This morning I was trying to clean a spot on Colette's chin- not hurting her, of course.
She got mad at me and showed my face a CLAW SANDWICH (to borrow a phrase from my friend). Luckily, she only drew blood from one tiny spot. And luckily, I love her.
These cats.
I held her two front paws in my hand, and proceeded to finish cleaning her chin. She growled and growled, but I was absolutely not going to let her think that she was in charge.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
Pancho loves Chloe!!!
Well, yesterday Chloe moved in with Pancho.
I put their cages side by side yesterday morning. Pancho started singing to Chloe and they tried to get closer to each other. So, I took that as a sign that they liked each other and decided to put them in the same cage. That was an interesting event.
My bird cage is really big and sits up really high, so I had to pull a chair up to the front of it in order to put Chloe in there with Pancho. I got Chloe out of her little cage first, and she started screaming because she didn't like the fact that I was holding her, not letting her sit on my finger. I couldn't do that, as the cats were out and the ceiling fan was going. So... as soon as she started screaming, Pancho rushed to the front of his cage to defend her- he began screeching at me and wouldn't move to the back of the cage so I could open the door.
Picture this- I'm on a chair, holding Chloe against my chest with my left hand, I'm trying to open the cage door with my right, and I'm pushing Jacob off the chair with my foot. It was funny.
I finally managed to get the door open and tried to get Pancho to move to the side and he BIT me. It didn't hurt, but I was very surprised, because he's never bitten me before- he's too sweet. That is how upset he was about Chloe screaming, I guess.
Well, I finally got Chloe in the cage with Pancho. He spent the rest of the day singing to her, fluffing his feathers, and preening- all trying to impress her. What did Chloe do? She ate- ALL DAY, and played it coy by ignoring him for the most part. But she does like him. They shared a seed stick.
This morning, Pancho woke me up early- singing to Chloe. He's trying really hard to woo her.
But what was sweetest? That a little bitty raggedy bird man would come to the rescue of his newest little girl companion. He is so sweet. And gallant. And brave. I love Pancho.
Chloe has given him a new lease on life- that's for sure. He was so active yesterday! It was really good to see him so happy. Thank you Karen! Your gift of love has meant the world to Pancho and you saved his life; he was sadder than I thought.
I put their cages side by side yesterday morning. Pancho started singing to Chloe and they tried to get closer to each other. So, I took that as a sign that they liked each other and decided to put them in the same cage. That was an interesting event.
My bird cage is really big and sits up really high, so I had to pull a chair up to the front of it in order to put Chloe in there with Pancho. I got Chloe out of her little cage first, and she started screaming because she didn't like the fact that I was holding her, not letting her sit on my finger. I couldn't do that, as the cats were out and the ceiling fan was going. So... as soon as she started screaming, Pancho rushed to the front of his cage to defend her- he began screeching at me and wouldn't move to the back of the cage so I could open the door.
Picture this- I'm on a chair, holding Chloe against my chest with my left hand, I'm trying to open the cage door with my right, and I'm pushing Jacob off the chair with my foot. It was funny.
I finally managed to get the door open and tried to get Pancho to move to the side and he BIT me. It didn't hurt, but I was very surprised, because he's never bitten me before- he's too sweet. That is how upset he was about Chloe screaming, I guess.
Well, I finally got Chloe in the cage with Pancho. He spent the rest of the day singing to her, fluffing his feathers, and preening- all trying to impress her. What did Chloe do? She ate- ALL DAY, and played it coy by ignoring him for the most part. But she does like him. They shared a seed stick.
This morning, Pancho woke me up early- singing to Chloe. He's trying really hard to woo her.
But what was sweetest? That a little bitty raggedy bird man would come to the rescue of his newest little girl companion. He is so sweet. And gallant. And brave. I love Pancho.
Chloe has given him a new lease on life- that's for sure. He was so active yesterday! It was really good to see him so happy. Thank you Karen! Your gift of love has meant the world to Pancho and you saved his life; he was sadder than I thought.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Jacob's reading program
This is the sight that greets me every morning. Have I mentioned that it is RIGHT BY MY SIDE OF THE BED???
Who needs an alarm clock when you have Jacob working on his reading comprehension skills every morning and Henderson standing on your bladder?
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Pancho and Mae
I didn't realize until Ticturd died, just how attached I was to him. I missed having a bird to wake me with singing in the mornings so much. I put Ticturd's picture in his cage and continued to cover/uncover it- like he was still there. That's kinda weird, I know, but it was part of my grieving process. I left Thistle's bowls/etc. out for weeks after she died- I just wasn't ready to get rid of them.
Anyway, about a week after Ticturd died, I got a call from my (then) bird vet. I had called his office and told them that I wanted another bird, and if they knew of anyone who needed a home for one to let me know. I also said that a "special needs" bird was fine.
He had a client with a pair of birds, six years old, who were becoming "too much" for them to keep up with. The girl bird had been allowed to breed so many times that she had bad "female" problems because of it. Her little bird uterus would prolapse every time she laid another egg- and the eggs themselves didn't help, they were soft/malformed because she was malnourished/over-bred, and that made it much more difficult/painful/physically traumatic for her to lay them.
I said that I would take them. We put Mae on "birdie depo provera" to prevent her from laying eggs, but you couldn't keep her on it for more than a month or so at a time. As soon as she stopped taking it, she would lay an egg, have to have surgery to reposition her cloaca (uterus) and the whole problem would start all over again.
Well, Mae was not with us for long after I got her. She had just had surgery when I brought her home, we did the birdie depo for awhile, and soon laid another egg with complications and therefore more surgery. I brought her home on a Saturday morning and when I came home from work that night she was gone.
Pancho almost broke my heart. He sang and sang, trying to get her to get up off the floor of the cage. I hate to think of how many hours he may have tried to do this while I was gone. We both cried for days. I slept on the couch so I could be with him and comfort him during the night when he would cry. For quite a few days, I thought I was going to lose him too, as he was obviously heart broken. They had been together since they were babies. If you took one to the vet you had to take them both, as they could not bear to be apart. Pancho and Mae were very much in love. They groomed each other, and little Pancho was quite henpecked. He was bald for YEARS because Mae would pull all his head feathers out. I don't know why she did it or why he let her. But, their relationship was very sweet to witness.
Luckily, though? I had a friend who bird sat for people who bred birds, and they were looking for a good home for all of theirs, as they were going to be moving and couldn't take the birds with them. But that's a story for another day- about Clarabelle.
Anyway, about a week after Ticturd died, I got a call from my (then) bird vet. I had called his office and told them that I wanted another bird, and if they knew of anyone who needed a home for one to let me know. I also said that a "special needs" bird was fine.
He had a client with a pair of birds, six years old, who were becoming "too much" for them to keep up with. The girl bird had been allowed to breed so many times that she had bad "female" problems because of it. Her little bird uterus would prolapse every time she laid another egg- and the eggs themselves didn't help, they were soft/malformed because she was malnourished/over-bred, and that made it much more difficult/painful/physically traumatic for her to lay them.
I said that I would take them. We put Mae on "birdie depo provera" to prevent her from laying eggs, but you couldn't keep her on it for more than a month or so at a time. As soon as she stopped taking it, she would lay an egg, have to have surgery to reposition her cloaca (uterus) and the whole problem would start all over again.
Well, Mae was not with us for long after I got her. She had just had surgery when I brought her home, we did the birdie depo for awhile, and soon laid another egg with complications and therefore more surgery. I brought her home on a Saturday morning and when I came home from work that night she was gone.
Pancho almost broke my heart. He sang and sang, trying to get her to get up off the floor of the cage. I hate to think of how many hours he may have tried to do this while I was gone. We both cried for days. I slept on the couch so I could be with him and comfort him during the night when he would cry. For quite a few days, I thought I was going to lose him too, as he was obviously heart broken. They had been together since they were babies. If you took one to the vet you had to take them both, as they could not bear to be apart. Pancho and Mae were very much in love. They groomed each other, and little Pancho was quite henpecked. He was bald for YEARS because Mae would pull all his head feathers out. I don't know why she did it or why he let her. But, their relationship was very sweet to witness.
Luckily, though? I had a friend who bird sat for people who bred birds, and they were looking for a good home for all of theirs, as they were going to be moving and couldn't take the birds with them. But that's a story for another day- about Clarabelle.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
The first night
This is Ms. Chloe. Isn't she beautiful?
Thank you, to Karen, for allowing me to bring this lovely girl into my home. Pancho was SO excited. They aren't sharing a cage yet, but they sang to each other for several hours last night! It was noisy, but music to my ears.
We had her checked out at Dr. Ledbury's office- where a mishap occured. Chloe flew into the window in the exam room and banged her nose. She's fine now, just a bruise, but I freaked out! I couldn't stand the thought of losing two girls in one week. Poor Dr. Ledbury- he's not used to me getting freaked out! I may shed a few tears depending on the situation, but I always stay calm, my animals need me to. And even though we delayed the trip last week? Chloe laid another egg while we were in the waiting room- and we didn't even know it! What a trooper.
She's a sweet sweet little girl, and I look forward to having many happy years with Ms. Chloe. She has saved Pancho's life, that's for sure. He woke me up early this morning and started singing to Chloe, but she was too busy eating to respond to him. I'm glad to see her eating- after laying eggs it is important that she replenish.
Thank you again to Karen, for being Pancho's angel and sharing your beautiful girl.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Chloe
Today I'm hopefully bringing Chloe home.
She appears to be done laying eggs, so it is safe to move her.
Her cage is ready for her arrival and Dr. Ledbury is going to check her out for me.
Update tomorrow!
She appears to be done laying eggs, so it is safe to move her.
Her cage is ready for her arrival and Dr. Ledbury is going to check her out for me.
Update tomorrow!
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Ticturd
I got my first cockatiel years ago, when I still worked at Wal-Mart.
I was eating lunch at the snack bar with the guy who managed the pet department when he said, "Oh no! Not again!" A lady he recognized had come in and headed to the service desk. She was returning a bird that she had only had a few days.
Curious, I followed him to the pet department and heard the story that started my love affair with cockatiels. This little bird was bought three different times in as many weeks and returned- each and every time. They said he was mean. One lady popped him against the wall when he bit her. Can you imagine doing that to a little animal that didn't even weigh a pound? I was indignant.
As fate would have it, I had just gotten my Christmas bonus that very day- all of $50. Guess what I spent it on? You guessed it. A bird cage, supplies and one unloved/misunderstood cockatiel. I knew my parents would have a fit over me bringing it home, so I concocted a story. I told my family that I was keeping it for a few weeks for a friend, as she bought it for her sister's Christmas present. I later confessed- once I knew the rest of the family loved him too.
Well, Ticturd (as he later came to be named) stayed in the kitchen for several days. He silently circled the cage by the hour- around and around and around. Noone in the family bothered him- we all agreed he needed his space- and I was the only one who dared open the cage door to give him food/water. Mom bought a book about cockatiels, though, as she has a soft spot for animals too.
Finally, after about a week? He started making a strange noise. We all gathered around, worried that something was wrong with him, as he had never even whistled. He just constantly circled and circled the cage. After a few minutes, I realized that he was singing! What beautiful songs this bird sang!
Anyway- it took me a year to teach the little guy not to bite. He never got over his fear of women, including me. He learned that I would not hurt him, but he never fully overcame the trauma of his life before me. He LOVED my father, though. He would let Dad handle him without fear. Obviously it was women who had traumatized him.
He love listening to basketball games. I would play them on the tv/radio for him. He liked country music, too. He had a happy life with me for several years.
Sadly, I lost Ticturd the day I took him to the vet (NOT Dr. Ledbury or anyone at Hillcrest) for a beak trim. The doctor killed him- he had a heart attack because she wouldn't stop when I told her to. I knew she was scaring him and told her to stop for a minute so we could let him calm down.
His body is buried in my backyard, in a silk lined box with his favorite toys. But his spirit soars through Heaven where nothing can ever scare him again. And he sings with the angels!
I was eating lunch at the snack bar with the guy who managed the pet department when he said, "Oh no! Not again!" A lady he recognized had come in and headed to the service desk. She was returning a bird that she had only had a few days.
Curious, I followed him to the pet department and heard the story that started my love affair with cockatiels. This little bird was bought three different times in as many weeks and returned- each and every time. They said he was mean. One lady popped him against the wall when he bit her. Can you imagine doing that to a little animal that didn't even weigh a pound? I was indignant.
As fate would have it, I had just gotten my Christmas bonus that very day- all of $50. Guess what I spent it on? You guessed it. A bird cage, supplies and one unloved/misunderstood cockatiel. I knew my parents would have a fit over me bringing it home, so I concocted a story. I told my family that I was keeping it for a few weeks for a friend, as she bought it for her sister's Christmas present. I later confessed- once I knew the rest of the family loved him too.
Well, Ticturd (as he later came to be named) stayed in the kitchen for several days. He silently circled the cage by the hour- around and around and around. Noone in the family bothered him- we all agreed he needed his space- and I was the only one who dared open the cage door to give him food/water. Mom bought a book about cockatiels, though, as she has a soft spot for animals too.
Finally, after about a week? He started making a strange noise. We all gathered around, worried that something was wrong with him, as he had never even whistled. He just constantly circled and circled the cage. After a few minutes, I realized that he was singing! What beautiful songs this bird sang!
Anyway- it took me a year to teach the little guy not to bite. He never got over his fear of women, including me. He learned that I would not hurt him, but he never fully overcame the trauma of his life before me. He LOVED my father, though. He would let Dad handle him without fear. Obviously it was women who had traumatized him.
He love listening to basketball games. I would play them on the tv/radio for him. He liked country music, too. He had a happy life with me for several years.
Sadly, I lost Ticturd the day I took him to the vet (NOT Dr. Ledbury or anyone at Hillcrest) for a beak trim. The doctor killed him- he had a heart attack because she wouldn't stop when I told her to. I knew she was scaring him and told her to stop for a minute so we could let him calm down.
His body is buried in my backyard, in a silk lined box with his favorite toys. But his spirit soars through Heaven where nothing can ever scare him again. And he sings with the angels!
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Loved ones in Heaven
When I see the sun's rays shining through the clouds, it reminds me of my loved ones looking down on me from Heaven. I always think of Joanie (my mother's best friend killed by a drunk driver) and Thistle looking down on me.
They were friends here on earth, and I KNOW they are in Heaven watching out for me.
Thistle Day
Thistle was our last family pet. We had her 16 years. When the family split up and went their different ways due to divorce, marriage, and various other life events- she went with me. Thistle and I had a special bond- we were soul sisters.
I lost her nine years ago tomorrow (April 16, 2000). Rather than let the day be one of sadness, I have chosen to honor her memory and celebrate her life annually by doing good things. I have planted trees in her honor. I take a candy basket/home baked goodies to my vet's office. My cats and I share the shrimp in Chang's House shrimp fried rice on this day- that was Thistle's most favorite food in the world. I buy everyone toys/treats, including the birds.
I still miss her every single day. But time heals and the pain is not as fresh as it once was. And this annual celebration of her life has helped. It brings me joy to do good things in her name.
It is fitting that I will be bringing a new addition into my home tomorrow. Ms. Chloe will help ease Pancho's pain caused by the loss of Ms. Clarabelle. I can think of no greater tribute to Thistle.
Chloe
Monday afternoon, I was contacted by a lady named Karen. She has a female cockatiel that she would like to find a good home for.
I will be picking her up tomorrow. We are meeting at Hillcrest (my vet's office) in Bartlett. That was a central location for us both and I can also let Dr. Ledbury check her out for me. He doesn't really treat birds, but for me? He'll do it.
God answered the prayers for Pancho. He's doing okay, but I know he'll be happier when he has a companion.
It's also very sweet that I will be getting Ms. Chloe on Thistle Day. I'll post about that later today.
I will be picking her up tomorrow. We are meeting at Hillcrest (my vet's office) in Bartlett. That was a central location for us both and I can also let Dr. Ledbury check her out for me. He doesn't really treat birds, but for me? He'll do it.
God answered the prayers for Pancho. He's doing okay, but I know he'll be happier when he has a companion.
It's also very sweet that I will be getting Ms. Chloe on Thistle Day. I'll post about that later today.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Clarabelle
I am saddened to write that Ms. Clarabelle (seen on the right) passed away last night. I am searching for a new girl bird to be a companion to Pancho (seen on the left). He is in mourning, and I don't dare let him be alone too long. I will be posting stories about my bird babies in the days to come. 
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Gunner
This post will have nothing to do with my cats/birds, but needs to be posted anyway.
Thirty-two humans and one K-9 officer were honored Tuesday at the Memphis Police Department's annual commendation ceremony.
The most-anticipated entrance took the stage on four legs.
K-9 Gunner and his handler, officer Roosevelt Twilley, responded to a call Jan. 21 to search for an armed burglar in Overton Park. The team spotted the suspect, who ran away. Gunner chased the man and knocked him down.
The suspect stabbed Gunner 10 times, but the 5-year-old German shepherd continued to hold him until Twilley arrived.
Even with his injuries, Gunner went after the suspect a second time when he resisted arrest.
Gunner yawned while Birch told of his heroics. He then held up his paw to shake his partner's hand.
Gunner received a combat award for his bravery and for holding a suspect despite being stabbed over ten times.
I had the distinct honor and pleasure of meeting Gunner and Officer Twilley in person Saturday evening, April 4th. They are wonderful representatives of our local law enforcement! Gunner rocks!
Monday, April 6, 2009
My sweet boys
Yesterday morning I was getting ready for work. All of a sudden, Alex screamed, which made me scream, which upset everyone.
What happened? Bosco "charged" Alex for no reason (which she hates) and made her mad.
Henderson and Jacob, instead of running away, like everyone usually does when they are frightened, came over to check on Alex and make sure she was okay. Henderson got a swat in the face for his troubles.
Isn't that sweet, though? They were worried about their sister, in spite of the fact that she beats them up every morning when they dare to get in her way at the food bowl.
What happened? Bosco "charged" Alex for no reason (which she hates) and made her mad.
Henderson and Jacob, instead of running away, like everyone usually does when they are frightened, came over to check on Alex and make sure she was okay. Henderson got a swat in the face for his troubles.
Isn't that sweet, though? They were worried about their sister, in spite of the fact that she beats them up every morning when they dare to get in her way at the food bowl.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Henderson, the bad boy
This morning I was fixing my sandwich to take to work.
I decided to break the rules and give everyone a little piece of lunch meat. Well, I had a little piece left over and decided to take it outside to CJ.
When I came back in, guess who was on the counter helping himself to my sandwich? Henderson. I don't know what I was thinking- not putting stuff away before I went out. It's not like it's a surprise that he was up there. I can't EVER do anything in the kitchen without having to physically remove him from the counter at LEAST three times.
Does my sandwich have hair on it? Yes, yes it does. Am I eating it anyway? Yes, yes I am. Do I care? No, no I don't.
Was I surprised to find a prize on the floor a few minutes later (comprised of chicken lunch meat)? No, no I wasn't.
I decided to break the rules and give everyone a little piece of lunch meat. Well, I had a little piece left over and decided to take it outside to CJ.
When I came back in, guess who was on the counter helping himself to my sandwich? Henderson. I don't know what I was thinking- not putting stuff away before I went out. It's not like it's a surprise that he was up there. I can't EVER do anything in the kitchen without having to physically remove him from the counter at LEAST three times.
Does my sandwich have hair on it? Yes, yes it does. Am I eating it anyway? Yes, yes I am. Do I care? No, no I don't.
Was I surprised to find a prize on the floor a few minutes later (comprised of chicken lunch meat)? No, no I wasn't.
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