JANUARY 2025
|
Wednesday 01 January 2025:
WE'RE ON OUR WAY TO OUR 5 YEARS... TOGETHER... AND YONAH'S 5th BIRTHDAY!
I can't believe it! FIVE YEARS! I'm almost some-what proud of the time we've been blessed with. Every day, every morning is another "celebration", really. But at the same time, especially now, there's that "5-Year" term that presses on my heart. The "average" life-span of a mourning dove... in a "best-case". Every day becomes on less that we have together. Then too, it's the same for me, and THAT frightens me. The very notion of me not being here with and for this Little One is my personal "terror". I can't dwell on the notion that there would ever be a moment where he won't have the house, home, routine that he's become so adjusted to. Or a time when I wouldn't be able to be there for him in the morning, kisses, water changes, his "bird-songs" recordings. For me, time with-out him certainly won't be long. With-out him, I've absolutely no reason for even simply "being". But to think of him being with-out me... I don't know of any-one who I believe would dedicate their time to him, to making sure that he's safe, comfortable, cared-for, LOVED. And even if I did, the very thought of him having to move to new surroundings, with new "people", new voices, sounds in general... Would anybody take the time to make sure he had his familiar sounds? Mix his familiar food? Give him his pool with fresh water at least twice daily? Clip twigs from the trees? Make sure his perches are safe? I don't know. And even then, how would he get to his new place? That travel? Would somebody else be sure that his travel was calm? So many thoughts that come to mind as our time passes.
But, one thing that this Little Guy has taught me during our time together, one of so MANY things:
As he's come through one of the most hideous and heinous events a Life could experience, and he's left that behind him, I've come to learn to "live at the moment"... I've long been aware that "life will do what it will, no matter what", but seeing this Little Guy has taught me to come to terms with the "what it will"... at the moment, and, as he and others of his are always prepared for a "sudden twist or turn" in events, I'm "prepared", but can't and won't "dwell"...
With-out him, well... All I hope for is that I'm here, for and with him, for as long as his little heart beats... and I do my best to make sure that that's how it is... and will be.
Meanwhile...
Last night was a "late" night and another "ride home". I'd been remiss in the "duties of the house" during the day and was running behind after our dinner. And I wanted a shower before tucking-in so that delayed our "regular schedule" too. Unusually though, last night, as I showered, there were no "calls". And when I said "I'm going to grab a quick shower", I noticed my Little Guy simply headed for his roof-top. When I came out of the shower and back into the room in my night-wear, I got a bit of a look. To me, it seemed to be "Are you aware of the time? It's been dark out there for a long while and it's well past my seepie-nigh-night time." (Thankfully, water had been changed and windows closed... but we didn't have "play time at the back-board so maybe that had a little to do with the general "attitude" of the evening.)
I made rather quick work of putting the room in order and getting all things ready for our tuck-in and as soon as the moon lights went on, a "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" and some preening... and as I brought the platform down to the night roost, the preening continued until we reached our "destination". Another one of those "casual hops" from board to perch and, as I might have expected, no kisses. He got onto the night roost perch and hopped over to the other perch, closer to the "outer wall" of his house... back turned toward me. Well then, there we had it. But I started our nightly repertoire and as soon as I started, things settled. Seems like he hears "Autumn Leaves" and that's become the "sound of seepie-nigh-night".
I managed to get through the serenade and neither a "woo" nor a "hoo"... and it was 21.50 when I looked up at the end of the songs to see the little silhouette, all tucked-in and snoozing. Poor Little Guy! Last moon light off.
We made it through the first day of the "new year". And as I dozed off in the silence and darkness I couldn't help but think: "New year... as if that means anything to this Little Life here... I wonder how he tracks time, other than day and night. Does he sense the passing of weeks, months, years, other than the seasons, the positions of the sun, hours of day vs. night? How I wish I could simply follow his time spans, tucking in when the sun sets, waking with the morning light and paying no attention to clocks and calendars." In the earliest days, I almost did, once I got to where I realised that we were to be together. At first, I'd tuck him in in his room, turn the lights off, close the door to his room and go on about my own affairs until late in the night. In those days, I'd be up and about at 23.00, mid-night and beyond and had an alarm set to wake me before he woke, so I'd be up and ready when he called. Now? We "tuck-in" together and if I wake before him, most of the time I'll wait for him, some-times I'll just step out of the room. We're "close" to keeping his time. But last night was and exception and I felt terrible keeping him up so late.
Then...? This morning, I was up and about at 6.30. I "slept-in", as it were. I'd been some-what awake before that but it was so comfy in the room. And, to be honest, I didn't really want to get up. If it had been at all possible, I would have just stayed there, on the futon and "lounged" for the day but... when I saw the hour, I wanted to be up and awake when my Little LOVE woke so... I got up, silently, stepped out of the room, closed the door behind me and headed to the kitchen to start "my" morning...
7.28... (some-birdie else was having a "holiday sleep-in" this morning), through the door, came a soft "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"... and I didn't wait for another, I was right in! And there he was, on his night roost all snuggly.
I called, softly "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" and he answered with the same right away and when I replied, he too, replied. We had quite the "chat" as I opened the door to his house and popped my head in for "Good morning " kisses... which I got, though not all too many. (I had to wonder: a little grudge from last night's late night? But hey, at least we were on "speaking/coo'ing terms so there was that.)
I lifted the roof-board, and rolled his house away so that I could get to the windows and back-board, and we actually chatted all the while! Out-side this morning... dreary again, over-cast, no morning sun-shine, and it wasn't exactly "cold" out there but is certainly wasn't really warm either. There was a light snow falling, but it was "wet", I could see it melting as it touched the road-way out there. So January was coming in "slushy". I was jus thankful that this Little One, my PRECIOUS LITTLE LOVE, didn't have to be concerned about any of that. No cold, wet weather. (He's had more than his share of that sort of thing... considering it was a cold, wet October day when...) This morning, there was food readily available, warmth of his house and the heater above him, and soon there would be fresh, clean water to drink (or bathe in if he chose to do so) and a safe place to fly about it (even though it wasn't the entire world out-side the window... it was safe from predators and the elements... no wet snow on the back and wings. I can't provide a "perfect world" but at least I can provide this Little Guy with a safe house and home where he'll never have to even consider any threats to his well-being.
WELL THEN, I got the rest of the room together, ready for the water runnings AND... the VERY SECOND I leaned into his house to position it closer to the window for the day, HE JUMPED ONTO MY BACK! AND AS I MOVED OUT OF HIS HOUSE, HE WAS OFF AND ON THE WING!
It reminded me SO much of that very first morning when I reached into what was his original "house", to replace the kitchen roll for the day and, to my SHOCK, he hopped down off his perch and onto the top of my hand! I was SO STUNNED and I don't believe I'll EVER forget that moment. It was the first indication that he trusted me! He'd come to know that I was here to give him LOVE and protection and kindness and to make sure he was safe and healing and wouldn't be harmed again. (Of course, it was also the beginning of my realising that, well, we were about to become a "flock". The original intention was to see him heal, grow stronger and head back out with the rest of the mourning doves in these mountains. And yes, I held onto that hope... no matter what. BUT THAT WAS THE BEGINNING OF MY NOW-YEARS OF AWE and it was all so clear again, this morning... just as if today was another "first day".)
So.. this morning's "Poops Report": 9 in total. All of them just perfect in size, composition, moisture, location. So last night was a "good night" and with him having slept-in, today was off to a "perfect" start. Health and rest and we got to the fresh water in the pool and our day was on the roll!
I had nothing on the agenda, no running, no house-work, just the regular nonsense that we humans seem to find so "necessary", but at least the house was settled, clean, orderly and there was no place to "go to"... so I got my coffee and came to settle in Yonah's room for the day... while he took to the rest of the house, a little flying about, to the living-room and back and to his house and... of course, to his favourite place for a day... his very own loft by the windows where he could look out on the snow... with-out the chills.
At 11.20, I was at his desk and he was out in the living-room with his "decoys"... the occasional "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" floating through the house, a little reminder that I'm not alone... and in this house, in my "Life", there's the most PRECIOUS, CHERISHED LITTLE GUY IN ALL OF CREATION... We're... "the flock".
And I, of course, took the opportunity to run out there for some kisses and "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo's". It was rather "dark", since there was no sun-shine, but Yonah appeared to be comfortable and that's all that mattered (it's all that matters) to me.
At noon, as we do of a "noon"... we broke from our "routines" to sit together in his room, I at the desk, he beside me on the old lap-top with the news, for lunch, and after... I was so tired, I laid down on the futon for a "snooze" and had set an alarm for 30 minutes but... after the first 30, during which I didn't really get the chance to doze off with the little "visits" and the pecks on the fore-head as the Little Guy came to the pillow beside my face, I set another 30 minute timer and this time, I was give the time to doze off for a few minutes! (I'll swear he knows when I really could use the rest and he "allows" it. Other-wise, if he doesn't join me, he seems to like to "play", flying over, toddling on my legs and torso, or, as he did earlier, peck at my nose.)
Between taking it rather easy in the morning and being able to actually lay, quietly on the futon with the ABSOLUTE LOVE OF MY LIFE... THE REASON FOR MY "LIFE"... THE REASON I HAVE A "LIFE" and no longer an "existence"... it was THE PERFECT FIRST DAY OF A NEW YEAR...
The wet snow had stopped falling, and by evening, so much of it had melted. Some-how it was a little "sad" to see, since it is "January" and in years passed, January was covered in a blanket of white. But, all things considered, at the very least, my Little LOVE... my HEART-AND-SOUL had a comfortable environment, nice and comfortable and cosy and THAT is what the world is ALL about.
This evening? Well...
As we do at 17.00, I got my dinner together and came back into the room to sit and eat in the company of my ONE-AND-ONLY and as I came in... THERE HE WAS... IN THE BATH! Out-side, the sky was completely dark, all the Little Ones of "the Wild" were well-settled at their nightly roosts, and here, THIS Little Guy was soaking SO casually! I did manage to get photos and a bit of a video recorded of the "event". But it was quite the sight to behold. He was SO comfortable there... and the wings went up, a few splashes... he was in there for a good 15 minutes this evening too! "New Year", starting out all fresh and clean! And my heart was at peace, seeing him so relaxed and enjoying the waters of his own pool (especially since I hadn't changed them as yet and so they weren't fresh and cold.)
When he'd finished with the bathing, he hopped up onto his door perch and then took off for the upper-most wall shelf to "put feathers together" and I went about settling the house before hitting the evening water relay.
Waters changed, blinds and curtains closed... and tonight again... PLAYING when the back-board went up! OH! The FUN! (I have to figure out some sort of "toy" that will rise and fall at that board. He gets such a kick out of it. And the expression on his face when he snaps his wings, as if saying "WHERE DID IT GO?" when my hand vanishes down behind the board!
Well, after all the commotion was done, he was off to his old lap-top for the evening, nice and clean and warm and comfy and I put the room in order for our night ahead.
By 20.13 we were getting ready to "tuck-in"... and he was, at first, at the door perch... SO MANY CUDDLES, KISSES, SNUGGLES... and then... UP to his roof-top... to await the "ride home" for the night!
I'd already managed to RUN for my own shower before so we were both ready to "tuck-in" for the night and so...the first day of the year... comes to a close. More on that tomorrow morning.
For now... as I say... we venture into our 5th year together... this year, I will see my "70th trip round the old sun" and my LOVE will see his 5th. It truly IS "bitter-sweet", as I say. Despite the efforts to thwart his little life, he's heading into 5 years. We've made it through. But, the reality is: the more time we put behind, the less time we have ahead. But, as long as his little heart beats, so too, mine. I'll do all I need do to see to that.
Thursday 02 January:
Yes, yes, indeed, last night... Although we DID manage to turn the last light off at about 20.45, it most certainly was another "ride home" for the night. WHAT a Little Character, this Little One!
As I slid his roof-top platform closer to the front of his house, he didn't move a bit. It's become so "normal" for him, and I have no cause or reason to believe that he's come to expect it all at the end of the day.
And once again, he waited, so patiently, to reach his perch, and when we did "arrive", it was the simplest of hops off the board and onto the perch.
And I sang as we "floated about", and when he was at his "destination", a couple of kisses and I closed the door to his house and got me settled on the futon in the dim lighting.
I could see him settling, nestling, "hunkering down" for the night, all cosy under his heater.
At the end of "I Wish You Love", a little exchange of "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"... twice. I finished the repertoire and by then, the little silhouette was as calm and comfy as could be.
The first day of the "new year" came to a close. We were well on our way into our 5th year together. And I'm still in absolute AWE where this Little Life is concerned. How he's become SO adapted to his surroundings, to me, to "us", and how much I've become so dependent upon him being my "Life" now. I can't, and won't even imagine a time with-out him. And I still think of me being so VERY, EXCEPTIONALLY BLESSED by and with his presence. What a TRUE MIRACLE he certainly is!
This morning, for some reason, I woke at about 3.15. There was a heavy wind blowing out-side in the darkness. I could hear it against the house and the window screens. I tried to get back to sleep, thinking we'd wake together, later, but then decided to get up to check to make sure that his window screens were still in place and that all else was "OK" with the house. I wouldn't care, really, were it not for Yonah. I don't want anything to be "amiss" for him, especially those window screens, with-out which, we couldn't open his windows... when weather permits again. So, I got up and, for the most part, on with the day. I stepped out of his room in the darkness, closed the door behind me and quietly went about putting the kettle on for my morning coffee, getting dressed and stepping out of the house to check windows and the likes. Yes, one screen from the front of the house was down, but, thankfully, his window screens were secure. All else was well with the house and so, I came back in and attended to what I could, in silence, in the darkness...
Strange beginning to the day today...
I looked at the clock... 7.32 and still not a sound from Yonah's room. And every time it's a bit later than usual, I ponder... as I did this morning. So I took a breath, had a hard "swallow" and turned off the lights in the kitchen so as not to disturb, and opened the door to his room. It was still rather dark in there, with the curtains and blinds closed, and it was so still. Silently, I made my way to the futon, took my pillow and brought it to the bed-room, as usual, waiting for a "call" from behind me... none came. So I went back into the room and started to fold the cover sheets I slept under last night and, as I did, silently, from the darkness of his house I heard the faintest...
"HOO!" and again, another, and another. He kept making that sound as I folded and when I asked "Are you awake?" the reply was another, equally soft, almost silent, "HOO!"
Thinking something must be some-how "wrong", I looked into his house and I could see the silhouette there, on the night roost. I looked down to check for "poops" from last night. There were some. But I was wondering why no out-right "coo's" this morning. When I'd done with the folding, I brought Burdie-Birdie out from the book-case nook and placed him on his pillow at the end of the futon and went back to Yonah's house, opened the door slowly and quietly and when I did...
"woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"! There it was, the "morning call"! And with that, a WING-STRETCH! MY LITTLE LOVE WAS AWAKE AND UP AND READY TO ROLL!
I leaned in with a "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" and the reply was a louder and clear "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo". And when I replied with a simple "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" I was "corrected" with another "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo"! And so began our "Good morning" chat!
Slowly and calmly, I removed the top board and rolled Yonah's house forward so that I could get to the windows to open curtains and blinds and as I drew the blinds up on the grey and quite chilly morning out-side (the wind blowing and bringing with, the "mountain flurries"... it was snowing in the peaks - my PRECIOUS Little LOVE hopped over to his food perch, as he does of a morning, with another "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo".
When I'd done at the windows, came round to the front of his house, leaned in, as I do, for balance, and just before I got to roll his house back into position by the window, he hopped onto my shoulder and we stayed that way for a moment whilst he got his bearings and balance. More "Good morning" kisses and as I moved his house, he took off to the futon... to Burdie!
WELL! To my amazement, he got to Burdie, gave a "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" and was a-top Burdie right away! First thing in the morning! And on the dismount, the repeated "HOO!" that often follows an "interlude with Burdie"... and I mean "repeated"! I'm still not sure that that "HOO!" is saying but goodness me! First thing in the morning and away we were going! So I got onto the floor, rested my head on the futon beside Yonah as we both "HOO!ed" together for a moment or so and then... it was off to the morning water relay!
Hey! All was quite well... and I was quite relieved... and the world out-side? Doesn't matter... All in the world IN-side was as it ought to be...
And as for poops this morning: 12 in total on the floor beneath the night roost! ALL of them perfectly healthy, no excess moisture, no "green stains" and all quite a healthy size! SO... a night of calm tummy and restful repose!
No more needed be noted. I went about the water change, fresh for drinking, and as I ran back and forth, my Little Guy "hung out" on the futon with his Burdie until I finished and then, he returned to his house, to his loft.
Good morning Thursday. And out-side, the wind continued to blow the flurries of snow in the greyness, as the day-light increased as best it could.
it didn't take long at all before the day began to roll as a day does, and yes, indeed, it was quite brisk out there and didn't get much warmer as the hours passed.
it was a little "busy" this morning, for me, but I managed to spend most of the time in the room, at the desk, doing my best to concentrate on things that normally need attending for the house, but it was a day of being "together" and, well, there really isn't any better way to pass a crisp January day, with the light flurries blowing in the brisk winds out-side the windows than with the GREATEST LITTLE LOVE OF THE WORLD!
And I'm pretty sure Yonah appreciated the fact that I wasn't running all over the place as I'd been doing these past several days. (I can say that I appreciated it!)
This after-noon, after lunch and a 40-minute snooze with my Little LOVE on my leg through most of it (after many little kisses and cuddles and snuggles when I laid down on the futon), I sat at the desk to get some Journal work done and I put on the "new" video compilation of mourning doves on the old lap-top. No sooner had the first "dove" coo'ed when THIS Little Guy became so animated! A "new voice" and "new doves" on the screen! He's seen this one through once or twice before, but it's still relatively new and I'm sure the change in the "voices" is a relief from his "recorded song-birds" playing all day!
Oddly though, he got SO excited that he headed over to Burdie-Birdie on the futon, then back to the desk to the lap-top, then to his door perch and OFF TO THE LIVING-ROOM! (He'd been on his loft for about an hour before that so this was quite the reaction.) AND THEN... back into the room to his door perch... for cuddles and kisses.
Well then... 19.32. My Heart-and-Soul has been on his roof-top for about and hour. After dinner, we had PLAY time and CUDDLES... and then, I told him that I was changing the waters... waiting to see if he wanted to take a splash in the pool. He didn't so the water is now fresh and clean. We have a little collection of our own "American Standards" playing softly. Out-side, the sky is black, and there's a bit of a wind blowing. No snow though. It's supposed to get quite cold these next few nights, but the room is at 24° with 20% humidity and the house furnace just stopped running for a while. The rest of the house is settled... and it's time to close the blinds and curtains...
Oh yes... we had some play time when the back-board went up but tonight, my Little LOVE seems a bit tired. Not too much play. But right after, when I sat to type a little more here, he headed for the desk shelf over my head to watch.
There's a little "breeze" coming in through the upper-most part of the one window that we keep open all the time for air circulation but it's not strong enough to "chill" the air. And the "Sweeter Heater" is still working so wonderfully. What a blessing that's been! Keeps the Little Guy comfy through the night and even during the day, should he need.
But for now... 19.46... and he's on the desk beside me... time to wrap another day!
Well then.. 10.15 and the Little One is on the futon, calling the "changing of the guard" for the night with his usual "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo"... and "hoo-hoo" indeed. Time to get to the business of settling the room and getting to the "fun" of seeing whether or not we'll simply settle or have a "once go round"... More on the matter in the morning tomorrow....
Friday 03 January:
And so, there was a "ride home" last night. I actually had to "carry" the little Bundle of LOVE from the futon to the night roost, with kisses all the way, which he seemed to rather enjoy! BUT, when he got to the night roost and I tried to get a couple more kisses in... he wasn't having it. Turned round to face in the opposite direction. So, I'm supposing he wasn't really too thrilled about the idea of closing the day. But once he saw me heading for the futon for the night, he managed to settle, comfortably and we got through the nightly "serenade" and, at 20.50, the last light was turned off. Just before, I looked up to see the little Bundle there, on the night roost, little head tucked between little wings.
This morning... I woke at 6.30 and crept out of the room, closing the door behind so as not to disturb, put the kettle on and got on with the "morning necessities of house-hold" in the kitchen as I waited for the "morning call".
7.26 this morning. I can't help but think of how, after what's supposedly the "longest night" having passed and the nights supposedly getting shorter, the "wake-up" comes later these days. But the soft "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" coming through the door was, as always, the most BEAUTIFUL start for another day! I got right up from the table and went into the still-dark room and softly called "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"... No reply. I tried again and again, no reply. So I made my way slowly to his house and looked in to see my little Heart-and-Soul, comfy, on his night roost, his little head bobbing slightly. I opened the door to his house and whispered another "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" and asked "Are you really awake?" It took a few moments, really, before I got a soft "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" as what seemed an almost hesitant response.
I went on with removing the roof board, placing the door perch, and rolling his house a bit so that I could remove the back-board and open the curtains and blinds.
The best part of the morning thus far was that, when I opened the blinds to the morning light, he hopped over to his "food perch" the way he does of every morning. I was relieved to see that he was well enough to do that but still concerned about the "silence". Unlike most mornings, he didn't coo when he got there and really didn't seem too interested in what I was doing. Usually, he watches my every move at the windows.
Out-side, the sky was clear and the temperature was "crisp" enough so that I could feel the coolness coming through the window panes. The room was comfortably warm thought. And I had the comfort of knowing that during the night, my Little LOVE had his over-head "Sweeter Heater" to keep him warm.
Things got to "normal" though, as I prepared to get to the morning water relay... He was up and out and over to the futon, and before I got to the water, I brought Burdie-Birdie from the book-case and Yonah HOPPED RIGHT OVER to give Burdie the usual "Good morning" woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo! I got to the water change whilst he bounced about on the futon, preening and fluffing and pecking at Burdie.
Poops check this morning: 14... FOURTEEN in total. All of them were of the perfect size, colour and moisture but SO MANY! Thankfully, all of them were "healthy", but I wonder why so many! I remember he had a "good drink" of water before tucking-in last night so I expected a bit of "halo" with poops this morning but there were none. (I wonder where the water went... though the "urea"... the white parts... was perfectly white and well-shaped. So, all said... healthy poops, and I suppose, a healthy tummy.)
As the morning progressed and the "house-hold routine" commenced, he seemed to be quite fine.
But this morning (10.44) he went back to being on the floor of the room. I don't understand that. It's darker down there. But I wonder if it doesn't have something to do with the air coming from the heating... warm, moving air. He has his heater in his house for warmth and the room was at 24° so it wasn't cold in the room. And the sun was breaking over the tree-line (at long last) so there was light. But when I consider... since we've had to be in-side (against the cold of Winter), the air in the house really doesn't "move". I know how I enjoy (whether consciously or not) the movement of a breeze from time-to-time, even in the coldest Winter day. And were my Little Guy out there where he was born, there would be SOME movement in the air around him. But in this house, in his room, it's always still. So getting to the out-put of the house furnace might be a welcome sensation to him. (I've been thinking of getting some kind of "fan" for his room for air circulation, in addition to the two small "purifiers" - that don't make "breezes". But I want something small to that it doesn't present any "threat" to Yonah, AND QUIET! January's not exactly the best month to shop for such things, and "on-line" isn't the best way to shop for something when "sound" is of the utmost importance, but... We have 2 box fans in the house and 2 "top of the line" "Bionaire" window fans, we also have 2 smaller window fans but only ONE out of all of them, is actually "some-what quiet" and that's the "oldest one". But, come the warmer, "fan weather"... I'm just hoping we get to go out into the yard too, soon. And that's another concern/plan/wish: that I could build some sort of large "aviary", something where I can bring Yonah in, in his old "house" - that cage - let him lose in a larger space and then, step back in, safely, to get him back into his "old house" to come back into "the house". An "aviary"... How I wish I could feel comfortable enough in this house to actually make one, but there's so much going on in this old place... ANY-wayyyyyy....) For now, at least I know the air coming out of the furnace is "clean". After all... the in-take goes through an "activated charcoal" filter... then through a "MERV 13 HEPA" filter on the furnace and then again, through another "activated charcoal" filter coming out. And the floor is clean, I make sure of that too. So my Little Guy is safe... and if he's comfortable there, on the floor... his comfort is tantamount to all else in this house.
And so, that said... it's already 19.45! Another day, swept by too soon, too quickly! And during the day, we DID get in PLAY TIME AND AFFECTION... LUVIN'S, CUDDLES, SNUGGLES, KISSES... on the futon! THAT is the bestest part of every day together! Fun, together time, and my Little Guy's energy and well-being!
We had our lunches... and I didn't get a snooze today because, along with other things... today was "clean the house for the week-end" day. So there was a LOT of movement and goings-on through the day. And all the while that I was moving about, I couldn't help but think, as I was being "watched" from the loft:
I wonder what Yonah makes of all this activity... I mean, "house-cleaning" surely makes NO sense to him! But he does, for a while, seem some-what "interested", especially when I turn the hoover on. And I'm pretty sure that IF he even considers it, the "activity" would make no more sense to him either. But it IS motion, activity and a change from me just sitting at the desk (as I tend to do of a day).
Right now... our "night music" ("meditation", as it were) is playing, the house is finally settled and calm and the Little Guy is in his house... MAYBE we'll have a "calm tuck-in"? No guarantees... there's still time for a quick flight to the wall shelves or roof-top or... there's just no telling... always a night's "entertainment"...
Saturday 04 January: WEIGHT: 131g at 16.30 !!!!!
So... last night was, indeed, a little ride home on the "magic platform", with no particular interest. But we PLAYED at the back-board again after the waters were changed and the windows closed against what was "threatened" to be another "chilly" night ahead. OH! Did we ever play! Right along with the "wing-snaps"! There's a definite "expression" on the Little Guy's face when I drop my hand out of his sight and he suddenly turns to look directly at me and those little wings go UP! And when I ask, with some "surprise"... "WHERE DID IT GO?" he stands full-straight-up and SNAPS his wings! What tickles me so is when I drop my hand down and take if away from behind the board and he JUMPS over to the board and hops up onto the edge to look down, as if looking for what-ever it was that "popped-up" and "grabbed" him. I can't imagine what he must think it is, this "hand-thing", but it's SO GOOD seeing him SO PLAYFUL! )He probably appreciates that there's something moving in his house... since, for the most part, I'm not much in the way of "entertainment" and in the out-side world, there'd be something moving, even if the leaves on the trees - which he doesn't have in this house. But after the play, we got to the business of settling for the night and all was well with our world.
I was up, this morning, at about 6.30 and again, left the room silently and got on with the morning routine, waiting to be called when the Little Guy was ready to "face the world".
At 7.48! through the door, came the "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" and that was followed by a "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo... hoo-hoo"! I had all to do to get to him before he'd lost patience with me.
Well, indeed, when I got to his house, he WAS VERY MUCH AWAKE AND WAITING. WING-STRETCHES AND ALL! Even before I got to remove the roof-board from his house.
Poop check (right away): 12 perfect little poops. The poops were perfect but so many. I wonder where it all came from? But better to have 12 than 2... I should think. And with the sound of his voice being clear and strong and the wing-snaps... AND THEN...
It didn't take but moments after I'd gotten his house together and positioned and was preparing for the morning water run when...
UP AND OUT AND AWAY HE FLEW, OVER TO THE FUTON TO WAIT FOR BURDIE-BIRDIE TO COME OUT OF HIS RESTING NOOK. AND THEN, HE WAS OFF AND OUT TO THE LIVING-ROOM. AS A MATTER OF FACT, HE MADE A COUPLE OF TRIPS TO THE LIVING-ROOM... THERE AND BACK AND THERE AND BACK! SO... 12 poops, no weight, I suppose, and well-rested and ready for the day!
Well then, the rest of the morning was "upsetting"... I needed to change the sand under the pool today so I had to take his house apart and that's never a "good thing" on any day. Disturbing the "status quo", as it were. It always appears that he sees it as "destruction of his house" - though, honestly, it's the same even when I remove poops or move anything in his house. Still, the sand needed to be changed and things needed to be moved, removed and replaced.
That alone, took the rest of the morning and I didn't get the water back into the pool until just before lunch! Silly Little Guy, as I was working on the pool and sand, he was thirsty and instead of waiting to get a drink of fresh, clean water, he'd had three drinks of last night's water. Good thing he doesn't sleep over his pool and poop into it. The "over-night" water is clean... just not fresh.
Oh, and poops during the rest of the day were perfectly normal, in composition and quantity so all was confirmed "well". So the number of over-night poops was no cause for concern. RELIEF!
FINALLY, at almost 16.00 the room was settled and I put on our "American Standards" music and his "newer" birds video... and we settled, a bit at the desk before dinner. WHAT A DAY! And not a bad day out-side today. Sunny but SO COLD! Thankfully, the room stayed between 23-24° because out-side the windows was quite crisp. It was nice to see the Little Guy nestled in his loft, by his windows where the sun poured in. That's a good part of these Winter months: the sun is far enough in the southern sky that, for as long as it's up, it comes into the room to keep things brighter. That's un-like Summer when the sun rises and then disappears from the room by noon.
I managed, during the day, to grab a 30-minute lie-down and for the first 20 minutes or so, I had "company". The Little LOVE nestled on my leg for a snooze too. But when the time was done for snoozing, I got back up and went right back to getting his room settled again... under supervision. OH! But did he ever watch my every move! (I'd already disturbed his house. Now it seemed he was watching to make sure I didn't try pulling any of that nonsense again.)
This evening, just before the water relay, he had a healthy "snack". I waited with the water until he'd done with eating and then... no sooner had I gotten all the water changed-through, he was down for a drink. It did my heart so much good to see him drinking after eating because, even as I've learnt from my "lessons" over the past 4 years, a drink of water after eating helps with digestion, not to mention general hydration which I worry about these months when the humidity in the house is low with the house furnace running (and it's been running frequently now that the temperatures are dropping into the negative double-digits again... especially over-night). The "relative humidity" in the room was 16% again today so... I'm almost a bit surprised he didn't take a swim too.
20.06 the evening music is on... and my Little LOVE is in his hose, pecking about the floor by the pool... let's see how this goes...
20.21 and he's already on his night roost. We are closing house and shop and the day!
Sunday 05 January:
Last night was "interesting"... No ride home! The Little LOVE got to his night roost and decided he'd stay there! So, closing the rest of the room went rather right along, although, when I went in for a "Good night" kiss... none. Not sure why but, I "stole" a kiss or two before closing house and getting me settled on the futon!
Ah... BUT... no sooner had I starte the nightly serenade when, if I didn't know, I'd say he WANTED TO SING ALONG! Thrice during "I Wish You Love", I took breaks to exchange several "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo's"! I was singing, he coo'ed, I coo'ed with and when I started signing again, he "broke in" again! It DID seem he was singing along! I, of course, couldn't have been happier. It wasn't that he wanted me to "shut up" because he really hadn't "settled". He was very much awake through it all so it seemed, all the more, that he was singing along!
So I made it through the repertoire and... at 20.50... on the mark, the last light went off because by then, he WAS quite "tucked"... little head between little wings. Saturday... closed.
This morning, I was up and off the futon at 6.00 (on the mark again) and took to the house, closing the door to his room behind me, and put the kettle on, got to the regular nonsense of a "human's house-hold", quietly.
When I looked at the clock... 7.38, I was in a bit of a "concern". Out-side there was a light snow falling so it wasn't all that bright, but at that hour, I was wondering... It's these moments that bring to my consciousness, that "one day"... and now, as we venture into our 5th year together, well...
Silently, I slowly opened the door to his room and looked in. It was rather dark, but through the curtains, there was day-light. The room was still... and so silent. BUT, just as the "concern" started to turn to "anxiety", in the darkness came the ever-so softest "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo"! It was SO soft that it was more like an actual "whisper"! So I wondered why my LOVE'S voice was so quiet AND why the "pattern" of the coo was "cut short". Usually, it's a "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"... but this morning....
I "whispered" back: "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" and the reply, still soft, came: "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"! So I quickly made my way over to his house to check on him and there he was... the little silhouette, on the night roost. I slowly opened the door to his house and SLOWLY popped my head in, waiting to hear another coo and the "almost always couple of pecks on the nose. Nothing to be said and again, what seemed the "mandatory" pecks, two of them, no more... he scuttled away across the perch.
But when I got the curtains and blinds open, he was suddenly FULL of energy! And the "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo"! And the very moment the day-light, as it were, came into the room... WOOSH! He was off to the futon looking for Burdie-Bird! So I rushed over to get Burdie out and as soon as he made it to the futon, Yonah was right there, in front of him, with a hearty "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo"! Morning had officially been called to order... and I got to the morning water relay so there'd be fresh water for after breakfast!
10 poops this morning, ALL of them perfectly HEALTHY! It appeared we'd had quite the calm night last night and I was SO relieved. But still wondering about the quietness of the coo's.
The rest of the day? Well, first thing this morning, I had to get on with a couple of "chores", firstly, clearing snow from the truck and then getting on with the general "routine" of what I think of as "house-hold nonsense" (mostly because the only anything of ANY importance is making sure my little Heat-and-Soul is happy, healthy and as content as is Earthly possible, under the circumstances)
The morning passed just SO quickly today, primarily because of my distractions and diversions because of the weather and at noon, I was reminded, by a visit at 11.58, a hop onto the desk and a robust "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo!" Oh... try to convince me he hasn't his way of keeping time!
As I waited for the water to boil for lunch, I stopped at the front door and opened it to look out on the slight accumulation of the remaining snow and my Little LOVE came out to his tree and THEN, over to my shoulder as I stood at the door! We had a good look at the empty road, standing there, as the cold air managed to make its way in through the screen. We stood there for several rather long moments, and as I spoke, he tugged at my ear, pecked at my nose as if responding to what I was rambling-on about!
After lunch... I was so tired (probably from all the rushing about with the snow and ice and such this morning and the anxiety of wondering if my little Heart-and-Soul was alright) I went for a 20-minute "shut-eye". Didn't have any intention of actually "dozing" BUT... no sooner had I laid down, there he was, my PRECIOUS LITTLE LOVE... on my leg... and almost immediately, he settled there, got quite cosy and... when the 20-minute alarm sounded, he didn't move. So... I re-set for another 20 minutes and just laid there. About 10 minutes later, I could feel the stirring of little feet on my leg... I was being "informed" that I was shirking some other responsibilities and it was time to get up and get on with them... And so... I got up, he got up, we got up and he headed to his house to his loft and I went on to the affairs of the house.
This after-noon and into this evening... WOW! WERE WE EVER-SO PLAYFUL AND LOVING AND JUST OUT FOR A LOT OF FUN! We played "Chase" on the futon... he attacked my hand which I'd hidden in the sleeve of the Sherpa, on the door perch! And when I tried to throw together some extra paper-work to be filed, HE WAS JUST SO INTERESTED in what-ever it was that I was moving about, attacking the papers, and my fingers, so we HAD to take breaks for SNUGGLES, CUDDLES, KISSES and ALL SORTS OF LUVIN'S!
After dinner... together, of course, which I cut quite short tonight to get things settled in the room and so we wouldn't be up and about too late... MORE PLAY! MORE CHASE ON THE FUTON, AND WHEN MY KIPPA FELL OFF, HE CAME TO ATTACK IT AND ACTUALLY WANTED TO BE COVERED WITH IT! He's SO funny with it! It covers him almost completely (save his tail) and he toddles about with it on him until it finally falls off!
20.02 Yonah is on his roof-top. He's been SUCH a LOVE ALL DAY! WE PLAYED, SNUGGLED, CUDDLED... AFFECTIONATE!
Now, it's time to see about settling-in for the night. I'm just out of the shower so ready for a night's rest. Our night music is on. The house is settled. Time to brush teeth and see what comes next. Waters changed and windows closed. Another chilly night ahead. But 24 ° in the room. Humidity still at only 16% though. Thankfully we have the pool! And a dish of water at the furnace. out-put.
Off we go...
Monday 06 January:
Well then... last night? OK! No sooner had I gotten ready to tuck-in, thinking (silly me), that my Little LOVE was well-prepared to head for "seepie-nigh-night" when... I walked back into the room and there he was... on the roof-top. And as I stepped in: "woo-HOO!" SO, 'twas another "ride home" for the night, with kisses all the way. I had to coax him back onto his platform though. He'd come to the front of his house and "settled" there, over his little "Sweeter Heater", taken his little "tail up and fluttering" position and even when I stroked his neck, he wasn't go giving-up or giving-in. But when I stopped stroking his neck, he did, hesitantly, head over to the platform. I suppose he understood that that was the "way home" for the night.
Kisses all the way to the "night roost" and when we arrived, he gave a hefty hop (it really was obvious how much hoist birds put into their "take-off") onto the perch and again, back toward me, no more kisses.
So I got the rest of the room together and got me onto the futon to start the evening serenade and again, as I started "I Wish You Love"... we had another "sing-along"! Now I'm wondering why that song in particular because he doesn't coo with any of the other songs. But it really IS SO BEAUTIFUL... I sing a chorus, we coo, I sing another, we coo again... thrice. And then, I get to finish.
But sadly, it was another "late" night for the last light... at 21.00! And by then, I could see the little silhouette all snug and tucked-in. Poor Little One.
Now, this morning, I was up and about already at 4.30 with several "house-hold chores" to accomplish and as I do, I stepped out of the dark room, closed the door behind me and went about "things".
I was at the kitchen table when I heard that soft "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" coming through the door. Soft again, this morning, but stronger than other calls of recently. It was comforting to hear. And the clock... 7.23 of yet another over-cast January morn.
When I got into the room, following a few exchanges of "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo", in the darkness, as I opened the door, I was greeted with a clear "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo!" and there he was, my little Heart-and-Soul, on his night roost, head raised, indeed, awake.
When I opened the door to his house and leaned in for "Good morning" kisses, THIS morning they were "plentifully abundant"! OH! You'd have thought we hadn't seen each-other in MONTHS! Quite a switch from our more recent days where kisses were mere pecks and all seemed as if a matter of protocol. I was in "good graces" again, this morning. Could I ask for more? Well...
This morning's "Poops": 9 delightfully healthy little poops on the "rug" below the night roost. I am a bit concerned though. They're very dry in the morning, and the "relative humidity" in the house now hovers at about 16% which is great where "mould and mildew" are concerned but, I remember reading that mourning doves prefer 50%. We have a dish of water at the furnace out-put, but I'm sure that doesn't really make all that much difference. The "blessing" is the "pool"! If my Little LOVE gets too "dry", he has, at his whim-and-wish, a nice pool of fresh water to soak in (as he does... and usually after the sun has set). "Relative humidity" might be low, but there's plenty of "hydration" to be had with a hefty SPLASH in the pool!
That said, clear voice, many kisses, great poops and what appears to have been a restful night... a GRAND commencement to a new day.
I had to make a quick run into town this morning and did so as soon as we got the house settled and was back in about 30 minutes to find my Little LOVE lounging on his loft. And when I got in and peeked into his room, he came down to his door perch... for more snuggles and kisses, strokes on the neck and LUVIN's!
The sun had managed to rise above the tree-line and shone into the room into his house through the windows and as I settled at the desk to attend to book-keeping and the likes, my little Heart-and-Soul took advantage of the light and warmth... but not on his beach... As he does at times, he found a comfy spot just in-side his door, closes to me, and he had a bit of a bask. What a tonic to the soul to see him so relaxed and comfortable.
At noon, we stopped the world for lunch together... and after, I tried for a bit of a mid-day snooze on the futon. as I laid down, my Little LOVE came rushing over, toddled about on my leg and then headed out to the living-room. All I could think of is: he's probably thinking "Oh... here we go... he's snoozing... no fun... I'm outta here."
I managed to half-doze for about 30 minutes... but it wasn't "good"... I was "alone". I've become so accustomed to the Little Guy snoozing with me so that when he's not there, it's not comfortable for me. I close my eyes, waiting... and the next thing is the alarm... time to get up and on with the day.
When I woke though, as he does, he must have sensed that I was awake and he came flying back into the room, to his roof-top with a hearty "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" and when I "woo-Hoo'ed" back, I guess it signalled that the day was "back in session". He nestled on his roof-top by the window and I returned to "people nonsense". BUT...
I noticed that his fountain has stopped at some point whilst I snoozed! So... thankfully, we have back-ups! (I made sure to keep at least two extras and today, we had three so...) I'm not sure if it really makes much difference, but it does keep the water "moving" and gives a bit of "motion" to the pool, so I got right to changing the pump. Had to drain the pool again (after this morning's "relay" and, OH MY! It caught attention. No doubt there was wonder: "WHAT is he doing now? It's too early for the second change. There's still day-light out there. WHAT is he doing to my pool?" So, I was watched, every step of the way.
The new pump got a proper flush with white vinegar to make sure there's nothing potentially harmful in there (like bits of plastic or rubber or other sorts of things we don't want in drinking water), then flushed with fresh, clean, running tap water to rinse the vinegar out. Double "flushing" through the pool (the usual fill and run through the plumbing) and the re-fill. It wasn't long after all was re-settled when I happened to see the Little Guy having a little "drink". Timing. (He seems to notice when there's fresh water in the pool and that's when he tends to dip for a drink. He knows... fresh, clear, clean, cool water.)
So, not bad. Beginning of the year, clean house, clean pool, clean plumbing and a clean pump in the fountain. (I suspect some of his seeds got caught in the other pump. His food is some-what over the pool and when he gets into eating, seeds are scattered all over the place, even with the little set-up to keep them in his house. Some get to the floor and, though I'm not happy about it, he'll get down there and peck at the carpeting, which is why his room gets the old Hoover often. What doesn't make it to the floor gets into the pool, which is why the water gets flushed and changed twice daily at minimum. Some-times, a safflower seed gets through and jams the workings of the pump. Some-times, I can "tap" it out, but there are those times when it manages to really get lodged in there. And if not caught on time, seeds tend to "burn the motor out". Oh well. Better to have the fountain and the moving water than just putting a "dish of water" in there... still water... that doesn't "run deep", as it were.)
Once that was done, all was well with the world again, the Little Guy had his drink and... WOOSH... he was out to the living-room and I was at the desk.
As I worked in his room, I heard the "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" floating through the house and went out to "visit" at the tree and he hopped onto my shoulder. We went to look out the front door through the screen at the silent road. The crisp air came in and I could tell he wasn't too thrilled about that so... I had some of this morning's laundry on a rack in the loo and thought it a great time to bring it out to be put by the "out-put" for the furnace in the living-room and so I got to that... AND MY LITTLE SUPERVISOR STAYED ON MY SHOULDER, SO FASCINATED WITH THE GOINGS-ON... GOING ROOM-TO-ROOM WITH ME CARRYING THE RACK OF CLOTHES! He didn't fly away but, instead, I could see him staring at the rack of clothes and watching as I placed it in the air-flow. When I'd finished and all was settled he took off and headed back to his room... and to the desk... to the old lap-top for his own snooze.
I came back into the room, sat at the desk and he nestled on the old key-board.
Our Monday was coming to a close already... the sun was disappearing. Another day... gone by... entirely TOO quickly!
At 17.00 we had out dinners together, with the evening "news" on the old lap-top on the desk and right away, I got the washing-up done so that we could get settled at a civil hour tonight...
And so... it's 19.45 and I'm out of a shower, almost ready to tuck in for the night. Fresh water in the pool. We had another "play time" when I put the back-board up this evening! Not as long as I would have liked because, well, it's become another part of the JOY in my life now. But still, I played until it seemed the Little Guy "lost interest".
For some reason, when I came back from showering, he took to the floor, under the desk. He does that at times and I wonder why. It's dark under there, since the lights are on the desk and it's not one of the "regular places" I look for him. I DO have to be SO CAREFUL though... he finds the strangest places to toddle off to around the house and he's taken to toddling about so that, even one morning, as I stepped out of the loo... there he was, on the floor! I NEVER expected him to be THERE, of all places. As it is, I watch the floors in the living-room and kitchen now, and I DO watch in his room. But there's just no telling where he'll be at any moment. A great part of me is comforted knowing that he's comfortable being on the floor, and being all over the house. Seems he's come to know that there are no "predators" or other sorts of "threats" to his well-being. This is his "territory", he's come to "know" it and he's at ease, roaming about. It isn't the "whole universe" that he would have had, had he lived his life as he was born into, but then again, he may not have survived these 4-almost-5 years we've had together. And here, he's had the comfort of being able to "heal" as well as he's done, in peace and safety. I suppose I've done "OK" by him in that respect.
Right now, he's on the wall shelf as I sit at the desk... "nest-coo's" and that little "flutter". It's night... and time to change the guard, as it were. Thankfully, the room and house are settled and we'll be getting to "tuck-in" in due course... "In due course"... I'm wondering about tonight's "ride home"... but that will be seen... when it's seen.
20.05... My Little LOVE just had his nightly snack... he came back from the shelves, and is pecking at some of the seeds that fell to the floor of his house... It's time for us to wrap this day. But then... there's no telling... there's BOUND to be a "ride home" as soon as I get up from the desk so... I'll leave this here to be continued in the morning. (I'm dreading the morning. I have an appointment first thing which means leaving shortly after we wake and I SO DO DISLIKE doing that. Mornings are for us, quietly!)
Tuesday 07 January:
Last night's ride home was truly quite uneventful in that the Little Guy was already on his platform when I got back into the room. Some-birdy was quite tired, the sky out-side the window was quite black with the night and so, we just sailed along to the night roost and on arrival, he hopped right up and got settled for the night ahead.
Lullabies were sung with no "sing-along" and, at 20.40, the last light was turned off. We were "down for the night".
This morning? Morning call at 7.24 with a hearty "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo". And then a "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" followed, almost immediately by a "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo...hoo."
When I asked "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo...hoo?" he replied with a stern
"woo-HOO!" Apparently there was no time for idle chat. Well then, oh my! I was UP!
Opened the door to his house, popped my head in for a "Good morning" kiss (which is usually the "tell-all" about the mood of the morning) and WOW! KISSES KISSES KISSES! Not sure if it was because he was happy to see me or relieved that I'd finally come to open house for the day.
It didn't take but a moment and I got Burdie-Birdie our to the futon from the little cubby in the book-case and WOOSH! A flutter and whistle of wings! My LOVE was UP AND OUT of his house AND as I ran the water change this morning, he headed up to his loft. I went in for a little kiss and MORE KISSES! AND MANY WOO-HOO'S! WHAT A WAY TO START A DAY!
Poop check" 9 PERFECT-IN-EVER-WAY poops and ALL of them under the night roost! SO... we'd had a peaceful, restful night last night. No wonder there was so much energy and LOVE this morning!
Snowy out there again this morning so it was a bit of a "dark" sort of morning, and so very cold! I was up at 4.00 this morning because of an early appointment but because of the cold and such, I cancelled today's run and I could tell that some-birdy was QUITE HAPPY for the companionship. He was up, off to the futon with Burdie, we got some cuddles and kisses and smooches and then he made TWO flights to and from the living-room!
WOW! SO MUCH energy! A very happy little bird!
The day, generally? Well, I made good use of the time that I'd been given by not having to leave the house and spent the day in his room with him, and my Little LOVE was on the futon, on his roof-top, took a couple of breaks in the loft. And in between, we had cuddles!
At lunch time, I managed to get a 20-minute lie-down with the toddling on my legs and at one point, he actually got "settled" on my leg for a little while. Snuggled in the folds of my jeans, it looked like he'd found a "nest" and he was "in for the duration". It's such a HUMBLING HONOUR to know and see that he's comfortable not only being "with" but "on" me! We ARE "the Flock" here, and I couldn't be any happier for it. What an HONOUR!
For the rest of the day, it was "low-key". The flurries fell, the WIND blew for most of it. But together, we were in the room together, warm and toasty... the way this Little Guy's life should be! Warm, safe, protected... with plenty of food and fresh water.
Ah... "water"... this evening, as I got my dinner together and sat down at the desk. Yonah was on his loft when I looked but then, I happened to look up to check the Little LOVE and... THERE HE WAS... IN THE POOL AT 17.30! He had a grand 15-minute SOAK! And when done, hopped up to the door perch, a few good shakes of the feathers and then to the futon to preen beside Burdie.
He's SO funny after a nice bath, he always seems so "proud". Clean feathers! Good shakes, fluffs, preening, head heald high. (Even as the out-side temperatures are FREEZING, the skies are as dark as can be. But HEY! If that's when he wants to bathe, at least in HIS house, HIS territory, he can do so at HIS wont. And me? I'm just so glad he can!)
At 18.30 I ran the water change twice to make sure the water was clean in his pool and at 18.45 closed the curtains on the window and WOW... he came right up to his roof-top to look for "that thing" that plays with him through the curtains and over the back-board! )My hand, poking at him.) Oh yes... we PLAYED again tonight. And when done, I got back to the desk for tonight's Journal notes... he had a little snack and drink and started his own settling for the night. (of course, I waited for him to "take his place" for the "ride home"...)
Well? It's 20.15 and I'm ready, the room's ready, and WOOSH ! Herr Taube made a mad dash to the wall shelves for the nest coos and flutters. So... I'm closing today's notes here and we'll see how the tucking-in goes. I would have thought he'd be ready for some sleep... I would have thought... I should know better....
Wednesday 08 January:
Last night? A little something "new"... When I'd done with all the last-minute "people nonsense" in the house and came back into the room, the Little Guy had "established" him-self on the upper-most shelf on the book-case (where Burdie-Birdie "sleeps"), tail up, fluttering the feathers and "making with the woo-HOO!s... nest coo. OK. I really didn't want to climb up on the futon to get him so I decided to try some other way. I brought his "roof-top platform", the little board he roosts on his house, over and raised it up and rested half of it on the book-case. A little "coaxing" with my fingers to attract his attention and he hopped onto the platform and... as we sailed across the room, heading "home" for the night, he watched and waited.. he knew where we were going, and as soon as the platform was level with and touched the night roost perch, he hopped right to the night roost.
Room settled, him settled, me on the futon, lights dimmed to only the little "moon lights", I started the nightly repertoire of lullabies but, as Fate would, I had to go to the loo after getting into the serenade... between the "English" and "German". When I got up to leave the room, OH! "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"! It was as though he was asking "Where are you going? We have more songs!" I rushed to "attend my business" and came right back, picked-up where I'd left off and made it through all the songs.
At 20.50, the last of the lights was turned off for the night.
This morning? "Call to order"... 7.16: "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo". It took me a moment to get to his house to open the door and such and in that moment came the next "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo", quite clear, followed, almost immediately by a "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo" and another "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo"! When I replied "I'm coming. I'm on my way. Give me a second"...
"woo-HOO!"
Haven't we been through this before? Oh yes we have. It was another day of "HURRY UP!" and I HAD to smile! He's usually so patient with me but "we have our mornings" and on THESE mornings, I SO WISH I KNEW WHAT HE WAS SAYING TO ME!
BUT, when I popped my head in for what I thought MIGHT be a little "Good morning" peck... I got a FACE FULL OF KISSES! FULL! KISSES KISSES AND MORE KISSES! TALK ABOUT "HEAVEN"!
Poops... 13 tiny, PERFECT POOPS... under the night roost, just as perfect as could ever be hoped! So... indeed, last night was calm, quiet and obviously restful! (No wonder, again, the energy and wanting to be up and about.)
As soon as I'd gotten the curtains and blinds open, the Little Guy hopped over to his food shelf, as he does of a morning, and...
AND HOW WE CHATTED THIS MORNING... WOO-HOO'S BACK AND FORTH AND EVERY-WHERE! SO MUCH TO BE SAID! You'd think we were old friends, long parted, re-united. THIS, is "LIFE"!
And THEN, the very moment Burdie-Birdie came out of his nook to the futon... WOOSH! OFF TO THE FUTON! MORE COO'S! CUDDLES! KISSES! Oh yes... THIS IS LIFE, HUMBLING... SUCH AN HONOUR AND PRIVILEGE... A TRULY DIVINE BLESSING. And I start a day in AWE!
He watched from the futon as I ran the waters.. and when that was done, he went, for some moments, to the loft and then... took a little breakfast!
Another "crisp" morning out there, this morning. Thankfully, the room and house were comfy-warm. This Little Guy's never (to the best of my knowledge) had to deal with such weather and for as long as we "are", he never will. (My heart breaks when I see the Yardies out there in this cold. How I wish I could bring them in for the Winter months. Silly Little Ones... they could migrate to warmer but, I suppose they're a bit like "people": some prefer to be in the cold - after all, I had a the choice, I could have headed to warmer climate instead of coming North so... "Nature".)
And this morning, breakfast served to the Yaries! Innumerable blue jays... 8 mourning doves. But no-birdy really stayed for very long this morning for some reason. But at least there was FOOD for them. And more to arrive today!
As I sat at the desk, jotting this morning's notes... my Little LOVE headed out to the living-room with a few "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo's" from his tree in the corner. And as quickly, returned to the room, to his roof-top.
The rest of the day was, well, quite calm. I did only a little bit of "tasks round the house" as would be done on a regular basis anyway. And this after-noon, at noon, we sat together, news on, and I had my little lunch in the VERY BEST company possible.
After lunch, I took my usual "mid-day snooze" on the futon... 30 minutes... and ALL THE WHILE, my Heart-and-Soul was on my leg, snoozing too, I suppose. When I woke (I hadn't set an alarm), he knew I was awake and came toddling up to my face to make sure that I was awake and to get me up and back to "things".
The after-noon went along very much like the morning.
We had a few moments of sun-shine and it seemed that the Little Guy wanted to make sure to get some of that light and warmth but instead of being on his "beach", he found a spot, in his house, right in-side his door, close to the "front"... beside me. So as I busied at the desk, he was right there!
And so that's how our day went until it was time for dinner... and at 17.00, we both settled, with the news, and I, at the desk with my little "dinner". We "watched" the day's events and just before I'd done, he came over to settle on the old key-board. I finished my "meal", did the washing-up and then...
The changing of the water... followed by... the closing of blinds and curtains!
And again, this evening, the very moment I moved his house to access the windows, he came RUSHING to his roof-top to carefully scrutinise my activities! And yes, again, tonight... we played with the "mystery thing in the curtain" (with wing-snaps of delight), but instead of the "hand-thing behind the back-board" tonight, I brought Burdie-Birdie over! WHAT A VISIBLE SURPRISE! But he was SO happy to see Burdie there! He cooe'd and hopped up on Burdie and pranced about preening until... well... he didn't any more and that's when we started to really get the room settled for the night.
This evening, by 19.40, the house was settled and the night music was on. I'd moved the old lap-top out to the kitchen already and my PRECIOUS LITTLE LOVE came to the desk, beside me. I brought Burdie-Bird over to the corner where the lap-top usually is and he "almost settled" there with Burdie. For a moment though, he took off to have his nightly snack and came right back. There truly couldn't be a better place to be, a better situation than this, this evening. I'd just come in from a quick step out-side and there's a light snow falling. Tonight's temperatures threaten to be quite bitter again tonight. But here we are, together, in the warmth of 24°, and my little Heart-and-Soul has a pool of fresh, clean water, plenty of food, his house is almost ready for the night ahead and hopefully, a restful night's sleep.
20.00 the Little LOVE's just had another quick nibble... it's time to tuck in! (Well... for pre-tuck-in games... we'll see...)
20.15 Silly me... thinking it was tuck-in time... he's on the desk shelf making with the nightly nest-coo's. Well? Off we go. It's been a day... let's see where this closes...
Thursday 09 January:
Well then and so, last night, the Little Character made his way from the desk to his roof-top as I closed the windows (blinds and curtains, of course). It's almost as though he comes over to supervise the activities and yes, he DOES watch my every move. But as soon as I'd done and gotten his house in "night position" he headed right to the platform to wait for me to get him. And... we had a "smooth sail" to the night roost. And as it goes of an evening, the platform met the perch and as casually as "by your leave", a simple step from platform to perch and all was settled. What a silly Little LOVE.
But we made it all through the nightly repertoire of lullabies, calmly, quietly (thankfully) and I watched the little silhouette over-head as my Heart-and-Soul settled-in, tucked-in for the night ahead.
Last light off... 20.40 (a bit late but at least before 21.00... which is my personal "LATE" considering that, were he out-side, he would have been roosting LONG before then).
This morning: 7.28 came the first "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" and then, as I opened the door to his house, there was a hearty "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo"! A pop in for "Good morning" kisses and instead, I got a full "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo"! Oh dear!
As soon as I got the curtains and blinds open, he was coo'ing along, FULL VOICE, from the food perch! When I came round to put his house into position for the day, I leaned in, as I do, grasping the sides of the shelving unitt, and he HOPPED RIGHT ONTO MY SHOULDER AND THEN OFF TO THE FUTON!
SO MUCH TO SAY THIS MORNING AND SO ANXIOUS TO GET OUT AND INTO THE HOUSE AND ON WITH THE NEW DAY! AND THAT WAS ONLY THE BEGINNING.
As I went about the rest of the morning tasks, WE HAD QUITE THE CONVERSATION! "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" and "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo"! AND... a "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo" too!
Poops Report: 14, yes, fourteen! little poops from last night and this morning! GOODNESS ME! But they were all PERFECT! Colour, moisture, and under the night roost!
The rest of this morning was (unfortunately) me sitting at the desk trying to catch-up with "people stuff" for the house-hold because I've, admittedly, been remiss in so much. I don't really know where the days go, but WOW! How time slips away. But all the while, the Little Guy busied him-self with all sorts of flying from his room to the living-room. And when he wasn't air-borne, or on his tree in the living-room, he came to spend some time with me, in his loft.
At noon, we took our customary "lunch break". I HAD to run an errand today and as always, I get into such anxieties over them and I KNOW, with certainty, that he senses them. As I was putting things together preparing to head out, he came to his door perch, for cuddles. Perhaps to assure him that I was OK and that I'd be right back as soon, as quickly. What-ever it is, he's done the same thing, if not coming to my shoulder when I'm anxious or a little "down". There's a "bond" that I'll never know, but one that's a LOT deeper and stronger than can be explained or described. When I call Yonah my "Heart-and-Soul" I don't do so lightly. Before him, I "existed"... and bitter for it. Since him, I have a "Life", like I'd never had before, really. The timing of his coming, the fact that HE accepted me, hopped onto my hand, toddled up my arm... There are "miracles" in Creation... Yonah is one of them.
OF course, it being such a chilly, over-cast day added to the general mood. But thankfully it wasn't "dark" nor "terribly cold". "January".
Tonight when I finished the water run and went to close the curtains... he came RUSHING over to his roof-top from the desk shelf and snapped his wings. A not-so-subtle way of letting me know "Let's get on with it! The sun's gone! Time for us to get some sleep here!"?
AND, we have a new routine of an evening: playing with what I'll call the "Curtain Critter". As I close the curtains, he watches the motion of the fabric, so from behind, I poke at him, mocking an "attack" but playfully, and he attacks, pecks at it, and when I stop, he gives me such a look that seems like he's saying
"Where did it go? What was that?"
and the look is usually accompanied by a wing-snap! It really IS a delight to see!
Well, even after the blinds and curtains were closed, he was obviously really not quite ready (yet) to settle to the night roost so I put Burdie-Birdie to roost in his cubby in the book-case and went about putting the rest of the room together for me.
At 20.00, the Little Character was back at his door perch. His house was settled and ready for the night so I took the hint. We had some PRECIOUS moments of cuddling and kisses on his door perch and I got to gently lift him to his night roost for the night.
And now, at 21.15, he's nest-coo'ing... We're off for the night.
Friday 10 January:
It was a "quick trip home" last night... and SO obvious that the little "routine" is SO expected. It truly IS a remarkable sight to see: From the closing of the curtains to the singing of lullabies, I do something, Yonah does something. I start to settle the room, he heads has a little evening snack. I close the curtains, he heads to the roof-top to watch. I start to sing lullabies, he heads to his platform for the ride home to the night roost. I can't help but remember reading that birds prefer "familiarity", in their surroundings and activities. And from multiple sources, mourning doves aren't considered "intelligent". Well, I've a note for those sources and I can't believe that this is all "training" because, if I've done anything, it's trying my very best to follow Yonah's "agenda", his "hints" and such. I've tried to follow "Nature", to keep his life as close to HIS comforts. And it all goes back to the fact that, in our earliest days (and nights) together, I did all I could to assure him that he was safe with me but tried to keep him from "bonding with" me. I was never sure that he'd survive, being back out in his world. I didn't want him "out there" unable to escape another attack, nor to be unable to fly in migration to warmer climates. But I NEVER saw us being together any longer than until the warm weather returned to our part of the world. I DID, every day and evening, think of how and where he'd return to the flocks, safely. It was HIM who chose to hop to my arm. HE chose to trust me. I didn't encourage, but he had other plans for his future. And... here we are, very much together, learning from one-another (I'd say). The daily routines now are "OUR" routines, his and mine together.
So, tucking-in was, with-out the play-break, ever-so smooth, from roof-top to night roost.
Lullabies were sung, softly and calmly and we were off to "Traumland" JUST before 21.00.
This morning, at 7.20, came the morning "call to order" with a "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo" and when I got to open the door to his house, instead of "Good morning" kisses, this morning I got a hearty "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo" followed by an equally hearty "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo"!
A check of poops: 12 again this morning, and all of them perfectly wonderful and under the night roost. OK! So then, last night was calm and restful and this morning was ENERGETIC! Nothing more could be hoped for.
And out-side, in the cold, clear skies, brilliant sun-shine rising. Were it not "January" out there, it would have been a nice day to be out in the yard, but those days are yet to come... and not really soon. The best part of this season is that the sun stays south enough to POUR in through the window so, THIS Little Guy has the light and the warmth in the comfort and safety of his own house and home where there's a pool of clear water and a dish of fresh, good food... and company... I might not be the "best" of company, but he's never alone and for a Little Guy with an ancestry of "flocks"... WE are OUR flock and I do ALL I can to keep us together.
All during the day we had SO much LUVIN'S! I tried to sit at the desk and get some things accomplished that I've been putting off for too long (end of one year, beginning of the next) and there were SO MANY "visits" to the shoulder, and pecks on the neck and cheeks, tugs on the ear. And when I looked over, the "stares" were impossible to ignore! I was being told my presence was appreciated and THAT means ALL in Creation to me! And after so much chatting, with the "woo-HOO's" back and forth, it was a most amazing day! all told!
I managed a little snooze after lunch today... about 30 minutes, whilst the Little Guy was in the living-room. But the very moment I "woke from the snooze", before I even moved on the futon... he came RUSHING in. He KNEW... even from the other room. Now THAT'S something I KNOW I'll NEVER get to know with ANY certainty. HOW he knows, even when he doesn't see me, that I'm awake, after a nap. Between that and the "2 minutes" before an alarm is about to sound... There can be no doubt who, in this world, is the true "superior"... Unquestionably... it's Yonah!
Sadly, it was a little busy for me the rest of the day with a quick run into town (20 minutes). And then... back home to get things settled for the week-end.
Bad news today: the old lap-top screen almost went out completely. Well, the thing is almost 7 years old so... So we'll be shopping for a new one. Have to get one the same size and "comfort" as this one. I've had to put a little "shelf" of cardboard over the key-board to keep it from over-heating now. (Will work on it over the week-end to see what we can "salvage") Apparently we're not happy with the set-up now... because instead of being beside me at evening's fall, Yonah was on his roof-top this evening. But that old lap-top is usually his favourite hang-out, it still works well-enough, so I want to keep it for him. We just have to fix the screen so it doesn't flash stripes in his face and we have to protect the key-board so nothing "drops" into the circuitry. And... we will... indeed, we will.
Right after dinner this evening, we got to the water change and again, the very second I went for the blinds and curtains he came RUSHING up to the roof-top waiting for the "curtain critter" and what-ever it is that "attacks" from the back-board! SO MUCH MORE FUN AND PLAY! Another facet of our day...
And, as he does, when all was settled, water and windows done, house back in place, he headed to his little corner of his roof-top to patiently await his ride home for the night.
19.56 and he's come down from his roof to have his nightly snack... his clock is better than any. Night snack and tuck-in. Comforts me knowing his little tummy (crop) is full when he goes to sleep at night. (How I SO hope that the food I put out for the Yardies helps them through the night too. I know what it's like to close the day and try to sleep with hunger. I don't want that for ANY of the Little Ones and especially THIS ONE!)
20.25 he's down from his roof and on the floor! Oh dear. And I'm back from showering... so tonight... let's see how THIS plays for the ride home...
Saturday 11 January:
'twas interesting trip home last night. The Little Guy was on the roof-top, as usual, and when the windows got closed and the house put in order, I started lullabies and he headed for his "lift" on the platform. Up we went and home but... when we arrived at the night roost, he was strangely hesitant. He didn't simply hop on... rather, he looked at the roost, then me then the roost. After a short while, again, hesitantly, he stepped off the platform and onto the perch. It made me look around the room, his house, listening for any "odd" sound(s). Nothing was out of the ordinary. It was un-settling to me, to say the least. But once he was on his night roost and I went about the normal routine of an evening, he appeared to settle and get comfortable so I put me to the futon and continued with lullabies.
Made it through the repertoire, quietly, calmly, and all the while, i watched the little silhouette over my head and checked to make sure that he was calm. And, he was. So at 21.05, I turned off the last light of the day and we took to sleep for the night.
This morning, the first "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo" sounded at 7.45. So close to 8.00. But considering how late we'd actually gotten settled last night, I expected, more or less, a bit of a "sleep-in".
But when I replied with a "Good morning and woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo." it started a veritable conversation! And when I popped my head in for "Good morning" kisses... there were EVER-SO many! My Little Heart-and-Soul was in GREAT spirits and gave so many BEAUTIFUL WING-STRETCHES!
Poops were 9 HEALTHY little poops, though they were a bit "scattered" and a bit to one side of the little "rug" so I have to wonder if he actually DID have a peaceful night. Thankfully there were no "flights"... THOSE are the things that terrify me! Hearing those wings flapping in a panic! I panic, worrying about him injuring his wings... especially the left one. But there was nothing of the sort last night so... I'll just never know.
At least, this morning, as soon as the room was settled and the morning water run was done HE WAS UP, ON THE WING AND OUT TO THE LIVING-ROOM! ENERGY! Just WOW!
And out-side the windows... a steady light snow fell... a rather delightful "Saturday" morning. (No wonder I didn't get up until 6.30!) The dim light coming through the clouds, the light snow... "January" was definitely out there and again, as I do, I gave thanks that THIS Little LOVE was safe, protected, warm.
Oh... this morning I had to work with some paper-work and it got spread out on the futon and did he ever have a time with it... flying all over the place... papers every-where! At one point, I could have sworn he was actually getting some kind of amusement watching me re-sorting it all! And then toddling all over it. (And me rushing to get to it before poops) got any of them!) He honestly did resemble a mischievous little kid! If he could have, I KNOW he'd grin at me!
When it was finally done... well... by the time I managed to get it all sorted, filed and put away... I had to get to the kitchen to get some cooking done so... No snoozes today! I headed to the kitchen and the Little Guy headed out to the living-room where he serenaded me with SO MUCH COO'ING!
What a day! The snows continued all thorugh.. I never did get to sit quietly at the desk to Journal as planned but we were together all day... no errands... just the 2 of us as the snows fell out-side. It was more like something scripted for some "Family Time" movie!
I did get out to put food out for the Yardies... cleared the back walk for them so they don't have to dig in the snow. Only a handful of them came round, this morning. Most lyblue jays, 1 morning dove. I wonder where the others were today and I hope they were warm and found enough to eat. I make certain, especially during the cold weather, to have food out there for them. The thought of them being cold just hurts me. Knowing that Yonah doesn't ever have to be bothered by such a thing is a comfort to me.
So I worked through the rest of the day, in the kitchen and by the time all the washing-up and such was done... it was time to get dinner ready! Another day had passed... and WOW... so too quickly!
I got my dinner together, set the desk up with the lap-top and the news as we do and sat to eat.
Poor Little Guy... he obviously doesn't like the "new cover" on his old lap-top. It's a bit of card-board with some card-stock on it (to catch poops). But the screen is really going bad and I tend to think the key-board over-heats with the regular old card-stock laying directly on it . Bit it appears he won't go near it any more. So I have to find something else. That's his "rest area" of an evening! It's HIS! And I have to do all possible to make sure he's happy.
And so, the Little One stayed in his house or on the desk shelf and I went about the rest of the evening... and got the washing-up done, settled the house, changed the water in his pool and put the routine back in order.
When I closed the windows up tonight, he was on my shoulder until I went for the curtains! He can get so cosy there and it THRILLS me when he stays with me. But as soon as I went for the curtains, he headed to his roof-top! The "Curtain Critter" strikes again! AND the back-board too! WE HAD A BLAST, PLAYING! No wing-snaps but did we have fun!
There was a fly in the room this evening... don't know HOW with all the snow and cold but when I went to swat at it with a magazine, Yonah came RUSHING to my shoulder as it to "save" it! I'm "almost certain" it was coincidence but I couldn't help but wonder... something else in the place that flies? Well... I did get the fly because I don't want it in the room at night... for fear it might make its way into Yonah and wake/startle him in the dark. But what a sight.
So now it's 20.03... night music on. The crazy Little Guy came down form his roof-top to the little yellow mirror... "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"... and then up for last snack... we're closing the day.
(He's down on this drift-wood, head cocked... looking at me... Its time!)
20.21 Now he's on the pillow at the foot of the futon nest coo'ing! We're off... to try for a tuck-in.
Sunday 12 January:
Yes, last night wasn't so much a "ride" home as it was a "carry". My PRECIOUS Little Guy had NO intention of going home for the night, even as late as it was. So I reached down, cupped him in my hands and, holding him close to my face so that I could give him ALL SORTS of kisses on the way, brought him to his house and reached my arms out to hold him beside his night roost.
He still wasn't having any of this "tuck-in"... he hesitated there, still in my hands, for a moment longer and then, decided maybe resistance was futile and, I could sense the reluctance, he lifted him-self from my hands and went to the roost.
Once he appeared to be "settled" (though no "comfortably", I could tell), I managed to close his house, turned the moon lights on, the desk light off and got me to the futon.
As I made our way through the "nightly serenade" I could tell that he wasn't all too thrilled about the situation but, my concern was more for his rest, so I made it through the repertoire, only slightly quicker than a usual "calm night", and as i sung, i could see him finally getting into his "sleeping" position... little head tucked between those beautiful little wings.
By 21.00... the last moon light was turned off... Saturday... "closed".
After the lights are turned off, just as a little "assurance" that he's not alone in the dark, as it were, we have a little "tune" that I sing, very softly so that he can hear it...
Ich, ich, ich ich liebe liebe dich,
sieben, siebeb sieben und immer, immer, du.
Ja, ja, ja, ja, ich liebe liebe dich... sieben, sieben sieben und immer ,immer, du.
(I, I, I love love you,
seven, seven seven and always, always, you.
Yes, yes, yes, yes, I love love you... seven, seven seven and always always, you.)
"I love you 7" was something we used to say with Oma when we were younger. One day, when Oma said it to me, I replied with "Ich liebe dich sieben... und immer." So between us, that's what we would say. You couldn't love more than "7" for some reason. It was just a "family" thing, I suppose. But adding "forever" was OK. These days, where I've been adding German lullabies to the nightly "serenade" I'm rather surprised how much of the old "family language" is still in my old head. And because German, for me, was the most "loving language" I remember from child-hood, it's only fitting that I should sing to Yonah the way my Oma sang to me. (One of these days, maybe we'll get some Hebrew in there... considering his name... well, the "first name"... the surname befits the German... my little Heart-and-Soul in EVERY way.)
And so... this morning, I was up and about already at 5.30. I have to say that I'd stepped out the front door, checking the morning weather and as soon as I did, I was almost blinded... there was a BRILLIANT, FULL MOON, just making its way down over the Western mountains, and the sky was as clear as it could be! because of the light covering of white snow from last night, there was the slightest "glow" to the world. How I would have enjoyed being able to bring Yonah to see the sight. He's not seen the moon since coming into the house because we close the curtains to keep the artificial head-lights from glaring in on him through the night. One of the many aspects of this house that I detest, I have to say. But it's another one of the "selling points" I keep in mind as we search for a better place. And yes, I DO wonder how he'll adapt to "new surroundings" since these are, essentially, the only spaces he's ever known thus far. Anyway, the morning was "crisp", and it gave me a bit of comfort knowing that my Little LOVE was nice and warm, protected from the cold through the night and this morning.
So I came back into the house and settled, with morning coffee, at the kitchen table. All was calm, still, and the time did what time does of recently... it passed so quickly...
At 7.16, in the stillness of early Sunday morn came, through the door, the softest, most BEAUTIFUL...
"woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"
I answered, right away, to let my LOVE know that I was right there for him and he replied as quickly. I was up and into the dark room... and as I quietly opened the door to his room... another "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo".
As I approached his house, I could see the little silhouette, there, nestled on the night roost, and as I opened the door, a beautiful wing-stretch!
A couple more "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo's" followed by all-in "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo's". My Heart-and-Soul was awake, indeed. And when I popped my head in and said "Kisses?" he poked his head forward and OH... THE "GOOD MORNING" KISSES! WOW! No more beautiful way to start ANY day!
I got right to the tasks of opening the curtains and blinds and as I did, he hopped over to the food perch, ready, set and....
No sooner had I put his house back, close to the window, where the morning light of a clear, cold, January morning filled the room....
The Little Guy took to wing! Up, out and off to the futon! AND... shortly after, as I prepared for the morning water relay... he was OUT to the living-room for "Good morning woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo's" to the little decoys on his tree! WHAT a BURST of energy first thing in the morning!
Poop this morning... 9 absolutely perfect, right under the night roost. Another healthy start to a new day. And obviously, a restful night. (I always watch for the location of poops so that I can tell whether or not he had a "calm" night's rest. And having the little "poopie-rug" there is a great help... even though, when dry, they tend to "bounce" a bit, off to the side. But when the majority are under where he's slept, I know that, over-all, the night was peaceful.)
SO... our Sunday was certainly "called to order". In a few moments he was back home... for breakfast and I... well... as usual... I was off and about the daily "human nonsense" of "house-keeping".
This morning, the sun made its way above the tree-line and in spite of the cold air out there, it poured in through the windows, brought much light and warmth to the room. And I settled, at long last, at the desk to get some Journal notes down and a little "book-keeping". The important part, the ONLY "important" part, my Little LOVE and I were together AND he took a place, in his house, right inside his door, where the sun shone brightly, and basked. It's such a GLORIOUS sight, seeing him so calm, in the warmth and light of such brilliant sun-shine. And that he can be so comfortable, and safe... My "human capabilities" are so limited where giving him the "perfect life" are concerned. And so often my heart literally aches to think of the life he was born into but has been denied, to an extent. But knowing that he'll never have to go hungry or thirsty, and he does have the entire house to move about in (MUCH larger than any old "cage"), safe from ANY predator(s), where he's warm in Winter, cool in Summer, and there's fresh water to drink and even to "soak" in, when he wants... At those moments, I think of other Little Ones, tucked and "locked" into "cages", ignored, and, well, THIS Little LOVE doesn't seem to be "un-happy" with his "home" so I suppose I shouldn't be so hard on me. To think: during our earliest days together, nobody wanted to be "bothered"... and today... well... tomorrow it will be 4 years and 3 months! Looks like we're doing... "OK".
So the rest of the morning rolled along, I stepped out briefly to clear some of the snow and then came back in to get all things together in the house.
At just before noon, we took a quick break for lunch together and then... I tried for a bit of a snooze... and as always (usual?) I no sooner laid my head on the pillow when... WOOSH... there was the LOVE of my WORLD, on the pillow, at my head!
Poke-poke-poke... He wanted "cuddles"! So, we delayed snooze-time for a while and cuddled and kissed until he decided it was enough and that Burdie-Birdie was there so he'd go visit.
I DID manage to get 30 minutes of "shut-eye" but the moment the alarm sounded... "poke-poke-poke" at my forehead... "Hello? Time's up! You've got things to get done... and that includes MORE CUDDLES AND PLAY!"
I can't even imagine a time with-out this Little Guy in my life... and to be sure, if there is any, it won't be long.
So we got on with the rest of the day, and I finally sat at the desk with dedicated time to Journalling. (I'm really SO far behind in all of this. "Age" and the "fatigue" that comes with it... ) I put together a little "play-list" of "our music collection" and got to the business of typing.
I can tell that such things don't make much sense to Yonah... I'm sitting at the desk and the only things in the room that are actually moving are my fingers, so it must appear to him that I'm just sitting here. Poor Little Guy. But I do a little singing with some of the songs and "animate" so that there's some "life" to the surroundings.
Yonah? He came down from his loft and settled on the futon and on the wall shelves. (Not much of a "world" compared to the "great out-doors", but again... the temperature in the room was a comfy 24,6° and out-side it was all of 0° (Celsius), which was, compared to recent days, "warm" but... So again, I can provide that much in the way of comfort.
The after-noon... all too quickly... moved to... "dinner time"...
BUT... this evening... A NEW LESSON: For the longest while, my Little LOVE's most-favourite place of a day and evening has been the key-board of the old lap-top and because of "poops" and little feathers, I took to placing "card-stock" over it so that he could "roost" there for the hours he so enjoys. I been of the belief that it was the warmth of the computer. (And yes, I've put a heating pad on that corner of the desk for him, thinking he liked to be on the desk beside me but on the warmth... and no, that wasn't quite "right"; he didn't take to it.) Well, for a while now, the screen/monitor on the old (soon to be 7 years now) lap-top has been "going", displaying all sorts of strange stripes and the sort. A bit of tapping and "twisting" usually "brings it back" but not permanently. I noticed that the most trouble came after a while of having the key-board covered. So, in an "Ah-hah moment" I thought I'd try to make a "raised shelving' of a sort to raise my Little Guy up and allow for air circulation on the key-board. To that end, this evening, I cut a bit of board to fit across the whole of the lap-top and placed bits of "2x2" (inch) wood on either side, raising the board that 2 inches up and allowing for air under, and giving a firm place for my Little LOVE to "roost". I didn't think he'd enjoy it, because the warmth of the key-board wouldn't permeate the wood but we gave it a try. I covered it with the yellow card-stock and placed all on the usual corner of the desk and put his "moruning dove video" on and...
He made him-self just as comfortable as always, beside the monitor and there he rested all the while I had dinner (beside him, at the desk, as we usually do of an evening).
So it's not really the warmth of the key-board that attracts him... it's the screen/monitor!
Well, I've seen videos and read articles that show that other birds take to lap-tops and nobody seems to know exactly why. But there's something about them that birds like to be close to. (Personally, I wonder what, exactly, they see in the monitors... since they see "UV", so I'd believe they see other colours, but with pigeons and doves, I've come to learn that THEY see differently... their perception is quicker that humans (and others) which is why pigeons, in particular, bob their heads as they walk: they "take photos", "stills", as they move about. Considering a "refresh rate" of a computer screen, I wonder if Yonah doesn't see the "refresh" as it displays across the screen.
But no matter, really, what-ever it is... the "new shelf" works just as well as simply covering the key-board and now, there's air-flow to keep the key-board "cool" and protected from "droppings of ... any sort"!
And there he was, as I had my dinner... with a little show on the computer.
That said, dinner done, we got to the water relay right away at 18.00 tonight and he headed up to his roof-top... I sat to type a bit more on the Journal... and wondered what sort of "window closing" we'd have this evening (curtain critter and the back-board game).
20.03 We're on the way to getting to tuck-in at a fairly good hour tonight. I'm ready to get right to the futon and my Little LOE is on his roof-top, though, he's toward the front and not on his "platform" so this should be "interesting". The rest of the house is settled for the night and our "night music" is playing (soft, "meditation" music, as it is).
Tonight, when we closed the blinds and curtains, he really didn't seem too interested in "playing". In fact, he stayed in his house, on the "food perch". I tried to poke the "curtain critter" through the back of his house... he pecked at it but then went over to his other perch. I wonder... "Tired"? Poor Little Guy. Well... more tomorrow. We'll see how this goes.
Monday 13 January: 4 Years, 3 Months (but who's counting? Eh?)
Turned out, as I was typing the closing for yesterday, the Little Character hopped over to his roof-top platform and, as he does, waited for me to get back into the room. "Ride home".... And the ride was so very calm, he preened all the way, and again, when we "arrived" at the night roost, he was hesitant for a moment. Not sure why, but then, he simply stepped from platform to roost and that was that.
Last night's "serenade" was softer and I took my time with the songs and I could see that it did make a difference in how long it took for him to calm. He notices the "tempo" of the songs. I did make it through all of the songs, and when, at 20.30, I looked up, there was the little silhouette, all snuggled, "tucked-in", comfy. Last light off at 20.40. Not exactly as early as I'd expected, but at least he had the time to calm and get comfy.
This morning, for some reason, I woke at 4.30 and though I thought of staying on the futon, it was so comfortable and quiet, I decided to get up and on with the day. So, I stepped out of the room, silently, closing the door behind me... Still "night-time" out-side the window on another "cool" January morning. The slightest "dusting" of snow on the ground. But my Little LOVE was nestled on his night roost in a cosy, warm room... as his world ought to be.
In the stillness that is our morning, as I was busy at the kitchen table, and out-side, the morning started to brighten the world... and the falling snow became more obvious... through the door came a soft "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo". The clock: 7.26. My little Heart-and-Soul was awake... time to get a new day rolling.
And what a morning this was!
As usual, I stepped into the dark room, made my way to his house, and looking in, I could see that, oh yes, indeed, he was up, awake, and waiting for the door to his house to open. Some wing-stretches, and when I leaned in for "Good morning" kisses, he seemed a bit anxious to get going. So, with-out further hesitation... we were into the morning routine... open curtains and blinds to bring in what soft early-morning light was to be had.
"Chilly biness out there this morning. And snow!" I said. And the Little Guy hopped over to his food perch, as he does of a morning, making ready...
Everything was "hyper" this morning too... No sooner had I gotten the room ready for the morning's water relay when..
WOOSH! HE WAS ON THE WING, OUT OF HIS HOUSE AND DIRECTLY TO THE LIVING-ROOM! I'll never know what inspires him so early of a day to take flight, but what-ever it is, in its way, it's encouraging to see... Energy, well-rested, and FLIGHT!
A quick poop check... 10 perfect little poops, all nicely under the night roost. A restful and calm night behind us. That's always a relief to me.
And we were off to another day... together. "Together"... the most important aspect to EVERY day...
By end of the day... well... the snow kept falling, lightly, all through, so it never got to be very "bright and sunny".
I was a bit on the "dragging side" by afternoon. But the morning was me, working about the house and the Little Guy on his tree in the living room. Not much for cuddels today afrer this emoning. But then, I was almost constantly on the move today and my Little LOVE went on about his own "affairs of the day", mostly "roosting" on his loft.
We did take our lunch break at about noon, together, and then I managed to grab a "snooze" for about 45 minutes... "solo", on the futon. I DO believe this Little Guy actually DOES know when I need to take a break during the day when I'm tired because instead of flying about as I try to doze, he tends to "watch" from his loft. And today, when I laid down, he came over, pecked at my forehead a couple times, hopped onto my shoulder for a moment, toddled down my leg, hopped off and then, after a "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" to Burdie-Birdie who was at my knee, he headed "home"... to let me rest.
As I say, it was "one of those days" where I wasn't much "fun" but, we were together and, it didn't seem to disturb my little Heart-and-Soul that I kept busy when awake, with "things-human" (which I always feel are so un-important when compared to the happiness of the Little Guy but, sadly, must be attended-to to keep us "sheltered" from the Winter cold and all sorts of other situations. Be this ever so crumbled... it's our shelter against the elements and number one where comfort and safety for my LOVE is concerned. With-out him... I wouldn't care, really.)
This evening, we had our dinners together and because I was so, some-what out of it all with my own "fatigue", we got the evening water relay and closing of the windows done rather early-ish. No matter how I try to keep to the clock - as it were - at least I do my best to keep "close" to a "routine". But I'm sure this Little One notices even the slightest variations. Still, one of my major concerns is that he gets the rest he needs at night.
The "tuck-in" was almost "rote" tonight... once started, I just "followed-through". And yes... the "usual ride home" with tuck-in kisses... a nightly serenade.
And by 20.30... we were all settled, tucked-in for the night.
Tuesday 14 January:
Last night... to my "wonder"... after having a little "snack" of grit as I was settling the room for the night (I happen to delight in seeing him having the "good grit"... because it's got the little extras in it, like oyster shell for calcium and other little "minerals", and I know it's good for his digestion so I can be sure he's getting "proper nutrition" too), he came over to the door perch and we had a few cuddles and kisses and when I stood back up and opened my hands, he headed right up to the night roost! I waited for him to take wing and head to the wall shelves or roof-top but he was quite "settled". It was, already, 20.10 but I didn't figure that to be "late", considering how he usually waits until about 20.30 to actually "settle" for the night - and even then, with reluctance. But no, he was ready for "tucking-in" for the night. No "ride home". So I took advantage of the situation and went right along, settling him and me for the night. A few little kisses "Good night" and the evening serenade commenced.
Made it through the repertoire, and as I went from one song to the next, I could see the Little LOVE, all snug and comfy on his night roost, over-head.
By 20.40, songs done... "Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!" (Sleep in heavenly peace). Last light off. Monday... closed...
So... this morning, I was up and about already at 5.30 and attending to the regular morning tasks about the house when I looked at the clock... 7.30... and as yet, no "morning call". I decided to give a try... open the door and see when my Heart-and-Soul would give a "woo" or a "hoo"...
No sooner had the door opened when, in the darkness of the early morning came...
a soft but clear "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo". He was... awake! (And I was relieved to hear!)
We had SUCH A CONVERSATION THIS MORNING as I "opened house"!
Exchanges of "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" and "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo"! Almost no breaks in between. SO MUCH to be said this morning! And a few little kisses "Good morning" too. Not the "So many" of some mornings, but at least I got some. And that's better than the "none" I've gotten some mornings.
Burdie-Birdie was already on the futon before I'd opened the windows (to a bit of a dreary sort of January morning) and the very moment Yonah saw Burdie there... UP AND OUT AND OFF TO THE FUTON! for "Good morning greetings" as I put the room in order to get to the morning water relay.
Ah... but no sooner had the water been changed and the room settled completely, HE WAS ON THE WING AND OUT TO THE LIVING-ROOM TOO, for "Good mornings" to the decoys in his tree!
That he has so much energy in the morning, so soon after waking, is always an amazement to me. I mean, "humans" tend to wake, roll, stretch... take our time getting up and about. But not this Little Guy! Wing stretches before first "take-off" and AWAY HE GOES!
And so, as I re-settled the kitchen, he took a flight "back home"... and up to his loft.
(I have to say that, this morning, I have an appointment for my annual "health check-up" - which, to be honest, I wouldn't bother with, if not for Yonah - and as always, I'm "packed" with the usual anxieties that come with knowing that I'll be out of the house for a while, I always have trepidations about leaving my Heart-and-Soul alone in this old house, for various reasons, and I'm so accustomed to us being together, knowing where he is, how he is, that he's safe, that I'm here "in case of emergencies" that, time apart, for me, is what can only be described as a "living Hell". And I know that the senses that. I do my best to "control" my anxieties when I'm around him. I don't want him to feel there's any cause for "concern" about anything. So when he came back to the loft, I just wonder... Does he know he'll be in the house for about and hour or so... alone...? I don't believe he enjoys the "alone time" any more than I enjoy the "separation". But... As I told him this morning, I have to make sure that I'm in "best-possible condition" so that I'm here for him, and to keep providing all-possible for him... food, shelter, water... safety... and, of course... LOVE. So... this is part of that and of course, I make it all as quick as possible so that we're back together in due time.)
Anyway... (it's 8.15 already... and I'm at the desk) as I type, he's on his door perch, the "bird-songs" are playing and other-wise all's calm and quiet. A new day ahead... and, in the lyrics of the old tune: "What-ever will be... will be... the future's not ours to see..." We can only hope and do our best...
Poops, this morning: 11 total from the "over-night", and those were all (happy to record) "normal", size, composition and all. This morning's "first" though, was, in "composition", just a "picture-perfect" but twice the size of the rest. (I keep in mind, reading, several times, that "first poops" shouldn't be "striking" because they're often "odd", "off" or very different from the rest. Well then, not sure why this one was large, but at least all other aspects were "perfect". AND with all the energy he had, looks like last night was restful and all's quite well... And I couldn't be more grateful.)
And so... 19.00 already and what a day!
Poor Little Guy... I had to step out this morning at 10.00 and didn't get back until almost 12.30! It pained me SO much to leave him this morning and I could tell that he knew that I was leaving. SO many KISSES at his door perch!
But when I got back... I called from the front door and got no reply. Of course, I RUSHED into his room to find him on the upper-most wall shelf, staring at the door to his room! And the very moment that I stepped in and walked over to him... WING-SNAP! WHAT A HEART-FILLING ELATION! Such a GRAND greeting! (I've come to recognise the slightest differences in his wing-snaps: surprise, annoyance, greeting... There's just the slightest difference in the "strength", the "sound" made with the wings, and the placement/position of his head. I'm LEARNING! And this morning was "WELCOME! WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?")
Since it was so "late"... "lunch" is supposed to be at noon and it was already past then, I got right to making my lunch, attempting to put our day "back on order".
The sun was POURING in through his windows, the radio was playing softly. His room is the most-welcoming place in the entire house and I took a little comfort in thinking that, at the very least, he had the house to fly around in and sun-shine to bask in.
It was obvious that he was MUCH happier as the "normal" after-noon started to settle. He was animated, flying from the futon to his house, a quick flight to the living-room and back (so we could have lunch together), and cuddles, snuggles, kisses, and play-time on the futon.
The "flock" was re-united and the world was well again.
After, I managed to grab a 30-minute lie-down. Of course, as soon as I laid on the futon, he came rushing over to the pillow to peck at my head and then... he left me... or so I thought. Moments later, i could feel him toddling on my ankle... and then, up my leg to my shoulder. And when he realised that i was there, having a "snooze" (another word I see that he recognises) he took off to his loft... and let me rest.
The rest of the day... well, I was back and at the desk, when not running about the house. But the sun was still shining and it was so cosy in his room, in spite of the chill out-side. And we were together...
This evening? Well... I was "late" (again) to dinner because of being on the phone and by 17.10, I was being "summoned"... "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo!" from the room as I put my food on the hob. I'll never know "how", but this Little One actually has a "clock" and he "times" or daily routine! When, at last, I got to the desk with my food, he headed up to his food and... we "dined" together.
BUT... After dinner... I'd gone to the kitchen to attend the "washing-up" thinking I'd get to the evening water relay right away but...
When I came back into the room... HE WAS IN THE POOL! A little soak, a little splash, a little "freshening-up". I'm thinking he's come to know that if he waits too long, I'll change the water in the pool and instead of it being "room temperature" (which today was almost 25°) it would be quite chilly and so, before I get the chance to "ruin" it, he jumps in. And this evening... it was a good 10, if not 15 minutes of "soaking" and splashing!
It's claimed that mourning doves tend to enjoy bathing before tucking-in for the night, but not in the dark. Hey! At least THIS Little LOVE has the safety where, no matter how dark or light it might be out-side, no matter how cold, he can hop into a bath when-ever the mood strikes. And that gives me some satisfaction.
When he was done... I got to the water and right after, since it was well after 18.00, we closed the blinds and curtains. This evening, he'd been "snacking" when I started with the windows and so, he "supervised" from his food perch. We played, a little bit, with the "curtain critter" through the back of his house but he really wasn't all too interested tonight. And he didn't go to the roof when I put the back-board up either. But....
When everything was done and settled, he hopped about in his house and, at 19.25... he was pecking about the seeds on the floor of his house. (The "poopie-rug" was laid and he recognises that too, as "we're going to settled-down for the night here.)
I have to note: Today's "errand" was for my "annual health check-up" and after all the "particulars" were done, I got to chat, briefly, with my "Primary" (whom I SO admire). I got to tell of why I'm so concerned with and about my health... making it clear that the ONLY reason is... my Little LOVE. I got to tell of the details and history (and it helped in explaining when I could say "4 years and 3 months ago... yesterday..."). Now, she knows of Yonah and me and "us" and her response was that she was so impressed. SHE is obviously one of the rare Care Providers who actually cares for and about her patients and that I expressed the same compassion... well... as she left the examination room, she called back "See you in a year, unless you need me sooner. Love you!"
The previous "Primary" treated me as if I needed some sort of "help"... when I explained the importance of Yonah to him.
Anyway... I'm glad it's noted.
And when I mentioned "life expectancy" she commented "You have to out-live him!" Oh yes... indeed... that's the intent.
Anyway... 19.30 and my little Heart-and-Soul is in his house, pecking at the little mirror at the floor of his house. It's almost time for "tuck-in"... and the excitement of wondering how that will go tonight.
(I'm just relieved and happy: today's "check-up": "You're really HEALTHY!"(
20.09 and the Little Guy is on his loft... making with the "nest coo's". Not on the shelves, desk or wall. And not on the futon. This is some-what un-usual... but we're closing the house. I'm ready to tuck-in... let's see where it goes... more tomorrow... to be sure.
Wednesday 15 January:
To my amazement, last night was another "direct home". My little Heart-and-Soul was tired... and by 20.15, we were settled in the room! I in my night-wear and the Little One on his night perch. Kisses, cuddles, and lights turned off, moon lights on.
And I made it through the nightly serenade... calmly and quietly. Looked up and there he was, my Heart-and-Soul, all tucked for the night. (He'd popped his head up once as I was singing, looked about, and settled right back in... I don't know what he heard or sensed, but seeing him so calm assured me that we were OK for the night.) Last moon light off... 20.35...
This morning, I was up and about at 4.30 again... stepping out of the room, closing the door behind me.
The kitchen was on the "cool" side this morning. The temperature out-side had gone quite cold over-night. But Yonah's room was really quite comfortably warm. His room seems to be getting quite the "share" of the heat from the house-furnace and so, I didn't mind closing his door this morning and keeping the warmth in there.
I looked at the clock... 7.29... and still no "morning call", so I took the chance; I turned the lights in the house off so that there wouldn't be a sudden "flush of light" into the room, and silently opened the door to his room, looked in. It was still relatively dark, being early in the day and the blinds and curtains still close. But just as I backed out...
"woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"... softly but clearly.
I answered, as softly... "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" and he answered one more time.
I opened his door, popped my head in to give "Good morning" kisses to the little silhouette there, on the night roost (and happened to glance at the clock... 7.30). Kisses? Yes. Not quite as many as we've exchanged in the past, but they weren't "forced" this morning so I was happy. And WING-STRETCHES... some-birdy was preparing for "take-off"... and it was GRAND to behold.
Ah... indeed... as I removed the night boards and opened curtains and blinds, the "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo's" changed to "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo's"... from BOTH of us... back and forth. Quite the "conversation", dialogue this morning. And THEN, the moment both windows were opened to the morning, HE WAS ON THE WING... OFF TO THE FUTON TO GREET BURDIE-BIRDIE THERE! "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo"!
Moments later... he headed up to the desk shelf, beside the radio (which wasn't on), got snuggled-down there and made with the "nest coos". WHAT a start to the day!
Meanwhile... Poops this morning... 12 TWELVE perfect little poops there under the night roost! I was a calm night last night, obviously, and a healthy little belly...
This morning's earlier clear skies turned a bit "hazy", and the temperatures out-side were quite "snappy-cold". It was another one of those mornings where I was comforted knowing THIS Little Guy was safe, protected and warm. And He headed out to the living-room for a while, to spend time on his tree in the corner by the front windows whilst I went about the "affairs of the house-hold", from kitchen to his room and such. At one point, the "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo's" caught my attention and I went out to check on him (and for kisses too, of course). He gave me a wing-snap, I went over to give him some kisses but he really wasn't "interested" in kisses, took off back to his room. Well then... OK. He'd headed back to his house for a little bite to eat and then... up to his loft.
So our morning moved along as our mornings do, with me... making a mess of papers in the Little Guy's room. (Filing from my "doctor visit" yesterday.) And as I tried to put papers in order, my little "Supervisor" took a few flights about the place... "arranging papers" in "his" order. I HAD to laugh several times. It just struck me as just being "mischievous". I don't know if birds, generally, take to that sort of thing, but today, it really DID seem as though he remembered the last time I tried to put papers together and how he flew about sending those papers every which way and how I reacted to it then... and today, it seemed he was trying to re-enact that. Yes, I had to laugh.
By the time I got every thing together and the room settled again, it was time for lunch!
This after-noon, we had lunch together at noon. It was a "quick lunch" for me because I was getting a bit tired (up and about too early this morning). I had a VERY brief errand to run this after-noon but SO needed a bit of a lie-down so, as I often do after lunch, I set a 30-minute alarm and laid down on the futon and... my Little LOVE came RUSHING down from his loft to the futon, to my legs and commenced with the toddles. But he didn't stay for very long. (It must have been obvious that I needed to just shut my eyes, at least.)
When the alarm sounded, I still had time before needing to run so I laid a while longer and dozed back off for a bit until... more toddling... and this time, up to the pillow! Apparently, I had things to get done and he was here to make sure that I did them...
So, yes, I hopped up, he hopped "home" and in moments, I was out the door... for a 15-minute errand!
When I got back, I headed to the kitchen to do the little washing-up there from lunch and Yonah headed out to the living-room to his tree. So I made a stop by for kisses and he got onto my shoulder and stayed with me when I went into the kitchen... He stayed for a while (until washing-up turned boring).
The rest of the day? What was left of it, we were together. The sky had clouded over, the temperature remained quite cold. Even the Yardies were few out-side. But, together, the temperature in the room hovered at about 24° so my Little LOVE was comfy, cosy, safe and he lounged in his loft whilst I put things-house-hold, back in order.
This evening, water got changed at about 18.40... AND WE PLAYED "CURTAIN CRITTER" AND THE "BACK-BOARD CRITTER" (both of which are my hand)! And no sooner had I done with water and closing the blinds and curtains, the Little Guy was having his "evening snack". 19.00... Our evening was in the process of "calming down". (Of course, I sat at the desk to jot today's Journal wondering what sort of "ride home" we were in for.) BUT, just before I set up for the water relay... OH! THE CUDDLES AND KISSES AT THE DOOR PERCH! HE CAME DOWN FROM HIS LOFT AND STOOD THERE, AS IF WAITING FOR THEM! OH... BUT THE *** LOVE *** !!!
I finally got to the desk, the Little Guy took to his house for a while.
Well, here it is, 20.40... my Little LOVE is on his night roost and I'm running SO LATE with all sorts of "last-minute book-keeping" and feeling so terribly guilty! THIS is NOT our "routine" and we need to get our "seepie-nigh-night". Seeing him on his night roost instead of other places just keeps reminding me of my "negligence". So... the "night music" is on, we've been listening to that for a while now and I know that he recognises it as "end of day".... Off we go...
Oops, well, there are moments when I believe that he can actually "know" what I'm thinking and since I'm thinking whilst typing... He's come to the door-perch and is staring at me. I'm actually rather surprised that he's not saying anything... and I can only imagine what he's thinking he might or ought to say. Time for me to stop all of this... I'm off to prep for "tuck-in".
HAH... at 20.55 he's headed over to Burdie-Bird on the futon... and then off to his roof-top platform. Since that's the "ride home" I believe I'm being told... quietly. (Nope... off again... to the desk shelf. I'm closing this and getting us settled-in for the night. More tomorrow.)
Thursday 16 January:
OK, and so... last night... I threw me together for the night, in the other room so as not to make too much "commotion" in Yonah's room, and when I got back, he'd returned to his roof-top, on his little platform. "Nest-coo's"... MANY nest-coo's! And the fluttering, of course. He got his message across, clearly: I was late, he was tired, it was beyond our time to tuck-in... the day was done!
Ah... and so, I readied the futon for me for the night and as I did, I started the evening "serenade" hoping to be forgiven. Reached up to bring the platform closer and down and as I did, the nest-coo's continued until I managed to get the platform, with passenger, off the roof-top. My Little LOVE started his "preening", as he does on the "ride", paying no attention, it appeared, to the motion and me "getting closer".
When "we reached his door" I managed to get in a few kisses "Good night". Herr Taube was obviously un-impressed and so...
The very second I got the platform to the night roost, as casually as could be, with "no ado", he stepped off and onto the night roost. (Oh! I was feeling so terribly guilty... and since I know he senses my "emotions" I'm pretty sure he sensed that, but he wasn't having any of it... No kisses... He stepped off and kept his back to me.)
But when I got to the futon, room lights dimmed (only the moon lights on) and continued with the serenade...
"woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"
When I stopped singing and replied "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"... and immediate "woo-HOO". Not a "stern" coo, it almost sounded as if I was being told "No time for all of that now, let's get some sleep here." So I skipped much of the "repertoire" and as I "finished" I could see the little silhouette above, tucked-in for the night.
I'm ashamed to say, the last moon-light was turned off at... 21.15!
This morning, I was up and about by 6.00, stepped out of the room, in silence, as I do, closed the door behind me and decided that I wouldn't disturb the Little One and wait to be "called". We were an hour late to tuck-in last night so I wanted to see if he'd take the extra hour to "sleep in" this morning.
As it went... in the silence of another over-cast, quite cold January morning, at 7.40 I heard the softest "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" through the door. It was so soft that I wasn't even sure that I'd actually hear my Little Guy and wondered if it hadn't been out in the yard (though when I'd looked, the blue jays had come for breakfast but no mourning doves as yet). So I opened the door to his room, ever-so silently and leaned in to look across the still-dark room, waiting to hear another coo. When it didn't come, I silently moved over to his house and looked in.
There, on the night roost, I could see the little head (in silhouette) turned toward me. I literally whispered "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" and a moment after, got a "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" in reply followed by a really wonderful couple of wing-stretches! Oh, my little Heart-and-Soul was awake alright... so I quietly and slowly opened the door to his house and leaned in for "Good morning" kisses. I got a couple sweet kisses, but not many. The Little Guy scuttled across the perch, away from me. Time to get on with the new day!
As is "the rule of the morning", when I got both windows open (curtains and blinds) and the "grey morning light" came in, the Little Guy hopped across to the "food perch" and started a little "chat"!
"woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo" !!!
(having no idea what that was all about, of course, in my own inferiority) I answered, like-wise and we must have exchanged at least 5 of those coo's each until...
The Little Guy was UP, OUT, off to Burdie-Bird who was on the futon!
I managed to get the water change done whilst he "woo-HOO'ed" to Burdie ans stepped out to the living-room to open the door and check the morning out there and... the very moment I opened the door.. there he was! A quick visit on his tree and then... to the floor!
I found it "odd" that he'd be on the floor because the cold air from out-side comes into the house down there, but he was quite happy in the coolness. And when I tried to reach down to stroke his neck, he gave me quite the run-around! We played a bit... so soon, so early in the morning! OK. At least "we" had a good night's rest last night... so it appeared.
This morning's poops: 11 of them, all quite perfectly "healthy" but some-what scattered about under the night roost this morning. I wonder if they didn't just "bounce" because they were "dry". But with the voice and energy this morning, I can only suppose it was an other-wise restful night.
And so, our day was under way, I settled the kitchen, got the rest of the house together and this morning, I had much to get to, at the desk, in the room, and even on the phone. And when I'm on the phone, it's always quite something: I believe Yonah hears me talking and since there's no-body/no-birdie else in the room, he assumes I'm taking with/to him and he coo's at me! (I always wonder what the party at the other end of the line hears and do they think I'm standing out-side in the yard.) Anyway, the morning rolled along as a morning does, and Herr Taube took to his loft after all the flying about this morning.
We broke early for lunch today... 11.30 and I took advantage of it... I was a bit fatigued already by noon so, instead of taking a lie-down at 13.00, by noon, I was on the futon with a 30-minute alarm set. As is the "usual", no sooner had my head rested on the pillow, my little Heart-and-Soul was right there, on my chest and then, toddling down my legs... and then back up to my waist, back to my ankle... I was wondering if I ws going to be "allowed" to snooze when... he settled on my thigh and I half-dozed until the alarm sounded. BUT... when it did, seems the Little Guy wanted more time to snooze too (he was still on my leg)! So... I re-set the alarm for another 30 minutes and laid there, in the Heaven that is time with my Heart-and Soul.
When the second alarm sounded, he came rushing up to my chest, the down to my legs again and UP AND AWAY! "Snooze-time" was done! And we were back to the rest of the day!
There'd been the briefest moments of some sun-shine in the room, but for the most, it was an over-cast day. This after-noon, I put one of the "dove video compilations" on the old lap-top on the desk, our music played and the UV light went on. (I'm wondering if it's still "working". It's last year's. The package claims they're good for 12 months... based on being used 8 hours per day... every day. But we seldom use this one and I have no way of knowing if it does anything because, well, I can't see the "UV" so... I can only hope.) I sat back at the desk to try to get some Journalling caught-up since I was so remiss this morning.
Mean-while... there was MUCH "wing-whistling" about the room. (YES! THE WHISTLES ARE BACK!) And cuddling, kisses, playing with ALL of the Burdies together on the futon! OH! (I DO wonder though... there always seems to be a bit of a "burst of energy" when the UV light is on... I'll suppose it's still making a difference in the room.) But WHAT a GLORIOUS way to "break away" from the drudgery of the rest of a "human day".
Today, on our social media, some disturbing and heart-breaking news: "Arnie" the rescued starling, seems to be succumbing to a combination of age and other ailments today. From what I've gathered over the short time of keeping-up with the account of the woman who's LOVED him for some years, he's gone blind over the years, though she posts videos of him in a little dish of water, SPLASHING ABOUT SO VIGOROUSLY AND HAPPILY. And recently he was diagnosed inoperable tumour in his throat. His little feet and legs are what appears to be "swollen". But he's as active as he can be, usually. Today, this morning, a video:
Arnie in her hand, eyes closed, beak resting on her finger, on her shoulder. It brings back the memories of Yonah's first days and nights here, and a reminder... he's 4 years of age.... It put me in a state where I can't help but have the passing moments of a time with-out him. No, that time won't be "long". I won't allow "time" to linger with-out him. The ONLY reason or cause I have to even "be" is to be here for him. I try to not dwell on the thought, especially since I know he senses the "depressed mood", the horrific anxieties such thoughts cause me. But that post this morning... well... It does make me appreciate this Little LIFE all the more (as if his LIFE isn't already the absolute MOST important aspect of my every moment and heart beat).
Well? It's 20.13... the room is settled and I'm hoping to get us both "tucked-in" shortly.
The after-noon and evening have been absolutely PACKED with the whistle of wings and so much activity! Flying all over the place! (I still have to wonder if the UV light doesn't have something to do with it because "things settled" a bit when that was turned off. It's not a "bright" light, per se, but there MUST be some difference in how the world appears when it's on that inspires.)
I'm just jotting "day's end notes" here, at the desk and beside me, there's a little fluffed bundle of feathers, waiting on his door perch for me to get my nonsense together and get us both tucked-in for a night's rest.
20.24 Oh well... he's up on the upper-most wall shelf and CALLING! Quite a lot to say as I put me together, in night-clothes ("jammies"). I wonder... I'd dimmed the lighting in the room and put the "night music" on before starting, and I was in the kitchen and bed-room during... and all the while, he kept "calling"... "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"... Could it be that he some-how feels as though I've left him alone in the house?
If that's the case, it makes me worry about being here for him... always... Who else would dedicate their time to him, to let him know that he's not "alone"? He's become so accustomed to some-body else being around... maybe not in the same room, but close by. We have our "routines", particularly in the mornings and nights. He knows he's "in company" when the lights are off, the house is dark. We have the "evening serenade" now, and his "rides home". The changing of water in his pool. All the "little habits" we've come to develop. And that I coo with and to him. The very notion of him having to be in a different environment, different voices, surroundings... and his "familiar routines" destroyed...
All the more reason(s) for me to make sure that I'm in the best-possible condition, to be here, with and for him... for as long as his little hear beats.
So, to that end... I'm closing today's notes... time for us to get some rest.
More tomorrow...
Friday 17 January:
And so it closed... last night... The Little Character had made "his-self" quite cosy on the upper-most wall shelf, all "nest-coo'ing", and I'd almost say "With no intention of coming down to settle for the night" but... I remembered the little "trick" of a few nights back: I brought the roof-top platform over to the him, levelled it with the shelf and, with a little "tapping", managed to coax him onto it and, we "floated" across the room to home... kisses (of course) all the way. And once levelled with the night roost, a little "hop" and all was well and settled... with no kisses. Oh well...
Got into the nightly serenade and between tunes, once, a brief exchange of "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo", once each, and the "woo-HOO!" of what I'll think of as "OK. Good night."
I finished a "shortened" repertoire and at 20.55... the last light was off. Thursday... done.
This morning, I woke at about 4.00 and stayed on the futon until about 4.55, got up silently to start the day, left the room silently. Thankfully, the house was comfortably warm, and I stepped out of the room, closing the door behind...
Checked, this morning, right away, to see if there was any "word" on little "Arnie", on the social media. Nothing. I just can't imagine.... but the woman posted, last night, that "he's holding on for a reason" and "I've tube-fed him and got a poop". My "closing thought" last night was of wonder. "Naturally", when animals know that there's no good in eating, when they know their "time" is closing, they'll stop eating and drinking. Since Little Arnie has stopped, I can't help but think that he's done so for a reason and that intervention is merely prolonging some degree of suffering. I wondered then, as this morning, what I'll do if/when Yonah ever reaches such a point in his life. Over all, I really, in my heart, doubt I'd do anything to prolong any of his suffering. HE knows what's best. We humans tend toward the "selfishness" of holding onto "others" because of our own emotions and attachments. I thought and think of the pain, fatigue, anguish of the one suffering, be it human or animal, and... if/when the "time" comes... I'll do what "Nature" intends for Yonah. Though I'd rather make short of his suffering, I think of, as I posted to this woman, some-what indirectly:
In the wild, a bird in pain and suffering would be left alone, avoided. (I know that they'd prefer to be off and on their own, because that's what animals do in the wild.) There are those species who "help them on their way", "killing" (not "murdering") them. But, at least, where Yonah is concerned, I'll continue to do my bet to let him know that he's not "abandoned", and to keep him as comfortable as possible as his little "Spirit" departs.
And then... for me... all of me "medical" attention stops and I wait to join him.
Well then... that's this morning's thoughts (at 6.45). I'm at the kitchen table, the house is warm, quiet, the world out-side is still dark, and, as always of a morning... I await "the morning call". One day, I know, it won't come. I only hope that, if/when, my Little Heart-and-Soul will simply go to sleep...
It's been another one of those days that run away with us and because of errands and Friday "house-work" it's already WAY too late for tuck-in. But as he always is, my PRECIOUS LITTLE LOVE is being "forgiving". He should have to be. I'm just ridiculous about so many things, especially keeping this old house as clean and healthy as I possibly can do so that said... here we go, keeping-up the Journal...
SO, this morning's call came at 7.38. Needless to say, I was "winding-down" from being up and about so early, but HEY! That "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo" surely gave me the "spark" to get up and get on with the day! HEY! FRIDAY had arrived and there was a Little Guy who was anxious to get into it!
I was in the room in moments and when I opened the door to his house, I got a veritable "scolding"! SO MANY "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo's" and "woo-HOO!"s too! BUT I WAS BLESSED with KISSES so, I just got right into the business of the business of the day... Water changes, house in position by the window and...
Poop check: Last night's, 8 PERFECT POOPS in every way. Colours, composition, just perfect. But there was one "odd" one, likely the first of this morning because it was "wetter" than the others. Last night's were brown in colour, the other was slightly larger than the others and ever-so slightly "greenish". But NOT green to the point where it was cause for concern. On ALL of them, the urea was as white as could be so the green from the one wasn't mixed in. And with the energy level of the morning... all was well.
Ah... but THEN... it being Friday, I threw a bit of laundry into the basin in the kitchen as I was running about the place and when I went out to actually wash, after the soak...
MY LITTLE COMPANION SAT ON MY SHOULDER FOR THE LONGEST WHILE, WATCHING ME "MANIPULATE" THE CLOTHES IN THE BASIN! IT APPEARED THAT HE WAS FASCINATED (or he was supervising)! it was a scene out of some kind of movie script, and I was just in HEAVEN! Couldn't help but think how strange it might be to him. After all, out in the wilderness, there's no such activity. And unless the Little Ones out there got to be in a "people house", they'd never see such a thing. It actually made me pause to consider: why do people do this? Why did people decide we need clothes? Of course, with-out them, people likely wouldn't be in the northern regions of the planet. Then too, we might evolve into something with a bit of "fur". In any case, as I say, this morning... HEAVEN!
And when the whole thing got tedious, off he went, back to his house and up to his loft to take his little nestling-spot by the window... and left me to my insanity.
Well, all the work brought us to lunch-break time and I headed into his room, the news on and I had my lunch and he had a bit of a snack and after, I THOUGHT I was going to take a 30-minute lie-down but I was tired... from waking so early and getting into motion... I literally "crashed"... I was there, on the futon, for 90 MINUTES... BUT what was truly, TRULY worth every breath I take...
YONAH, MY SOLE REASON FOR BEING, WAS WITH ME, ON MY LEG, SNUGGLED-IN, FOR THE FULL TIME! When I woke up, opened my eyes, I could feel him, rested on my shin, and when I looked, he was there, all snoozing! Naturally, I was just SO THRILLED... we laid there until HE decided it was time for us to get up and sure enough, as soon as he realised I was awake, he took off and went up to his loft. If we could only do that through the night, if only it could be safe for him, it would be DIVINE HEAVEN to know he was there, with me, through the night. Maybe in our new home (may that come SOON PLEASE) we can "arrange the room so he'll be able to be where-ever he wants through a night. Of course, he'll always have "HIS HOUSE" as he does now, but no closing the door at night. For now... snoozes together are the closest we'll get.
So I got up and realised that I had to run a last-minute errand so...I made a "mad dash" and when I came back I did the "book-keeping" at the desk and Yonah came over to my shoulder. AND... when I got up to do the washing-up from lunch... HE CAME WITH AND STAYED AS I WASHED DISHES! As usual, until the "fascination" wore and he headed to the living-room to "tell the decoys" about the tediousness of what his "person" was doing in the kitchen.
Hoover-day today and MORE "fascination". He came RUSHING down from his loft to "supervise" as I cleaned his room. It still fascinates me, how different from cats and dogs this Little LOVE is. Cats RUN. Dogs ATTACK! This PRECIOUS LITTLE GUY comes to watch. He's even jumped onto my back when I was on the floor, hoovering under furniture. No fear! Just curiosity! And the TRUST.... He KNOWS that I'd NEVER do anything to cause him harm so he comfortable even with the "machinery" running.
But, other than this... the day was generally so over-cast for the most part. We had the UV on again later in the day. And "Herr Snuggles" snuggled in his loft... It wasn't "sun-shine", but hopefully the light helps with vitamin D and how the colours in the room appear. I can only hope (and I'm glad we have that lamp since Winters are so long up here, days get so short and I might say that we BOTH could use the UV).
Well... it's already 20.00 and the waters are done, windows closed. Very little "Curtain Critter" and "back-board play this evening. And he's on the door perch... Tuck-in. time and it's a comfy ... 24° in the room... Hopefully it'll be a restful night ahead.
Saturday 18 January:
And yet another one of those days where we woke, we got started, we kept rolling and... I'm "paying" with having to get as much as I can with the time we have left to the evening... because it's actually past time for tucking-in!
It was a bit of a "do" last night... Seems the Little Guy wasn't really quite ready for tuck-in at 20.00 or he wanted Burdie-Birdie with him. It was off to the futon and onto the pillow with Burdie just as the house and room had gotten settled. I couldn't find it in my heart to simply move him, on the pillow, over to his house so I sat beside him and tried to "explain" that Burdie had to go "speepie-nigh-night" and he did too. Nope, wasn't having it, until I leaned in to give both of them a little kiss "Good night" and he headed up to his roof-top platform. Now, I can't say if it was to get away from me or that he DID understand that we were going to tuck-in, but I took advantage of the situation and... Burdie-Birdie got "tucked-in" on the book-case and Yonah.. well, Yonah got a "ride home" as we do. And what a Little Character... simply preening all the way, as if all was as it ought to be, completely un-disturbed. This "ride home" truly HAS become our "normal, regular routine" now, so it seems. And when we arrived at the night roost... again, just a simple, casual step from platform to night roost.
I got to the evening serenade, got me tucked-in on the futon and as soon as I started "Tune Number 2" in the repertoire... a "nest-coo"! And when I repeated it, he repeated his. We exchanged 3 each and I took that to be "OK. We're all settled. Let's get some sleep." so I cut the list short. But when I'd gotten through with "Stille Nacht", the last of the list, I looked up and noticed that the Little Guy was shuffling a bit, looking about. Still not quite ready for "lights off" so I added a couple more songs and watched.
He did, eventually, calm, and... 20.45... last light turned off...
This morning, I managed to "sleep-in" until 6.00 and was up and out of the room... silently... to wait for "morning call". I could hear the wind against the windows. There's another "deep freeze" in the forecast and so, the winds this morning seemed to be bringing that right along. Thankfully, the room and house were comfortable. So I went on about the morning's "pre-call" routine and waited...
At 7.26, through the closed door, in the silence of the morning came the "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" to let me know that my REASON FOR BEING was awake and ready to come out and head into the day ahead! So I headed into the dark room. Thankfully it was warm. I worry about it because we still have the windows open at the top, to let out stale air and, if possible, let in some fresh air. When the door is open, the thermostat in the living-room registers the cooling of the room and compensates, but with the door closed, the coolness tends to stay in the room. It's always a little cooler in there but with the door closed... I'm SO grateful for the Sweeter Heater in Yonah's house. At least he has warmth when he's on his night roost.
WELL! When I got over to his door and opened it, the "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo's" continued! MUCH to be said this cold January morning and KISSES to be exchanged too! BUT when I leaned into his house, as I do, to brace me and the house as I roll it back into place after opening the curtains and blinds HE WAS ON MY SHOULDER, OUT OF HIS HOUSE AND OVER TO THE FUTON TO GREET BURDIE=BIRDIE! BOOM! WHAT A WAY TO START A NEW DAY! ENERGY!
Poops: 10 happy, healthy poops this morning so that probably explains some of the energy. Healthy tummy and a restful sleep. Couldn't ask for more than that of a night.
This morning was a non-stop ruckus of all sorts of little "things" to be done here and there and I was moving a little slower... "Winter" and the cold and the drear and such. BUT...
ALL DURING THE DAY, WHEN-EVER I STOPPED MOVING (so it seems) MY LITTLE LOVE, MY PRECIOUS LITTLE GUY CAME FLYING OVER TO MY SHOULDER FOR PECKS ON THE CHEEK, TUGS ON THE EAR, SNUGGLES, CUDDLES, KISSES! AND HE HAD SO VERY MUCH TO SAY TOO! THE COO'S IN THE EAR! It was as though he was telling me, "Keep at it kid. You've got this!"
We did manage to get our lunch break at noon... together, and when it was done, I grabbed a 40-minute lie-down. I KNOW the Little Guy sensed my fatigue and he took to his loft when I laid down today instead of coming over to snooze with me.
This after-noon, I had to step out-side to the front porch and when I did, behind me... the Little Guy came toddling over to the screen door and STOOD THERE, LOOKING OUT AT ME! It was SO chilly, but he seemed more to just want to be close to me and watch me, as if he was making sure that I'm OK! When I saw him, I said "It's COLD out here and it must be even COLDER down there on the floor, you silly. Is it the fresh air? Is the air better down there and here by the door?" I no sooner finished saying, he looked up at me for a minute and... toddled back to his room.
Looks like we're each watching for each-other's well-being here! Oh... we ARE "THE FLOCK" and "THE FLOCK" watches "THE FLOCK"! (I'm SO HUMBLED! I TRULY AM! In AWE!)
So, this evening, we had our dinners together at 17.00 and I started some work on photos for the 2025 calendar that hangs in the kitchen. Of course, a year of ... YONAH TAUBE! So all the images on the lap-top were of HIM and he noticed (of course he did) and came over to perch on my arm as I sorted through all the photos I have (THOUSANDS). He WANTED TO WATCH (and see the photos... I wonder if he recognises that they're HIM).
Next came the water relay and I managed to run for a quick shower before closing the windows and such. And when I did get to the windows... no playing tonight... he really had no interest. It might have been the late hour... and the fact that he'd put in a full day of minding me. Poor Little Care-Giver!
So it's now REALLY LATE... 20.29... I'm off to my evening ablutions here... nightly "meditations" music's on... house is calm... and the little guy is on his door perch.
BUT WHAT A DAY OF LOVING!
Sunday 19 January:
Last night was a little bit "late" again, but we made it to the last light off at 21.00!
I was thinking that all was ready to settle for the night but at the last minute, he headed off and over to the futon to Burdie-Birdie! I waited a couple of minutes to see if he'd head back home and indeed he did... right up to his roof-top! So... The "ride home" was expected. Oh yes, it DOES appear that this is part of our "daily" now. And I don't mind at all because, as he "floats home" on his platform, I get to sneak in some "Good night" kisses.
When he finally seemed to "lose interest" in Burdie, I put Burdie into the book-case nook and went over to the roof-top, and started the evening serenade. (I KNOW he recognises the melody now... "Autumn Leaves" means it's time... we're going home for the night.)
All the way to the night roost, he preened as if nothing else was going on. It's amazing to see now, remembering the days when if I even moved in the room, he'd stop what-ever he was doing, be it eating, preening or coo'ing. Now? I'm just part of the environment. He knows he's safe and it doesn't phase him.
And so, kisses all the way and as it goes, the moment we reached the night roost, he simply, casually stepped off the platform, onto the night roost and... no more kisses... he was ready to tuck-in.
I made me comfy on the futon, lights dimmed, night music off and continued with the nightly repertoire and watched the Little Guy over-head. He was actually getting comfy and before I could finish with the singing, he seemed to be "tucked".
But, no sooner had I gotten through all the songs... "woo-HOOoo"... a little "nest-coo"! So I answered with a "woo-HOOoo" and when I did, he actually did tuck his little head between his wings. We were done with Saturday and the clock struck "21.00"... Done.
This morning, I was up and about at 6.00 and off into the kitchen as I do of a morning, leaving the room and closing the door behind me.
I'd lost track of the time as I sat at the kitchen table when, in the calm and silence of the early January morning came the beautiful
"woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo".
THIS morning though, we had an actual little dialogue as I got up from the table and made my way to the door... exchanging "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" AND "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo"!
The "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo's" went back and forth for the longest while... even after I got back into the room to open his door. AND, even as I put the room together to open the curtains and blinds! There was SO VERY MUCH TO BE SAID THIS MORNING! IT WAS THE MOST GLORIOUS START TO THE DAY! SO MUCH CHATTING!
And ENERGY! No sooner had I opened the curtains and blinds to the over-cast morning out-side my little Heart-and-Soul was UP, on the wing, off and flying... over my shoulder, to the wall shelves for MORE "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo's"!
And 12 little perfect poops... the "bounced" a bit, but for the most part, the were under the night roost, so, they were dry enough to bounce, but it was, apparently, a peaceful night's rest....
As I made the morning water relay running, he headed out to the living-room for a "Good morning" to the decoys on his tree and he waited until I'd done with the commotion in his room and when he figured I was done, he headed back "home" for breakfast.
Thankfully, the house was settled this morning and I had no "errands" to run so... we BOTH settled in his room and I got to the desk to get to the little bit of business that I had to attend to today with computer work.
There was a slight break in the clouds that gave a bit of sun-light shining in through the window and into his house and as I worked, he was able to get a few moments' basking. (I eventually turned the UV light back on though. No "sunny day" in the forecast.)
The morning passed all too quickly and as I sat, still engaged in "people business", my PRECIOUS LITTLE GUY came over to his door perch, down from his loft, and gave me a wing-snap! I looked up at the clock... 12.28! LUNCH! I WAS LATE! And I'll swear he'd come to remind me.
So I got up, threw my lunch together and when I returned to the room to the desk to eat, my Little LOVE gave a flight up to HIS lunch! WE have OUR "schedule" and he wasn't about to let me forget that.
After lunch, I went for what I thought would be a 30-minute lie-down but... the Little Guy came over to my chest (where Burdie-Birdie was resting), gave Burdie a couple of coo's and then he took off, down my leg, as he does... When I figured he was getting comfy, I dozed off. AH... but when the alarm sounded, he'd left me at some point, heard the alarm and came back to my leg, toddled a bit and got comfy again... we had another 15 minutes snoozing together!
The rest of the day?
OH MY! VISITS! 4 OF THEM! He'd get settled in his house, in his loft and out of no-where, there he was, on my shoulder! Not necessarily for any ear-tugs. He'd get there and just "wait" until I leaned my head over to him and then turn to give him kisses. He really just wanted to be "close" today! It was DIVINE... HEAVENLY... HUMBLING... SO many times I still have doubts about how well I do by him, and then, we have days where this happens and, well... that HE WANTS to be close to and with me... I can't but think that speaks all that need be known. And as I say, I'm still... in "AWE" !!!!!
And so, our dreary, chilly January day passed along. I managed to get a "new calendar" page together for February with a photo of... MY LITTLE HEART-AND-SOUL! When he saw the photo of him, printed, he headed directly for it! I don't know that he recognises that it's him, but he DOES see "a dove" there and he heads right for it. I've had to take away other photos of him because, given the chance, he grabs them with his little beak, gives them quite the shake! (I wonder if he perceived the photos as "intruders" in his territory. Well, as I do, I see this and think: nope, no "other" doves in the house. He truly IS satisfied with "his flock as we are" and "intruders? Seems they won't be tolerated.
Mentioning his beak... I'm noticing his upper beak is beginning to "curl" again. It's not VERY long, and I'm just HOPING that he'll "attend" to it as he's done in the past. I don't know HOW, but he does manage. I've read that beaks can be trimmed, and I really might HAVE to trim his hind claws because they're just getting "concerningly" long. I don't like trimming nails, and I dread trimming his beak. And the thought of subjecting him to the trauma of another visit to a man-handling veterinarian is sickening to me. So... I'll hope... and watch... and will, if needed, do what has to be done to make sure he can eat properly. As I say, it's NO-where NEAR where it's been in the past (as I keep seeing in earlier photos of him). So...
MEAN-while...
This evening, we had dinner... because, AGAIN... I got involved with "computer work" and when he came to his door perch to stare at me (as he does), I looked up... 16.53 and I hadn't even started my evening meal! BUT... made it from cook to washing-up by 17.45!
Ah... then... I told him I'd get a little more done and get to the water relay for the night. "If you want to take a bath, now's the time before the water's cold."
I was at the desk, the "news" was still on the old lap-top, the Little Guy was on the futon behind me and I heard a "stern wing-snap"! Time... 18.45! TIME TO GET TO THE WATER AND WINDOWS! So... I turned round, picked him up, he headed up to my shoulder for kisses and I got to my assigned task of fresh water!
19.52... he was up on his roof-top. I was finishing today's Journal typing... time to close the curtains for the night....
OK... 19.57... blinds and curtains closed. Not much interest in the "curtain critter" or "back-board play" this evening so... he headed over to Burdie... on the futon and then down to the floor... under his house-shelves! A little "toddle" in the evening. It's SO cute seeing him on the floor (as long as I know he's there). He's so comfortable in "HIS" room and "HIS" house. And that's the WORLD to me.
20.37 WHAT A SURPRISE! I WAS AT THE KITCHEN BASIN, FINISHING MY EVENING "ABLUTIONS" AND THERE WAS, FROM HIS ROOM, A LOUD "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" AND THE NEXT THING, HE WAS FLYING OUT, INTO THE KITCHEN, MADE A ROUND AND HEADED BACK INTO HIS ROOM! HE WAS CHECKING ON ME! HE DOES THAT SO INFREQUENTLY! BUT IT'S NEVER NOT A SWEET SHOCK TO SEE! I'D BETTER GET THIS PLACE SETTLED! I'VE BEEN "WARNED": IT'S LATE!
Monday 20 January:
Tuck-in last night was, he headed up to the roof-top when I got back into the room. Not to the platform though, just to the roof-top. I literally had to "coax" him onto it, but once on, the "evening preening" started and continued ALL THE WAY to the roost! How-ever, as is the case, the second the platform touched the night roost perch, he took his usual "Oh thank you" casual step from one to the other. Imagine that. It's almost as if "Thank you. You're dismissed." He's SUCH A CHARACTER!
Because it was so late and because of the "surveillance flight", I got to the lullabies and sang a little quicker to try to get through the repertoire. I could see the Little One on his night roost... a little fidgety, but by the time I'd done with all of our "tunes", he was all "tucked" and so, last light was turned off at 21.05. SO TOO LATE, I'm still SO sorry.
But this morning, the first "call to order", "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" came at 7.13. I was awake, but on the futon because it was so dark in the room and warm and comfortable. And the coo's kept coming even as I got up and opened the door to his house with a "Good morning my most PRECIOUS LOVE!" And when I popped my head in for "Good morning" kisses... SO SO MANY KISSES AND MORE CHATTING! MUCH TO BE SAID AND SO HAPPY TO GET ON WITH THE MORNING!
Poops... 11 PERFECT in every way, and ALL of them directly under the night roost! So we BOTH managed to get a calm night's rest last night and who could ask for anything more than that? Not me!
All said for the day though, it was another morning of my Little Companion, my Bestie, jumping onto my shoulder the very moment his house got opened for the day, and OFF HE FLEW, over to the futon, to greet his Burdie-Birdie and THEN... OFF HE WENT... TO THE LIVING-ROOM!
When I finally got settled at the desk, he came back to his house and we had quite the calm time together. And the sun shone in through the windows SO BEAUTIFULLY! SO BRIGHT AND WARM... in spite of the temperature just on the other side of the panes at -8°!
The Little Guy took some time to have a GRAND BASK in the comfort of his "beach" in his house, at the windows. I can only imagine how warm the sand must have been there for him. And I went about the business of "human nonsense" for the day.
It was a bit of an "odd" sort of day though. We didn't get our mid-day snooze because I had to run and errand and before I stepped out of the house, the Little Guy was SO CHATTY! (I would SO like to be able to take him with me when I run errands, but I don't dare, really. he's have to stay in the truck and in this cold weather, that would be un-kind. And I don't know how he'd react when people walked by. I wouldn't park in some obscure place and might not even be able to. So... it always breaks my heart to leave. And when he wants to chat! Well... I only leave when I have no "sane" choice. Yes, I spend a LOT of time in the house. But if Yonah has to be here, I'm here with him.)
When I got back... about 45 minutes later, he was SO OBVIOUSLY SO HAPPY to see me back. You'd think I'd been gone for MONTHS! WE SNUGGLED AND CUDDLED AND KISSED (until HE decided it was "enough" and, as he does, he ESCAPED and took off across the room. And I got to settling things for the after-noon, back together with my Heart-and-Soul, as the world ought to be.
He went to re-settle in his loft, buy the window, in the light. Made one quick trip to the living-room (and I'll never know what prompts those when he just suddenly goes out there, makes a "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" and comes right back. I DO SO wonder.)
Things did as things do and ran into our "supper time" and so, at 17.00, we settled, together, in his room, with the news on his lap-top and had our meals - together. And when done, I got the washing-up finished quickly and we had "quiet time" together before it was time to get to the evening routine.
By 20.00, waters have been changed, the blinds and curtains closed. He wasn't interested in playing with the "Curtain Critter" nor the "hand behind the back-board" this evening. But when I put the "night music" on tonight, the "German lullabies" played. I KNOW he recognises the melodies... and if I had ANY doubt, it's gone because as soon as they started, he headed right for his door perch. It was time to settle-down and tuck-in for the night... they were playing his songs!
I left the room to attend to my evening "ablutions" and...
AGAIN, TONIGHT, THERE WAS THE SWOOSH-AND-WHISTLE OF WINGS BEHIND ME! AGAIN, HE CAME FLYING OUT TO CHECK ON ME. FLEW INTO THE KITCHEN, NOTICED ME THERE AND WENT RIGHT BACK ROUND AND INTO HIS HOUSE, TO HIS ROOF-TOP!
So now... 20.13, time to get us tucked-in for the night. Let's see how this evening's ride home plays out...
Tuesday 21 January:
OK. So and well... it was a quick ride home last night.
I got a "lesson" last night too! I've always kept the small desk lamp on until about the last moment at night after the Little Guy is in his house and his door closed, especially if he's not on his night roost (he some-times heads over to the food shelf, whether to grab a little nibble or, as is most often, to give the little "nest-coo's"). I've never been sure how well he sees in a darker room, with only the moon lights on and I don't want him "stuck" any-where and not on his night roost. BUT... last night... as I was settling on the futon, the only lights on, the moon lights, THIS little Character took a flight down to the floor of his house, over by the pool! As I watched, he dipped his little beak into the water for a drink and then... as fine as could be, flew back up to the night roost! SO! Now I can only hope that, every night before he tucks-in, not only is he not hungry, he's not thirsty. But honestly, I a bit more than sure that, if he's hungry or thirsty, he knows there's food and water there for him and he makes sure he's OK before he gets too settled on the roost. I just have to mind how much light there is in the room. I've read that mourning doves don't see well in the dark but I wonder "how well" they "can" see, how much light is necessary. I don't want to keep the room too bright too late at night so that this Little Guy gets the chance to calm down. But I don't want it so dark that he's afraid to leave his night roost if he needs. Oh... my education continues. I'll never live long enough to learn ALL I NEED to know. But I DO learn something, some little something, each and ever day.
Then, last night, I was still awake, on the futon, in the dark, at 23.30 and I believe I heard the softest "HOO!" from Yonah's house. I laid there, still and silent, waiting to hear anything more but nothing followed. I can't figure what could have caused that little coo. A bad dream? Even now, after all this time, many are the times when I wonder if he remembers that horrid morning when he was attacked and whether or not he does have dreams about or because of it. So when I heard that little sound, I laid there longer, waiting for more and hoping that it wasn't anything upsetting... and I finally drifted off...
This morning, I was up by 6.00 and out in the kitchen. It was SO COLD out-side! I was thankful that I'd put extra sun-flower seeds out for the Yardies. I WISH I COULD BRING THEM ALL IN FOR THE WINTER! Or set something up so that they could come into the warm house whilst they ate, warm up and then head back out. Oh, to have a place where that could be... a massive aviary... with Sweeter Heaters for them. (I do know what it's like to have no food, to be out in Winter. It's made me all the more sensitive to the matter and looking at these Little Ones, I do want to cry for them. But at the same time, I understand that this is their environment and that if they wanted to, they could fly off to warmer climates. They're BRILLIANT that way. AND... after all, they survived the "Great Extinction", little dinosaurs that they are. They knew enough then, to escape the dangers and the cold. I'm sure they'd leave, if that's what they wanted. Still, I'd like to provide them with SOME little comfort. One day, I hope.)
At 7.22, in the early morning light, as I sat at the kitchen table, through the closed door to his room came my Little LOVE's coo: "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo". He was up and awake and it was time for us to get to the new day ahead. I went over, opened the door silently, stuck my head into the still-dark room and whispered "You're awake? Ready to face this day?"
"woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" came the reply.
As I got to our normal morning, opening his door and windows, I popped my head in for "Good morning" kisses and...
KISSES ! AND IMMEDIATELY HE WAS OUT OF THE HOUSE ,TO THE FUTON AND AS I RE-SETTLED THE KITCHEN, HE TOOK A QUICK FLIGHT TO THE LIVING-ROOM... BUT IT WAS MORE LIKE "RECONNAISSANCE", checking to see where I was. I wonder when he takes these flights. Is it that he doesn't want to be "alone in the house" for some reason? Looking for "the flock" (since we're the flock)? But all was well, and he headed back to his house and the sun managed to make its way up over the hills and tree-line and crept into the room by 9.30. A bit on the "late" side, but it is still only January and our early morning sun-shine days are quite a time away.
When i came into the room to settle at the desk for the morning he bolted ouot of his loft and flew over to the futon.
A hearty "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" to Burdie there, and then he flew down to the floor! I wonder about the floor... He tends to spend time there, in the warm air coming from the furnace. The room was at 22° so it wasn't "cold, but he does take that one spot, nestling there in the "breeze".
And I'm finding feathers on the floor again... I wonder... I worry. When he "plucks" is it because of the heat in the house and the low humidity? Does he itch? Or is it something else? I have no way of actually knowing these things, and even if we went to a veterinarian, I doubt they'd be able to give any more information. (And, I have to say, that with past experience, they'd likely not even want to bother much to find out. All the better. I don't want them causing this Little Guy any anxiety. He's not accustomed to being "handled", ESPECIALLY by strangers. As long as all else is good, and he's in good spirits and mood, I just keep a careful watch and thus far, the feathers are "downy", so it very well may be the warmth and dryness. And if he has any itching from being too dry, he DOES know that he DOES have his pool to soak in as he wishes. I'm SO thankful for that! And "time" has nothing to do with anything. After all, he's been in the pool as late as 21.00! Silly Little LOVE.)
Poops this morning: Only 8. But all of them, perfectly healthy. Compared to the 11 and more of recently I'd worry, but 7 or 8 has been the "average normal". AND, that these were all under the night roost, neatly, I'm encouraged. Still, today... "ACV"... Apple Cider Vinegar in some water. It's been a while and, well, it can't "hurt". We've gone through it before and all went well. And it's "beneficial" to his little system, from tummy to feathers so...
19.19 This morning, sadly, I had to drain the pool and put in the little dish of water with "ACV" in it because I'm concerned about my Little LOVE's beak growing again and the shedding of feathers. And he was obviously "not pleased". He did go over to the pool, looked at the dish of water, then looked into the pool at the little bit of water that was left in there after it was drained. But he wouldn't drink from the dish! I've put that same dish in there before, with the ACV in it and he's gone directly to it to drink. But this morning, for some reason, he wouldn't go near it!
I DID see him, at lunch time, dip his beak in, and I hope he had something to drink. All during the day I was worried that he wasn't taking any water... BUT, this evening, right after dinner, I put fresh water into the pool, took the dish away and watched. He didn't rush to the fresh water so I'm believing that he'd had some water during the day. Tomorrow, we'll have to do the same thing again. (I made a gallon of water with the ACV, as I do because that's the jar I have for this and I want to have more than enough for the 3 days of this.) It's recommended that it be done three times, or for three days. So... morning will be "strange" when the pool gets emptied and the dish replaces the pool.
So, right now, we just have to get to the curtains and blinds... and...
He's on his roof-top... let's see how it goes with "games" this evening... if any. He was on the old lap-top beside me until I sat down at the desk...
19.36 Well... there was a little bit of playing with the "curtain critter" and the back-board fingers but not much. Looks like some-birdy's a bit tired tonight. Thankfully, the house and room are settled now... we'll see about tucking-in though. That's never predictable.
Water in his pool is all fresh and clean and clear. The "plumbing" for his fountain got a bit of a "flush" too. Can't be "too careful" about what's in the water. But we've done the "ACV". Now we watch and hope. Tomorrow's "poop check" will be telling.
So. It's 19.55 and one desk lamp is off. My little Heart-and-Soul is on his door perch. The house is settled. I'm off to brush teeth (mine), and settle the futon. The furnace is running. The forecast for tonight's low... -25! Thankfully we got a delivery of fuel today so no worrying about keeping warm.
20.12 we're going for tuck-in. He's on the book-case. Oh dear. Fun times ahead? More tomorrow.
Wednesday 22 January:
Day's almost done as I FINALLY get to sit, with the time left, to put today's "notes" together here. (I've been jotting when-ever I had a moment - SO "people busy"! Not that it all makes any difference in the world, mind. Oh, to be able to just throw the "people" part of the world away and just settle with this Little LOVE!)
The ride home last night was quite with-out incident. The Little LOVE was on the book-case so I brought the platform over and as he does, almost as though he expects it, he stepped on and we "flew" across the room to the night roost where, upon arrival, a little hop and there he was, on the night roost, "home" for the night.
I snuck a little "Good night" kiss and started lullabies and got the futon settled for me for the night. And as I laid down, I could see the little silhouette over-head, putting his feathers together for the night as he does of a night. Made it through the lullabies repertoire, calmly and softly and at 20.40... the last light was turned off. Tuesday was "closed".
I was up already this morning when, at 7.16, through the door, came the softest "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" but when I walked into the room the next "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" was a bit louder, clearer. It struck me as though the first one was "Hello? Are you there?" and the next one was "Well good morning there!"
As I opened the windows up and the room, the coo'ing grew louder and even more clear with a few more "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo"s AND... IMMEDIATELY, when I was done with all the commotion of a morning's routine and "out of the way", with a WOOSH AND WHISTLE of wings, as soon as I brought Burdie-Birdie out of the nook in the book-case, the Little Guy was OUT and over to give Burdie a hearty "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" good morning! Next thing, it was out to the living-room! A morning of a BURST of such energy!
Poops check: 11 little poops, just PERFECT in every way imaginable! Good tummy, good voice, GREAT energy! (I DO have to wonder what the "ACV" - apple cider vinegar - does. For the most part, the day after usually IS a touch more energetic. I can't give him too much because that's no good. But we'll have to put it into a "routine" of some sort. Imagine, of all things. But it's said that it's good for people too and for a while, I was taking it as part of my own daily "supplements". Maybe Yonah's telling me something I ought to be doing too? After all, OUR health is important: I can't be of any good to him if I'm not in good shape - which is the ONLY reason I bother with my own health checks.)
This morning, we flushed the pool nice and clean and instead of re-filling it for the day, I put another little bowl of water with more ACV in it so there was water for drinking. I've read that the "mixture" is OK for bathing too, but I worry about it splashing into his eyes. I've never been able to tell if he closes them when he splashes about and I DREAD the thought of it burning his little eyes. It's something I have to look into more. After all, almost everything I can find on the internet is about "domestic" birds and Yonah's FAR from "domestic"... no matter HOW long we've been together. As I always say: my education continues. If nothing else, as if, he keeps my mind active and that's BRILLIANT! This old man here will keep the old brain functioning, with the help of my Professor, Mentor.)
Thankfully, it was another clear morning with the sun shining in through the windows with light and warmth in spite of the cold out-side.
And this morning, we sat at the desk and I "shelled" peanuts to be ground and added to the Yardies' mix. (More fat to fend against the Winter cold out there.) Silly Little Guy; he came over to the desk and I tried to give him some tiny bits of peanut. He pecks at them but won't eat any. He does NOT like peanuts. I've even tried to "hide" them in with his regular diet so he gets the protein from them but he manages to toss them! That's something I'll NEVER understand: HOW he can manage to toss aside what he doesn't want to eat. It appears so "spastic", the way he gets his beak into the seeds, throwing them every which way and choosing only what he likes. I'd think he'd simply get what he gets when he "dives" into the mix, but I see, from what's beside his dish, he chooses! They're incredible impressive, these Little Ones! BRILLIANT, talented.
At noon, the room was a delightfully comfortable 24° in the room, thanks to all the sun-shine pouring in through the window and we settled down for our lunch together. Although, the Little Guy headed over to the futon to "chat" with Burdie-Bird whilst I ate and the news "played" on his lap-top.
Since he'd had the "ACV water" this morning, and I managed to catch him drinking some, I decided to fill his pool in case he wanted to splash a bit.
Sadly, I HAD to run and errand this after-noon and it took longer than I expected (almost 45 minutes!) but when I got back... WHAT A WONDERFUL "WELCOME" as I walked into the room to give him kisses! he was in his loft and when he saw me at the door he came RUSHING to his door perch for cuddles and kisses! Again, I wonder what his perception of time is and whether he actually notices when I'm not in the house. AND, what he thinks is going on when I'm not with him. I've no doubt he's become so accustomed to us being together, to me being in the room, at the desk, close by. And if I'm not in the room, I'm usually in the kitchen. But when I leave the house... does he notice? Does it bother him to see that he's alone? Oh, if only I could bring him along. Maybe one day we'll give another try to a little ride around, when the roads are clear and dry and safe and the truck is in good running order (so we don't break down some-where and WE have to be towed to some-where - I'm NOT going to risk THAT).
So I got right back to our "normal" day together, attending to the business of "people and house-hold" and at 17.00... we stopped the world for our dinner.
This evening, when I stepped out to the kitchen to get my dessert, this Little Character came FLYING over to me, landed on my head and came with me as I got my food, sitting on my head! I mean... REALLY! WHAT A LAUGH!
And then... after dinner, I got to our evening water run to fill the pool with water for the night AND... IMMEDIATELY, WHEN I'D DONE, HE HEADED RIGHT FOR THE WATER FOR A DRINK! NOW I WONDER IF HE'D HAD ENOUGH TO DRINK DURING THE DAY, WITH THE ACV WATER! We have one more day of that. It's said that it should be 3 consecutive days, so that it all manages to flush through his system. But I've enough faith and confidence in this Little One to know that, if he's thirsty, he'll drink. (And I can't help but think of the birds in the wild, drinking just about any water, even the road-side puddles, and sometimes what strikes me as the worst-possible water, no telling what's in it, and yet, they survive. Talk about the "more superior" beings. These Little Ones are walking, flying MIRACLES! Survivors of the "Great Extinction", descendants of the dinosaurs and here they are, as if all were quite normal and regular. Yeah, a little ACV isn't going to deter THIS ONE! Even though he's accustomed to fresh, clear, clean water.)
Well? 19.42 already and the Little LOVE is on his roof-top waiting for his ride home. The windows are closed for the night and this evening, no playing. he was on the desk shelf and didn't even come over when I started closing the blinds.
But this was quite the day, all said and done and thankfully, SUNNY and the room and the house were delightfully warm and comfy for both of us. The temperature in the room actually made it up to 24°! Toasty-cosy! And now, I'm off to get me ready and get this place settled for tuck-in for both of us.
20.17... he's already on his night roost! Off we go then... unless he has a little something up his wing... we'll see... there's never telling...
Thursday 23 January:
Last night was no ride home! The Little Guy was TIRED and decided that he'd stay home, on his night roost, where he was, but we DID get a little "chat" before tucking in, a short exchange of "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo's" back and forth... and KISSES too before tucking-in.
We made it through a shortened lullabies repertoire because no sooner had I laid down on the futon...
"woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo" from the night roost!
When I replied "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo?" he answered with a
"woo-HOOooooo..." and longer "nest coo".
So I skipped through some of the tunes and by the time I'd gotten through to the end, I looked up to see the little silhouette on the night roost... all tucked-in, cosy, the day was done. It was, comparatively, an "early" night... about 20.40!
This morning, for no particular reason, I woke at 6.40 and decided to get up and on with the day ahead, so I crept out of the room, silently closing the door behind me and went to the kitchen, put the kettle on and, as always, listened for "the call".
7.22 on the clock and through the door came a little "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo", and when I opened the door and walk into the room, I some-what whispered "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo"... NO REPLY! I wondered if I'd actually heard a coo or was I just "hearing things". (Honestly, there are times when the house is absolutely silent and I "hear" a coo'ing. It set's my soul "off" because I've been through the days, of moulting, when there are no morning coo's and it makes my entire being heavy.)
BUT... as soon as I got to the door of his house and softly opened it...
"woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo!" and MORE "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"s! And they kept coming even as I leaned in for "Good morning" kisses, and rolled his house from the windows so I could open the curtains and blinds. OH! BUT WOW, HOW WE CHATTED AND CHATTED AND CHATTED! TRUE CONVERSATION THIS MORNING AND IT JUST SEEMED TO GO ON FOREVER! IT WAS AMAZING! AND THE WING-SNAPS! IT WAS AS THOUGH THERE WAS SO MUCH TO BE SAID AND ALL NEEDED THE ADDED EMPHASIS OF WING-SNAPS! OH! BUT HOW, AT THESE MOMENTS, IT ACTUALLY PAINS ME THAT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS LITTLE LOVE, THIS LITTLE LIFE IS TELLING ME! WHAT I WOUDN'T GIVE FOR EVEN A MOMENT OF MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING. AND THEN I THINK OF THE WORDS HE'S COME TO RECOGNISE FROM ME (supper, kisses, snooze... and I SWEAR he understands "I LOVE YOU"! And ME? The alleged "superior", higher-educated species? "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo". It angers me, as well as hurt. The anger is mostly because of the insistence of "humans" on "superiority", choosing to ignore the OBVIOUS SUPERIORITY of animals. If they could only "learn". But... It's hopeless.)
When we got the curtains and blinds open, a "dull" morning light out-side this morning. BUT it didn't take but a breath's moment before the Little Flyer was UP UP AND OUT and into the room and over to the wall shelves... with MORE WING-SNAPS! ENERGY AND A "DEMAND" TO PLAY!
Poops? 10 of the most healthy and perfect little poops and ALL of them directly under the night roost! So, FANTASTIC MOOD, ENERGY, ATTITUDE AND HEALTHY TUMMY! A MORE PERFECT START TO A NEW DAY THERE COULDN'T BE!
But of course, I had to spoil it all... another day of "ACV". I didn't my best to get it into the little bowl and into his house before he went for his first drink of water of the day and.. made it just in time. No sooner had I gotten everything settled in his house, sure enough, he was up for a nibble to eat and a quick drink of (ACV) water. I could see that he could taste the difference. He leaned over, took a drink, lifted his head and I could see the little beak moving as if there was something "wrong" with the water. But at least he drank. There isn't more after this so... we're good.
The rest of the morning rolled along after that and we settled into another "January day" together. Winter weather out-side and in the room, we were cosy warm, listening to the radio and just being... TOGETHER!
Mid-day, we got settled in the room, put the news on the lap-top and had our lunches together and right after, I flushed the pool clean and filled it with clear, clean water. Thankfully, there was no "dash" to get a drink so he must have had enough of the ACV water to drink this morning. And today was day 3 of the ACV so... we're finished with that... until we "need" it again (or mid-month February... I'm keeping a careful eye on the poops and tummy.)
No snoozes today. I was a morning and after-noon of constant "doing" and with all the motion and commotion and movement with me going about, it really seemed the Little Guy was enjoying it all!
It really must be terrible for him with everything around him being so still all the time. And me? I'm usually at the desk and the only thing moving is my fingers on a key-board or lifting a book here and there, now and then. Then up to the kitchen, grab a coffee and back to the desk. The rest of the house is motionless. Out-side, the wind would move branches and leaves, snow moves about, other birds, something moving. I want, SO MUCH, to find some sort of toy that would be motion-activated so that when he went near it, it would move some-how. It's my next "Priority Craft Project". Even if I have to make another "Burdie". We'll find something... Never soon enough, but we will!
But he DID come along... ON MY SHOULDER... AS I FILLED THE POOL AND EVEN AS I TOOK THE SPILL-BUCKET TO THE LOO TO EMPTY IT! I MEAN... A "RIDE-ALONG"! NOW THAT'S SOMETHING! Usually, if I make too many movements he heads for other places, like his house or to the futon to chat with Burdie. But THIS time, it was a ride for the duration! HE TRUSTS ME SO MUCH! And I'm SO HUMBLED AND PRIVILEGED TO HAVE THAT TRUST!
This evening, he was quite quiet during dinner... unusually so. But...
Right after the washing-up was done, I got right to the evening water relay. (Yes, I'd changed the water after lunch but, as far as I'm concerned, it can't be "too often"... Fresh water is fresh, clean, and he drinks it. And as I've advised, on his web-site and I hold to it:
If I won't drink it, it doesn't belong in his house. And yes, truly, even when he takes a swim, I change the water, and if he poops in the pool, I change the water... with FLUSHES. So, yes, I'd drink the water in his pool at just about any given time.
I DID say "Take a swim now if you want to because we're doing the waters." He didn't. I did.
Right after the water change, I closed the blinds and curtains because he was up on his roof-top and coo'ing.
I've come to learn (more lessons from the Great Professor) that the evening coo's are the "call for the change at home". They're usually followed by the "nest coo" so.. it was approaching time to re-settle for the night and we did.
But tonight we had so much fun!
Before I got to the water change, we had PLAY time together on the futon and the wall shelves with MUCH wing-snapping. He was "ready to GO!"
And with the windows... more play with the "curtain critter" with wing-snaps... but... it didn't last long and he was off and over to the front of his house to "get away". We got kisses in when he was there and I got the room settled and the kitchen too and came back in. He was calmer, and on the wall shelves... just "relaxing".
By 18.30... things were settled at "end of day".
Well, 20.00 he's been in his house, not on the roof and not on the old lap-top beside me... he's pecking about some of the seeds on his floor... it's been so quiet.
The room is up to 24° and warm... and it's time to start the "close-out of the day"...
201.7 He's up by the radio, nest cooing as I attend my evening ablutions. SWEETEST LITTLE LOVE! (Let's see how the "ride home" and "tuck-in" go though. There's always time for "SURPRISES!". Closing this for now... more tomorrow...
Friday 24 January:
LAST NIGHT WAS QUITE SOMETHING!
All was going along as usual, the Little Guy was on his roof-top, close to the "front" (over the little heater) when I got the room settled and ready for him to "head to the roost for the night". And, as I do, I stood on my toes to get up to where I could give him a little kiss...
As casually as could possibly be, he turned round and strolled back... to the little platform! where he waited, quite patiently, for me to move it closer to the front so that I could bring him down. And, as just as comfy, started his little "preening" that he does as we move along, heading down to the night roost.
This "ride home" has actually become very much the nightly "routine"! He KNOWS that I'll bring him to the night roost and now, it's obvious, the "lift" is "expected"! I couldn't help but laugh as he looked at me as he "sailed along", off from the roof-top, around and down and into his door. And as we "approached home", he turned again, to face the perch. When the platform got to the perch, nice and level with it, a simple step off and all was done. The Little Traveller had arrived at his destination.
WHAT A MOST AMAZING LITTLE ONE THIS LITTLE ONE IS!
(I have to add here: it's all part of the reason why I strive to keep my own health and well-being at best-possible. I will NOT have him EVER have to change his routines!)
And last night I noticed - again, perhaps - that the nightly "serenade" too is part of the expected routine. And he appears to actually recognise the melodies. They're associated with tucking-in, getting to the night roost, and a night's sleep. He seems to have his "Evening Serenade" and I can only suppose that, out in the wild, other mourning doves have theirs as well, a little "message" to the others that the day is ended and it's time to find a place for the night ahead. Well, looks like I have my own "niche" in the scheme of things and when I start the lullabies, it's my "Evening Serenade" and it's taken for the same.
This is my "LIFE"... a "LIFE" I don't believe I've ever had in the term of my "existence". Time passes and there's a "connection" between my inferior "humanity" and... I'd like to believe, the actual "Natural" order of this "Creation". Yonah and I are a "flock"... I've been HONOURED with an "acceptance". "AWE"... "DIVINE AWE"... I can't think of any way to describe my feelings... 9 languages in this old head and none of them suffices any more. These have been MIRACULOUS years together with my literal "Heart-and-Soul"...
So... 7.20, the house was still quiet and I stepped out the back door to serve breakfast to the Yardies, making sure that when they arrive, there's food for them after fighting the cold of the night last night and when I came in, I though I'd heard the slightest, softest "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" coming through Yonah's door so I went into the room and...
7.28 CALL TO ORDER!
Another "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo"! Loud and clear!
But OH! WHAT A MORNING OF CHATTING, CONVERSATION! THE COO'S BACK AND FORTH AND FORTH AND BACK! IT WAS TRULY JUST SO AMAZING! SO MUCH TO SAY! SO MANY THINGS TO SAY! (And another one of those moments when I felt SO inferior, having NO idea WHAT was being said or discussed. Another one of those moments that put me in my proper place in the hierarchy of "Creation". Humans, truly thinking themselves the "highest" beings and the stark reality of the fact that "animals" learn OUR vocabulary, voices, tones and pitches and the likes, come to recognise words, terms, phrases, no matter what language we speak, and all the while, we, the "intelligent beings" can only decipher "sounds"; coo's, chirps, barks, "meows", not to mention NOTHING of what fish use to communicate! My heart sinks when I wish I could have just a moment's time in which I could KNOW what this Little LOVE is saying and that I could speak WITH him, and he, with me.) And SO, we chatted as I went about opening the curtains and blinds and got to the morning routine of replacing the water in his pool and settling the house and room for our day ahead... and all with such energy... his and mine.
Poops this morning: 9 delightfully, wonderfully perfect in every way possible, even to where they were under his night roost. Good health and a proper night's rest. (No wonder he was so "full of it" this morning.)
When things had come to calming-down for the morning...
BANG WOOSH AND AWAY! UP AND OUT AND ABOUT THE HOUSE! Around the room, to the futon, a "morning greeting" to Burdie-Bird, out to the living-room and back "home". It was the beginning of "one of 'those' days" and I was THRILLED... UNTIL...
All of this morning's tasks completed and we both settled-down in his room for the morning.
BUT...
WHEN, AT ABOUT 10.30, I WAS AT THE KITCHEN BASIN, LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW INTO THE BACK YARD... I WONDERED WHY NO-BIRDIE HAD COME FOR THE BREAKFAST I'D PUT OUT THIS MORNING... LOOKING A LITTLE BIT "CLOSER" I NOTICED SO MANY "DOWN FEATHERS" AGAINST THE WALL BY THE PROPANE TANK !!! LOOKING ACROSS FROM IT, "TAIL FEATHERS"... MOURNING DOVE FEATHERS !!! AND INDEED, IF THERE'S A FEATHER I RECOGNISE IMMEDIATELY, IT'S "MOURNING DOVE" !!! SOMETHING MANAGED TO GET INTO THE YARD AT SOME POINT AND ATTACKED ANOTHER MOURNING DOVE !!! AFTER ALL THESE MONTHS OF BELIEVING THAT THE LITTLE ONES WERE IN A SAFE HAVEN IN THE FENCED YARD! I'M SICK TO MY CORE WITH SADNESS THAT SOME-WHERE, OUT THERE, SOME LITTLE ONE HAS SUFFERED, TORTURED, DRAGGED AWAY SOME-WHERE! I'M HOPING THAT THE PRESENCE OF FEATHERS AND NO "REMAINS" MEANS THAT THE LITTLE ONE MANAGED TO ESCAPE, FLY AWAY, AND ISN'T SUFFERING SOME-WHERE. BUT NOW, WE NEED TO RE-INFORCE THE BARRIER! AND WE HAVE TO FIND OUT WHAT MADE ITS WAY IN, WHERE AND HOW AND THEN "ATTEND" TO IT. IF ITS A HAWK - OR THE EAGLE THAT SOME HAVE SAID THEY'VE SEEN LOCALLY OF LATE - IT'LL BE A BIT MORE DIFFICULT. BUT IF IT'S ANOTHER CAT... WELL, I DARE NOT PUT INTO WORDS. NO MATTER. I'VE NO TOLERANCE FOR SUCH THINGS AND I DON'T INTEND TO ACQUIRE ANY.
Needless to say, that discovery this morning got to me and when I came back into the house, I was still "heavy-of-mood" and I noticed, immediately, that Yonah must have sensed it because he looked at me, as I sat at the desk, and "watched" me. I CAN see a difference in him when I'm distraught or a bit "down" about something. He senses it and I sense that he senses it. (As ridiculous as that might sound. I'm actually aware of some sort of "bond" between the two of us - but then, being together all the while for so many years, how could that NOT be?) So I put my mind to other things, focused on the little tasks of the house, got to work on some notes and paper-work, book-keeping and the likes... I put the day "back in order", consciously aware of NOT thinking about this morning's horrors.
Mid-day, we took our break for lunch together. I grabbed a 30-minute "lie-down" and when I got back up, it being Friday, put the house in order, pulled out the old Hoover and had at that for the week-end. For most of the time, the Little Guy lounged in his loft, calmly.
As much as I tried not to think about this morning, it was the greatest comfort to me to see him, so rested, restful, calm, safe, protected in his little corner of his little house by the window. It's not a "perfect" world - for either of us - but at the very least, THIS Little One can lounge in safety, with food and water close by, out of harm's reach, he has the whole house - limited as that space might be - and he's not confined to a tiny "cage", and he can toddle or fly about and never have to worry about any harm. I can't make the world the way it ought to be, but I can hope that what I DO "passes". It never will, for me, but I hope this Little Guy is never "heart-sick", missing something that he would have had "out there".
And so, 20.10 already. House it settled, I'm out of the shower and in my sleep-wear already. My Heart-and-Soul is on his roof-top, "singing" his "nest coo's".
We had a great, sun-filled day together today, even with me running around like some kind of lunatic. AND NO MORE "ACV" in the drinking water!
We had a little bit of "play-time" this evening when I closed the windows for the night. No sooner had I started toward them, he came RUSHING over to his house, to the roof-top, to watch and... then... to play with the "Curtain Critter" and the "mysterious hand behind the back-board". I got that done before heading to the shower, and put the "night music" on too so that now, the only thing left to do is see what "surprises" lie in store for the "ride home"... But I'm going to close today here and we'll pick up tomorrow... it's time for "seepie-nigh-night".
Saturday 25 January:
Well? Last night's "flight home" was "routine" - if I dare may to call it that. I got into the room, the Little Passenger was patiently awaiting on his roof-top for the arrival of his "pilot" and since all but the futon was done, I started the evening serenade and the Little Guy headed to the "heliport" whilst I put the linens on the futon for me for the night.
When I got over to him, he was quite ready so up, up and away we sailed, over the roof, down to the door, into his house and as the platform touched the night roost, with a casual "Thank you. You may leave now." this Little Character stepped from one to the other and proceeded to put his feathers in order for the night.
Lullabies were gentle and calm, and I watched the little silhouette settle and tuck-in for the night ahead. Last light was off at about 20.50... Friday closed, the week-end ahead.
I was up and about in the kitchen already this morning, by 6.00. Stepped out of the room and let the Little Guy sleep until...
7.21 and the softest "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" came through the door. Saturday was "called to order". My sole reason for waking of a day was awake and all was well with the world.
As I stepped into the still-yet-dark room, from the windows came another soft and gentle "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo". So I went over, opened the door to his house. There, in the darkness, I could see the little silhouette turn his head toward me and the morning greeting:
"woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo"
We exchanged those same, long coo's for the LONGEST while, back and forth. QUITE the conversation! It did my old heart so much GOOD! His voice strengthened and the coo's grew a bit louder as we "talked". I can only suppose that he knows that these are the moments when I actually have "purpose" to my existence, and that he's turned and "existence" into a "Life".
Then, no sooner had I gotten the curtains and blinds open, the early morning light filling the room, I went round to the front of his house, leaned in, as I do to move his house into position for the day and HE HOPPED ONTO MY SHOULDER, THEN WENT ROUND TO MY BACK AND OFF WE FLEW TO THE DESK SHELF! WHAT A FANTASTIC START TO A NEW DAY! CONVERSATION AND UP, UP AND AWAY, ON THE WING!
Poops? Well... 11 in total this morning... but, from the looks of them, 8 were over-night and all of them just perfect, composition and all. But, there were 3, off to the side, as it were, that were, instead of the "brownish" of the other 8, that "dark green". One of the 3 was "double size" and obviously wetter, because that one had a "halo" on the kitchen roll. The 3 were "softer", so I'm going to say that they were from this morning. Still, a careful watch to follow during the rest of the day. I mean, we just finished a 3-day "apple cider vinegar" in the drinking water so... maybe it irritated? Hopefully not... There's so much to "know" with this Little LOVE. The ACV is similar to anitbiotics for people in that it clears out all sorts of bacteriae, but it doesn't differentiate between the "good" and the "bad". 3 days is recommended, and I know he doesn't drink a lot of it - he drinks less water over-all when it's in there. But... thankfully we're done with it and now, we get back to re-establishing the "good" stuff in his little digestive system. When I think of what he would have eaten out in the wild, what the Yardies must eat... one might think they're all indestructible, and yet, as stoic and brilliantly strong as they are, they're really quite delicate, these little "survivors of the Great Extinction", these little "dinosaurs". We'll be watching...
Later, this morning... he headed to the living-room, off to his tree and when I went over to him, he hopped back onto my shoulder AND...
WE DANCED A BIT ROUND THE LIVING-ROOM, TOGETHER, TO OUR "AMERICAN STANDARDS" MUSIC AND THEN...
HE STAYED ON MY SHOULDER AND WE WENT TO THE KITCHEN AND FROM MY SHOULDER, HE WATCHED AS I WASHED THE FEW DISHES THERE, IN THE BASIN! I'd been cooking from early this morning and so we had quite a bit of washing-up to be done. WELL! He stayed there for the longest while until it just became too tedious and with a WOOSH, he was off again, to his loft, whilst I finished-up in the kitchen.
And so, the sun finally made its way over the tree-tops and into the room where the temperature hovered at a mere 21° but the Little Guy had the sun-shine and his little Sweeter Heater, so he was warm and that's my main concern in these days of -17° out in the wide, wide world of Winter out-side his windows.
Through the rest of the day, it was AMAZING... He came along with me to the kitchen when I prepared lunch today! On my shoulder, toddling across my shoulders, one side and the other, watching my every move.
What was SO "unique" was how comfortable he seemed. No fidgeting, and every time I turned my face to him, I got a little "kiss" on the nose! It was as if he'd been doing this all along... no big deal. But the COMFORT being there was, to me, a bit shocking!
We even took a bit of a stroll about the house and he didn't mind when I grabbed the camera to record a bit of our "adventure together"! Even when we got to his tree in the living-room and I managed to get a recording of THAT too! Usually, he sees the camera in my hand and he's OFF AND AWAY! I wonder what made today so different. What-ever it was, it was fun being able to get something on a "video"... not a very "good" video, but a recording of the event, none-the-less. These are the moments. The remind me of the old "Super 8" films of the 60s... "family time"... "home movies". (Which reminds me of my age!)
This after-noon, I was allowed a 40-minute snooze after lunch too! I guess it was obvious that I was exhausted after a morning of so much activity.
So I managed, after, to get the house back in order (which, were it not for Yonah, I likely wouldn't even bother with any more these day, but with him, this is HIS house and HIS house will be presentable, clean and safe... no matter what!).
Dinner time... ALL TOO SOON AND TOO QUICKLY! And as soon as he noticed that I was preparing mine, he came down from his loft, where he passed the rest of the after-noon. Poor Little Guy, for the after-noon, I was a terrible companion, but then, I try to remember: it's written (I've read) that, during the day, mourning doves will roost, when not looking about for food or mating and such. So, this Little One does just that... he takes it easy for the day.
This evening, dinner did, as dinner does, went into the washing-up and then... the water relay. But this evening, there was almost no interest in any of it. He went over to the futon and stood there, just watching me. And when done, I went to close the blinds and curtains... install the back-board and he stayed on the futon. No "curtain critter"... no "playing about". He's some-how "docile" this evening and I'm wondering why. And when I'd done, and sat at the desk to jot today's notes, he headed up to his "roost" and then over to his food for a little snack. (Oddly, there's food in his dish and much, as usual, out-side the dish, and he's pecking through what's out-side the dish. These are the moments when I SO WISH I KNEW WHAT HE PREFERS in the mix. There are 4 different mixes, "blended" at "200 ml" (on his measuring cup) each. Combinations of just seeds and seeds with "pellets". I've seen that there are pellets that he won't eat (the most expensive, "Harrison's", he truly does NOT enjoy so we've stopped getting them). And I see that neither Yonah nor the mourning doves out-side enjoy Niger seeds, which I've read are the delight of "most" birds. He's not "fond" of "chia" either, but I believe he does eat some of those. If I could know what he enjoys... A new "challenge": to see if I can't decipher what he does eat out of all the seeds in the mixes. For a while I wondered if it wasn't the "freshness" of what's in his dish, when he by-passes it, but the seeds scattered out-side the dish are just as fresh as what's in the dish.
Well... tonight I have to wonder too because of this morning's "green poops"... Although, I have to note: the poops during the day were all quite normal. So, tomorrow... we note.
By 19.40 he was on his door perch. A "National Geographic" video that I down-loaded for him, on "Birds" playing on his old lap-top. He's shown no interest in it. (No mourning doves... I wonder...)
It's already 2013 and because of me, of course, we're running late and he's on the night roost... I'm about to get ready to tuck in so... we shall see... our night music is on... hoping for a restful night ahead... More tomorrow...
Sunday 26 January:
Last night was another "night of amusement".... The Little Character decided, at the last minute, to head up to the very top of the little book-case at the foot of the futon, took "position", tail up, and "made with the nest coo's" and he was NOT coming down for anything. I tried to coax, tired to "talk" him down, as it were, but there was just no way. So I got his little roof-top platform and brought THAT over and up, level with the top of the book -case. Nope. Not falling for that. SO... I got Burdie-Birdie and brought THAT into play by bringing it up and giving it a bit of a wiggle, said "Burdie-Birdie says it's seepie-nigh-night time." It took a moment and I didn't even "feel" the difference in the weight of the platform but... my Little LOVE DID make his way onto the platform and... off we went, "sailing" across the room heading home for the night.
All the way, he kept "watching" as the room moved about and it was as if he were watching, waiting, as if he KNEW where he was headed and was just waiting to get to the night roost.
Ah-HAH! INDEED! The platform reached the "night roost" and... "Thank-you-please", the Little Guy stepped right off the platform and onto the perch! We were "home".
A few kisses, and some preening, all was as it ought to be. But, it was also already about 20.35! I was tempted to "rush" through the nightly serenade, but chose to sing softly and slowly no matter the clock and I learnt ANOTHER little lesson last night:
Not only does Yonah recognise the melodies of the songs, he pays attention to the volume and the rhythm and the "tempo"! Signing softly and slowly, he settled right down and in for the night! So, no more "rushing" through the repertoire. Maybe cut a tune out, but the songs have to be sung calmly.
Of course, I remember the "hearing" segment I posted to his site. Birds, generally, "hear" all of the attributes of the sounds around them: tone, volume, tempo, timbre... so I'm absolutely sure that he hears, recongises and understands when his lullabies are "different", and when I "rush", he can sense a "tension". I've NO doubt at all about that. I've been wanting to record a complete "set" of me singing for him so that, should I ever not be able to, I can put the recording on (and hope that he doesn't disapprove of the "recording", though I'm sure he'll recognise that it's not "me"). Another reason to get a better little "player" for him, and a better speaker too. The "bar" we use for the bird-songs is "OK", but it surely doesn't give any "body" to what's being played, so music will need something better. Oh, we need to go "Yonah Shopping"! And for me, that's just a joy anyway. Something to put on the "MUST To Do" list!
So this morning? I was, again, up and about before the Little Guy was up. I got up from the futon, as silently as possible, stepped out of the room, listening for ANY sound from his house and managed to close the door to his room in silence, put the kettle on and went about "morning people nonsense" and got to the kitchen table to start the daily "Journal entry"... The time passed and...
7.08 this morning, through the door and around the house came another soft "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo". And "earlier" than our Winter mornings of late, this snowy morning! Then again, the day-light is starting noticeably earlier these mornings since we've passed the "Equinox", But THIS morning, he even beat the Yardies!
I called back, as I got up from the kitchen table (I'd been up from since about 6.00 again) and immediately, another "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"!
Even as I opened the door and came into the room, he was still coo'ing! And so was I, to be honest, BUT we went from "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" to "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo"! And it was another morning of SO MUCH DIALOGUE! It was SO UP-LIFTING to hear! And with each coo, the little voice grew clearer and louder! Could it be that he too, is happy that the night's are shorter and days growing longer? "Nature" is bringing back the sun-shine and a promise of warmth.
When I opened the door to his house, immediate wing-stretches and a few kisses with MORE "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo's"! WOOHOO!
No sooner had I done with opening the curtains and blinds on the over-cast, snowy morning out-side, I leaned into his house, having rolled it back to the window for the day and almost immediately my Little LOVE was off the perch, onto my shoulder, to my back and OFF... to the futon and Burdie-Birdie! IMMEDIATELY! THEN, up to the lower wall shelf with a hearty "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo!", as if to say "Let's get ON with it!" BOOM! Conversation and energy of a January morn!
Poops this morning? 8 poops... 7 "normal", 1 slightly larger but all of them quite "healthy" this morning! And all under the night roost where the Little One passed what was obviously, a restful night. Both of us, in good spirits and ready to ROLL! (And I couldn't and wouldn't do it with-out my little Heart-and-Soul.)
And so...
This morning, I took the initiative and went to work on the old lap-top to see what I could do to get it working properly. (It's about 6 years old now and expected to have something go wrong and the battery needed to be removed because it had become deformed with age and was causing trouble with key-board and such. And I wanted it OUT, especially since my little Heart-and-Soul so enjoys a leisurely "roost" on it! And the screen is flickering with "stripes" so I wanted to see if I couldn't fix that before going for a replacement of it.) Anyway, I took it to the desk, right away this morning and "had at it" and OH! THE CURIOSITY! I could SEE that Yonah could see that I was taking it apart, screw-drivers and such all over the desk. And I had to go through tool boxes to find the tools I needed so they ended-up on the futon. But I was SO SUPERVISED from above!
My Little Manager here, took his place on the desk shelf, over my head, and watched as parts were separated and removed and little screws were placed where they wouldn't get lost. (And I was in a bit of a panic thinking he'd take flight at any moment and the breeze his wings create... and WOW! do they EVER create a "breeze"... those little wings are powerful!)
After lunch I grabbed a 45 minute snooze... I'd set an alarm for 30 minutes but when it sounded, my LOVE was on my leg so... I simply re-set the alarm for another 30 minutes. It was Sunday and the morning's snow had stopped and the room was FULL of sun-shine so I thought we could stay as long as my Little Guy wanted. Turned out... 15 minutes was the limit and so... we were up and about again.
The rest of the day, I did the usual "people nonsense", putting book-keeping together, balancing budgets, sorting through all the paper-work that I tend to stack, intending to file or toss but seldom ever do when I ought.
The Little Guy lounged in his loft, by his window as the Winter sun POURED in through the glass, giving us both, beautiful light and warmth! (So sad that we couldn't be out in the air too, but, well, it being January... it's still quite a bit too "cold" out there - not merely "chilly"... "cold" - for BOTH of us! But as the nights grow shorter and the days grow longer... we hope for the days in the yard again, and the return of the Yardies.)
19.50 ALREADY! We spent the most beautiful day together, in peace. I got some of my tasks completed and at 17.00, we sat together, to have our dinners and during-after, we took in the day's news and as soon as it was done, I got the washing-up done and grabbed a moment to jot some notes for today's Journal and then... OFF to the water run!
This evening, no games at water change or closing the windows tonight which happened one after the other since the sky had gone quite dark already and I hoped to get thins settled so we could get to tucking-in as close to "sun-set" as possible (so we could both get a proper night's sleep). He suddenly got quiet and roosted on the little "drift-wood" in his house. And now, after some kisses... he headed up to his night roost... and gave the "reflection in the mirror there" a "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"... seems it's time to wind this day down. Sun's gone. Time for seepie-nigh-night. (I LOVE the way he has his ways of letting it be known that he's tired. Little GENIUS!)
Thankfully, it's 24° in the room tonight after a day of trying to break 22° in this place. and a morning of only 21° - and that's with the house furnace running. I'm just grateful that my Little LOVE has his Sweeter Heater to rest under if/when he needs. But right now, it's warm and toasty tonight. And that's all that really matters... along with "peace and quiet".
(I'm here typing and he's suddenly off to the futon... seepie-nigh-night to Burdie. Or complaining that I'm running late again.)
20.20 He was on the wall shelf, waiting for me to wrap this day up and now he's on the desk self in front of me, making his "nest coo's. I'm being told... "Wrap it up and let's get some rest here." so I'm "off the air". Tune in tomorrow for our continuing story...
Monday 27 January:
No sooner had I gotten back into the room (after brushing my teeth) when.... "whistle-whistle" and WOOSH! The PRECIOUS LITTLE GUY headed OFF to the roof-top from the desk shelf! I'm going to say, with certainty, that he noticed I was in my "sleep-wear" and since the "night music" was on... Well? It was time to "tuck-in" which meant... "RIDE HOME"! So off he went.
And sure enough, there he rested, on his platform, and got to the "evening preening". So I started the evening's serenade ("Autumn Leaves") and as I slowly moved the platform forward on his house, as we do, he continued with the preening, as if all was as all was supposed to be. He DOES "know" our "routine"!
No sooner had the platform reached the night roost, a happy little hop and... we were "settled" for the night.
And we made it through a nice, slow rendition of the repertoire... neither a "woo" nor a "hoo" all the way through. And by the time I'd made it to the last tune, I could see the little silhouette on the night roost all tucked-in and away for the night so... it was 20.55 on the clock... a bit late, but the last light was turned off... and Sunday was closed... the week-end, done.
This morning, I got up, on my own, looked at the clock... 6.30. And the house was silent and still, it was still "nightly" out-side and my PRECIOUS LITTLE GUY was snoozing the rest of the night away so I got up and slipped out of the room, closing the door behind me. It's GRAND being up and awake before him again. I USED to have an alarm set for this but with our "regular tuck-in" hours, I manage to be there for the first "coo's" of the day and it's WONDERFUL! I'm ready to get to him, open his windows and house for the day when HE wakes.
I just can't imagine (and I don't want to) ANY morning when I'm not here for him! No more than I can imagine a night not being with him, being able to have a little "chat" after we settle-down for the night, and now, the little "serenade" he's obviously come to expect of a day's end. Even as I type this, it's literally painful to ponder.
But this morning... I actually heard the soft "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" coming through the door at 7.23! I've a feeling he was up and called earlier than that. But the truth of the matter is, at a particular time of day, I've come to expect to hear him, for some reason, and there have been times when I "hear" that gentle "coo" but it wasn't him! Sometimes, the doves in the yard will call out too so...
But when I got to the door and opened it, I asked, softly, "Are you awake?" and immediately... "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo". So he WAS up and awake. And thinking of him being in the dark room, alone, and me not being there right away... well...as I say, it truly is literally painful. BUT...
He was FULL of energy when I opened the door to his house. Wing-stretches, in preparation for a new day ahead. And "some" kisses... There haven't been as many as some time ago, but this morning's were "sincere"... he DID give quite a few.
And when i got the curtains and blinds open and leaned into his house as I rolled it back to the window for the day, he hopped RIGHT off the food perch and again, as he's been doing of late, onto my shoulder, to my back and OFF he went, into the room, to the desk shelf! He was READY!
And during the opening of the windows... we chatted with exchanges of "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" and "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo's" too!
Ah... poops... 10 perfect poops this morning in size, shape, moisture, placement... My Little LOVE had a peaceful night's rest last night!
It didn't take long... AS I prepared to get to the morning water relay, he was on-the-wing... and out to the living-room! The sun hadn't yet broken up above the tree-line out-side on a morning of a slight dusting of over-night snow, but the sky was clear and... well... the LIFE and ENERGY in the house was enough to give ME all the life and energy I could possibly want.
This morning, I had to get out to the yard too, to clear the back walk for the Yardies' breakfast, so, no sooner had every morning task been completed, I had to step out the back door to sweep and feed, and as I opened the back door, "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo". I don't know if it was "Hurry up! They're waiting for breakfast!" or "Where are you going now? We just woke up!" But... I could hear that little voice coming through the back door as I closed the morning chill out and stepped onto the back gallery.
When I came back in, about 30 minutes later, there he was, MY LOVE, in his house again... waiting for me. So I put the rest of the house in order and moved me into the room for the day. The sun had made its way up into the sky and was pouring in through the windows. And the room was cosy warm... my little Heart-and-Soul took a spot in his house where the sun managed to warm and brighten a little spot and made him-self comfy.
So... Monday morning called to order and I had "Monday morning house-hold tasks" to do at the desk so we spent a delightful morning very much together.
This after-noon, we had lunch at noon and after, I grabbed another 30-minute snooze... the first 15 of which were with my Little Guy on my leg. After that, he headed back out to the living-room (I was obviously no fun).
When I got up again, he came back into the room, into his house, found his little spot in his house, just in-side his door (closest to me) and had a while to bask, to soak in and enjoy the light and warmth of the sun! Seeing him that comfortable and at rest just calms my whole being.
I had a very quick errand to run this after-noon and by 13.30 I was running... RUNNING to get it done. Back by 14.00 and there was my Little LOVE when I returned, lounging in his loft by the window.
We got re-settled for the remainder of the day... TOGETHER!
This evening, I sat, at 17.00, at the desk, for my dinner... my Little Guy had had his at his usual 16.30 and so, he came, briefly, to the desk, to his lap-top beside me and THEN... he flew over to the futon to be with Burdie-Birdie and I reached from the desk, to him and HOW WE PLAYED... as I tried to eat at the same time! Oh, the "chase", even with one hand. And when he was "done" with playing... he "preened" my hand! THAT ALWAYS touched me to my core!
After dinner was done and the washing-up, we got to the evening water relay... as we do. The sun had set already so the world out-side the window was dark... it was time to "close" already. And tonight... we played with the "curtain critter"... with wing-snaps... and my hand behind the back-board! WE PLAYED this evening!
When all the work was done and I went to the kitchen to put things in order, from the room I heard what I've come to know as the...
"Evening Call". Seems my little Heart-and-Soul still has it in him to "call to roost" in the evenings. He's always done this, just after sun-set, and especially after the windows are closed for the night. It's, again, one of those times when I so wish he had a little mate of his own. But... I've been through all of it before... the pondering and considering and, well, I'm not going to "upset" my Little LOVE's world that he's come to know as "HIS". This house, the room, everything in here is HIS... this is HIS territory, he's familiar with it, comfortable with it... and if calculations are correct and he WAS on 2 months of age when he came into it... it's been this way for 4 years now... THIS HOUSE is HIS... and I don't want to do anything to put ANY of that in ANY jeopardy. So.... we're together... I'm part of what is "HIS"... and he seems to be OK with it all the way it is.
By 20.00... the house, the room were settled and the Little Guy was on his roof-top, at the "front", just beside me... Time to close Monday... 24° in the room. Out-side the day's warm 4° was gone... we were heading back into "minus" temperatures for the night. But THIS Little One needn't even be concerned... HIS house was warm, protected from the winds that were kicking out-side his windows. Fresh, clean water to drink, fresh food to eat... I can't give him the "perfect" world he was born into, but then... that world was what brought him to where he is today... so it isn't all "perfect out there". Still... here he is, we are... and he's well... And when the lights are turned off, he's safe.
20.20 We're a bit impatient tonight, on the desk shelf cooing! I'm being "informed" that it's time to close the day and so... We're off!
Tuesday 28 January
At 20.20 last night... for some reason, the Little Guy seemed some-what "impatient", as if he had something on his mind. I wasn't sure if it was because we were running later than we ought to have been or that he had something to be said, but he was on the desk shelf coo'ing a bit more than "usual"... what-ever "usual" is, really, because with this Little Character, every day has its own "identity" and there's always room and time for "adjustments".... anyway, I made my way as quickly as possible into the room to get it all settled for the night and...
Off we went, up to the book-case, up to the ceiling. "woo-HOOooo!" indeed. And there we waited until the roof-top platform was brought over for the lift to the "home perch". I have to wonder what this is all about. He seems to be so ready to settle down and settle in of an evening until it's actually time to do so and now, this little business of being brought across the room, on the platform... He made it obvious that he wasn't comfortable standing on that little bit of board when I'd move it about but of late, not only is he perfectly fine on it, even as it "floats across his room", it seems he expects it now! Oh well... I, most certainly, don't mind it at all. If he enjoys... let's "do it"! And as he "floated" back to home for the night, he used the time to get his feathers together... a bit of "preening" on the ride. (Reminds me of being in a car or subway... using the travel time to attend to last-minute tasks... or, as a woman might put on make-up along the way... if he could or would, he'd probably wash his face and brush his teeth with the time... Such a character.)
And so we made it "home" and with the arrival at the night roost, with a simple "hop-step", he was in. No kisses though. I wonder what that's about...
Made it through the nightly serenade... no "chatting", and as I sung, I could see the little silhouette above, nestling-in for the night. Last light was turned off at just 21.00.
This morning... WE BOTH WOKE AT 7.00! (I'd woken a few times earlier, but there wasn't anything pressing on this morning's agenda for me and the room was warm and cosy, so I dozed until...
In the early morning relative darkness, "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" filled the room. My Little LOVE was awake! And though I'd been some-what "awake" already, it was time to get up, get on with the day!
There's nothing more beautiful than the sound of his coo'ing to start a new day, and it being so clear was all the "inspiration" I needed to get on with "Tuesday"!
The room was still dark and I wondered what he must have thought when he woke and could see me there, on the futon. Usually, I'm up and about when he wakes, lately.
But when I got up and got to his house, opened his door and coo'ed back a "Good morning" "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" he answered with a "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo"! WOOHOO! (I wonder; was it a "What were you doing, still sleeping there at this hour, you?")
Quick check for "Poops Report": 10 absolutely perfect little poops, all under the night roost. So, GOOD HEALTH, GOOD VOICE, AND A CLAM NIGHT BEHIND US.
A few wing stretches and we were off to opening the curtains and blinds to let in the dim, early morning light. "January"... still late with the sun-rise but in the new light in the room, my little Heart-and-Soul headed over to his "food perch" as he does, with a few more "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo's" and a "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo" or two and... ON THE WING, out of his house and over to the futon to greet Burdie-Birdie (who wasn't "awake" yet because I hadn't gotten there as yet. But Burdie is "top priority" of a morning... so my Little LOVE waited for me to get my act together... and yes, Burdie came right out. "Company" as I made my way to the kitchen, put the kettle on and set up for morning water relay!)
When we'd done with the regularly-scheduled routine of the morning, I headed out to the kitchen to get my coffee and such AND... AS I BUSIED AT THE KITCHEN COUNTER, I HAPPENED TO LOOK BEHIND ME AND THERE HE WAS! HE TODDLED (silently) OUT TO THE KITCHEN, AS IF CHECKING TO MAKE SURE I WAS THERE AND WHEN CONFIRMED, CONTINUED ON, SO CASUALLY, OUT TO THE LIVING-ROOM WHERE HE STROLLED ABOUT BEFORE HEADING UP TO HIS TREE! It always amazes me when he "walks" about the house. He knows he's so safe here, no predators over-head to swoop down on him, or "cats" lurking under or behind anything waiting to attack.
Hardly a day goes by when I don't wonder how much he remembers of that horrific morning. But seeing him so comfortable in HIS surroundings is a tonic to my soul. He KNOWS he's safe here and NOTHING will harm him... and I believe he knows I'll see to that! NOTHING... will EVER harm him!
And so... our morning rolled along. I had an errand to run this after-noon and right after lunch, I tried for a 15-minute lie-down on the futon before heading out and, no sooner had I simply laid back on the futon, my little Heart-and-Soul came rushing over and... "made comfy" on my chest! How I would have SO preferred to stay right there for the duration of the after-noon but today's errand was to get the old truck inspected. Were it not for the fact that I'm always concerned about needing that old thing (it's 21-years old now, the mechanics tell me it's in remarkable condition so...) for "medical emergencies" for either or both of us, or, in the case of any sort of "emergency" where we'd need to escape this old house (I'm ALWAYS concerned about THAT), I wouldn't much bother. But, I want to make sure that we have a way to get medical attention (either or both of us, as I say... I have to be in best health so to be here for my little Heart-and-Soul) AND, if we ever had to leave this place, we have a vehicle that will run and keep up protected. SO...
The sun was POURING in through the windows, bright and warm, and it came into the room and onto the futon where we laid until... HOW it pained me to have to disturb my Little LOVE when I got up to leave.
Thankfully, the inspection didn't take long at all and soon I was back and when I got into the house, I came, immediately, into the room to let my Little Guy know I was here...
The sun was still POURING in through the windows and he came RUSHING over to the futon to greet me!
AND WE PLAYED SO MUCH ON THE FUTON.... A GOOD HALF HOUR AT THE VERY LEAST! CHASING ONE ANOTHER ABOUT, WITH BURDIE, JUST THE 2 OF US! AND HOW HE FLEW ALL OVER THE ROOM! AND ONTO MY SHOULDER! IT WAS GLORIOUS!
When we finally calmed down, it was time to prepare for dinner already! It's as I say: "time is unfair" these days; it just passes entirely too quickly! So... I put my meal together and took my place at the desk, in the room, with my BESTEST COMPANION, the evening news on his old lap-top and we dined. He had his as I finished mine.
After, I got to the washing-up finished and the house settled, I grabbed a couple of minutes more at the desk to jot some Journal notes for the day. My Little LOVE had taken to his roof-top beside me.
Interesting: instead of being up there on his little board (the "platform"), he's been choosing to be at the "front" of his house, over the "Sweeter Heater" there. But it's closest to where I sit. I wonder why he's choosing there over the platform. I put the platform up there so he isn't on the metal "grating" of the "cage" that is his "house", so that he doesn't have to wrap his little toes round anything for "balance". He can "rest" his toes when he's on the top of the heater. And the heater doesn't get warm on the top. It's "infrared" and "omni-directional"... the way it's situated, it gives warmth to the Little Guy when he's on the night roost, so there's no danger of "burnt toes" up there but at the same time, it's no warmer there. I tend to believe it's "location"... and the fact that he can see me, clearly, from that spot. I'd like, very much, to believe that he's like me, in that respect: even though some-times, we're not in the same room, there's a comfort in knowing we're in the same house, and when we're in the room together, he takes comfort in being able to see that I'm here... with him. (How he should only know my anxieties when I have to leave the house, for ANY length of time... and the truth of the matter is, I'm a MESS when I'm away. Always worried about something happening in the old place, or somebody breaking in and leaving a door or window open and my Heart-and-Soul heading out into the world. It's not a matter of "confining" him, but now, after 4 years of being so safe in this house, no predators... I don't know that he'd fly from any... especially humans! And no, not to mention the bitter cold... the winds, ice, snow. And would he have any idea where to go to for food and water? All of this runs through my mind all the while I'm away, so... call it what one might... I'm better when we're together... maybe... maybe he's the same.)
Anyway... out-side, the sun was long gone and the chill of the January night was settling. The room though, a comfortable 24°, the "relative humidity" lingering at 16%. We got to the evening water relay at 19.00 when... as I was sitting at the desk, typing, my Supervisor coo'ed a reminder! (It's all about "time"... and I'll never understand HOW this Little One can tell what the clock is registering but I'll swear that he can.)
Tonight, when, right after the water was changed, I got to close the blinds and curtains against the night out there, there was no "playing"... No interest in the "curtain critter" nor the "fingers at the back-board". OK. Instead, I was simply "supervised" from the roof-top platform.
By 20.02 we were almost ready for tucking in for the night... I'd gotten into my night-wear and was putting the room in order. The Little Guy, on the desk... "nest coo'ing"....
Closing today's entry... more tomorrow...
Wednesday 29 January:
Last night was, oh yes, another ride home.... at the last minute, when he saw me putting the futon together for me for the night, he headed up to the book-case again and again, I used the platform and had to coerce him to get on. He'd just gotten to the edge of it (and I didn't know he was even on it, he's so light and he moves so lightly too) when I moved it down to head "home" and... I'M AMAZED AT HOW COMFORTABLE HE IS ON IT. EVEN AT THE EDGE, HE JUST STARTED PREENING AND CONTINUED PREENING UNTIL WE GOT TO THE NIGHT ROOST! The strangest things have become so "normal" for him. He used to get nervous when I'd move the platform with him on it. More "TRUST"!
And yes, of course, on the way, he got kisses from me, but even those didn't disturb his "evening ablutions". Honestly... HE'S AWE-INSPIRING!
We arrived "at the roost" and, "lah-dee-dah", he simply stepped, calmly, off the platform and onto the roost! And I started the "nightly serenade" and he settled right in and down for the night. By the time I'd done the repertoire, the little "silhouette" was all "tucked"... the last moon light was turned off at 20.40... Tuesday closed.
This morning, I was up and about already when, in the silence and stillness of the morning... at 7.05, came the soft "call" through the door...
"woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo". And when I "woo-HOO'ed" back, the reply was a little louder, as if my little Heart-and-Soul was calling "Yes, yes. I'm awake. C'mon in. There's a day to get to."
When I got to his house and in the darkness (because the blinds and curtains were closed and out-side was over-cast and snow was falling... thankfully the room was comfy warm), opened his door and popped in for "Good morning" kisses... MORE "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"! AND "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo"!
So I "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo'ed" back and whilst I went about the morning task of opening curtains and blinds and getting the room together for the morning... WE CHATTED, BACK AND FORTH! WOW! WHAT a start to a new day! NOTHING beats a conversation with this Little Guy! And hearing his clear, strong voice.... it's an assurance that he's in good health, feeling well. That's ALL I NEED to know in ANY day!
AGAIN, this morning, after all the chatting, the moment his house was rolled back to the window, as we do every morning, he was ON THE WING! OUT! AND ABOUT! Off to the futon, the wall shelves, the living-room!
Poops: 8. One slightly larger than the others (the first of this morning). More on the "dark green" sid ebut so perfect, not a "stain" on the kitchen roll.
That said, the rest of the day was SO FULL of AFFECTION! He wanted to play, to be snuggled, kissed... on the futon, the door perch, he was AMAZINGLY affectionate!
AND, I was SO grateful when the snows stopped late in the morning and the SUN came POURING in through the windows! And HE WAS TOO!
What I'm finding "interesting" of late is where he chooses to "bask". Instead of being on his "beach", the quarter of his house dedicated to a nice sandy tray, he rests just inside his house-door. The sun does make it there, and he is "covered" with/by it, but there's so much more space for him on the sand and I'm pretty sure the sand is warmer than the kitchen roll. it's as though he picks a place closest to me as I sit at the desk!
These are the moments that soothe my worried soul. When I wonder if I'm doing "right" by him, I see that he wants to be close to me and I WILL say that I don't believe he'd want to be that close if he had ANY cause to distrust or dislike me. I'll never be "certain" that I do "the best" by/for him. There's SO MUCH MORE I SO wish I could do (building a large aviary for him out-side for the warmer days of Summer where he'd have ROOM to FLY about in, closer to the Yardies is my top concern and goal). I WISH I could KNOW what he'd like to eat, other than the seed mixtures that he does seem to enjoy (though much of that gets tossed to the side and I can't quite figure what it is that he prefers so that I could provide him more of that). And there's always the lingering heart-ache of uncertainty about another dove in the house, another "woo-HOO" for him to "chat" with. But then, he comes to my shoulder, he lets me "snuggle" and "cuddle" and when he's on his door perch, he settles so comfortably in my cupped hands and stroke his neck and back with my thumbs. And when I stop, he pecks at my fingers for more.
No, I'll never feel "sufficient" for him, but he DOES re-assure me with his actions and affections.
And so... sadly, this after-noon we had a bit more snow, so I had to get out again, mostly to sweep the back walk to make sure the Yardies had food in the cold, and I had to run an errand with the truck so I had to step out of the house for about 30 minutes.
I'm not sure which one of us dislikes my leaving more, but I'll say, unashamedly, I'm in constant anxiety when away from my little Heart-and-Soul... for 5 seconds or what-ever time it is. Even if he lounges in his loft when I'm around and doesn't come over, just being in the house, close, where I can hear him, know that he's safe is ALL to me in Creation. But I made the run quickly and when I got back, sure enough, there he was, snuggled in his loft, comfy.
I've read, several places, that, during the day, birds, in general, tend to "roost" for the most part, when they're not foraging or looking for a mate or "home-building". And my Little Guy does his roosting during the day. But I'm of the opinion that we BOTH prefer just knowing we're together... whether in the same room or under the same roof.
And so, when I got back, I re-settled at the desk, attending to the never-ending "tasks" that are this place (and I look forward to moving to some-where where these tasks will no longer be so time-consuming and necessary and we'll have more time to just "be together") and the Little Guy flew about the house, gave some time to Burdie-Birdie and then... came "dinner time"...
Now THAT TOO, is remarkable, to say the least.
The clock read 16.14 and I was pre-occupied when suddenly, there he was, my "Supervisor", on the old lap-top beside me. (I keep it up and running with the news from lunch through because he appears to some-how enjoy it playing... I'm not sure why. The voices? The motion on the screen? What-ever it is... it's where he likes to be so... We have to repair the screen on it too... this one's giving some troubles of late. But the old battery is now gone from it so I don't have to worry about "fire".) Anyway, "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo!" Repeatedly, until I looked up and said "OH! Time for supper! He KNOWS that at 16.00, I put dinner on the hob and when I'm not up and about, he reminds me! Some would call it coincidence, but it's EVERY day when I'm still at the desk at 16.00. So SOME-how, he keeps track of "time"! ("Cognizance"... no doubt about it.) So I got up, headed to the kitchen, put my dinner together so that at 17.00, I was back at the desk, the news on, and my Little Guy flew up to his food and had HIS dinner too!
At 18.30... evening water relay... the Little One was on his old lap-top, pecking at the screen (which might be the cause of the "trouble"... I don't know why, but he's always pecked at it).
Daily "concern" here though: he's got that "off feather" on his right wing again. I don't know what causes it. One feather grows in "opposite" from the others. It either falls out or "settles" eventually. But looking at it makes me wonder if it doesn't cause some discomfort. Doesn't affect his flying and he doesn't pick at it, so I don't bother with it either.
WELL THEN! At 18.50 the Little Guy was on the lap-top and I looked up at the clock... "Time to change the waters for the night!" I said and got up from the desk to set the kitchen for the very thing. No sooner had I walked back into the room to grab the little water containers I use to bring the water in when...
THERE HE WAS... SOAKING CASUALLY... IN THE POOL! This isn't the first time he's done this: headed for the pool when I say I'm going to freshen the water. Must be he knows that the fresh water is too cold to soak in so he figures "RUN FOR IT!" And when I looked-in on him, he just nestled there, in the water, looking up at me. I could almost hear "Got other plans for a while? I'm comfy." So... I went about other little tasks... I'm in no rush when he's comfy. And he stayed there, until 19.09! When I got back to him, he was up on the upper-most wall shelf... preening!
Now, I've read that mourning doves like to bathe before roosting for the night, and I've tried to allow for tha time, but I worry about "sleep time" too so waters usually get changed at about 18.30. Yonah doesn't always head for the bath before tucking-in for the night but... HEY! If this is what he wants... WHAT a Little Character! All just another part that keeps me in AWE!
OK... so it's now 20.22 and the Little Character WAS on the futon and I WAS thinking that we were ready to get tucked-in for the night... BUT... of course, as soon as he realised I was getting me ready to get to the futon... OFF he went, up to the night roost! At 20.00 I was still at the desk and he came to my shoulder, a few pecks on the cheek. I was being told "Hey you! You see that clock?" Yeah... we're running late so... More tomorrow. It's time to "close house" for the night here.
Thursday 30 January:
Oh but surely... Silly Little Guy headed for the upper-most top of the book-case again... at the very last minutes as I was putting the futon together for me for the night. And, of course, the little "nest coo's", with fluttering and all.
So, again, I brought his roof-top platform up and tried to coerce him onto it by tapping on it with my finger-tips. But I can't tell if/when he's actually ON it. I can't see him at that angle so it was a guess and... his little toes were on the edge just enough for him to actually stand on it as I brought it down and over to his house. And again... it's so entertaining... he simply took to preening for the night as we floated across the room. When we "arrived" at the night roost, once again, as if all were moving as all intended, a simply "step" off the platform and onto the perch.
Was he actually ready to settle for the night? OH NO! Fidgety for a few moments, but once he heard :The autumn leaves, drift by my window" apparently that's the "sound of the close of day" and he got his little self situated. I get my self situated and we got right to the nightly serenade. As I sang, he calmed down, but I could see his little head turning, looking about, a bit of scratching and "arranging feathers". BUT... by the time I'd done with the repertoire... the silhouette on the perch appeared to have finally hunkered. Last moon light was turned off at... 20.55!
This morning? Well, I woke at 5.00 but laid on the futon in the early morning darkness. The room was comfortably warm, so I laid there for what I thought was a few more moments. But when I next looked up at the clock... 6.00! I got up, as i do, and in silence, stepped out of the room, closing the door behind me.
I was at the kitchen table when... at 7.03, through the door, came the softest "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo". This morning's first call was a noticeably higher-pitched "HOO" though. When my Little LOVE coo's that way, it sounds as if he's calling "HEY! YOU!"
Before I had the time to answer, came another of the very same coo, but when I opened his door and answered with a soft "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" he answered with a clearer and "regular" "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo". And when I popped my head into his house for "Good morning" kisses, I got 2 pecks on the nose and he stretched his wings and scuttled to the side. Apparently it was TIME TO GET ON WITH THE DAY!
As I opened the curtains and blinds to another grey January morning, and once that was truly quite "snappy-cold" out there, we we continued with quite the morning "chat", coo's back and forth and forth and back. And it didn't take but a moment and the Little Guy was hopping over to the food perch and.... OUT! To the futon, then up to the desk shelf. This morning was open, up and running!
Well then...
It was, to be sure, another one of those mornings where I couldn't help but think of how miserable this world would be were it not for these starts to a day. And how terribly I dread ANY time when Yonah isn't the beginning of another day. The coo's, the "kisses", the "chats", the wing stretches, and him flying about the place.
So, thankfully, I had no place else that I needed to be this morning (errand for the day was put to the after-noon) so, since it's "end of month", I got settled and situated at the desk with morning coffee and we were on to our regularly-scheduled day.
The sun never made an appearance all day today and the temperature out-side never really rose much higher than it was at 7.00. And this morning, 10 mourning doves and many more blue jays came for breakfast in the yard. It always makes me SO wish I could bring them all in... not only for their warmth, but... I wonder what Yonah would do with all those other birds... in HIS territory.
For the morning though, I didn't even step out to check today's post (did that this after-noon though) so we were quite together all the while... me, doing "people silly stuff" at the desk and the Little Guy flying out and in the room.
That said... this morning's "Poops Report": 11 perfect little poops. Good tummy and from the looks of location, a calm night last night... "good rest". (Some may think it a little "odd" to include a "Poop Report" in a daily journal, but I've come to appreciate how much something as relatively small as this can tell about so much more. And I SO remember the earliest days when the poops were large, "splatters" of "water", all shades of green, just horrid. Back then, I had NO idea WHAT it all meant, but I knew they weren't supposed to look like that. So these days, I'm SO relieved when they're all the way they "ought" to be, and keeping record of them helps to keep me aware of my Little LOVE's health.)
This after-noon, which came entirely too soon and quickly, after I managed to grab a quick lunch, I took advantage of the "extra time" and that my Little LOVE was in the living-room where he'd been for about an hour, and i had a 30-minute lie-down! BUT... oddly... I was alone, on the futon, until 2 minutes before the alarm sounded when I heard the whistle of wings and the next thing, the Little Guy on my shoulder! That "2 minutes before the alarm" again... and to think that he STILL sensed it from the living-room! I don't know... I just don't know... I doubt I ever will... and I seriously doubt anybody else knows or ever will... There's SO MUCH that we just don't know and probably never will know about these Little Ones and what they think, see, sense, feel... What a Universe of mystery... wrapped in little feathers.
So I got up, get me together and since it was still "relatively early" enough in the after-noon, I threw together the things I needed for today's quick errand and just rolled along... headed out the door, rolled into town, did what had to be done AND... 20 minutes later, was back.
The Little Guy was in his loft, as he is of a day, when I left, and when I got back. And when I popped into the room to let him know that I'd returned? As though I hadn't left. I like that. He didn't miss me. (Although I missed HIM, as I do EVERY time I have to leave the house.) But we were back together... the "news" playing on the old lap-top, the bird-songs recordings playing... all was well... again.
For the time after the "disturbance" (my errand), I took all sorts of "breaks" in what-ever else i was doing to make sure we had PLAY TIME! When-ever my Little Guy came off his loft and "into the room", all else stopped so that we could snuggle, cuddle, play with Burdie-Birdie...
With the "recovery" of Teillady's little "Arnie", it DOES give me more, direct focus on the happiness of Yonah. I owe him... literally, my "life" and "being". And "time" is something nothing in Creation is guaranteed. From a second to a year and beyond... and as I've always said, thought and felt: if Yonah and I could be awake every moment of every day, there still wouldn't be enough "time" together, as far as I'm concerned. (The worst part is how "time" and "age" is taking such a nasty toll on my stamina, and how I grow so "weary" so quickly and so often during a day. And all the while, my Little LOVE, my "Heart-and-Soul" hops and flies about the place, wanting to poke and play, coo'ing... It puts me in my place, as it were: HE's literally been to "Hell" and yet, here he is. NOTHING, in my life-time, compares to ANY-thing he's suffered through. So... I do my best to keep my-self up to par... and I'm always looking for ways to improve... my energy and such. "Time"... as long as this little heart beats, I do ALL that I can to make sure OUR "time", together, is the best-possible.)
So, by 19.30, we were BOTH settled at the desk, TOGETHER, my Little LOVE all nestled on his old lap-top beside the news. The pool-water is fresh and clean. I gave "warning" at 18.45 as he was on the futon with Burdie: "I'm going to change the waters now so if you want to take a swim, hop in!" He went into his house, over to the little mirror by the floor in-side his door and gave the little reflection a hearty "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"! And then, toddled round and headed back to the futon. So? So I ran the evening water relay and when I'd done, he went back "home" for a WONDERFUL drink of fresh, clean, cool, clear water!
When that was done... he came over to the desk to his lap-top. Our evening is "normal" this evening.
He's there, little eyes closed. I have to wonder if he isn't ready to get to sleep, but... he's done this before and the moment I head out of the room to brush my teeth and put on my sleep-wear... well... it's "history" at this point. So tonight, I'm pretty sure, there's going to be a dash to the book-case when I start getting prepared to tuck-in.
And tonight, he didn't come to the house when I closed the blinds and curtains and but the back-board up! Not a bit of interest. (Mabe he IS tired. But we're getting the house settled now so... earlier to tuck-in tonight.)
20.00 He's "awake", preening... and we're about to close house... Let the games commence! (I have to put the room together and get my sleep-wear on... here we go...
Friday 31 January:
(Can't believe that this month has gone by already! "Time" passes entirely too quickly now. For so many years it did nothing but "drag along", day after day. But like the past 4 years, since Yonah, it truly is as I've described: Years become months as the months become weeks, the weeks are days, days are hours, hours, minutes, minutes seconds....)
It was rather as expected, last night. At 20.24, when the house was settled and all was made ready for the night, the Little One decided to head for the top of the book-case to make with the nightly "nest coo's" from above... and afar. So it was, indeed again, another little game of trying to get him onto his roof-top platform.
And he made the best of it too. I got the platform up to him, tried the old "wiggle the fingers to attract" but he wasn't having it... not right away. And even the singing didn't work. "Autumn Leaves" were not enticing. So I had to do a few acrobatics, as it were, looking up to see where he was, letting him know that I was waiting for him and finally, he managed to make it, again, just to the edge where I could bring him down and across the room to home. AND... as he does, he preened along the way until we got to his house. But noticeably, he waits, quite patiently, until we get TO the night roost. In fact, when I paused for a moment, out-side his door, he "gave me a look", as if to say "So? What are we waiting for here?"
Oh, but yes, to be sure, and indeed... a "ride home" has become a "new part" of the "nightly routine".
And when I did get the platform level with the perch, so nonchalantly, a little step to the roost and... all was well with the world.
I was off to the futon, his house was closed. (No kisses "Good night" though.) And the Little Guy made him-self "to home" and got settled, though with a bit of fidgeting. And we made it through the nightly serenade and THEN, JUST as I was finishing the repertoire...
"woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"...
Well so then? I wasn't going to be rude (and was wondering what prompted the coo at the end of the singing) I replied with a "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" and he answered. I repeated, waiting to see if a "nest coo" would follow... Nope. That was all that had to be said so... I finished the "music" and... at 20.58... last light off and... all was well... Thursday... closed.
And so, this morning, I was up and out of the room at 5.30... woke of my own, decided I may as well get things rolling for the while. I THOUGHT the Little One would be up and about at about 7.00 because that's been when he's been rising to coo-and-shine BUT... to my surprise...
The house was calm and warm and the day-light out-side the windows was just breaking already when, "off in the distance" (behind the door to his room) came that little "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"...
7.25 ! Just proving that there's no "guarantees" on "starting time" for the day.
This morning's call wasn't quite the same as some. No "high-ptiched 'HOO'", so it was a "calmer" call. And that was both assuring and concerning. Assuring because there wasn't that "tone of rushing" but, as I always do, I wondered why it was so "calm". Fatigue? Illness? So I called back with a "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" to let him know that I was "there" and on the way and as I opened the door to his still-dark room... across the room, from the little house, came another "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo". When I got to his door, the little silhouette was on the night roost, staring at the door... waiting for me to get to opening the door.
A couple little "Good morning" kisses... and a couple more exchanges of morning "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo's" and the house was opened and I got right to opening the curtains and blinds to the early morning day-break. (No snow this morning, thankfully and "promises" of sun-shine... when it made its way above the tree-line.)
AH... again, this morning, no sooner had I gotten the windows open to the day, a bit of chatting as I worked along, I leaned into his house, as i do, to roll it back to the window and immediately, the Little LOVE hopped onto my shoulder and toward my back... HE WAS READY TO ROLL INTO FRIDAY!
A moment later and WOOSH... he was up and out and on the wing... off to the wall shelves! Burdie-Birdie wasn't even out to the futon as yet! But as soon as we got Burdie to the futon, Yonah was down to bit a "Good morning" to Burdie! SO MUCH ENERGY SO SOON AFTER WAKING! Amazing, in a way. I mean, I wake, look about, ponder getting up from the futon and admittedly, almost begrudgingly, get up and off to put the kettle on. But THIS Little Guy... I mean... FLYING ABOUT so soon after waking? What an inspiration!
Poop check this morning: 10 perfect little poops, thankfully, and all under the night roost (though they did bounce a bit, they were dry enough to do that). So, last night was "restful"... as much as I can assume.
And the energy level... continued. As I made it through the morning water relay, there was much "wing-whistling" to fill the room with the accompaniment of "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" and "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo"! Well! WOOHOO then!
Once the room was settled and back in order for the day, I made my way to the desk to get to the journalling and other "people nonsense" of the morning, and my little Heart-and-Soul settled-down... on his door perch, beside me... "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"...
A little "news" for today: thanks to my never-ending intrigue with "things-Dove", I happened upon a "distant relative" of Mourning doves... the "Whitetail"! They look SO similar to Mourning doves with a few exceptions, including their "coo's". They truly are a beautiful dove (of course they are), and they closely resemble Mourning doves but, as I say, with "exceptions". They're about the same size, and generally close in colouration, but their wings are "edged" in white (quite striking), their eyes are red with black pupils where Mourning doves' eyes are black. And the "blue" that surrounds their eyes, where Mourning doves are more a turquoise, is bluer and larger.
Were they "offered for sale" (a notion that truly, and physically sickens me), I'd considered looking for one as a companion for Yonah, but, like Mourning doves, they're "protected" (as much as Mourning doves are, of course), and they're more native to much warmer climates than locally so they wouldn't be a "common companion" for Yonah.
Additionally, their "coo" isn't as soft or "melodious" as Mourning doves. Though it does have a slight resemblance, it's a bit harsher and raspier.
None-the-less, I happened to "find" 4 recordings of the coo's on the internet and managed to get copies of them... AND, as I played them (before getting the copies), Yonah was in his loft, all "lounging", as he does of a dreary day, and when he heard them, he perked right up and coo'ed back! SO... Yes, indeed, they're added to the "play-list" on Yonah's personal "MP3 Player"! (There's a LOT of "space" on that little player left for so much MORE so I'm going to have to dedicate some time in searching for more "bird-songs" for him. I'm pretty sure he's "done" with the same sounds every day. And I wonder though, if there isn't some comfort in hearing the "familiar" sounds of "familiar" birds in his house. Still, we can't have "too many", to be sure.)
This after-noon, after I managed to grab a lunch and a little news of the day, I also managed to have a lie-down... well... a NAP! No alarm because I didn't plan on more than "shut-eye" BUT... no sooner did I lie down on the futon when, my Little LOVE came over and "roosted" on my leg! So I laid there, with him on my leg, all comfy-cosy and the next thing I knew, I'd dozed-off... for 45 minutes! AND, when I woke, he was still there, just a comfortable as he could be. So I laid a while longer and what I thought would have been 15 minutes at most turned to AN HOUR! And I didn't get up until HE did. SO... we "napped", together, today, for an HOUR!
Silly Little One though, when I'd done putting the music on his player and put the desk back together, with the old lap-top playing the news (with no volume because we had his bird-songs and the "American Standards" he seems to enjoy, on the "radio"), he grabbed a little bite to eat, a drink of water and came over to the desk... to his lap-top, and at 15.00, the room at 24°, the sky out-side quite over-cast... he nestled-down, eyes closed, beside me. When I whispered "I LOVE you... I DO. I LOVE you SO MUCH!" he opened his eyes, blinked a bit and went right back to snoozing. (And as I sang "Que Sera Sera" - playing on the radio, he seemed to nestle a little more! Oops... "singing"... "nigh-night time".)
This evening... OH! This evening! SO MUCH AFFECTION... KISSES AND CUDDLES, SNUGGLES ON THE DOOR PERCH AND THE FUTON! SO MUCH PLAY... ALL OVER THE ROOM! And as I hoovered his room, Yonah wanted to PLAY! I understand that to him, I'm sure, the passing of the hoover makes NO sense
(HE'S ON MY SHOULDER AS I'M TYPING... at 17.56! MORE SNUGGLES! THAT'S what kind of day this had been!)
so I can understand that hoovering makes no "sense" to him. He doesn't know that it pulls the bits from the carpeting (so that there's nothing "foul" for him to peck at, pick up and ingest). But no sooner had I turned it on and he was right there, at his door, wing-snaps! (And of course, I took the time away for KISSES!)
I'm still not sure how, but I did manage to throw my dinner together for tonight, with some more cooking for a couple more dinners to come, hoovered and sat and we ate... together.
(He's just come back to my shoulder again! MY HEART IS SO FULL!)
And so, at 20.23, I rushed to get things done and didn't today. It was just another one of those days where "time" just ran faster than I could, for some reason. We're LATE AGAIN tonight! But I've been trying to keep up with this Journal and it's boring for Yonah, I'm sure. I just sit at the desk, the only thing really moving is my fingers, and I'm not talking so it must seem so strange to him.
And all the while, my Little LOVE has been on his door-perch, beside me. We're together... and he knows he's not alone... for all I'm worth in that respect.
BUT WHAT A DAY THIS WAS... SO WONDERFUL... SO PLAYFUL... TIME TOGETHER... PLAYING, CUDDLING! WHAT A DAY WHAT A DAY! THESE ARE THE DAYS WHEN I KNOW WHY I'M "HERE" and I'm SO grateful that THIS Little LOVE, my Heart-and-Soul, is here, in this house, with his pool, food, warmth, protection from elements, predators...
Now? I'm going to close this entry for today... I can't believe I'm closing another month too! "Time"... it just isn't "fair"... to either of us. But THIS Little Life is safe, and I'll see to it that, no matter what, he's ALWAYS be safe! One way or another, ANY way or another.
Now... let's see how the "ride home" goes tonight... he's on the door perch but I still have to get my sleep-wear on... And... our "night music" is on and I know he knows that that means... "tuck-in" to come.
|
|
