Royal Escape from the Topic - for off topic chit chat Showing 2,451-2,500 of 2,839

[Teresa]

When we moved into our house here twelve years ago we set a lot of trees around the place. They're coming into their own now and look lovely. They are all different types.

[Karlyne]

When I think of how I baby my trees...! If I had giant trees blocking my view, I'd move my house.

[Karlyne]

I had to replant my baby apple trees last year; the pygmy rabbits girdled them in the deep snow we had the year before (yeah, I should have wrapped them). They're the most adorable, destructive bunnies ever - thank goodness for the large hawks to keep the population down in normal times.

[Critterbee❇]

Oh Susan, it sounds so magical, mysterious, mystical and beautiful!

And the birch says
it’s about dancing and colour

and the rowan says
it’s about berries and birds

and the willow says
it’s about shape and shelter

and the hazel says
it’s about love and lichen

and the aspen says
it’s about growth and the wind

but I say it’s about
listening to the trees"
....................Mandy Haggith

[Andrea AKA Catsos Person]

Teresa wrote: "When we moved into our house here twelve years ago we set a lot of trees around the place. They're coming into their own now and look lovely. They are all different types."

That sounds lovely!

[Critterbee❇]

Karlyne wrote: "When I think of how I baby my trees...! If I had giant trees blocking my view, I'd move my house."

Hear, Hear!

[Critterbee❇]

Also, the giant trees ARE the view!

[Karlyne]

Critterbee❇ wrote: "Also, the giant trees ARE the view!"

Absolutely!

[Teresa]

Critterbee❇ wrote: "Karlyne wrote: "When I think of how I baby my trees...! If I had giant trees blocking my view, I'd move my house."

Hear, Hear!"

I love that!! Hazel and Aspen two out of that we don't have.

[Susan in NC]

Susan in Perthshire wrote: "What utterly selfish and stupid people - don’t they realise how much we depend on trees? My part of Scotland is full of woods and forests. I cannot imagine being without trees."

Me, either! People think Greensboro is for Green because of all the trees, but it’s for Revolutionary War Gen. Nathaniel Greene. I can’t imagine poisoning trees - that’s sick and very bad karma...

[Karlyne]

I'm all for managing forests for their own health, but cutting trees gratuitously for selfish reasons makes me mad.

Haha! I just remembered how we had neighbors once who wanted us to cut down our most amazing, huge elm tree - because it caused myriads of tiny saplings to sprout up in their lawn in the spring. Shoot, I thought that was a plus!

[Andrea AKA Catsos Person]

@Susan in NC:

Didn’t someone put googly eyes on Gen. Green’s statue in a town in NC? And the police rounded up a posse for a massive man-hunt and put up “wanted” posters to find the comedian culprit who did it?

[Susan in NC]

Andrea (Catsos Person) is a Compulsive eBook Hoarder wrote: "@Susan in NC:

Didn’t someone put googly eyes on Gen. Green’s statue in a town in NC? And the police rounded up a posse for a massive man-hunt and put up “wanted” posters to find the comedian culpr..."

Yes! My husband showed me that news item, but I can’t remember where it was exactly, I know it wasn’t the big statue at Guilford Courthouse Military Park (wooded federal park here that commemorates the Revolutionary War battle). I remember wondering if some dumbass got caught up in all the Civil War statue furor and mistakenly thought Greene was from that war...

[Critterbee❇]

When aren't GOOGLY EYES an improvement, anyway?

[Critterbee❇]

Oh dear...
Click for alarming photo of the 'vandalism' (view spoiler)[

(hide spoiler)]
That might give me nightmares, hahahahaha!

[Karlyne]

I almost choked! Wow! What an artistic job!

[Critterbee❇]

Reminds me of Poe, for some reason...

[Andrea AKA Catsos Person]

Critterbee❇ wrote: "When aren't GOOGLY EYES an improvement, anyway?"

I agree!

[Abigail]

Speaking of Poe and creepy, has everyone seen this T-shirt? For Queen lovers especially:

https://www.northernsun.com/Poe-Boy-F...

[Andrea AKA Catsos Person]

Abigail wrote: "Speaking of Poe and creepy, has everyone seen this T-shirt? For Queen lovers especially:

https://www.northernsun.com/Poe-Boy-F..."

This made me giggle.

[Lesley]

Christmas Carol ꧁꧂ wrote: "Critterbee❇ wrote: "Carol ꧁꧂ wrote: "...We have a few problems with wealthy land owners deciding to poison trees on public land, because they are blocking their sea views. & sometimes there are con..."

Yeah, look at Reinga. Without that pohutukawa growing there the top bit of the North Island would have well eroded by now! Makes me laugh how all these people who want rid of trees are all busy waving the environmental card, yet trees are the mainstay of preserving the environment and controlling pollution.

[Barb in Maryland]

Abigail wrote: "Speaking of Poe and creepy, has everyone seen this T-shirt? For Queen lovers especially:

https://www.northernsun.com/Poe-Boy-F..."

Snork! Love it!!
Same song, different verse:
https://www.signals.com/cgi-bin/hazel...

[Abigail]

Excellent one, Barb! The world is certainly a richer place because Freddy Mercury was in it. I saw Bohemian Rhapsody last week and sobbed my way through the whole thing--and I'm normally one who loathes films about showbiz.

[Karlyne]

Abigail wrote: "Excellent one, Barb! The world is certainly a richer place because Freddy Mercury was in it. I saw Bohemian Rhapsody last week and sobbed my way through the whole thing--and I'm normally one who lo..."

I have a trustworthy friend who also bawled her way through it. I'm just not sure I'm up for that much emotion!

[Andrea AKA Catsos Person]

Abigail wrote: "Excellent one, Barb! The world is certainly a richer place because Freddy Mercury was in it. I saw Bohemian Rhapsody last week and sobbed my way through the whole thing--and I'm normally one who lo..."

Wow!

I'll have to look around to see if the film is being shown on a screen in my vicinity.

I don't think that I want to see this on my sister's flat-screen tv. i want to see on the silver screen.

I think that Sacha Baron Cohen was supposed to play Freddie Mercury, but pulled out over "creative differences."

[Abigail]

For me it struck a personal chord--I grew up in West Hollywood and lived there during the years that HIV was starting to spread and nobody yet knew what it was. Lost so many friends; and the movie tapped into those emotions. It really captured the zest for life and simultaneous fragility of so many young men at that time. Gay men were a haven of acceptance for me at a time when sexism was rampant--het men, it seemed, all wanted to squeeze me into a mold that served their convenience but had nothing to do with who I was. And the movie also captured beautifully how Freddy's bandmates were so accepting and protective, the way my gay friends were for me. So it evoked a time that I experienced as beautiful but fleeting.

[Andrea AKA Catsos Person]

Abigail wrote: "For me it struck a personal chord--I grew up in West Hollywood and lived there during the years that HIV was starting to spread and nobody yet knew what it was. Lost so many friends; and the movie ..."

That must have been frightening for you! What trauma to loose so many friends during that frightening time!

I was working part-time at the research/teaching hospital in my town in those days microwaving patient food, collecting menus and passing water and snacks.

I remember those unfortunate, doomed young men in the hospital at that time.

[Abigail]

Such an awful disease (or cluster of diseases)--and for a long time nobody knew what caused the symptoms or how it was transmitted. And the tragedy was compounded by prejudice. If only more people had known those beautiful, happy boys and seen how joyously they embraced life and love, despite everything that was against them. It was certainly a formative experience of my life, the time I spent in their company.

Anyway, seeing Bohemian Rhapsody is worth the sadness, IMHO.

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

I liked the film - but they certainly took a few liberties with the timeline. The part about Mary was essentially true though.

[Abigail]

Did they? I wasn't that much a follower of Queen, though I loved the music, so I didn't notice the timeline issues.

[Susan in NC]

Critterbee❇ wrote: "Oh dear...
Click for alarming photo of the 'vandalism'


That might give me nightmares, hahahahaha!"

Yes, it was pretty goofy! It looks like one of those old paintings with the eyes that folllow you...

[Susan in NC]

Abigail wrote: "Speaking of Poe and creepy, has everyone seen this T-shirt? For Queen lovers especially:

https://www.northernsun.com/Poe-Boy-F..."

🤣

[Susan in NC]

Barb in Maryland wrote: "Abigail wrote: "Speaking of Poe and creepy, has everyone seen this T-shirt? For Queen lovers especially:

https://www.northernsun.com/Poe-Boy-F..."

Snork! Love ..."

Awesome!

[Susan in NC]

Abigail wrote: "For me it struck a personal chord--I grew up in West Hollywood and lived there during the years that HIV was starting to spread and nobody yet knew what it was. Lost so many friends; and the movie ..."

That’s a beautiful testament to the dear friends you lost, I’m so sorry. One of my eldest sister’s best friends died of AIDS; John was a dear, sweet, creative, fun and funny guy, I was glad ourfamily got to know him.

[QNPoohBear]

Carol That is a GORGEOUS tree! New England was deforested early on and then the Victorian elm trees succumbed to Dutch Elm disease but in my old neighborhood, where I grew up, is a tree planted by the original Puritan settlers in 1643! (Or so they say.... it's too tall to get it all in one picture). There are a few really old trees but between hurricanes, land development and insects, they are rapidly disappearing.

Huzzah for Major General Nathanael Greene! I've been to his homestead and the caretaker told us WAY more than I ever needed to know about this incredible, honorable man who helped make us Americans and not English. His home state is very proud of the "fighting Quaker."

That Poe t-shirt is hilarious! I have to show that to my Poe reenactor co-worker.

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

Wishing everyone in this group the happiest of holiday seasons!

It has really been a pleasure discussing GH's books with you all! :)

[Jackie]

Happy Holidays to all.

I already started The Toll-gate last night!!!

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

Jackie wrote: "Happy Holidays to all.

I already started The Toll-gate last night!!!"

Ha, I'm getting GH withdrawal symptoms now!

But it is Christmas Eve here & I still have a bit to do . Like bake the cake (& baking not my strength)

[Critterbee❇]

Happy Holiday wishes to all!

[QNPoohBear]

It"s beginning to look and smell like Christmas around here. We had the first party last night with friends and the next door neighbor. The feast of the 7 fishes is tomorrow and my mom is cooking garlic. YUCK!

My grandmother is visiting from out of state. She's almost 95 and has dementia. She gets very confused, especially after dark but she says she remembers the new house and where she is. She can find her room and the bathroom so that's good! She seemed to remember my oldest niece (10) but not my youngest nephew (5). She didn't know if he was a girl or boy because of his long hair. I don't think he noticed she didn't know who he was. My sister's brats look just like her so it's obvious who THEY are!

I didn't manage 7 cookies but I did manage 3 and my mom made one cookie and one pretzel/chocolate caramel candy treat so I guess that's 5 cookies?

I bought myself A Yuletide Regency.

[Louise Sparrow]

Merry Christmas all!

[Karlyne]

Merry Christmas Eve Eve! I just had cherry/walnut scones and a perfect cup of tea while watching football and listening to the freight train on the couch (my husband is famous for his snoring). I can see the snow coming over the mountains to the West, and it's forecast to be A Very White Christmas! And as I was typing this, the mountains disappeared...😊

[Susan in NC]

QNPoohBear wrote: "It"s beginning to look and smell like Christmas around here. We had the first party last night with friends and the next door neighbor. The feast of the 7 fishes is tomorrow and my mom is cooking g..."

Enjoy - the guests, the cookies, and the Regency (i look forward to your review of this collection and hope you like it, I know you won’t enjoy the fish....)

Merry Christmas, everyone!

[Susan in NC]

Karlyne wrote: "Merry Christmas Eve Eve! I just had cherry/walnut scones and a perfect cup of tea while watching football and listening to the freight train on the couch (my husband is famous for his snoring). I c..."

Enjoy, forgive me if I wish you the White Christmas in Idaho rather than for us here in N.C. - I think you all are much better prepared to enjoy it!

[Susan in NC]

Christmas Carol ꧁꧂ wrote: "Jackie wrote: "Happy Holidays to all.

I already started The Toll-gate last night!!!"

Ha, I'm getting GH withdrawal symptoms now!

But it is Christmas Eve here & I still have a bit to do . Like ba..."

Good luck with your baking - it’ll be great, as it is made with love!

[Karlyne]

Susan in NC wrote: "Karlyne wrote: "Merry Christmas Eve Eve! I just had cherry/walnut scones and a perfect cup of tea while watching football and listening to the freight train on the couch (my husband is famous for h..."

It's a pain to travel in, but it's great when you're inside looking out!

[Susan in NC]

Karlyne wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Karlyne wrote: "Merry Christmas Eve Eve! I just had cherry/walnut scones and a perfect cup of tea while watching football and listening to the freight train on the couch (my hus..."

Exactly!🤣❄️

[QNPoohBear]

Oh wow Karlyne! Your day sounds lovely. No white Christmas here. I convinced my mom that when she retires from hosting to let me take over. No dead fish allowed but we can have 7 different kinds of fish: goldfish crackers of different flavors, Swedish fish, maybe fish shaped cookies and candy. My ancestors are rolling over in their graves at the thought!

[Susan in NC]

QNPoohBear wrote: "Oh wow Karlyne! Your day sounds lovely. No white Christmas here. I convinced my mom that when she retires from hosting to let me take over. No dead fish allowed but we can have 7 different kinds of..."

🤣

[Karlyne]

QNPoohBear wrote: "Oh wow Karlyne! Your day sounds lovely. No white Christmas here. I convinced my mom that when she retires from hosting to let me take over. No dead fish allowed but we can have 7 different kinds of..."

🤣 I love fish and seafood of all kinds(except oysters), but we're so landlocked that we only get trout once in awhile. So, I think we ought to do your fish idea. The kids would absolutely love it!!!