"The Birds," Tippi Hedren, and Ladybugs April 14, 2013

"The Birds," Tippi Hedren, and Ladybugs

 

April 14, 2013

This movie scared everyone in 1963, including me and my friends in high school.

 

I didn't know much about newcomer Tippi Hedren, Alfred Hitchcock's newest actress in his horror films.

 

     In March of this year, 2013, "The Birds" turned 50 years old.  I was privileged enough to attend a screening at the Florida Film Festival on April 12, 2013.  After the film ended, Tippi Hedren, now in her 80s,  was onstage for a wonderful hour of sharing her memories, good and bad, of working with Alfred Hitchcock on that film.  Here is Tippi Hedren as she shared her thoughts and memories with her audience.  We sat about 15 feet away from her.

 



Photo Credit:  Mark Baratelli, www.thedailycity.com 

 

    Photo Credit:  Mark Baratelli, www.thedailycity.com

 

 The film festival was held at the Enzian Center in Orlando, Florida, and lasted 10 days, and featured many original films, all new and all intriguing.

 

Click here to read the story of "The Birds," and to see video clips of Tippi Hedren talking about the making of the film.

 

 

Click here to see Tippi Hedren's original screen test for "The Birds," and read all about it.

 

 

     I learned several things new about the film:

 

    1. It was based on a real-life incident that happened near Alfred Hitchcock's home.  Scientists discovered through research in 1991 that the incident was caused by the gulls having eaten seafood that had been tainted with a poisonous chemical, altering their brains.

 

    2. Alfred Hitchcock became obsessed with Tippi Hedren and made her life a living hell.  Recently a movie has been made about her experiences and the tragedies he caused her for so long.  I believe it is titled, "The Girl."

 

   3. Tippi Hedron, mother of Melanie Griffith and mother-in-law to Antonio Banderas, is still lovely and charming and very intelligent, as well as very funny.

 

   4. I was immediately transported back to my high school days, during the movie, when I was a horror movie fanatic.  Ah, memories.

 

     Now as to those ladybugs:  I bought a package of live ladybugs the day after seeing the film, 1500 of them, to put on the plants in my butterfly garden to eat all the little pests that live on the plants. 

 

 

 

     You have to keep them in the refrigerator to keep them dormant until you want to release them.  Warning!  You only release as many as you wish; do not release all 1500 of them at once.  However, once you remove the package from the refrigerator, they warm up immediately and all start moving and trying to get out of the bag.

  



 

     It was like being attacked by the birds, but in miniature, and I only released about 50 of them, and they started crawling up my arms.  I dread going into my refrigerator to release more of them, as they wait in dormancy...creepy.  Alfred Hitchcock would have loved seeing this.

 

 

Click here to see my pinterest interests. Look at my "Gardens" board for more ladybug photos.

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Southwest Florida Eagle Cam Is Down--But Not The Eagles April 9, 2013

Eagle Cam Is Down--But Not The Eagles

 

April 9, 2013

 

Photo by Carla Sabin of parents Ozzie and Harriet teaching Honor and Hope all they need to know, now that they are pretty awesome at flying. 

 

April 4:  The eaglets celebrated their 3 month hatching anniversary.  This photo by Greg Hill is from the SWFEagle Cam Twitter site.

 

Southwest Florida Eagle Cam
"Many teachable moments have been witnessed by the pond. This picture by Greg Hill shows the two siblings looking rather peaceful and this close up video by UrdognU shows Honor giving Hope some pointers on bath time." http://youtu.be/oZmjLrcD8ec

 

 

Here is a live cam shot of the newly hatched eaglets, way back in the first week of January, 2013.

Thank you, Dick Pritchett, property owner, for installing and maintaining this live eagle camera for the world to watch, from nest filling, to egg laying, to hatching, to first flying attempts.

 

Southwest Florida Eagle Cam
"This shot by Greg Hill shows Hope is just as determined to learn new things as Honor and while he/she got close to taking a bath today, still seems a little unsure of that water stuff Honor loves!" April 4 on Facebook.

 

 

       Last Thursday, April 4, a lightning strike put the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam out of  working order.  As it could not be repaired without disturbing the eagles and young eaglets (juveniles) who still use the nest at times, the camera is now off for the rest of the season.  Here is the statement from the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam site: (located in Ft. Myers, Florida)

 

"Once the eagle family relocates for the summer months, we plan to safely fix the camera and prepare for a bigger and better season 2. You can still follow the developments of our beloved eagle family through the updates and photos brought to you here by the many amazing ground reporters and photographers. Will also plan to run past footage of the 2012-2013 season on the UStream page."

 

     While this is sad for online viewers, there are many loyal watchers on the ground who have been filling viewers' curiosity with videos and photos from their ground locations.  Here is a link to the past videos this week:

 

Click here to see the many current videos of the young eagles, Honor and Hope.

 

 

 

Click here to see my latest pinterest board: "No. Don't Do This To Yourself," which shows some awful, sad, and unfashionable clothing and accessories.

Funny! How To Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting To Kill You April 6, 2013

Funny!  How To Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting To Kill You

 

April 6, 2013

 

 

 

 

This came originally from www.lehumor.com.  Cat owners will understand the humor here.

 

Click here to see my pinterest interests. 

 



Dumbest Retirement Moves and the Queen Mary II April 5, 2013

Dumbest Retirement Moves and the Queen Mary II

 

April 5, 2013

 

 

 

     Just got this book from the library, by Ernie Zelinski, who writes the Retirement-Cafe blog.  It is full of way more ideas than I have ever contemplated for my retirement years. 

 

     One list struck me as very important to remember and here it is:



Top-10 Dumbest Retirement Moves

1. Purchasing a larger home than you need or than you can afford
2. Watching a lot of TV — more than an hour and a half a day is excessive!
3. Gambling
4. Spending a lot of time shopping
5. Complaining about life
6. Being afraid to spend the kid's inheritance
7. Being a miser with your money
8. Planning to work forever — something NOT advocated in The World's Best Retirement Book.
9. Neglecting your health by not indulging in vigorous physical exercise every day
10. Not making new friendships and neglecting old friends 

 

 

     I did find an alternative in this excellent book to striking out for a trip to England on my own.  It is called Road Scholar and here is the link:

 

Here is the Road Scholar link.

 

      Road Scholar used to be called Elderhostels, and it has ready-made learning tours of almost any country you want to visit.  All lodging, food, tips, and expert guide/instructor are included.  Prices and tour lengths and dates vary, but American tours/courses are far more inexpensive than those abroad.

 

     There is even a course on London theatre, which takes place mostly on the Queen Mary II as you cross the Atlantic, 7 days, to get to London.  In London, you experience the thrill of four London West End productions and tours/history of English theatre.  Perfect!

 



 

      Let me say that the cost is rather high, but you have a famous London theatre producer/director, Giles Ramsay, as your teacher/guide for the entire 12-day experience. 

 

      Here is the course description:

• Journey from New York City to London aboard the QM2 with producer and director Giles Ramsay.
• In London’s West End, enjoy four plays that range from classical to popular, or to more contemporary and experimental.
• Gain expert insight into the historic roots of English theater in medieval drama and the impact of the Reformation and Christopher Marlowe.

 

 

     Since a transatlantic cruise will be perfect for someone who doesn't want to fly, I am thinking of booking this tour as soon as I gather the thousands of dollars it will cost me.  It's certainly something to plan for in the fall, and it will sure beat watching tv all day, won't it?

 

Note:  Photos from www.Roadscholar.com and Google.

 

 

Click here for my pinterest interests. Look at my "Wishes and Dreams" board for ideas for your life.

 

 

 



 





Finally Went Bowling--4 Months Late March 30, 2013

Finally Went Bowling--4 Months Late

 

March 30, 2013

 

    

 

What I looked like in 1986 when I bowled last...

 

What I looked like when I bowled today...

 

     Way back in this blog, November 21, I put off bowling to shop for food for the Coalition for the Homeless.  But I never stopped thinking about it.

 

     Today, a most beautiful day in Orlando, I finally made it to the nearby bowling lanes.  My neighbor went with me, and we approached the lanes with a bit of nervousness.

 

     It turned out to be lovely, although my neighbor didn't bowl, and I'm sure I'll go back very soon. 

 

     There was a ball in the rack on the lane that fit my hand perfectly.  I was surprised that I felt a little fearful as I bowled the first few frames.  I was afraid of falling, not of bowling badly.  That feeling surprised me.

 

     I got more confident, and it was very nice to return to an activity that I had enjoyed.  The last time I bowled was in 1986.  That's a loooooooooonnnnnng time to be away from bowling, isn't it?

 

     Since I managed to make a strike and a spare, my bowling skills may make a comeback with lots of practice. 

 

     There are summer leagues, so I might give that a try, after I give bowling more practice time.  I'm so glad I went, and I am so glad I still like this familiar sport. 

 

     Maybe I'll find a partner and try tennis again...

 

Note:  Images are from a Google search on bowling.

 

 

Click here to see my pinterest interests. Happy Easter!

Money Saving Ideas--Some Thoughts March 28, 2013

Money Saving Ideas--Some Thoughts

 

March 28, 2013

 

 

 

     While doing research for retirement activities, I found an excellent website, www.retirement-online.com .  Now I spend a lot of time there reading about activities that real seniors are doing, through their comments, chats, and photos.  

 

     Nina, from the UK, posted a discussion topic asking how others find ways to save money.  There were great ideas and strategies.

 

     This got me thinking, and here is what I contributed:

 

"I used to turn off the hot water heater switch when I left home. It saved a ton of money on electricity, as there is no reason to heat a huge tankful of water all day if no one is using it.

I wash my dishes with my dishwasher set on the short/light wash cycle. I hang my clothes outside to dry, weather permitting, because it reminds me of the good old days, and it saves much electricity. However, I live in sunny Florida where every day is pretty sunny and warm, even in the winter.

As to clothes, I donate my clothing to charities before they becomes threadbare, which helps on my income taxes, as a deduction.   I only buy new clothing that will coordinate with my other clothing pieces, so I have more choices with fewer purchases. (I buy nothing that needs dry cleaning, ever.) The same goes with shoes. Remember, you can change an older outfit just by adding a scarf.

When I am finished on the computer, I turn off the power to the power strip, otherwise, electricity is still being used.  
 
I got rid of cable tv service and am now saving $70 per month. I watch any movies or tv series online,which is covered by my internet bill.

I don't have a cell phone, ipad, ipod, etc.

I don't shop in thrift shops because I don't want to add to my possessions; I want to keep downsizing, in preparation for retirement.

I have several good books I refer to from time to time on saving money:

1001 Ways To Cut Your Expenses, by Jonathan D. Pond
Rags To Retirement, by Gail Liberman and Alan Lavine
The Automatic Millionaire, by David Bach
Retirement On A Shoestring, by John Howells
The Finish Rich Workbook, by David Bach
Organize Yourself, by Ronni Eisenberg

Most of these books were given to me; I get all my books from the public library.
 
I have a very old, very fuel-efficient car. Once or twice a year there may be a large repair, but I don't have a car payment. I also chose a car that was cheaper to insure.

I don't use my oven and stove top very much; I prefer the speed and convenience of the microwave, which uses far less electricity, and produces the same results, especially for casseroles, etc. I use a small crockpot/slow cooker for roasts and stews...again saving electricity.

That seems like a long list for now, but if I think of more, I'll add them.

If you go on www.pinterest.com you will find thousands of ways to save money, and thousands of ways to spend it also. :-)   I have one board on my pinterest site called "Frugal Good Ideas." www.pinterest.com/mimihylton You might find many good ideas there.

Oh, I almost forgot: I never carry cash; I am too tempted to spend it too easily. I don't use a debit card for the same reason. I write checks for almost everything, because I know where my money is going."

Click here to see my pinterest interests. Happy spring, everyone! 

 

  

Eaglets Flying/Fledging Very Soon! March 24, 2013

Eaglets Flying/Fledging Very Soon!

 

March 24, 2013

 

Here are our former little fluff-ball eaglets--all ready for flight training now!

Photo credit:  J. Phalp

Click here to see Honor fly/fledge to a branch 10 feet away on March 22!

 

Mostly empty nest these days--eaglets are branching most of the day.

 

Watch the eaglets take their flight training with this live eagle cam link. 

 

     This is the site of the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam, sponsored by Dick Prichett Realty, of North Fort Myers, Florida.  The nest is located on the property of Dick Prichett.  The mature eagle pair, Ozzie and Harriet, have been nesting and raising eaglets for 5 years there.  The eaglets have been named Honor and Hope.  Local residents/watchers have submitted photos taken from the ground, so we can see what eaglets and parents are up to when not in live cam range.

 

      This is one of many live eagle cams on www.ustreamtv.com and other sites.  Do some investigating to find the nest family you enjoy watching.   Type in the word eagles to get a full list of live cams.

 

      The Alcoa eagle cam, located at Davenport, Iowa, is just as fascinating, with two new mouths for Liberty and Justice to feed now: 

 

http://www.alcoa.com/locations/usa_davenport/en/info_page/eaglecam.asp

 

     There is one site, Eaglecrest Wildlife, where they are presently watching a barn owl with 8 eggs, a Canadian goose with 10 eggs, and a red-tailed hawk who has just laid her first egg of the season.  This site in Sanger, California, has 9 live cams watching all this and more on the private property.  Here is the link:

http://www.ustream.tv/new#/eaglecresthawks

 

      If you are more interested in Great Horned Owls, watch the live cam of Bonnie and Clyde who took over an eagle nest before the eagles returned for nesting season.  The location is in New London, Wisconsin.  This is a bit difficult for me to watch as the owl nests completely out in the open, and the weather there has been horrific, not to mention the mother owl has had another owl intruder almost every night.  But now, she has one owlet, and everyone is hoping for a good outcome for her and the baby.



 

Here is that link: 

 

http://www.ustream.tv/new#/channel/WolfRiverCam-New-London

 

      This is nature in real time, so whatever happens, happens, both good and bad.  In any case, get yourself on one of these sites and see nature up close, a true privilege.

 



 

 



 

Planting Today--Butterfly Plants March 24, 2013

Planting Today--Butterfly Plants

March 24, 2013

 

Pentas, in fuscia pink for nectar, attract hummingbirds also. 

 

Lavender attracts bees which kill garden pests.

 

Tropical milkweed, host of monarch butterflies' eggs.  See the caterpillar under the leaf?

"Milkweed blooms entice swallowtails, painted ladies, American ladies, red admirals, fritillaries, and hairstreaks for nectaring."  http://www.butterflybushes.com/milkweed.htm


Fennel, host plant for black swallowtail eggs

     The beginnings of my refreshed butterfly garden, plants from my local Home Depot, are waiting to be planted this morning.  Several types are needed, so you will see the major plants above that were selected:  Pentas, lavender, and tropical milkweed. 

 

     Fennel and Mexican Heather weren't available this weekend, so another trip will be needed next weekend to see if they are in stock yet.  I've got loads of zinnia seeds, the tall yellow and orange zinnias, that I'll plant among the flowers, for good measure.  Mother Nature can handle those for me.

 

     I kept several Porterweed plants in place when I cleared out the old plants last week.  Here is a photo, not my photo, and I understand the Porterweed is a hummingbird attracting plant, also.  Bees love it!

 



 

     The best part of planting a butterfly garden is the shopping part.  The hardest part is the placing and planting.  The photo below is what I hope to achieve when all of the plants are in the ground:

 

Ha-ha!  This is NOT my butterfly garden; it is the butterfly center at Callaway Gardens in Georgia!

 

 

This is more like what my garden will look like, except my garden is bordered by my sidewalk.

 

     May I encourage you to try your hand at planting something butterfly-friendly this week?  You will be rewarded with a peek into nature at its finest, and you will love the view. 

 

 

Note:  None of the photos are mine;  I got all of them from Google searches.

 

 

Click this link to see my pinterest interests. Look at the "Gardens" board, especially for some ideas. 

 

      

 



 



 

 



Taxes, Flowers, and Spring Break! March 21, 2013

Taxes, Flowers, and Spring Break!

 

March 21, 2013

(First Day of Spring)

 

 

 

 

 

     The front garden has been cleared, so my mind has been cleared as well.  I have a short list to accomplish, and all's right with the world.  I had a wonderful yard man completely whip my lawn, shrubbery, and edging into shape...(oh happy day!)

 

     I left the shrubbery, some smaller butterfly plants, and the birdbath in my front garden, after cutting and removing all the old butterfly plants and weeds last week.  What a glorious feeling to have done what I had planned to do.

 

     Three things remain to attack during the next day or so:

*Turning in all my receipts to the tax accountant to finish my tax return (yay!)

*Purchasing the colorful butterfly-attracting new plants to be planted in my front garden this weekend (beautiful!)

*Enjoying the next 10 days of my school Spring Break (hallelujah!)

 

     I'm not traveling anywhere for my long holiday, as I had to spend over $1100 for car repairs a week ago.  I can't complain very much because my car is 13 years old!  However, I will travel 20 miles south on I-4 to my favorite theme parks, DisneyWorld and Universal Studios Orlando, where I have annual passes.  I have missed seeing Harry Potter and Mickey Mouse for the past few months.

 

     The weatherman has promised temperatures in the 80s on Saturday, even though we'll have thunderstorms.  I don't mind the rain if it's warm outside.  I send all of my condolences to those who are still enduring the freezing temperatures up north.  I don't know how you live in that kind of cold all winter.

 

     So, Happy Easter to those who are celebrating, and happy Spring to those who may have the same holidays as I have coming up!

 



 

 

Click here to see my pinterest interests. Happy Spring!

    

 

     

 

 



Clearing My Garden--Clearing My Mind March 14, 2013

Clearing My Garden--Clearing My Mind

 

March 14, 2013

 

This is what my front garden looks like.  This is not my photo, but you get the idea.

 

At least it doesn't look this sad and forlorn.  This is not my photo, but it was taken somewhere in the United Kingdom.

 

This is my own photo of my front garden.  Best feature these days is the birdbath, used by many birds and squirrels.

 

      I am going to ruthlessly rip out the raggedy plants, that used to be beautiful years ago, and clear spaces for planting new healthy plants.  I don't know where this gardening urge came from yesterday, but I started by giving my front garden a good hard look.

 

     This morning, before I leave for work at 11am, I am going to attack with a vengeance.  On my way home from work, I'm going to pick up some plants that attract butterflies and bees, purchased at my local Home Depot and my local favorite garden shop, Palmer's Nursery. 

 

      This has the same mind-clearing effect as clearing out the clutter from one's closets and cupboards.  I need to help Mother Nature reclaim the front garden, as it was over 6 years ago.  I have honestly enjoyed the years of watching nature at my front window, and I want to reclaim that pleasure. 

 

      The one feature that has remained lovely is the birdbath.  Every morning and evening I watch as the tiny finches (?), graceful mourning and ring-neck doves, woodpeckers, cardinals, and squirrels enjoy a nice drink or a short bath there.

 

      Here is what I would like for my front garden to look like after I clear and plant for the next few days:

 

 

 

      If my motivation holds out through the weekend, I'll have cleared and restored both my butterfly garden and my brain!

 

Click here to see my pinterest interests, especially my "Gardens" board. Enjoy!

 



 



 



 

 



Florida Eaglets Are Branching Now! March 12, 2013

Florida Eaglets Are Branching Now!

 

March 12, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

Click this link to watch the new branching skills of our eaglets!

 

Photo above shows the parent eagle in comparison to the eaglet now.  Amazing growth in over 8 weeks!

 

 

In photo above, parent eagle watches eagle practicing its flight skills by hopping and flapping.  Proud parent, for sure.

 

I hope you enjoy watching this eagle family as the eaglets prepare for their future branching and fledging.

What a long way the eaglets have come as they grow toward leaving the nest in a few months.

 

Thank you to Dick Prichett Realty for allowing us to view this miracle of birth and growth through your live camera installed on your property in North Fort Myers, Florida!

 

 



Songs That Make Me Cry--Enjoy March 10, 2013

Songs That Make Me Cry--Enjoy

March 10, 2013

 

 

Click here for video of "I Want To Be The First Man You Remember" from "Aspects of Love"

 

 

 

 

Click here for video of "Bring Him Home" from "Les Miserables"

 

 

 

 

 

Click here for video of "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again" from "Phantom of the Opera"

 

 

     Thank you, Andrew Lloyd Webber, for making me cry.  It's always a lovely experience.

 

 

 

Disclaimer:  All videos are from www.youtube.com

                    I own no rights to these videos.  I just love the music.

 

 

 

 

 



Out of Ideas for Retirement--Now What? March 10, 2013

Out of Ideas--For Retirement--What Now?

 

March 10, 2013

 Image copied from http://www.retirement-online.com/retirement-activities.html a great website!

 

        Turning to Google, rather than my own experiences and memories, I searched for retirement activities today.  Sadly, I came upon the following article with 5 retirement activities for women.  It reminded me of the reason I began this blog; I don't want to do crafts and read for the rest of my life, really.  See what you think.

 

Click here for the article with 5 retirement activities for women. 

 

        Fortunately, there was another website, Retirement Cafe, by Ernie Zelinski, which exceeded my expectations in providing more ideas for an active retirement:  Here is the website:

 

Click here for the link to Retirement Cafe and Fun Things To Do When You Retire.

 

Here, then, is a quote from this retirement website, written by Ernie Zelinski.  My favorite author, Dame Agatha Christie, listed 15 activities she enjoyed in retirement.  Mr. Zelinski quotes her list:

 

"Think of all the things in life that you love; then, in some way relate them to retirement activities that you can pursue for a more active retirement.

Following is a list of activities created by the British writer Agatha Christie (1890-1976) as included in the book Agatha Christie: An Autobiography (Dodd, Mead & Co., 1977).

• Sunshine
• Apples
• Almost any kind of music
• Railway trains
• Numerical puzzles and anything to do with numbers
• Going to the sea
• Bathing and swimming
• Silence
• Sleeping
• Dreaming
• Eating
• The smell of coffee
• Lilies of the valley
• Most dogs
• Going to the theatre

This list of activities and things that Christie loved may trigger some of the stuff that turns you on and which you can use for an active retirement.

In fact, you may learn to enjoy all 15 things that Agatha Christie enjoyed if you implement them into your retirement activities. This will go a long ways towards conquering retirement boredom."

 

     Obviously we know that Dame Agatha Christie was fond of railway trains, thus her fascinating mystery, Murder On The Orient Express, featuring Hercule Poirot.  Happily, taking a trip on a train is on my list of retirement activities.

 

Click here to see parts of "Murder On The Orient Express," featuring David Suchet as Hercule Poirot.

 

      From my research today, I have learned that depression after retirement is normal, due to the lack of purpose and and an active life, so I realized that I have somehow predicted that depression. 

 

        There are 8 months remaining in which to discover what my real purpose in life will be after retirement.   I hope it's not crafting and reading!

 

 

Click here to see my pinterest interests. Enjoy!

 

 

 

Unexpected Nature In My Neighborhood

 

February 23, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

     As I returned from grocery shopping at 7:30 this morning, I turned into my neighborhood and had to stop for three beautiful peacocks, all different, as they slowly strolled across the street and into someone's yard.   There they busied themselves with their ground feeding, seeming to appear totally at ease and happy to be taking their stroll. 

 

     These are not my photos, as I didn't have my camera.  One was totally white, full-grown, with a beautiful plume of feathers on its head and long, flowing tail feathers.  One was the beautiful royal/turquoise blue with flowing feathers and head plume.  The last was a younger, plainly colored peacock, but it already had its greenish-blue neck, its head plume of feathers, and the beginnings of long tail feathers. 

 

     The three photos I found on Google represent what I saw  in my downtown Orlando neighborhood.   It was difficult to  drive away from this beautiful family scene.  

 

 

Click here to see my pinterest interests, especially my "For The Birds" board.