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Altaira
Superuser
Sep 5 2025, 4:15pm
Post #1 of 46
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Another Friday? Another Fiesta!!
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Hello, and welcome everyone! Another Friday is upon us already!
It was a 'short' week here in the U.S. as we had our Labor Day holiday this past Monday. Normally, being mostly retired, I wouldn't notice, but I had a meeting Tuesday morning so I was more aware than usual that my client had Monday off. That, plus all of the various sales at the grocery store.
This weekend marks the beginning of our football season *and* rugby will be going on all month, so we'll get into a nice cadence of All Blacks Saturday morning (replays, as they play 1:00 a.m.. our time for now), and Broncos Sunday afternoon. And, yes, lovely trees just beginning to show their Fall colors to brighten each day. My favorite season!
What's your favorite season? Let us know - but be sure to stock up on goodies from the buffet, and order up a drink or two from the Fiesta bar first! Oh, and definitely let us know how you're doing!
*puts quarters on juke box* sporty songs, please!
Have a fantastic weekend!!   
(This post was edited by Altaira on Sep 5 2025, 4:19pm)
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dernwyn
Forum Admin
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Sep 5 2025, 4:41pm
Post #2 of 46
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*adds bowl of dark chocolate covered cranberries to the buffet*
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Greetings, Altaira, might I have an iced mocha, please? We've got a bit of the not-so-hot but still humid weather here this weekend, hopefully some rain on Sunday will cool things off.
As you might guess, we took a seniors' day trip to "cranberry country", Plymouth, Mass. this past week, for a bit of a tour and a paddle-boat ride around the town's bay. Windy but sunny and pleasant out there! It always amazes me to see the Mayflower replica, amazing that "small" boats like that could weather Atlantic crossings - but then, many such boats did not survive.
We're doing our best to cheer on the Red Sox, and also the WBNA Sun, our local ladies may be vying for last place, but those women have heart when they play. How have the All Blacks been doing?
I don't know why Fall is my favorite season. The natural color changes? The cooler temps? The lack of work to do in the garden? 
Here's'a song for our teams: https://www.youtube.com/... song for our teams:
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"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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Altaira
Superuser
Sep 5 2025, 5:07pm
Post #3 of 46
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Another fun outing this week? How did you ever survive *not* being retired?
I'd love to see the Mayflower replica someday. We saw the replica of Captain Cook's Endeavor in Sydney a few years ago. It *is* amazing that ships that size crossed vast ocean expanses. It couldn't have been fun during a bad storm. 
The All Blacks haven't been playing as well as they usually do, meaning they actually lost a game, lol. But, even the ones they win are looking a bit sloppy here and there. Still great fun to watch on a Saturday morning with a nice cup of coffee.
Have a fabulous weekend!
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dernwyn
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Sep 5 2025, 5:19pm
Post #4 of 46
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Watching their game makes a nice start for the day! Will you have Marmite on toast to go with the coffee? 
You enjoy your weekend, too!
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"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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Greenwood Hobbit
Doriath
Sep 5 2025, 8:12pm
Post #6 of 46
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My goodness, I missed last week altogether!
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I'm so easily distracted... Enjoy the sport, those of you who follow it. Favourite seasons? That's a tough one! I can find something to recommend them all, and something not to like.
Everything coming to life in the spring, the return of the flowers, birds singing and nesting, lengthening days (but the worry of nest predation by magpies, squirrels etc)Long summer twilights, warmth, sunlit sea, everything rich and colourful, summer fruits, being able to spend more time outside (but insect bites and - this year - drought)The glorious bonfire-bright colours of autumn, the power of seedtime planting the promise of next year's life, retreating indoors to be cosy and cook (but rain, wind and fog)Things turn inward in winter, jobs in the house neglected since summer are done, the turning of the year is celebrated and we hope for a little snow (but days are very short)
I'm a bit short of sporty songs, but here's one from Runrig about the fast and furious Gaelic sport of shinty - The Clash of the Ash'. the playing sticks are camans, made of ash wood. I've put the lyrics below as they're a bit hard to hear. Cheers, folks!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFrsv-v7Mjk
Hey now, boys, there's something not right
Did anyone see Willy at the dance last night
Let's pick up Boa without a fuss
Chuck him in with the camans at the back of the bus
'Cause we're running late, it's way past ten
We're driving through the straths and glens
Come on, Johnny Bulla, make it fast
For the twelve noon throw-up and the clash of the ash
[Verse 2]
Well, we'd better make changes now, it seems
Geek to the centre, Weed to the wing
The Rocket's old and slow and due to retire
Stick him right on the sawdust, ready to fire
And if we do all that and there's no one spare
Tell me, who's gonna mark the Kinlochshiel Bear
He's hard as nails, quick as a flash
He comes down from the caves for the clash of the ash
[Verse 3]
This story started long ago
With heroes forged and legends told
And for every fighting Highland man
Stand by your brother, die for the clan
Well, when the whistle blows and the battle's done
These shinty boys shine like the sun
We don't play for fame, we don't play for cash
We just play for the glory and the clash of the ash
(This post was edited by dernwyn on Sep 5 2025, 10:45pm)
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Starling
Gondolin
Sep 5 2025, 9:09pm
Post #9 of 46
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Not for me though, for Tama. He is entered in the 4Paws marathon and will be completing the 10km race, with his bestie Dave.
Spring has sprung, and so has the pine pollen, which seems ridiculous and excessive this season.
I'll have a strong coffee with a couple of anti-histamines to go thanks!
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grammaboodawg
Elvenhome
Sep 5 2025, 10:05pm
Post #10 of 46
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The trees have started tinging here, too
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Michigan usually takes a few more weeks before seeing the trees put on their fancy colour show; but we had quite a hard, hot, dry summer. They've all been stressed; but are still up for a fabulous performance over the next couple of months :)
Yea, Altaira... this is my favourite time of the year, too Sweaters and no sweat for me! The temp today is in the mid-60s with some 20-25mph winds adding a little more bite. LOVE IT!
I'll be making my trek to Charlevoix and Lake Michigan some time in the next few weeks when it is cool enough to chase away the beach tourists and it's windy and the sky is talking with some serious clouds! The waves are high and fast with seagulls drifting just above the water. Coat, hat and gloves are a must. I can't wait!
Meanwhile, this week I cut down 3 threatening Black Walnut trees, trimmed the branches and raked up the hundreds of walnuts left behind. I have been putting this off for years, but a high wind storm could bring them down on the house. Two of the trees were over 53 ft tall. I did plant a Sycamore tree near the spot where the 3 stood taking care that the soil of Walnut trees can be toxic to others.
I'll grab one more root beer float to toast the change of seasons and some nachos :D Thanks for taking such great care of us Altaira! Enjoy the games!
We have been there and back again.
TIME Google Calendar
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grammaboodawg
Elvenhome
Sep 5 2025, 10:13pm
Post #11 of 46
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To see the Mayflower (replica) moored in the water would be such a thrill! Do you think there were cranberries around when they landed? ;)
I'll send the cooler temps your way. It's supposed to warm up a bit for a week or so; but it won't hang on for long.
Have a GREAT weekend!! :D
We have been there and back again.
TIME Google Calendar
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dernwyn
Forum Admin
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Sep 5 2025, 10:36pm
Post #12 of 46
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These berries have been all over the Cape Cod lowlands for ages, an important part of the Indigenous peoples' diet. The Pilgrims thought their blossoms resembled cranes, so they called them "crane-berries".
We're getting warnings of heavy rainstorms tomorrow evening and through the night into Sunday. Rain, rain, come and stay!
You and your furry friends have a great weekend, too, gramma!
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"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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dernwyn
Forum Admin
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Sep 5 2025, 10:52pm
Post #13 of 46
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I'd not heard of Shinty before!
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Seems a lot like field hockey, but a bit more aggressive?
There's lots of things to like about each season, aren't there!
How's the photography coming along?
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"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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dernwyn
Forum Admin
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Sep 5 2025, 10:56pm
Post #14 of 46
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Black knight to B4 - then Check! But who is the white Queen?
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"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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dernwyn
Forum Admin
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Sep 5 2025, 11:00pm
Post #15 of 46
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Omigosh, is he really ready to do a full 10K? That's amazing!
Other than the allergies, how are you doing, these days?
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"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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dernwyn
Forum Admin
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Sep 5 2025, 11:07pm
Post #16 of 46
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Please do be careful with that chain saw, gramma! What plans do you have, for the wood?
Ah, beach-combing at Charlevoix. Isn't that where you've found the unique stones?
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"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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Altaira
Superuser
Sep 5 2025, 11:18pm
Post #17 of 46
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But, in my opinion, they're *both* elevens.
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Meneldor
Doriath
Sep 6 2025, 1:41am
Post #18 of 46
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Isildur's Heir & Co, at the Black Gate
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Black knight to B4 - then Check! But who is the white Queen?
They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters, these see the works of the Lord, and His wonders in the deep. -Psalm 107
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Starling
Gondolin
Sep 6 2025, 1:49am
Post #20 of 46
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He could easily do the 16k, and probably the 32k as well. Dave is not as fit as Tama, so he is sticking with the 10k.
I'm okay, thanks for asking. I am getting rather kicked around by medication side effects lately, but thankfully I have a good rheumatologist helping me.
I do some voluntary work once a week - 3 hours is about all I can manage but I do enjoy it.
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Greenwood Hobbit
Doriath
Sep 6 2025, 8:45am
Post #21 of 46
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you can tackle and play the ball up in the air. I seem to remember from school hockey that you weren't allowed to raise the stick above a certain height. In shinty it seems that pretty much anything goes!
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dernwyn
Forum Admin
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Sep 6 2025, 12:30pm
Post #22 of 46
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My apologies, I meant the White King! //
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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dernwyn
Forum Admin
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Sep 6 2025, 12:36pm
Post #23 of 46
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But Dave's not in bad shape, to do that distance! Is he a neighbor?
I'm glad you've got a very knowledgeable doctor helping you manage things. And it's great that you're "out and about", even for a short amount of time, that does help you also!
*hugs*
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"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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Annael
Elvenhome
Sep 6 2025, 4:35pm
Post #24 of 46
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This was a week of morning appointments: me to the dentist, me to my PCP, and Charlie to the vet. So the week got away from me, what with all that and working diligently on the current book I'm' editing.
you went to my home town? Yes, it was a tiny ship. The other stat that's astonishing is that HALF the colonists died that first winter--and more would have, were it not for help from the local indigenes.
Alas, our Seattle Storm will not be in the WBNA playoffs this year. As far as baseball, the Mariners could still get a wildcard spot, but they do this to us every year, get our hopes up and then . . .
I've found it hard to watch football ever since I saw "Concussion" and now have a cousin & a friend who probably have CTE.
It's very smoky here. Lots of wildfires nearby. Hoping that we get the rain that is tentatively forecasted for Monday!
I'll have a hard lemonade, that should cut the smoke.
I am a dreamer of words, of written words.
-- Gaston Bachelard
* * * * * * * * * *
NARF and member of Deplorable Cultus since 1967
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DwellerInDale
Nargothrond
Sep 6 2025, 4:54pm
Post #25 of 46
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The diagonally opposite backyard neighbor has a stately maple tree, just as we do, but he decided to have the whole tree cut down and removed: a three-day job, with one guy 50 feet up in a cherry picker taking a chainsaw to the upper limbs. The result: a rain of fine sawdust that landed on our back porch and even went as far as to cover the windshield of our car. Now, instead of having a view of a tall silver maple in that direction, I have a view of a telephone relay tower.
Having some credit at the garden shop, I finally decided to buy a Buddleia (a.k.a. Butterfly Bush). So that I wouldn't forget to take care of it, I started a Buddleia log of all the visitors. Pretty impressive how species I hadn't seen anywhere this summer showed up, including a Tiger Swallowtail dark phase, a Bumblebee Moth, and a solitary Monarch who comes each day to load up on nectar. I hope she eventually makes it to the overwintering site in northern Mexico.
Don't mess with my favorite female elves.
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