Retro Reads discussion

Hi there the other idle chatter thread was started eight years ago, so I thought it was time to start a new one!

If you haven't posted in this group before now is your chance!

& nothing is going on here atm other than non stop rain, but last weekend My husband & I went up to Scott's landing which is north of Auckland & had a good night with some of Marty's family.

The next day, SJ dropped me at the girls' place & I have some lovely cuddles with Layla. Chloe & I took Layla to a Japanese cafe. & yes, I was really sad to come home!

What a dream a trip to NZ would be! Someday!

Starting tonight we will be having a 3 day weekend of rain and wind. I welcome rain, it's hot in southern Idaho and we may not get more until September.

OH GOOD a fresh thread!

Cindy, I would guess I knew you live in Idaho but I'd forgotten: I'm in Oregon so we are practically neighbors.

I very much doubt I will ever fly very far any more (due to expense, plus there is so much to see around here) but have a friend who visits her son and his family in NZ every winter (here, summer there of course) and it sure sounds interesting, plus I can see how beautiful from movies, etc.

I'm going to try very hard to execute a trip to the Oregon Coast in September, I've only been there once.

The heat and humidity is now nonstop in Houston and surrounding suburbs until October. Time to stay in the air conditioning and read a book.

Nothing but heat and humidity on the North Carolina coast for the foreseeable future. At least we have air conditioning. My heart goes out to everyone going through the heat wave in UK and Euro Zone who have to cope without. Trying to spend more time gardening in the early morning but I'm a failure at getting up from my favorite chair. Perfect place to read.

I've only been to the coast once, too, it was awesome. I never saw pelicans in flight over the water before!

CindySR wrote: "I've only been to the coast once, too, it was awesome. I never saw pelicans in flight over the water before!"

A few years ago we had a holiday in Queensland. A famed tourist attraction is outside Charis Seafoods where the pelicans turn up bang on time to be fed. The guy was running a few minutes late & they patiently waited. Amazing how they could tell the time!

& anyone coming to New Zealand, I certainly hope you come to see me!

Where I live is one of the humid parts of NZ, but at least the temperatures aren't as high as what you guys are experiencing!

Sharon wrote: "Nothing but heat and humidity on the North Carolina coast for the foreseeable future. At least we have air conditioning. My heart goes out to everyone going through the heat wave in UK and Euro Zon..."

Same here in the Piedmont area of NC! We’re about 2 hours from the mountains, so I don’t think I’m as hot as you, Sharon, but I definitely enjoy reading indoors in the air conditioning! I try and do what gardening I can manage before 10:30 a.m. - and that’s with a hat and sunblock. I simply can’t handle the heat and humidity as I get older.

I dislike humidity and that's why I'm 90 minutes (in good weather) from decent shopping: I live on the dry side of the Cascade mountains. I truly love desert (used to live in Nevada) but decided not to move back down there because of global warming.
What a blessing air conditioning it!

I'm just outside Baltimore, MD. Not too awful today (rainy and mild), but the forecast for early July is terrible--highs over 100F (38-39C), with high humidity. Ugh!
But not quite as bad as Florida or Houston, TX. lol.

Air conditioning is worth every penny the utility company bills us, no doubt about that.

Barb, sounds like you’re going to be under the same “heat dome” our local weather is warning us about, just in time for the 4th of July, which will be bad. The combo of the intense heat, the big summer holiday (even bigger this year, as it’s the 250th), plus the holiday falling on a weekend makes me wary - people will be whooping it up, drinking, fireworks, etc. 😬

For the last many years, I’ve enjoyed switching between tv coverage of the Boston Pops concert and fireworks and the big New York City fireworks displays- no mosquitos, no humidity, no line for the bathroom!

Yes, I’m officially an old lady - and I’m ok with that…;o)

Susan in NC wrote: "Barb, sounds like you’re going to be under the same “heat dome” our local weather is warning us about, just in time for the 4th of July, which will be bad. The combo of the intense heat, the big summer..."

Well I hope you all stay safe.

Our weather has gone back to a pleasant temperature now, but yesterday afternoon when I was trying to get dinner ready it turned really hot!

Since it is a pleasant day I might go look at a new subdivision near me & then go for a walk.

Carol, She's so Novel ꧁꧂ wrote: "CindySR wrote: "I've only been to the coast once, too, it was awesome. I never saw pelicans in flight over the water before!"

A few years ago we had a holiday in Queensland. A famed tourist attrac..."

We have a fish store that backs up to the water and the pelicans sit on posts that come up in the harbor waiting for a free meal. I think they have reserved seating!

Susan in NC wrote: "Sharon wrote: "Nothing but heat and humidity on the North Carolina coast for the foreseeable future. At least we have air conditioning. My heart goes out to everyone going through the heat wave in ..."

We used to live in Cary and I taught in Durham. It is more humid out here and definitely hotter. But, each summer gets earlier and more intense - sadly, happening everywhere.

Sharon wrote: "Carol, She's so Novel ꧁꧂ wrote:

A few years ago we had a holiday in Queensland..."

Can they also tell the time the way the Charis Seafood ones can? Although that can be explained.

Years ago I saw something on YT that possibly explains this. Some scientists had a man dress up as a clown with very heavy make up, big shoes, etc, etc. This guy ran at a flock of birds yelling & waving his arms till they flew away. Many years later they dress someone up identically. The birds immediately flew away.

The animal kingdom is wonderful.

Carol, She's so Novel ꧁꧂ wrote: "Sharon wrote: "Carol, She's so Novel ꧁꧂ wrote:

A few years ago we had a holiday in Queensland..."

Can they also tell the time the way the Charis Seafood ones can? Although that can be explained...."

Yes, they can! They are as accurate as Big Ben.

I think I saw the same program, or there may have been a similar experiment, because the one I saw involved crows. They are so smart. We used to have a special crow friend who first came to our feeder when he was a baby along with the fledgling song birds. He loved the suet. I started putting pellets on the ground for him, instead of watching him try to get a bite of the suet cake that we hung from a shepherd's hook (or begging while his mother tried to balance on the too small suet case and send some to the ground with her beak. As he got older he would come with four of his "cousins", cock his head, and wait until I invited him to come up on the lawn and get some pellets. He would stick five pellets in a row in his beak, march back to the pavement where the other crows waited, drop the collection from his mouth, and then each crow would take one pellet. This was a daily ritual until we moved; I still miss him and hope my old neighbors continued to feed him as promised.

Awww, that is so cute!

Not much chance of birds befriending us with the killing machine that used to live here. Juno has been dead for a while now & we finally have skinks again.

Funnily enough, she absolutely loved quails & left them alone. Towards the end (when she was a very old cat) they were doing everything short of jumping across her nose & it didn't bother her at all. She just loved them.

We won't get another cat though, due to the danger to the native bird population. & I don't want an indoor cat.

& my husband & I are doing Dry July with some of his family. (it's a NZ thing)

We figure with the money we save we'll be able to afford to buy a steak on the First of August. 😁 & no, I don't drink much, but everything is so expensive here now! (other than seasonal fruit & veg).

https://www.dryjuly.co.nz/?gclsrc=aw....

My husband bought some alcohol free beer & it is horrible! Real hoppy taste.

Carol, She's so Novel ꧁꧂ wrote: "& my husband & I are doing Dry July with some of his family. (it's a NZ thing)

We figure with the money we save we'll be able to afford to buy a steak on the First of August. 😁 & no, I don't drink..."

In the US, it's Dry January--as a way to recover from overindulging during the holidays. The 5-6 weeks between our Thanksgiving Day in late November and New Year;s Day can be a time for a lot of parties, festive meals. etc.

It probably should be Dry January here too, as from just before Xmas till approx the second week in January is the main holiday season, but Dry July is catchier!

Sharon wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Sharon wrote: "Nothing but heat and humidity on the North Carolina coast for the foreseeable future. At least we have air conditioning. My heart goes out to everyone going throu..."

So true! Seems every year the humidity gets more intense🥵

Susan in NC wrote: "Sharon wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Sharon wrote: "Nothing but heat and humidity on the North Carolina coast for the foreseeable future. At least we have air conditioning. My heart goes out to every..."

We need a collective book readers summer home in the mountains!

Sharon wrote: "We need a collective book readers summer home in the mountains!."

That's a nice idea, Sharon!

My husband bought two different flavours of the same brand of beer & the second one is ok. I'm drinking grapefruit juice. Where I live is terrific for growing citrus & people literally can't give it away!

However, I picked up more outside someone's home yesterday.

Sharon wrote: "I think I saw the same program, or there may have been a similar experiment, because the one I saw involved crows."

I was thinking about this yesterday as fantails have come back on our properties in quite large numbers. I'm happy about this they are one of my favourite NZ birds.
https://www.visitzealandia.com/learn/...

Now there is no way that Juno could have caught a healthy, adult fantail - they are really quick! But either she caught an unhealthy one or a chick or maybe past generations of fantails passed on a warning to avoid our property.

Love having them - they are pure joy!

Piwakawaka 😁

Sharon wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Sharon wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Sharon wrote: "Nothing but heat and humidity on the North Carolina coast for the foreseeable future. At least we have air conditioning. My hea..."

Lovely idea!📚🥰

Carol, She's so Novel ꧁꧂ wrote: "Sharon wrote: "I think I saw the same program, or there may have been a similar experiment, because the one I saw involved crows."

I was thinking about this yesterday as fantails have come back on..."

Stunning!

They are so cute! In parts of the country where they aren't scared of humans (our little town so quiet now, it's starting to happen here) they swoop around your head like Disney cartoon birds!

Carol, She's so Novel ꧁꧂ wrote: "They are so cute! In parts of the country where they aren't scared of humans (our little town so quiet now, it's starting to happen here) they swoop around your head like Disney cartoon birds!"

Please send a video of yourself if you start dancing around with your broom like a Disney princess as these little sweeties swoop about you…;o)

Hahahaha!

Yesterday was unseasonably warm & we were on our deck with our morning coffee watching them. So heartwarming!

I love watching birds, so glad you are having that joy Carol!

Jackie wrote: "I love watching birds, so glad you are having that joy Carol!"

A benefit of no longer owning a cat - although the neighbours' cat has been over the last few days - he has a belled collar that he hasn't managed to get rid of - yet!

A good squirt with the hose did the trick on one of the neighborhood cats here. But you have to be in the right place at the right time to scare them.

CindySR wrote: "A good squirt with the hose did the trick on one of the neighborhood cats here. But you have to be in the right place at the right time to scare them."

Ah, we are quite fond of Cookie though. He is a semi feral, so has a wide ranging territory. We only see him about every nine weeks now. He likes our outside chairs to sleep on - or our compost bin. We are more than happy to have him sleep on top of the compost bin as it has mice. (blech!)

Carol, She's so Novel ꧁꧂ wrote: "Jackie wrote: "I love watching birds, so glad you are having that joy Carol!"

A benefit of no longer owning a cat - although the neighbours' cat has been over the last few days - he has a belled c..."

I just readThe Story of Birds: A New History from Their Dinosaur Origins to the Present by Steve Brusatte, a fascinating, accessible read, as his previous books on dinosaurs and mammals have been. One of his recommendations to help modern birds is please keep cats indoors!

Carol, She's so Novel ꧁꧂ wrote: "CindySR wrote: "A good squirt with the hose did the trick on one of the neighborhood cats here. But you have to be in the right place at the right time to scare them."

Ah, we are quite fond of Coo..."

Ah, a helpful cat guest, that’s good. I was thinking of you in the chapter about Zealandia and the unique birds that developed there (I’m sure you know all the history from your museum volunteering!)