I just finished reassembling my keyboard! Divi, one of my African Grey parrots entertained herself yesterday by removing 31 of the keys from the keyboard! I’m fairly certain that most, if not all, of the keys are in the correct location. I did have to remove one key and put it elsewhere. It was a chore to pop that key off. Divi was scrutinizing my efforts while perched on my shoulder. She is much more adept at key removal techniques than I. At least she didn’t eat through the mouse or other cords. She’s the reason I don’t have sound on my computer.

Divi usually sits on her playpen and doesn’t get into things. Yesterday I was not very energetic so I guess she got bored. We all know how temptation works when we get bored. I guess it isn’t too much different for our pet companions. Lately she’s been racing to the bathroom for a nibble of the molding. I sprayed some apple bitter on that in the hopes she’ll avoid it. Maybe that is why she chose the keyboard!

It has turned cold. Today’s high was almost 20 degrees. Last night’s temperature dropped down to 10 degrees. It is currently 11 and will undoubtedly go a few degrees lower tonight. I’m wearing my sealskin moccasins!

Anaktuvuk Pass (between Fairbanks and Barrow) has had a couple nights of -20 degrees. They also are at over $6.50 per gallon for heating oil! AND, they are sitting pretty close to the source of Alaska’s ANWR and Prudue Bay oil. It just doesn’t seem fair. Anyway, to continue… It’s been 70 degrees warmer towards the south by Juneau and Ketchikan with a balmy 50 degrees. Yup. Winter has definitely begun in earnest.

We are really enjoying those flaxseed & cottage cheese blend with frozen fruit smoothies. We have all commented on an increased energy and/or alertness. One day soon I’m going to make a special salad dressing using that as a base. It costs $5.00+ to make the smoothie base (1 pound organic, low-fat cottage cheese, 4 tablespoons flaxseed oil, 1 ½ tablespoons of raw honey, and about ½ cup rice or soy milk). I use half of the blend each day which would leave a cost of about $2.65 daily. Then there is another $3.50 for the fruit and fruit juice that goes into each day’s smoothie. So, for the four of us to have this very healthful smoothie, it costs a little more than $6.00 or $1.50-1.75 each. Now, even at $1.50 (or $1.75) for receiving the much needed omega 3 & 6 combo with beneficial fruits in a delightful drink doesn’t seem too outrageous a cost.

Tonight’s dinner was a simple ground elk spaghetti sauce over rice noodles. Dessert or as a later snack, was Bosc pears. The birds, (even the pest on my shoulder) enjoyed the juicy core.