Hal I understand that it is a three year trip and not all monarchs make it the full trip due to lifespans. It is one of those natural twists I suppose. It is very possible that they make it to several destinations along their journey but I am not familiar with that so will have to get back to you.

The US Forestry service had this to say and now I am not sure if I had previously read three of four generations or three years or if it had taken three or four generations in the three years to make the journey? They also go to Mexico as well on another route.

"The annual migration of North America’s monarch butterfly is a unique and amazing phenomenon. The monarch is the only butterfly known to make a two-way migration as birds do. Unlike other butterflies that can overwinter as larvae, pupae, or even as adults in some species, monarchs cannot survive the cold winters of northern climates. Using environmental cues, the monarchs know when it is time to travel south for the winter. Monarchs use a combination of air currents and thermals to travel long distances. Some fly as far as 3,000 miles to reach their winter home!"

halkel--I pray for all those in the areas that have had such bad flooding.

Vanilla-Jackie--GREAT video.  Thanks for the link.

Molly--I get many calls on my cell phone from entities that I don't know--the same with text messages.

Sandy--Yes, some could be robo calls.

angelface--Interesting info about the monarch butterfly.

I went down for lunch today, but skipped my Balance program.My brain is still scrambled and feel unsteady, so home is the best place to be. Boring, but that's better than being flat on my back somewhere.

Since I've gone on gmail, I have a little icon on my computer that backs up messages. I get jillion of backups and I have to spend too much time erasing them. Our girl here that works on computers is aware of it, but has no cure for it. Do any of you other gmail people have that problem ?

I have not had to use the A/C today, and I'm thankful for that. I like to have my windows open and bring in the outside air.

Hal, I am thankful you are not in the path of all that rain that keeps falling. Those poor folks must be suffering badly. Prayers are going out for them.

I got my nap this afternoon but I'm still tired.  And I have one more day to work tomorrow.  I think I'll hit the hay early again tonight. 

To those of you who don't post because you don't have anything to say...How about just saying "HOWDY DOO, to all of YOU!"?

Janie, I'm sure that getting back to work after your long time off will take some days to get back into the swing of things. Do you get a break time to go to the bathroom and drink a refreshment ? I hope so.

June, I do get a break and we have a room where we can sit down and relax.  I only work 4 hour days and my break is usually mid way through the shift.

Now I'm going to go and try watching some TV through my eyelids.  I'll bid you all a very good night, just in case I don't make it back,  Enjoy the rest of your evening, sleep peacefully and wake to a bright tomorrow.

Jane, thanks for the info. I feel much better about the time you spend at the register. And I have respect for WM too.

I have a policy:   
If I do not know the person calling
me personally,  or  choose not to 
speak to a name I do know,   then
I simply do not answer the
phone.    I answer family members,
and close friends,  and my bank
and doctors.    (A pretty short,
simple list)

If unknown or unwanted, 
I shut the call off as soon as the
answering machine comes on.

So I do not get a lot of robo calls...
(maybe two or three a day, 
in the evening) .

I don't answer them so eventually they
give up.   Which is my goal.

Sandy

The unwanted/unknown caller phone calls ring on my cell phone, NOT my house phone.  The regular call to the house phone which I am so very tired of is from the Sheriff's Office informing me about needed donations.  That call comes regularly at least once a month.  The caller specifically asks for me by name, introduces himself (never a female calling) and requests a specific donation amount.  I usually interrupt him in a very polite manner, explain that I will be happy to pass the information on to my son who is a former local Police Officer and who takes care of all family donations.  I thank the fellow for calling and very politely wish him a good day and thank him for his service.  Then I hang up!  But the calls still keep coming!  The only other thing I can think of is to answer calls like that in a non-English language!

Molly you can always tell the caller that you don't accept request for solicitations over the phone.

well It is a little early but I have had a full day so I bid you all a good night and pleasant  dreams.

Lloyd

I do not understand why  you feel
obligated to answer those phone calls.
On cell phones,  can't you just opt to not
answer? 

Goodnight everyone

kelly

Since 99% of the calls we got on our landline were from telemarketers etc., we dumped it and just use our cell phones.  Most everyone we wanted to talk to called us on our cell phones anyway. 

If I get a call where I don't recognize the name or number, I don't answer and then block the number.   Seldom does anyone leave a voice mail message.  If they call again, the call doesn't go through.

Mary 

If you would like to see my photos from yesterday of the Alaska Range and of the wildlife sanctuary, you may click on the following link.

https://goo.gl/photos/jgXRnpKt5UEHRRnP6

To see the photos in more detail in a larger size, click on the first one and follow the right prompts. Since I was so far from the mountains, geese, swans, etc. full size is better and will not overwhelm your viewing.

Patricia, great pictures.  Oh, to be young enough to walk those paths.  I noticed Canada geese, please keep them there!  Please!

Mary Ann

Good evening, EVERYFRIEND. 

Nice day today....it is finally warming up and the snow is melting like crazy.

The painting of our homes here in the cul-de-sac is keeping everyone busy just watching all the activity.

LARRY, I think you may have asked if all the homes in the community are being painted, and the answer is no.  They do different sections at a time in different years so as to keep the cost under control. 

It appears they will not start our home until next week.  We are projected to get some rain, so I do hope they will not start it too soon. 

JACKIE, I really enjoyed your little video.  I am blessed and could relate to many of the couples....something I wish everyone could say or at least say they have know this comfort too.  HUGS to you.

ANGELFACE, I enjoyed the pictures you shared.  Love reading the information that I could read. 

LOL, MARYANN.  I can relate to why you want ANGELFACE to keep the Canadian Geese up there.... I agree as we have way too many here. 

Pleasant dreams to all.

Jenny

Mary Ann â€" I do remember that C/Barrel was noisy.  We have lots of new places, but I just  don’t go out much any more. 

Larry â€" it (the new button)used to work that way,…but   didn’t for a couple of visits….maybe it’s working well,   again. I gave it another try tonight, and it worked. O.k.

Got lots of new stuff to talk about…but my hand is still messed up, and can barely type with one finger…sure  need to get it fixed, but dread having the surgery…oh, woe is me.

Sun

I'm very happy that those who saw the photos enjoyed them. I think having a sanctuary with available grain is one reason why you don't see the geese around town and they are also protected against man and dogs.

The land is full of gullies and tussocks and that area is almost the same as it was all those thousands of years ago BECAUSE it has not been developed! The trees are like that because underneath, the ground has frozen, melted refroze and melted again so many times that they cannot set down a good root system and that is why so many have fallen or  leaned so much. You have to look at the boreal forest as a moment in time.

On the Alaska Range, I'm sorry I don't have a lens to bring them closer but some of the mountains are large enough to show up. I was unhappy to see the photo I had of 3 or4 helicopters buzzing around the mountains came out blurry and had to be discarded. Its the same way with the geese, several photographers had these huge lens that needed their own tripods but I do not have the money for that.

Jenny, we got our written quote through the post yesterday on the amount of works that need doing on the outside of our home, which with added VAT, comes to quite a lot, £3,ooo plus, says he can get the work started May - June......Oh well as R has now almost changed his mind on giving up his companies fleet rented car and buying a new, second hand car from his old Vauxhall I guess he has the money to pay for the work, if he is happy to keep making these 153 mile round trip journeys every 4 or so months.....his choice...

Edited: no sooner than I had posted this, R was on the phone to workman asking if the verbal lesser quote he gave earlier included the added VAT, he is going to check, so maybe he added it twice, lets hoping....

Good Friday morning, Everyfriend.   There's Danish pastries to accompany your coffee or tea. Make it a good  day!!







Taxidermist vs Tax Collector

What's the difference between a taxidermist and a tax collector?

The taxidermist takes just the skin.





An Evening Prayer/Dear Lord, Forgive
(By C. Maude Battersby)

If I have wounded any soul today,
If I have caused one foot to go astray,
If I have walked in my own willful way,
Dear Lord, forgive!

If I have uttered idle words or vain,
If I have turned aside from want or pain,
Lest I myself shall suffer through the strain,
Dear Lord, forgive!

If I have been perverse or hard, or cold,
If I have longed for shelter in Thy fold,
When Thou hast given me some fort to hold,
Dear Lord, forgive!

Forgive the sins I have confessed to Thee;
Forgive the secret sins I do not see;
O guide me, love me and my keeper be,
Dear Lord, Amen.



"He who cannot forgive others destroys the bridge over which he himself must pass."

- George Herbert

Good morning Joan

Kelly

Hi Jackie
Lovely weather on the Isle of Man, is it where you are living now.

Though forecast for cold weather this weekend.

Kelly

Good Friday morning, weather wet and turned colder, maybe in for some heavy rain, showers as we go through the day....

I was Ill through the night, had a slice of vegetable tart but it didn't look too good nor taste too good, well the bite I first took out of it, but although I noticed some black, on checking the recipe it said Thyme, so assuming dried Thyme was dark in colour I ate the slice.....now it has been thrown out.....Around 8pm'ish my stomach was feeling strange, come 10pm'ish I made a dash to the kitchen basin, just some brown phlegm but it soon got worse as each half hour went by, by midnight knowing I was ill, R went to bed and left me, leaving me to doze on and off on the front room chair, by 3.30am'ish I had made another couple of dashes, this time the amounts were larger and getting darker, black..... I took myself to bed, fully clothed and on-top with just my fleece gown over me for warmth, pillows fluffed up for support.... guess I slept on and off till 7am, but by 8am I was off again.... No cup of tea for me this morning, just fancy milk for lining my stomach, but I did put a few spoonfuls of Special K flakes with berries in my dish, that was before I brought up anything at 8am, so far so good, but I am not still right....Oh and the other end of me wasn't looking to good either, this morning...

Good morning everyone..

Had a bit of rain overnight and it may continue on today..a light rain will help take away any remaining snow in the woods.
A trip for physio this morning then home to chase dust bunnies..or rather a game of hide and seek

Jackie hope you feel better soon.

Kelly, good morning

Gloria, hope you get your computer fixed soon, we miss you!!!

Joan,thank you for breakfast.

Enjoy your day everyone.

Good morning everyone. I wish you all a great day.
Sun I see you are at it early this AM along with the rest. Hope your hand is doing better.
the sun came out and shined a short time before sundown Last evening. we are supposed get to the 70's
today. I am working in the shop but if it dose its thing I am going to work on the green house raised beds.
I am getting ansoues to get plants re planted and growing . Have a great day everyone,

Lloyd

Good Morning Everyfriend!  Joanie, the inspirational poem you posted this morning is very much like one that hung framed in my mother's bedroom when I was a child.  If that one is old enough, I'd say it's the same one.  It brought back some memories.

I hope Everyfriend has a lovely day.  I'll be off to WM at 9 a.m. and then I have 3 days off.

It was supposed to rain here overnight but I haven't seen any sign of it.  The mysterious "they" are predicting a shower around 9 a.m. and then nothing until 8 p.m. with showers continuing through the night.  It's already 54º here and heading for a high of 70.  Sounds like a nice Spring Day with the shower holding off until evening.

Joan, thanks for posting the lyrics to "Dear Lord Forgive."  I've always loved that song. 

Amy, bless you, this has now left my body very shaky....my legs, right hand, walking..

Hi Amy
Good morning to you

Kelly