paper napkins

Spring is in the air! Or at least the possibility of spring is in the air. It's already been a few days since the geese started coming back 😀 

There was some sad news in the obituaries today… my old boss, Jack Drawbridge, passed away a few days ago. I'll time travel back to mid summer in 1981 while I was between the last days of high school and starting my adult life. I know I've shared the story of Mr. Jenkins, my friend June's dad, who heard me lament on my lack of direction so offered me a temporary job as a contractor to the government 'documenting master files'. I had no idea what that meant, but started the job anyway. The contract was working for Jack in the Data Management branch of Industry Canada (or whatever it was known as way back then) and I was to comb through listings of files to figure out which were the main data files. I had no idea what I was doing, having had NO, ZERO, NADDA, experience in computing. 

With Mr. Jenkins, and Jack's help, I managed to bumble through! As the contract neared completion, Jack came to me with an offer - if I'd take a typing class he'd hire me (on contract) as a data entry person. So I took that class and started a 29 year career in Data and Repository Management. Jack was a true mentor, often dropping in to my office with pen and paper to talk about data architecture, data and information management, methodologies, data redundancy, documentation, system life cycles, etc. He never talked down to me or made me feel like I didn't know anything - I was part of the team. Our informal meetings were instrumental in developing my passion for data dictionary and repository management. He pushed me to become more than a data entry clerk, getting me involved in managing and developing the software that we used to accomplish our goals, designing data structures, and more importantly helped me to develop a view of the bigger picture.

I was just 19 years old when I started working for Jack and living on my own in the city for the first time. I remember one day being so exhausted from whatever was happening in my life that I fell asleep at my desk… Jack walked in, saw that I was asleep and tiptoed back out! Yikes! He was so understanding. A few years later my boyfriend Steve broke up with me and I was devastated beyond words. Jack was there with a shoulder to cry on. In some ways he was like a stand-in dad when mine was cities away. He was always kind and supportive.

I am blessed in so many ways to have had him as my mentor. And I've never looked at a paper napkin the same again! Jack couldn't talk without drawing it all out and many a lunch was spent doodling on a napkin as we tried to reshape the world.

Chapter 42 Cato and Bailey Learn about Freezing Rain

It was darker in the house than normal so Laura turned on the lights around Cato, Bailey, and Grace's cages. Cato wondered why it seemed so dark and knew that it wasn't sunny, then Bailey pointed out that the windows on one side of the room were blurry. Laura and Carm were talking about freezing rain, which they figured was regular rain but frozen. They all wondered what that would be like but were glad they were inside as it didn't sound like a very good thing.

It was so dark that all the animals in the house just felt like sleeping and napping all day.

Later in the afternoon, Laura put Adia & Lupa's travel clothes on them so the parrots knew that they'd be alone in the house for a little while. They wondered why Laura and Carm would go outside when there was freezing rain but Laura said there was more regular rain and not as much ice as was expected. Bailey wondered what it would be like outside if ice was coming from the sky. It seemed that it was different from snow which they knew about from looking out the window.

Cato thought that it was a good day for warm glop and was surprised when Laura didn't warm it up enough. She had to spit it out because it was so cold. Thankfully Laura realized what the problem was so warmed it up properly. It was much better then and warmed Cato's tummy. It was still warm when it was Bailey's turn which made him happy. They wondered if it was a good day for Laura and Carm to have warm glop - they called it soup but it seemed just like chunky glop to the parrots.

https://youtu.be/MdhRhGX3AG4?si=Qx15_6HktY_ZQyD3 (Rainy Day People Gorden Lightfoot)

Chapter 43 Cato and Bailey Hear Geese

For a few days now Cato and Bailey could hear a strange honking sound whenever Laura or Carm opened the door to outside. They could even hear it sometimes when it was quiet in the house. It sounded familiar but they couldn't quite remember what made that sound. Grace told them that Canada Geese make that sound when they are flying in big flocks! She'd even seen them flying overhead in the fall. Laura had told her that the geese were flying south for the winter and that they'd come back in the spring.

The parrots were very excited to hear this as it means that spring is coming! It seemed almost impossible as they could all see that there was still snow on the ground outside, although there were lots of spots where the snow had disappeared. 

Cato wondered if the geese had gone as far south as she and Bailey had gone the year that they all went to Florida as she remembered seeing some out the window when they were there. She wondered if they'd maybe even seen some of the same geese that she heard flying overhead! Bailey thought that it was impossible as it was way too far to fly. The parrots all agreed that flying that far would be difficult and that they'd rather drive in the car to go so far away, and that maybe everyone should go south for the winter where it's warmer out.

https://youtu.be/ZtUDEEBagxk?si=jWlVNkoe6hNCxAVP (Hot hot hot Buster Pointdexter)

Awesome!

"not as much ice accumulation as expected"

"comfort food"

"ice on the trees glinting in the morning sun"

the hills are alive

The hills are alive with the sound of music… well, not the hills but the living room as I belted out favourites from the movie! I never realized how LONG the movie is - it took 2 long days of walking to get through it but time flew as the story unwound. I've seen 'The Sound of Music' countless times, yet there are still scenes that bring a tear to my eye. I got chills when Christoper Plumer sang 'Edelweiss'.

We were blessed with warm sunny weather the last two days, a bit of a break before we are iced over tomorrow…

Chapter 40 Cato and Bailey Watch Golf

The sounds on the TV on the weekend sounded familiar to Cato and Bailey. They could remember hearing the hushed voices when they were at their home with Ruth and John. Cato could see the TV better so told Bailey that it was a golf game. It seemed very boring compared to the movie that they watched with Carm and Pat the night before but they knew that John also liked to play golf so they payed attention so they could see what all the fuss was about.

Cato was surprised to see that there was a little white ball that looked similar to the one she was playing with in her cage that morning. She wondered if the ball on TV was as easy to break as the one she was playing with. Bailey thought that it must be a much stronger ball as it seemed that the men were hitting it with a big stick. Grace asked them if the sticks look like the ones that Carm had brought home a few weeks ago. Laura had called them golf clubs which had confused them as they thought a club was somewhere that people go to be with other people. Cato recalled that John sometimes went to what was called a curling club so they all wondered if the sticks would also be used for curling. Cato said that they were the same sort of sticks as the ones on the TV. 

Grace thought it was crazy to call a stick a club but the parrots all agreed that people sometimes have weird names for things!

The parrots talked amongst themselves wondering if Carm had gone to play golf with his clubs a few days ago when he went out and wondered if it was fun for him. It looked like it was a nice walk outside and it even seemed like it was summer where the TV was showing. They remembered hearing a summer bird just the day before so maybe summer was coming here too and soon they'd be able to go outside.

https://youtu.be/UK8YopKseO4?si=FvJaTWYBlg0hF_mR (Golf Tim Hawkins)

Chapter 41 Cato and Bailey See a Picture of Ruth

It was already in the afternoon and the parrots were sleepy from eating glop when Laura jumped up and ran over to the birds. They were startled and a little surprised that she had her tablet in her hands, but then thought maybe she'd be playing the whistling song that they like so much.

But no! There was no music, instead it was a picture of Ruth! Cato and Bailey were so excited to see the picture which helped them to know that Ruth is okay and that they'll get to see her soon. Laura said that she was outside for the first time in weeks and weeks. They were a bit confused by why this was a surprising thing as they hadn't been outside for ages as well, but then they knew that people went outside at all times of the year, even winter, and sometimes even in a blizzard (which they had only seen from a window). Laura reminded them that Ruth was still recovering and was unable to go outside before today.

Cato whistled and chatted to Bailey, but Bailey wasn't really listening. Instead he was imagining himself seeing Ruth again and thinking how happy he will be. Then he climbed to the top of his cage and hung upside down swinging in happiness.

Laura told Cato and Bailey that it would still be several weeks before they'd see Ruth, but they were okay with that!

https://youtu.be/_JoZS6LgqYI?si=5S6Kfz8vyoIFqJ1i  (You Should Be Dancing Bee Gees)

Awesome!

"warm sunshine"

flood

We are in flood! Nothing to be alarmed about, it happens every year, at least once. Our property has a creek that flows through it which joins the river at the east boundary of our land. In the spring, or after a really heavy few days of rain (it has to be a lot of rain!), the lowlands flood as the watershed empties into the river. In the spring it's quite dramatic and more than a bit scary as the water rushes down like a rushing river. We are sure to keep the dogs far away as it would be instant death if they slipped in… or us for that matter!

In 1992 when we were looking for land to build on, I saw the advertisement for this land, but the ad mentioned that it floods in the spring. I had to put a lot of pressure on Carm to come and see it… the second we pulled into the field we knew it had to be ours, even though the lower part was fully flooded. It was clear that the hayfield and upper areas where we'd build the house  would be safe from flooding, and also that the land drained well with its dips and slopes down to the creek. We'd driven past it a few years earlier before it was for sale and had even pulled off the road to look at it - it was beautiful in the summer! 

We made a full price offer that day! And here we are 34 later!

The clouds came and went all day but we were blessed with sunshine for the visit with Jo Ellen and Don. It's been absolutely ages since they'd been here so it was great to catch up. I got a few things out of the freezer - leftover beef stew, green bean casserole, and even yorkshire puddings were heated up for an easy Sunday lunch  😀 

I wondered how the yorkshire puddings would be after being in the freezer for a few months, but they were great! Maybe not as awesome as fresh from the oven, but certainly acceptable, even for company. I think I'll make them ahead of time going forward as they are a bit fussy right at the end of meal prep and having them already cooked will take some of the pressure off.

After months of barely seeing anyone it's been a busy few days!

OH OH OH! I forgot to mention yesterday that we heard the first red-wing blackbird of the season!

Chapter 39 Cato and Bailey Meet Jo Ellen and Don

Cato and Bailey knew from experience that company was coming and wondered who it would be today. Pat the pet sitter had been here the night before, which they enjoyed as Pat talks very nicely to them and even sings a bit, so they knew it wasn't her. 

They were surprised and pleased that they got to meet new people. Laura told them that she used to work for Jo Ellen many many years ago, in fact, they were amazed to learn that Cato had known Jo Ellen since she was a tiny chick going to work with Laura. Cato could vaguely remember being in a little carrier with her siblings in a cubby under Laura's desk. Laura would take them to a room a few times a day to feed them and clean them up. Laura and Jo Ellen laughed about how many people, even men, would come into the Ladies bathroom to see Cato. Cato thought she must be very important to get so much attention. Bailey wondered why he never got to go to work with Laura but Cato reminded him that he was hatched at Ruth's house so she took care of him when he was a chick.

Laura and Jo Ellen also talked about the times Spike would go to work with Laura and sometimes get to have a nap in the sun spot in Jo Ellen's office. Cato and Bailey remembered Spike from a long time ago when they'd go camping with Laura. Grace told them that Spike had loved Jo Ellen as much as he loved anybody and would get very excited when she'd come to visit him here. 

https://youtu.be/-sVB91NTa4A?si=5UTToAeIaVaGAIcy (Dancing Queen Abba)

The parrots were happy to have visitors as the conversations were interesting and different from when it was just Laura and Carm. Plus the music was playing which they both enjoyed. Bailey thought he might like to sit on Don's lap - Don is Jo Ellen's husband - but Laura wouldn't let him out of his cage because they had their dog Romy with them and she didn't think that it would be safe. 

Awesome!

"visitors for lunch"

"leftovers from the freezer!"

"yorkshire pudding - even heated up from frozen!"