Notes from my patio

[smiley]

We do have seasons here in the LA basin, but they're subtle. I can tell it's Fall because the daytime temps top at about 80 and nights drop to 60. The pomegranate leaves are starting to turn yellow and fall. In early December the mulberry will start dropping leaves too. We usually don't get hard frost so most things can last all Winter. All the deciduous trees will eventually be bare.

I fired up the heater the other day to make sure it still works. The air conditioner died during a heat spell this summer due to a relay that failed. It's 19 years old so you have to expect things like that.

There's a chance of light showers on Tuesday but I'm not holding my breath. Last year we only got 5.5 inches of rain all winter.

When I was a kid we sometimes could smell the smudge pots burning in the orange groves when it got cold. Then later they changed to running big fans and you could hear them at night. That's all gone now. There is one tiny orange grove left here in town just as a memorial.

yes it is good to talk about things of the past that we enjoyed and now miss? we all err and to err is human. I love the pics you paint of life in the LA basin - sounds like a dialogue for a movie script but the real thing! your historic descriptions are very evocative.

 

[Grampa Don]

Who doesn't love hummingbirds. They're fascinating little creatures. They're like watching a movie that's been sped up. Imagine what we must seem like to them, slow moving giants. Maybe that's why they are so brave. They know we couldn't catch them with our hands.

I've fed them for many years. I've replaced the feeders twice when they were about to fall apart. And, I keep them clean and full of good stuff. A biologist did a study of the nectar they feed on and found that it varies a lot in strength. He wrote that they aren't fussy. They will take a thinner mixture and just come back more often. I fill a measuring cup half full of sugar and then add water to make a cup. They seem to like it.

In the Winter mating season I watch the males try to impress the females by doing high speed U shaped dives over them. They will do this several times and then go straight up out of sight. The females generally seem to ignore them.

One year I found a dead one on the ground. My granddaughter was there so we had to have a funeral for it. I bet not many get that.

 

[Kika]

Who doesn't love hummingbirds. They're fascinating little creatures. They're like watching a movie that's been sped up. Imagine what we must seem like to them, slow moving giants. Maybe that's why they are so brave. They know we couldn't catch them with our hands.

I've fed them for many years. I've replaced the feeders twice when they were about to fall apart. And, I keep them clean and full of good stuff. A biologist did a study of the nectar they feed on and found that it varies a lot in strength. He wrote that they aren't fussy. They will take a thinner mixture and just come back more often. I fill a measuring cup half full of sugar and then add water to make a cup. They seem to like it.

In the Winter mating season I watch the males try to impress the females by doing high speed U shaped dives over them. They will do this several times and then go straight up out of sight. The females generally seem to ignore them.

One year I found a dead one on the ground. My granddaughter was there so we had to have a funeral for it. I bet not many get that.

Awww the poor hummingbird, the funeral and grave is so precious. I fed hummingbirds when I lived in NYC and was disappointed that bird feeders of any kind were not permitted in the complex where I now live.
However, I quickly learned from others here how to hide them from "people view" yet they are still easily found by the hummers.

Do you have them visit all year round? Ours started leaving in mid September when we had some cold weather. My feeders were taken in and stored for March or April when they start returning.

 

[Pepper]

Used to have many hummingbirds in Madison, WI. Would watch them. Wonderful creatures, fascinating.

 

[Grampa Don]

Awww the poor hummingbird, the funeral and grave is so precious. I fed hummingbirds when I lived in NYC and was disappointed that bird feeders of any kind were not permitted in the complex where I now live.
However, I quickly learned from others here how to hide them from "people view" yet they are still easily found by the hummers.

Do you have them visit all year round? Ours started leaving in mid September when we had some cold weather. My feeders were taken in and stored for March or April when they start returning.

They're here all year. In nearby Modjeska Canyon is the Tucker wildlife sanctuary. They put out multiple feeders and there are swarms of them.

 

[Medusa]

Who doesn't love hummingbirds. They're fascinating little creatures. They're like watching a movie that's been sped up. Imagine what we must seem like to them, slow moving giants. Maybe that's why they are so brave. They know we couldn't catch them with our hands.

I've fed them for many years. I've replaced the feeders twice when they were about to fall apart. And, I keep them clean and full of good stuff. A biologist did a study of the nectar they feed on and found that it varies a lot in strength. He wrote that they aren't fussy. They will take a thinner mixture and just come back more often. I fill a measuring cup half full of sugar and then add water to make a cup. They seem to like it.

In the Winter mating season I watch the males try to impress the females by doing high speed U shaped dives over them. They will do this several times and then go straight up out of sight. The females generally seem to ignore them.

One year I found a dead one on the ground. My granddaughter was there so we had to have a funeral for it. I bet not many get that.

This little memorial is sweet and beautiful.

Thank you for this reminder; we saw a hummingbird, first in quite a while, in the backyard and I wanted to fill the feeder again. Also, thanks for recipe.

 

[Grampa Don]

Here I am this morning. Look straight past the white solar tower and just beyond the low range of hills and that's me. I'm waving.

It's going to be a pretty day today, but we are supposed to get some rain on Tuesday. I hope so.

I've had a lot of hobbies. I put some of them in a bookcase just for old time sake.

On top are some of my pipes. I got the Indian water pipe in Hong Kong while in the Navy.

Below that are some cameras we've used. The Kodak Hawkeye on the right was given to me by my folks when I was a teenager. In the 60's and 70's I was really serious about photography and did my own developing and printing.

Next down are some plastic model kits I built. I still have a couple that are about half complete but I don't have the patience to finish them.

Then there are my shortwave receivers. I spent many hours listening to them when there was still some shortwave to listen to. The internet killed that hobby.

Next down is my collection of woodworking magazines. I have over a hundred issues of Fine Woodworking. I have a garage full of tools and equipment that sits idle. Maybe some day I will pick them up again.

And, at the bottom are my old TI 99/4A and Commodore 64 computers. My wife insisted that the boys needed a computer and if I didn't pick one out she would. A friend at work recommended the TI, so we bought one. My sons had no interest in it but I did. I had a lot of fun with them. Now, they're collectors items.

The picture on the wall is a Thomas Kinkade. It was given to my wife by a friend of my son. He knew my wife liked Kinkade and so did his Mom. When she passed away he gave it to my wife. I don't actually like Kinkade, but it fills a space.

The Ford emblem on a plaque came off my 97 Ford escort. I loved that little car. It got so ugly my wife wouldn't ride in it.

 

[Medusa]

Here I am this morning. Look straight past the white solar tower and just beyond the low range of hills and that's me. I'm waving.

It's going to be a pretty day today, but we are supposed to get some rain on Tuesday. I hope so.

I've had a lot of hobbies. I put some of them in a bookcase just for old time sake.

On top are some of my pipes. I got the Indian water pipe in Hong Kong while in the Navy.

Below that are some cameras we've used. The Kodak Hawkeye on the right was given to me by my folks when I was a teenager. In the 60's and 70's I was really serious about photography and did my own developing and printing.

Next down are some plastic model kits I built. I still have a couple that are about half complete but I don't have the patience to finish them.

Then there are my shortwave receivers. I spent many hours listening to them when there was still some shortwave to listen to. The internet killed that hobby.

Next down is my collection of woodworking magazines. I have over a hundred issues of Fine Woodworking. I have a garage full of tools and equipment that sits idle. Maybe some day I will pick them up again.

And, at the bottom are my old TI 99/4A and Commodore 64 computers. My wife insisted that the boys needed a computer and if I didn't pick one out she would. A friend at work recommended the TI, so we bought one. My sons had no interest in it but I did. I had a lot of fun with them. Now, they're collectors items.

The picture on the wall is a Thomas Kinkade. It was given to my wife by a friend of my son. He knew my wife liked Kinkade and so did his Mom. When she passed away he gave it to my wife. I don't actually like Kinkade, but it fills a space.

The Ford emblem on a plaque came off my 97 Ford escort. I loved that little car. It got so ugly my wife wouldn't ride in it.

I looked, but I couldn't find you.

Love Thomas Kinkade's work.

 

[hollydolly]

..I can seee.......yooooooo...wavin'.....

Great collection of vintage tech

 

[CallMeKate]

Oh there you are! I see you in those hills. Nice shirt!

 

[Grampa Don]

Here's my lunch today. All healthy stuff.

The hard salami was part of a gift basket that my son gave me for my birthday. That's usually what he gives me. He knows I don't really need anything and I enjoy sampling goodies, many imported. This year it included a freeze dried ice cream sandwich. It was really weird; taste like a normal ice cream sandwich, but crunchy.

I love carrot sticks in ranch dressing and keep some in the frig for snacks. I have to keep scotch tape on the salt shaker or I'll find tiny ant in it. And I keep the sugar dispenser in a plastic jug for the same reason. I can't get rid of them, so I have to learn to live with them. They are invasive Argentine ants. Poison works for a few days and then they're right back again. I always have a few scouts around.

 

[CallMeKate]

Lunch looks yummy! I skipped mine, so this would have hit the spot very nicely. I think it's a fun idea getting food gifts, especially imported and things we can't normally get.

 

[RadishRose]

Nice collections, Don.
I never fed the hummingbirds, just the others. I had flower gardens, for any hummer that happened by. One day I thought I saw one drinking from a tall phlox blossom but after looking up a pic of it, learned it was only a proboscis moth.

 

[Grampa Don]

I looked, but I couldn't find you.

Those hills are probably blocking me.

 

[Grampa Don]

Nice day today, 80 degrees, bright sun and slight breeze. They say we could get a half inch rain on Tuesday. That means we will probably get at least a little.

Sardines and pickled jalapenos for lunch. I like sardines. My wife hated the smell. When I would have them I'd usually hear a Pee Yuu from her.

My son and daughter-in-law came for a visit yesterday. I hadn't seen them for a while. They had the Covid. Nasty stuff. I got my shots two weeks ago.

A sunbeam came through the window and shined on the stove making apparent that there were streaks of grease on the front door. So I spritzed it with some 409 cleaner and got out a wet sponge to scrub it. That's when I found out I can't squat anymore. My legs are too weak now. Bummer. So, I braced myself against the stove and bent over to scrub it. How long before I'm going to have to hire people to come in and do things like this for me?

Sitting on the patio and a mocking bird landed on the fence a sassed me. I sassed right back at him. I hadn't seen one for a while. Maybe it had Covid too.

 

[Jules]

How long before I'm going to have to hire people to come in and do things like this for me?

It‘s a good question. Even if someone came in occasionally, maybe once a month, and did a deep clean it could be money well spent. Neither one of us are doing the same chores as well as we used to. I think it’d be wise for us to do it while it’s marginally necessary and then we’re prepared if we really need someone.

 

[Grampa Don]

A sad note today. My next door neighbor passed away. Her daughter found her lying on the floor next to her bed. She had known heart problems. She was a sweet woman. She and my wife were close friends. She’s the only neighbor I’ve ever hugged.

She and her husband bought the house nine years after we bought ours. That’s close to fifty years ago. He was a professor at CSUF. He passed away six years ago from Alzheimer's. That was really tough for her.

The daughter that lives with her had a stroke three years ago. She was in the hospital the same time as my wife. The stroke left her barely able to walk. Her other daughter lives in New York City. Now they have the major challenge of tending to details and deciding what to do next.

I’ve offered to help if I can, but I expect that’s not much except give moral support.

 

[CallMeKate]

I'm sorry to hear about your neighbor, Don. And moral support is one of the things that is most needed... you're a good neighbor for offering that to her family.

 

[Grampa Don]

1.6 inches of rain yesterday. That's pretty good for October. 70 degrees, puffy clouds and sun today. Everything is damp outside and the air smells good.

Something has happened to our insects this year. There hardly are any. Usually in the Spring I see lots of little brown beetles. This spring I probably saw less than 5 or 6. Same thing with crane flies. In the summer we usually see big green beetles flying around bumping into things. I call them bumble beetles. This year only a few.

The paper wasps have totally disappeared and they are usually common building nests in the eaves. Even the flies and mosquitos are much less, not that I miss them. Strange. I wonder if this will have an effect on the bird population. The little lizards seem to be finding something to eat.

This morning I saw a few female termites flying around looking for a new home. Hopefully not mine. Things change over time. We used to have snails. When I had a pet duck, she loved them. I haven't seen a snail in years. This is Spot.

 

[Kaila]

Who doesn't love hummingbirds. They're fascinating little creatures. They're like watching a movie that's been sped up. Imagine what we must seem like to them, slow moving giants. Maybe that's why they are so brave. They know we couldn't catch them with our hands.

I've fed them for many years. I've replaced the feeders twice when they were about to fall apart. And, I keep them clean and full of good stuff. A biologist did a study of the nectar they feed on and found that it varies a lot in strength. He wrote that they aren't fussy. They will take a thinner mixture and just come back more often. I fill a measuring cup half full of sugar and then add water to make a cup. They seem to like it.

In the Winter mating season I watch the males try to impress the females by doing high speed U shaped dives over them. They will do this several times and then go straight up out of sight. The females generally seem to ignore them.

One year I found a dead one on the ground. My granddaughter was there so we had to have a funeral for it. I bet not many get that.

That is both informative and entertaining and touching, this entire post, Don.
I'm very glad i remembered to look for your thread again, and happened upon this wonderfully written post of yours, today. Thank you for it.

 

[Kaila]

Here I am this morning. Look straight past the white solar tower and just beyond the low range of hills and that's me. I'm waving.

It's going to be a pretty day today, but we are supposed to get some rain on Tuesday. I hope so.

I've had a lot of hobbies. I put some of them in a bookcase just for old time sake.

On top are some of my pipes. I got the Indian water pipe in Hong Kong while in the Navy.

Below that are some cameras we've used. The Kodak Hawkeye on the right was given to me by my folks when I was a teenager. In the 60's and 70's I was really serious about photography and did my own developing and printing.

Next down are some plastic model kits I built. I still have a couple that are about half complete but I don't have the patience to finish them.

Then there are my shortwave receivers. I spent many hours listening to them when there was still some shortwave to listen to. The internet killed that hobby.

Next down is my collection of woodworking magazines. I have over a hundred issues of Fine Woodworking. I have a garage full of tools and equipment that sits idle. Maybe some day I will pick them up again.

And, at the bottom are my old TI 99/4A and Commodore 64 computers. My wife insisted that the boys needed a computer and if I didn't pick one out she would. A friend at work recommended the TI, so we bought one. My sons had no interest in it but I did. I had a lot of fun with them. Now, they're collectors items.

The picture on the wall is a Thomas Kinkade. It was given to my wife by a friend of my son. He knew my wife liked Kinkade and so did his Mom. When she passed away he gave it to my wife. I don't actually like Kinkade, but it fills a space.

The Ford emblem on a plaque came off my 97 Ford escort. I loved that little car. It got so ugly my wife wouldn't ride in it.

I looked for you and couldn't find you.... but while searching for you , i found @Medusa ....
And RadishRose....
And Kate......
And gosh...... many friends there all looking.

 

[Kaila]

I enjoyed learning how to develop and print my own photographs, many years ago. Black and white.
Thanks for reminding me, Don.

Very sorry about your neighbors.

 

[RadishRose]

Your duck's name was Spot. That's hilarious!

 

[CaliS]

We do have seasons here in the LA basin, but they're subtle. I can tell it's Fall because the daytime temps top at about 80 and nights drop to 60. The pomegranate leaves are starting to turn yellow and fall. In early December the mulberry will start dropping leaves too. We usually don't get hard frost so most things can last all Winter. All the deciduous trees will eventually be bare.

I fired up the heater the other day to make sure it still works. The air conditioner died during a heat spell this summer due to a relay that failed. It's 19 years old so you have to expect things like that.

There's a chance of light showers on Tuesday but I'm not holding my breath. Last year we only got 5.5 inches of rain all winter.

When I was a kid we sometimes could smell the smudge pots burning in the orange groves when it got cold. Then later they changed to running big fans and you could hear them at night. That's all gone now. There is one tiny orange grove left here in town just as a memorial.

Well, we did get some rain (where I live) yesterday and it was sooooooo nice!!! Today the sky is beautiful with white puffy clouds!

My husband said we need to head up to Lake Arrowhead - where you can actually see all the trees changing colors for Fall !!!

LOVE the lending library!!!

@hollydolly Just lovely fruit trees! ~ have always wanted an avocado tree and a lemon tree in my backyard!!!

Used to have the avocado - never had a lemon tree - yet!

 

[Grampa Don]

Your duck's name was Spot. That's hilarious!

Spot was a great pet. Really tame. She'd follow you around. I'd be in the garage and hear her footsteps flap flap flap coming to see me. We could even take her out front and she would stay right with us.

But, she was messy. I had a plastic kiddy pool for her and the first thing she would do after getting in it was to poop.

I made a small box to save one of her eggs.