I've been trying to take my medically prescribed walks. We've been luckily aided by our weather, which has been so bizarrely warm this season. (It's low-key terrifying, how little snow we've had.)

I didn't end up doing anything this most recent "weekend," as Alex was super sick and didn't want to go anywhere, but on the last bit of time before I returned to work we did at least a few good walks.


Bella got to meet a horse!

Bella loves horses. I tease her that she's a weird horse girl. (I was a weird horse girl.) But she's very enthusiastic every time we drive past horses. She's gotten to see them on trails before, and is always very excited. (I loved one day on a trail where we pulled her to the side to let some horses pass, where we were talking to Bella saying "Oh, do you see the horses?" and as the riders passed, one of them was saying "Oh, do you see the puppy?" Lol.) But while Cy got to be around horses pretty often, back when Alex was riding, Bella hasn't ever gotten to directly meet one.

Until now!

We saw this horse coming up the trail, and then horse and rider went through the Starbucks drive through, haha. Then they came back around and passed us on the trail. The rider said hi to us and to Bella, and Alex said hi and that Bella loves horses. The rider pulled his horse back around and asked if she wanted to say hi.

Bella was utterly starstruck, haha.


And a pair of bald eagles!

We first spotted one out on the ice of the pond, then heard a huge murder of crows throwing an absolute fit over in the trees at the far side. As we continued around, we realized there was a second eagle already in the trees over where the crows were upset.

Eventually the one on the ice flew back up to join the one in the tree, though then made another trip out onto the ice.

By the time we got back around to the tree they'd been in, that one came back, and they both sat there for quite a while! It was very cool.

I am still delighted every time we see an eagle, and especially to see two! But it also makes me happy that it no longer feels like a "once in a lifetime" sighting. While I don't think I'll ever be blase about seeing them (I mean, I get excited every time I see a chickadee, so) but I am glad that it's something that happens multiple times a year, now.

Nine more pictures:

Friday, January 30, a quick walk in a city park:


There were SO MANY geese on the pond, ha. But I liked the ones toward the front there, who were nibbling at the sort of soft, delicate ice at the edge of the pond. It was a very funny noise to hear them nibbling at it. Bella was very interested.

Sunday, February 01, a longer walk at Belmar Lake:


A pair of mallards waddling across the ice. I love the male's bright green head, but am also always amused by their bright orange feet.


This little bird's nest was very cute.


Also a big fallen wasp nest.


Excuse me! What do you think you're doing?? It is February 1st, it is too early for you, little green leaf!


More ducks! Some mallards in front on shore, and northern shovelers in the water.

Thursday, February 05, at Pelican Pond:

The two above-cut pictures are from this day as well, but a few more.


Denver in the distance, but also a sort of fun phenomenon: the angle of the sun meant that the contrail over on the right actually cast a shadow across the sky, which is pretty cool looking.


Eagle! :D


Again with the greenery! It's too soon!

It's harder to take my walks while working, but I've tried to take at least two quick walks each day. It does seem to have helped the bloating a bit. Still not all the way there, but it's improved!

In less good news, I do seem to be getting sick, probably with what Alex has. Terrible! He's been so sick for days! But I had a very slight sore throat this morning, and then around lunch time it started ramping up. Runny nose, lots of that lovely post-nasal drip that is making my throat want to die.
If it follows the same trajectory as Alex's, then I can look forward to hideously awful coughing, moderate fever, and sinus and chest congestion in my near future. (And because I had originally requested this weekend off, but my time off request was denied, I absolutely can't call out; there's no one to cover, and calling out on the same day as a denied leave request is an automatic HR write-up.) Hopefully I end up with a milder version!