Amritapuri, India Wildlife # 3

Vedavati said: Here is the tree on a floor in the building where I live. At night, it’s the crow’s bedroom. But by day, these other birds rule the roost. Look how many there are! (Enlarge the photo if you need to. )

And here are close ups of one stretching it’s wings.

Does anyone know what kind of bird this is? If you do, please let us know by writing the name in the comment section.

Amritapuri, India Wildlife- #2b

This is the same monkey that was in yesterday’s post. This time it was taken after he had stolen eggs from the Western café.

Amritapuri, India Wildlife #2

Vedavati said: Sorry, it’s real pixelly, it was so dark back into this tree. The crows were creating quite the ruckus at the sight of this monkey. Actually the crows chased the monkey into the recesses of the tree. Never a dull moment on the Tumban (dog) walks!

Amritapuri, India Wildlife #1

This was Vedavati’s first picture with the new camera.

Vedavati said: This past week the eagles (briminy kites) have been circling nearby. Quite the treat!

Enlarge the photo above and see how many are flying around. Amazing! Vedavati and I both counted 13. How many do you see?

2 more are joining in.

Lumosity: Brain Training Games or Coping with a New Reality

Lumosity consists of brain training games. I have been playing them on and off for about 10 years. I have thoroughly enjoyed playing them and also have enjoyed competing with myself and others my age.

Each game focuses on an area such as speed, problem-solving, attention, divided attention, memory, flexibility, etc. I am fascinated to see that even though my scores are lower than they used to be, I have the same strengths that I had when I played them before. My highest scores are problem solving, attention, and memory. My weakest area was speed in the past and it continues to be lower than other areas.

I remember having a lot of 97- 99 percentile when I was younger but now when I’m compared to my peers my highest areas are in the mid 60 percentiles with the exception of problem solving which is 88.4%

I have been able to get home health services since I have been staying at this senior living facility. One of the home health therapists focuses in part on cognitive areas. She thought any deficits I had could be attributed to stress, but suggested I do some brain training activities. She was delighted when I suggested Lumosity.

One day in the last few weeks, I got my foot caught in a paper bag when I went over it with my walker. I became very stressed when I couldn’t fix the situation.

I was able to eventually figure it out and free myself from the bag. But I am having more problems with my left foot freezing, especially when I’m stressed.

I am also challenged by getting dressed. Sometimes I can’t figure it out and I need help. I don’t necessarily like that I need help, but I appreciate that help is available.

I need to acknowledge and accept the grief about what I’ve lost without losing myself in it. And there will be lots of opportunities to use my problem solving, attention and memory skills. Thank you Lumosity for showing me I continue to have those skills.

Amritapuri, India Flowers #4

Vedavati is loving her new Samsung M10 phone camera. She used her macro lens when she took this photo. She was surprised when it looked like the flower was floating in the air.

Watching the Creek from My Window- Part 6

The pattern I described in earlier posts has continued. It rains hard and the water in the creek area rises and has a current and then if there is no rain for a couple hours, the water disappears and the ground becomes muddy.

We have never had enough rain for the creek to look like a lake the way it did the first time I wrote about it. Those storms were unusual enough to have severe weather warnings.

Several days last week, it rained for so many hours that there were puddles of water on the ground outside of the window of my apartment.

When I looked at the creek, I saw that once again it had water that had a current.

Twice that day when I looked at the creek from my window, I saw that there were two adult ducks swimming in it. Neither time did I have my phone camera handy.

The next day it did not rain. Once again, the area where the creek had been was just muddy ground.

Amritapuri, India Flowers #3

Vedavati sent more photos taken with her new phone. I decided to post the flowers first. I think the colors are so vivid

She wrote: After a pre dawn rain. Love the colors and all the various stages of flowering and fruiting.

My Judgments May Be Wrong

I have had a recent reminder that my judgments may be wrong. It can be very difficult for me to open envelopes now. I often end up tearing the envelope and hoping I don’t tear what’s inside of it.

One day I got an envelope that was secured a lot more than normal. There seemed to be no way I was going to be able to get inside without getting help.

I became very judgmental. Don’t you know that I can’t get this open? How would they know? I didn’t even know the person that sent it. I went further into my tantrum. What do you think this is, Fort Knox?

When I tore the envelope open, I felt like the contents were very worthy of Fort Knox level protection. It was a gorgeous 3-D get well card from somebody I didn’t even know.

This incident will serve as a reminder to me that my judgments are not always right. Or warranted. This may have been the most beautiful card I have ever seen.

Amritapuri, India Flowers #2

Vedavati bought a new phone. That means she also has a new phone camera! She said: I am loving the new camera. Not so sure about loving the different style of spell wrecker.