second christmas

Last day of January… I've done well with walking and haven't missed one day yet in 2026 although there were days of only 30 or 40 minute walks. It's all good though as I caught up on other days for a total of 194 kilometers! If we hadn't had plans for the afternoon I would have tried to make it an even 200. I have to watch myself a bit though… I can get too competitive with myself and love streaks!

Today's story is a stretch! John reads them to Ruth every day but says she doesn't remember from one day to the next… She's still hanging on by a thread but I hope these little stories about her beloved birds will keep her going.

Chapter 11 Cato and Bailey Wonder About Santa

Cato and Bailey had already gobbled down their toast, (Grace too), when Laura and Carm started rushing around piling things into a box. They wondered what was happening. Laura told them that they were going out to their Christmas celebration. There seemed like a lot of things in the box and some things seemed to be food. Bailey thought that the food should be for him and reminded Laura that he might be hungry and want supper, even though it was still early.

Laura told them that they were going to her family's house but that there would be too many people so they couldn't come. They thought that was unfair and wondered if Adia and Lupa would get to go. Then Laura put the dogs in a room down the hall so they knew that no one else but Laura and Carm would go.

Cato and Bailey remembered their dad Buzz telling them about how Santa Claus grabbed his legs one time so they decided that they were glad that they'd have to stay home, just in case he was there. Laura told them that he wouldn't be there, but they were happy just in case. Cato reminded Bailey that it was Christmas just a few weeks ago so this was like a second Christmas.

https://youtu.be/uXK4rD3Jg2U?si=UWBLaVyXBtyiKE-Y

It was a quiet afternoon at home except sometimes they could hear the dogs making a loud howling sound. Cato thought that they were being silly and that they should just play with their toys like she does. Bailey agreed. Grace told them that the dogs always did that when they were left home alone.

We celebrated Christmas with my family today - every year the party gets a bit bigger as the young kids (in their 20s!) start to settle down with long-term boyfriends and girlfriends. They are all lovely additions to our expanding family. It was our first gathering since Graham's funeral so there were moments of sadness and loss.

Adia and Lupa only partially trashed the bedroom - only half the covers were on the floor! I think our little trip out on the snowshoes this afternoon before we left may have worn them out a bit. I should have put the spy camera in the bedroom so I could see what they are really up to! 

Awesome!

"family together"

"laughter at gift exchange"

"home in the light (barely)"

"dry roads"

figs

Just like the last few days we had some glorious sun in the morning but clouds by 11am… today it didn't clear up again. It was a busy morning with some basic house cleaning, an 8km walk with June, gift wrapping, and then the long process of making a fig, date, and almond cake. By 3pm I'd mostly finished my chores but was too exhausted to go for a snowshoe - it was still -17 anyway, which is a few degrees colder than I like!

Next was the hardest task of the day - coming up with a story about Cato and Bailey! I'm scraping the bottom of the barrel for ideas!

Chapter 10 Cato and Bailey Taste a Fig

Cato and Bailey wondered what all the noise was coming from the kitchen. It wasn't supper time so Laura wasn't making their food. They knew that it was usually Carm who made their supper anyway. Laura seemed to be running some loud machine which she said was a food processor that chopped things up. They thought that they are also food processors but don't make so much noise.

It did sound a bit like a big rain storm which made them yell a bit.

Laura told them that she was making a cake for tomorrow's Christmas celebration. They were a bit confused as they remembered Christmas being just a month ago. They knew they'd been living with Laura and Carm for a while but didn't think it was long enough to be next Christmas. Laura told them they'd only been here for a few weeks so it wasn't even close to being Christmas yet. They'd have to have their birthdays first.

Then the house started smelling really nice and they wondered what kind of cake it was to smell so good. Laura told Cato and Bailey that it was a fig, date, and almond cake which they thought might be good to try but Laura wouldn't let them have any as she said it was for tomorrow. Laura did give them a piece of dried fig which they thought was weird. They put it aside to try later.

Then Laura played them a song about figs which they thought was fun. Maybe they'd try tasting it but it was so sticky. There were tiny little seeds that seemed interesting though.

https://youtu.be/u8MtS9RPCG8?feature=shared

Later in the day they wondered if Laura and Carm were going to dress up the dogs in their funny clothes to go outside again, but Laura said it was too cold and that she was a little tired from walking so long and making cakes.

Awesome!

"cake for tomorrow"

"dried figs"

"a long chat with June - lots of talk about our trip"

learning about snow

The sun shone again this morning, but like yesterday by mid morning the clouds had returned. I guess we have to be grateful for every minute of sunshine but gosh - a full day would be great!

I finished the movie that I started watching on the treadmill yesterday… usually I try for light hearted comedies but this one was not… it was sweet and heart-warming but one of the main characters died from cancer which is too close to what is happening with Cato & Bailey's 'mom'. The fact that it was the other character's sister didn't make it less emotional! Oh, and there was Alzheimer's as well, just for another level of sadness… Sobbing on the treadmill is 'interesting'! The ending was happy(ish), considering someone died, which only made me cry again! Dooh! I'll try for something better tomorrow…

Carm has had some stomach upset for a few days so I've not been doing any cooking beyond the bare minimum. We think he drank some milk that was slightly off - not even past the best before date. Thank goodness for simple soups in the freezer. We did gobble down a full block of tofu with our supper though! I've been making it a bit differently sometimes and it's definitely gobbleable. I break it into bite sized pieces - it's important to tear it because that leaves rough areas to crisp up - toss it with spices and cornstarch, and then roast it in my airfryer. It comes out crispy, perfect for nibbling straight from the pan.

Chapter 9 Cato and Bailey Learn about Snow

It was mid day when Cato and Bailey saw Laura run after Lupa. They could see something in Laura's hand but weren't sure what it was but they could see that Lupa didn't want whatever it was. When Laura finally cornered Lupa they saw that it was some sort of outfit that her legs went into and it zipped up the back. They wondered why Laura would do that. Then they saw Adia get a jacket on. This is what happens when people leave the house so they thought that maybe the dogs were going somewhere.

It was quiet in the house when Laura, Carm, Adia, and Lupa left the house. Cato and Bailey asked Grace where they had gone. Grace told them that sometimes they all go outside to play in the snow. They asked Grace what the snow was like but she told them she'd never been outside when there was snow. She didn't have an outfit and told them that it was too cold to go outside without a coat. Cato and Bailey agreed that they would run away like Lupa if someone tried to put clothes like that on them. In fact, they didn't like the idea of clothes at all.

https://youtu.be/x0oc3IR4qGQ?si=qPIunzEGPmNG_syU

It seemed that the house was quiet for a long time although the clock showed that only 25 minutes had gone by. It was suddenly a flurry of activity when they all came back inside. White stuff was stuck to Lupa's legs and they figured that it was snow that they saw. They didn't think they'd like to have their legs in snow and were grateful for the warm house. They thought about how cold it must be to freeze water and felt a little chill at the thought. Luckily it was time for glop which warmed them up even though they weren't really cold. They happily forgot about winter as they gobbled the warm glop.

I mentioned earlier that the sky had clouded over this morning, well, as luck would have it the sun was blazing again this afternoon when we went out for a snowshoe! It was gorgeous but cold. Lupa ran the trails and had to be coaxed in after 30 minutes, but Adia was cold. We decided that we'd order her a snowsuit like Lupa's so dashed to the pet store in the local village to order 2 sizes. They should be here on Wednesday next week. Adia will look dashing in pink! The suits aren't lined but are windproof. If it was really cold we could layer one of her other coats on top. I think it will make these outings a bit warmer for her - goodness knows, Lupa doesn't seem to get cold at all in hers. The first time we started making our way back to the house, she zoomed out into the hayfield paths and stood waiting for us to follow.

The joy they bring is real!

Our favourite shwarma shop was right next door and since we hadn't had lunch and were starving from our frosty tromp, we succumbed to sandwiches. Delicious! It will be a light supper tonight!

Awesome!

"pink blush of morning sun"

"a tromp outside on the snowshoes again"

"Lupa's snowsuit"

"Lupa running up and down the trails"

enjoy some sunshine

A beautiful pink glow reached across the sky this morning. We got up out of bed a little bit earlier than we have been (before 8am! which I'm sure our working friends would think was a big sleep in). The trees across the field were gilded white with hoar frost with the blue sky the perfect backdrop. The morning wore the colours well. It was cold though - minus 25C!

Below my treadmill window was the lone track of a bunny - perhaps the one that likes to hang out under the bird feeder. The snow glittered like it had been sprinkled with a million tiny diamond chips. The beauty of winter was out in full force today. Although by 11:30am clouds had dulled the blue sky into a faint grey.

Chapter 7 Cato and Bailey Enjoy some Sunshine

The sun shone directly into Cato and Bailey's cages this morning - a glorious start to another cold winter day. They basked in the warm rays while patiently waiting for first breakfast - a bit of banana. Bailey gobbles big chunks down and then rushes to share with Cato, feeding her like he would if she were a chick. Then he plucks a few feathers from her head.

Cato and Bailey play on top of their cages but are keen to get back inside for second breakfast, a dish full of egg, grains, and vegetables. They dig in happily, eating their favorites first. Cato always eats egg first, unless there is a bit of meat (which is rare - Laura hardly ever cooks meat). Bailey likes the sunflower seeds and the cooked grains. He gobbles as much as he can. Someone says 'good' as they power through their food.

After breakfast they move to their favourite perches and preen, making their feathers pretty.

It's become a regular routine for them. They have gotten used to the long quiet days… no sewing machine activities to amuse them. They think that Laura and Carm are boring. But it's like a second home now and even the dogs have become part of the family. Cato likes to push food out of her cage for Adia, who stands by waiting for the treat. Cato remembers Gus and Sadie, dog family from when she was young.

Cato and Bailey wonder why the sun doesn't shine for them longer but Laura tells them that the sun moves across the sky and gets higher as the morning continues. They don't know why this has to happen but are happy that it's at least bright out.

Later, they watch with confusion while Laura seems to walk in one spot, on and on, sometimes singing. They like it when she sings even though they think they are better singers than her. They thought the song about the beautiful day was fun and true on a sunny day.

https://youtu.be/5SKS_xcBS5w?si=fRJ7TMAFirZZZUb1

We made another booking for our Rome trip today - a 4 hour walking food tour that hits 7 places! Excited for this! But not before dressing up the dogs for a 20 minute snowshoe outside! I dug out an 'outfit' that I'd made years ago for Kabira which has both front and back legs, however her back legs kept coming out so I ended up just tying it up on her back. Not ideal! I checked the pet store for a similar one to Lupa's but they are about $100… not sure if it's worth it… which is actually a moot point as they are out of stock everywhere! It was a bit colder today, or at least it seemed it was on my face, but the dogs didn't complain. Lupa was still running up and down the tramped paths and had to be called inside. They both had a grand time!

Awesome!

"pink blush of morning sun"

"a tromp outside on the snowshoes again"

"Lupa's snowsuit"

a ruckus

Guess what! It's snowing… only 3-5cm today but gosh! All the snowshoe trails that I made last week with Christina have been obliterated with the snow from the weekend (20cm) which blew around everywhere so I was starting from scratch. 

This afternoon I bundled the dogs up in snowsuits and jackets for a little tramp on the snowshoes. It wasn't desperately cold (only -10ish) so we were able to stay out for over 20 minutes. The dogs went crazy running up and down the paths. Lupa had her head in every snowbank snuffling for something - were there creatures under the snow? Or was it just the pure joy of being outside for a bit of fun? All of our moods were lifted from the outing. 

Carm had a special day! He met his golf buddy at 'Golf Town' in the city and got fitted up for new golf clubs! So exciting for him. He made his last set himself decades ago but this time went with a professionally made custom set. It will be a long 5 or 6 weeks till he gets them and then longer still till the golf courses open, but there is an indoor golf place opening in the village next to ours sometime this winter so maybe he'll get to practice there.

Chapter 7 Cato and Bailey create a Ruckus

At 7:30, after second supper has had time to digest, there is a chorus of 'wanna go night night' which is quickly replaced by shouting, whistling, and general ruckus. 

Cato and Bailey reminisce about the time they spent outside at the lake, remembering the calls of the outside birds including the lonesome whistle of the loon. They wish that it is summer already but Laura tells them that we are still in the middle of winter with a few more months of cold before they can go outside.

Looking out the window at the white world they know that it is true. There is no green to be seen, only endless white. Sometimes even the sky seems white. They wonder where all the colour has gone. Then they look around the room and see all their toys and swings and feel happy, knowing that they are safe from the abdominal snowman which must be lurking somewhere outside. They saw it once on TV so know it's true.

Laura played them a fun sing along song which distracted them from the dark night. Cato and Bailey sang with Laura. She told them that she was going to get a ukulele so that she could play the music and they thought it was a good idea.

https://youtu.be/5qo8G7oCVgY?si=vz135rr9HemNsqJd

Cato and Bailey also talk about their Mom and how much they miss her but remind each other how much they are enjoying getting to know Grace, their cousin. Laura tells them that their Mom misses them too and that they'll see her someday soon. But they have to wait until she's feeling better. This makes them feel happy. 

taken on the path that Carm snowblowed

We made a booking for the Galleria Borghese in Rome! There were only 5 spots left on the day that we wanted to go - it pre sells quickly. There are a few other things that we'd like to prebook but I think I have more time for those, although I see people talking about how hard it is to get tickets to the Vatican. We aren't wanting to see the Sistine chapel again (but would if June & Anthony do), but definitely want to climb the dome at St. Peters. There are 551 steps if you don't use the elevator. A mere 320 steps if we manage to book the elevator for part of it. Yikes!

Awesome!

"getting outside with the dogs"

"last night's supper which was good but very late"

"lots of leftovers"

"a long soak in the tub with epson salts & bubble bath"

"the hush of a snowy day"

splish splash

Writing a story about Cato and Bailey everyday has started to get the creative part of my brain to fire up. It's a bit like pulling teeth trying to get the words out, but I have a compelling reason to keep trying. My friend is struggling in the hospital and this is the only way I can think of to reach out to her. Her husband reads the story to her. Hopefully it doesn't make her feel sad but maybe she can see that the birds are doing well and not to be worried about them.

Carm was out this afternoon snowblowing from the last dump of snow… I wasn't as productive but did get my 60 minutes on the treadmill, despite being a bit tired again today. Yesterday I only managed 30 minutes… I was hoping to watch 'Ted Lasso' while walking but there seems to be an 'opportunity' with Apple TV in that the video is very dark - sometimes all I see is a black screen. This is a known problem that Apple doesn't seem to want to fix. So I've turned to 'Escape from the Country' on Prime video. It is bright and easy to see, even when it's being backlit with a sunny day (which honestly is pretty rare!).

This afternoon I'm doing a bit of prep for supper - the long drawn out process of caramelising onions takes about an hour - I'm doing a double batch so I'll have some tucked into the freezer for next time! I set the timer for 4 minutes each time I stir so I don't let it burn - we want them caramelised not charred! For the last 10 minutes I hover over the pan, stirring occasionally… I burned a batch a while ago in the last few minutes… after an hour of effort! So I don't take a chance anymore…

Tonight I'm making French Onion Lentils & Barley with roasted butternut squash and a side of sauteed bok choy tossed with my homemade garlic chili oil. Getting a leg up on the onions will streamline tonight's effort. (update: it still took 3 dogs ages to get it on the table so we didn't eat until 7pm!)

Last night I made roasted sweet potato & red onion with a side of bok choy. It was topped with sauteed finely chopped mushrooms, red pepper, cherry tomatoes, black beans, thai basil, and some tofu crumbles. It was good! In the afternoon I had prepared the tofu - it was grated then tossed with garlic powder, smoked paprika, liquid smoke, and fish sauce. Then it's spread onto a baking sheet and air fried for about 20 minutes in total, tossing it around a few times. It turns out a bit crunchy and very tasty. I think the birds liked this concoction. Carm and I did too!

A shout out to our airfryer/toaster oven. I use this thing almost daily (well, daily if you count Carm and the bird's toast). It's great for vegetables, tofu, and on the odd occasion when we treat ourselves to chicken wings. Oh, and it does a great job on salmon. It's a Ninja something or other. It doesn't fit anything too high but it fits perfectly in the spot under the microwave which makes up for any functionality that I might miss.

Chapter 6 Cato and Bailey have a Bath

Water flew everywhere as Bailey flitted in his water bowl. Puddles on the table and puddles on the floor added some humidity to the dry winter air. He whistled and cheeped as his head dunked into the water dish, over and over again. Laura watched with amusement and decided that a proper bowl of water would be provided the next day - it was already too close to bed time for these shenanigans.

Splish splash, we all had a bath!  https://youtu.be/QSA-yHzkvP8?si=z-hVI_YgUAmpAADW

The sun was still shining onto Cato and Bailey's cages so Laura thought it would be a good time for a proper bath. A low dish of warm water was carefully placed in  Cato's cage. She immediately climbed down and started flicking water with her beak. Energized by the fun music, she sent water everywhere.

Bailey's turn was next. He ran down to try to dump it. Maybe he had enough bath before bedtime last night.

Grace's turn was next. She was definitely not in the mood for a bath on this cold winter day! But that didn't stop her from trying to overturn the offending bath.

In the end, after all the water was cleaned up, everyone seemed content to have an afternoon nap, with visions of glop soon to be served.

The clouds seemed to thin out late this afternoon - I thought I'd get outside for a snowshoe but my energy just isn't there today.  Tomorrow I'll enjoy all the fluffy white snow!

Awesome!

"double batch of caramelised onions"

"crazy parrots"

"my amazing air fryer"

"a turnaround for Ruth"

Chapter 5 Cato and Bailey watch Battlebots

Snowy and cold today. It's a blizzard! We haven't had a chance to get out on our paths with the dogs and now they'll be all snowed in, so back to square one… once it warms up a bit! We hit -31C overnight and it didn't warm up past -19 during the day…

It's definitely a day to stay inside!

Chapter 5 Cato and Bailey watch Battlebots

The robots on the screen crashed and banged into each other while Cato and Bailey shouted out their enjoyment. Go robot go, said Cato in a series of beeps, boops and whistles. So exciting. Bailey joined in with high pitched whistles. So much fun! They cheered for their favourite bot and were ecstatic when 'end-game' won.

They liked it a lot better than the boring news that was usually on. Cato thought that they droned on and on about not much interesting and Bailey thought it should all be set to music, especially if it was the whistling song.

Sometimes the tv showed how things are made which Cato found interesting but she wished that they showed how to make toys or better yet, snacks. In fact she wanted a snack right then and there. Bailey wanted to see how to make boing's. He knew how easy it was to take one apart but was curious to learn more.

Later, Laura played some music on her speaker which made Cato and Bailey dance and sing. First song was 'walking on Sunshine'

https://youtu.be/9MTAhQIPMOU?si=DF2uQ4OiJkGlEs0Q

Cato and Bailey thought it was fun to dance to and reminded them of long summer days by the lake. They decided that winter was long enough! Grace liked the song too and sang along. She told them that Laura danced to it a lot and that it was one of her favourites.

It was more fun than watching TV. They thought they were much better singers than Laura, (and they were right). 

Awesome!

"staying warm in the house"

snowshoes

Sunny and cold today. Christina came in the afternoon for our first snowshoe of the season! It was blowing a gale, causing my cheeks to turn a ruddy red, but the rest of me was sweating with the effort of breaking new paths. We got a few loops tamped down well enough for the dogs to plow through. I'll take them out tomorrow… maybe… forecast high is -18C. Yikes. Maybe not tomorrow.

I've written a few more 'chapters' of Cato and Bailey for Ruth but I'm really having to reach deeply to come up with ideas! 

Chapter 3 Cato and Bailey go to a concert

In the afternoon, the sweet sound of whistling danced on the air. Grace, Cato & Bailey's cousin, immediately joined in. It was her favourite performer - Roger Whiticker - a musician known for his ability to trill a beautiful song.

Cato rushed to the side of her cage, twisting her head this way and that to better hear. Bailey stood transfixed at the sights and sounds being offered up. It was a welcome diversion from a long and snowy afternoon.

Lunch came not long afterwards, a soupy concoction affectionately called 'glop'. A brilliant orange, it is filled with healthy and nourishing foods. Laura spoons the warm liquid into their waiting beaks. The birds bob up and down like babies taking food from their mother. They guzzle this afternoon pick me up, but leave a small spoon for Grace. They don't want her to feel left out.

After lunch they retreat back to their favourite perches, beaks grinding in a contented chorus as they settle down for a little nap.

They miss their home and family but also enjoy the change of scenery.

Chapter 4 Cato and Bailey have supper

The last light from the setting sun signaled 'supper time'. The smell of cooking food made Cato and Bailey's tummies rumble and calls of 'supper' rang through the air.

Carm was busy at the counter making up dishes for Cato, Bailey, and Grace: scrambled egg, mixed grains, rice with meat, lentils, red pepper, butternut squash, roasted potatoes, broccoli, carrot, green beans, and more was chopped & cooked, filled their dishes with food. Everyone was starving as it had been a few hours since glop. 

After what seemed like ages, dishes and water were placed in their cages, each bird rushing to see what was in their dish. Yum. They all gobbled their favourites.

The cooking of second supper was soon underway. Laura bustled about the kitchen, singing and whistling. The birds thought she was crazy but secretly enjoyed the out of tune songs. They wondered if she would replay the concert from yesterday. 

There was lots more food to look forward to. Salmon, rice with lentils & red pepper, roasted broccoli were piled onto their plates. Grace gobbled down as much salmon as she could, but Cato and Bailey weren't sure if they liked it. They gave it a taste though - maybe next time!

While they finished second supper, the tv screen showed the local news. There was lots of news about the weather - it was going to be very cold - which made them a bit sad as it meant another day that they couldn't go outside. They knew the dogs were going outside so it didn't seem fair that they couldn't.

Relaxing after supper, Cato and Bailey whispered to themselves about a trip they'd like to make. They remembered the good time they had in Florida so many years ago and recalled that they could go outside in the winter there so they considered hitch-hiking to somewhere warm. It was a fun conversation that distracted them from how much they missed Ruth and John. Laura told them that they'd see them again soon and to just be patient.

Anyone have any plot ideas for me?

Yesterday, while Carm had breakfast with 'old' co-workers, and then a trip to the golf store to look at clubs, I visited with Mom and Dad.

Awesome!

"fluffy snow in the field"

"tea with friends"

"getting out on the snowshoes"

in concert

We were treated to an hour of bright sunshine this morning, before the clouds socked in turning blue and white to grey and more grey. Ugh! Tonight though, the snow was gently falling down, and my flashlight shone sparkles in the fluffy snow.

Ten minutes to eat… 90 minutes to cook… I'm sure this is a lament that anyone who spends time in the kitchen understands. It wasn't anything really fancy, but all the bits and pieces seemed to take forever to cook. A few days ago I boiled some small potatoes and stuck them in the fridge to increase their resistant starch which is good for our microbiome. My plan for these was to toss them in olive oil and salt and then to smush them for roasting in the air fryer. But before cooking the potatoes, I dug out some lentil 'meatballs' from the freezer, then I peeled & roasted a small butternut squash. Next in the airfryer was some lightly steamed broccoli. During all that I juggled sauteeing cherry tomatoes & red pepper with garlic, and making a sauce with tahini, lemon juice, garlic, korean chili paste, all thinned with a bit of water. 

All those bits came together on our plates: lentil meatballs on a bed of melted tomatoes & peppers, roasted butternut squash & broccoli drizzled with lemony garlic sauce. Finally, roasted smashed potatoes. Carm gave it a 5/5!

I've been feeling more and more like myself - you can probably tell as I've been writing more than I had been and I'm even starting to cook more than sandwiches finally. I have worries but those feelings are so different from mood issues. One is less physical than the other. Mood issues sap all strength from my brain and my muscles. I felt weak and barely able to lift anything let alone a weight - it was impossible. But now, even though I've lost fitness and can't do as many reps as before, I can push my muscles and while they tire, it's not the same bone deep fatigue. Hurrah!

Chapter 2  'Cato and Bailey see a Concert''

With the smell of toast perfuming the air, like two hobbits (without the big feet), Cato and Bailey prepare themselves for second breakfast. They know that Carm will be giving them toast, specially prepared with butter on one side and a slather of peanut butter on the other. Bailey hangs from the top of his cage, swinging in excitement before positioning himself on his pellet dish, while Cato is more lady like and sits quietly on hers.

The toast finally arrives, still warm from the toaster. Cato grabs the giant piece from Carm, and so does Bailey. Carefully eating over their dishes so as not to lose even a crumb, their beaks gets coated in peanut butter. In the end, there's not a crumb left in Cato's cage, while Bailey is not as enamoured so leaves the crust in his bowl. Maybe he's still a bit full from first breakfast. Or just doesn't like crust!

Their morning then continues like most. Playing with toys, whistling and chatting, and occasionally a bath. Cato is more reserved and tends to sit quietly more often, but Bailey can't resist pulling the threads on his 'boing' which is a cross between a perch and a swing. The floor of his cage is thick with colourful cotton threads, but he seems happy. A third breakfast of crunchy pellets soon follows (or would that be fourth breakfast if you count the banana that they had earlier?).

Earlier in their morning, a few rays of sunshine beamed through the windows giving all the birds a warm sun spot. Unfortunately, today, the clouds raced back to block the energizing rays.

This is a young me in the kitchen... strangely, the paint colour looks exactly like what we have in our main hall ways and bathrooms!

Awesome!

"Mexican whistler"

"the glint of light on snow"

"the hush on a snowy night"

stories we tell

I read an article the other day about small talk's importance as a social lubricant, a way to test the waters before having deeper, more meaningful conversations. The most common opening topic is (can you guess?), weather. It's a common experience, it's not personal, and it's not political (well, unless you start talking about climate change!). It's a non-aggressive way to connect with a stranger or not very well known acquaintance, a tentative outreach to converse. It's easy to say something about the sunny day when standing in line waiting - striking up a conversation with strangers is my go-to action!

Yesterday was mostly cloudy, with, wait for it, snow again… this time just flurries with not much accumulation but the wind was wicked, skittering the snow across the now icy roads, causing drifts… the snow covered fields blended into the low grey sky… we did get a few stretches of sun later in the afternoon.

Today was sunny but cold. We ventured out to Winchester so Carm could fix Leo's printer. I had a visit with Trudie while all the technology was being worked out. Then we traipsed over to liquidation, which was just around the corner. I lucked into a pair of puffy winter mittens :-) Carm bought a winter jacket. By the time we were on our way home, most of the roads had cleared somewhat.

Sunday a bunch of us gathered at a local restaurant to celebrate Trudie's birthday. It was a commotion as we rearranged much of the seating to better suit our party. The tables groaned with food - mostly fish and chips! A giant cake was the crowning finale. Afterwards a few people joined us back here for a continuation of the fun.

We are still praying strongly for Ruth who is struggling in the hospital. I sent a silly little story for her husband to read to her with the hope that she will hear it…

"There once were two little grey birds with dignified maroon tails named Cato and Bailey. They were loved by Ruth and John who treated them like the feathered children that they were. Everyone was happy and joyful but some bad luck landed Ruth in the hospital so they came to stay with Laura and Carm for a while.

It was a cold but sunny January morning when they arrived at their temporary home. Ruth set up their new rooms, getting everything just right. Water bowls were filled, pellets went into another bowl. Their toys and perches were familiar to them so it felt a bit like being at home. But there were strange dogs and another bird that was just like them but a bit bigger, but they quickly learned that they were part of a bigger family now and that they were safe.

Mornings were their favourite time. When the covers were whisked off their cages, a chorus of 'good mornings' and 'supper' filled the air. While they waited for their breakfast, they took this time to cuddle up with each other. Soon though, Carm came and shared his banana with all of the birds. Grace, their bigger cousin like to eat some, Bailey liked to eat some, but Cato only wanted banana when Bailey fed it to her! 

They would watch with amusement as Laura cleaned up their messy cages and got everything sparkling again, but really what they were waiting for was breakfast! While digging into their bowls to unearth the favourites they'd toss what they didn't want to the side to be eaten later when all the good stuff was gone. Cato liked her egg while Bailey just chowed down on cooked grains. If there was meat in their dishes it would quickly be gobbled.

Once they were full, they'd retire to their favourite perches, grinding their beaks with contentment."

I'll get my creative neurons working again tomorrow for installment number 2. I don't know how much she can hear or understand at this point but perhaps this will amuse her for a moment… I wonder how music could help her brain regain consciousness?

I've been going hard on the treadmill the last few days. Yesterday I watched a movie (The Magic of Belle Isle) which was entertaining, but gosh! I wondered if it would ever end! I was getting exhausted! At the 115 minute mark I ended my walk - almost 10km. Today was more of a struggle so I stopped at 60 minutes. Today I tried to watch Ted Lasso, but it's too dark - not in topic but in visuals. I watch on my phone and the window is behind it, so not ideal viewing.

Awesome!

"gathering of friends"

"connecting with internet friends"

"bright blue sky"

"trees frosted with fluffy snow"