itself.

Right now out there is a jar of something called Chillin' Chocolate. It's a boutique variety of natural peanut butter mixed with dark chocco that a pal sent me. Should I say former pal? The stuff is addictive. It's not going to last through election night. I hit on it for the first time with a spoon during the vice presidential debate, and had to take a break from that to put the damn jar away. At least it's not a 48-oz container.

 

[ronntaylor]

Glad you're feeling more up to normal routines...

It's amazing to me how disciplined I am about not rummaging about in the top of a kitchen cupboard (for delicacies that I hide behind jars of dried beans) after I've come from the dentist, no matter if just for a cleaning or something more of a hassle. Unfortunately in a matter of days the hidden contents of that shelf edge forward in my mind again even if I don't go out there and raid the cupboard itself.

Right now out there is a jar of something called Chillin' Chocolate. It's a boutique variety of natural peanut butter mixed with dark chocco that a pal sent me. Should I say former pal? The stuff is addictive. It's not going to last through election night. I hit on it for the first time with a spoon during the vice presidential debate, and had to take a break from that to put the damn jar away. At least it's not a 48-oz container.

Thanks!

We're trying to figure out what we'll do with the ton of candy that my mother in-law bought to give out for Halloween. She is forbidden to give it out, talking about "I'll figure out a way to do it safely!" No ma'am!!! Signage will be put up to let fools know to not cross our threshold on All Hallows Eve.

I'm of the mind to just chuck it all in the garbage for tomorrow's pickup. I know I'll be tempted to get back to my normal snacking and before I know it, BOOM!, another cavity. Last thing I need after having my wisdom teeth pulled last Monday.