Back to Birds

There can be no doubt that I am improving if I'm going back to birds. For a good while it was hard for me to manage the camera I use to photograph birds, but those difficulties are mostly in the past. Not entirely, but I've learned to adapt. Survival of the fittest, if you will. In all seriousness, improvement continues weekly thanks to my exercises and Lisa, the occupational therapist. She spends her days working with a lot of hard luck stories like mine. This morning she took measurements and I have improved a bunch, but in her opinion, not enough to discontinue therapy. For example, she measures how much a person can carry using a pressure device; my right hand is 31 pounds, whereas my left is 18. That sort of thing. I've still got my work cut out for me. Part of any healing process for me involves my camera. It worked before and I'm trusting it will work again.

Bruce went with me to Lake Davis one morning last week. Until my confidence returns I expect I will request an escort during my visits there. All of a sudden, we've got a gaggle of geese.

Egyptian geese appeared about a year ago at Lake Davis, seemingly out of the clear blue. Apparently they have found good eating because they are multiplying with perhaps two families, one lakeside, and one across the street. The pigeons like it there as well.

Of course if I lived there, I might not find it so interesting! Speaking of pigeons, I've counted about 18 different birds on Lake Willisara(the lake we live on) at one time of the year or other. Never, however, have I seen pigeons until Friday.

If I had to guess, they have lost their way!

The sweet owl allowed me to get just a little bit closer this time. 

In excellent news, a fellow who fishes the lake a bunch discovered that there are two owls, something I've not seen since we first moved back from Vancouver. I made sure to be up before sunrise this morning and sure enough, there they were on two adjacent branches. One of them was skittish and flew off after I got one shot in the dim light, however, you can rest assured it will not be my only attempt to capture the two of them!

While we were at Lake Davis a Wood Stork was grazing with one wing extended, perhaps for balance?

From there we made a quick trip to Lake Eola to see what some folks call Tuxedo Swans. The park rangers had the parents corralled for weeks in order to keep the eggs safe as there is only one pair at the lake. From what I can tell, they are more commonly known as Black and White Swans. Anyway, the eggs hatched weeks ago but we'd not been to see them. Bruce thinks they aren't so attractive with beaks that look very similar to Muscovy Ducks. There are three cygnets that are pretty grown up already!

We've spent a fair amount of time at the pool to both stay cool and exercise. I am pleased that I can now do the breast stroke, however, the crawl is still a little out of reach. (no pun intended!) We had a pool visitor the other day.

A great Blue Heron, lakeside, blends in pretty well what with his neck looking like the tree trunk.

I was going crazy trying to find this little guy who is a Carolina Wren.

For such a tiny bird, they have a huge voice and this one was no exception, singing like crazy in the bushes on the other side of the garden. I kept looking and looking and then he hopped out in view. My bird feeder still does not attract as many birds as I'd like, but I did have some Tufted Titmouse and a female Cardinal this week, making me happy. 

This afternoon I had my last appointment at Dr. Patel's office. I wish that I could say I was pleased when I left, but that would be a lie. He frustrates me to no end because he won't listen to my concerns. 

Mostly the incision looks just fine except for some lumps adjacent to it in the middle of my arm. Although he says it is nothing, it is something to me. Up by my wrist is another bump that feels like a splinter right where my wrist bends. He told me it was arthritis. Seriously? I was given the all okay as to activities, so there's that. The upshot of my therapy measurements is that she recommended that I continue for another two months. At least today's visit wasn't all bad because I did get a prescription for that, and fortunately, Medicare will cover the cost. Speaking of costs, I did find out that the $17,000 charge was for the facility. All in all it seems as if a broken wrist with surgery in an outpatient facility and therapy costs about $30,000 if you don't have insurance. Can you even imagine?

So I promised all birds and mostly I stuck to that. Now I just need to get out more and find some! If you missed my last post, you can find it here.  I did try putting on my watch, but it still just doesn't feel right. As some of you may know, I love watches, so almost more than not wearing my ring, I've missed having the time on my wrist. Soon, or so I hope!

your friend,

Gail

 p.s. apologies for the use of two sets of parentheses.