04.17.2022 Happy Easter!

 It is a beautiful morning with blue skies and the sounds of birds with Spring fever!  Happy Easter to everyone. We will enjoy the day with a walk and a nice Easter lunch. We all are enjoying the chance to be outside in the sunshine. The gardens are starting to bloom but I wish I had more daffodils. There was a time when the gardens were full of a variety of daffodils but over time they disappeared. Could the squirrels be eating my bulbs? And every Spring I make a mental note to plant more bulbs in the Fall. And every Fall I find a good reason why I just cannot do that! Maybe this year.

The lily will be planted outside once it has finished blooming. In the garden, they tend to bloom in the summer.

The boys are doing reasonably well but we have had a couple of issues and Gunnarr goes back to the Vet in a couple of weeks. If there is something seriously wrong, he doesn't show it - he runs and plays and eats and is full of energy and life and love as always. But he had some abnormal tests so we are waiting to see if things improve. 

Before the Easter bath. Gunnarr wears the red collar and is having a good time.

My little Houdini Gunnarr. We have to watch him all of the time. He is trying to sneak through the gate - he does this in his pen in the house and has more often than not managed to open the gate. Fionnegan waits to see if they will be freed. He follows Gunnarr closely during these escapades. Fortunately, this is the gate between the front and the side yards, so they are safe no matter what. Shorty is reclining on the porch, he has learned that this will not work.

            

After the bath. They now smell so good and fresh. Even Shorty takes notice and sniffs the twins. He too smells good as he gets a rub down with their towel from the bath. Fionnegan is in the middle.  Shorty loves the camera and starts to pose and tries to smile at times. He also lets me trim the hairs on his paws without a fuss. And he gives Fionn and Gunnarr kisses. What a pack!

Everyone is waiting for dinner. Fionn  Gunnarr Shorty

        

Wishing you all a very Happy and Blessed Easter Day. May you all stay safe and well.

Until next time..........

04.03.2022 A very quick trip to Tel Aviv

 Without a doubt covid has affected all aspects of life, not the least of which is travel. I had a research presentation in Tel Aviv and am happy to report that all three of my covid tests done within 5 days of each are all negative. Hope never to need another nasopharyngeal swab for a very long time. 

The meeting was at the Convention Center and was excellent with presenters from all around the world. I presented our research and moderated a session, so it was worth the time and effort to get there and back.  The one thing I missed was the chance to do a little sightseeing but hope to do that again sometime. Everyone had to quarantine for 24 hours upon arrival or until the airport performed covid test returned. It is hard to sit still in a hotel room - so it was good that I needed to work on my presentation! Once test results were reported I walked for a couple of hours just doing a bit of exploring. It felt good to stretch after such a long airplane ride.

My hotel was about 1.5 miles from the convention center, so I took the opportunity to walk back and forth through a lovely park. And yes, I did a bit of bird watching along the way. The weather was warm and there were only a few sprinkles to dodge. The park was not crowded so it was a really peaceful adventure. And an adventure it was as the first time I walked to the center, shall we say, I took the long way there! An extra mile and a half long way there! 

One thing worth mentioning is the food. From breakfast at the hotel to the food at the convention center it was always fresh and delicious. Even the snacks during the breaks at the conference were healthy - fresh fruit and vegetables. Sweet snacks were bite size - just big enough to satisfy a sweet tooth. I really did enjoy the local menus.

Here is a melodious myna bird. There were many of them everywhere and were fun to watch.

There were beautiful doves in the park - here is a Eurasian collared dove.  I have developed a new fondness for doves these past few years, Maybe I just like to observe birds that I can easily see!

Also watched many, many parrots flying and feeding on the ground.

The handsome bird is the state bird of Israel - the hooded crow.

  

A nice stream meandered through the park. I found a heron doing a bit of fishing and followed her for a while, but she didn't catch anything while I was there. 

 

  

A handsome pair of Egyptian geese were feeding in the park. Will little geese be far behind? It is Spring! I like the pink legs.

The US requires a covid test within 24 hours of departure. Fortunately, I was able to have a testing service come to the hotel. But the results were available just three hours before departure - a bit if a stress as the results arrived as I was leaving for the airport. 

It is always good to come home. I can sleep on the airplane, and I do enjoy watching the Bollywood movies. The boys were happy to see me and life goes back to normal. 

 

Hope you all are well and safe. Life is getting back to normal as covid restrictions are lifted. Discussions regarding a need for a fourth vaccination should give us a sense of security that we can protect ourselves and enjoy life.

Until next time.....