Question:
Before I go off to bed – which I should have done a while ago – I wanted to just think of a nice thing to write about, just in case someone wanted to read about a nice thing – or later write about their own nice thing. Saturday my son and I went to a movie. There is one of those stores that has everything for a dollar near there, so we went there while we waited for the time for the movie. I found a necklace rack – and we make lots of jewelry, so lots of times we get chains from those dollar stores to hold pendants that we create from stones or coral or shells encrusted w/wired strands of beads and semi-precious stones, etc. Okay, so on this rack were also necklaces w/little openwork stars set in colored rhinestones, and also enameled dragonflies and enameled butterflies. We got them all. We like to take jewelries apart and put them back together in new ways with our own new components and it comes out to be a beautiful new things. We thinks that some of you would like to see how they are. If we knew what kinds of things you liked, we could even make some things for yous. Yes, we could and even would. That is what we get enjoyment from – we gives our things aways. Is it pretty to think of the stars w/rhinestones? They are small, the stars, and the rhinestones are tiny. Oh, and guess what? We were at a party on Sunday and there were lots of babies there, and there was one tiny newborn girl who was only three weeks old and her name is Isabella and she was so beautiful and we liked looking at her and she just looked as if her life is going fine. That’s a good thing, isn’t it? And my son swam in the pool and made friends – even though he won’t see them again, because the party was far away – but we are so happy my son can do that, because we didn’t be able to when we was of his age. Thanks for your listenings. Please to write nice things, too, if you feel like it – Beauty.
Response:
great post, Beauty. we, B and me (B being the fellow i care for), have had a busy week. he requested to go to several events this week, more than he ever requested before. one was a small festival by the river in a park that is low lying to the rest of the town since we have gentle mountians surrounding us. he requested a soft serve ice cream cone, and sat in his wheelchair beneath a tree as a local country band played music in the distance in an amphitheatre. we watched people walk by, and some who knew us stopped to chat a bit. the air this evening was warm and slightly humid, and the breeze from the river passing through the trees cooled us. as the sun went down, the lights from small children rides and food vendor’s wagons shown brightly, even with the ball field lights glowing high up above everything and everyone, high up on top of their poles. being a small community in this valley, i recognized many people walking by; people i knew over the past ten years. the younger folks looked so young and behaved in such a free spirited manor, some wearing clothes similar to the style i had worn in the seventies, but somehow more exaggerated. i noticed more jewlery, and piercings. the older women spoke of book reading clubs at the library, and cleaning crates of strawberries for the festival’s one day shortcake event. a few comments about ch*rch, and light humor were shared. B and me felt safe, and took in the varied sounds, and smells, and watched the world go by, as some would say. sometimes all is forgiven and forgotten, and life is breathed in and out of our lungs with welcome and ease. cliff
Response:
Oh, e, I have always loved hearing about your cats. There is a wonderful book I picked up on remainder called C*t K*ngdom, about a kind of experimental cat run some peoples created in Japan – I think it was Japan (I might be inventing that part). The cats had a huge barn and also a huge fenced barnlot, and the peoples just watched – watched how their social structure worked, how they interacted, how their hierarchies worked, etc., over a few generations. It is full of lots of pictures. That’s kind of what your story made me think of – except that your situation is much more free-ranging and – purposeful. And personal. Again, much respect for what you do – and it did give me a lot of pleasure to read about all the cat friends, esp. Ty who growled his way into affection. Oh, yeah, and Stella – that brave, wild queen. Beauty. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – thanks, Beauty. i liked hearing about the necklaces. and about Isabella and about your son having fun. :-) thanks. the main nice thing in my life now is that my "wild" cats have gone outside, along with most of the older "domestic" cats. 
they’re all between about 14 mos. old. and 2 1/4 years old. the semi-feral cats and the domestic cats have become good friends. they all seem to get along well and enjoy each other’s company. an almost completely untamed cat, Stella, is their ringleader. (Stella is another story. we got her too late to tame well but she’s such a sweet cat who loved to be petted in her cage and "mothered" most of the other cats, that we had high hopes that she’d tame up; become our new "favorite, wonderful" cat; and sort of take the place of our old favorite, wonderful cat who died recently. but Stella never liked to be held and when she escaped from her cage late this winter, she was gone. except she comes in regularly to eat. anyway, the "house" cats have calmed down. the kittens are almost grown and so tear through the house much less frequently. they’re much calmer and quieter, although they still like to play. all the kittens are lap cats now except Becky who is afraid of the other cats and so mostly stays by the window. Puka, from the litter that came at the wrong time (i had too many other cats, some of them sick, and was out of it from the meds i was taking so i never paid enough attention to them when they were young and most tamable), is very friendly and follows me around like a puppy. but isn’t as yappy. she still doesn’t like anyone else, though so adoption is still a long way off. :-P~ her brother, Silver, was *very* friendly until i tried to get rid of his ear mites. now he only lets me pet him when he’s eating. but he had become so affectionate and he is so sweet that i still think he may eventually tame up better than Puka. we keep hoping that Sid (for Obsidian) will join the outside cats. he’s not at all tame and hides most of the time but i think he’ll be ok outside and will come in for food regularly. Ty, the formerly abused cat who’d lived outside or in our garage, is becoming a house cat. he still spends about half his time outside but he comes in often to be petted. he’s quite demanding. :-) when we first got him (as an adult) – right after he’d been neutered – i was afraid to touch him bc he growled so fiercely when i fed him or otherwise went anywhere near his cage. he kept it up the whole time i was near. after about a month or so, i decided i should let him go to become one of my outside cats. but i thought i should at least give him a chance at becoming domestic so i donned two pairs of leather gloves – he’s large and if he bit me i think it could have easily gone to the bone – and started to pet him. he backed up in the corner of his cage and faced me squarely. he was growling fiercely and loudly and looked poised to pounce. but i was determined to at least try to pet him. somehow i scruffed him and started petting his back. to my amazement, he started purring. when i stopped, he cried as if he wanted me to pet him some more. so i tried but as i reached for him, he growled and looked like he might attack me. but i tried again. and he purred again. this went on for a week or so. every time i’d get near his cage or feed him, he’d growl loudly and look like he was going to attack. but as soon as i began to pet him, he turned into a pussycat. and as soon as i’d stop, he’d cry for more petting. but when i’d try to pet him he’d growl and get in attack position as if he were thinking "if i can’t kill you, i’ll d*e trying." but as soon as i started petting him, he’d purr. after about a week of that (with both my kid and i taking turns petting him bc he was so demanding), he started crying soon before feeding time. and he’d cry for an hour or so after we’d left bc he wanted more petting. (we were usually good for around 30 min but rarely more. sometimes less.) but he’d still growl a LOT when we first began to pet him. it was funny. we’ve now had him around 10 mos. this week, he discovered the joys of laying on the sofa. 
at first he kept jumping up and running away every time someone or something moved on the sofa (which is frequently when you have lots of cats and a big, pushy dog , but he’s much better about that now. and last night, when i got a toy – one of those flexible plastic sticks that has feathers attached at the end – to play with Puka and Silver (bc poor Puka, who hadn’t been played with in a couple of weeks, was so desperate that she’d been chasing the broom all around as i swept , Ty ran most of the 10 ft. from the sofa, where he’d been laying, to the open door. but i called his name and he stopped and turned around. he didn’t come back but he watched from maybe 6 ft away from the toy. he seemed fascinated but scared as he watched Puka and Silver play. i sat on the sofa, which was next to where i’d been playing with the cats, and called him. he came right away bc he loves to be petted, even if he’s still very skittish around ppl. i petted him and put the feather toy next to him. he sniffed it a while then licked it. then he started batting it so i moved it a bit. he batted it more. then i moved it more and Ty started playing with the feathers. so did Puka. :-) anyway, Ty is still skittish but otherwise you’d never know that he’d ever been anything but a very affectionate, sweet, and demanding cat. and my dog is calming down and not chasing the cats as much. :-) so a few of them actually like him now. :-) he likes that. e Before I go off to bed – which I should have done a while ago – I wanted to just think of a nice thing to write about, just in case someone wanted to read about a nice thing – or later write about their own nice thing. Saturday my son and I went to a movie. There is one of those stores that has everything for a dollar near there, so we went there while we waited for the time for the movie. I found a necklace rack – and we make lots of jewelry, so lots of times we get chains from those dollar stores to hold pendants that we create from stones or coral or shells encrusted w/wired strands of beads and semi-precious stones, etc. Okay, so on this rack were also necklaces w/little openwork stars set in colored rhinestones, and also enameled dragonflies and enameled butterflies. We got them all. We like to take jewelries apart and put them back together in new ways with our own new components and it comes out to be a beautiful new things. We thinks that some of you would like to see how they are. If we knew what kinds of things you liked, we could even make some things for yous. Yes, we could and even would. That is what we get enjoyment from – we gives our things aways. Is it pretty to think of the stars w/rhinestones? They are small, the stars, and the rhinestones are tiny. Oh, and guess what? We were at a party on Sunday and there were lots of babies there, and there was one tiny newborn girl who was only three weeks old and her name is Isabella and she was so beautiful and we liked looking at her and she just looked as if her life is going fine. That’s a good thing, isn’t it? And my son swam in the pool and made friends – even though he won’t see them again, because the party was far away – but we are so happy my son can do that, because we didn’t be able to when we was of his age. Thanks for your listenings. Please to write nice things, too, if you feel like it – Beauty.
Response:
This is a lovely post, too, cliff. Thank you for sharing the beautiful evening. Your words really brought it alive to us. Beauty. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – great post, Beauty. we, B and me (B being the fellow i care for), have had a busy week. he requested to go to several events this week, more than he ever requested before. one was a small festival by the river in a park that is low lying to the rest of the town since we have gentle mountians surrounding us. he requested a soft serve ice cream cone, and sat in his wheelchair beneath a tree as a local country band played music in the distance in an amphitheatre. we watched people walk by, and some who knew us stopped to chat a bit. the air this evening was warm and slightly humid, and the breeze from the river passing through the trees cooled us. as the sun went down, the lights from small children rides and food vendor’s wagons shown brightly, even with the ball field lights glowing high up above everything and everyone, high up on top of their poles. being a small community in this valley, i recognized many people walking by; people i knew over the past ten years. the younger folks looked so young and behaved in such a free spirited manor, some wearing clothes similar to the style i had worn in the seventies, but somehow more exaggerated. i noticed more jewlery, and piercings. the older women spoke of book reading clubs at the library, and cleaning crates of strawberries for the festival’s one day shortcake event. a few comments about ch*rch, and light humor were shared. B and me felt safe, and took in the varied sounds, and smells, and watched the world go by, as some would say. sometimes all is forgiven and forgotten, and life is breathed in and out of our lungs with welcome and ease. cliff
Response:
Hello, Beauty and J/c, I think your jewellery making sounds wonderful, Beauty, and I would love to see what you do with the stars and things. Sounds lovely! And J/c, you have done some interesting things and seen some, too. My nice thing is that today my pottery class went to a potter’s studio to see his work and where he does it. He has a restaurant there, too, and we all had lunch together. We laughed, and shared food, especially the desserts, and we wandered with the potter in his fabulous gardens. The spring flowers were blooming, peonies bigger than dinner plates, and lupins and iris. The fish were swimming lazily in the pond, and the water lilies were in full blossom. We saw his wheels and the kiln and everything. We watched him throwing, and he showed us some special tools he has devised for certain purposes. It was an afternoon when DID didn’t. Not much. Driving there and back along the country roads where the green grasses and the gardens are lush was wonderful to see and smell. A nice thing today. jane – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – great post, Beauty. we, B and me (B being the fellow i care for), have had a busy week. he requested to go to several events this week, more than he ever requested before. one was a small festival by the river in a park that is low lying to the rest of the town since we have gentle mountians surrounding us. he requested a soft serve ice cream cone, and sat in his wheelchair beneath a tree as a local country band played music in the distance in an amphitheatre. we watched people walk by, and some who knew us stopped to chat a bit. the air this evening was warm and slightly humid, and the breeze from the river passing through the trees cooled us. as the sun went down, the lights from small children rides and food vendor’s wagons shown brightly, even with the ball field lights glowing high up above everything and everyone, high up on top of their poles. being a small community in this valley, i recognized many people walking by; people i knew over the past ten years. the younger folks looked so young and behaved in such a free spirited manor, some wearing clothes similar to the style i had worn in the seventies, but somehow more exaggerated. i noticed more jewlery, and piercings. the older women spoke of book reading clubs at the library, and cleaning crates of strawberries for the festival’s one day shortcake event. a few comments about ch*rch, and light humor were shared. B and me felt safe, and took in the varied sounds, and smells, and watched the world go by, as some would say. sometimes all is forgiven and forgotten, and life is breathed in and out of our lungs with welcome and ease. cliff
Response:
Oh, it sounds so beautiful, jane. Gardens and food and pots and fish. What more could anyone want? Beauty. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello, Beauty and J/c, I think your jewellery making sounds wonderful, Beauty, and I would love to see what you do with the stars and things. Sounds lovely! And J/c, you have done some interesting things and seen some, too. My nice thing is that today my pottery class went to a potter’s studio to see his work and where he does it. He has a restaurant there, too, and we all had lunch together. We laughed, and shared food, especially the desserts, and we wandered with the potter in his fabulous gardens. The spring flowers were blooming, peonies bigger than dinner plates, and lupins and iris. The fish were swimming lazily in the pond, and the water lilies were in full blossom. We saw his wheels and the kiln and everything. We watched him throwing, and he showed us some special tools he has devised for certain purposes. It was an afternoon when DID didn’t. Not much. Driving there and back along the country roads where the green grasses and the gardens are lush was wonderful to see and smell. A nice thing today. jane great post, Beauty. we, B and me (B being the fellow i care for), have had a busy week. he requested to go to several events this week, more than he ever requested before. one was a small festival by the river in a park that is low lying to the rest of the town since we have gentle mountians surrounding us. he requested a soft serve ice cream cone, and sat in his wheelchair beneath a tree as a local country band played music in the distance in an amphitheatre. we watched people walk by, and some who knew us stopped to chat a bit. the air this evening was warm and slightly humid, and the breeze from the river passing through the trees cooled us. as the sun went down, the lights from small children rides and food vendor’s wagons shown brightly, even with the ball field lights glowing high up above everything and everyone, high up on top of their poles. being a small community in this valley, i recognized many people walking by; people i knew over the past ten years. the younger folks looked so young and behaved in such a free spirited manor, some wearing clothes similar to the style i had worn in the seventies, but somehow more exaggerated. i noticed more jewlery, and piercings. the older women spoke of book reading clubs at the library, and cleaning crates of strawberries for the festival’s one day shortcake event. a few comments about ch*rch, and light humor were shared. B and me felt safe, and took in the varied sounds, and smells, and watched the world go by, as some would say. sometimes all is forgiven and forgotten, and life is breathed in and out of our lungs with welcome and ease. cliff
Response:
That is amazing about the other ducks, and thank you for helping the duck and we holding the duck in thoughts for healing best. And here is a strange and funny thing: we was watching M*ts and Or*oles game on television and there was a pair of mallards which came during about the 2nd inning and stayed through the 8th inning!!! They was just wandering around out on the field together all that time together, and we think that is so funny and amazing and funny and then they just flew off and the camera kept showing us them and they showed us them flying off together, too. Isn’t that funny and odd??? Beauty. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – well i was at the park and i saw my daughter’s dog running along with someone, it was her friend who is dog-sitting. she stoppedand we were talking a minute when some people were noticing an injured duck at the side of the pond. no one wanted to help it so we took it to the emergency vets and they will see if it can be saved. i haven’t called yet to find out but we felt really good about trying, duck had bad leg, couldn’t swim and would have suffered out in the heat tomorrow if the ants didn’t get it first. what was really touching was how the other ducks were gathered around him and wouldn’t leave him. wish the duck luck. best, samantha
Response:
well i was at the park and i saw my daughter’s dog running along with someone, it was her friend who is dog-sitting. she stoppedand we were talking a minute when some people were noticing an injured duck at the side of the pond. no one wanted to help it so we took it to the emergency vets and they will see if it can be saved. i haven’t called yet to find out but we felt really good about trying, duck had bad leg, couldn’t swim and would have suffered out in the heat tomorrow if the ants didn’t get it first. what was really touching was how the other ducks were gathered around him and wouldn’t leave him. wish the duck luck. best, samantha
Response:
hey – we had ducks too! i did forget all about them until now you say you had ducks. we lived in suburbs too, but there was a little bit of woods and a lake behind our house, and the ducks did live there. they would come quacking up through our back yard, and we would give them bread crumbs or something, and then they would go quacking home. what i remember as good about childhood was the lake behind our house. we would go there, and there was a tree with a little clearing that we could sit under and be lazy, and then there was cattails growing by the lake, and we could walk all around the lake on a little path, and sometimes go down to the water and watch little fishes. and sometimes go fishing too. and i think it’s not allowed now but we would whack the cattails open and it would be like little feathers floating and falling through the air. and then also we would pick the blackberries that did grow there. yum yum and sometimes ouch. i remember now i really did love the lake. tv
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – We had ducks, my sister and I, when we were little. They grew up and got white and we gave them to a farm. They were cute ducklings – we had suburbs so we couldn’t have big ducks, it would have been stupid. Thanks for writing. Beauty. hi beauty, those ducks at the game sound really cute! i had pet ducks as a child, have always loved to watch them. all i know about my duck so far is the vet sent him to animal rescue, which i think means he could be saved. still trying to find out more. best, samantha
Response:
We had ducks, my sister and I, when we were little. They grew up and got white and we gave them to a farm. They were cute ducklings – we had suburbs so we couldn’t have big ducks, it would have been stupid. Thanks for writing. Beauty. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – hi beauty, those ducks at the game sound really cute! i had pet ducks as a child, have always loved to watch them. all i know about my duck so far is the vet sent him to animal rescue, which i think means he could be saved. still trying to find out more. best, samantha
Response:
Thank you for the nice things. We will tell you of one magical morning. We woke up about 17 years ago in April to a freak blizzard of about four feet, and out of nowhere, perched all over our half a dozen bird feeders (we lived on a hill surrounded by deep woods) were scores of evening grosbeaks – do you know what they look like? They are huge brilliant yellow birds w/parrot beaks and black markings. We couldn’t believe it – we had never seen them before in our lives, and then there they were by the dozen. The other thing we saw that was wonderful once was a group of newly-fledged scarlet tanagers: when they are newly-fledged, they are not completely red yet – they are part red and part green – also like parrots. Amazing! I adore birds – they are the most incredible, incredible, beautiful creatures. There are no words for how wonderful, delicate, unearthly they are. But you know that. Oh – and the unearthly, subtle, inexpressible colors of the mourning doves . . . Best – Beauty. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – well i was at the park and i saw my daughter’s dog running along with someone, it was her friend who is dog-sitting. she stoppedand we were talking a minute when some people were noticing an injured duck at the side of the pond. no one wanted to help it so we took it to the emergency vets and they will see if it can be saved. i haven’t called yet to find out but we felt really good about trying, duck had bad leg, couldn’t swim and would have suffered out in the heat tomorrow if the ants didn’t get it first. what was really touching was how the other ducks were gathered around him and wouldn’t leave him. wish the duck luck. best, samantha That was so kind of you, samantha. The duck was very lucky that y’all came along. Hope it’s doing better. My nice thing is that the other day I saw a Northern Oriole, and a wild parrot, both within 5 minutes . They were both so incredibly beautiful. mdove — For info about this service, see http://anon.twwells.com/help/ or e-mail:
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – well i was at the park and i saw my daughter’s dog running along with someone, it was her friend who is dog-sitting. she stoppedand we were talking a minute when some people were noticing an injured duck at the side of the pond. no one wanted to help it so we took it to the emergency vets and they will see if it can be saved. i haven’t called yet to find out but we felt really good about trying, duck had bad leg, couldn’t swim and would have suffered out in the heat tomorrow if the ants didn’t get it first. what was really touching was how the other ducks were gathered around him and wouldn’t leave him. wish the duck luck. best, samantha
That was so kind of you, samantha. The duck was very lucky that y’all came along. Hope it’s doing better. My nice thing is that the other day I saw a Northern Oriole, and a wild parrot, both within 5 minutes . They were both so incredibly beautiful. mdove — For info about this service, see http://anon.twwells.com/help/ or e-mail:
Response:
hi beauty, those ducks at the game sound really cute! i had pet ducks as a child, have always loved to watch them. all i know about my duck so far is the vet sent him to animal rescue, which i think means he could be saved. still trying to find out more. best, samantha
Response:
Now we say funny – we had our ducks from when they used to have to be allowed to sell them in dime stores, back when the did still have dime stores, which they do not anymore, now they have dollar stores. But one night we all did go to the dime store for something we don’t remember what because we were only maybe four years old and we did see ducklings and chicks under warm lights and going peepeepeep like they do and we were so happy to see them and all of a sudden the fthr said we would get two of them, for my sstr and me and the mthr argued no it was crazy but he did make it happen, and we could hardly believe it!!!!! They did let us pick out our ones and we did, and they did get a shoebox with holes in the top for the ducklings to get air for us to take them home and then we couldn’t stand it for when we got in the car we just had to peek and of course out they did hop and all around the car and peep peep peep and under the seats and things but we did finally get them to get back to us and we got them back into the box and to the house and they did live there, inside and out, until they did get big and white. Beautys. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – hey – we had ducks too! i did forget all about them until now you say you had ducks. we lived in suburbs too, but there was a little bit of woods and a lake behind our house, and the ducks did live there. they would come quacking up through our back yard, and we would give them bread crumbs or something, and then they would go quacking home. what i remember as good about childhood was the lake behind our house. we would go there, and there was a tree with a little clearing that we could sit under and be lazy, and then there was cattails growing by the lake, and we could walk all around the lake on a little path, and sometimes go down to the water and watch little fishes. and sometimes go fishing too. and i think it’s not allowed now but we would whack the cattails open and it would be like little feathers floating and falling through the air. and then also we would pick the blackberries that did grow there. yum yum and sometimes ouch. i remember now i really did love the lake. tv We had ducks, my sister and I, when we were little. They grew up and got white and we gave them to a farm. They were cute ducklings – we had suburbs so we couldn’t have big ducks, it would have been stupid. Thanks for writing. Beauty. hi beauty, those ducks at the game sound really cute! i had pet ducks as a child, have always loved to watch them. all i know about my duck so far is the vet sent him to animal rescue, which i think means he could be saved. still trying to find out more. best, samantha
Response:
(trying to focus some, and hurting some too) writitng seems to be my salvaion, eventhough i don’t do it so well. good things, yeah, they happen. like last evening, watching the sunset from a higher point in the valley, before it dipped down low where fields, spotted with round bales of hey and cattle, little homes with white wooden siding and porches, barns and silos, rail and wire fences, and trees reaching the first mountain ridge, exposing the next ridge, and then the next, maybe four rows of mountains leading to the final horizon all in lighter shades of blue. warm air breezes carrying rich sweet smells of fresh cut alphalfa (sp) hey intoxicated my senses. i didn’t want to leave. thanks. oh, and Beauty. i sing everything, proudly, and badly! )) cliff
Response:
cliff, I have read the place where you wrote how much you want to speak/write – how you yearn to reach for language. Oh, you do have it, my friend. Your prose does sing – proudly, proudly – and w/strength. And the humility and pride, hand in hand, augment the strength. Peace – Beauty. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – (trying to focus some, and hurting some too) writitng seems to be my salvaion, eventhough i don’t do it so well. good things, yeah, they happen. like last evening, watching the sunset from a higher point in the valley, before it dipped down low where fields, spotted with round bales of hey and cattle, little homes with white wooden siding and porches, barns and silos, rail and wire fences, and trees reaching the first mountain ridge, exposing the next ridge, and then the next, maybe four rows of mountains leading to the final horizon all in lighter shades of blue. warm air breezes carrying rich sweet smells of fresh cut alphalfa (sp) hey intoxicated my senses. i didn’t want to leave. thanks. oh, and Beauty. i sing everything, proudly, and badly! )) cliff
Response:
Wow, what wonderful sightings, Beauty. Magical indeed! I love birds, too, as you might have guessed. My most exciting sighting this year was a pileated woodpecker. We get lots of red-bellied, Downy and Hairy woodpeckers, but this was a real treat. He was magnificent (and noisy, even tho’ he was pecking very slowly and deliberately). mdove Thank you for the nice things. We will tell you of one magical morning. We woke up about 17 years ago in April to a freak blizzard of about four feet, and out of nowhere, perched all over our half a dozen bird feeders (we lived on a hill surrounded by deep woods) were scores of evening grosbeaks – do you know what they look like?
Oh, yes. But I’ve only seen one, many years ago. They are huge brilliant yellow birds – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – w/parrot beaks and black markings. We couldn’t believe it – we had never seen them before in our lives, and then there they were by the dozen. The other thing we saw that was wonderful once was a group of newly-fledged scarlet tanagers: when they are newly-fledged, they are not completely red yet – they are part red and part green – also like parrots. Amazing! I adore birds – they are the most incredible, incredible, beautiful creatures. There are no words for how wonderful, delicate, unearthly they are. But you know that. Oh – and the unearthly, subtle, inexpressible colors of the mourning doves . . . Best – Beauty. well i was at the park and i saw my daughter’s dog running along with someone, it was her friend who is dog-sitting. she stoppedand we were talking a minute when some people were noticing an injured duck at the side of the pond. no one wanted to help it so we took it to the emergency vets and they will see if it can be saved. i haven’t called yet to find out but we felt really good about trying, duck had bad leg, couldn’t swim and would have suffered out in the heat tomorrow if the ants didn’t get it first. what was really touching was how the other ducks were gathered around him and wouldn’t leave him. wish the duck luck. best, samantha That was so kind of you, samantha. The duck was very lucky that y’all came along. Hope it’s doing better. My nice thing is that the other day I saw a Northern Oriole, and a wild parrot, both within 5 minutes . They were both so incredibly beautiful. mdove — For info about this service, see http://anon.twwells.com/help/ or e-mail: message
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You would love it where we are – pileated heaven. Someone once counted 26 pileateds at once in a single site. And we have them living right around us – across the road mostly, in a big old rotten tree. Also, our favorite thing – once we saw a nest of baby ones – just barely fledged – sticking their silly little baby necks all out of the tree squawking for the mthr – and then the next day – they had flown the nest!!! We also had a phoebe who nested for years atop the light just outside our door, attached to our house – we passed w/in inches of her nest coming and going all spring and summer. The last summer she was here she raised two broods – they were *darling*!!!! when they were just to the stage of standing on the edge of the nest ready to fly – looking down at us with this completely unfazed gaze – just too, too baby even to care that we were another species – darling. Beauty. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Wow, what wonderful sightings, Beauty. Magical indeed! I love birds, too, as you might have guessed. My most exciting sighting this year was a pileated woodpecker. We get lots of red-bellied, Downy and Hairy woodpeckers, but this was a real treat. He was magnificent (and noisy, even tho’ he was pecking very slowly and deliberately). mdove Thank you for the nice things. We will tell you of one magical morning. We woke up about 17 years ago in April to a freak blizzard of about four feet, and out of nowhere, perched all over our half a dozen bird feeders (we lived on a hill surrounded by deep woods) were scores of evening grosbeaks – do you know what they look like? Oh, yes. But I’ve only seen one, many years ago. They are huge brilliant yellow birds w/parrot beaks and black markings. We couldn’t believe it – we had never seen them before in our lives, and then there they were by the dozen. The other thing we saw that was wonderful once was a group of newly-fledged scarlet tanagers: when they are newly-fledged, they are not completely red yet – they are part red and part green – also like parrots. Amazing! I adore birds – they are the most incredible, incredible, beautiful creatures. There are no words for how wonderful, delicate, unearthly they are. But you know that. Oh – and the unearthly, subtle, inexpressible colors of the mourning doves . . . Best – Beauty. well i was at the park and i saw my daughter’s dog running along with someone, it was her friend who is dog-sitting. she stoppedand we were talking a minute when some people were noticing an injured duck at the side of the pond. no one wanted to help it so we took it to the emergency vets and they will see if it can be saved. i haven’t called yet to find out but we felt really good about trying, duck had bad leg, couldn’t swim and would have suffered out in the heat tomorrow if the ants didn’t get it first. what was really touching was how the other ducks were gathered around him and wouldn’t leave him. wish the duck luck. best, samantha That was so kind of you, samantha. The duck was very lucky that y’all came along. Hope it’s doing better. My nice thing is that the other day I saw a Northern Oriole, and a wild parrot, both within 5 minutes . They were both so incredibly beautiful. mdove — For info about this service, see http://anon.twwells.com/help/ or e-mail: message GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj. — For info about this service, see http://anon.twwells.com/help/ or e-mail:
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P.S. – Did you know that pileateds are the only species of woodpecker who begin by pecking slow and get faster as they peck (that is, when they are pecking in rhythm, and not in that single-stroke, deliberate way you mention). So that’s one way you can tell if there are pileateds around even if you don’t see them – their pecking sounds like a ten-penny nail being driven into a telephone pole by an accelerating hammer. W**dy W**dpecker is a pileated. His crazy laugh is modeled on the actual sound they make, which really does sound like maniacal laughter. You can tell the males from the females because the males have crests which are entirely red and the females have crests which are red only along the top of the tuft. You probably know most of that, right? I’m just being excited, because I like to talk about birds. One winter I worked to get chickadees to land in my hands and eat. That spring, they still knew me, and they used to land on my head when I was sitting outside reading. That was one of my most magical experiences ever – the feel of their little feet – I can’t even begin to describe it – and knowing that they would come to me, let their little feathers and bright eyes live so close to my seeing. Beauty. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Wow, what wonderful sightings, Beauty. Magical indeed! I love birds, too, as you might have guessed. My most exciting sighting this year was a pileated woodpecker. We get lots of red-bellied, Downy and Hairy woodpeckers, but this was a real treat. He was magnificent (and noisy, even tho’ he was pecking very slowly and deliberately). mdove Thank you for the nice things. We will tell you of one magical morning. We woke up about 17 years ago in April to a freak blizzard of about four feet, and out of nowhere, perched all over our half a dozen bird feeders (we lived on a hill surrounded by deep woods) were scores of evening grosbeaks – do you know what they look like? Oh, yes. But I’ve only seen one, many years ago. They are huge brilliant yellow birds w/parrot beaks and black markings. We couldn’t believe it – we had never seen them before in our lives, and then there they were by the dozen. The other thing we saw that was wonderful once was a group of newly-fledged scarlet tanagers: when they are newly-fledged, they are not completely red yet – they are part red and part green – also like parrots. Amazing! I adore birds – they are the most incredible, incredible, beautiful creatures. There are no words for how wonderful, delicate, unearthly they are. But you know that. Oh – and the unearthly, subtle, inexpressible colors of the mourning doves . . . Best – Beauty. well i was at the park and i saw my daughter’s dog running along with someone, it was her friend who is dog-sitting. she stoppedand we were talking a minute when some people were noticing an injured duck at the side of the pond. no one wanted to help it so we took it to the emergency vets and they will see if it can be saved. i haven’t called yet to find out but we felt really good about trying, duck had bad leg, couldn’t swim and would have suffered out in the heat tomorrow if the ants didn’t get it first. what was really touching was how the other ducks were gathered around him and wouldn’t leave him. wish the duck luck. best, samantha That was so kind of you, samantha. The duck was very lucky that y’all came along. Hope it’s doing better. My nice thing is that the other day I saw a Northern Oriole, and a wild parrot, both within 5 minutes . They were both so incredibly beautiful. mdove — For info about this service, see http://anon.twwells.com/help/ or e-mail: message GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj. — For info about this service, see http://anon.twwells.com/help/ or e-mail:
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Hey Beauty Really enjoy reading your *bird* posts…..:o)) Thanx Those pileated sure are something aren’t they!! Don’t get to see very many of them up here.. In fact I think they are on the endangered list… Just a couple of years ago my p*rents stopped the government from building an access road to their secluded community because a mating pair had settled in the bush behind their place.. They live 20 miles to the nearest road and they like it that way..;) Gov. regulations forbade any construction within the area…. :o)) Cool birds to watch… too! :o)) J/c btw… we see a lot of evening grosbeaks up here too!! beautiful!!
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – You would love it where we are – pileated heaven. Someone once counted 26 pileateds at once in a single site. And we have them living right around us – across the road mostly, in a big old rotten tree. Also, our favorite thing – once we saw a nest of baby ones – just barely fledged – sticking their silly little baby necks all out of the tree squawking for the mthr – and then the next day – they had flown the nest!!! We also had a phoebe who nested for years atop the light just outside our door, attached to our house – we passed w/in inches of her nest coming and going all spring and summer. The last summer she was here she raised two broods – they were *darling*!!!! when they were just to the stage of standing on the edge of the nest ready to fly – looking down at us with this completely unfazed gaze – just too, too baby even to care that we were another species – darling. Beauty. Wow, what wonderful sightings, Beauty. Magical indeed! I love birds, too, as you might have guessed. My most exciting sighting this year was a pileated woodpecker. We get lots of red-bellied, Downy and Hairy woodpeckers, but this was a real treat. He was magnificent (and noisy, even tho’ he was pecking very slowly and deliberately). mdove Thank you for the nice things. We will tell you of one magical morning. We woke up about 17 years ago in April to a freak blizzard of about four feet, and out of nowhere, perched all over our half a dozen bird feeders (we lived on a hill surrounded by deep woods) were scores of evening grosbeaks – do you know what they look like? Oh, yes. But I’ve only seen one, many years ago. They are huge brilliant yellow birds w/parrot beaks and black markings. We couldn’t believe it – we had never seen them before in our lives, and then there they were by the dozen. The other thing we saw that was wonderful once was a group of newly-fledged scarlet tanagers: when they are newly-fledged, they are not completely red yet – they are part red and part green – also like parrots. Amazing! I adore birds – they are the most incredible, incredible, beautiful creatures. There are no words for how wonderful, delicate, unearthly they are. But you know that. Oh – and the unearthly, subtle, inexpressible colors of the mourning doves . . . Best – Beauty. well i was at the park and i saw my daughter’s dog running along with someone, it was her friend who is dog-sitting. she stoppedand we were talking a minute when some people were noticing an injured duck at the side of the pond. no one wanted to help it so we took it to the emergency vets and they will see if it can be saved. i haven’t called yet to find out but we felt really good about trying, duck had bad leg, couldn’t swim and would have suffered out in the heat tomorrow if the ants didn’t get it first. what was really touching was how the other ducks were gathered around him and wouldn’t leave him. wish the duck luck. best, samantha That was so kind of you, samantha. The duck was very lucky that y’all came along. Hope it’s doing better. My nice thing is that the other day I saw a Northern Oriole, and a wild parrot, both within 5 minutes . They were both so incredibly beautiful. mdove — For info about this service, see http://anon.twwells.com/help/ or e-mail: message GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj. — For info about this service, see http://anon.twwells.com/help/ or e-mail:
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You would love it where we are – pileated heaven. Someone once counted 26 pileateds at once in a single site.
Yes, I would love that. I can’t even imagine a sight like that! About 11 years ago I saw a pair, but hadn’t seen any since, until this one. And we have them living right around us – across the road mostly, in a big old rotten tree. Also, our favorite thing – once we saw a nest of baby ones – just barely fledged – sticking their silly little baby necks all out of the tree squawking for the mthr – and then the next day – they had flown the nest!!!
Oh, wow!! I’ll bet they were cute (or so ugly they were cute.) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -We also had a phoebe who nested for years atop the light just outside our door, attached to our house – we passed w/in inches of her nest coming and going all spring and summer. The last summer she was here she raised two broods – they were *darling*!!!! when they were just to the stage of standing on the edge of the nest ready to fly – looking down at us with this completely unfazed gaze – just too, too baby even to care that we were another species – darling.
Wonderful!!!!! Once we had the privilege of watching a chuck-will’s-widow nesting in our yard (actually, there was no visible nest at all-she just laid her eggs on the ground. It was a wonderful treat because we had heard them at night for many years, but had never seen one. We got to see her and her three young ones up close and personal. An amazing bird–really put on quite a display if anyone got to close to the nest. mdove — For info about this service, see http://anon.twwells.com/help/ or e-mail:
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P.S. – Did you know that pileateds are the only species of woodpecker who begin by pecking slow and get faster as they peck (that is, when they are pecking in rhythm, and not in that single-stroke, deliberate way you mention). So that’s one way you can tell if there are pileateds around even if you don’t see them – their pecking sounds like a ten-penny nail being driven into a telephone pole by an accelerating hammer.
Didn’t know that….or if I did, I forgot W**dy W**dpecker is a pileated. His crazy laugh is modeled on the actual sound they make, which really does sound like maniacal laughter. You can tell the males from the females because the males have crests which are entirely red and the females have crests which are red only along the top of the tuft.
Yep, knew that….this one was a male. You probably know most of that, right? I’m just being excited, because I like to talk about birds.
Several years ago I used to lurk at rec.birds……lots of bird talk there. At least there used to be. I used to know a lot more about birds than I do now. I kind of lost interest while I was really depressed, and have forgotten quite a bit, but my enthusiasm for birdwatching has been returning during the past couple years. I need to get some new binoculars and get back out there.. One winter I worked to get chickadees to land in my hands and eat. That spring, they still knew me, and they used to land on my head when I was sitting outside reading. That was one of my most magical experiences ever – the feel of their little feet – I can’t even begin to describe it – and knowing that they would come to me, let their little feathers and bright eyes live so close to my seeing. Beauty.
Oh, that is so cute…..<broad smile what a wonderful experience. Thank you for sharing this. mdove — For info about this service, see http://anon.twwells.com/help/ or e-mail:
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thanks so much to tv, Beauty, samantha, mdove, and others who’ve talked about their experiences with birds. :-) i like watching birds but try to discourage them from being in my yard, partly bc of my cats and partly bc of the neighborhood dogs, including mine. but to have birds land on your head would be magical! :-) i can’t imagine how much work it must have taken. i’m reminded of Beauty from the story "Beauty" (IIRC) which was a retelling of "Beauty and the Beast". oh, and D*sney’s and others’ versions of the story, too. :-) e You would love it where we are – pileated heaven. Someone once counted 26 pileateds at once in a single site. And we have them living right around us – across the road mostly, in a big old rotten tree. Also, our favorite thing – once we saw a nest of baby ones – just barely fledged – sticking their silly little baby necks all out of the tree squawking for the mthr – and then the next day – they had flown the nest!!! We also had a phoebe who nested for years atop the light just outside our door, attached to our house – we passed w/in inches of her nest coming and going all spring and summer. The last summer she was here she raised two broods – they were *darling*!!!! when they were just to the stage of standing on the edge of the nest ready to fly – looking down at us with this completely unfazed gaze – just too, too baby even to care that we were another species – darling. Beauty.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -One winter I worked to get chickadees to land in my hands and eat. That spring, they still knew me, and they used to land on my head when I was sitting outside reading. That was one of my most magical experiences ever – the feel of their little feet – I can’t even begin to describe it – and knowing that they would come to me, let their little feathers and bright eyes live so close to my seeing. Wow, what wonderful sightings, Beauty. Magical indeed! I love birds, too, as you might have guessed. My most exciting sighting this year was a pileated woodpecker. We get lots of red-bellied, Downy and Hairy woodpeckers, but this was a real treat. He was magnificent (and noisy, even tho’ he was pecking very slowly and deliberately). mdove Thank you for the nice things. We will tell you of one magical morning. We woke up about 17 years ago in April to a freak blizzard of about four feet, and out of nowhere, perched all over our half a dozen bird feeders (we lived on a hill surrounded by deep woods) were scores of evening grosbeaks – do you know what they look like? Oh, yes. But I’ve only seen one, many years ago. They are huge brilliant yellow birds w/parrot beaks and black markings. We couldn’t believe it – we had never seen them before in our lives, and then there they were by the dozen. The other thing we saw that was wonderful once was a group of newly-fledged scarlet tanagers: when they are newly-fledged, they are not completely red yet – they are part red and part green – also like parrots. Amazing! I adore birds – they are the most incredible, incredible, beautiful creatures. There are no words for how wonderful, delicate, unearthly they are. But you know that. Oh – and the unearthly, subtle, inexpressible colors of the mourning doves . . .
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Sometimes we pretend that when they say "dee dee dee" they are really advertising the latest in video recording technology (DVD). It’s funny when you think of it in chickadee talk. Beauty. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – P.S. – Did you know that pileateds are the only species of woodpecker who begin by pecking slow and get faster as they peck (that is, when they are pecking in rhythm, and not in that single-stroke, deliberate way you mention). So that’s one way you can tell if there are pileateds around even if you don’t see them – their pecking sounds like a ten-penny nail being driven into a telephone pole by an accelerating hammer. Didn’t know that….or if I did, I forgot W**dy W**dpecker is a pileated. His crazy laugh is modeled on the actual sound they make, which really does sound like maniacal laughter. You can tell the males from the females because the males have crests which are entirely red and the females have crests which are red only along the top of the tuft. Yep, knew that….this one was a male. You probably know most of that, right? I’m just being excited, because I like to talk about birds. Several years ago I used to lurk at rec.birds……lots of bird talk there. At least there used to be. I used to know a lot more about birds than I do now. I kind of lost interest while I was really depressed, and have forgotten quite a bit, but my enthusiasm for birdwatching has been returning during the past couple years. I need to get some new binoculars and get back out there.. One winter I worked to get chickadees to land in my hands and eat. That spring, they still knew me, and they used to land on my head when I was sitting outside reading. That was one of my most magical experiences ever – the feel of their little feet – I can’t even begin to describe it – and knowing that they would come to me, let their little feathers and bright eyes live so close to my seeing. Beauty. Oh, that is so cute…..<broad smile what a wonderful experience. Thank you for sharing this. mdove — For info about this service, see http://anon.twwells.com/help/ or e-mail:
Response:
Oh, yes, the pileateds were purely cute. And we do love those ground-nesting "willow" birds – nightjars, are they called, as a type? Our favorite is the whip-poor-will – what a beautiful, beautiful haunting sound, which echoes from mountain to mountain through the early pre-dawn mists. And if you hear one close enough, you hear a tiny cough just before the call. Also reminds me – have you see the woodcocks do their mating dance? Or hummingbirds? We’ll explain, given the slightest excuse. Never did see a chuck-will’s-widow. Our other favorites are the little screech owls we get to hear in our riverine woods, and the pair of great horned owls also nesting along the river. The female of the species has the deeper voice of the two. Oh, and once a barred owl got tangled in some fishing wire and we got to help rescue her – and her eyes – oh the solemn depth of blackness – and the soft depth of feathers. Beauty. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – You would love it where we are – pileated heaven. Someone once counted 26 pileateds at once in a single site. Yes, I would love that. I can’t even imagine a sight like that! About 11 years ago I saw a pair, but hadn’t seen any since, until this one. And we have them living right around us – across the road mostly, in a big old rotten tree. Also, our favorite thing – once we saw a nest of baby ones – just barely fledged – sticking their silly little baby necks all out of the tree squawking for the mthr – and then the next day – they had flown the nest!!! Oh, wow!! I’ll bet they were cute (or so ugly they were cute.) We also had a phoebe who nested for years atop the light just outside our door, attached to our house – we passed w/in inches of her nest coming and going all spring and summer. The last summer she was here she raised two broods – they were *darling*!!!! when they were just to the stage of standing on the edge of the nest ready to fly – looking down at us with this completely unfazed gaze – just too, too baby even to care that we were another species – darling. Wonderful!!!!! Once we had the privilege of watching a chuck-will’s-widow nesting in our yard (actually, there was no visible nest at all-she just laid her eggs on the ground. It was a wonderful treat because we had heard them at night for many years, but had never seen one. We got to see her and her three young ones up close and personal. An amazing bird–really put on quite a display if anyone got to close to the nest. mdove — For info about this service, see http://anon.twwells.com/help/ or e-mail:
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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – And, p.s., we also have wild turkeys in abundance around here, and I saw a baby turkey once and it was *funny* *funny* *funny* looking. And we do love those ground-nesting "willow" birds – nightjars, are they called, as a type? Yep… Our favorite is the whip-poor-will – what a beautiful, beautiful haunting sound, which echoes from mountain to mountain through the early pre-dawn mists. And if you hear one close enough, you hear a tiny cough just before the call. Chuck-will’s-widow sounds very similar to the whip-poor-will, I think, except there is a little "chuck" sound before the call. I didn’t realize the whip-poor-will had the cough sound. Interesting birds. Maybe the cough was a chuck. Seems likely. Or a cluck. Or something. It was a very, very, very small sound, only audible because the bird was practically sitting on my windowsill. Well, under it. Also reminds me – have you see the woodcocks do their mating dance? I’ve never seen a woodcock in RL, only on television. They are pretty cool looking. That must be quite a sight. Here’s what they do. They like to live near wetlands that have adjacent meadows – they go into the meadows at twilight. The males fly straight up like rockets and then come spiraling down – and as they come down, special feathers in their wings cause a whistling sound!!! I’ve seen the females sitting on the ground, too – kind of looking like, "Get off it." You know.
Too cool. I’d love to see that. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Or hummingbirds? Have seen many ruby-throated, but none doing a mating dance, unfortunately. They are amazing. Male hummingbirds also have special feathers that cause a humming sound when they do their mating thing – which is a wide, swinging, pendulum motion in flight, before the seated female. We’ll explain, given the slightest excuse. Never did see a chuck-will’s-widow. Our other favorites are the little screech owls we get to hear in our riverine woods, and the pair of great horned owls also nesting along the river. The female of the species has the deeper voice of the two. You know, we have one of those bird clocks, and the 12:00 bird is the great horned owl. That is fine for noon, but if I am working at the computer at night, I need to remember to dim the lights in here prior to midnight, or the hoot resounds throughout the house. When we first got the clock, my son used to imitate the owl incessantly. Once I was awakened at 3:00 am by the sound and was just about to yell out at him to knock it off (I wasn’t quite fully awake), when I realized it was the actual bird, very close to our house. We had never heard one before we purchased that silly clock, and were wondering if perhaps the clock had attracted one (it is a really loud clock!) They have about five or six hoots per call – hoo! hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo . . . hoo – I never knew that until I read Peterson’s guide and then heard them.
Yes….this clock is very accurate, as was my son’s imitation. Now we call all do it, but my son’s hoo-ing is by far the best. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Oh, and once a barred owl got tangled in some fishing wire and we got to help rescue her – and her eyes – oh the solemn depth of blackness – and the soft depth of feathers. What an incredible experience that must have been. Was she calm as you helped her? They’ve got some pretty sharp talons. She was calm as a lamb. I think she was so frightened – she had been up there so long – and probably weak – that she had no fight in her. We have pictures of her, because the local newspaper was there and got color photos.
Wonderful… Thanks for reading. I like this talking about birds – they make me happy when nothing else does.
me, too. I like butterflies, too. I used to have 2 butterfly gardens, but surrendered them to the weeds during a couple years of depression. One is totally gone, but the other is probably salvageable. Maybe I’ll go out there one of these days and try to start rehabilitating it. Today, too, we saw a beautiful butterfly – I don’t know what kind – yellow and black on top with yellow and black and aqua underneath!
Sounds beautiful. I have a butterfly book around here somewhere. Haven’t looked in it in ages. And the black raspberries suddenly turned ripe – as my son discovered. He wrote a beautiful poem called The Garden: Like the garden of Eden it is. So vast, like the ocean. The hours fly like a bird in the air, when I am there.
Oh, that is beautiful beyond words! Can you see why I love him so much?
Absolutely! Oh, shoot….it’s midnight, and I forgot to dim the lights. There goes "Hoots"….. g’night mdove Beauty.
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snip Thanks for reading. I like this talking about birds – they make me happy when nothing else does. me, too. I like butterflies, too. I used to have 2 butterfly gardens, but surrendered them to the weeds during a couple years of depression. One is totally gone, but the other is probably salvageable. Maybe I’ll go out there one of these days and try to start rehabilitating it.
do you have any recommendations for plants (for next year)? i love butterflies. i have since i was a kid. i used to know quite a bit about them but i’ve forgotten most of it. i’ve never known which plants attract butterflies. TIA (thanks in advance), e — For info about this service, see http://anon.twwells.com/help/ or e-mail:
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What mdove said and also – bergamot, beebalm, monarda (all names for the same thing) – hummingbirds love those, too. Beauty. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – snip Thanks for reading. I like this talking about birds – they make me happy when nothing else does. me, too. I like butterflies, too. I used to have 2 butterfly gardens, but surrendered them to the weeds during a couple years of depression. One is totally gone, but the other is probably salvageable. Maybe I’ll go out there one of these days and try to start rehabilitating it. do you have any recommendations for plants (for next year)? i love butterflies. i have since i was a kid. i used to know quite a bit about them but i’ve forgotten most of it. i’ve never known which plants attract butterflies. TIA (thanks in advance), e — For info about this service, see http://anon.twwells.com/help/ or e-mail:
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snip do you have any recommendations for plants [that attract butterflies]? Well, keep in mind that I’m no expert, and it probably depends on where you live. You might try some verbena, buddleia (butterfly bush), pentas,
what are pentas? do they take much water? asters, and even marigolds. In my yard I have blue porterweed, pentas, day lilies, passion flower, lantana, and some other stuff I can’t identify.
i have day lilies. they grow well, although the ones in shade don’t flower much. is passion flower the same as passion vine (Passifloraceae)? thanks for the recommendations. i’ll try some of them. I know monarchs like milkweed, but I’ve never seen it growing around here, and haven’t tried planting any. Your local cooperative extension could probably provide you with information about what to plant for butterflies that are inhabitants of your area.
thanks. e — For info about this service, see http://anon.twwells.com/help/ or e-mail:
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Question:
Anyone here every made a vest? None of the vests I’ve owned have the right sized pockets in the right places. The one I have now is close to what I want. I was thinking about taking it apart and using it as a pattern and then making the changes I want. I’ve made a tent, sleeping bag and a down vest in the past, but they were made from kits. Willi
My wife Kate, is currently making one for my son Brandon. She got a pattern from the sewing shop, and is using my Colombia as an inspiration for modifications to the pattern (like mesh and grommet on the pockets, etc.). She is also using Supplex instead of the cotton material the pattern spec’d. I thought it would be a better idea for drying. HTH, Brian
Response:
They don’t scream as loud as flies do. Hm…..sort of makes me wonder about the ethics of amputating limbs from captive trees. I don’t suppose anyone out there has an opinion on this do they?
– Mike in PDX "When the trout are lost, smash the state." Tom McGuane
Response:
Willi, I have designed several fly fishing vests/shirts (not commercially, but for myself). I did the "engineering", my poor wife the sewing. One tip I have is to carefully consider how the load will be carried and distributed after the pockets are filled. If there is too much weight in the pockets in the front, the vest pulls down in front around your neck…very uncomfortable.
I have struggled for years to find a vest I liked. Bob’s point about a loaded vest digging into the back of your neck is quite true. Why do the makers invariably cut the necks of vests so high? Why do they put collars on the bloody things? Vest are supposed to be load carrying. It’s what they’re for. Moreover, the front bottom pockets are where most people want to carry stuff. It seems that very few vest manufacturers have grasped this fundamental design requirement. Some years ago I bought a Columbia Henry’s Fork vest (remember those bloody irritating adverts about ‘Ma’ knowing best and kicking arse if things weren’t just right, etc.). It cost a fortune having it shipped from the US, paying VAT and duty, etc. That bastard always left me with a sore, stiff neck. The Velcro on the pocket flaps matched nicely when the vest was hanging flat and empty in the closet, but didn’t when anything even slightly fat was put into the pockets. The following are my tips to any would be vest designer/maker, based on years of disappointment. 1. Go for fewer, better designed pockets, especially the big ones on the front bottom. Resist the temptation to include as many pockets as possible. More is NOT better! 2. Cut the neck low. 3. Make sure the pocket closures are designed for FILLED pockets. 4. Choose a material that is light, tough and strong and QUICK DRYING, rather than waterproof. 5. Use all plastic zippers (A friend recently gave me his old Sage ‘Strap vest’. It had been used in the sea and the YKK metal zippers had corroded badly). 6. Unless you really spend a lot of time wading very deep, longer vests are more comfortable to wear: you feel less like Dolly Parton wearing them. My penny’orth Tight Lines, Tony Deacon
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6. Unless you really spend a lot of time wading very deep, longer vests are more comfortable to wear: you feel less like Dolly Parton wearing them.
I have no choice about what kind of vest I get. I have to get the short vest or it will go past my massive ass. I’m sorter than the other guy. However, I’m sure short men or ladies also need the short vest due to physical stature. Very unlike sex, longer is not always better. Vern
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…I don’t remember the pattern number but if you have trouble finding it I believe I still have it around somewhere and can look it up….
Just did an on line search and came up with the following. This is the pattern I used. #2198- men’s sport vest. http://www.kwiksew.com/Patterns/_Cat_North/Frame.htm Good luck!
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What has ROFF turned into!?!? Some sort of girly-man group? Let’s all get out our needles and thread now!
It’s a balance thing Jon. This Saturday I plan to take Becky out in the fields and teach her to kick shit. Sunday we bake bread and do the Trick or Treat thing. The next weekend is devoted to killing things and then we move on to bonsai. :)
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: What has ROFF turned into!?!? Some sort of girly-man group? Let’s all : get out our needles and thread now! : : : It’s a balance thing Jon. This Saturday I plan to take Becky out in the fields and teach her to : kick shit. Sunday we bake bread and do the Trick or Treat thing. The next weekend is devoted to : killing things and then we move on to bonsai. :) In my case: bonsai = killing things (poor little tree never had a fighting chance we me wielding the clippers)
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In my case: bonsai = killing things (poor little tree never had a fighting chance we me wielding the clippers)
Hm…..sort of makes me wonder about the ethics of amputating limbs from captive trees. I don’t suppose anyone out there has an opinion on this do they?
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Hm…..sort of makes me wonder about the ethics of amputating limbs from captive trees. I don’t suppose anyone out there has an opinion on this do they?
Depends on if you eat the limb or not. — Charlie…
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: What has ROFF turned into!?!? Some sort of girly-man group? Let’s all : get out our needles and thread now!
Really…we gonna fish or we gonna sew ? (Mine has darts !) — TimW, Halfordian Golfer "A Cash Flow Runs Through It…" "Guilt replaced the creel…"
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Anyone here every made a vest? None of the vests I’ve owned have the right sized pockets in the right places. The one I have now is close to what I want. I was thinking about taking it apart and using it as a pattern and then making the changes I want. I’ve made a tent, sleeping bag and a down vest in the past, but they were made from kits. Willi
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Willi, I made a vest. I always wanted one made from Blue Denim, sort of like a Levi Denim Jacket without sleeves. I just used a vest I had and drew a pattern on some paper. Then I laid out the things I wanted to carry and figured out the places and size for the pockets. The pockets all have Velcro closures. It came out good and I have worn it for years. I also made a tent, it was a lot of fun. Ernie Harrison Have you tried a Blood Knot Machine? http://home.pacbell.net/ernie2
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Anyone here every made a vest? None of the vests I’ve owned have the right sized pockets in the right places. The one I have now is close to what I want. I was thinking about taking it apart and using it as a pattern and then making the changes I want. I’ve made a tent, sleeping bag and a down vest in the past, but they were made from kits. Willi
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Somehow I had a feeling Ernie was going to answer saying he’d made his own vest. My hat goes off to you. Steve Zimmerman
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Willi, I made a vest Ernie Harrison
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Anyone here every made a vest? None of the vests I’ve owned have the right sized pockets in the right places. The one I have now is close to what I want. I was thinking about taking it apart and using it as a pattern and then making the changes I want. I’ve made a tent, sleeping bag and a down vest in the past, but they were made from kits. Willi
I made several vests. I was ultimately satisfied with none of them although my brother and a couple of other people still use them ). I went back to a custom made fishing jacket. With far too many pockets ! TL MC
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Anyone here every made a vest? None of the vests I’ve owned have the right sized pockets in the right places.
I made a vest while a grad student; I was too poor to buy one. That was about 1956. I used it till 1996. It was still in good condition but I decided to treat myself to a new one. The trick is to plan ahead very carefully, so that you can sew the pockets on the inside the and outside without interference. vince norris The one I have now is close to – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -what I want. I was thinking about taking it apart and using it as a pattern and then making the changes I want. I’ve made a tent, sleeping bag and a down vest in the past, but they were made from kits. Willi
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Willi, I have designed several fly fishing vests/shirts (not commercially, but for myself). I did the "engineering", my poor wife the sewing. One tip I have is to carefully consider how the load will be carried and distributed after the pockets are filled. If there is too much weight in the pockets in the front, the vest pulls down in front around your neck…very uncomfortable. Also, it can be a challenge getting the best waterproof materials. Good luck. Bob Elliott
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Anyone here every made a vest? None of the vests I’ve owned have the right sized pockets in the right places. The one I have now is close to what I want. I was thinking about taking it apart and using it as a pattern and then making the changes I want. I’ve made a tent, sleeping bag and a down vest in the past, but they were made from kits. Willi
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Anyone here every made a vest? None of the vests I’ve owned have the right sized pockets in the right places. The one I have now is close to what I want. I was thinking about taking it apart and using it as a pattern and then making the changes I want. I’ve made a tent, sleeping bag and a down vest in the past, but they were made from kits.
Willi; I have made several vests using a Kwik Sew pattern. The pattern is for a general purpose vest, not specifically for fishing. But if you’re good enough with a sewing machine to make your own you won’t have any trouble modifying it to suit your needs. I use my vest for hunting so the pockets outlined in the pattern are sufficient for my needs. It won’t be much trouble to add a few more if you like. this pattern is also too long for a good fishing vest but again, it should be easy enough to shorten. I don’t remember the pattern number but if you have trouble finding it I believe I still have it around somewhere and can look it up.
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Yeah Charlie, but it was before she was famous. Ernie Harrison Have you tried a Blood Knot Machine? http://home.pacbell.net/ernie2 – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Somehow I had a feeling Ernie was going to answer saying he’d made his own vest. My hat goes off to you. Hell, Ernie made Martha Stewart once<g. — Charlie…
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Question:
Hey guys–there are women on this list who are not "silly blondes" or "chicks." Could we dispense with the neanderthal mentality and stick to flyfishing? A smart brunette
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Stereotypes. They’re funny in every direction. The subject says what it was, if you don’t want to read it, then don’t, if you do, don’t piss and moan. Take responsibility for your actions. Bob
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Hey guys–there are women on this list who are not "silly blondes" or "chicks." Could we dispense with the neanderthal mentality and stick to flyfishing? A smart brunette
You could always bleach ? — TimW Halfordian Golfer
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Hooks down to size 60!
For what? The midge egg fly? I’d like to know if anyone out there really sees the need for a size 60 hook! @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@ "See Dick fly-fish. See Dick catch fish. See Dick kill fish." DON’T BE A DICK! PRACTICE AND TEACH CATCH AND RELEASE @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@
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Some of you have mentioned sizes down to 28`s. Is this U.S size 28? Doesn’t matter. Size 28 hooks are invisible; however, they are very good for catching imaginary trout on some phantom stream. anglerboy
28’s are an absolute extreme. There are, however, small midges which are about this size. A sz. 24 or 26 should be able to catch fish feeding on such bugs, however. 26’s are used for Trico spinner falls here, and 28’s are used late in the year. The Trico’s themselves are acutually sz. 24’s. The theory is that the wing material in the 24’s and even 26’s gets bent-back because it is limp and flexable enough that it’s length allows this. On a sz. 28 and 26, the wing material is shorter so the "bent" wing is lessened. This is true on fished-over trout. Jason Beary
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Bob ..This joke is totally inappropriate for the fly fishing B-B. Now; If it started off…So this, "Ginky looking" blond pulls up to a hair salon in her "Orvis" Grand Cherokee. She walks in to get a haircut; to look good for the Catch & Release wet Golfers on Moe Skeeters favorite stream. Then add your silly blonde joke..See, much more appropriate!
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Hooks down to size 60! For what? The midge egg fly? I’d like to know if anyone out there really sees the need for a size 60 hook! @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@ "See Dick fly-fish. See Dick catch fish. See Dick kill fish." DON’T BE A DICK! PRACTICE AND TEACH CATCH AND RELEASE @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@
Can anyone see a size 60! Peter
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Bob ..This joke is totally inappropriate for the fly fishing B-B. Now; If it started off…So this, "Ginky looking" blond pulls up to a hair salon in her "Orvis" Grand Cherokee. She walks in to get a haircut; to look good for the Catch & Release wet Golfers on Moe Skeeters favorite stream. Then add your silly blonde joke..See, much more appropriate!
It just so happens that "Ginky looking" means "Good Looking". It also means Goodfellow or he is a good gink. It also means baby salmon or smolt or fish. Regarding the intent of the meaning applied t this lost, old, old word that I restored into usage, in our case it means, "Good Fisherman". It is a word which dresses another in compliments. You’re certainly welcome. Show me where this blonde is! Mr. G.
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Hey guys–there are women on this list who are not "silly blondes" or "chicks." Could we dispense with the neanderthal mentality and stick to flyfishing? A smart brunette You could always bleach ?
No good will become a fellow who longs after bleached things. Humble manner… Close shave every Thursday… Spinolio
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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Bob ..This joke is totally inappropriate for the fly fishing B-B. Now; If it started off…So this, "Ginky looking" blond pulls up to a hair salon in her "Orvis" Grand Cherokee. She walks in to get a haircut; to look good for the Catch & Release wet Golfers on Moe Skeeters favorite stream. Then add your silly blonde joke..See, much more appropriate! It just so happens that "Ginky looking" means "Good Looking". It also means Goodfellow or he is a good gink. It also means baby salmon or smolt or fish. Regarding the intent of the meaning applied t this lost, old, old word that I restored into usage, in our case it means, "Good Fisherman". It is a word which dresses another in compliments. You’re certainly welcome. Show me where this blonde is! Mr. G. According to Webster gink means a trick, a term of reproach applied to a woman, or a man or boy regarded as odd. Good for you in restoring it’s meaning<g, and good luck with the blonde. Charlie…
In Webster’s New Twentieth Century Dictionary "Unabridged" that is SIX INCHES THICK and printed from 1904 – 1953-4 the word GINK is not listed Charlie. However; in The Century Dictionary AN ENCYCLOoPEDIC LEXICON OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE copyrighted in 1889, it is listed and referred to as a word of antiquity that is seldom if ever used. The definitions that I posted are accurrate and are the original historical story of the word ‘gink’ which this works explains of all words. When first recorded as used . . . several examples how to use the words, etc. Webster, in this case is totally incorrect. In fact, the word ‘gink’ had not been used in any known literature or newspapers world-wide for a long time. Attesting to how remote it had been removed from the English language and the use thereof. You just don’t hear people going around and referring to an endearing gentleman today ans a fine gink of a man. You don’t hear fishermen referring to baby salmon as gink salmon but smolt instead . . . anymore. My spin on the word in naming Gehrke’s Gink was to revive the word to mean a product that is used by "Good Fishermen" or literally, "Good Gentlemen". In fact, the name Gehrke’s Gink was so odd at the time of its introduction that anything with a name as crazy as this one . . ."I just have to try it once, has to be good," is what helped endear this world’s best product to a public that at the time didn’t have a dry fly dressing that worked and which was chemically safe. But that is another story. I love the word GINK! It is a fun word and I can assure you Charlie, no where in human history in the finest libraries I have been in, does any demeaning definitions of the word occur, until in the most recent times when hundreds of people now have what they think are literally hundreds of differnt meanings . . . because they are putting ‘their spin on the word.’ It is a strange sounding word to the ear, for one thing. But any old Dictionary Brittanica Encyclopedia has the original meanings still intact. In fact, just the word ‘Salmo or Salmon’ can cover nearly a thousand words in such a set just explaining Salmon. GINK are indeed baby smolt, or salmon Charlie. I’ve been studying this word for over 25 years. There has never, never been a derogatory definitions to the word until recently. To the best of my knowledge. The spring salmon are starting to move up the Snake here and the little ginks will soon be searching, once again, the callings of the sea. From one good old Gink to another fine Gink, I remain, Sincerely, Mr. Gink George Gehrke Your friend
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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Bob ..This joke is totally inappropriate for the fly fishing B-B. Now; If it started off…So this, "Ginky looking" blond pulls up to a hair salon in her "Orvis" Grand Cherokee. She walks in to get a haircut; to look good for the Catch & Release wet Golfers on Moe Skeeters favorite stream. Then add your silly blonde joke..See, much more appropriate! It just so happens that "Ginky looking" means "Good Looking". It also means Goodfellow or he is a good gink. It also means baby salmon or smolt or fish. Regarding the intent of the meaning applied t this lost, old, old word that I restored into usage, in our case it means, "Good Fisherman". It is a word which dresses another in compliments. You’re certainly welcome. Show me where this blonde is! Mr. G.
According to Webster gink means a trick, a term of reproach applied to a woman, or a man or boy regarded as odd. Good for you in restoring it’s meaning<g, and good luck with the blonde. Charlie…
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Not being a COMPLETE idiot, I said, "Thanks, but hooks aren’t even made that small." His replie, with a snicker was, "I have a jeweler friend make them up for me." No need for a custom job anymore. I just saw the first generation of Nano-Tech hooks. Apparently a joint product development of Tiemco and Orvis. Down to size 60, I understand.
At 53 years of age I like to stop at a #20 hook and just try to get the body of the fly a little smaller. On the last week of the 96 season we caught some medium size trout on # 3 weight outfits with 7x tippet and #20 flies. This is about my limit. I know that others go much further down the scale and it is just OK with me. Bill Kiene Kiene’s Fly Shop Sacramento,CA,USA 800/4000FLY
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Bob ..This joke is totally inappropriate for the fly fishing B-B. Now; If it started off…So this, "Ginky looking" blond pulls up to a hair salon in her "Orvis" Grand Cherokee. She walks in to get a haircut; to look good for the Catch & Release wet Golfers on Moe Skeeters favorite stream. Then add your silly blonde joke..See, much more appropriate!
You’re absolutely correct Nancy. Please accept this sincere apology. OBROFF: This blond is standing in a creek with some hipboots on and holding a flyrod, whipping it back and forth with obvious growing anxiety… Along comes our friend, Dan Gracia, who…in a very gentlemanly and professional tone asks what the problem is… "I can’t catch any flies", answers our Platinum Pflueger Pflogger. "I think I see your problem", says Dan who reaches into the reel, pulls out the tippet and begins threading it through the guides… "Do you have any flies ?", he asks her "I told you already, I couldn’t catch any…." — TimW Halfordian Golfer
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<snip There has never, never been a derogatory definitions to the word until recently. To the best of my knowledge.
I am not a scholar of the word GINK, that is true<g. You may want to check out http://liberty.uc.wlu.edu/~hblackme/oed/gink.html which lists some annotated uses of the word gink from 1910 to 1970. I found it by doing a web search on the word ‘gink’. There’s more stuff out there as well. FWIW. Charlie…
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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Really, it’s silly. So a young blonde girl goes into a salon to have her hair cut and sits down in the chair. The barber/stylist/follicle engineer notices that the young lady is wearing a Walkman and is listening intently to what is coming in through the headphones. They discuss what style she would like her hair done in, along with the usual pleasantries, and as they go to wash her hair, the stylist offers to take her headphones for her. To this she replies with wide-eyed panic,"No!! You Can’t! If I take off these headphones, I’ll die!" Needless to say this shocked the stylist and she washed the girl’s hair while the girl continued to wear the headphones. After the washing, the stylist began to cut the girl’s hair and again suggested the she remove the headphones. Again the girl almost screamed,"No!! I Can’t! If I take off these headphones, I’ll die!" So the stylist continued to work and finally couldn’t take it anymore and ripped the headphones off of the girl’s head throwing them to the floor. The girl sat bolt upright, turned and looked at the stylist with a horrible paniced expression, and fell to the floor convulsing and finally became unconscience. The stylist went to her and tried to revive her, and as others helped, she couldn’t help but put on the headphones to see what it was that this young, healthy girl needed to hear in order to live. And from the headphones she heard the steady rhythm of a voice saying," Breathe in, breathe out…" Told ya. Bob
Hmmm…why a blond girl?
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Really, it’s silly. So a young blonde girl goes into a salon to have her hair cut and sits down in the chair. The barber/stylist/follicle engineer notices that the young lady is wearing a Walkman and is listening intently to what is coming in through the headphones. They discuss what style she would like her hair done in, along with the usual pleasantries, and as they go to wash her hair, the stylist offers to take her headphones for her. To this she replies with wide-eyed panic,"No!! You Can’t! If I take off these headphones, I’ll die!" Needless to say this shocked the stylist and she washed the girl’s hair while the girl continued to wear the headphones. After the washing, the stylist began to cut the girl’s hair and again suggested the she remove the headphones. Again the girl almost screamed,"No!! I Can’t! If I take off these headphones, I’ll die!" So the stylist continued to work and finally couldn’t take it anymore and ripped the headphones off of the girl’s head throwing them to the floor. The girl sat bolt upright, turned and looked at the stylist with a horrible paniced expression, and fell to the floor convulsing and finally became unconscience. The stylist went to her and tried to revive her, and as others helped, she couldn’t help but put on the headphones to see what it was that this young, healthy girl needed to hear in order to live. And from the headphones she heard the steady rhythm of a voice saying," Breathe in, breathe out." Told ya. Bob
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Really, it’s silly. So a young blonde girl goes into a salon to have her hair cut and sits down in the chair. The barber/stylist/follicle engineer notices that the young lady is wearing a Walkman and is listening intently to what is coming in through the headphones. They discuss what style she would like her hair done in, along with the usual pleasantries, and as they go to wash her hair, the stylist offers to take her headphones for her. To this she replies with wide-eyed panic,"No!! You Can’t! If I take off these headphones, I’ll die!" Needless to say this shocked the stylist and she washed the girl’s hair while the girl continued to wear the headphones. After the washing, the stylist began to cut the girl’s hair and again suggested the she remove the headphones. Again the girl almost screamed,"No!! I Can’t! If I take off these headphones, I’ll die!" So the stylist continued to work and finally couldn’t take it anymore and ripped the headphones off of the girl’s head throwing them to the floor. The girl sat bolt upright, turned and looked at the stylist with a horrible paniced expression, and fell to the floor convulsing and finally became unconscience. The stylist went to her and tried to revive her, and as others helped, she couldn’t help but put on the headphones to see what it was that this young, healthy girl needed to hear in order to live. And from the headphones she heard the steady rhythm of a voice saying," Breathe in, breathe out…" Told ya. Bob
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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Not being a COMPLETE idiot, I said, "Thanks, but hooks aren’t even made that small." His replie, with a snicker was, "I have a jeweler friend make them up for me." No need for a custom job anymore. I just saw the first generation of Nano-Tech hooks. Apparently a joint product development of Tiemco and Orvis. Down to size 60, I understand. Now you can test your dries, emergers, and nymphs on the guppies in your kids’ goldfish bowl (C&R, of course). There are even rumors of a joint venture with a Seattle bio-tech firm for a size small enough to fair-hook a virus. Where will it end? I just heard that the Irish cloners have joined steelhead sperm with with mayfly eggs, and produced a natural fly with a hook already in it. Only the blonde ones work for fly fishing though…they have the hole in the head to tie on to! jg
Takes a blonde to know a blonde. Harv
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: I was fishing the San Juan a few years ago in the same area as a guide & : his client. The client was doing considerably better than me, so I : asked the guide what size fly his clients was using. (I think the size : is more telling than the pattern) The guide replied "Size 40." : Not being a COMPLETE idiot, I said, "Thanks, but hooks aren’t even made : that small." His replie, with a snicker was, "I have a jeweler friend : make them up for me." I used to have some 32’s around – looked like little bronze shavings brushed out of a file. It’s probable that the guy was pulling your leg, but who knows – there may well be some asshole out there selling 40’s by now. Regrettably, I can’t follow a 22 dry in rough water, so doubt that I could even guess where a 40 actually was ;-^) — 3798 Woodland Drive voice: (250) 368-9315 Trail, BC data: (250) 368-9341
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I must say that some of you have really helped me out with my quest for a lightweight outfit.Am now searching for local suppliers of these makes of rod etc,to get an idea of what to go for.Thanks. However,the U.K and U.S must be at cross-purposes when it comes to hook sizes. Some of you have mentioned sizes down to 28`s. Is this U.S size 28? How do you tie flys on hooks this size,I struggle on 22`s?? Are you using ultra light tippets. I thought i fished light with 18-22`s 1.5 pound tippet(Seems not)!! — All things great,come to those who wait. Not always the case,me thinks. K.A.White
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Some of you have mentioned sizes down to 28`s. Is this U.S size 28? Doesn’t matter. Size 28 hooks are invisible; however, they are very good for catching imaginary trout on some phantom stream. anglerboy
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I was fishing the San Juan a few years ago in the same area as a guide & his client. The client was doing considerably better than me, so I asked the guide what size fly his clients was using. (I think the size is more telling than the pattern) The guide replied "Size 40." Not being a COMPLETE idiot, I said, "Thanks, but hooks aren’t even made that small." His replie, with a snicker was, "I have a jeweler friend make them up for me." Helpful guy!!! Willi
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Not being a COMPLETE idiot, I said, "Thanks, but hooks aren’t even made that small." His replie, with a snicker was, "I have a jeweler friend make them up for me."
No need for a custom job anymore. I just saw the first generation of Nano-Tech hooks. Apparently a joint product development of Tiemco and Orvis. Down to size 60, I understand. Now you can test your dries, emergers, and nymphs on the guppies in your kids’ goldfish bowl (C&R, of course). There are even rumors of a joint venture with a Seattle bio-tech firm for a size small enough to fair-hook a virus. Where will it end?
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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Not being a COMPLETE idiot, I said, "Thanks, but hooks aren’t even made that small." His replie, with a snicker was, "I have a jeweler friend make them up for me." No need for a custom job anymore. I just saw the first generation of Nano-Tech hooks. Apparently a joint product development of Tiemco and Orvis. Down to size 60, I understand. Now you can test your dries, emergers, and nymphs on the guppies in your kids’ goldfish bowl (C&R, of course). There are even rumors of a joint venture with a Seattle bio-tech firm for a size small enough to fair-hook a virus. Where will it end?
I just heard that the Irish cloners have joined steelhead sperm with with mayfly eggs, and produced a natural fly with a hook already in it. Only the blonde ones work for fly fishing though…they have the hole in the head to tie on to! jg
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