Wednesday August 7th, 2024

[Dave]

Happy Hump Day!

Ron's once flourishing roses are struggling mightily due to a mix of neglect and incompetence. This saddens me, but also makes me appreciate the occasional hardy blossom that beats the odds and thrives for a short time; this sun-dappled was photographed 2 weeks ago...

   

Edited to add my thoughts on yesterday's women's soccer Olympic matches...

USA (ranked #5) beat Germany (ranked #4) 1-0 in added extra time to advance to the Gold Medal match against Brazil. That's the good news. But I am concerned about their style of play in the last 2 matches: way too much passing back and not enough moving forward.

As indicated, Brazil (world ranked #9) advanced to the Gold Medal match by upsetting Spain (ranked #1) 4-2. IMO this was a huge upset, and I congratulate the Brazilian team. And I am glad that Brazil's legendary striker Marta has a chance to end her long career with a Gold Medal (she received a red card in an earlier match against Spain so was banned for 2 games but is eligible to play in the Gold Medal match).

[damar]

Hi Everyone!
Dave the lighting in your rose photo is really pretty.
Great color too. I am surprised that the rose bushes are still hanging on.
Lets see if I can remember how to attach a photo.

I won these two Oscar-Schmidt Autoharps (cheap!) on an auction.
It was risky because the older models from the 70s have a design flaw where after many decades
the bridge that anchors the strings begins to pull up and subsequently warping the top (under the strings).

There is a fix that requires removing the bridge plate and the bridge and drilling 5 new holes for sheet metal screws and drilling into the bridge and wood
to arrest the movement of the bridge. 
They almost ALL will need this procedure.
DH applied the fix to the furthest one and the one up front is still ok but will have the process done when I get new $trings.
I had one of these when I was a teenager. One of the harps shown here will be a gift for DD.
A set of new strings run over $100. 
(hardly worth it!)
But they both have decent strings and are able to stay tuned.

   

[Man From Ironbark]

So good to see you back.
Wish someone would give me an autoharp.

That is a rather beautiful rose enhaced by shining its light in the darkness.

[damar]

Well Hello MFIB Peter!!!!!
So good to see you! I hope you and yours are doing great. Bet those grand kids are growing like wild flowers!

I wish someone would give you an auto harp too. That would be sweet.

[Rich]

Dave, the sunlit bloosom and flower are beautiful! Knowing the story makes it very poignant!

Patty, that is a scarry fix! Congrats to your DH for having the skills to do it! An interesting instrument.

[Man From Ironbark]

The grandkids are becoming three young women and a man.

Thanks for the wish too Patty.

I have new eyes!.

[damar]

Thanks Rich!
I taped the strings before we unhitched them but they popped off the tape..all 36 of them! LOL
Your red coupe in yesterdays thread was gorgeous!

MFIB...new eyes...congrats!
Are you still working with time pieces?

Our grandson turned 30 this week.
Tempus fugit!
Seems like the grandkid grew up even faster than our kids.

[Man From Ironbark]

Yes I still do some work on timepieces. Can actually see them much better now.
That is, when I'm not using hem to admire the flowers birds and bees.
Oh our grandchildren are all still younger than 15.
Our children are both in their late 40's.

[Dave]

Thanks all, for the kind words about my photo.

Patty, excellent photo of those fine-looking Autoharps.The natural light is very pleasing.

MFI, that is some impressive and pretty growth. What is it? And how large is it?

[Man From Ironbark]

Dave,
The plant Olearia pimeleoides is otherwise known as Daisy bush. It reaches anout one metre and can get up to a metre wide.
It occurs in the mallee country of southern Australia, where I live is in the tiny red dot on the easternmost part of the area.

While the mallee area is widespread, most of that mallee country is now wheat and sheep farms. So there's really not a lot left of the mallee anymore.
They aren't the easiest plant to propagate but I've got a couple of plants that I've grown and this is one.

One reason they don't grow prolifically from all that seed is that these crested pigeons eat most of it.