What's the View Like From My New Place?

[Evo]

Ok, a squirrel picture for MIH and a patio picture for Astronuc

The squirrel turned around just as I went to take it's picture.

My patio from my bedroom window.

http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/9198/patiofrombedroomwindowlu8.jpg

 

[Astronuc]

Ok, a squirrel picture for MIH and a patio picture for Astronuc

The squirrel turned around just as I went to take it's picture.

My patio from my bedroom window.

http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/9198/patiofrombedroomwindowlu8.jpg

[/URL] Nice! Now would you be allowed to do small raised bed along the border of the patio? Or one of those large flower boxes? The only problem with flower boxes is the deterioration due to weather (freezing and thawing is not good).

 

[Evo]

Probably not since the grounds are kept. I'm going to have to do some creative tiered plantings.

 

[binzing]

Jim- You should see our quail. We've seen coveys (sp?) as large as 30 birds right outside our windows. They're really fun to watch.
Evo- I just looked in my falconry book and still can't figure out what the bird is. Are yo sure it had the splayed wings of a hawk and not the pointed one of a falcon. Also how large is it? And especially, estimate, its wingspan. One guess that just came to me is that it might be a young bald eagle.

 

[Evo]

It was over 2 feet tall and the face was not of an eagle. The bird, so far, has defied identification.

 

[Andre]

Red-tailed Hawk?
(Buteo jamaicensis)

 

[Evo]

Red-tailed Hawk?
(Buteo jamaicensis)

Great bird pictures Andre! We're thinking it's a red tail, mine had such different features and coloring though, but apparently the only feature they need in common is the tail.

 

[turbo]

It's probably a red-tail, Evo. They are impressive in size and their coloration varies quite widely. Here are a few examples - I'm sure that some individuals show even more variation.

http://www.birdphotography.com/species/rtha.html

 

[Astronuc]

From the site that Andre referenced, variations on the red-tailed hawk.

http://www.backyardbirdcam.com/gallery/hawk-harlans-lt.htm

http://www.backyardbirdcam.com/gallery/red-tailed-imm.htm

It could have been a young young adult.

Then there is the ferruginous hawk, which relatively common.

http://www.backyardbirdcam.com/gallery/hawk-ferruginous-adult.htm

http://www.backyardbirdcam.com/gallery/hawk-ferruginous.htm

And apparently red-tailed and ferrugious hawks may crossbreed, which probably contributes the variation and difficulty in identifying some hawks.

The tail was spread out and caught the suns rays which shone through and highlighted the beautiful burnt orange color.

Is the burnt orange color on the tail?

 

[Evo]

Yes, the tail (which I saw from underneath) was burnt orange. The front of the bird from the legs, stomach, breast, and a bar going straight up the front of the neck to the top of the beak/eyes (He had a white bar up the middle of his face, the width of his eyes) was pure white. The rest of the head, back, and wings were charcoal grey.

 

[chemisttree]

Did you see a bumper sticker on the tail that read "My Money and My Chicks Go To UT"?

 

[Evo]

Did you see a bumper sticker on the tail that read "My Money and My Chicks Go To UT"?

 

[rewebster]

did you buy one of those cords I found for your good camera?

 

[binzing]

Hmm, astro, I've never heard about crossbreeding between reds and ferruginous hawks. Also, ferruginous hawks are much more widespread in the Western US. I think its a redtail, either young, light subspecies, or in a winter phase of some sort.

 

[Astronuc]

binzing, here's some information I discovered while trying to find out more about red-tailed and ferruginous hawks.

Well, this is migration period and that bird is probably in OK by now on its way to Texas for the winter.

There is a higher probability that it is a buteo, and that could mean more likely a red-tailed or ferruginous hawk, but the grey on top is the complication. In the back of my mind, I've been trying to remember something about cross-breeding among species, which can complicated identity. Some buteos do cross breed, and I found site that does mention that -

Ferrugenous x Redtail Hawks - http://www.shortwingfalconry.co.uk/hawks/ferrutail.asp


Here is some more information and pictures -
http://sdakotabirds.com/species/ferruginous_hawk_info.htm
http://sdakotabirds.com/species/red_tailed_hawk_info.htm

For more species - http://sdakotabirds.com/species_main.htm

Some nice pics - http://www.schmoker.org/BirdPics/FEHA.html
http://www.schmoker.org/BirdPics/RTHA.html
Schomaker photographs birds using a Nikon D2X with 200-400 f/4 AF-S VR and 80-200 f/2.8 AF-S VR lenses with TC-14E and TC-17E teleconverters

Here are a few more posts on the hawk.

Also, the largest freaking hawk I've ever seen. I can't find a picture of it online, but from the head and beak I know it's a hawk. It's over 2 feet tall. The chest, down to the claws is pure white, with a white throat and the white goes up the middle front of the face in a bar that covers the eyes and goes above the beak. The rest of the bird is grey with an orange-rust tail, but I can't find a rusted tail hawk with the other features. Magnificent bird. It scared the living daylights out of the fruit bat. That's how I noticed it, he was a little upset.

Probably a red-tailed hawk. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red-tailed_Hawk

We have a pair of them in our neighborhood. They can get up to 24-26 inches. There are variations of this bird.

The top 3 reasons my bird is not a goshawk

1) his belly was snow white

2) no black band on the head

3) his eyes were yellow

Now I'm all for calling it Evo's Hawk or Evo's Red-tailed Hawk since we can't find any pictures that look exactly like it, and Evo is the first one to describe it. Now she just needs to document it - with a camera.

 

[binzing]

Yeah, I'm sticking with it being a red-tail mainly because of the tail color and overall size.

 

[rewebster]

Hey---Evo-----did you ever get moved totally out of your old place?

 

[Evo]

Hey---Evo-----did you ever get moved totally out of your old place?

Yes, but I'm still trying to figure out where to put things.

 

[turbo]

Yes, but I'm still trying to figure out where to put things.

Good luck! We've been here in this house for going on two years and there's still stuff that we haven't found since the move, and there's still stuff that doesn't seem to have found its proper place yet. It doesn't help that we moved from a very large house to a very small one!

 

[rewebster]

Yes, but I'm still trying to figure out where to put things.

good--GREAT----

as long as you got it--and it's all at the new place-----at not partially stuck in some storage unit

---------------

Is that the trouble with 'things'?-----they got to go someplace, just finding the right place for some'things' is the trouble---

 

[Evo]

Well, I'm renting a space to store some of it.

I have a central vacuum at my new place, but I'm wary of using it. I'm afraid I'll do something wrong, there's some bag that goes into this big drum attached to the wall in the laundry room and the top is above my head. The manager said when I need it emptied to call and maintenace will pick it up. I already have an expensive vacuum. One of the girls I work with said she loves central vacs. Anyone use them?

 

[rewebster]

Well, I'm renting a space to store some of it.

I have a central vacuum at my new place, but I'm wary of using it. I'm afraid I'll do something wrong, there's some bag that goes into this big drum attached to the wall in the laundry room and the top is above my head. The manager said when I need it emptied to call and maintenace will pick it up. I already have an expensive vacuum. One of the girls I work with said she loves central vacs. Anyone use them?

well-try to empty out the storage unit into the new place soon ---if you can---things get put it and (almost) forgotten and not done anything with---PLUS they're expensive when you think about it over the long tem which it usually what happens (does that sound like personal experience?)


does a shopvac count?----yeah--I haven't got one, I've used one one place---they seem great and I would like to put one in here. (yes--here on the PF)

 

[turbo]

My sister-in-law has a central vac and loves it. Her house has three levels, and she only has to lug the hose and vacuum head around. The vac motor is larger and more powerful than regular vacs, and since it is isolated in an insulated room, it is very quiet in use.

 

[Evo]

I guess I could get a step stool so I can look into the drum to see if there is a bag in it, there is one laying on top of it. With two long haired animals, I'm constantly vacuuming.

 

[tribdog]

It's probably a red-tail, Evo.

You got to watch out for those red-tail Evo's. dangerous animals, especially when they are wounded or guarding their young.

 

[Moonbear]

I know people who had those, and lugging around all that hose seemed cumbersome to me (I needed to use it while house sitting for them once...black cat and white carpets/furniture meant vacuuming needed to get done often). The only place it was beneficial was on stairs where you didn't have to lug a heavy vacuum up and down to get them cleaned well (all those really lightweight vacuums that are easy to move on stairs really don't clean so well).

On the other hand, if someone else was emptying the vacuum bag for me, I think I'd go for that option.

 

[rewebster]

I've got a Fathom and its really good, --I think I'd either go with a Dyson or a central system


----I had a storage rental for about 1 1/2 years ----it bothered me all the time, that I had it. When I finally build my garage and unloaded the unit--things were ruined--I should have put everything up on pallets and thrown some mouse killer in there.

---anyway, Evo, if your stuff's not on pallets, putting some mouse proofing (D-con) may do some preventive damage (just a suggestion, though)

-----
edit, edit, edit, EDIT!

(may prevent some damage)

 

[Evo]

may do some preventive damage (just a suggestion, though)

Q: What are you doing?

A: Preventive damage.

 

[rewebster]

funny---


it sounded better when I was typing it out


(I guess that's why they invented the 'edit' button)

 

[turbo]

Q: What are you doing?

A: Preventive damage.

If I burn down my neighbor's house to keep it from being damaged by a potential earthquake, is that a good defense?

 

[rewebster]

depends---how many earthquakes are there in Maine?

 

[Moonbear]

Q: What are you doing?

A: Preventive damage.

I guess that depends on whether you're the furniture/clothing owner or the mouse.

 

[turbo]

depends---how many earthquakes are there in Maine?

Lots, but they tend to be little. A big one could slam us, though, and help mitigate the effects of a lot of minor arson episodes.

 

[belliott4488]

Well, I'm renting a space to store some of it.

I have a central vacuum at my new place, but I'm wary of using it. I'm afraid I'll do something wrong, there's some bag that goes into this big drum attached to the wall in the laundry room and the top is above my head. The manager said when I need it emptied to call and maintenace will pick it up. I already have an expensive vacuum. One of the girls I work with said she loves central vacs. Anyone use them?

My wife and I got one installed in our home last year, and it's been great. For us the biggest improvement is that the dust is entirely exhausted outside (we insisted on an exterior exhaust), which is important for my wife and her allergies. Even the best filters still let some stuff through.

The down side is lugging around a 30' hose. I can manage, but my wife, who's only 5'4" has a harder time with it.

 

[Evo]

My younger daughter, The Child of Evo, was just here. I took a picture of her with the fruitbat.

http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/5576/ecfbliteef5.jpg

She wants to go into medicine, would you trust her with your life?

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/2116/ecaptws1.jpg

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/6622/ecpumpkinvr3.jpg

 

[lisab]

Your daughter's a beautiful young woman.

I can imagine coming out of anesthesia and seeing the bunny-face...

 

[Evo]

Your daughter's a beautiful young woman.

I can imagine coming out of anesthesia and seeing the bunny-face...

Thank you.

Funny, she's thinking about becoming an anesthesiologist.

 

[belliott4488]

Thank you.

Funny, she's thinking about becoming an anesthesiologist.

Sorry, Evo ... I'm not sure how I feel about her being an anesthesiologist after seeing her plying that Jack o'lantern with alcohol. Unless maybe she treats only social acquaintances that way! ;-)

 

[Moonbear]

Sorry, Evo ... I'm not sure how I feel about her being an anesthesiologist after seeing her plying that Jack o'lantern with alcohol.

Indeed, that was quite the mad scientist expression there!

 

[Kurdt]

Alcohol is my favourite anaesthetic.

 

[Evo]

I'm thinking that pumpkin is feeling no pain.

 

[turbo]

Can she travel? If I need surgery, a cute and pragmatic anesthesiologist would be a plus! Especially if she'd spin some tunes by Muddy Waters, , Jimi, or early Fleetwood Mac while I was getting cut.

 

[belliott4488]

Can she travel? If I need surgery, a cute and pragmatic anesthesiologist would be a plus! Especially if she'd spin some tunes by Muddy Waters, , Jimi, or early Fleetwood Mac while I was getting cut.

Oh ... are you a Peter Green fan? Hardly anyone seems to remember him any more! He was amazing.

My sister is in band that plays covers, and they do one of the songs from the megapop version of FM, but I had to tell her that they also did another FM song - Black Magic Woman, which, of course, they thought was a Santana song.

 

[Moonbear]

I'm thinking that pumpkin is feeling no pain.

When I was that age, I'd have never let my mother get ahold of such pictures. Now I'm sure I made the right choice, seeing as how they get so rapidly spread all over the internet.

 

[Evo]

When I was that age, I'd have never let my mother get ahold of such pictures. Now I'm sure I made the right choice, seeing as how they get so rapidly spread all over the internet.

These came off of her facebook page.

It's probably good that the internet was not around when I was young.

 

[Moonbear]

These came off of her facebook page.

It's probably good that the internet was not around when I was young.

And people wondered why I wasn't too keen on Facebook.

It's way too easy for parents to check up on kids anymore, between the internet and cell phones. I'm not sure it's always for the best either. I think there was some value in moving away from home and NOT being able to reach our parents immediately to solve problems for us, or to have them constantly checking in.

Then again, when we were off at a boyfriend's dorm room when our parents called, they KNEW we weren't in our own room. With cell phones, they don't have a clue where you are when you answer, and you don't have to count on roommates providing good cover stories.

 

[turbo]

Oh ... are you a Peter Green fan? Hardly anyone seems to remember him any more! He was amazing.

My sister is in band that plays covers, and they do one of the songs from the megapop version of FM, but I had to tell her that they also did another FM song - Black Magic Woman, which, of course, they thought was a Santana song.

Peter was killer. When he agreed to come over to Apple records, the Beatles released "Here Comes the Sun King" to seal the deal. Peter had a tone so sweet that BB King said his music made him break out in a cold sweat. I glommed onto PG in the 1960's and followed him every step of the way since, through his apprenticeship with John Mayall, through Fleetwood Mac (which he named to honor Mick Fleetwood and John MacVie) ande he was stunning.

I spent a lot of time trying to copy his tone (including modifying my guitars) and trying to replicate his music. I hope I did well enough. People seemed happy enough with my versions of Black Magic Woman and especially Jumping at Shadows.

 

[Evo]

And people wondered why I wasn't too keen on Facebook.

It's way too easy for parents to check up on kids anymore, between the internet and cell phones. I'm not sure it's always for the best either. I think there was some value in moving away from home and NOT being able to reach our parents immediately to solve problems for us, or to have them constantly checking in.

Then again, when we were off at a boyfriend's dorm room when our parents called, they KNEW we weren't in our own room. With cell phones, they don't have a clue where you are when you answer, and you don't have to count on roommates providing good cover stories.

Actually, I don't post on facebook or My Space because it is for teens and young 20's mainly. I can see professors posting on facebook to try to keep in touch with students. My Space, I feel, is just for teenagers. I don't think even my kids post there, but maybe so. Yes, I know older people post there, which IMO, is creepy. It's a kid thing, old geezers need to back off. Get a life, you're not 16 anymore, mkay?

 

[Cyrus]

My younger daughter, The Child of Evo, was just here. I took a picture of her with the fruitbat.

http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/5576/ecfbliteef5.jpg

She wants to go into medicine, would you trust her with your life?

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/2116/ecaptws1.jpg

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/6622/ecpumpkinvr3.jpg

[PLAIN]http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/3920/ecdogta7.jpg[/QUOTE][/URL]

Ok, one time I was at an award ceremony for pilots, and there was this BIMBO woman, who acted like 'barbie pilot'. This woman actually flew a 767, but dressed and talked like she was 16 (she was in her 40's). Yes, she was blonde. Everyone looked at each other like, how the hell does this woman fly an airplane, because I sure as hell don't want to be on that plane! Total moron that woman was. She looked exactly like barbie derssing up to play pilot. When she got her award, she said: 'hehehe thanks for this award, hehehe' ...

 

[Evo]

Ok, one time I was at an award ceremony for pilots, and there was this BIMBO woman, who acted like 'barbie pilot'. This woman actually flew a 767, but dressed and talked like she was 16 (she was in her 40's). Yes, she was blonde. Everyone looked at each other like, how the hell does this woman fly an airplane, because I sure as hell don't want to be on that plane! Total moron that woman was. She looked exactly like barbie derssing up to play pilot. When she got her award, she said: 'hehehe thanks for this award, hehehe' ...

What does that have to do with my 3.9GPA daughter that has won National Honors in Chemistry, Biology, Math and English? In high school she took all AP and honors classes. Are you saying my daughter is dumb?