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"