Glens Falls (NY) Online Book Discussion Group discussion
What are U doing today?
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What are U doing today? (Ongoing thread)
Sounds like a terrible ordeal for everyone. Thank goodness for tow trucks.
Could it be life threatening? It really sounds that way.
They've cancelled school enough already that they're adding days on to the end of the year. I guess they think it's OK. Things did go better this morning, but we only got an additional inch of rain, although it was pouring so hard on my way in to work that we had to crawl along the Interstate in spots. It slacked off by the time the buses started to roll, though. The yard & fields are soup, though.
It was a gorgeous day out. I think it got into the low 60s. I mowed the lawn for the first time - a bit early, but a lot of spots needed it. I thought things would pop earlier than this, but we're still going below freezing at night pretty often. The forsythia looked ready to go 2 weeks ago, but still only have a few flowers on them. Just about none.I put up the Purple Martin houses. Kind of late. The first scouts have been seen here as early as 11Mar & if they don't see the house, it's unlikely to get used. We do have 8 or 10 pair that come back every year, though.
I fixed a lot of fence, just little stuff. I added some electric fence to the top of the wire in some places to keep the horses from leaning over & eating the grass which is greener on the other side. In some cases, literally. Did a few other chores, too. Never did get a ride in, but the girls went to Masterson, a big park that has a horse area, for most of the afternoon & didn't get back until 6:30. Late dinner.
Jim, receiving lots of energy for your Spring-like weather. I'm still waiting for the day when we can go out and do some yard work. Cold here this week. Tomorrow is first day of Spring and will still be quite cold. At least the snowstorm went out to the ocean - no snow projected this week.
Let me know if you get some Purple Martins.
I'm sorry you're still so cold. We're expecting some snow on Wed, I think. A couple/few inches, but it probably won't last long, thankfully.
Finally I heard raindrops on the skylight. First time since late October. And even the grass enjoyed it's drink as it is a pretty green.
Glad to hear you're finally getting rain.
Sixty eight degrees and that's worth a smile. A beautiful red cardinal stopped briefly at the bush outside my bedroom window. It has been a lovely morning.
We've been watching Netflix "John Adams." and it's a good series. Great acting and history lesson
I read the book a long time ago and watched the film too.John Adams BY David McCullough
Both were very good. Paul Giamatti was very good as John Adams. There was even a bit of humor in the film. Tom Wilkinson was good as Benjamin Franklin too.
FILM INFO AT IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0472027/?...
"The life of one of the USA's Founding Fathers, its second President, and his role in the nation's first 50 years."
Going away tomorrow. Over and up to Vernon, NY then to Seneca/Auburn. Hoping to catch some migrations. Check out Montezuma Refuge and Bird Sanctuary - see what's new. Weather expected to be mild - in the 40's. Clear skies. Good news to the ear!!
I'll let you know if I have any bird sightings.
Nina wrote: "Sixty eight degrees and that's worth a smile. A beautiful red cardinal stopped briefly at the bush outside my bedroom window. It has been a lovely morning."68 is fabulous! Coming soon to my area I hope!
Sounds like my kind of trip. I once attended a bird sighting instruction at a local park in April and loved it.
I would like to attend a bird sighting instruction at Ferd's Bog, however, it usually starts around 5am!!!http://www.cnyhiking.com/FerdsBogTrai...
The picture makes the trail look easy. Actually, you are walking down hill over rocks and unleveled ground and uphill. The plastic walkway is at the start of the bog. Out in the open - full sun on a sunny day. Need a hat. Walking through the deep woods need to spray yourself for mosquitoes, and other little bugs.
Website states its quick and easy. Yes, perhaps if you are 30 years old and have good footing!
We have a fantastic picture of a Gray Jay - they are curious birds and will approach you. "Our" gray jay came to a tree close by - he was less than 2 feet away. I was elated.
Give us an account of you bird sightings, Linda and good luck.
I replaced a pair of 8' florescent bulbs with LED bulbs in the barn today since the old ones kept taking forever to turn on in cold weather. Just had to cut the ballast out of the loop. They were a bit long, but otherwise seem OK. I got a pack of 4 delivered for $100, not a bad price. They seem to be as bright as the others, so I'll never buy another 8' florescent bulb. They may be half the price, but 2 of the 6 units are always a drag to turn on in cold weather & have been since they were installed 10 years ago. When we want light, we want it now, not in 10 to 20 minutes. These LED ones seem to promise that.
Yes, LED bulbs are getting very popular. They last longer than regular light bulbs too.
Not easy to replace a light bulb Hanging from a sixteen foot ceiling over basement chairs perched on a ladder but that is what my ninety one year old husband did.
He should ask someone younger to do that for you, Nina.Eddie likes the fact that the bulbs last longer because it's so hard to change them when they are high on the ceiling.
My son in laws were willing but he just went ahead and did it himself. But, the bulb will outlast his lifetime so that is not a worry any longer.
Hi. Arrived home late yesterday afternoon. We chose the best day to visit Montezuma - sunny and few clouds.
One of the staff was outside of the visitor center with the Swarovski scope. She motioned for me to come over by her. In the small pond there were many puddle ducks. Woman showed me a Northern Shoveler, an American Widgeon, an American Green Winged Teal and a Northern Pintale. I was delighted.
The internal roads were closed - road a bit wet from snow melt and some rain. Expect the refuge area to be open next week. I was fine not being able to drive through since I had 4 new sightings.
In talking with the staff lady I inquired about snow geese. She told me I was in luck and pointed the scope up to the sky above - 80 (her number) snow geese were flying overhead which I saw through the scope. So beautiful with the sun shining on their white wings - making them look a little silver.
I ran over to my husband who was still near the car - and told him to look up - at that time there were over 200 snow geese flying (staff lady provided this number).
I went inside the visitor center to find about8 or so judges looking at drawings of ducks. I inquired about the age of the children who drew the ducks - ages kindergarten to third grade. Impressive drawings! The judges selected about 12 drawings. At some point they need to decide who is the 1st winner and so on.
Since there were quite a few of staff members I selected one to inquire about ask a question. Wanted to know how can you determine a short-eared owl versus a snowy white owl in flight. Staff member grabbed a book, opened to the page of owls and showed me the wing span, shape of the wings in flight, some wings are down in birds in flight, some are straight across, etc. I'll review my books later to get a better handle of this new tip.
A great visit!
That's a lot of geese! :)
Hi! I am spending an exciting day staying in the house! It is unbelievably cold outside for April. Snow yesterday; record cold for this morning ---12 degrees---and snow tomorrow!Hope it warms up for everyone soon--this winter has been long and severe!
I agree, Mary. It's been a very hard winter here too.
Tonight I'm watching and listening to the news about the passing of our past "First Lady" Barbara Bush at 92 years of age. It's heartwarming to hear all the wonderful, heartfelt things they are saying about her. It really gives you a lift to hear about what a wonderful family she raised.One thing I hadn't known that I learned tonight... years ago, Barbara Bush lost her baby daughter of 3 years old. What a heartbreak she lived with. They say that's when her hair started turning white.
It feels good to hear people say nice things about nice people. Times have changed so much.
They called Barbara Bush the "The Enforcer", a good name for a strong mother. She raised a family dedicated to service. They say that her son, Jeb, is very much like her in personality, a genuine, authentic human being.
Here's some interesting info from WIKI about Nikki Haley:"Nimrata "Nikki" Haley (née Randhawa, born 1972 is the 29th and current United States Ambassador to the United Nations.
"She served as the 116th governor of South Carolina and is a former member of the South Carolina House of epresentatives.
"Haley was the first female governor of South Carolina and the second Indian-American, after fellow Republican Bobby Jindal, to serve as a governor in the United States."
FROM: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikki_H...
PS-Read the article here about Nikki Haley:http://thehill.com/homenews/administr...
Maybe Nikki Haley will be our first Indian-American president! She's strong!
I have so enjoyed listening to the Barbara Bush tributes. I almost identified with her/not with the wealth and social standing and wife and mother of presidents; just that she met George at age sixteen and he was seventeen and she dropped out of college at age nineteen and he was in the Navy and they were married seventy three years and had six children and raised five (lost one child) and had seventeen grandchildren. I met my husband at age seventeen and he was eighteen and in an Navy Officer's training program. I, too, dropped out of college at age nineteen. We, too, had six children(and lost one child) and had eighteen grandchildren. And we've been married going on seventy one years. I love the way she has always spoken her mind; in a very nice positive way.
The brave pilot of the damaged aircraft was from around our area. She had quite an impressive history before she recently became well known.
Nina wrote: "The brave pilot of the damaged aircraft was from around our area. She had quite an impressive history before she recently became well known."Yes, very brave. Her name is Tammie Jo Shults. As they say, she had "nerves of steel". Here's a link about it:
https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/18/us/sou...
Had to stop this morning to help a guy drag a deer he hit off the road just about the same place where I hit one with my current car. Just about the same damage, too. Sigh.
Glad no one was seriously hurt except the deer.
One of my son's high school friends was killed when the car hit a deer in CO and another seriously injured. Four ran across in front of our car this past January.
That's very sad, Nina. It happens.
I got a fair amount done today. The big project was a path from the back porch stairs to the backyard barn gate done in gravel. About 3/4 of it is topped with stone dust. That's so the horses are more comfortable walking on it as they're led from the barn to the trailer. I don't want the dogs & people tracking stone dust into the house, though.
We had our first asparagus for dinner tonight. Love this time of year. Everything is growing & blooming. There's nothing like fresh asparagus straight out of the patch.
Glens Falls (NY) Online Book Discussion Group
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Marg only has one road that regularly floods & the only pickup on it is at the far end, so she can go up there & back down to the kid's house or else his parents have to drive him the 30 yards to the corner. (Don't ask or get me started on why.)
Other bus drivers aren't so lucky. Too many of them got part way down roads only to find they couldn't go on. That left them to find a place to turn around or a really long way to back up, often both, so the mechanics were rushing around the county along with deputies & everyone else they could find to help them get turned around. (No, kids can't get out to guide them. Ridiculous.)
Of course one bus driver managed to get a wheel off the road & get stuck. She does this at least once a year, sometimes twice. No one knows what she's thinking. Those buses are heavy so when a wheel goes off on to wet ground, it tends to sink to the axle. Takes a really big tow truck to get them out, but that was tough to get in because of the flooding.
It's a real mess. I wonder how they'll do today since it's even worse.