misbehaving

Just when you think you are on a roll… a good roll… my brain misbehaves and slaps me in the face… On Friday I was a bit more tired than usual, then Saturday I could barely lift a coffee to my lips. Weights were out of the question and I only managed 30 minutes of very slow walking before I was done for the day. Mentally, I felt a small dip. I've been getting a bit better physically, although I'm still not great, but my brain has been throwing more negative thoughts at me forcing the mental dip lower and lower. 

Today I deployed emergency meds :-(

I'd been doing great since the first week of January and I guess I should be happy that I cruised along for almost 2 full months. You'd think I'd be used to it but honestly, it just feels like too much and I'm not looking forward to struggling for the next while. I'll keep at it though and remind myself that it is just part of my 'normal' rhythm. 

And that it could be so much worse. And I'll be thankful that my physical health is good and that I'm upright, moving forward with my life. I am thankful, grateful, appreciative even for my good fortune.

I just have to remember to keep moving. I just have to remember how much my brain lies to me.

It is a nice sunny day though!

Chapter 36 Cato and Bailey Remember Old Times

There was much excitement in the house mid morning. Laura had already finished talking while she was walking. The parrots all enjoyed listening to her talk and laugh on the phone, and they debated if it might be better than listening to her sing, but then decided that singing was nice, even if there was no whistling.

Grace had a chance to tell Cato and Bailey about the times when she used to go camping where people from all over would whistle back and forth with her. She told them that she would do one whistle, the people would do the same one back to her so she'd do a different one and they'd whistle that one back! She felt that she missed those days. Also, it reminded her of her friends Spike, Kabira, and Bella that went away because dogs don't live as long as birds. She told Cato that she liked to call Kabira 'Kabirdy' because they were good friends.

Cato and Bailey remembered going camping with Grace too! It made them laugh to recall how much Laura and Ruth would laugh and laugh when they were camping together. Those were fun times although Grace thought that Laura didn't always laugh so much the next day!

Cato and Bailey had a minute to remember their dog friends Sadie and Gus. Grace remembered them too! They were at the cottage when she went to stay with them many years ago. She barely remembered the few times that she saw them here at this house too. Cato and Bailey had forgotten about that and were happy to have that memory. It made them feel more at home to remember that their whole family had been here together.

https://youtu.be/oMVe_HcyP9Y?si=UcQlL48DrQr0nc4y (We are Family - Sister Sledge)

Chapter 37 Cato and Bailey Dance Like Crazy

It was a morning much like every morning. A bit of sun made sun spots on their cages for a while, first breakfast was over, second breakfast was finished, third breakfast was just served. Laura was walking on the treadmill and singing loudly. Cato and Bailey thought walking was a bit like dancing, at least they thought that until later in the morning.

Carm was leaving the house - he said he was going to visit his sister Maria. Cato and Bailey wondered if it was the same Maria that is friends with Ruth, but Laura said that there were two Maria's! After Carm left, Laura put the music on the speaker and started really dancing. When the song about Rasputin played she really started jumping around. Cato and Bailey thought for a moment that she had gone crazy, but Grace reminded them that sometimes she does that. 

https://youtu.be/Nl_Eo2QzqU4?si=0rUXryEHGDy7eOIk (Rasputin Boney M)

The dogs got into the action, leaping and jumping around her. 'Hey hey hey'! Cato and Bailey decided that the song was a good one and could see why Laura was so crazy. They joined in, bopping their heads and swinging upside down from their cage tops. Grace sang along. Everyone went bezerk!

The parrots could see why Laura sometimes walked really fast on the treadmill! Although they couldn't really see the point in walking in one place not getting anywhere at all.

Awesome!

"music"

"egg salad on whole grain sourdough bread"

"signs of spring in the air"

low hanging fruit

It's another sunny day although it was bitterly cold overnight - I think it hit -25C which is more of a mid January temperature and not a March 1st temp! Maybe it was the last cold night of the year! Looking forward at the forecast we have the gamut of weather, including a possibility of freezing rain on Friday - we shall see! 

I haven't made it outside on our trails for a few days as I've been giving myself a bit of a rest but better get out there soon as it looks like the good snow might be finished. I think it was a record number of days of great snowshoeing this year!

I'm really stretching with ideas for stories now!

Chapter 35 Cato and Bailey Listen to Summertime

Everyone was enjoying the music this morning. When 'Summertime' played, Grace recalled the time she was driving with Laura and Carm to the trailer and this song played over and over again! She said that the first few times was fun and that everyone in the car sang along, but then when it kept playing she started to get sick of it!

She was so glad to get to the trailer and out of the car!

Cato and Bailey agreed with Grace that the song might start to be too much, but then Bailey thought that the Whistling song by Roger Whitaker that Laura plays them sometimes was better and that he could listen to that over and over again. The parrots all agreed that it was a much better song but that they actually liked most of the music that Laura played.

For fun, Laura showed the parrots the video with the song and they all had a laugh about the hair of the guy singing! Laura said that it was from many years ago when the style was different - Cato thought the people back then must have been a bit crazy!

https://youtu.be/qwIj_vuxdrQ?si=Zt2Ukcsk6on6AUPy (In the Summertime Mungo Jerry)

I've been spending a few minutes de-trashing the basement every night before bed. I just go and pick up one or two things for the garbage or recycle so slowly but surely things are getting in hand… however my trip down tonight was unproductive as I've done all the easy stuff and now things will start to get hard! I need to rent a tip!

In that vein though, yesterday I posted a 'free' ad on FB for a stack of egg cartons that we've been collecting for months. Two people responded so the cartons went on to do another duty!

Awesome!

"getting inspired by Maria's list of gratitude!"

"the pattern of the shadow of branches on the snow"

"more sun!"

"the cantaloupe is perfectly ripe and sweet"

last day of February

This was all a few days ago, but I seem to be back to bad habits of writing a bit and then forgetting about it! I've been falling behind in my stories for Ruth…

It's another spectacular winter day! Yesterday was a snow day which filled in all of our trails again so we had a good time re-breaking paths this afternoon. It was mild, just -4C, so I just wore a base layer, a flannel shirt, and a down vest. And pants! And a hat which was quickly doffed and carried in my mitts.

Lupa had a hair cut on Tuesday so even with her snowsuit on, seemed a little cold and headed back to the house earlier than I expected. Still, we all managed 20+ minutes of high intensity work out! In the gorgeous sun!

I made a comment a few days ago about the snow starting to change texture… well, there's a tiny crust 10 cm down, but it's barely enough to make a crackle. The rest of the snow is deep and fluffy, except when I manage to find an old path (which are mostly hidden). I can't remember a winter with so many good snow days!

Chapter 33 Cato and Bailey Talk About Dreams

It was a morning like most others and even had a bit of sun. Carm had left the house and Laura was walking on the treadmill chatting with her sister which left time for Cato to tell Bailey about a dream she had last night.

She didn't remember all the details but recalled that she was on a spaceship like the one on Star Trek, a TV show that she enjoys. There were lots of weird aliens and humans, but also parrots. The captain of the ship was a parrot that was like one that she only vaguely remembered, a big blue and yellow parrot with a loud voice. Then the dream turned into a bunch of parrots and aliens singing and dancing! She couldn't remember the exact song, and thought that maybe it was just from her imagination, but it sounded like one that Laura plays every morning.

https://youtu.be/BCGH8eU-_lA?si=32CwvOTb-Q6IOv4B (Here Comes the Sun Beatles)

Bailey said that it sounded like a good dream and Cato agreed. He thought there should have been a picnic involved so planned to have his own dream tonight, but it would have a table full of supper and toast.

It's already Saturday and another warm day that popped up to 6C! The sun peeked out earlier but then the clouds socked in again (and then it cleared again). I may or may not get out on the snowshoes today… I'm having a bit of a rest day today as I'm exhausted! Too many long walks last week I guess. I haven't missed a walking day yet this year but haven't been super consistent with weights… I've put in a heroic effort on the treadmill and walked 116.5 miles which translates to 186.4 kilometers - just in February! Today I just walked for 30 minutes…

I watched a video by one of the doctors that motivated me to eat more of a plant based diet, although I have been eating yogurt & some fish on a regular basis. 

https://youtu.be/R2mevFTWsTM?si=MMu8Cu-8pBjAf3ca (Dr. Gregor)

Chapter 34 Cato and Bailey Try New Pellets

It was a day much like every other day but something had changed in Cato and Bailey's dishes. There were 2 new kinds of pellets mixed in with their current kind! Tiny ones and big stick ones. They weren't sure if they liked them at first, but after trying a few bites, both birds decided that they liked them very much indeed!

They were surprised with the change, but Laura told them that no stores carried their old brand anymore, and that even the distributors had none. For some reason they were no longer sold in Canada. Luckily, Carm found a brand that is available and even made in Canada which Laura said was a good thing. Laura told them that the company that makes the pellets is the same company that their dad was from! They thought this was very interesting.

Cato started gobbling the new pellets, starting with the tiny ones and ending with the big ones that she could hold in her foot. She liked these big ones as they were fun to eat. Bailey agreed! But then Cato thought that maybe they'd be better if they were soaked a bit so started dropping some into her water bowl. Maybe they'd make a great soup?

https://youtu.be/DVx8L7a3MuE?si=K2NG0qsXCymusAMk (Brandy Looking Glass)

Awesome!

"another gorgeous winter day"

"last day of February! Spring is just around the corner!"