Grampa Don
Yep, that's me
- Location
- Orange county, Calif.
Thanks for the suggestion, but the nearest shelter is farther than I like to drive. I stay on local streets. And, you're right, I would want to bring one home.
Notes from my patio
- Thread starter Grampa Don
- Start date
Grampa Don
Yep, that's me
- Location
- Orange county, Calif.
We're having a bit of a heat wave. It was 96 yesterday and will probably be that again today. It's a Santa Ana condition with wind coming over the mountains from the desert. Halloween is supposed to be back to normal.
Here's a little more about wildlife in my neighborhood. We don’t have bears or mountain lions here like in some parts of the county. We do see coyotes though. They’ve been sighted on our block and they will prey on small dogs and cats. One morning I found a small collar with no tags and the buckle still fastened on our front lawn. I’m guessing it was from a cat.
It’s a worry for owners of small pets. I read that coyotes can climb over a six foot fence and that’s as high as our code allows. I saw an ad once for rollers to put on top of a fence to make it un-climbable.
Skunks we have. I can sometimes get a whiff of one. One of our dogs got sprayed and after that my wife kept a bottle of skunk wash in the cupboard just in case. There was a baby skunk behind the garage one morning. I just left it alone hoping its mom would come for it. Apparently she did because it was gone later.
And, usually in the spring I’ll see a possum or two or one of their babies. The only problem they cause is that the dogs seem to like their poop and it makes them sick. It smells awful. One came in the house through the doggy door one evening. My wife spotted it sitting in the corner of the kitchen. My older son just picked it up and carried it outside.
Rats were once more common. I’d see them walking along the telephone wires. One had babies in our garage. My son wanted to keep them but our Vet advised against it. So, it was my job to dispose of them. That was tough. I haven’t seen a rat since the squirrels arrived. Maybe they drove them away.
And that’s about it for warm blooded four legged critters. The gophers have deserted us for some reason. I tossed my gopher traps long ago.
Here's a little more about wildlife in my neighborhood. We don’t have bears or mountain lions here like in some parts of the county. We do see coyotes though. They’ve been sighted on our block and they will prey on small dogs and cats. One morning I found a small collar with no tags and the buckle still fastened on our front lawn. I’m guessing it was from a cat.
It’s a worry for owners of small pets. I read that coyotes can climb over a six foot fence and that’s as high as our code allows. I saw an ad once for rollers to put on top of a fence to make it un-climbable.
Skunks we have. I can sometimes get a whiff of one. One of our dogs got sprayed and after that my wife kept a bottle of skunk wash in the cupboard just in case. There was a baby skunk behind the garage one morning. I just left it alone hoping its mom would come for it. Apparently she did because it was gone later.
And, usually in the spring I’ll see a possum or two or one of their babies. The only problem they cause is that the dogs seem to like their poop and it makes them sick. It smells awful. One came in the house through the doggy door one evening. My wife spotted it sitting in the corner of the kitchen. My older son just picked it up and carried it outside.
Rats were once more common. I’d see them walking along the telephone wires. One had babies in our garage. My son wanted to keep them but our Vet advised against it. So, it was my job to dispose of them. That was tough. I haven’t seen a rat since the squirrels arrived. Maybe they drove them away.
And that’s about it for warm blooded four legged critters. The gophers have deserted us for some reason. I tossed my gopher traps long ago.
Grampa Don
Yep, that's me
- Location
- Orange county, Calif.
Had a really nice day today. My son, daughter in law and granddaughter came this evening for pizza and pumpkin carving on the patio. We do this every year. It was a nice warm evening with a slight breeze. One year there was a strong Santa Ana wind and we had to move the picnic table into the garage. It looks like tomorrow night will be pleasant for the trick or treaters.
I baked a loaf of bread today. The top split and it looks kind of funny, but the texture is fine and it tastes good. I should have scored it. I'm still working on my technique. I keep a careful record of each loaf so I can see the effects of changes.
I baked a loaf of bread today. The top split and it looks kind of funny, but the texture is fine and it tastes good. I should have scored it. I'm still working on my technique. I keep a careful record of each loaf so I can see the effects of changes.
Medusa
Well-known Member
- Location
- Mid-Atlantic
That crust looks delicious!Had a really nice day today. My son, daughter in law and granddaughter came this evening for pizza and pumpkin carving on the patio. We do this every year. It was a nice warm evening with a slight breeze. One year there was a strong Santa Ana wind and we had to move the picnic table into the garage. It looks like tomorrow night will be pleasant for the trick or treaters.
I baked a loaf of bread today. The top split and it looks kind of funny, but the texture is fine and it tastes good. I should have scored it. I'm still working on my technique. I keep a careful record of each loaf so I can see the effects of changes.
RadishRose
SF VIP
- Location
- Connecticut, USA
Looks good to me!Had a really nice day today. My son, daughter in law and granddaughter came this evening for pizza and pumpkin carving on the patio. We do this every year. It was a nice warm evening with a slight breeze. One year there was a strong Santa Ana wind and we had to move the picnic table into the garage. It looks like tomorrow night will be pleasant for the trick or treaters.
I baked a loaf of bread today. The top split and it looks kind of funny, but the texture is fine and it tastes good. I should have scored it. I'm still working on my technique. I keep a careful record of each loaf so I can see the effects of changes.
CallMeKate
Well-known Member
- Location
- Mid-Atlantic US
Oh yummy! Your bread looks great, Don... I can almost taste it spread with real butter. 
And I'll bet the smell while it was baking was incredible, too!
And I'll bet the smell while it was baking was incredible, too!
Grampa Don
Yep, that's me
- Location
- Orange county, Calif.
My daughter in law brought me a package of Kerrygold Irish butter. She says it's really good. I'll try some on the bread today. She's a sweetheart. I don't like the term daughter in law. It sounds cold to me. To me she's my daughter. From now on I'll just refer to her as Susan.
A few years back we had enough points on our credit card to buy something. On a whim I ordered a bread machine. It makes palatable bread, but it's a funny looking loaf and really it's not much more work to make bread without it. So, it sits in a cupboard next to the waffle maker that I also don't use.
A few years back we had enough points on our credit card to buy something. On a whim I ordered a bread machine. It makes palatable bread, but it's a funny looking loaf and really it's not much more work to make bread without it. So, it sits in a cupboard next to the waffle maker that I also don't use.
Grampa Don
Yep, that's me
- Location
- Orange county, Calif.
I sliced a piece of my bread and microwaved it just enough to make it warm. Then I spread some of that Irish butter on it. Oh, that's good.
Not much action in the back yard this morning. It's a pleasant 65 with some overcast. A couple big gray doves stopped by for a drink. Pretty birds. They always seem to come in pairs. There was a piece of pumpkin dropped on the lawn and a towhee checked it out. He took a couple pecks at it and decided it wasn't something he liked. And, my phoebe was busy snagging bugs.
Going to have left over pizza for lunch. A couple minutes in the toaster oven will crisp it up nicely.
Not much action in the back yard this morning. It's a pleasant 65 with some overcast. A couple big gray doves stopped by for a drink. Pretty birds. They always seem to come in pairs. There was a piece of pumpkin dropped on the lawn and a towhee checked it out. He took a couple pecks at it and decided it wasn't something he liked. And, my phoebe was busy snagging bugs.
Going to have left over pizza for lunch. A couple minutes in the toaster oven will crisp it up nicely.
Jules
SF VIP
Glad you mentioned this, because I’ve always wondered. Not likely I’ll ever buy it, because of the price. I’d probably love it and end up addicted.
Grampa Don
Yep, that's me
- Location
- Orange county, Calif.
I'll probably be shocked when I find out how much it cost. I normally buy Land O Lakes with olive oil, and it seems pretty good to me. I tried Can't Believe It's Not Butter once. I had no problem believing it. I was raised on margarine. I remember my mom adding orange food coloring to it when it came white in the package.
Jules
SF VIP
I remember that too. We’d beg to be the ones that got to do the squeezing.
Pappy
Living the Dream
I remember too. It was my job to help grandma mix the coloring in.
Grampa Don
Yep, that's me
- Location
- Orange county, Calif.
It's a grey morning, 60 degrees, and I can't think of anything to say, so I thought I'd share another of my photos through the microscope. This is a fruit fly. You might think it's gross, but I find it a pretty thing. I had fun doing a few of these.
CallMeKate
Well-known Member
- Location
- Mid-Atlantic US
Kerrygold is $5.24 at my WalMart. Catch there is that it's for 2 sticks instead of the usual 4. I bought it once a few years ago on a BOGO, but not since. I remember it was good, but real butter is real butter and I can't tell a big difference.
Medusa
Well-known Member
- Location
- Mid-Atlantic
The iridescent wings are pretty.It's a grey morning, 60 degrees, and I can't think of anything to say, so I thought I'd share another of my photos through the microscope. This is a fruit fly. You might think it's gross, but I find it a pretty thing. I had fun doing a few of these.
Grampa Don
Yep, that's me
- Location
- Orange county, Calif.
Sitting in the patio this morning with my tea, the sun slanting in on my legs. Not much activity, just some birds taking their morning bath and my frog going rrbit in the jasmine. Quiet, not a breeze.
My son, Susan and granddaughter were invited to a neighborhood party last night. My son said it was fun, and Susan and and my granddaughter had a great time. He's not much for parties. He gets that from me.
Since I posted pictures of my scopes and from my microscope, you probably think I'm a nerd. I sorta am, but I'm not smart enough to be a real nerd. I struggled with math. In high school there was a math club. I can't imagine being in a club about math. I am curious about a lot of things and I like to know how things work. My favorite toys as a kid were my microscope set and erector set. I spent many hours with them.
My son, Susan and granddaughter were invited to a neighborhood party last night. My son said it was fun, and Susan and and my granddaughter had a great time. He's not much for parties. He gets that from me.
Since I posted pictures of my scopes and from my microscope, you probably think I'm a nerd. I sorta am, but I'm not smart enough to be a real nerd. I struggled with math. In high school there was a math club. I can't imagine being in a club about math. I am curious about a lot of things and I like to know how things work. My favorite toys as a kid were my microscope set and erector set. I spent many hours with them.
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Grampa Don
Yep, that's me
- Location
- Orange county, Calif.
Overcast and gloomy this morning, so I'll bore you with trivia
My wife's favorite car was the '53 Chevy her dad bought for her when she graduated from high school. She loved that car.
But, after 3 minor accidents, none of which were her fault, her dad decided it was a jinx and traded it for '58 Chevy that she never really liked. I found a plastic kit of the same car and put it together for her.
The actual car had a metal flake paint job. I tried to match it as best I could and this is the closest I could come.
Just as an example of my nerdiness, here's my collection of slide rules.
The top one was a cheap thing that was required for a high school math class. Below that is my Post Hemmi from college. Then is the 6 inch Hemmi I bought in Hong Kong. The circular slide rule was a freebie from a sales rep. That one I carried in my shirt pocket for years until calculators became common. I don't remember where I got the little plastic one on the right.
I see now the sun is coming out. I think I'll go sit in it for a little while.
My wife's favorite car was the '53 Chevy her dad bought for her when she graduated from high school. She loved that car.
But, after 3 minor accidents, none of which were her fault, her dad decided it was a jinx and traded it for '58 Chevy that she never really liked. I found a plastic kit of the same car and put it together for her.
The actual car had a metal flake paint job. I tried to match it as best I could and this is the closest I could come.
Just as an example of my nerdiness, here's my collection of slide rules.
The top one was a cheap thing that was required for a high school math class. Below that is my Post Hemmi from college. Then is the 6 inch Hemmi I bought in Hong Kong. The circular slide rule was a freebie from a sales rep. That one I carried in my shirt pocket for years until calculators became common. I don't remember where I got the little plastic one on the right.
I see now the sun is coming out. I think I'll go sit in it for a little while.
Grampa Don
Yep, that's me
- Location
- Orange county, Calif.
I think I'm done with this thread. I've already revealed more of my life and myself than would be of much interest. Thank you for all the positive feedback. I wish you the best.
Babs2u
Senior Member
I enjoyed it. Thank you.
I feel I know you better now @Grampa Don
I live with a nerd, so, it has been interesting
I live with a nerd, so, it has been interesting
RadishRose
SF VIP
- Location
- Connecticut, USA
I have to respect your choice Don, but I'll miss your input and updates.
I'll look for you in other threads.
I'll look for you in other threads.
CallMeKate
Well-known Member
- Location
- Mid-Atlantic US
I've enjoyed reading your thoughts and interacting, Don. I'm sorry to see your diary thread close. For the record, it has *all* been of interest.
Kaila
SF VIP
Do you have any special kind of lens or attachment in the microscope, to take these, Don?It's a grey morning, 60 degrees, and I can't think of anything to say, so I thought I'd share another of my photos through the microscope. This is a fruit fly. You might think it's gross, but I find it a pretty thing. I had fun doing a few of these.
I've wondered since you posted the first one like this. They're very nice and interesting... to see the details in those.
Grampa Don
Yep, that's me
- Location
- Orange county, Calif.
It's a stereo microscope and I made an adapter to align the lens of my compact camera to one eyepiece. I set the camera to repeat mode and hand hold it as I vary the focus. I end up with 20 to 30 shots. Then I use a free stacking program to combine all the images into one sharp image. It takes a little practice.
Thanks for the comments.