Daily Musings / page 15

It is their "look here, I'm not an evil cat waiting to devour you - I am really just a friendly birdie - just like you, hear me chirp" sound intended to lull birds into relaxing their guard. Guess humming birds fall into the bug category for which there is no fake out noise.

'Hummingbirds equal bugs'. Funny, I never thought of that, and we have nicknamed the hummers 'the Munsonville Bumblebees'!

Can kitties hum? Lol...that might lull the hummers into dropping their guard...:)

Just received my copies of the Garden Wise guide to invasive alternatives for Eastern Washington State. Huh, you say? Well they used two of my photos in it. Nice to see your name in the photo credits. Tried to talk my way into some free plants - didn't work!

congratulations Victor!

A couple of others around here share that distinction. Is it Al and Andy? (Obviously not me.)

Thanks - it's not the first time for me but it's always fun. I've had my shots used on websites and in Chicago Gardening, as well as some private shows, etc.

I've had shots but mosly just to get the oozing to stop.

Private shows you say..........go on.

Congrats Victor. I haven't had any pics sold. Jan sold some pics of my French Lace that she said was hers.

Thanks Al. I have 'sold' some of my photos for plants - fine with me!! I had two requests to use my photos for private garden shows - not sure what that was about. Plant Burlesque??

Hi, guys. I've been feeling a bit under the weather, even though the weather has been great, lol. I even took a sick day today, I hate missing a day of work when I have work. I get enough 'off' days. No work ~ no pay.
Congrats, Victor. It's always nice to get 'published'.
I've had a couple pics on local TV and a few have been added to a spider life cycle on BugGuide.net. No money but I can brag on forums like this, lol.
For those of you with too much time on your hands, here is my "Spring part 2" Slide show from my site. You can adjust the speed which is a good idea ~ there are 56 pics, lol. http://dailypics.ning.com/photo/photo/slideshow?albumId=650124:Album:12506
The site is doing well, over 50 members now.
I saw a Hummingbird at the local nursery, too. It didn't stay long. I was there to buy (yes, me buy) some Wave Petunias.
Andy P

Thanks Andy - and great slide show - I knew I'd see some strawberries in there!! Hope you feel better soon. Being sick in nice weather is awful. Could be allergies. I have seen many people suffering this year who never did before. Mine has been worse than normal. Stinks when you don't have paid sick days.

The spiders were so cool! I thought they were bees at first and then kept looking and looking. . .

Andy, what a bee-youtiful slide show. Watching it felt like meditation. And what a lovely tribute to flowers. How lucky we are to inhabit their world.
--Emily

Thanks Victor, Cat & Emily. Glad you liked it.
If you like Critters, this one isn't done but you can see the first 3 dozen shots here ~ http://dailypics.ning.com/photo/photo/slideshow?albumId=650124:Album:12639
Bugs, birds, a snake and my dog.
These are much easier to make than the PhotoShows I used to do but they have no music or captions.

Andy, you are a gem. I always look forward to your slide shows. I do miss the music, though. Some of the pics just brought a big smile. What a wonderful start to my day. thanks much!

I don't miss the music because none of the computers I use have working sound cards! LOL When my school goes to Vista I will have to get a new computer and then I will have music again.

Thanks, I'm glad you like the pics. I shot a few new bug pics today, little things but cool.
Does anyone have the common Milkweed? I find the neatest insects on the flowers. The plants are tall and sway in the slightest breeze, tough to photograph little bugs, lol.
Here is a pic of the back side of my dog fence with the Clematis vines. There are 3 BIG ones and 3 little young ones (foreground).
Andy P

Congratulations, Victor

Listen - some women in Canada had a bridge club and decided to publish recipe books of their favourite things they ate during the lunches etc. while playing bridge. The series was a huge hit! (The Best of Bridge)

Anyway, maybe you guys could do the same? collaberate and write the definitive book of gardening - complete with photos - for Newbies in the North east?

The Best of Bridge is liberally sprinked with humour. You could do the same!

I'd rather go right for the movie.

I always think the book better than the movie. LOL

No, I'm serious - I think that Pirl, and Al, and Victor and Dave 47 - and others could write a great book together - Andy and Victor could provide photos, Harper could design the cover jacket. And different people could write sections on plants they have a lots of experience with. The aforementioned could provide gardening experience - and the kind of wit and puns- that would keep the book entertaining. I am not imagining a scholarly book for botanists - I am thinking of a fun book to provide encouragement and humour for newbies! You know, helpful advice with silly stories about what can go wrong (and right) in gardens :-)

And Wallingford could go on the book tour doing tricks!

Absolutely (he's the cat, right?)

Victor, I visited Stonecrop Gardens in Cold Spring two weeks ago and they had some of those gorgeous redwoods. Spectacular! I wonder if I have a photo of them.

I haven't seen any hummingbirds in my yard, but I saw a lot when I was in New Mexico. Beautiful!

Blooms, I'm sorry to hear about the building going crazy even out there. It's a sad thing.

Betelgeuse, I love that star!

Congrats Victor!

Andy, great slides. I watched both the critters one and the spring one. I love it when those little spider sacs open up. I think I'm going to join your site. I owe you a photo of the group of us from Kassia's with Dave and you in it, where Dave's head isn't covered by a balloon. You also gave me your card and I can't remember what it was for... maybe so I could email you the photo un-shrunk... yeah, that's probably it. How are you feeling today?

Harper

Thanks Harper. I was In Cold Spring on Sunday - they had a family day at a museum. We had fun. Yes, Betelgeuse is one of the cool stars - easy to spot too - Red Giant!

Yup. I love it's name and especially the spelling of it.

So many stars have real cool names from mythology. Not to mention planets and their moons as well. Jupiter and Saturn have the most interesting ones - both in name and in 'reality'.

Michaela, that's a good idea but it involves a lot of work. Who would commit to compile and edit all that is needed. I sure don't have the time.
Harper, that's why I gave you my card ~ to e-mail the group pic, I'd appreciate it. We would be honored to have you join DailyPics.
I would like to offer a link to the live Concert on Boston's Esplanade with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, John Mellincamp will perform also. http://www.wcrb.com/ The "Listen Live" button is on the top right corner of your screen.
The concert starts at 8:30 PM EDP and runs for 2 hours. The link is to the best Classical station, 24/7. You can listen while surfing.
Andy P

Cool! Thanks for the link Andy.

I'll send you the pic now.

Harper

Yes, Wallingford is the cat.

Got the pic, Harper. Thanks.
Your camera takes way better quality shots than mine.
I wonder how many members actually listen to Classical music. Hmmm, anybody?????
Andy P

I do on occasion, Andy. I have very eclectic tastes in music. Really like American Popular music standards and artists from the 20's onward. I grew up listening to Sinatra, Ellingon, Basie, Vaughn, Fitzgerald, Goodman, Miller, etc. Also, love the music I grew up with - 70's, early 80's. I'm not an authority on Classical by any stretch - can only identify the more famous pieces. However, when I hear something I like, there is nothing that compares - it's the music of the heavens. Nothing is more uplifting. On the flip - it can also be the most morose, depressing, monotonous junk when it's bad!! I love classical guitar.

Really Andy? I was thinking I'm ready to get a new one. Maybe I'll keep it until it becomes obsolete. They don't make the memory card it needs anymore... stinking, rotten, rig-a-frig-er, grumble, grumble...

I like classical, but my DH is the real expert. He plays the acoustic bass. He's also the household DJ. I love whatever he plays (except Frank Zappa - sorry guys), but he plays a lot of classical. Victor, I grew up on the old standards too. I feel the same way about classical as you.

I'll tell you what got me hooked on Classical. I have an older sister who liked it growing up so I heard plenty. I didn't really start listening until one day at work.
I was part of a team renovating an antique house. A lovely old place built by one of Paul Revere's sons ~ no kidding. I was the last person in there, as usual, painting a bath room. I had forgotten my radio so the owner suggested I listen to the one in the next room and turned it on for me. It was on this station, WCRB. I have been listening ever since.
I get bored with Chopin and they don't play much of him so I'm happy. You should hear the live concerts from Tanglewood in the Summer on a good sound system, loud. lol.
Saturday mornings at 9 is "Kids Classical Hour". Fun
Save the link for when you need a bit of the 'old stuff'.
Andy P

Andy I love WCRB ... my favorite station... that's what is on when I am gardening... my mom told me today that her ferns in Brazil loved samba... lol!!!
I am wachting channel 4 as I type... I love the Boston Pops... I love the 4th of july holiday... good time to reflect about "our country" even if I was not born here I consider it, mine... really mine!!!! the ground (the earth) here at my garden knows my name!!!!

Andy, Thanks for the link to the pops. I have my 2 very bouncy Border collies in bed with me at this moment with the pops turned up loud as they both hate the fireworks going on in town right now. My little Nell is a very nervous Nellie when it comes to thunder, fireworks and the vibrations she feels when go to the airport and then the plane. She is fine in a car, and in our small boat, but she doesn't like the steamship much either. Thunder is the worst. She would run for hours away from it if I let her out. But so would another BC that we had for years. She took off one night during the fireworks and ended up on someone else's porch 7 miles away in the morning and covered in muck from going through the cranberry bogs. We had never seen her react to anything, so had gone to town to watch the fireworks and found her missing when we got home. She was a few years old at the time. She must have had gone out through her dog door and just ran all night. So now I stay home with the girls and lock them in my room with me. So it is nice to have the pops on the computer and Wimbledon on the TV and be on Dave's listening to Am The Beautiful... nice. My DH and I went to Tanglewood last Sat to hear a live performance of Prairie Home with guest James Taylor. We did the singalong after the show which is always about an hour of singing old favorite with the show people. James Taylor was great, but made me feel really old. I love going to Tanglewood anytime. We go to many of the Friday Boston Symphony Orchestra performances which is a real treat. Now Hearing Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture" is terrific, thanks, and happy dissenting day. Patti

Great story Andy. Do you have any photos of that house?? Would love to see it. And it's been my experience with contractors that being the last one working is a sign of someone who takes pride in his / her work.

Well, I'm glad the link is so well received.
I'm watching the fireworks show now. 10 tons of it, amazing.
My Sidekick Sarah is terrified of thunder storms, I watch the live radar to see if she will need a Valium. I gave her one tonight because there are plenty of fireworks around here. She is not shaking like with thunder but uneasy.
Victor, I have no pics of the antique house. It's not much to look at any more. It's had additions and covered with aluminum siding that has faded. The inside is cool, though. The reason I'm usually the last one in is I'm the painter. Unless there is a floor/carpet guy, I'm the last.

darn! I didn't see the link until this morning Andy - I would have loved to have viewed the fireworks.

Our fireworks display in Springfield was held in pouring rain - so we opted to stay home and stay dry. I feel bad for the folks who spent so much time setting up the fireworks, though I understand some diehards should up.

I took a bunch of fireworks pics, had some turn out OK.