yesterday's day trip
Yesterday, Dad and I took a day trip up to Pigeon Forge, and I went to Parrot Mountain. So many cute birds. They had a Red Tailed Black Cockatoo in the petting/feeding area. She was so pretty, and I didn't think I would ever get to see one in real life since black cockatoos are rare even in Australia. I also gave scritches to a Citron crested Cockatoo who may or may not have been the same one I played with last time I was there. I also held a sweet Umbrella Cockatoo named Snowy. She loved cuddles and did not want to go back on her perch either time I held her. She made cute noises when I was holding her too. I had a Hyacinth Macaw jump on my head. Luckily that macaw's favorite staffer was there to cuddle him, because that's what he wanted. He was a very friendly bird, but that beak is too big for me, and his toenails were sharp too. I also had a Scarlet Macaw climb on me and play with my ponytail. He didn't want to get off of me either. Then there was another macaw who let me scratch pinfeathers off of his head. So many birds there had pinfeathers. They also have renovated the nursery, and I went in there and played with baby birds. One baby was a beautiful albino Indian Ringneck Parakeet who was sweet and friendly. They had Golden Conures in there too.
After Parrot Mountain, Dad and I had lunch at Arby's and I went to the Christmas Place for an hour. I didn't see Simon the African Gray this time. He retired from being a store bird after 22 years. In the main big Christmas store, I explored every room, but I think they were changing around displays so there wasn't as much stuff in some rooms. The upstairs room was closed off too. That's where they usually have sale and clearance items, and there must not be any right now. I did find the musical instrument ornaments which I always look for those. I also found a blue crystal hummingbird that is just like one I took out of Grandma T.'s house. I'm guessing the one I have came from that store. I was a little disappointed in the Christmas tree room. The ones that are out now, aren't as pretty as ones they have had in there in past years. I remember when the foil trees were popular and they had them in several colors in there with matching lights. That was a long time ago, but I still remember it. I don't think I saw an area with garlands this year either. I did see one ornament I would have bought for Mom if it had been cheaper than $15. It was a glass ornament that was a black cat batting a Christmas ball.
After the Christmas store, Dad and I stopped at the Russell Stover Outlet, and then we stopped at Hickory, NC for dinner. Google routed us off of 40 for a while because of bad construction, and we drove along this road that ran along a pretty river. We thought we would have delays, but we got to the restaurant we were trying at the time Google said we would get there. It was an Asian fusion place. I had a good burger with pho spices in it that was topped with bean sprouts, cilantro, hoisin sauce, and mayo. Dad had bibimbap. We also tried the kimchi fries, which were fries topped with gochujang sauce, white sauce, and kimchi. Dad didn't like them. I thought they were interesting, but I probably wouldn't get them again. I'd go back to that restaurant if I was ever in Hickory for another reason because there are other things on the menu I want to try.
Today I did chores. I swept the front porch, and cleaned the screen porch from top to bottom. I dusted all the surfaces, all the chairs, and vacuumed it. The hardest was beating the dust off the chair cushions. I also vacuumed upstairs, dusted downstairs, cleaned the cat box and bird cage, and dusted the stair rails. I also helped Dad move furniture so he could mop the kitchen, and then we moved the rowing machine back out to the garage, but it's still set up so I could use it if I wanted. I went out on my bike after lunch and got caught in the rain on the way home. That was almost two hours ago, and I'm still wet. Dad was gone when I got home because he took a bunch of junk to the recycling center and stuff to Goodwill. We are going to get milkshakes tonight because we both worked really hard today.
When I was sweeping the front porch, I heard the neighbors' dogs howling. I don't know why either because they usually don't. They hare having a pool party today. Our street is full of cars. I feel really tired, and my hands are disgustingly dry.
After Parrot Mountain, Dad and I had lunch at Arby's and I went to the Christmas Place for an hour. I didn't see Simon the African Gray this time. He retired from being a store bird after 22 years. In the main big Christmas store, I explored every room, but I think they were changing around displays so there wasn't as much stuff in some rooms. The upstairs room was closed off too. That's where they usually have sale and clearance items, and there must not be any right now. I did find the musical instrument ornaments which I always look for those. I also found a blue crystal hummingbird that is just like one I took out of Grandma T.'s house. I'm guessing the one I have came from that store. I was a little disappointed in the Christmas tree room. The ones that are out now, aren't as pretty as ones they have had in there in past years. I remember when the foil trees were popular and they had them in several colors in there with matching lights. That was a long time ago, but I still remember it. I don't think I saw an area with garlands this year either. I did see one ornament I would have bought for Mom if it had been cheaper than $15. It was a glass ornament that was a black cat batting a Christmas ball.
After the Christmas store, Dad and I stopped at the Russell Stover Outlet, and then we stopped at Hickory, NC for dinner. Google routed us off of 40 for a while because of bad construction, and we drove along this road that ran along a pretty river. We thought we would have delays, but we got to the restaurant we were trying at the time Google said we would get there. It was an Asian fusion place. I had a good burger with pho spices in it that was topped with bean sprouts, cilantro, hoisin sauce, and mayo. Dad had bibimbap. We also tried the kimchi fries, which were fries topped with gochujang sauce, white sauce, and kimchi. Dad didn't like them. I thought they were interesting, but I probably wouldn't get them again. I'd go back to that restaurant if I was ever in Hickory for another reason because there are other things on the menu I want to try.
Today I did chores. I swept the front porch, and cleaned the screen porch from top to bottom. I dusted all the surfaces, all the chairs, and vacuumed it. The hardest was beating the dust off the chair cushions. I also vacuumed upstairs, dusted downstairs, cleaned the cat box and bird cage, and dusted the stair rails. I also helped Dad move furniture so he could mop the kitchen, and then we moved the rowing machine back out to the garage, but it's still set up so I could use it if I wanted. I went out on my bike after lunch and got caught in the rain on the way home. That was almost two hours ago, and I'm still wet. Dad was gone when I got home because he took a bunch of junk to the recycling center and stuff to Goodwill. We are going to get milkshakes tonight because we both worked really hard today.
When I was sweeping the front porch, I heard the neighbors' dogs howling. I don't know why either because they usually don't. They hare having a pool party today. Our street is full of cars. I feel really tired, and my hands are disgustingly dry.