Good Morning, Taylor,

These last two weeks have been a little bit of a struggle for existence. There’s been a lot of stress about time out with Ragdoll’s new schedule, and she thought she had scheduled out our time out okay. But there was a problem. I wasn’t out at all for three days. And after two weeks of that, I decided I didn’t like it and spoke up. So she changed the schedule around, and starting next week, I’m out every day. It isn’t for very long. Sometimes just an hour. But it’s every day. I hope I don’t feel stifled or left out anymore. I know she’s busy, but I want some time, too, even if it’s short.

I’ve taken some initiative of claiming time for myself when I’m able. This Saturday, I had a really big block of time all to myself and I decided to go trail walking in a town that’s pretty far from here. After that she got a message that a friend wanted to meet up with her Sunday Morning, which I had as my time. I decided that instead of breaking my time up, I would simply take more time on Saturday (where she didn’t have anything to do), so she could have nearly all of Sunday. She didn’t complain, so I guess it’s okay. I ended up giving her the whole day, except my morning with the birds.

I did scare her, though. Since I drove kind of far, I let her out in case she wanted to do anything. She was in bed at 8AM when I took over. She woke up seven hours later, in an unfamiliar town in her car by a roadside park. I left her a note but didn’t know she had gone through that before and it wasn’t a good experience. Poor Ragdoll panicked for a second and I did that to her. I felt bad. I’ll be more careful about that in the future. She didn’t seem to hold it against me…she even offered me a place to go get food on the way home.

The trail was beautiful. An old railroad track through the woods full of holly and snowberries, and my phone warning me not to eat them. I heard a Stellar Jay and watched him pull at some moss in the trees. It was good to get back in the woods again, even if it was short and far away. I might go back the next time the weather is okay for it. It’s fall now, and the rain is starting. I can’t wait for the cold again. I came out in the cold. It reminds me of being new.

It was at the place that Ragdoll recommended that I had a treasure handed to me. Not the burger or fries I got, which were good. But they asked my name. And since I paid cash, I said “Andrea.” And they called my name. Correctly. No misgendering, no mispronunciation. It was clear as day: “Order for Andrea!” I don’t hear my name called often. But it’s so so so nice to hear it. It was a little kitschy place she likes so much. A building full of Alpine looking decorations and little Alpine inspired eating nooks all through the parking area. IT was really cute, and really good. There was a crow patrolling the area, so I left it some Crow Tribute. A fry for the Feathers. 🙂

There was another momentous occasion this week. I was given a feather by the crows. And it wasn’t just a “I found a feather.” I was out on the deck spending time with Mr and Mrs Crow, along with junior, and Mrs Crow started preening herself. One of her wing feather came crooked and she worked and removing it from her wing, the caught it in her talon. She held it for a while, then used her beak to tuck it into part of the fence that would hold it. All the while looking at me like she was trying to tell me something. Eventually, She untucked it from the fence and left it gently on the platform below. I didn’t go and grab it until they left, because I didn’t want to scare them, but took it later. I think she really meant it for me, and I’m glad.

I did try to thank them, by leaving peanuts where they left the feather. But the jays ate them almost immediately. I hope the crows know I’m thankful for the feather. I love my crows. 🙂

The next week on our new schedule starts tomorrow and I’m looking forward to some time in the evening to myself again. It’s every evening, too. I wonder if Ragdoll will be okay with that, since she gets no time before bed. She’ll say something I’m sure.

I hope your coding project continues to go well!

–Andrea