NEEPS

Ina · Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 9:47 am Post subject: December 22nd 2006

Posted: Fri Dec 22, 2006 11:53 am

Gosh, isn't it WARM?!?

We've had windows open in t he house this morning, taking advantage of the mild weather to get some fresh air thru the place.

All the frost is away, leaving sticky puddles of mud, and the rooster had got a big clot of mud on one claw. I shall have to catch him and get it off before he gets sore

Walking down to school this morning, we were swarmed with wee bugs! I couldn't believe it. One of my reasons for enjoying winter is the lack of bitey bugs bombing you as you walk down the lane. I feel betrayed! They were bigger than midges - gnats perhaps? How big is a gnat?

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WildGarlic
Site Admin

Joined: 22 Jun 2006
Posts: 7132
Location: Alford-ish
Posted: Fri Dec 22, 2006 12:02 pm Post subject:

Yeah.. it's great!!

A good day for a walk to celebrate the Solstice - assuming that you can escape the midges or gnats etc... I'd always thought of a gnat as a bigger midge but it appears I'm wrong.
Quote:

Gnats and Midges

Gnat is a general term that is given to a variety of small fly. Some feed on the blood of animals, including human beings, giving a painful bite. Others do not bite and feed on vegetation or waste. Flies love human waste, not only can they feed on it, they use it as a breeding ground; human waste and stagnated water are their favourites. The way in which the gnats eat can vary depending on what they feed on, but in most cases they stick their mouth into the food and suck the juices out, like sucking liquid through a straw.

Midges are also members of the fly family. They look like tiny mosquitoes, which are their distant cousins; but true midges do not bite. These insects often appear at dusk in large numbers. Some people have not heard of midges, and may call them gnats; both are correct, as 'gnat' is a general term for small fly.

Sand flies, which are often called 'biting midges', are found mainly close to water. Their bite can be very painful.

Link

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PurpleDragon
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Joined: 30 Jul 2006
Posts: 3411
Location: Cuminestown
Posted: Fri Dec 22, 2006 12:30 pm Post subject:

Hmm. We get loads of sand flies around here then, but I've always called them midges.

I don't like it when the weather is like this in the winter. It worries me. Winter shouldn't be encouraging small flying beasties to hatch, and leaves to start unfurling. This is the first year I have directly experienced global warming in such an intimate manner, and although I know it is inevitable that we are having climate change, because folk are taking too long to change the way they think and act, the final outcome is of great concern to me, and I worry about the future for my kids.

A winter solstice walk should be hatted, gloved, scarved and breathing steam! Wellies are okay if there is a lot of mucky ground, but a crisp, icy ground underfoot is preferable. You should get home anticipating the lovely cup of drinking chocolate and warm toasty toes by the fire.

Windows open on winter solstice is just unnatural!

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shiney
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Joined: 05 Dec 2006
Posts: 302
Location: Wiltshire
Posted: Fri Dec 22, 2006 12:57 pm Post subject:

Fog, fog, fog, fog!

It's foggie as if you didn't know. In the South West it's miserable and quite cold, just 1.1 degrees at 11am.

I've had t drag Monty out of bed to take him to the doctors. We've been up and down all night with ear ache and fever.

Luckily, I managed to get some anti~biotics from the docs. I wouldn't usually push for them, but he's been ill for 8 days now and with the holdiay weekend coming, I thought it better to having something to knock the infection on the head.

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WildGarlic
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Joined: 22 Jun 2006
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Location: Alford-ish
Posted: Fri Dec 22, 2006 1:31 pm Post subject:

That's been dragging on a bit... there are times when antibiotics are just what is needed.

Hugs to him - I hope he's feeling better very soon!!!!

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PurpleDragon
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Joined: 30 Jul 2006
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Location: Cuminestown
Posted: Fri Dec 22, 2006 1:45 pm Post subject:

Oh, dear, yes - antibiotics seem like the answer in this case, for sure. Hope everyone in your household is hunky dory come Monday.

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shiney
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Joined: 05 Dec 2006
Posts: 302
Location: Wiltshire
Posted: Fri Dec 22, 2006 2:31 pm Post subject:

It's gonna be big garlicky dinners and tea tree oil in the bath for us over the next few days ~ big stylie!

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Cockadoodledoo
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Joined: 17 Sep 2006
Posts: 1745
Location: Morayshire
Posted: Fri Dec 22, 2006 4:50 pm Post subject:

A beautiful day - I was out this morning letting my lot out about 7.00.a.m.
it was just lovely. Even now - mid afternoon - it it still lovely. Really mild and very still.