Friday, January 22, 2016

The Busy-ness

I guess I have had a busy time lately. Work, chiro two times week, daily walks. I've woken this morning sore and tired. Guess it's kind of weighing on me that I'll be working through the weekend again...

So, today I have resigned myself into sitting at the window watching the bird feeders, which are extremely busy with a light snowfall today, and bundling up in the chair for some reading and snoozing.


And there is a grand-baby to be born next week! I'm tired just thinking about how busy we'll be .

Thursday, January 21, 2016

A 'Yotes and Eagles Morning

Came across a coyote on my way to the chiro (pardon the blurry pics, as they were taken from my phone) -



And 2 eagles visited me on my walk. Only got pics of one, in the tallest tree -



Good day so far!

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

A Better Stretch of Days Ahead

So the temps are above 10 this morning and I decided to get a road walk in while I could. This is where the couple of measly pics come from. Everything felt real good this morning - my back, my neck, my feet. I went a little bit further than usual and at a slightly better clip. These visits to the chiro are helping.


Then, I thought to get myself physically familiar with the spine stretching and strengthening exercises I mentioned yesterday. Whoa. I'm a little ashamed to say that I am going to have to work up to some of that routine. Slowly but surely. But still, I feel real good, physically and mentally.


First night back to work after an extended weekend went like crap. Our departments equipment lost communications with the servers sometime Saturday. Had several issues to deal with even after a couple of shifts had already worked. It's amazing how grown men will have no problem pushing problems aside for the next guy, without really having tried to fix them. Guess it's really not that big of deal for me, as I kept extremely busy last night and was able to fix a problem we hadn't seen before. I like to learn.


Okay. Off to read a little, do dishes and second round of chores before heading back in to work. Take care -

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

And The Big Guy Has Another Good Laugh

With last evening off of work, something drew me to the bottle of wine my wife had bought me last week. It's gone and I'm moving a bit slower today...

But, as it's still below zero and I have to start the work week again tonight, I think I'll nap it off for a bit. But hey, the first round of dog, chicken, bird feeder chores are done. And a little extra - I've printed off a spine strengthening PDF from the American Association of Othopedics. Also put a yoga mat on the shopping list.

With the winter solstice, I told myself this will be a year to transform my body into something resembling itself of the younger days. Regular walking and exercise were being done everyday until my neck went whack. Then the x-rays revealing a kink and twist in my spine. I was kind of hoping I wouldn't have to start my transformation from scratch, but it seems I'll have to.

Reminds me of an old anecdote - "Know how to make God laugh? Make a plan." He's had several good laughs on my behalf, that's a cinch.

20's for highs after today. Should get some walking done in the countryside round. But there I go making plans again...

Monday, January 18, 2016

Ordered and Waiting

Another below zero day with wind chill warnings. Had a chiro appointment this morning and was happy to tell him things are looking real good. The only pain I have had over the weekend happened when ducking in and out of our vehicles. So we are seeing progress.

So some more looking ahead today. Ordered a handful of seed catalogs today and looking at building a cold frame or two. We also can't wait for our new hens to start laying. Should be in about a month. Fingers crossed. Can't stand store eggs.

Couple of pics of our new youngsters after bringing out the second batch of fresh water today. They say we should get into the 20's in the next couple of days.




Sunday, January 17, 2016

-11 and More of The Same Tomorrow

Nothing much today. Just making sure the dogs, chickens and humans make it through the next couple days. It was down to -11 this morning and the high so far has been -4. Same thing tomorrow.

I've had to brave the elements, though, to free up our shed door. The ground has swollen and froze and jammed it. So out with the cordless driver and circular saw to take off and shorten the door about an inch. Now the door swings free and it's business as usual again.

Except that it's pretty damn cold out. Think I'll start The Lord of the Rings again.

Saturday, January 16, 2016

Cold In The Valley

8 degrees with 15 below zero windchills. My morning walk made along a trout stream and it's surrounding hills. It was nicer in the sun on the hills than in the bottoms. Wow.






Friday, January 15, 2016

Looking Ahead

It took me quite awhile to get a windflower identification book. The one I picked up is not a real textbook type guide, but a somewhat general guide that has sections on the various families of flutters, the more common species of each family, and their life cycle details. The information that really interests me is the plants that caterpillars use. I'm using this info to help my backyard planting plans. For the widest variety of  'pillars, it looks like I'll need to plant clovers, asters, alfafa, milkweed and cherry trees. Easy enough. I know all these plants, and could pick them all up for free if it came to it.



Spring is a ways away yet, but the dreaming is doing me good. Thinking of building some fencing to keep the dogs and chickens out of the caterpillar garden, getting my hands in the earth again....perhaps spying species one day that are not seen as often out back. Got plenty of monarchs, sulphers, cabbage whites and tiger swallowtails during the summers. Would love to bring blues and checkerspots to the backyard.




Thursday, January 14, 2016

Defeatable

This neck of mine is frustrating. I haven't felt this vulnerable - beatable, defeatable - since pneumonia laid me up in the hospital for a four day stretch 14 years ago.

Still, after getting my spine and neck abused by my chiro this morning, I felt well enough for a road walk today. Couple miles.

Found a cool little story in the snow while out -


The hope now is a nap, then off to work.

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

This Winter's Regular

This poor Blue Jay seems to have an issue, and has regularly used my porch for cover. It looks like it may have a feathering problem, as it's not as sleek as the other two jays it hangs with. I hope it is just a young one (it let's me get pretty close), and this goes away. I didn't think it was going to make it through our last spell of cold rain and fog - it was practically dripping.

But, here it was again this morning.


Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Baby, It's Cold Outside

With -20 and -30 windchills, and another chiro appointment today, we've decided to bundle up and lounge this morning.



The bird feeders out back get busy on these kinds of days, though. Wish I had a good camera that reached out that far. One of these days, I'll put up pics (not my own) of the birds that visit.

Sunday, January 10, 2016

First Day Off In Nine

Beings that this was my first day off in nine, I said Screw It. I spent the day catching myself and my wife up with fam. Visited our old oldest son, some cousins, and (personally) had a few drinks. And hell - it was still -9 F when we left this morning.

Back to the back-cracker tomorrow. And work. Couple of dogs I spent time with today : mine- Ellie and Trapper -


And our cousin's dog, Jake -


Jack and Coke's to finish the night off. Peace -





Saturday, January 9, 2016

In Which Opinion Notice Three Goes Up

Pretty much an inactive day, as working to 3AM and then heading back in at 3PM puts a damper on things. On top of that, the pinched nerve in my neck/shoulder is worse after sleep. My spine straightener says it may take a month to get things worked out, as evidenced by the x-rays. They are ugly. I'm taking my phone in on Monday to take pics of them. I had to ask if I have some condition after looking at them! And I do - abuse and older age.

So, just getting to watch the bird feeders today...which I love to do anyway (see Opinion Notice Three in the sidebar). And maybe a quick nap before the drive into the big city for work.

Friday, January 8, 2016

Through A Foggy Wood

The weather around the corner is supposed to drop into the below zero's within the next day or two, so I figured to take the dogs out to get a good stretch before we get froze in.






An eagle kept an eye on us as we passed by a deer carcass it was picking at.


Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Surrendered

No pic today. No walk today. A crick in my neck and shoulder have taken over my life and sent me to the back-cracker. Same routine tomorrow. Blah.