Getting Old Really is a Pain

I have always been active, walk, hike, x-c ski, snow shoe, bike.  You wouldn't know it to look at me.  I'm a fat old woman.  No getting around it.  I've spent most of my life in the 145 to 155 lb. range.  At 5'6" that's a bit much, but as one trainer told me, that's clearly where my body wanted to be.

This winter I put 10 pounds on.  Sigh.  At 165 pounds, my knees are rebelling.  I have an arthritic right knee that really gives me trouble.  I didn't get the exercise that I usually do, it was just one of those winters, I didn't get out to x-c ski or snow shoe and it was every thing I could do to take care of the horses.  According to weight watchers and others, the 1200 to 1500 calories I eat should keep me where I'm at or lose weight.  Yeah, right.

I had a hysterectomy in 2002 and it's true, all I have to do is walk past food and I put weight on.  Combine that with the natural ramping down of the metabolic system as one gets older and one just doesn't stand a chance.  Instead of a 3 mile hike a day, have to do 6 miles just to stay even.  Eating around 900 calories makes a dent, slowly, but really, I just CAN'T do that for long.  Can't, won't, doesn't much matter.

I usually take the dogs with me when I hike.  They love it when I go some place they can be off leash.  Sarah Labrador and Bay Li Rat Terrier can run forever, but Jack R Terrier is showing his age just like me.  Jack is a rescue, so I don't know how old he is.  I was told he was about the same age as Bay Li, but I'm doubting that now.  Poor guy, he loves to go, runs hard checking out the wildlife for about a mile, then he just wilts.

Yesterday I had planned on a 6 mile walk along the river.  The dogs had a grand time for about a mile, then I noticed that Jack was walking and stopping behind me.  Sarah and Bay Li continued to run like a couple banshee's but poor Jack just couldn't.  I went another half mile and turned around.  The 3 miles did the poor boy in.

I guess I'll have to leave him home from now on.  That means one dog at a time goes with me.  Probably best any way.  All three can be a bit much when they get excited.  Jack will just have to be content with chasing the squirrels.

Geez, I wonder when I'll only be able to chase the squirrels.

Warmth, Finally

Well, we've had a few nice days.  Definitely warming up.  It's been a bit wetter than normal, so, now that it's warming up as well, things are growing FAST.  I don't have any pasture for the horses, but their hay leaves behind seeds and so there is grass popping up where ever I've fed.  I've let the two older horses out to graze it so it won't get too long.  Worried about late summer and fall when all this vegetation dries out.  We could have a heck of a fire season.

A steady steam of birds.  The quail are staying longer, but they are still skittish.  A female Western Tanager has come in to feed or drink for years but her male partner has always been leery, never coming closer than the empty lot next door.   Well, he's finally started to come in to feed.  LOL.  He comes in, takes two or three bites then is gone.  I don't even have time to reach for the camera much less take a picture.  Yesterday, though, I did get a couple quick photos through the window before he took off.  He's looking at the female, just outside camera range.  They sure are pretty.

I saw a Cooper's Hawk the other day.  That probably explains some of the injured birds that I've seen.  A Dove came in last week with one eye gone.  She was obviously in great pain, though still able to eat and fly.  I haven't seen her since.  Then there was a Grosbeak that came in that had a back injury.  Haven't seen him since either.  Ah, well, that's nature.