Thanks for the pretty picture to start us on our way, Andi.
I spent yesterday working on a paper that I need to finish up today, so I think the Monday-ness of today has been diluted for me. 🙂
It seems unseasonably warm outside this morning. And I should know, since dogs have been waking me up to go out and back in since about 3:30 this morning…
The leaves are long gone now but it was a glorious fall and I took loads of pictures so I can probably keep us leafy for awhile.
It’s snowing here — so a very seasonable 1st of December. But we’ll end up with little or no accumulation.
Sorry about the dogs, though.
I’m dealing okay with Monday — I just sent in my vacation request to be off from 12/22/08 – 1/1/09. So only 3 weeks till the end of the work year. 🙂
Ah, just 3 weeks of work and then 10 days of blissful freedom sounds so nice…
Someone has been going to bed earlier than usual lately, so it messes the dogs routine up. I guess we just need to get in the habit of making sure they all go out around 9 so they aren’t waking me up in desperation at 3 AM anymore.
Well, CBtY is off to school already; CBtE doesn’t go back until tomorrow, so he spent last night at his dad’s house. Which is a long way of saying I have some early peace and quiet this morning. 🙂
Maybe I should start thinking about my holiday gift plans…
The internet certainly has made holiday shopping a lot less painful. We’re about half-done and we’d be all done but we’re still waiting for the list from Jim’s brother.
We did the book ordering thing on Friday. I need to figure out what I’m getting the boys this year, there seems to be a love of gift cards to go clothes shopping, but it’s so boring for me to give. I guess it frees me up to focus on little fun things for their stockings.
It would also probably help if I weren’t still a little worried about work and the economy. You know, I still haven’t actually spoken to my boss yet? I’m starting to think maybe she was just having a really bad week that week.
It would be a nice Xmas gift, if she would do that. Maybe a little metaphorical poke in the ribs would be useful?
I’m trying to decide if I can wait long enough to go till it’s a bit lighter or if I’ll have to wait till noon. Either way, though, I have to get my butt in gear. And either way, deer gun season is over — so yay for that.
This might be a drive through hit and run this am as I have quite a bit on my plate. Just wanted to update you a little on my life. My couch surfing days are over. I have been staying at a residence motel but cannot afford to keep that up and as of 11 am this morning I will be homeless completely. I am on a waiting list for financial assistance housing but it has not come through yet. I gave the Diva Dogs to some friends a few weeks back when I realized I could not care for them or put a roof over their heads. Luckily, it was some friends who have dogs and Bette and Reba love it out at their new home. Keep me in your thoughts and hope that things change quickly or at least start to come around soon.
Refinish! I am so very, very sorry to hear your news. I was in the same situation back in ’06. It was our close-knit community here in the mountains that came through for me & offered me places to rest. I remain with a community ally to this day, while I figure out how to re-form a life for myself. I do hope you have allies where you are who can offer a bit of support the same way. At very least, I hope you’re not literally without a roof today.
TY and unfortunately it seems I will be without a roof unless I can get 50 bucks today. I have been told by the homeless shelter they will have a spot for me tomorrow but not today.
Good morning all. Tired after a sleepless night. And it seems we have a mouse in the house. He/she was able to debait the trap last night while avoiding the snapper thing. Ugh.
You have quite a wily mouse on your hands. If you use peanut butter they have to sit there licking it off their teeny paws for quite awhile so maybe that would increase the chance that the snapper thingey would get him.
One time I had hidden an Entenmanns cheese crumb cake on a high shelf so my little kids couldn’t get at it (it’s mine darn it!) and it became apparent that a mouse had chewed his way through the side of the box and had his way with it, leaving turds just to taunt me. So I put a trap in the box and returned it to the shelf. Next morning there was the mouse dead in the trap inside the box…and I could see it through the cellophane window on top of the box so I didn’t even have to open it, and disposal was easy! 🙂 It was all so oddly satisfying.
Posted downthread is the Buddhist version.
I had to drown a mouse by hand once, because of insufficient poisoning. It still bothers me & I don’t try to kill them any more.
However, I generally live around cats & raptors.
If I might offer my .02, boran: invest in a little Have-A-Heart type trap, where the mouse cannot avoid the trap to get at the food (since the food is inside). Once it’s trapped, take the mouse for a little walk & then let it out, preferably near an empty building.
Our cats use the catch and release method. Catch outdoors, release indoors. Works well for mice, chipmunks & even baby possums. I picked up one of those have-a-heart things last summer. The state park has been the recipient of numerous critters from our house, as the cats don’t usually kill them. I think they just want them around the house for entertainment.
Haha. Mine does that too! She delivers a swift bite to the throat and then leaves them on the doorstep for me. If I don’t find it first the dog rolls around in it.
I can’t remember the last time we had a dead critter in the house, but I do remember cats crouched in front of the refrigerator with twitching behinds for several days on end.
Actually, she’s usually not a member, which is why all the critters, especially a trio of Superb Fairy wrens, use her bowl as an unlimited food source. The week she was visiting Lewis in Adelaide I had to put small amounts of food in her bowl or face their outrage. One of the males would actually fly up and hover a few seconds in front of the glass door before retreating to the railing. Just to make sure we got the message.
We’re having one of those sunny/rainy/windy days so typical of Tasmania. We won’t get much measurable rain from it, but it will keep everyone, including Luna, inside for the rest of the day.
That blue is other-worldly. I can’t imagine seeing something like that in my yard. We’ve got a plethora of brownish, tannish, greyish, blackish birds here.
The markings on the males’ cheeks are actually a slightly paler blue than the blue on top of their heads and necks. And when they are trying extra hard to impress, they can actually fan out those cheek feathers.
The Tasmanian race Malurus Cyaneus cyaneus has the darkest blues of all the Superb Fairy wrens and is the only race with a blue back. The northern races have gotten increasingly black-backed, which some attribute to their shifting to less vivid colors due to cat predation. So for the sake of the pretty birdies keep those moggies (Australian slang for ‘cat’) inside.
I like our skinks a lot. They’re not colorful like the blue-striped ones I remember from the US, but they sure come in lots of different shades of tan, bronze, black, etc., and most are striped. There are so many little skinks in our yard one literally runs from every third footstep.
I’ve only caught one Blue-tongue skink so far this year, and it was too small to be Betty. We gave him (I think it was a boy) the usual de-ticking before put him back.
My work day just ended. Slides finished, Fedex sent, paper written with the exception of an abstract and final review/copyedit…now to attend to the forlorn children and sweetheart who have been abandoned for the past 2 days…
Thanks for the pretty picture to start us on our way, Andi.
I spent yesterday working on a paper that I need to finish up today, so I think the Monday-ness of today has been diluted for me. 🙂
It seems unseasonably warm outside this morning. And I should know, since dogs have been waking me up to go out and back in since about 3:30 this morning…
The leaves are long gone now but it was a glorious fall and I took loads of pictures so I can probably keep us leafy for awhile.
It’s snowing here — so a very seasonable 1st of December. But we’ll end up with little or no accumulation.
Sorry about the dogs, though.
I’m dealing okay with Monday — I just sent in my vacation request to be off from 12/22/08 – 1/1/09. So only 3 weeks till the end of the work year. 🙂
Ah, just 3 weeks of work and then 10 days of blissful freedom sounds so nice…
Someone has been going to bed earlier than usual lately, so it messes the dogs routine up. I guess we just need to get in the habit of making sure they all go out around 9 so they aren’t waking me up in desperation at 3 AM anymore.
Well, CBtY is off to school already; CBtE doesn’t go back until tomorrow, so he spent last night at his dad’s house. Which is a long way of saying I have some early peace and quiet this morning. 🙂
Maybe I should start thinking about my holiday gift plans…
Happy quiet house to you.
The internet certainly has made holiday shopping a lot less painful. We’re about half-done and we’d be all done but we’re still waiting for the list from Jim’s brother.
We did the book ordering thing on Friday. I need to figure out what I’m getting the boys this year, there seems to be a love of gift cards to go clothes shopping, but it’s so boring for me to give. I guess it frees me up to focus on little fun things for their stockings.
It would also probably help if I weren’t still a little worried about work and the economy. You know, I still haven’t actually spoken to my boss yet? I’m starting to think maybe she was just having a really bad week that week.
Are you off for a walk in the snow this morning?
It would be a nice Xmas gift, if she would do that. Maybe a little metaphorical poke in the ribs would be useful?
I’m trying to decide if I can wait long enough to go till it’s a bit lighter or if I’ll have to wait till noon. Either way, though, I have to get my butt in gear. And either way, deer gun season is over — so yay for that.
See ya later.
I have to talk to her about the paper I’m working on today, so maybe..
I have to get rolling too. Been dilly-dallying on the computer for long enough, now, I guess.
Have a great day!
Thank you for another gorgeous image, Andi. Alas, today I hit & run again — but I had to pause & offer compliments! These images are true magic.
Thanks WW. And really sorry to have missed you.
Sorry to have missed you too. At least I’ve got yer pix.
Our fall was indeed gorgeous but all too brief. As Andi has reported, its been snowing off and on most of the day.
This might be a drive through hit and run this am as I have quite a bit on my plate. Just wanted to update you a little on my life. My couch surfing days are over. I have been staying at a residence motel but cannot afford to keep that up and as of 11 am this morning I will be homeless completely. I am on a waiting list for financial assistance housing but it has not come through yet. I gave the Diva Dogs to some friends a few weeks back when I realized I could not care for them or put a roof over their heads. Luckily, it was some friends who have dogs and Bette and Reba love it out at their new home. Keep me in your thoughts and hope that things change quickly or at least start to come around soon.
I’m sorry for your situation, RF, and I hope the assistance comes through quickly. Thinking positive thoughts however unhelpful they are right now…
TY
Refinish! I am so very, very sorry to hear your news. I was in the same situation back in ’06. It was our close-knit community here in the mountains that came through for me & offered me places to rest. I remain with a community ally to this day, while I figure out how to re-form a life for myself. I do hope you have allies where you are who can offer a bit of support the same way. At very least, I hope you’re not literally without a roof today.
TY and unfortunately it seems I will be without a roof unless I can get 50 bucks today. I have been told by the homeless shelter they will have a spot for me tomorrow but not today.
I truly, truly wish there was some way I could help — other than sending the very best wishes for a timely blessing.
Please keep us posted if you can.
I’m really sorry to hear about losing your place and even more so about the Diva Dogs. I’m glad you found a good home for them, though.
Sending good thoughts your way.
I’m sending good thought your way too. What a lousy situation. I hope its resolved very soon.
Aw, refinish, I’m sorry to hear that, and I hope something comes through for you quickly. I’ll be sending lots of good thoughts your way that it does.
Good morning all. Tired after a sleepless night. And it seems we have a mouse in the house. He/she was able to debait the trap last night while avoiding the snapper thing. Ugh.
You have quite a wily mouse on your hands. If you use peanut butter they have to sit there licking it off their teeny paws for quite awhile so maybe that would increase the chance that the snapper thingey would get him.
He is wiley, that’s what we used last night. I’ve set up another one today while we’re out. Hopefully this time it will work.
One time I had hidden an Entenmanns cheese crumb cake on a high shelf so my little kids couldn’t get at it (it’s mine darn it!) and it became apparent that a mouse had chewed his way through the side of the box and had his way with it, leaving turds just to taunt me. So I put a trap in the box and returned it to the shelf. Next morning there was the mouse dead in the trap inside the box…and I could see it through the cellophane window on top of the box so I didn’t even have to open it, and disposal was easy! 🙂 It was all so oddly satisfying.
Posted downthread is the Buddhist version.
I had to drown a mouse by hand once, because of insufficient poisoning. It still bothers me & I don’t try to kill them any more.
However, I generally live around cats & raptors.
Maybe I’ll have to get some of that cake.
It’d never make it to the trap at my house. I love that stuff.
Get one of the glue traps. They seem to work better.
If I might offer my .02, boran: invest in a little Have-A-Heart type trap, where the mouse cannot avoid the trap to get at the food (since the food is inside). Once it’s trapped, take the mouse for a little walk & then let it out, preferably near an empty building.
Our cats use the catch and release method. Catch outdoors, release indoors. Works well for mice, chipmunks & even baby possums. I picked up one of those have-a-heart things last summer. The state park has been the recipient of numerous critters from our house, as the cats don’t usually kill them. I think they just want them around the house for entertainment.
Haha. Mine does that too! She delivers a swift bite to the throat and then leaves them on the doorstep for me. If I don’t find it first the dog rolls around in it.
I can’t remember the last time we had a dead critter in the house, but I do remember cats crouched in front of the refrigerator with twitching behinds for several days on end.
mouse.
Luna’s bowl, aka the wildlife feeding station.
Aw. I see Luna is a member of the clean bowl club. 🙂
Actually, she’s usually not a member, which is why all the critters, especially a trio of Superb Fairy wrens, use her bowl as an unlimited food source. The week she was visiting Lewis in Adelaide I had to put small amounts of food in her bowl or face their outrage. One of the males would actually fly up and hover a few seconds in front of the glass door before retreating to the railing. Just to make sure we got the message.
We’re having one of those sunny/rainy/windy days so typical of Tasmania. We won’t get much measurable rain from it, but it will keep everyone, including Luna, inside for the rest of the day.
taken just a few minutes ago (through very dirty glass).
Hector’s never read Kliban.
Those birds are gorgeous!
Here’s a photo I posted at Wikipedia, which shows the males’ bib.
That blue is other-worldly. I can’t imagine seeing something like that in my yard. We’ve got a plethora of brownish, tannish, greyish, blackish birds here.
They are spectacular in the sunlight.
The markings on the males’ cheeks are actually a slightly paler blue than the blue on top of their heads and necks. And when they are trying extra hard to impress, they can actually fan out those cheek feathers.
The Tasmanian race Malurus Cyaneus cyaneus has the darkest blues of all the Superb Fairy wrens and is the only race with a blue back. The northern races have gotten increasingly black-backed, which some attribute to their shifting to less vivid colors due to cat predation. So for the sake of the pretty birdies keep those moggies (Australian slang for ‘cat’) inside.
He’s a lovely little guy.
Amazing images, keres! You seem to be living in one of my versions of heaven. Lots of critters.
You’re welcome to visit, anytime.
And yes, we are very rich in amazing critters, and very thankful for it.
From where I sit, there’s rarely much more to be thankful for on a day-to-day basis than the gracious appearance of our wild neighbors.
I thank you for your invite, keres — also very gracious.
She-oak skink (I still haven’t cleaned the windows).
Very pretty!
Not at all bad for dirty windows, either.
I like our skinks a lot. They’re not colorful like the blue-striped ones I remember from the US, but they sure come in lots of different shades of tan, bronze, black, etc., and most are striped. There are so many little skinks in our yard one literally runs from every third footstep.
I’ve only caught one Blue-tongue skink so far this year, and it was too small to be Betty. We gave him (I think it was a boy) the usual de-ticking before put him back.
Stepping lightly must be second nature to you there. A good way to move about, methinks.
I’m sorry I’ve got to head to bed now, since I rarely meet you here. ‘Til later ..
What a great bunch of pictures to wake up to. Thanks for posting them.
My work day just ended. Slides finished, Fedex sent, paper written with the exception of an abstract and final review/copyedit…now to attend to the forlorn children and sweetheart who have been abandoned for the past 2 days…
… that’s what our spit of snow ended up being.
click for larger
That looks like a good pic for a new cafe this morning…be right back!