Spring is alive and well out here on the North Shore and is expressing itself in the changing movement of the ice on the lake. Each day the ice appears to be ever so thinner and ever so mobile as smaller pieces of ice meander into our bay only to move along later in the day. Today I watched a lone seagull standing on the thin ice looking like he was waiting for something interesting to happen. The birds are pairing off left right and centre, crows are cawing less and cooing more. It's an interesting sound they make when they're courting; a throaty clicking sound as they're snuggling up to each other. There's been a juvenile eagle hanging out by the point. He hasn't developed his white head and tail yet but he's rather large so mom figures he's about 4yrs old. He made a half-hearted attempt to snag a duck on the water but nothing came of it.
My pneumonia is almost a memory as I feel myself getting stronger. I went out for an easy jog this week and as I didn't double over in a coughing fit or need to take a 2hr nap after, I know I'm on the mend!
Ray and I have been puttering in the yard this week. Ray is eager to shrug off the winter induced quietness and has been getting out walking, clearing brush and mowing the back lawn with his tractor. I think he's a shining example for people who have 110 reasons not to exercise because he's out there walking as far as he can with his cane, stoically dealing with sore muscles and happy to get back out there the next day. You can't get out and exercise? Really? The 93year old guy is making you look bad by the way. :-)
Even mom is getting out for a walk every other day. Her and I watch for birds, try to locate nests and enjoy the outdoors.
The great part about the warmer weather is our cocktail hour is now on the front deck when we can. There is nothing quite like sipping on a Rye & Coke over looking the lake in the afternoon sun.
The most surprising thing for me this week was during one of our lunchtimes. I had made a salad mostly for myself as I didn't expect either Mom or Ray would be too interested. I made a Kale salad with Kale (of course), hemp hearts, cauliflower, grated carrots, raisons, green onions and radishes. I made a balsamic vinegar/olive oil/maple syrup dressing. It's a power packed super food meal but I don't necessarily expect either of my parents to share my interest in whole food eating. I made it in the morning so the kale could absorb the dressing and soften. I had put most of it in a bowl and put it in the fridge but I had left some in a salad bowl on the counter. I was busy in the morning and I came upstairs at about 12:30 while mom and Ray were eating lunch. Then I noticed "what" Ray was eating: he was happily chowing down on my Kale salad! I looked over at mom and I quietly raised my eyebrows and she flashed me a smile and shrugged her shoulders over Ray's meal. She told me later that he grabbed the bowl off the counter, never asked her what it was and just started eating it. Well I'll be! :-) I put my freshly grown sprouts on the table and offered them to Mom and Ray too. Mom eyed them suspiciously then gave them a try. I try to cook food that they probably would never cook for themselves but is flavourful and healthy. When in doubt I put maple syrup on it - no kidding. Ray isn't fussy for salmon? No problem! I served it baked in a Maple Garlic Glaze and he was in heaven! While I still prefer a meal focussed on veggies, Ray's hamburgers are tasty indeed and who cares about the fat and cholestoral for a night. Mom made a stew from a moose roast that had been given to them. I probably react to eating moose meat like Ray would to drinking my Vega super-green smoothie: No thanks. Boy was I wrong. Mom's stew was full of potatoes, carrots, turnips, cabbage, gravy and fall off the fork lean moose meat. It was delicious and incredibly good for you. OK, the fried bannock I made to go with it perhaps wasn't so healthy but it's all good in moderation.
The bonus to our (mostly) healthy eating is that mom's blood pressure is way down and she's lost 10lbs over 4 months. Ray continues to amaze me with his strength and solid constitution.
We've raked up most of the leaves and Ray burned them in one of his ditches. The rest of the leaves are waiting by the burning barrel.
Tonight the song birds are singing like a symphony, it's quite spectacular. Unfortunately it's a cool evening so I won't be sitting outside to hear their song.
I'm looking forward to getting out for another run tomorrow. The pneumonia has left me thinner and most likely with reduced cardio capacity but I can start back slowly and be patient.
That's about it for now!
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