elderly

I've always been a believer that even if you don't like something (to eat), that you should try it a few times before fully deciding, and even then, try a year later! I purchased Kimchi to try ages ago and honestly, at first I thought it was horrible, but I had a big container that I didn't want to waste. So I kept eating a bit everyday - now I love it! My tastebuds just needed to adjust. 

Other examples include cantaloupe which I always disliked as a child - it was easy to avoid so I did. Then on a cruise a few years ago I served myself a few cut pieces and GOSH! I loved it and now gobble it up whenever it's on sale :-) (which has been often now that we have a Food Basics in the neighbourhood).

Some things are just too horrible to develop a taste for though… I have never gotten over my aversion to coconut (yuck) or miracle whip (double yuck!). I keep on trying, mainly because I like ¾ of what makes up a nanaimo bar so plug my nose for the coconut ingredients…

Spring has been reluctant to show it's face… it's been barely above freezing and there's still lots of snow on the ground. I recall many late March days when we enjoyed lunch on the front deck. Several  years ago we met friends at a patio in the market and ended up having to ask for a table in the shade!

We've had a busy few days - Saturday Pat came for supper - I made mushroom gnocchi with a creamy lemon and garlic sauce which ended up being way too lemony and way too garlicky. More is not always better! Sunday Kari came for a late lunch - we had french onion lentils & barley with roasted butternut squash, brussels sprouts, and a bit of tofu. Sad for the birds that everything had onions in it though 😞 

Yesterday afternoon we deeked over to see Trudie & Leo so Carm could help Leo with his printer.

This is what Lupa does while I'm busy walking on the treadmill... and then if there's still a sun spot it turns into a napping area!

I started step one of the prep for the sugar extravaganza that we will enjoy Friday. Yes! It's burnt sugar cake day again soon 😀 

A comment on some random post: "I'm elderly, 63…."  WTF! I would never consider myself even close to being elderly! Imagine her mindset thinking that she's already elderly at 63…

Chapter 48 Cato and Bailey Listen to an Italian Singer

The parrots were delighted when Laura started laughing while she was watching her tablet. They couldn't quite make out the words to the song she was listening to but they all agreed that the beat was fun and worth dancing to. 

https://youtu.be/fU-wH8SrFro?si=hgucujBBOqnA7p2U (Italian Guy with made up words)

Laura brought her tablet over to the birds so they could see what she was laughing about. Cato thought the guy dancing was funny although maybe a bit goofy. Bailey wondered why Laura was laughing as it all just seemed like good fun.

Carm asked Laura about the video and she told him that it was an Italian singer from the 70s who made up a song of nonsense words that sounded a bit like English to trick the Italian listeners. It turned into a huge hit! He thought the guy looked like a mix of Jerry Lewis and the guy from 'Flight of the Concords'.

Cato and Bailey thought that a lot of songs that Laura plays sound a bit like gobbly goop to them as well and wondered if most musicians did the same thing. Grace just thought that many singers aren't very good at saying words clearly and that she has a far superior way of talking. Cato thought the same thing.

Chapter 49 Cato and Bailey Sing the Champion

It had been quiet in the house for a while until Laura finally put on some music. The parrots were all singing and dancing along but when the song about being a champion started playing the dogs even joined in. Everyone thought that it was a good song.

https://youtu.be/HgknAaKNaMM?si=5N-WiVKCQab7L37f (the Champion Carrie Underwood)

Laura told the parrots that she would listen to this song when she was feeling down or unmotivated as it reminded her that she has power within. Cato agreed that the song was energizing and started swinging on her boing. Bailey hung upside down from the top of his cage while Grace just bobbed on her perch.

Then Cato got in the mood to toss her toy around. While she did this, Bailey moved to the perch that he is slowly taking apart. All that activity made everyone hungry so they all had a few more bites of lunch.

Chapter 50 Cato and Bailey Have Grains

This morning Cato could see that Laura was measuring out things into the instant pot and wondered what she was making. Bailey wasn't sure if it was something that he would like, (and really, how could he tell!), but Grace told them that Laura was making their grain mash! The parrots all agreed that this was an important task for Laura to complete so they stayed a bit quiet while she measured things. They could hear Carm telling her how much of everything to add.

Cato thought that there were a lot of grains and beans that made up the mash… first there was flax seed, then millet, quinoa, adzuki beans, split peas, barley, bulgar, hard wheat kernels, oatmeal, and finally vegetable soup. She was amazed that so many different things went into their food.

After the instant pot was started, Laura played one of her energy songs so the parrots and dogs could all dance around for a while. 

https://youtu.be/qaH7exO9GzQ?si=z-LovPwfzj-HVCsr  (Don't Stop Me Now Queen)

The smell of the grains cooking made all the parrots feel a bit hungry which was good because it was time for glop!

Awesome!

"clouds of honking geese darkening the sky"

"smashed potatoes with lots of basil garlic salt"

"a few more sunny days"