What's outside of your picture window today?

Check out our Mayo falcons. Hattie is off the 4 chicks the last couple hours, after feeding them. They were all splayed out sleeping, so cute, with her out of sight almost up on the camera pole overseeing the chicks, watching over them. Precious ways of nature. The last baby to hatch is so much smaller, as happened last year, and not getting as much food as others. The parents seem to be aware and look out for the little guys. I do love this time of this life cycle......Blessings and enjoy! elizabeth

So @ess77 ! You want to learn more about little critters? Colorado has prairie dogs everywhere and they are so cute! They are pests and can really mess up a field and can even carry plague 😖

Becky, I sorta' knew that, but thanks for adding to my list of things to learn! They are cute, but actually, a lot of these fellows are, just pests to us and bothersome. Thanks for the info, tho. You're soooooo funny! Bless you and your prairie friends. elizabeth

@ess77 Hi Elizabeth! This week was a bit hectic with an untimely passing of my husband’s business partner which necessitated several days of unexpected travel. I was still online and Connect, but didn’t have the chance to post photos or look outside my window! ☺️I’ll tell you about the muskrats in a moment.

Going to our friend’s wake was my FIRST outing in 2 years, mingling with people. I’m not an anxious person nor easily intimidated. However, I have to say, filing into a funeral home for the wake had me wide-eyed and sensing panic.
The funeral home did a great job with Covid protocol and we went very early so that our exposure was minimal. As people filled the place my husband and I were looking for an escape route. We’ve been vaccinated but still have to be profoundly cautious as I’m still on immunosuppressants.
We found a small corner where we could sit apart from everyone. Too many people with masks pulled down and talking loudly! We had to wait because we wanted to meet with the rest of our partnership group as we’d not seen our friends in 3 years. We were all able to find an unused room to gather and catch up. None of the members knew I had AML or had gone through a bone marrow transplant. Most remarked that they loved my awesome ‘short’ hair cut and wow, did you lose weight?!! (I’m lucky to have hair and I did lose 30 pounds one the Chemo diet. LOL)
I didn’t want to explain any of it! But finally had to fess up when I had to decline hugs from friends.
~~~~~~~
Muskrats live in swamps, along shorelines of lakes and rivers. They can do a lot of damage to shorelines by tunneling under and that causes erosion. We have a little snag of bog that floated from somewhere else in the lake and landed in front of our shore. Over the years it’s anchored itself and now is a habitat for the muskrat and his family!
They do look similar to beaver but more of a thicker rat tail than the flat one of a beaver. They are also smaller and nasty. You don’t want your dog to get near one. We live harmoniously. ☺️

Outside my window today... A little synchronized swimming event!

You give me such Joy!!! Thanks...so well synchronized, it's amazing.
blessings to you and your duck friends....elizabeth

Well, my friend. You've had quite the time the last few days. I'm so sorry your friend/partner died. Those are difficult times and we've had a bunch of those lately. Sorry you had to deal with that now, but you made it! Of course...I hope you were strong enough by then for the trip and expenditure of precious energy. You know, it's probably a good thing you were forced to share with your friends from those times about your challenges. I understand privacy, but friends, even previous or unseen, are such an important part of our therapy and healing. Welcome home to your sanctuary.

You know, Lauri, we're all in a bit of your situation emotionally about getting into life again, of whatever sort it may be. We've been through some very traumatic times, especially you with your illness and treatment! But, all of us are facing having to go into social situations after over a year of such drastic isolation. I was isolated for a couple of years prior to my hospitalization in Jan 2919 with CHF and severe edema, as I got sicker. Then, I was in rehab for a couple weeks, home with home health for months and it took me over a year to begin to get up and out and reconditioned. That's actually when I began this journey with Mayo and began finding myself.

This living again will be a shock to our entire systems, physically, mentally and emotionally. And, just think what it will be like when folks start taking off the masks. We aren't out of this pandemic yet, as we have the recovery times to face....but, we can and will do it with grace. That's who we are. That's how you are beating that nasty AML! How Sue and John and Becky and Ginger and Fiesty and Jake and all of the folks sharing here trying to work through the yucky mess life can throw at us. We are fighters, winners, lovers and survivors.

Well, enough philosophy for me. I'm off to Mayo...naturally...for a covid test before the endoscopy procedure tomorrow morning. I'm not pleased to do this, but it's necessary for my swallowing. The doctor will stretch the Schatzki Ring that's formed near the Barrett's Esophagus so I can swallow food and liquids better. They get stuck sometimes and I choke or have pain as they try to work on down to the stomach. That's fun. This will hopefully correct that and I won't have any negative consequences from a 2nd procedure just 3 weeks after the 1st. I am concerned and ask for your prayers this little procedure goes well. With my muscle weakness and such and deep sedation so soon, I have concern of a tear or damage and of brain issues w/sedation. Mother had altzheimers for 12 years. One year in her moderate stage she had 3 sedations and came out of each with more dementia. I don't have any dementia, other than normal for my age, but still have the concern.
Thanks to you for you.
Blessings, feel well and enjoy your wonderful, peaceful home.
elizabeth

@ess77 Thank you, my friend, for your kind and insightful message. I’m truly fine and healthy now and believe that I am in remission from the AML for the long term. The bone marrow transplant is a success and with the new immune system, because of it, the AML is recognized as an invader and destroyed! Deflector shields up! I’m baaaack...(sounding like Arnold) LOL
Before the AML and transplant 2 years ago, I walked at least 7-10 miles daily. I’m up to 6-8 miles a day and feel 100% my former self. My husband jokes that it’s the 20 year-old man’s marrow in my 67 year-old body that has me running around like a young pup. LOL. Maybe, but I am grateful for every day because of this second chance at life and I refuse to waste a moment. ☺️

But you, my goodness, have been ‘through the ringer’ with your medical history. And yet...there you go, being all perky and positive. I use this term over and over, but “The Spirt of Endurance” is strong in you and that’s what keeps you and other survivors going! We will NOT give up until it’s lights out for the last time.

I can’t even imagine what you’re going through. But I sure do wish you all the success in the world tomorrow as you head to Mayo for your procedure. You’re in the best capable hands...you know that already. Blessings to you, Elizabeth. Stay strong and know you’re not alone in any of this. You have friends here you’ve never even met. Hugs!! Lori

Saw my first Grossbeak this year yesterday. Have seen a lot of Juncos, small woodpeckers and a few other varieties. Still waiting for an Indigo Bunting...love all of the different colors our feathered friends offer to keep us entertained. And then there are my friend the squirrels also looking for a handout. Have caught him many times this week hanging from the top feeder. Need to invest in a higher pole or a different squirrel guard on the feeder pole.

Beautiful! I do love the grosbeak. Even w/o the red breast it's a beauty. What's the one on the far right? I've never seen that bird, it has a very different head and beak and coloration. Interesting....The little brown/white fellow? Your squirrel is definitely related to all of mine. I have hundreds, it seems. And, they are getting pretty fat these days, although I have figured out how to control the little rascals. I want to welcome them in my area, but up to this year they were taking it over. Now, with the chili pepper seed...btw one squirrel actually eats it!
One has figured out how to hang from the tree itself and swing over to the feeder designed to spring shut if something heavy puts pressure on the perch. It works well if something gets on the perch! This too smart fellow never touches the darn perch, just hangs off the tree and swings to the feeder, grabs hold and munches away. It's a hoot!

Love your pictures, John. Maybe, next week while I'm dying to do it, I'll learn to get some pictures on this laptop for you folks. Gonna' do it..

I'm heading to bed soon...it's almost 6 here and I'm tired. Walked at Mayo between all the 3 buildings and back to my car. I got a few things soft so eat the next few days, but no yogurt parfaits there. It's Sunday, so I ordered some from grocery for tomorrow afternoon delivery. I need to find out how far I walk when I begin in the Davis Building, walk through to the Mayo and then Cannady buildings and back. I think that's pretty good. Last year, before I was in hospital again in the fall, I even did the 3 bldg walk 2X once. and planned to build up to doing that each visit. But, today I did up and back to the car. Good for today!

Be well, John and lots of blessings to you and your visitors.
elizabeth