Monthly Archives: March 2014

Turkeys

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We have lots of turkeys on and around the mountain. It’s not unusual to see a flock of eight or ten, especially down at the base of the mountain. A couple of days ago Zeke and I walked down Wildlife Trail and saw two big toms. They didn’t pay much attention to us, but eventually decided to fly away. For these turkeys, flying consisted of skimming the ground. I have seen one fly across the road higher than the top of our car. They are big birds, so that was an impressive sight.

I have also seen bunches of dark feathers with white bars in the woods. I assume it was turkey that fell victim to some kind of predator.

The only camera I had was my phone, so this shot is not particularly good.

Two tom turkeys

Two tom turkeys

Zeke was interested, but not interested enough to pull on the leash. I don’t think he knew what they were.

Friday Felines – Saturday edition

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We can tell the seasons are changing because the sun isn’t shining into our bedroom as much now as it did earlier this year. That means the critters have to fight for space in the sun. Zeke is the biggest, so he usually gets the best spot. Zoe had to settle for a spot on Zeke’s bed this time.

zoe and zeke in sunbeamI think Zoe got the best of it this time.

 

“I can’t believe it’s my 60th birthday.”

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Today, March 11, Leah turned 60. She can’t believe it, and neither can I. Apparently all the people I knew in their 60s when I was a kid were actually much, much older than 60. Say 95 or so. Because they didn’t look like Leah.

(I’m checking my memory. OK, right, they looked like they were 45 or 50 years older than me.)

Leah wanted to go out to lunch (and for the margaritas) to one of our regular Mexican restaurants, Los Portales, for huevos rancheros. Mexican food is not Leah’s favorite, unlike me, but she does like huevos rancheros. A lot.

Leah and the nearly finished margarita

Leah and the nearly finished margarita

We told the waitress it was Leah’s birthday, so after we finished our lunches, three of the staff sang “Happy Birthday” and brought out a sopapilla.

Taking a bite of sopapilla

Taking a bite of sopapilla.I already had a bite. Or two.

Around here, sopapillas are made by frying a flour tortilla and then covering it with honey and cinnamon. In this case, they added chocolate and whipped cream. I prefer New Mexico sopapillas, but this one was good. Leah gave all three waitresses a “thank you” and a good hug. We really appreciated it.

At the rate Leah is aging, I think she’ll probably live to about 130. She says she doesn’t want to reach that age, but I hope I’m around to see it. I know where to find ranchera sauce, so I’ll make the huevos rancheros and the margaritas. Maybe I’ll practice it before her 130th.

Friday Felines

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Every night during cold weather Chloe comes in to sleep on our bed.

Getting ready for bed

Getting ready for bed

When we get ready to come to bed, Chloe gets affectionate.

pettingchloeAnd then right before we turn out the lights, she wants a goodnight kiss.

nosetonose

 

IBS

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It’s a condition that affects many, many people, but it’s never talked about, and as far as I know, there is no research on the subject. It’s embarrassing. Many people are hesitant to even to mention it. Doctors don’t seem to be inclined to help, if you can bring yourself to talk about it. The few treatments aimed at similar conditions don’t seem to help much, so most of the afflicted are left to suffer on their own. The condition is, of course, IBS – Itchy Back Syndrome*.

I have to wonder: how many people you see every day walking through the store or driving along the highway are IBS sufferers? You might see someone reaching around as far as they can for that spot on their back that’s just a little too far away. Why does it seem that the itch is right in the middle of the back, too far to reach from any direction? Especially since most sufferers are older and not as limber as they used to be.

My father was an IBS sufferer. I can picture him now standing in the doorway, rubbing his back against the door frame, like a bear scratching on a tree.

I never thought I would have it, but I do now. And so does Leah.

We’re among the lucky ones who can talk about the problem. Now we both understand that old saying, “You scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours.”

* I know that a lot of people suffer from a more serious version of IBS, that collection of symptoms known as irritable bowel syndrome. Leah was once diagnosed with IBS. That’s when I learned that there isn’t much that doctors can do about the “real” IBS either. In Leah’s case, her problem turned out to be a bowel obstruction caused by scar tissue from the colon cancer she had back in the late ‘90s.