The noisy parakeets have been feasting on our bird feeders again. Even though I have a million photos of them, I can never resist a few more. On this particular day there were five birds out there. I only got three in this shot, but it was still the best because we can see all their faces.
Our brook thistles are blooming, a bright purple tuft against the brick side wall. They're on the side of the patio that faces Mrs. Kravitz's house, which gets the most sun.
Speaking of Mrs. Kravitz, some of you wondered where she's gone as I haven't mentioned her recently. To be honest, I'm not sure. I've said hi to Mr. Kravitz here and there -- he was out mowing his lawn a few days ago -- but I haven't seen or spoken to Mrs. K in months. I have a feeling she's been away. She has family overseas, so that would make sense, but I don't feel like I am really in a position to ask -- especially since we have not been on good terms recently.
I spent most of yesterday working in the Lower School library, helping with inventory. You'll recall that I already took inventory in our main library a few weeks ago. So now I'm working on all the kiddie books. They are a pain in the neck because they're so skinny but big and somewhat hard to handle, and the bar codes tend to be all over the place rather than consistently placed in the upper right corner of the back cover, as in the main library. So in other words I'm spending hours kneeling on the floor, pushing around big heavy stacks of books. This is the first year I've worked on inventory where I can recall thinking, "I'm not sure I can physically do this for many more years!"
Oh, here's a library-related question. We were cleaning out our stack of spare and uncatalogued board games the other day and found this:
None of us have any idea what this is. I did a Google reverse-image search and came up with several images of similar games, mostly with five dice -- so it seems we may be missing a die. I have no other information about what it's called or how it's played. Do any of you know?
I'm not sure what game it would be, but certainly the pot is to "shuffle" them before throwing the dice. A way to be trusted more than when done by hand!
ReplyDeleteThe pot is made of leather -- pretty unusual!
DeleteJust a thought...I seem to remember that there are companies specialising in reproducing old games...they were being sold where I worked thirty years ago, so a long shot....
ReplyDeleteI think it is a set of Poker dice, my husband has a set of five, looks much the same as yours.
ReplyDeleteYes, poker dice! When I looked that up I got the same game. Thanks!
DeleteWhatever the game, I love the leather cup and the ancient-looking dice. Do you suppose they’re ivory? I’d be taking pictures of those parakeets all the time. Beautiful. And the thistle is picture perfect. Brilliant color.
ReplyDeleteI doubt if they're ivory. I'm not even sure they're really old. They might just LOOK old.
DeleteAs Poppy said above - they are poker dice. But you are right - there should be five dice - not four. Why can't the Lower School library staff conduct their own damned inventory?
ReplyDeleteThey don't have an assistant. The main library has one full time assistant (me) and one part-time. So it makes sense for us to help them where possible.
DeleteSounds like a full and fascinating day—between parakeets, blooming thistles, library gymnastics, and a bit of neighborly mystery, I’m curious to hear what unexpected gem you found in that forgotten board game stack
ReplyDeletePoker dice, apparently! I didn't know such a thing even existed.
DeleteThat looks like the flower of what we call a scotch thistle.
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a word about the placement of the bar codes. It is not hard to have them consistently in one place.
I think Scotch thistles are different, technically, but I suppose all thistles resemble each other. :)
DeleteIs it Yahtzee?
ReplyDeleteNo, we have Yahtzee and it uses conventional dice. It does have a cup, though.
DeleteNo idea how it's played but they are definitely Poker Dice and there should be 5. They look ancient! They were usually called Poker Die for some reason - is die the plural of dice? - no idea- need to investigate.
ReplyDeleteDie is the singular, dice the plural.
DeleteI skimmed the Wikipedia article on Poker Dice and I still don't quite understand the game itself. But then again, I don't play poker. Yes, River is right on the singular/plural.
DeleteI hate to tell you this, but one day in the hopefully very distant future you will be quite aware of what all that kneeling on the floor did to your poor body.
ReplyDeleteWhat is it about the parrot family that makes them look so incredibly disarming, charming, and smart? Probably it's just that we know they can speak human if trained.
I suppose you would have heard if Mrs. Kravitz had perished.
When do we cross the line from deep-knee bends as exercise, to kneeling as bodily damage? I keep telling myself all this kneeling might be good for me, but maybe not!
DeleteParrots are inherently appealing birds, I agree. I've seen Mrs. K's husband and I think he or one of the neighbors would have let me know if something terrible had happened to Mrs. K. I hope, anyway!
Maybe Mrs K is buried in the yard her husband is innocently mowing. It's London, anything can happen.
ReplyDeleteEveryone has already told you they're a partial set of poker dice. My late husband always referred to dice as dies, not sure why.
Ha! You've been reading too many murder mysteries! :)
DeleteIs it s tequila shot glass with a several dice laying around???
ReplyDeleteThat's a REALLY big shot glass, LOL
DeleteI sure do understand the whole getting old thing. My knees are shot from years of running and I can no longer get on my knees to do things. I have to sit down! I am always amazed that there are parrots in London!
ReplyDeleteYeah, soon enough I'll need to sit as well.
DeleteKids books are awkward being too big and thin at the same time. I have no idea about the dice game.
ReplyDeleteExactly, it's the shape and the fact that so many can sit on one shelf.
DeleteYou are too young to be complaining about doing inventory, Steve. Maybe you need to do more bending and stretching exercises so you won't age too quickly. Don't give up too soon!
ReplyDeleteI'm not THAT young! LOL
DeleteI envy you your parakeets. I know they're noisy invaders, but they are so colourful.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy them, though I do worry about the woodpeckers and other birds whose habitat they encroach.
DeleteLike others I'm pretty sure they are poker dice too. Just doing an image search of the dice, I think they were made by Bakelite. The stitched leather tumbler doesn't match your picture but perhaps they had different versions throughout the years.
ReplyDeleteThey would be pretty old if they're Bakelite, wouldn't they? I wonder if they're just made to look like Bakelite. I'd be surprised if we have a nice old collectible game in the library, but I suppose it's possible.
DeleteSince the game is missing a die, were it me, I'd be taking the remaining dice home.
ReplyDeleteI wish I made jewelry. They'd make a great necklace!
DeleteThe parakeets must love the seed you provide. Five together and facing the camera is amazing.
ReplyDeleteYour thistle is growing in the perfect sunny/warm place. Bearded Iris would love it there too. The brick wall deflects sunshine and keeps sun-loving plants warm.
I've only seen library book bar codes on the spine of books. Using the bar code reader on the spine would make inventory a bit easier.
Well, I didn't get all five in the shot -- that WOULD have been amazing. Yeah, I wonder why we don't bar code the spines? I guess it would cover up too much information.
DeleteI've never seen a game like that so I can't help. It does look interesting.
ReplyDeleteThat parakeet photo is fantastic. You captured them very well.
They're always interesting, those birds! Maybe not as interesting as a hummingbird, though. :)
DeleteHave you checked your rubbish bins for Mrs K's body?
ReplyDeleteHa! They throw everything else in our bins, why not that?!
DeleteI never heard of poker dice but it looks old. If we gave it to Cam (6 1/2), he'd have a new game invented in no time. The parakeets are lovely. I'd take more pix too. You need one of those fold-out garden stools where you can sit or kneel!
ReplyDeleteI'm not throwing away the game even if it is missing a piece. It's too cool. I have a rolling stool but I don't usually use it. Maybe I need to start.
DeleteIt's like you were reading my mind - I almost asked about Mrs. K yesterday!
ReplyDeleteI will never tire of parrot pictures - share away!
I will let everyone know if I get an answer to this question!
DeletePoker dice sounds fun as I enjoy both! Parakeets are adorable as long as they don't live in your house. We had them for too many years and they are noisy and messy. Ours were a variety of colors: yellow, green and blue. We didn't know the gender right away so we did some name changes like Julia to Julian. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd those parakeets (budgies) are MUCH smaller than these, which are really more like parrots.
DeleteThe parakeets are beautiful. The dice game, no clue. Mrs. Kravitz, I had forgotten about the garbage bin fiasco. As you said, she has family overseas, and I imagine she enjoyed her time overseas, rather than endure the English winter. Or, as someone said, has Mr. Kravitz done her in? Has he planted a new plot, complete with endangered plants?
ReplyDeleteNo new plots as far as I can see. In fact her garden has suffered somewhat in her absence. I think she often goes overseas in winter because it's so dreary here but she should be back by now.
DeleteThe plot thickens!
DeleteThanks for the update on the Kravitz's. Boud's suggestion is rather disturbing, but you never know! I love seeing your parakeets. We've had some beautiful birds on our feeders lately. The Rose-breasted Grosbeaks migrated through this month and they're especially pretty.
ReplyDeleteAnd that should have been Kravitzes. Not with an apostrophe. 🙄
DeleteI remember seeing Grosbeaks in Florida. They're astounding birds.
DeleteBad A$$ Set Of Poker Dice !!! Please Hide A Just Because Treat For Olga Girl
ReplyDeleteBe Well ,
Cheers
If only all the dice were there! (And I knew how to play poker.)
DeleteNice shot of the parakeets and I love the thistle photo! I've always thought it was a shame that such a beautiful flower is on such a prickly plant.
ReplyDeleteThe bees love the thistles, and they don't care about the prickliness.
Delete"The bees ... don't care about the prickliness" - how true! It's only us humans with our tender skin who mind :)
DeleteI've seen those at poker though not the cup. Love the parrots!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know dice were involved in poker. Or maybe this substitutes the dice for cards?
Delete