tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post8285558233032482314..comments2024-03-28T17:35:45.948+00:00Comments on Positive Letters ... inspirational stories ...: Floods and storms ... salt and sugar, and all things nice at the Caviar House ...Hilary Melton-Butcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-27270159579461684192014-02-24T14:54:27.634+00:002014-02-24T14:54:27.634+00:00Hi Glynis .. sorry got caught out by your commenti...Hi Glynis .. sorry got caught out by your commenting here!<br /><br />I sincerely hope the flooding is slowly going down .. and that people can recover. As you say we are much luckier this side of the country, well we were this time ... <br /><br />It's the animals I feel for .. and particularly the farmers with their livestock .. so difficult ..<br /><br />Thanks for commenting - cheers HilaryHilary Melton-Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-41855095150035303982014-02-20T16:45:48.685+00:002014-02-20T16:45:48.685+00:00My heart breaks for those caught in the floods. We...My heart breaks for those caught in the floods. We are much luckier this side of the country. Stay dry and safe, Hilary. Love your posts, so full of information and entertaining snippets, thanks.Glynis Peters https://www.blogger.com/profile/01175378917872403609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-64493410735050379942014-02-17T21:13:10.409+00:002014-02-17T21:13:10.409+00:00@ Coral - many thanks .. we had a great time. So ...@ Coral - many thanks .. we had a great time. So far we're all staying safe and dry .. <br /><br />Oh no droughts in SA are disastrous .. I used to hate seeing mielie fields browning up .. <br /><br />I could do with some sun though .. <br /><br />@ Susan - sadly there's quite a lot of the lowest of the low - scum of the earth preying on others ... <br /><br />Thanks re the photos and the scarf .. gives a bit of brightness .. it is cheery ..<br /><br />Lovely to see you both .. HilaryHilary Melton-Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-63269028756980572292014-02-17T18:59:59.384+00:002014-02-17T18:59:59.384+00:00Only the lowest of the low would loot and steal, e...Only the lowest of the low would loot and steal, especially following disasters, and from those who have already lost so much.<br /><br />You look so chipper in those photos! That colorful scarf looks especially nice on you.Susan Flett Swiderskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09425315552148200073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-50394006250787718352014-02-16T09:44:10.392+00:002014-02-16T09:44:10.392+00:00Such nice photos of you, L and god-daughter at the...Such nice photos of you, L and god-daughter at thee Caviar House Hilary :)<br /><br />Stay dry and safe!<br /><br />(Here on the eastern highveld we are having a localised drought. The mielie fields from here east to Belfast are looking very sorry indeed!)<br /><br />I'm enjoying the hot, dry weather otherwise:)<br />SueCoral Wildhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00263860317454600072noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-44165522733633030152014-02-16T08:26:06.538+00:002014-02-16T08:26:06.538+00:00Hi Juliet - some people are really suffering, ther...Hi Juliet - some people are really suffering, there's been so much wind damage, and crashing wave damage .. but I feel for the poor livestock .. the farmers from the rest of the country seem to be rallying round, I'm glad to say ... and the community spirit has risen to the fore.<br /><br />I didn't know sugar stops ice in the fridge forming .. interesting: thank you. My fridge-freezer is a frost-free one now ...<br /><br />I wonder what my mother would have made of the storms and damage .. but I shall never know in this world .. <br /><br />Thanks for visiting .. HilaryHilary Melton-Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-70926080857601955202014-02-16T08:11:27.496+00:002014-02-16T08:11:27.496+00:00What devastating scenes. I smiled at the sugar on ...What devastating scenes. I smiled at the sugar on concrete story. I use sugar in my freezing compartment of the fridge as it stops ice forming. Sounds like it has many uses. I can appreciate how your mother would have many tales to tell about extreme weather events of the past..Juliethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01542985048406828693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-30051424079611372012014-02-14T10:00:38.153+00:002014-02-14T10:00:38.153+00:00@ Theresa - many thanks re the pics. Our news thi...@ Theresa - many thanks re the pics. Our news this a.m. said you'd had a big dose of snow ... I hope it doesn't make life too difficult. It just doesn't stop raining .. and we have more storms this weekend: poor flood/storm victims.<br /><br />@ Manzanita - glad you got a new machine and that you have a guru to help get things sorted out .. <br /><br />The scarf is a big success .. and god-daughter with her wonderful hair.<br /><br />So interesting to learn about Rockwall ... and its past marine life - that's fascinating. I wonder what else they will find if they can do more excavation, or careful evaluation of the site.<br /><br />@ Michelle - sorry blogger lost your comment - but good to see you ... and "Ubuntu" next week - looking forward to that.<br /><br />@ Julie - what a pain this commenting thing is .. I lose some of mine too.<br /><br />The floods, storms, wind and then all the damage is really quite extraordinary .. <br /><br />Good old god-daughter taking her selfie! Thanks Julie ..<br /><br />@ Rosey - yes thank goodness not everyone is just out for themselves at the expense of others .. The communities are keeping an eye on their own I'm pleased to say.<br /><br />Isn't the concrete mix story a fun (horrible gooey) thought ... <br /><br />It's still raining or storming once again .. and I gather your snow storms are pretty bad - they I think turn into our rain storms ... such is life - roll on warmer drier weather .. <br /><br />@ Karen - it's going to be interesting to see what happens with the flooding, with the land so sodden and the water having nowhere to go .. I am very glad it's dry down here.<br /><br />Isn't the sugar and concrete thing a 'strange but true' story!<br /><br />Cheers to you .. Happy Valentine's Day .. and stay safe in the floods, storms and snows - as in Australia safe from the incredible heat ... Hilary<br /><br />Hilary Melton-Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-73196661591366864932014-02-14T03:33:03.925+00:002014-02-14T03:33:03.925+00:00So sorry about all the flooding. Hoping it eases s...So sorry about all the flooding. Hoping it eases soon. <br /><br />I did not know about the sugar and concrete thing. It is true, you do learn something new every day!<br /><br />Have a great weekend! :) Karen Langehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18177923284595298347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-76124175546147924712014-02-14T02:16:32.438+00:002014-02-14T02:16:32.438+00:00Not all people are despicable, and thank God for i...Not all people are despicable, and thank God for it. :)<br /><br />It's awful when they are though, and the example you gave is an ugly one.<br /><br />The concrete mistake?!?!??! OY OY OY!!!<br /><br />I've seen how bad the flooding is, and I'm so sorry to hear it. :(<br /><br />We're getting awful snow storms this year. I'm ready for warmer weather this time around for sure!<br /><br />Crazy weather...<br /><br />Have a good weekend and a Happy Valentine's Day. :)mail4roseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17850985344834209198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-11463227859692642282014-02-13T20:22:51.661+00:002014-02-13T20:22:51.661+00:00I also had trouble commenting last night. Sorry th...I also had trouble commenting last night. Sorry that you've been experiencing such extreme weather. The flood damage is unbelievable, as well as the horrible looting. Hope it gets warmer, and everything drys up soon. Great photos! My favorite is the selfie with you, and your lovely god- daughter.<br /><br />JulieEmpty Nest Insiderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10074223969046687064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-82211840064574838422014-02-13T16:34:33.777+00:002014-02-13T16:34:33.777+00:00Oh no! Has blogger eaten my comment? It just disap...Oh no! Has blogger eaten my comment? It just disappeared...?<br />Trying again...<br /><a href="http://writer-in-transit.co.za/" rel="nofollow">Writer In Transit</a>Michelle Wallacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02750092836481599870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-2674202578532743432014-02-13T14:20:44.693+00:002014-02-13T14:20:44.693+00:00Thanks for jarring my senses. I was here and my co...Thanks for jarring my senses. I was here and my computer crapped out again and I never got back. I got my new one and the guru is supposed to transfer my info tomorow (fingers crossed)<br />First, I delight in seeing you looking so beautiful and happy. I love your scarf. Your lovely god-child has such extraordinary hair color. <br />How interesting.... the weather and changes it brings to the earth. Funny, I've just recently been reading about a place in the US.... Rockwall, Texas ... where some fascinating info lies buried deep under the town and has had no organized digs or hardly any exposure. Drilling for water in the 1920's they discovered a man-made 20 mile stone wall, 200 feet under layers of shale. The wall contains stone and material not known for use today. Also found there were shark's teeth and marine fossils dating back perhaps 200,000 years. I could be off on some of this info but I have to go back and study it again. So exciting to read about.<br />Love from Manzanita Manzanitahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06467261212623663365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-26302033061817549062014-02-13T13:56:30.570+00:002014-02-13T13:56:30.570+00:00Nice to see so many pictures of you.
Stay warm an...Nice to see so many pictures of you.<br /><br />Stay warm and dry. We're getting snow here today. What a winter!Theresa Milsteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03477761307315565259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-42486668103012250642014-02-13T08:19:11.640+00:002014-02-13T08:19:11.640+00:00@ Andrea - we are learning fast what water can do;...@ Andrea - we are learning fast what water can do; however I gather the ice and snow storms have returned for you - stay safe and dry .. <br /><br />@ Nat - what fun to know you've been across to St Michael's Mount .. Penzance Bay is beautiful. Did you know you were walking across a forest? ... the remnants of the trees appear at very low tides, or at storm battered times like these.<br /><br />As I said to Andrea above I've just heard about the new snow storms on the eastern side .. and I'm sure in Colorado you have your fair share of snow - I remember last year's run-off floods - they were terrible ... <br /><br />@ Lee - it really is wild weather .. and these pictures are fairly benign compared to the weather we've been having since - I knew it was going to get worse. Mother Nature is imposing her will on us ..<br /><br />Thanks so much we were having a great time ... <br /><br />@ Suze - thanks, the weather has just got worse and the river situation is pretty serious .. Thames valley before it flows through London, then the Severn feeding down from the Welsh mountains into the Bristol Channel.<br /><br />Delighted you enjoy the pic of my scarf .. I'm rather fond of it too ..<br /><br />@ Yvonne - good to see you and the weather is just dreadful. I know you work on the A-Z with Lee .. that's good and I decided on my theme last year, which I haven't changed.<br /><br />@ Robyn - yes the storms are really covering the country. We haven't had cold and snow yet, though they had some further north yesterday. Thanks re the photos ..<br /><br />@ Teresa - it's funny how much my mother eased her way into people's consciences even though I didn't write much about her .. I miss her greatly too, as too my uncle .. it's lovely to know you related so much to her - thank you.<br /><br />Thanks re the photos ... <br /><br />Isn't it extraordinary that sugar slowed the concrete down .. and yes sugar is nice, but not so good as you sadly note!<br /><br />@ Sara - the snow spread across the Midlands and the north, I don't think we got it here ... but the hail has been around.<br /><br />Your snow and ice storm is likely to come across the Atlantic in the next few days .. we've other storms coming in first .. it never stops: very difficult and very unusual.<br /><br />The footprints are the oldest known human footprints outside Africa ... found last year, but reported on 7 Feb 2014 ... also unknown forests, perhaps fish farms/peat digging points were uncovered in Wales in the recent storms ... and new fossils coming out of the rocks on the Jurassic south coast .. <br /><br />Thank you to one and all - I'm safe and dry here .. and wish the same for everyone else .. cheers HilaryHilary Melton-Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-30414571573523860762014-02-13T00:31:18.201+00:002014-02-13T00:31:18.201+00:00I've been hearing about the weather from my da...I've been hearing about the weather from my daughter. Last I heard it was now rain, ice and SNOW. I agree about the jet stream...may it move on.<br /><br />On the other hand, I love that you found something positive about the situation. Your words, "palaeontologists have been able to explore, photograph, record new fossils and clues from the rock falls, buried forests or 800,000 year old footprints ..." <br /><br />This is kind of cool. I'm not sure it totally makes up for the weather situation, but I'm sure the palaeontologists are very happy:~)<br /><br />Stay dry and warm:~)Sarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15995684156785464334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-38686875704041656352014-02-12T22:33:49.803+00:002014-02-12T22:33:49.803+00:00First of all, I miss your mother and I only knew h...First of all, I miss your mother and I only knew her through your wonderful words. She must have been so much fun. <br /><br />Secondly, I love the photos of you. They are very good. <br /><br />Finally, I didn't know about sugar slowing down concrete. I know it slows me down when I eat it. :) <br /><br />T. Powell Coltrinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02160774009926623671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-81175269522098192332014-02-12T19:29:35.312+00:002014-02-12T19:29:35.312+00:00Wow. Blasted storms. They make me nervous. It'...Wow. Blasted storms. They make me nervous. It's snowing here today, Hil. Love, love, love seeing the pictures of you. Beautiful. That selfie is very special, my friend. <3 you!Robyn Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17356555082768185840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-89500859853325539052014-02-12T18:55:44.824+00:002014-02-12T18:55:44.824+00:00I agree the weather is really terrible Hilary, Whe...I agree the weather is really terrible Hilary, Where is all the rain coming from?<br /><br />I am one of Arlee Bird's Ambassadors for the A to Z Challenge, noticed your name down and wondered if you have any preparations done yet although only February. I look forward to visiting you during the challenge.<br />Yvonne Lewis.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-70582849182728766372014-02-12T18:52:52.389+00:002014-02-12T18:52:52.389+00:00Wow. Bit gobsmacked at all you report. This seems ...Wow. Bit gobsmacked at all you report. This seems an airy bit to focus on in the midst of all this but I just wanted to say, I like your scarf, Hil. It speaks of overcoming.Suzehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07908805179119217608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-29093895019644526162014-02-12T17:25:36.275+00:002014-02-12T17:25:36.275+00:00Such wild weather! Those pictures are terrifying. ...Such wild weather! Those pictures are terrifying. We simply aren't very equipped when it comes to handling what Mother Nature dishes out.<br /><br />You, however, look like you're truly enjoying your time. That's wonderfulcleemckenziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15456109243453726483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-81370348949086410332014-02-12T16:24:41.975+00:002014-02-12T16:24:41.975+00:00Hi Hilary: I have actually been to Penzance and h...Hi Hilary: I have actually been to Penzance and hope the weather problems clear away. And. . .another memory--we visited St. Michael's Mount, both directions, boat and back by foot. Here in Colorado it is very cold, lots of snow in the Mountains, but wait until we have the Spring runoff, hope no horrible flooding like last year. Stay warm and dry.loverofwordshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05763349886822924646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-66876218909383864482014-02-12T12:19:38.300+00:002014-02-12T12:19:38.300+00:00Wow, it is incredible what the rain can do...far w...Wow, it is incredible what the rain can do...far worse than the snow and cold over here as we are merely inconvenienced in Central New York where we are relatively equipped to manage. (unlike down south)Andreahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01294308714313220666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-82388710815808201282014-02-12T08:26:02.479+00:002014-02-12T08:26:02.479+00:00Hi Joylene .. thankfully there are many many other...Hi Joylene .. thankfully there are many many others who are wonderfully helpful ... but the few make life an extra misery in times of great hardship.<br /><br />I've been lucky here .. but am aware how much others are suffering .. <br /><br />Cheers HilaryHilary Melton-Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-51132522745922922192014-02-11T13:01:32.836+00:002014-02-11T13:01:32.836+00:00Yes, sadly, people really are despicable, but then...Yes, sadly, people really are despicable, but then there are people like you, Hilary, and the rest of us are very glad. Terrible weather. Glad you had a nice time seeing the sites where it wasn't so bad. Joylene Nowell Butlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04497637513532136615noreply@blogger.com