Tuesday 5 October 2010

October in the Garden

For the past week, I have had a huge amount of trouble trying to upload photos to this site.  They either take forever, or just do not load at all.  I have struggled with this post now for two days!  I have put a question on the Forum asking for help, but the only responses that I have had, are from other people who are having the same problem as I am!  It all seems to have happened since the new dialogue box for uploading photos was inserted.  The pictures when finally loaded are very difficult to position.

These photos have been taken over the last few days.  I saw a delightful wagtail just outside the lounge window this afternoon, but as the picture was taken through  glass,  I reluctantly decided it was not of a good enough standard to put on the blog.
Autumn colours.

Rain drops on roses............. At last we have had some rain!
The birds are happy with the extra food appearing in the form of red berries on the shrubs.
I wonder what this hairy guy is going to turn into?
For the answer go to
http://1000-pattes.blogspot.com/search/label/Bombyx%20du%20ch%C3%AAne
Thanks Noushka, I see even the moth is very hairy.
These long-legged creatures are all over the garden; they must be a common spider variety
With further searching this appears not to be a spider but a Harvestman.  These are not real spiders, but resemble spiders because they also have eight, sometimes very long, legs.   They belong to the class Arachnida like the spiders, ticks and mites, scorpions and pseudoscorpiones.   World-wide over 6000 known species are known. Over 100 species can be found in NW-Europe. See http://www.xs4all.nl/~ednieuw/Spiders/Opiliones/Opiliones.htm

I Just liked the shape of this log from the felled plum tree.
I am now so frustrated with trying to load this post, that I am giving up at this point.  I hope that in the next couple of days I may get some answers, which will in fact help.  If you hear nothing from me for a bit please do not be surprised!!!!!!

44 comments:

  1. Beautiful autumn colours, Diane! Great shots of the hairy caterpillar and the long legged spider is amazing! I think I've never seen this species before.

    I also had problems uploading photos, blogger is not working well for ages! I was absolutely fed up with the 'Service unavailable - Error 503' thing, but it seems to show less now...

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  2. Your shots were worth the trouble...I am so jealous of the plum wood.. how heavenly to cook with it... the smoke must be heaven.

    And about blogger frustration, I started using blogger stats and became addicted to them. Now they stopped working!!! There is no one to ask which is crazy-making. On the other hand, it's all free which is amazing considering all the bandwidth we bloggers take up. I guess we shouldn't be angry with them!

    How much longer before you return to ENgland?

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  3. JM thanks for the comments, I don't feel quite so bad when I know other people are having problems with blogger, I have just about pulled my hair out from the roots over the last couple of days!! I am a very impatient person so I hope my laptop does not take a trip out the window:-)

    That 'spider' I have just discovered is a Harvestman, see details that I have added to the post. I am sure the caterpillar must end up as something beautiful, but due to lack of time now before I leave for the UK for winter, I did not consider keeping it to find out. Diane

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  4. Wonderful pictures! Except for the spidery guy, sorry, I can't handle the long legs. It doesn't make sense, they pose no threat but I just get goosebumps so I had to forward through that picture quickly. :-) I LOVE the caterpiller guy! I'll show that one to the kids when they get up! Thanks!

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  5. longpastremembered, if I could get someone to cut the plum wood for me, so I can have some shavings it would be fantastic in my smoker. Mmmmmmm.

    I return to the UK 17 October if all goes as planned. There are many French strikes at the moment so, firstly I am hoping that Nigel will be able to get here on the 14th by air, and secondly that the ferries are running on the 17th. If not you may get some interesting reading when I eventually arrive in the UK :-)

    I agree with the fact that it is all for free, but if Google are going to set up something like blogger then they should be prepared to do proper maintenance. The forum does often come up with good answers, but this time it just seems the only people who are replying are in the same trouble as I am. You would think Google would watch the forum to see if there are problems, especially when they make changes.

    Ok have got that off my back now! Diane

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  6. Debbi I also do not like spiders, no particular reason other than they give me the creeps as well. BUT that is not a spider so I discovered, it is a Harvestman so that must make a difference:-)

    I would loved to have kept the caterpillar to see what it was going to turn into, but with leaving for the UK next week I did not think it was a good idea. Diane

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  7. Lovely photos. I love the colours around us at this time of year.

    Will you be sad to leave France and go back to the UK?

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  8. So maybe the problems I was experiencing when I was in the bush was not my wireless connection after all?? I did not know others were having the same problems although Jose did mention the error 503 he was getting too. It was SO frustrating!!

    Love the autumn colours Diane. This time of year is so beautiful by you. Love the goga too. :) The best is the wood though. It always catches my eye and I love anything made from it.

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  9. Jean I love the colours but not the change of temperature:-)

    Sad to leave France is an understatement. The only good part is that I will be with Nigel. Roll on Nigel's retirement!! Diane

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  10. Joan the blog has almost driven me crackers. It does not seem to be affecting everyone, but it certainly is causing problems with some people. I wonder if it will be any different in the UK where I have a fast connection.

    I just loved that piece of wood and the shape was unusual for a log. Diane

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  11. Beautiful photos and lovely colours. :-)

    Oh so it not just me having problems then .. Ihave been trying to do posts about my holidays but just given up now...

    and I have a very fast connection.

    Hope you have a good trip back to the UK ... must be sad to coming here :-(

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  12. What beautiful autumn pictures! I agree, the shape of that log is absolutely lovely. Good luck with the uploading issues, that can be so frustrating.

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  13. Anne I am always sad to leave France and I also hate winter, so it is a bad combination arriving in the UK!

    If you are having blog problems, then it does not sound like my return to the UK will help, that hope has gone by the wayside!

    See you soon :-) Diane

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  14. Great photos (except for the spooky spider - not a fan). I am so glad fall is here!

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  15. Faith I am glad so many people like my log, I wondered when I put it on the post if it was just my taste, but it seems not. Diane

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  16. Pam I love the colours of Fall but it is a sure sign that the cold is approaching fast and I hate the cold! Diane

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  17. What you posted are marvelous examples of fall. The Harvestman is the only spider-like critter I'd actually pic up. So many varieties to them also. Have you thought about doing anything special with the plum tree wood. A slab sure would make a pretty table.

    I finally gave up posting from blogger a while back and use Windows Live Writer with much greater success and more options for easy layout of images.

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  18. You have an eye for color, Diane. Your photos are lovely. I hope all is well. Blessings...Mary

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  19. Although I use Mozilla/Foxfire, I don't thing the search engine has much to do with it. Windows Live Writer is software that should come with your Windows package.

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  20. Gaelyn none of the logs are really long enough to do much with other than a coffee table. The chain saw and the neighbours made sure they were short! The wood may be too cracked even for a coffee table. Still thinking about it.

    I have checked with my ex boss in the UK and he says there is no way I can use Live Writer with XP :( Diane

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  21. Hmmm, Mike uses Live Writer with XP.

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  22. Mary I love the autumn colours, they match my (fading) red hair as well! Just wish it did not mean winter is around the corner! Have a good day. Diane

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  23. Is that really a rose? Amazing! What is it called?x

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  24. Beautiful photos. I love them all as they are great close ups. Sorry you are having such trouble uploading photos. I'm finding it much easier to upload photos with the changes myself though positioning them is a little trickier. Here are some thoughts for you if you haven't already tried them: 1) reduce your photos before trying to upload (check the properties if you are unsure of the size) 2) to to edit html on your blog post to cut the code for the photo you want to move and reposition it to where you want in your blog. This approach takes some counting to make sure you put it in the right place. I hope those tips help you.

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  25. Hi Roz, no it is not a rose it is a cactus or succulent, I am never sure which! I do not know what its name is. I have searched on the web but there are just too many pictures to go through! Diane

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  26. Hi Joyful, It is not just the photos, I have had to reboot my laptop twice to try and get into comments! I do resize my photos, and I do use html, but the biggest problem is they will not download regardless of size. It seems many people are having a problem, it not just me and it is world wide, you are one of the lucky ones! Diane

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  27. Sorry to hear you are having problems. Have you thought of trying Windows Live Writer for writing your posts. As you noticed my photos loaded ok this am, that is what I use. Not for BW though but that is only one photo, not loads!
    Anyway I am glad you persevered as they are great photos. Have you got your red one ready for tomorrow yet?

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  28. Lindy, Gaelyn suggested I used Live Writer yesterday. I struggled to find a download for the old version. 2011 is available, but can only be used in Vista and 7. I only have XP. When I finally found the old version my laptop refused to download it as it said it would harm my computer!!
    I was about to see if I had anything red when I saw your comment. Diane

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  29. Perhaps I spoke too soon! A problem arose yesterday whereby I cannot sign out of blogger. I keep getting an error message. I have to sign out of blogger via gmail. Huh????

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  30. They're fabulous photos Diane. I too have been tearing my hair out over the last week with the new system. Why can't they leave well alone?

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  31. Sorry Joyful, it is a big problem, many people are getting error messages, unable to upload etc. The people using Live Writer seem to be escaping all of the problems but I cannot download it!! Diane

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  32. Jan there are going to be a lot of bald bloggers at this rate:-) It is such a waste of time taking days to put one post on the site!!!!! Thanks for the comment of the photos that eventually went through the system. Diane

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  33. Too bad for the wag tail!!
    You'll have your answer about your caterpillar here!!
    http://1000-pattes.blogspot.com/search/label/Bombyx%20du%20ch%C3%AAne
    It is a Lasiocampidae, it will turn into the oak egger moth!
    Your garden looks great!
    I guess you are preparing it for winter!
    Have a great day, Diane!

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  34. PS: about uploading your pics for your articles, I stick to the old system and have no problems... yet!!
    I had encountered this same frustrating problem with Canalblog and switched to Blogspot. I have tried once the new uploading system but found it difficult to set up my pics the way I wished so I reverted to the old way and since them it works fine!
    Also, I prepare my articles up to 10 or 15 days ahead, it makes it easier but since you are giving your news out as they happen, you can't do that!
    Cheers!!

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  35. Noushka thanks for the info on the caterpillar, the moth is beautiful. I have put a link to your post on the page.

    Re the blog if I knew how to revert to the old system I would . This new set up is driving me nuts!!
    Diane

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  36. Diane, what beautiful fall colors! Sorry you're having problems and wish I could help. The photo of the log is magnificent! When does Nigel retire?

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  37. Pam I wish I could help myself. It all sort of works from time to time, but it seems to be a lot more of the time not working properly!

    Officially Nigel retires in two years time but we are working on it. The quicker the better. As I have said before having a young husband is great, until as I have discovered, when you both want to retire:-) Diane

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  38. I have only just upgraded to the 2011 version but what a nuisance that the old one is supposedly a threat! I do not understand why, drop them an email and ask for advice? I think you would find it so helpful.

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  39. Lindy I have just set up a post to publish tomorrow and everything ran perfectly!! I suspect it is my antivirus which is just being difficult re the download. I also have one blog that I like to visit which 80% of the time it tells me that it has malware and I must close the site down. Over sensitive perhaps. Thanks for the interest though. Diane

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  40. Thank you so much for your kind comment on my photo at Tomatoes on the Vine. :-) I LOVE the photo of that log. How wonderful. :-)

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  41. Rambling Tart. Thanks for visiting. I also love that bit of wood:-) Diane

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  42. Thanks for sharing, they are just lovely!

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  43. Thanks Sonia Glad you enjoyed the pictures. Diane

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