Thursday, October 8, 2009

HUMMINGBIRD MIGRATIONS



Boy, Have I had a ton of hummingbirds entertaining me this morning! I've seen more in the last two hours, than I've seen in the few weeks that I've had my feeder up. Carol, I'm very appreciative that you encouraged me to get this feeder. I was able to find a picture online that is much better than anything I'll ever capture. Wondering about the Hummingbird migration patterns, I found a few basic facts:

Hummingbird Migrations
Humming birds migrate alone, yet many end up at the same exact feeders or gardens where they spent last spring and summer. Although they are solitary migrants, when many are on the move in a good migratory pathway, you may see many in a day. They fly hundreds -- or even thousands -- of miles fueled by nectar. (Many make the 20 hour trip over the Gulf of Mexico without any food or rest)

They migrate in response to hormonal changes that are triggered by changing length of daylight, and nothing you do will make them stay too long in the fall. Males migrate first, females follow a few days to a couple of weeks or so behind them. Immature hummers are the last to leave, (still new to everything)

Cool weather may call for an early exit and warmer days may extend their visit, but they will leave. But they remember your feeders from previous trips, so keep them clean and filled. Which is what I must do right now. Mine is just about empty. I think these hummers are trying to get out of town, before we get the cool front coming in this weekend.

Spring Hummingbird Migration begins February 3, 2010

155 comments:

Gage1 said...

boy that's an impressive gathering of hummingbirds! Nice!

Anonymous said...

Thanks Gage (I think I have your name right).
Glad to see you here.

.. catching up on yesterdays posts:
Coreen, Sorry to have missed you last night.

Carol, I watched your photo bucket slide show again this morning, and it's amazing! Those pictures tell a whole story, and bring back memories of so many things we've discussed in the past year. They remind me that we've known each other quite a while now.

I can't believe all you've accomplished there at your camp. The plants and flowers, the boats and docks, everything! You've kept it natural and managed to personalize it too.

Ivy and Jan, Her site is a perfect example of what you can do with photo bucket. There's a story and a history there in those photos, they remind me of so many things we've discussed (and yes, pondered) in the past.

Carol, You are so much more creative than I can ever even hope to be.... and you don't even realize it. Photo Bucket I'm referring to

I saw that you said you got the slide show idea from Tony. Maybe he'll link his photo bucket for us too. He's another one that has some beautiful pictures to share.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
jan said...

Chloe, great picture of hummers and great post. It is good to know they come back to previous sites to feed. We will certainly have some feeders out for our hummers next spring.

Anonymous said...

Thanks Jan. I'm going to be in and out for a while, but I just saw your email, and I'm going to be answering it a little later.

I just want to verify that Carol sent you the invitation to post and that you clicked on it and accepted it.

Also, Will you be able to store those pictures on your computer, or will you be transferring them from you husbands computer. If he emails them to you, then we should be able to save them on your computer straight from the email.

We'll take it one step at a time. And I'll walk you through each one of them. We'll do it in segments, and can do it all by writing back and forth to each other. So it may take a while, but that way, each thing will make sense to you. I just want to assure you Jan, that it's not difficult, and we can figure it out together. If it were that technical, I would never be able to do it.

Anonymous said...

Jan, We can do this all by email, if you prefer. I don't know why I wrote it all here, instead of sending it to you.

Ivy Green said...

Totally green with envy as I gaze at my beautifully clean and bright hummingbird feeder with its untouched reservoir of fresh sugar water. Every flicker past the window catches my eye, but none of them are hummers. (Butterfly just sampled, but alas, no feathered friend.)

So, Chloe, thank you for this gift of an amazing photo of Rubies and a great thread about them. Carol will be bowled over when she opens the blog later. I will enjoy the picture until such time as I am revisited by the real McCoys. Note that one of the males sports what appears to be a black throat. That's his throat-color when they're not picking up sunlight.

Ivy Green said...

It really amazes me that the birds are all sipping peacefully together. Mine usually battle one another for exclusive squatting rights.

Anonymous said...

Ivy, those birds sipping together surprises me too. In my readings today, I read they are loners, and often argue with each other, when at the same feeder. They just happen to be on the same route, at the same feeder, but are not traveling together.

What really got me thinking about them this morning, were your questions yesterday about their migration, and why yours were gone, and our aren't yet. That, and the surprise visit by so many of them this morning (one at a time though). They've even come up to my window and looked in, before feeding. And I was never camera ready, it all happens so fast.

The more I learn about them, the more interesting they are.

Ivy Green said...

"I don't know what you mean "Are you referring to "Lower Alabama?" :)" I guess its meant for fun - if so :) right back at ya! LOL" (by Jan)

Jan,
Sorry, I was not at all clear. That's what I get for trying to be "clever." ("too smart for your own good," my mom used to say).

It was an "inside joke." Too inside. My reference was a play on your remark to Carol you are "glad to hear LA (Louisiana) is doing well economically." The part of Alabama that falls on the map below Tuscaloosa or Auburn is referred to by some people as "Lower Alabama." It is an impoverished, uneducated region, also known as the "Black Belt." But Mobile is at least one well-heeled city in that region too, and some clever wits will answer the open question, "So where 'ya from?" with the reply "L.A." They don't mean Los Angeles, but the joke's on you if that's your first thought.

So, TMI to explain my "dumb inside joke." lol

Ivy Green said...

Chloe,
If your birds are "looking at you" through the window, I bet they are one's who "know you," or friends of theirs who've been "told" about you. How else can I explain that every spring, on or about April 1, before I remember to put up my first feeder of the season, there will be a little male ruby-throat hovering at my usual feeder window, peering inside at me with a seconds-long stare-down, as if to say, "Hey, lady, where's my food?"

That really does happen every spring, and I'm amazed every time. lol

Anonymous said...

Yes Ivy, it says they do remember the feeder from trip to trip. Sometimes a bird will fly into a very clear window, not knowing it is there. I don't know why that little hummer hovered at the window in front of me. I assumed she just wanted to make sure there was a barrier there, but it was a first for me, so I very happily sat there and watched. I'm getting very enamored with those cute little hummers.

Anonymous said...

Ivy, I also think what was said in my readings about their trips being affected by the 'weather' as well as hormones, may explain why yours left sooner. We are practically 'on' the gulf where we live, and I really do think they're exiting in large amounts now, because I have seen so many today. It was such a joy, but my nectar is running out. I'm going to fill it in a few minutes, I've just not wanted to disturb the flow of birds. You can literally see the level going down, and I have had just one bird at a time.

I think you still have a few coming through, but you just haven't seen them.

Anonymous said...

I was just out, adding nectar to my feeder, and I had barely finished, and was still standing on that little deck next to it, and a little hummer came up and fed right in front of me, maybe three feet away. There's something really special about this day.

I've noticed they're all very tiny, and my readings today said the immature hummers are the last to leave. So I think it's the inexperience, less careful youngsters outside my window. Plus the weather may be getting ready to change.

I'm not getting anything done today, but I sure am having a good time. Everything else can wait. Emma and I will spend the day pondering and watching hummers.

Ivy Green said...

Chloe,
I say it's great to "seize the day" in a way that's about just being, not necessarily doing. ("I'm a human being, not a human doing." lol)

Carol said...

Very neat post Chloe. I was just telling our pharmacist at work some of those facts you wrote on the blog post.

I still have hummers at the feeder but there are times one would think they have all gone. I think it is new ones that keep showing up. I haven't seen my Ruby throated one lately. He's probably having a little marquerita in Mexico right about now.

I will continue to keep the tanks full and fresh until days go by with nada. Maybe even then.

Carol said...

Welcome to the Swamp, Gage. Take your shoes off and hang out.

Carol said...

Yes Chloe, my photobucket does represent pics I used when on TM. The first pic of the river was actually taken before Rita. Next to last pic on the slideshow. It was right after I bought the camp in 2005. The neighbor didn't have a wharf out yet.

You may have noticed my wharf expanded this year. I wanted to extend my yard and have more room to fish and keep my old boat collection. I love that wharf.

I got that old pontoon boat last year for a song. It's kind of an unwritten law out here that you have to have a pontoon boat to cruise the river on.

Anonymous said...

http://www.whohub.com/gage

If you go to Gage's profile (by clicking on her picture), you find that she's a 'very' interesting person. She also has her own blog, 'Friend sandwiches better with mustard' that you can go to by clicking the link. From there I went to an interview she did, and that's where I found out how interesting she is. Very original thinking, as well as artistic, and a bit of a ponderer, as well as a reader. And from Canada.

I'm sure she won't mind us doing this, because she's made it all public as part of here google profile Interview Gage, Make sure you let me know if I'm wrong.


Like the way you put that Ivy.

Carol said...

Ivy, I like that, "...a human being, not a human doing."

Anonymous said...

Carol, I left that last post for you. I forgot to ask if you're home early, or just peeking in.

Carol said...

I'm curious about how Gage found our little Swamp. Care to share Gage?

Carol said...

HOme again, home again jiggity jig. I've got to go to my NP meeting tonight. Hate to leave the swamp but look forward to the free food.

I never comment from work but I can look in at times.

Anonymous said...

I'm curious too Carol. I hope she'll be back.
Carol, She also does some beautiful photos, really nice. On page 4, there's one of a spider. Gage's Flikcr


Do you know what's on the menu tonight?

Carol said...

Was interested in how Gage found us because we are so far away from her down here in the southern US. That's what makes the Internet so neat. It can turn this great big cold world into a tiny, cosy place.

Carol said...

This will not be easy to read. It's going to be a buffet style. I like that the best because you can eat more of what you like and skip other stuff. I usually like it all. Also it is a lot faster than ordering a meal.

There's usually a neat salad selection with spinach, fruits and cheeses. There are appetizers which include grilled shrimp, crab cakes, smoked salmon, etc. There are several veggie selections but usually these little red potato wedges and thin whole sting bean.

Then usually a pasta, steak/prime rib, baked red snapper topped with lump crab meat in a lemon saffron sauce. Then usually a chocolate dessert and a puffed pastry with berries and whipped cream. Always way too much food.

I leave in pain and feeling a hair guilty. Just a hair guilty. Oh, you can order whatever you want to drink. Occasionally I get a Bloody Mary but more often just a coke.

Sorry I had to do that to you, but you had to ask.

Carol said...

I love Gage's pics. Maybe it was "Charlotte" that called her over here.

Carol said...

Solar, will you be watching for that crash on the moon in the morning? It will be overcast here at 6:35AM. Sure hope the moon doesn't get pissed off. I still want to get a pic of the full moon next month. I'm practicing getting slow shutter speed pics of the moon at night.

jan said...

Ivy, you are right - I had no idea what you were talking about with LA - very interesting!

Chloe - I too an a human being not a human doing - I don't dare tell my husb that - it will just reinforce his sitting back and letting me do all the work around here. I have a hard time sitting still and he doesn't like to move.

Carol, I was not hungry before I read your menu - sounds good.

I like that new little icon at the top of the page that says "whos among us" Hard to lurk now.

Solar said...

Carol,

Me too, I have been snipe hunting again, and left a post for all of you there...I have been doing so many things at once that I don't even notice when its time for me to migrate to a new post...

Chloe, very nice. Pick one out, and name him after me...I have been a loner most of my life...lots of friends, but I like to be alone for the most part...those hummers look like they are at the bar...a nice little respectful distance between them....

Solar said...

Carol,

I meant, that I will be watching that moon crash....

Carol, the moon is a planed, just like the earth....only deader!

Solar said...

Dang.!! planed = planet...

Solar said...

I brought them over:

paul said...

Carol,

I vote to keep the swamp a place free from chiefs, all Indians running around wooping it up...

Ivy, Nice catching little Mz, nit, nite, nite...that was funny,,still laughing HA! Oh Hi Chlo :-))

Jan,

I live in ChicagoRidge just outside of Chicago, nice but not cold..all of the neighbors watch out for each other...Chicago is close enough to get to within a short time....

Natasha,

Hope the Yankees do it for you...you sound like a sports fan..

Tony,

Nice to have you here...stick around will you. Looks like you are getting Chlo's instructions down pat...I will be the last one...I haven't even tried anything yet...I will experiment with leaving a pic next to my post, I like that. cos I can rotate some of them...I have a really great water falls one that is now one of my favs....
October 8, 2009 2:33:00 PM PDT
paul said...

I have a really great one-of a water falls, that should read.
October 8, 2009 2:42:00 PM PDT
paul said...

Note:
To Carols twin Mary, don't even try to correct my spelling, and or criticize my grammar unless u do it in person...show me how to do it better...teach.!
October 8, 2009 2:45:00 PM PDT
paul said...

Ok,

No-one talking to me...I just finished my work out...going to take a fast shower,,,with my clothes on.....no peeking Carol.!
October 8, 2009 3:24:00 PM PDT

Carol said...

I can see you Solar but you have your jammies on now. What does that say? Superman?

Carol said...

Hey Jan, Jeanne B and Constance D were both the meeting and told me to tell you hi.

Carol said...

Nice meal and talk was on overactive bladder. I had coffee before I left and the subject of that meeting was bothering me all the way home.

jan said...

Carol, I remember Constance but refresh my memory on Jeanne B???

what can we do about overactive bladder?

jan said...

Do you mean Jeanne B who used to have long dark hair - she didn't graduate in our class. She came there to teach???

jan said...

Solar, I have been to Chicago twice - great city.

Carol said...

Yep Jan, that' her. You remember Constance. She was in our nursing class but not in our click.

Carol said...

If it is stress incontinence, he said surgery is the only option. If it is urge incontinence, then drugs. Since the placebo is almost as effective for urge incontinence as the high dollar drug, I would say, just get over it!

Carol said...

You know if you look at many drugs, the placebo is almost as effective as the real drug. Just shows you the power of the mind.

When I saw that the placebo was almost as effective as the drug they were discussing tonight, I asked, how much do you charge for the placebo. I think we might be able to afford that at the jail. I don't think he was amused.

Unknown said...

Good evening
all...
Looks like you are getting Chlo's instructions down pat..


Paul,
I don't know maybe a little.
I'm watching back and forth between reading TM and the Swamp "Outrage" on HBO,very good! Its about gay politicians in Washington,many Republican's and how they vote anti-gay on issue's..Hypocrisy,no surprise there..I love it,my 42 inch LCD TV is my computer monitor,so I push an input button and i'm on the computer push it again and I'm on my DVR watching a TV show...

Unknown said...

Carol,
Speaking of drugs.I asked my doctor for Ambien, for the occasional night when I can't sleep,well i took one last night,no good..Is there anything else that works better?

Carol said...

You have your cable hooked up to your computer Tony?

Carol said...

Were you in bed, ready to sleep, when you took it Tony?

Carol said...

Ambien knocks my lights out. You must take it when you are in bed. Don't pass the little window of sleepiness.

There are other meds in that category. Lunesta is one. Can't remember the others. Lunesta leaves a nasty taste in your mouth. Other than that, you would have to move up to a benzodiazapines. That would most likely leave you more groggy in the morning.

jan said...

That is so true about ambien. I was visiting my dad in Tulsa a few years ago and my stepmother had been having trouble sleeping and had taken an ambien. She was sitting at the table with us and just conked out right there. My husb and I had to carry her to bed.

Unknown said...

You have your cable hooked up to your computer Tony?
October 8, 2009 7:16:00 PM PDT
Carol,
Sorry it took so long had a problem connecting to the server,had to restart? I have my tower computer hooked up to my TV.

I wasn't in bed.I took it just before I actually wen't to bed,I was so wired I knew I wouldn't sleep.I took Tylenol PM before but it gave me nightmares of all the dead family member's..

jan said...

If I can't sleep, I just get up and read or do something and then when I feel sleepy I go back to bed. If I have to work the next day, I take benadryl.

jan said...

Carol, where does Constance work? Is Jeanne still teaching at MSU?

Unknown said...

Ha,Jan
It didn't do a thing for me..Weird..

Carol said...

Some people have actually fallen asleep with food in their mouths with Ambien. There have been reports of people getting up and eating in thier sleep. A few have used the Ambien defense, they killed their parents after taking Ambien and don't remember it. That defense doesn't work very often.

Unknown said...

Carol,
Jessie is begging for some of my Granny Smith apple as I type,that dog loves fruit..

Unknown said...

Jessie with no teeth,i cut it up real small..

Carol said...

Don't give Jessie any grapes or raisons. They can cause kidney failure.

Carol said...

Constance is an NP, works at a little clinic, maybe more than one. Jeanne may be retired?? She is also an NP and does some work at a school based clinic.

Carol said...

Benadryl can really cause a hangover the next day. Studies show that taking a Benadryl is equal to being legally drunk. Don't operate heavy equipment or drive.

Unknown said...

Carol,
I learned about the grapes a few years ago.I gave Jessie grapes before I found out though..Scared me when i found out, asked the vet and he said Jessie was OK but no more grapes...

Carol said...

It kind of make me wonder why certain foods are so toxic to dogs and not to us. Seems like I read somewhere that the dogs DNA was close to ours.

I know they use a lot of pesticides/herbicides on grapes. I prefer the organic ones, if I'm going to eat them.

Ivy Green said...

I haven't had any of those things happen with ambien/zolpidem. How many mg's were they taking to pass out like that? I do fine with 5 mg's. I had been prescribed 10 mg's, but I was cutting them in half. Finally got the doc to redo the Rx for just the 5.

Carol said...

Cut them in half Ivy and you have twice as many for half the price sista. Don't you know how to be cheap?

Carol said...

Did you notice that I added the Who's amung us up at the top. Guess who's blog gave me that idea??? It was Gage.

Ivy Green said...

Carol,
Three years ago, Meg's immune system completely failed. She went down to zero blood platelets. No definitive cause was ever determined, but I suspect combination of over-vaccinations, anti-allergy meds and chemical yard treatments. She now has a big mark on her veterinary chart, No Vaccinations.

She went on heavy steroids for months to get her platelets back, and that's what led to her diabetes.

Carol said...

I really hate those steroids. There are so many side effects. I can't take them at all. But they are often very necessary to treat certain autoimmune or inflammatory conditions. You are damned if you do and damned if you don't.

Ivy Green said...

Carol,
I used to, but didn't make a difference to my Rx co-pay, especially after they became generic, they were cheap, and I was lazy...plus I never cut them evenly.

Carol said...

Mom's cancer was of the adrenal cortex. She put out tons of cortisol/steroids. Her blood pressure and blood sugar were both sky high. I was pumping the blood pressure meds and insulin to her. She was also eating like a horse. They make you very hungry also.

Ivy Green said...

Carol,
Meg was taking prednisone. Wicked stuff.

Carol said...

I think they are scored (have a little dent in the middle). You can easily break them in half but if you want to be a perfectionist Ivy, go for it. Me, I like being cheap.

Carol said...

Prednisone is cortisol, a glucocorticoid. Normally secreted by the adrenal cortex, the gland sitting on top of the kidneys. Have to be careful when taking it. When you take it, the adrenal glands becomes lazy and it quits it's job. If taken for over 5 days, you must wean it off slowly.

Our pharm. prof said when you take that steroid for any period of time, it can take a year for the body's immune system to function properly again.

Ivy Green said...

Carol,
Meg has hypothyroidism too. She will be taking meds for that for the rest of her life, in addition to the insulin.

Ivy Green said...

All that's why I don't leave her vacation care to the pet nanny.

Carol said...

Poor pup Ivy. My older sister had a dog with adrenal insufficiency. Addison's disease. No cortisol.

Carol said...

I'd be nervous taking care of Meg, Ivy. I take endocrine problems like her very seriously. Can you check a dog's blood sugar? How would you prick them? I need data to make decisions. Not good with guessing.

Ivy Green said...

That's why we call her "Peg Leg Meg." She's always limping along, but she keeps going.

Carol said...

You are very fortunate that you have had her for as long as you have Ivy. Dogs aren't easy patients to deal with. Kind of hard to interview them, but not too much different than my inmates, I guess. They're kind of trickly too.

Ivy Green said...

She takes a special insulin, timed release, once a day. The vet has never suggested we test her blood sugar. So far, she's hanging in there...been on insulin for two years or so.

Carol said...

Is it like a Lantus Insulin? That's long acting with very little peak.

Carol said...

They probably keep her blood sugar a little on the high side. It's much safer than too low. Too low can be deadly in a hurry.

Ivy Green said...

It's called Vetsulin. She takes 18 units.

Carol said...

Sounds like something they prepare especially for dogs.

Ivy Green said...

Yes, it's a pet med...I just googled it and it came right up...

Carol said...

Yes, I did also. It is a pork insulin. Used to use that kind on people before they came up with human insulin. It is like one of the long acting insulins we used to use a while back.

Carol said...

You can test blood sugars on dogs. You use the ear. Maggie would never go for that. She would never come out from under the bed.

Ivy Green said...

My grandmother was diabetic. I remember her giving herself the shots all the time I was growing up. I took it all for granted because she always managed it so well. But diabetes is a dangerous disease.

Ivy Green said...

Carol,
Meg is extremely tolerant of all the poking and prodding she's subjected to, but once in a while she lets us know we're pushing her too far.

Carol said...

You betcha Ivy. When I ran the Diabetes Center for 6 years, all I did was eat, sleep and breath diabetes info. I had to, just to keep up with it. As an NP I can't give that kind of time to just one disease so I'm not as up with it as I used to be.

I do spend as much time as I can with my diabetes patients in the jail. They are usually not very well managed before coming to jail. Some actually will take it seriously, but just a few.

Ivy Green said...

Maggie is like the "Bailly-Monster." She would high-tail it out the room whenever Meg's injection vial came out of the fridge...actually, more like low-tail it.

Carol said...

Did you know that human insulin is genetically engineered from either e coli, an intestinal bacteria or from yeast, depending on the company making it. It's pretty fascinating how it is done. I visited the Lilly plant some years back. They used the e coli.

Carol said...

She's already under the covers just thinking about it.

jan said...

I think my stepmother was taking a low dose - but she was 86 so it may have been a high dose for her.

When I take it, I take children's benadryl - but I would never drive taking it, and don't often operate any heavier machinary than a food blender - ususally go to bed.

Ivy Green said...

Speaking of the ambien...

...it's such a peaceful word, like ambient. Ever wonder who sits around dreaming up these drug names?

Carol said...

Maggie, being a Heintz 57, is a pretty hardy dog. Totally nuts but physically hardy.

jan said...

My mother had type II diabetes before she died of a massive heart attack at age 68.

jan said...

I too have wondered who names the drugs.

Carol said...

Those brand names are significant Ivy. Ambien has a controlled release for those who can't stay asleep. A friend who took it said she couldn't get up in the morning after taking it.

I got some Ambien several years ago, a three month supply. I still have a bunch left. Just knowing I had it helped me sleep.

Ivy Green said...

That's so young, Jan. What a loss. Terrible for you, I'm sorry.

jan said...

I just looked at the little black and red icon at the top and a person has left us. Wonder who?

Carol said...

It may have been it's placebo effect. If you believe a drug will work, it is more likely to work.

I read a book a while back titled, " The Biology of Belief" by Bruce Lipton PhD. He is a cellular biologist. It is about how what we think affects all the cells in the body. Very interesting.

jan said...

Thanks Ivy, it was a shock. She was here one day and gone the next. I was in Austin - it was a Saturday. She had the HA about 10 in the morning and my friends tried to find me all day. I was doing some errands and it was before cell phones. I got home about 9 pm and found out she had the heart attack. When I called the hosp I talked to the nurse and he said she was almost gone - I have never felt so lost in my life.

Ivy Green said...

Where did that thing come from? Did it just appear out of nowhere? I don't remember seeing it before.

jan said...

Carol, that is most interesting. A Navajo belief is that if you talk about it or acknowledge it - it will happen. My Navajo students have told me that they don't talk about death.

jan said...

I think Carol said she put it there.

Carol said...

Type II Diabetes is hereditary. Both of you must be careful since it is in your families. Type II DM is preventable. Maintaining a healthy body weight and walking can both prevent DM.

Ivy Green said...

What a painful loss, Jan. Must still feel like it was yesterday.

Carol said...

I wonder if you have to be signed in to show up on that little thing up there?

Ivy Green said...

Ha! That's why she's the Blog-master!

jan said...

I walk or swim every day unless I am sick. That is the reason. I had an aunt who had it too and died at 54 - she had an amputation of one leg and while they were amputating the other she died of a heart attack.

Carol said...

No Ivy, I put it there. (That little thingy up there) I found one on Gage's site and got one for us.

Yes Jan, mind very powerful. Must put it to good use. The mind can make us or break us.

Carol said...

Hey Ivy, click on that thingy and then look a little down the page and you can see where people who come here are coming from. I see my little town and ya'll also. Look at it.

Ivy Green said...

Carol,
Thanks for that suggestion. I'm always on a diet, it seems, but I do get my blood work done about every six weeks. The diabetes hasn't appeared too often on the family tree, but one of my cousin's children has it.

jan said...

Ivy, it was 26 years ago. The acute pain of losing her is gone, but I still miss her.

Carol, how accurate is the test that averages 3 months of your blood sugar - the A13 is that right?

jan said...

That is so cool - the 3 areas that we (Ivy Carol and Jan are on are "pulsing" and it looks like a few others are lurking.

jan said...

I have gained 30 lbs since I turned 50 - and now must take some off. My Doc said the other day that my blood sugar on the 3 month test is a "hair" over normal - even with all the exercise. He advised I lose 5 lbs and I did and now am working on the next 5. I will get it off. So I guess weight is very important even when you exercise.

Ivy Green said...

Maybe they'll come on in...

Carol said...

They might not be here now Jan, but may have been here earlier. Isn't that neat.

Research demonstrates that a good 30-60 minute walk can have a positive affect on the blood sugar for two days. Get walking.

Carol said...

With diabetes, a 15-20 lb weight loss ,even if you need to lose more, can have a significant influence on blood sugar control if done early in the disease.

jan said...

I am off to bed. nite all

Carol said...

I love that little map. It's fun to see where people who visit are from. I'm so nosey.

Carol said...

It's way past my bedtime too but I was a little wired from my meeting. I'll catch ya'll on the flip flop. CB radio talk.

Ivy Green said...

I have to lose ten pounds from all the vacation-eating this summer. I actually did not gain any weight for all the fine food we had in London and Aberdeen. But I had already done the damage in Boston and other places.

I'm still contemplating a post-trip "food post" for y'all.

Ivy Green said...

Well, okay. Nite then. See, my ambien doesn't knock me out right away.

Carol said...

Oh Jan, the HgA1C is more accurate in seeing a summary of your blood sugar control over a period of time. A spot test tells you what it is at that time. The HgA1C tells you the average over the last 120 days or so.

jan said...

Carol, it is interesting that both Bill and Terry and their kids are all normal weight and all are in good shape but Steve is obese now and he has a 12 year old daughter who is obese. I feel so helpless as to what to do for them. If you know of anything, let me know.

jan said...

Ivy, would love to see that post trip food post. nite again. I really mean it this time.

Carol said...

Ivy, don't take it and then do something. The window is short. Pass it up and it may not work. Also you may not remember what you did after taking it.

Carol said...

Ivy, you can always talk about food. It's one of my favorite subjects.

Ivy Green said...

We had more than one conversation about the differences in portion sizes between European and American restaurants.

Ivy Green said...

I was waiting for a cookbook to arrive that Jamie suggested to me. It's supposed to come in my Amazon order with Craig Crawford's book.

Carol said...

I still need to order Craig's book. Will do that this weekend.

Carol said...

European eat smaller portions Ivy?

Carol said...

In Louisiana, our individual portions would serve an entire family is some places.

Carol said...

Nite Ivy.

Ivy Green said...

Carol,
They serve more courses, and there's always dessert, but the portions are smaller.

You're right about me "pushing it" with the ambien and "doing stuff." But it doesn't seem to bother me.

Carol said...

I wasn't just whitling Dixie when I said the Internet turns this big old world into a cozy little place. We had visitors from the UK and from Africa. Wow.

Welcome aboard new peeps. Take your shoes off and walk through the mud with us. It's fun. If you step on something, get a tetnus shot.

Carol said...

Oh Drats, it's time to get ready for work. But it is Friday, TGIF. This weekend is supposed to be rainy. You'll be happy Chloe. It's also suppose to get a little cooler. The last few days have felt more like July, hot and muggy.

Also, I have a long weekend. Monday is Columbus Day.

Anonymous said...

Carol, Just love the way you make a post first thing in the morning. It's starting to feel a little bit like a Realtiy Show here. Our cozy little world.

We're supposed to have heavy thunderstorms here today, but only a thirty percent chance of rain tomorrow. Cool front coming in and a low of 56 tonight. You'll hear me complaining in the morning, because 56 is freezing to me.

I certainly did enjoy all the medical talk last night. It's so nice to come on here in the morning, and find yourself in the middle of an interesting conversation.

Anonymous said...

I just checked the meter at the top of the page, and there are no lurkers, just little 'ol me.

It would be nice Carol, if we could figure out a way to get some of those lurkers to comment, and to come back again and again, once they started. I would love to talk to some from other countries.

Maybe we could do some posts to pull them in. But we'd need a gimmick. There's got to be some way to draw in a few of them.

jan said...

Hello out there - is anyone there?

jan said...

Looks like I am the only one here now. I am taking a sick day - woke up with a scratchy throat and my stomach feels yukky. I don't want to infect someone else if I have something. I hate being sick - even if I do get some extra time at home.

Could be all the talk about diabetes and other stuff rubbed off - but probably not. I have had several students who have been ill coming to school so they won't miss anything.

Our weather is definitely cooler here in NM. I prefer the cooler temps. I don't like hot weather. I can always wrap up in a quilt. I lived in Montana for 2 years and that is too cold. NM weather is just right for me.

jan said...

Now I see 2 people here. Who are you?

jan said...

Carol, it is great that you post something early in the morning to give us something to "chew on" early.

jan said...

I am reading the posts last night about food portions in Europe - I have always heard they are smaller there. I lived in Argentina in the 1960's and their food portions are not smaller - that I remember. The city I lived in was Rosario and the best I remember is their food portions were about the size they were here in the U.S. However that was 50 some years ago and maybe food portions were smaller here then. They ate lots of beef there - we ate often at restaurants and the main foods on the menu were ensalada (salad), beef (usually grilled) and sometimes chicken and papas frita (fried potatos). Wine was served with every meal. I didn't drink much wine then so I usually had water. Dessert was usually fruit or flan.

Anonymous said...

Solar, If you're around, then I'm going to 'beg' you to do a post for us. If you need help, just ask, and I'll help you through our emails. You are so knowledgeable about so many things, and I know you will give us a lot to ponder on.

So, here it goes. PLEASE Solar, will ya?

Anonymous said...

Jan, Sorry to hear you're not feeling well.
I just sent you an email to look at when you're feeling better. For right now though, just take care of yourself.

Anonymous said...

Solar, How about: Pretty please with Hummingbird nectar on top of it.

jan said...

Hi Chloe, I have been trying to follow your directions for posting a topic.

Anonymous said...

Do you have any questions Jan.
I'm peeking in, but I'm going to be gone for a few hours. Let me know, and I'll follow up when I get back. Are you able to get to the posting page?

Anonymous said...

Jan, I just answered your emails.

jan said...

Chloe, I did the post - and added pictures but somehow it all disappeared. I don't know what I did wrong. When I look at the top of the page it says I posted something but no message and no pics. Rats!

jan said...

Now the message is gone. Oh well, I could just send it to you to post -if you don't mind.

Anonymous said...

Jan, I saw your post in there in drafts, but not the pictures.

I'll be glad to post it for you, if you'd like me to. But at some point we need to go through the process again, because I know you can do it. It just takes a little practice.

Solar said...

Chloe,

I will try to do one. I haven't been paying to much attention to the process, and doubt if I can do as well as Ivy, and you have...sorry I wasn't around...and that is because most to the times..no-one is around much during the day...

How can I refuse Hummingbird nectar on top....put a little bud in with it,,,and we have a deal-deal?

Anonymous said...

Jan, It's up!
LOBIE

Anonymous said...

Hi Solar, Hit the link for Jan's post.
Ha! Bud it is. I always say 'Whatever works'.

If you need any tips Solar, just ask.
I just realize I did it again: said I'm leaving, and then didn't leave. Well, I guess my plans have changed, at least momentarily.