MARCH 2025
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Saturday 01 March:
It's already 19.30 and we're off to a late start in the month of March. I honestly don't know where this day has gone to but suddenly, it was 16.00 and we were both up at 6.11 this morning! Yes, I was awake earlier but I decided to opt for waiting to be called. Nothing on the agenda (in spite of keeping busy all through the day which was, for the most part, quite nice, comfortably warm and for most of it, we had sun-shine so being together in the house was a pure delight). But some-how, "time" did what it does best recently... it disappeared, all too suddenly.
And now, as I finally get to sit and get this entry on the Journal, my MOST PRECIOUS LITTLE HEART-AND-SOUL is having his nightly snack, the "radio" is playing "American Standards" on the desk, the rest of the house is settled, waters have been changed, and windows closed against tonight's plunge back into "Winter"... at a low of -19° with a "chill" of... -28°! "March"? One thing I can say: my heart sobs for the Little Ones out there in the night, and how I wish I could bring them into the house or provide them with a place of warmth, but here, in this room, the house furnace is holding the room at 24,4° and my Little LOVE has his own little heater over his night roost to keep him warm and safe through the night. Fresh, clean water to drink, and food to eat. A house to fly about it... and though it's not the "entire world" that belongs to him by all rights, he is, as I say, safe and protected.
To bring things up to the moment...
Last night was a surprisingly easy ride home! No sooner had I settled the rest of the house and me, in my night-wear, I came back into the room and set the futon up for me... as the evening serenade began, of course. And when I turned to his house, Yonah simply toddled onto the little platform and got to his "nightly preening". We "sailed" up and over and into his house, and I snuck in kiss en route, and the very moment we arrived at the night roost, he "walked" over and onto it and began settling-in!
I got me to the futon after closing his house and made it almost to the end of "I Wish You Love" when...
"woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"...
So I stopped the music, answered to "call" and the reply was a "OO-ooo"... nest coo, but soft. The Little Guy was tired! So I cut right to the German lullabies and made it all through those. By 20.55... the last light was turned off and we both closed Friday....
As I've noted, this morning, I woke, but laid on the futon, so comfortable in the early morning relative darkness, pondering morning coffee and breakfast for the Yardies when... in the stillness of the dawn...
The sweetest "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" from over-head. And when I replied with a "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" the answer was a definitive "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo"! SOME-birdie was up, awake and ready to get into the day!
AND... this morning, the conversation carried all through the opening of the house, the windows - to a some-what over-cast day out-side! And no sooner had I headed out to the kitchen to get kettle on and morning water relay started, the whistle of wings! Morning energy! It NEVER ceases to amaze me!
Poops: 9 perfect-but-still on the "small" side little poops... but all of them on the "poopie rug" so it was a calm night, last, and for that I'm thankful. And since they were all relatively dry, no halos, no "water stains" and the colour and composition was as would be expected... "good tummy" coupled with the "woo-HOO's" and the morning flight... good health! March... a new month getting off to a great start!
Sadly, I had to get out to the back yard to clear the walk to serve breakfast to the Yardies. Snow had fallen last night and it was a "considerable" amount, though not as much as we've had previously. But the morning was warm enough so that I could leave the back door open as I shovelled... fresh out-side air in the house! And with the screen door, my Little Love could see me from his roost in his house, so he knew I was "near".
When it was all done, I came back in and started to settle in the room, at the desk, to get with the 'First of the Month" tasks for the house-hold and... in the VERY BEST OF COMPANY!
As I worked, Yonah flew about the room, coming over to my shoulder as if to check on my progress, and up on the desk shelf over-head to "Supervise"... and of course, for the little "breaks" I take to play with him and get up for kisses and cuddles. It was "one of those days"... We were together, I was right "here" with him and I could tell he was happy... as I was, of course.
Later in the morning, he headed out to the living-room for quite the while and I went out there to be with him so that he wasn't "alone" all through the day and when I went over to his little tree, he immediately hopped onto my shoulder! So, I sat on the futon with him for the few moments he allowed and then when he flew back up to his tree I got up to get to the kitchen... it was LUNCH TIME already! The morning slipped by SO TOO quickly!
BUT... as I stopped over to the tree for another kiss... he hopped back onto my shoulder and... we went to the kitchen, TOGETHER, and he watched as I put my lunch on the hob and got his room together so we could watch a little news together.
AH... BUT THEN.... THEN...
The sun-shine of this morning was disappearing out-side and I was in a mood to take what I thought and expected to be a quick snooze... It didn't turn out that way...
I'd set a 30-minute alarm and laid on the futon to close my eyes and almost IMMEDIATELY, the Little Guy came RIGHT over to my chest and toddled down onto my leg and... got him-self quite comfortable! I dozed off and when the alarm sounded... HE WAS STILL THERE, ON MY LEG! WELL! With him all snuggled and comfy, I wasn't going to get up and disturb him so I re-set the alarm... for another 30 minutes and half-snoozed until the next sound. WHEN I LOOKED UP, MY LITTLE HEART-AND-SOUL WAS STILL THERE, ALL SNUGGLED-IN ON MY LEG! So I waited... again... for him to get up... it was another 15 minutes! What was supposed to be a 30-minute snooze was over an hour! And by then... the clock read "15.20"! WHAT A WAY TO PASS A SATURDAY! Just the two of us, lounging about, on the futon, resting.... but the most important aspect... TOGETHER !!! ABSOLUTE HEAVEN!
Well, it being so late of the day, the time to get ready for our supper was already at hand, but it was then that I noticed... the screen on the old lap-top, which has been "going wrong" for some time now, had REALLY take a turn for the worst! No image other than the "stripes"! SO... I decided to try and take it apart and see where the trouble might be, hoping it was a matter of adjusting or cleaning something so that we could at least, get our usual "evening news" on... I worked on it for about 45 minutes... but... sadly... my efforts were in vain... This evening... no "news".
What truly hurts me the most: NO OLD LAP-TOP AT THE CORNER OF THE DESK... MY LITTLE LOVE'S FAVOURITE PLACE IS NOW GONE! I don't want him on there with that screen flickering in his eyes. I don't know what he sees when he looks at it, but that he pecks at it makes me believe he sees something that I don't, that "human eyes" can't detect, and with the flickering, I don't know how he perceives that, so, rather than risk sight damage or any other sort of damage, what-ever that might be, I decided to simply remove the lap-top until we either get a complete replacement or a new screen (and I see, from looking for a screen replacement, that could take TWO WEEKS before we get that so... tomorrow's "task"... see which we can get sooner... new screen or new lap-top... I don't want my Little LOVE to be with-out!).
That said... we had a late evening meal together and I got the rest of the house settled for the night ahead... and...
Here we are, 20.11... and he's on his little "drift-wood" on the floor of his house. He's already brought the hour to my attention with a polite "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" and his little eyes are closing... He's tired! (And so too, honestly, am I.) So, time for my ablutions... Our "night music" is playing. The "Standards" station changed format to "talk" so... time for the night to come and settle the day.
20.29 AND THIS EVENING... MY LITTLE CURIOUS LOVE WAS WITH ME, ON MY SHOULDER, ALL THE WHILE I BRUSHED MY TEETH! HE'S FASCINATED BY "TEETH-BRUSHING". I've come into the room and brushed my teeth by him whilst he was on his roof-top and he came RUSHING over, head tilted, staring at me! But this evening, he was on his desk shelf as I started and when I came in, he hopped onto my shoulder and came along with me as I finished! Stayed with me all through! And when I put the light off in the kitchen, the rest of the house in darkness, but his room still light, I stepped into his room, he pecked me on the cheek and went to his house!
He's there now, nest coo's from the door perch... out day is closing... (but we still have a ride home... I've no doubt).
MORE tomorrow!
Sunday 02 March:
11.15 already and already, WHAT a day! The sun POURING in through the windows, warming the room after a morning of -20°! AND... a hearty splash in the pool! A GLORIOUS Sunday morning in March!
And this morning, some-how I got lost in a bit of "internetting" (as will happen) BUT... NEW LESSONS from multiple sources on "mourning doves"!
Before I get into the morning, thus far... last night was another "direct flight" to the night roost! I was really quite amazed when, no sooner had I done with setting-up the futon, the Little Guy headed right up to his night roost and got very much settled for the night! And when I put the roof board on, he looked up and it was obvious that he understood "seepie-nigh-night time" and almost nestled-down right then and there. No "chase", no flights to shelves or book-case, he was ready to close the day!
So I went on with our nightly "serenade" as I put the last "touches" to the room for the night and by the time I get to the futon, I could see that yes, we were both "down for the night".
I even managed to make it, slowly and calmly, through the entire repertoire of lullabies and I could see the Little One above, all "tucked", little head between little wings.
AT 21.00... the last light was turned off... Saturday was done... and ahead... the threat of another truly "bitter cold" night to come. My "consolation": the house furnace was running and my PRECIOUS LITTLE ONE had his own heater above him to protect him from the chill. (I thought of the Yardies out there and as usual, after lullabies were done and lights were out, and put me to sleep wondering how I could possibly give them some sort of "warm shelter" through the nights.)
This morning... I woke just before 6.00 and as I gathered thoughts, amongst the first was getting a good breakfast served for the Yardies! They were going to NEED those sun-flower seeds and peanuts this morning! So, at 6.02, I got me up from the futon, thinking I'd just close the door because I didn't expect my Little LOVE to be up for another half hour or so. I silently headed for the door of his room and JUST THE VERY SECOND I STEPPED OUT, in the early morning darkness of a room closed against the cold...
"woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo", loud and clear.
I don't know if he'd been awake already and saw me heading for the door or if my movement woke him but... the coo was clear and it was obvious that Sunday morning had arrived and it was time for me to get on with ALL of a morning's routine tasks!
I got right to putting the kettle on and setting-up for morning water relay because, indeed, Sunday morning had been called to order and it was time to get on with it!
As I put me and the house together, the coo'ing continued, FILLING the house with the most beautiful sound that anybody could ever imagine. These are the days when I become so very much aware of the BLESSING I've been bestowed. It's always been such a pleasure to hear the mourning doves in the yard and wood-lands, but to be so surrounded by that coo'ing, from the first thing in the morning and through the day... AND then AGAIN, at night before drifting off to sleep... what a humbling honour, privilege... DIVINE BLESSING! And after those recent days of "silence"... this morning's "music" was MAGNIFICENT! Especially on such a snappy, bitter cold day!
A little extra food out for the Yardies, kettle on... and...
Quick Poop-check: 11 perfect little poops on the poopie-rug below the night roost! Loud, clear voice and healthy poops! A perfect start to ANY day. AND, as I got to opening the curtains and blinds, our little "chat" continued until the Little Guy hopped to the door perch and headed off, over to the futon for a hearty "Good morning" to Burdie-Birdie!
Once the general routine had been settled, settled things at the desk in preparation for a day's attention to this Journal. (I've been jotting notes for too long and there's still much to get back to and soon, getting it all onto the server where it will be safe and, perhaps serve as documentation of Yonah's life and a source of some information for others... should others ever be able to see it. I'm still at odds as to whether or not to make it public again. The matter of the local "Dee E. See" - I will NOT use the acronym because I most sincerely have NO trust in ANY of the lot... nor of a great many others who might just be evil enough to have Yonah suffer the same miserable, Hellish fate those "A. Jents" inflicted on a precious little "stwirrl" and "rackoun"... post nothing "traceable" or "searchable"... call it what you will, the facts speak for themselves. Anyway, there was work to be done and I had NO agenda other-wise than to spent the day in with my BESTEST AND ONLY TRUE FRIEND AND FAMILY!)
I made ONE trip out the door to check on the status of our heating oil to make sure we have all we need for the coming cold nights. "Spring" won't be here until about mid-May so... Once that was done, I was back at the desk and Yonah had his breakfast and to my AMAZEMENT, took to flying about the room, picking up twigs from the floor of his house and up to the wall shelf to shred some of the dried corn leaves in the pot up there! AND he was FULL of energy and ambition this morning!
I put our "American Standards" on the "radio" (which is an old mobile phone with WiFi) and got to business.
It's really interesting, I find, to note that Yonah DOES appear to enjoy those "standards"... show tunes and the likes. He's got a lot of energy, seems more active and then, more at ease when we play that station. AND, one of the songs they play is... one of our nightly tunes in the lullabies... "Let's Face The Music And Dance"! And when it plays, I can see Yonah's acknowledgement of it (so I have to assure him that it's not "seepie-nigh-night" time yet... in case he wonders what's going on with the day-light coming in through the windows and hearing that familiar melody).
About the morning's "lessons"... After a quick check of social media and a little correspondence with our AMAZING Friend, "Teillady" who'd replied to a message I'd sent her a while ago, and her posts of her "flock", I was curious to see if there isn't some way to ascertain the age of a mourning dove. I'm still curious about Yonah's age because, this morning, as happens, my own age came to mind (70 years, this year, for me) and with it, the anxiety of wondering what I ought to be doing to ensure HIS best interests... should anything happen that would separate us. The very thought of not being here for him, him having to adjust to a new "home", the fright of having some-one "taking him in" and taking him for granted, not willing or able to dedicate any integral time or care... Once again, I have to document:
Yonah is the ONLY reason I take ANY care of me and my health and safety. From air and water purity to my general state of health... With-out him, I'd just be sitting about... "waiting for God", as the expression goes.
And EVERY step, action I take is done with the awareness of the BLESSING that he is to and for me and EVERY bit of it is given with my entire being... with humble JOY!
That said, I started a little "internet search" only to find that there are only 2 "ages" that the "experts" use:
"Juvenile" or "Adult".
The "gauge" is the colouration of the "primary covert" fathers on the wings for the most part. "White" on the feathers indicates "juvenile" and once that's passed, the next "classification" is "adult" but there was no definitive way to tell the precise (or even close) age. Oh well... we're sticking with the "August 2020" "hatch-date". It's vague, but of course it is, Yonah came into this world in a little nest some-where, nurtured by an obviously caring couple some-where "out there". (I wish his parents could see him today! OH! What they'd think! How I wonder! Then too, Yonah and I have been together for almost 5 years now and with the "average life-time" of a mourning dove, even considering this morning's claims of "2-4 years"... it breaks my heart to think that maybe, his parents are... gone, already. BUT IF there's ANY truth to "life after"... MAYBE THEY DO KNOW he's here and being LOVED and protected! I can hope... and dream.)
ANYWAY... WHAT I DID LEARN THIS MORNING IS (FROM THE SYNOPSIS OF INFORMATION ACROSS THE INTERNET, AND I QUOTE ):
· DOVES ARE GENERALLY DOCILE AND INTELLIGENT
· THEY CAN DISTINGUISH BETWEEN PAINTINGS BY van GOUGH AND CHAGALL.
· THE CAN RECOGNIZE THE ENTIRE ENGLISH ALPHABET.
· BIRDS CAN EXHIBIT GRIEF AND MOURNING RITUALS, INCLUDING DROOPING POSTURE, LISTLESSNESS, AND CRYING TEARS.
SO !!! ALL THIS TIME THAT I'VE BEEN BELIEVING THAT YONAH DOES UNDERSTAND WORDS AND PHRASES AND THE NAMES OF EACH OF HIS "BIRDIES" IT WASN'T JUST ME "ANTHROPOMORPHISING" !!! IT'S A FACT! AND...
NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE, OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY AND IFL SCIENCE
HAVE DOCUMENTED IT ! (IT ALSO HELPS TO KNOW THAT I'M NOT JUST SOME CRAZY OLD MAN WITH A BIT TOO MUCH FOCUS ON THIS LITTLE GUY... "THE OLD MAN WITH THAT BIRD", AS IT WERE") SO WHAT A MORNING THIS HAS BEEN! AND WHAT A LESSON I'VE LEARNT TODAY! SO IT APPEARS I HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WHAT I SAY TO AND AROUND YONAH!
IT ALSO SUBSTANTIATES MY RESOLVE THAT "HUMANS" ARE *** NOT ***, BY ANY STRETCH OF IMAGINATION OR OTHER, THE "SUPERIOR" SPECIES IN CREATION. I STAND FIRM: THESE LITTLE ONES, FROM DOGS THROUGH BIRDS, CAN LEARN HUMAN SPEECH, AND IN YONAH'S CASE, THREE HUMAN LANGUAGES - SINCE I SPEAK TO HIM IN ENGLISH, FRENCH AND GERMAN - BUT HUMANS? WE HEAR "BARKS", "CHIRPS", "COO'S", "MEOWS" AND HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO DEFINITIVE COMPREHENSION OF ANY OF IT! NOT TO MENTION, THERE ARE SO MANY HUMANS WHO CAN'T LEARN A DIFFERENT HUMAN LANGUAGE! THERE! "SUPERIORITY" ESTABLISHED, AND INDEED, I AM ALL THE MORE BLESSED WITH THE COMPANIONSHIP OF THIS LITTLE ONE HERE.
IT'S BEEN SUCH A FASCINATING ALMOST-5-YEARS WITH YONAH. EACH MOMENT OF EACH DAY HAS HELD SOMETHING "UNIQUE" AND A LESSON TO BE LEARNED, AND HE'S BEEN AN INDESCRIBABLY TEACHER. HE KEEPS THIS OLD MIND GROWING AND MY REGRET IS LEARNING SO MUCH SO "LATE" IN MY LIFE-TIME.
IT ALSO REACHES DEEPER INTO MY HEART WHEN I PONDER "NOT BEING AROUND" FOR HIM, BUT STRENGTHENS MY DETERMINATION TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M WITH HIM... FOR HIS LIFE-TIME! I WILL! AND I'LL DO ALL HUMANLY POSSIBLE TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT HE ALWAYS GETS THE VERY BEST-POSSIBLE IN ALL ASPECTS!
WHAT A MORNING! WHAT A DAY! WHAT A LOVE!
So... it's already 16.15 and I'm at the desk, typing away. The rest of the day has been quite a little "something" (especially after this morning's "discovery").
For one thing, it's been a sun-filled day, in spite of the lingering COLD out-side. But it's been SO sun-filled that, this morning, as I was typing along and attending to general "human stuff", I happened to look up and over to Yonah's house to see...
11.00 and THERE HE WAS... SOAKING IN HIS POOL! Just as fine and comfy as could be! The sun was shining directly into his house and the pool so it was such a delight to see! And I managed to get the camera up to capture the moment on videos with the "radio" as "back-ground music"!
The first and shorter video is of the Little Guy just "lounging" in the water as Ella Ftizgerald sings "Slumming on Park Avenue"! The second video is a bit longer... because I set the camera in his house and had to step out of the room with "It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" and some splashing about and the "departure from the pool"! WHAT A KICK!
And when I returned to the room, there he was, on his beach, in the sun-shine... basking, soaking in the sun-shine! 25° in the room too! So... a swim, a splash and a wonderful bask in the warmth. Hey! And out-side those windows, a temperature of about -5! Yonah was in the mood for a swim and regardless of the weather... HE GOT HIS SWIM! It isn't "the World" but... I did "good" by putting that pool in his house for him. (I need to know when I do something right by him.)
This after-noon, we managed to settled-down together, on time (routine being so important in this house... as much as we can hold one) and had a nice little lunch and after, of course, I went to grab a little "lie-down" with a 30-minute timer set. Right away, "company"... on my chest, then on my leg and I dozed-off. When the alarm sounded, I woke... and was alone! But I'll never know HOW he knows, but Yonah sensed I was awake and came rushing to the futon and was in such a playful mood! So, indeed, of course, we PLAYED! With Burdie-, Bustello- and Baby-Birides... on the futon, until it was obvious... "enough was enough". And so... I returned to the usual "people nonsense" of the house-hold until dinner time.
I was "reminded" at almost 16.00, with a "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" that the clock had been ticking the time away and it was time to start getting to the "end of day" tasks of putting my dinner on the hob. Honestly, again, as always, I'll never understand how, but Yonah seems to have some sort of "clock" of his own. No matter the season, he "knows" when certain things are supposed to be done and if I'm not doing them, he reminds me. (One of these days, if I could ever clear my mind enough, I could write a book! Although, with this Journal... I believe I've done that. Too much reading for most, I'm very sure. But if this were ever to "go to print"... beats the "experts"! Especially considering the "experts" were so ready and willing to turn their backs on both of us... in October 2020.)
So yes, indeed, we both managed to settle in his room, together, for our evening meals, together.. and from there, our day FINALLY began to wind-down! At 19.30, my PRECIOUS PRECIOUS LITTLE LOVE was on his door perch... beside me as I sat at the desk... he was snoozing! Seeing him so calm, comfortable, in his own house, safe, warm, protected, calms my soul. But of course, seeing him dozing off... Poor Little Guy! Tired... and here I sit... keeping him from getting to sleep when he's ready. If we could work it out so that we "follow the sun", getting to sleep when it sets, waking when it rises... something I want to work on... if we can. (The sun still sets a bit "early"... but come the Summer... we'll see how it all works out.)
OK. 20.23 and we're packing the day in and wrapping it up. It's MUCH later than I'm comfortable with but my Heart-and-Soul is on his roof-top... nest-coo'ing, so it's time for me to hurry through settling-in and settling-down for the night. More on the matters, in tomorrow's instalment here. Sunday is done...
Monday 03 March:
Oh, but last night... it was SO late getting to tucking-in by the time I got to all the "closing of day" tasks. Even now, at 5.48 this morning, I'm feeling guilty. Poor Little Yonah! He was obviously tired because there were no little games, no flying about the room. PRECIOUS Little Guy; he was on his roof-top as I was attending evening ablutions, and this time, he had no interest in my "teeth-brushing". In fact, when I'd put his house together for the night, he'd been on the desk shelf and didn't come to play with curtains or the back-board. And when, at long last, I got back into the room to settle the day, he'd flown back over to the roof-top to wait for me to get things together for us for the night.
The moment I started the nightly serenade, he calmly strolled over to the platform there, started his evening preening as if "on cue". (He DOES recognise that, "when the music starts, the day is closing" and it's time for the "ride home"... I'm now more aware of what this Little Guy actually understands and how much our "routine" means to him after reading into just how truly BRILLIANT he and his are. Another lesson, more learnt, "continuing education". It IS, as "Teillady" said in her message on the social media: we learn from experience. When I think of how many more of "us" there must be "out there"... left to our own to figure things out. Brings to mind my own mother who, so very many years ago had said, some-what in jest but so true: children don't come with owners' manuals, we do what we believe is the best and hope we do it right. Well? Yes we do. And one of the reasons why I value "Teillady's" advice so much is because her little "Arnie" is a starling... another Little One of the "wild". Granted, she's been taking care of him from since his "hatchling" days so she truly is the only life he's ever known, but I've no doubt, just as with Yonah, the "natural instincts" are there, with Arnie and so, "Teillady" and I are in a similar situation: these are not "pet shop" beings. The major difference is: she has the opportunity to take Arnie to a veterinarian... I shouldn't dare bring Yonah to one, for fear of... well... there's more to the close of day yesterday on that but for right now...)
So... the moment I started singing, he walked calmly to the platform, attended his own "evening ablutions" and waited for me to lift him up and "sail home" for the night, and the very moment we got to the night roost, as casually as could be, he simply stepped off the platform and onto the perch and proceeded to settle in comfort.
I continued on with setting the futon for me and getting all things ready for the night ahead. (Another cold one, at that... in fact, this morning, a quick check of the temperature out-side: -21°! And yes, the usual "chill" in the rest of the house. Again, I'm thankful the Little Guy has his own little heater in his house. And yes, as I type, there's fresh food out for the Yardies already; no doubt, they'll need it this morning!)
When all was ready and done, a couple of kisses, I closed the door to his house and got me to the futon, continued the lullabies and watched as the little silhouette tucked-in for a night's rest. He was so tired he let me get through the entire repertoire, softly, and, again... 21.00, the last light was turned off. Sunday, closed, our week-end, complete.
This morning, I was awake at about 4.30 but laid on the futon, considering whether or not to get up and star the day. There was nothing in particular that I could or had to do so early, and as I pondered, the time passed. At 5.00 I decided to give it a go... and got up, silently, almost expecting to be "called", got to the door and silently closed it, headed to the kitchen... to attend morning kettle and such... and to wait for the "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"... and here I am...
While I have the time, coffee at hand, the quiet of the morning... I just want to take the opportunity to throw something in here because it's VERY much on my mind and heart, even first thing this morning:
Note: about yesterday... yet another incident involving the "confiscation" of an animal made the social media! A story struck the media about our "friends" with another branch of the "Dee E. Sea" busting into an elderly woman's house to confiscate a little deer that she rescued and adopted years ago! The Little One was perfectly happy and healthy. The woman had been going all-in and all-out to make sure the Little One was perfectly cared-for and cared-about. She even went to the lengths of making sure she had all the necessary documentation ("documentation", as if paper and ink make things "correct"... I liken it to the "avian veterinarians" who told me "We don't ..." and the multitude of "documents" complied and published by "experts"...) that are called for. And for YEARS she's LOVED this little deer... In the same fashion as the very same "Dee. E. Sea" busted into a "rescue farm" in NY and after a 5-hour house-wrecking binge, took a "stwirrl" and a "rackoon" (I daren't spell those words out here), claiming they needed to "test" for rabies AND accusing one of them of biting one of the miserable invaders, murdered the Little Ones... "Spite"... heartless, mindless, soul-less misery. It's very much on my mind now because I know there are people who are just Hellish "out there" who we see DO and those who WILL be just as evil as they can possibly be before taking their place in Hell, itself.
All I'm going to document here, with-out ANY hesitation is: I repeatedly refer to Yonah as my "Heart-and-Soul" and that, with-out him, I've NO reason to maintain my own health and well-fare. When he came into my existence, I was simply "waiting for God" as it were. I know he's not "eternal" and though I'm not "prepared" for "that day when", as long as he's here, I'm here for him. Take him? Who-ever does so will be taking TWO lives... I will NOT tolerate a world with-out this Little Guy. So let it be documented... and known. If you have THAT much "hate" in your being... "Nature", "Karma", "God", what-ever you want to call it, will attend to that.
Well OK then! 6.28 and through the door... the softest little "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"... My HEART-AND-SOUL is awake! Time to get a day started! (I LIVE for this!)
13.00 POOR BABE! The morning went by with me being in the kitchen and him in his house and room, hopping from house to futon with Burdie and back.
This morning, I got right up from the kitchen table and quietly went to the door of his room to listen for a moment and then, silently opened it and waited for some kind of response... All silence in the dark room, so I crept over to his house and looked in... That PRECIOUS LITTLE HEAD BOBBED, turned toward me and WHAT A WING-STRETCH!
"You awake?" I asked quietly.
"woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo"came the answer... nice and CLEAR! OH YEAH! HE WAS AWAKE! So I opened his door, popped my head in for a little "Good morning" kiss and got a FACE FULL! THERE COULDN'T HAVE BEEN A MORE PERFECT START TO ANY DAY! There he was, my Heart-and-Soul, safe, sound, and happy to see me and I was in PARADISE!
Poops? 9 ABSOLUTELY PERFECT LITTLE POOPS, UNDER THE NIGHT ROOST! SO... Happy mood, healthy tummy, and a restful night last night! Only thing left to do: open the window to a new day!
No sooner did I get that done and got the room settled for the day ahead when THERE HE WAS, ON HIS DOOR PERCH, FOR KISSES AND CUDDLES! AND THEN... NEST COO'S... OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN! OH! THIS IS WHY I TAKE CARE OF ME... SO THAT I'M HERE TO KEEP THIS LITTLE LIFE HAPPY, HEALTHY, PROTECTED AND TO GIVE HIM ALL THAT I HUMANLY CAN GIVE HIM TO KEEP HIM SAFE, HAPPY AND HEALTHY!
The morning was established... and the SUN? It came POURING into the room SO BRILLIANTLY in spite of the chill out-side and he did get some time to BASK, gloriously.
Before I got started in the kitchen though, I stopped into the room for kisses and cuddles and he hopped onto my shoulder so... I went about the house, getting things settled and HE RODE RIGHT ALONG WITH ME... PECKING AT MY CHEEK AND TUGGING AT MY EAR! SO COMFY IN THE HOOD OF MY SWEAT-SHIRT! IT WAS MAGNSIFICENT! HEAVEN!
AND... there were flights out to the living-room as I worked in the kitchen. I wonder how many were "reconnaissance" to check on where I was. Most of them were "fly-throughs"...he came in, flew round, and went on about his business. What-ever they were.... it was PURE DELIGHT! The sound of those little wings and seeing him soaring about... Put me in mind of how he has the whole house and isn't "confined" to a little "cage" any-where here. This house isn't "large" by any means, but it surely isn't a "cage". And though his "house" is a "large dog crate" with space for a pool and loft (it truly is), the house offers more room and space to travel in and a change of scenery. (If I could, and I'm looking, we'd have a larger space for him. One day... one day...)
20.00 and we're headed for a quick run to get to tuck-in tonight. My fault, of course. And all the while I was occupied at the desk, my Little LOVE was on his door perch, snoozing, waiting so patiently. These are the moments when I feel "irresponsible" BUT.... no sooner had I gone over to him, held him in my hands for kisses and neck-strokes, he took wing and up to the desk shelf. There's just no telling with him... and THAT is ALL a part of what makes him my LITTLE MIRACLE... MY HEART-AND-SOUL, with-out whom I will not exist.
This after-noon was GLORIOUS, in that the sun shone BRILLIANTLY through the windows all through the day! AND... with one quick exception when I RAN a house-hold errand, we were together!
AND, I have to say, it was equally GLORIOUS...
As I went about the tasks of the day, my Little LOVE came along for several trips round the place... on my shoulder! WE WERE REALLY TOGETHER today! And as I put things in order in the kitchen, I got tugs on the ear, pecks on the cheek, he toddled across my shoulder - for better views of what was going on.
Right after an early supper, I HAD to have a lie-down (my back... this "scoliosis" is acting-up again and after cooking and running about, a lie-down helped). I didn't snooze and it wasn't for but about 20 minutes, BUT THERE HE WAS, ON MY LEG, ALL THE WHILE! I'm convinced he KNOWS when I'm not at my 100% and comes to comfort me. If he only knew... and I don't doubt, for a moment, that he DOES KNOW! He's my life-line, my sole reason for doing anything at all, for "being" at all. And whilst we were on the futon, we played with Burdie-Birdie too! OH! But did we ever play together! When I got back up, it was as though I was in perfect condition again! He does that.
Right now, the little "LED" desk lamp is on, our nightly music instrumental is playing and he's directly above me on the desk shelf, watching as I type. The only thing left is my "teeth-brushing" and getting into my night-wear (and setting the futon for me for the night) and I'm wondering how that'll go tonight... more curiosity about the teeth? He DOES seem SO fascinated about that. I think it's the sound of "brushing" and the motion of my hand. SWEETEST LITTLE LOVE!
Then too... I wonder... when I step out of the room, where he'll be when I return... Ride home? We'll see. For now... it's time to "close shop"... OH! If only we could safely be together through the night. Tonight is one of those nights where I wish I could shrink me down to be in his house with him. I could curl on the loft! Or, if I knew it would be safe, I'd let him sleep on the futon if he wanted. But that would involve keeping a light on through the night and I don't know that he'd sleep comfortably with a light on all night. So? So... we work with the faults and flaws of Creation... at least we're in the same room... I'm right here, with him... in case...
Tuesday 04 March:
'twas another "quick business" of tucking-in last night... to my surprise... and relief, to be honest. Straight home from roof-top to night perch. No "chase". And my Little LOVE was obviously ready for tucking-in for the night. Sweet Little One!
We managed to get through all and light off before 21.00, which is what I try for, no matter the season or... With my Little LOVE waking when he does, I always hope he gets at least 10 hours of rest every night, at the VERY least. The "experts" say he should get 10-14 hours and I know he doesn't get 14. He DOES snooze during the day and he can do that, safely, with no concerns about anything that could cause him any danger or harm. I can't give him "perfection" or the world into which he was rightfully born, but I CAN and DO give him a place of safety, a "world of his own", as it were, where he can bask in the sun-shine, splash in his own pool and snooze when he wants to... calmly.
This morning... 6.22 HE WOKE ME! I was awake at 4.30 then again at 5.10... but I'd dozed back to sleep and was dreaming when the room filled with the sweet, soft
"woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo"...
and as I was waking, getting my "bearings", as it were, in the still-relatively dark room... almost right away came
"woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo"! OH MY! I can't help but wonder if he hadn't been awake for some time already and looking down from his night perch, waiting for me to get my lazy self up!
If the coo's didn't get a message across... when I did get up, opened the door to his house, greeted him with a sincere "Good morning to YOU!" and popped in for "Good morning" kisses... I DID get some... not many. They were "sincere", not the quick pecks that I get when it appears he's simply "following some protocol" (as if he's thinking "Well, since you're here..."). But there were precious few and they were rather brief. SOME-birdie wanted out of the house and on with the day!
I did get a quick poop check: Poops: 9 ever-so perfect but they seemed rather dry because no spots or halos on the bit of kitchen roll (poopie rug) and some seem ed to have bounced as they fell. But for the most part, they were under the night roost so there must be some moisture in them originally so he isn't passing "dry stools". Other-wise, they were healthy. So his little digestive system is fine and he had a calm night last night so all was well for the morning.
I got to my usual morning routine, putting the kettle on and today's "agenda" was to get some serious "house-keeping" done on my Little LOVE's house. So we passed on the regular water change in the pool and I attended the rest of "first thing in the morning people nonsense" for the rest of this old house AND... WOW! It was as if Yonah knew what was coming and he wanted to make sure it got attended-to QUICKLY and SOON because as I went about the house and then settled at the desk to "record" things, he was ALL OVER THE HOUSE... ALL OVER THE ROOM AND ON MY SHOULDER, RIDING ALONG, WITH LITTLE PECKS ON MY CHEEK AND TUGS AT MY EAR! TALK ABOUT "SUPERVISION"! I WAS ON "PROBATION"! AND IT WAS DIVINE! And he wasn't going to let me waste a moment!
SO... as soon as I got the "little things" out of the way... we were OFF AN RUNNING AND GETTING TO TAKING HIS HOUSE APART!
He's never "happy" when I take things out of his house and he makes it quite obvious. But this morning, out came his pool, and the little trees... the trays of sands, the trays covered with kitchen roll. His house was "empty"! And he kept flying about the room, and onto his roof-top, into the house to check the progress. He always does when it's "house-keeping" day and it's really fascinating to see how much attention he pays to every little change, movement, and he obviously notices that "his" belongings have been moved and removed!
I moved along as quickly as possible (and I have to add that, over the years, I've come to learn how to accomplish so much in much less time than it originally took me; it used to be almost 5 hours from start to finish but today...). In just over 3 hours, we got his house apart, cleaned, wiped-down, his pool cleaned and the plumbing for the fountain, flushed... fresh sand under the pool and on his "beach", AND ALL the kitchen roll changed! When I was finished, it was SO obvious that he was SO HAPPY!
No sooner had his room come back together and settled, he was IN, checked his loft, then went over to check his food, had a bite to eat and me? Well, it was time for me to grab a bite for my lunch! WHAT a morning of non-stop "action", motion, activity! Quite the change from our usual calm mornings.
After lunch, I SO needed to grab a little lie-down and so, I set a timer for 30 minutes and hit the futon. AND, no sooner had my head touched the pillow... there he was... right on the pillow, beside my head, and for a moment he actually made him-self quite cosy there! As I started to actually relax, he head down to my chest (as if to check on me) and then, he toddled down to my leg, his favourite spot to snooze with me. I could feel him nestling and I started to doze off... until...
30 minutes, the alarm sounded and he was STILL there, on my leg, all so comfy, and he made NO attempt at getting up! It seemed he wanted to stay longer! So... of course I waited a bit longer...
But I had to change the filter for the house furnace! OH! I didn't want to get up from the futon. I had Burdie-, Bustelo- and Baby-Birdies on my chest, my Little LOVE on my leg (at my shin, of all places), and HE was REALLY just snuggled right there, looking SO comfortable! BUT... when he saw that I was awake, and I started to tell him that I had to get up to change the filter down-stairs, he toddled up to my chest and then off to the desk. I was "allowed" to get up and get back to "business"... WHAT an after-noon!
19.22 and the PRECIOUS LITTLE GUY is on his roof-top,.. time to get to the windows. Waters changed ans it WAS a "clean house" for about 10 minutes this morning before lunch.
SO TOO FUNNY! I managed to get the trays out from under the pool and the beach, emptied the old sand into a the bowl where it gets washed/rinsed, boiled and baked (of course), washed them and the pool and put fresh, clean sand in trays, fresh kitchen roll into the other 2 trays, and even put in fresh food on the food shelf. All the while, the Little Guy flew about the rest of the house and spent time in the room, watching (supervising) for a bit. THEN, no sooner had I gotten the fresh water in the pool, the little fountain up and running, he came RUSHING in... for an early lunch... AND SEEDS ALL OVER THE PLACE AGAIN! I HAD to laugh! I just HAD to laugh! Aside from less seed in the sand at the pool, his house looked as though nothing had ever been touched! I'll NEVER understand HOW these Little Characters manage to get ANYTHING to actually eat, with the way their food goes every which way. But... there we have it. At least I know the place is clean... and the pool.
AND today, the fresh, new, clean filter went into the house furnace and all the in-take filters washed and cleaned so, clean air too!
Interesting though... tonight, after dinner, he headed out to the living-room! It wasn't quite dark out-side yet so there was still day-light in the living-room with-out any lights on. But it was darker there than in his room where the desk lamp was on. He was out there so long that I had to put the floor lamp on in the living-room and the table-lamp in the kitchen so he could navigate his way back to his room.
When he spends that much time out of his room, I always wonder why. I'm happy that he has other rooms and spaces to go to, but when he doesn't appear to want to be in his room, I wonder why.
Meanwhile... we didn't get a lot of sun-shine today and forecast is for rain. And today, I was "at home" all day. Had a couple of errands to run but decided to stay with my LOVE and I'm SO glad I did.
Now? Time to start getting ready for "tuck-in"... hopefully we won't be up at 21.00 again. But he HAS had snoozes during the day... still... ON WITH THE FUN! (of a night)
OK! SO! It's 20.27... out flurry of "doing" is DONE! I'm clean. Yonah's house is clean. The filter in the house furnace is clean which means the air in the house is clean. I managed to hoover, dust, got all the washing-up done after our dinners together. The house it settled and even the blinds and curtains are closed after, yes, another, change of water in the pool. And Crazy Little Bird here, played a little with the curtains tonight but not too much when I put up the back-board. (I'm quite surprised he's even awake after today's mayhem.) But he DID fly ALL over the room as I got things settled for the night and right now, he's already on the night roost! Maybe it's time... I know it is for me. So, right now... I'm closing the day here... we'll report tonight, tomorrow morning... it's time for "seepie-nigh-night"!
Wednesday 05 March:
And so... last night was another one of those "amazing tuck-ins". No fuss. No "chase". And yes, MUCH later than I'd expected. But, as I prepared me for "tuck-in" my WONDERFUL Little Guy headed up to his roof-top platform to patiently await his "chauffeur" and indeed, it's become so obvious that "rides home" are now "officially" part of our "tuck-in". He casually stepped over from the front of his house to the platform as soon as he saw me setting the futon for me and waited, with his little evening preen (ablutions, I imagine). And as I began the serenade (also so "officially" part of the night), he made it obvious that he was ready to "go home", with a little "bracing of the feet" for "lift-off".
All the way to his door, he preened and when I paused for a brief moment, he stepped closer to the edge of the platform so that he could alight on arrival! EXCUSE ME, to be sure!
Sure enough, got to the night roost and another ever-so-casual step from platform to perch. "Thank you Jeeves. Tah."
I HAD to laugh...
We DID make it through the whole repertoire last night and I could see that he really WAS tired! Poor Little Guy, I kept him up too late! Not even a little "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" and I could see, as I looked up, the little silhouette... all tucked for the night.
Last light off at... 20.55...
This morning, before I even had a chance to get up (I was semi-awake), at 6.11 came the "morning call to order" with a resounding "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"! Nice and clear too.
And when I got to the door of his house, I could see my PRECIOUS LITTLE GUY taking a little wing stretch!
When I opened his door with a "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" I received a BEAUTIFUL LITTLE "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" in reply! So, indeed, it was time to get up and on with the dreary day ahead. "Dreary" because, although a bit warmer (above freezing for a change), "rain" in the forecast. And yes, it did rain, lightly for most of the morning. Thankfully, I had to plans or reasons to leave the house today so we looked forward to a day together, and I had a little "shopping", on-line to get to for us.
Seems out "carbon monoxide" monitor is at "end of life" which made it "beep" through most of the night, last night and at one point, I had to get up, after several "disturbances" last night that woke me and I HOPE didn't disturb Yonah, and remove the new battery just installed. (I was thinking that there was too much carbon monoxide in the house and was in quite the panic! All I could think of was "canaries in a coal mine" and, in the first place, didn't sleep well at all through the night, worried about my Heart-and-Soul suffocating in his sleep - a notion that not only sickens me physically, to my core, but also puts me in a general mood of HORROR! It wasn't until this morning in my searching on the internet when I was made aware of the "code" in the "beeps"... 5 being "end of life" meaning the monitor has to be replaced. SO... OFF TO SHOPPING! With Winter weather, the windows have been closed, saved for the little opening at the top of one window in Yonah's room which stays open, no matter the weather, to make sure that there's some ventilation. But, none-the-less, with the house furnace running, as it does, I'll take no chances.)
Anyway... KISSES this morning were WONDERFUL again and though not "excessive", so to speak, they were SO sincere! No matter the weather, KISSES make the world a place worth being in! And this morning's kisses were such a GIFT!
Sure enough... we opened the curtains and blinds and out-side, grey skies, light drizzle, and the snow-banks melting away. BUT, it was certainly a welcomed change to open blinds and not have a chill radiating into the room. (Sadly, not yet the time to get the back yard ready for visits yet... we're back to "Winter" come the end of the week.)
It didn't take moments before... WOOSH... and wing-whistles... and the Little Guy was on the wing... up, off and out of the room to the living-room! Clear voice, kisses and energy this morning! GLORIOUS!
Poops? WELL... 10 of them this morning and every one of them just as perfect as they could be... even the size of most of them was "normal"! They're still rather on the "dry" side though, and I wonder about that, but I've seen him drinking water so...
One item of "concern" lately: the feathers. Not only is he dropping flight feathers from his wings, I'm noticing the little bits of "white" on his head and neck! It looks rather like he's "getting old" but on closer inspection I can see... A MOULT IS COMING! HOW I SO DREAD THAT! ESPECIALLY NOW, AFTER ALMOST A MONTH OF THE SILENCE OF HIS "NESTING MOOD"! The absence of his voice, his coo's, his calls is, for me, some of the most oppressive "silence" imaginable. But and so, this morning, I put more fresh food in his dish and mixed some very-finely ground sun-flower seeds in there and mixed it all together so that he gets SOME of them. Protein! Next, I'm going to try to get him to eat some eggs. He doesn't like them, for some reason. But he's going to need the extra protein.
Oddly enough, I saw, on our "social media feed" another person who has a little parrot who's had some troubles of late with seizures and has gone "blind"! (How THAT terrifies me too... that sense of worthlessness, the inability to "do" anything about the sicknesses AND the thought of Yonah not being able to see well enough to fly about the house as he does... It's nothing short of absolute terror. The only consolation: knowing that he won't be prey in his own house, he wouldn't have to worry about predators or having to go in search of food and water. I CAN and DO provide him with that much safety.) Well, in one of the posts, the Little Guy on-line was eating raspberries and, I believe the poster is a woman so, I'll say "she" posted that the veterinarian urged her to provide... raspberries! SO! We have to add more raspberries to our house-hold shopping list and now that I know, I'll have to make sure to take time during the day to hold them for Yonah - because he won't eat them any other way. Not sure what's in them, but if veterinarians suggest... so he gets.
Well... it's already 19.20 and another day has passed us by all too quickly. The "radio" is playing "American Standards", the Little Guy is on his roof-top. Fresh water in the pool, his house is almost settled for the night. ONE OF HIS WINDOWS IS OPEN! AND THE ROOM TEMPERATURE IS 24°! The sound of the rain on the metal roof of the cellar shed out-side his window is a sound not heard in such a long time and what a difference from the crashing of snow! Humidity in the room is up from 16% to 22%. I watch that because I'm to understand that mourning doves prefer temperatures around 21 and humidity around 50%. We don't get all that during Winter... and in Summer, this is closer to what it's like for most of the while here, though, for a couple of weeks in August, we can get up to 30° with much higher humidity. Still, it's a delight to have the window open again! Nice air!
We DID order the new "carbon monoxide" monitor today AND... a new screen for his old lap-top! (And new pumps for his fountain so we're never with-out those.) So now, in his room, we have the thermometer for the temperature, the hygrometer for the humidity and soon, a new carbon monoxide monitor. Next on the list: a complete air-quality monitor. (How I just wish we could find another place to move to where we don't have to be so concerned about all of this... "Time"... I hope when the nicer weather arrives this year, we'll find "better-suitable quarters".)
AND during the day, in spite of the drear (yes, we had the UV light on today), OH... as I worked along at the desk, SEVERAL VISITS TO MY SHOULDER AGAIN... FOR EAR TUGS AND CHECK-PECKS! AND... MY LITTLE LOVE CAME WITH ME AS I PREPARED MY LUNCH IN THE KITCHEN, WATCHING, AS HE DOES, MY EVERY MOVE! He allowed me a 30-minute snooze after lunch - alone today, I'm sad to say, but he was in his loft until the alarm sounded and THEN he came over to the futon.
THE MOST FUN? I WAS ON THE PHONE AT THE DESK THIS AFTER-NOON, TO ORDER THE SCREEN FOR HIS LAP-TOP AND HE COO'ED ALL THE WHILE! AND, AT ONE POINT, HE CAME OVER TO MY SHOULDER AND TODDLED TO MY BACK! I'm ALWAYS just SO HUMBLED when he wants to be with me! And these days, when he simply comes over when the mood strikes it... BEYOND WORDS! We REALLY ARE OUR OWN FLOCK! And I'm just completely humbled and grateful!
No sooner had all of our little "house-hold-business" been completed for the day... I was "closing the books" after the shopping and suddenly, there he was, at the desk, on the lap-top with a hearty "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"... the clock read 16.05... TIME FOR ME TO PUT MY DINNER ON THE HOB! HE KNOWS... HE KNOWS THE TIME! (I'm wondering what it's going to be like come Sunday with "Day-Light Savings" when the "clocks" are set ahead an hour. I'll have to check back on this Journal to see how me managed last year. Poor Little Guy... but truth be told, I do my best to follow HIS lead on this anyway. HIS "clock" it the day-light and night-time... the "Natural" order. So it's better I follow him. I always say: I do NOT impose "human" on him. He's not a "pet", I will,, forever, see him as "wild", no matter how close we might become. So it's HIS way... and certainly not mind.
OK. 19.32 and I'm going to wrap this here. I'd really rather we not be up and about at 21.00... so we'll try again... He's been pecking at the seeds on the floor of his house as I've been typing - "night music" is on... soft - and yes, he's eating the food in his dish too so I'm glad for that. The seeds on his floor have no sun-flower seeds... so we'll see...
20.06 and the Little Character is on his roof-top... "ride home"? We did play a little with the "curtain critter" and the "fingers on the back-board" at "window-closing". And I gave a try at moving the new "paper birds" mobile to his orange tree branch to see if he'd play with it... Nope... NO interest. In fact, it looks a bit like he REALLY doesn't like it/them at all so? We live, we try, we learn... they're off to the little "branch" on the book-case by the air purifier.
BUT... he's coo'ing "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" and nest-coo'ing... the clock is running away with-out us... so 'tis time to wrap... the day is done... We'll pick up where we leave off, tomorrow... "seepie-nigh-night" time...
Thursday 06 March:
(19.14 It's been a non-stop day today again!)
The Little Guy is on his roof-top after having had his dinner and a little snack after and, as I changed the water in the pool this evening, he'd been snoozing on the floor of his house but woke when I started the running back and forth. And yes, we had but a briefest moment of playing with the curtains but he really wasn't interested. He played from his "beach" in his house and then toddled away as I installed the back-board. Looks like some-birdie is tired tonight so I'm going to try to get today's notes together and get us tucked-in before too late. The "night music instrumental" is playing and the house is all settled so...)
Las night, yes, there was a little ride home from the roof-top and again, last night, there really wasn't any fuss made about it. I was a little surprised because it was earlier than "recent" tuck-ins, so I can only say that he was tired... and I was relieved to get us settled earlier.
And I even got to run through the full repertoire of our nightly serenade... all the lullabies. When I'd done, at 20.35, I could see the little silhouette on the night roost, all "tucked", little head between precious wings so... that was the close of our Wednesday.
This morning... I was up and about in the house already, having stepped out of the room at about 5.30 and from the kitchen, through the door at 6.46 I heard the softest "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo". I have to say, THAT was interesting to hear right away in the morning. But it made me wonder if I hadn't missed a previous call. Usually, it's "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" but this lengthy coo'ing... so I made quick work of getting to the door to his room and as I opened it, I whispered:
"Did I hear a woo-HOO?"
"woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo" came the answer! AND, when I got to his house and opened the door, he had a healthy wing-stretch and repeated his "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo!"
His little voice was "soft", not "stifled", but softer than most mornings. Again, I had such pangs of guilt wondering if he hadn't been awake for a while and I just didn't hear him. BUT...
KISSES! OH! KISSES! If I'd done wrong, I was forgiven. And we were BOTH delighted to be together at the beginning of a new day... "together".
Out-side, as I opened the curtains and blinds, the sky was over-cast but thankfully, the temperature out there wasn't as cold as recent mornings. Today's forecast was for chances of rain this morning and then promises of sun-shine later. But hey, my little Heart-and-Soul was in good health and good spirits AND CHATTY!
All the while I ran this morning's water relay and put the room together, the coo's back and forth were
"woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo" and "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo"! WOOHOO!
By 7.00, all the re-settling for the morning were complete AND this Little Guy was UP AND ON THE WING AND OUT AND ABOUT THE ROOM, AND OVER TO THE FUTON TO TODDLE ALL ABOUT. BOOM! ENERGY TOO!
Quick check of the morning Poops: 10... ten perfect little poops, even to where there were slight traces of "humidity", the faintest little hints of "moisture" from last night. And all of them were perfect in colour, composition, and all that could be hoped for. RELIEF! (He still has the sun-flower seeds in his food so... maybe that's helping with his pooping as well as the protein? I'll never be able to know with absolute certainty, but obviously, they're not "hurting". I've decided to leave all as is for another day. Tomorrow, we'll toss what's in his dish, the Yardies will get that with their regular food - they eat VERY WELL here, but then, they deserve to eat well, for as long as I'm able to provide. Fresh mix tomorrow morning. I'm just glad my Little Guy is getting his nutrition.)
THEN... after the morning routine was done, I managed to get to the desk to prepare for the rest of the day, get some "house-tasks" complete AND... AS I SAT THERE, HE CAME FLYING OVER TO MY SHOULDER FOR AN EAR-TUG AND CUDDLES AND THEN, WHEN THOSE WERE DONE, HE WENT TO THE CORNER OF THE DESK (where his lap-top usually is) AND GOT COMFY THERE, BESIDE ME!
As I worked along, taking little "breaks" for strokes on the neck and leaning over for kisses (which he seemed to REALLY enjoy today!), he made several MORE visits to my shoulder, as if to watch what I was doing.
By 9.00, I'd had at least THREE "visits" AND a little "reminder" that I had to get up to get the record of our oil and electric for the house budgeting! That's usually the hour I do those tasks and it appears Yonah has been watching and has THAT memorised as well!
This morning, we had "American Standards" playing on the radio and I DO say that I can tell that he enjoys that music! I almost have to laugh:
When I suddenly decided to go to a "radio station" on the internet that would play that music, I caught my-self thinking "OH! I've become my grand-parents." because that's the music I remember them having on the radio most often. WELL! Imagine my surprise to see how much Yonah enjoys it! So, were somebody to come into the house who was remotely familiar, it would be a step back in time for them... But if my little Heart-and-Soul enjoys the sounds...
Last night, I wondered what it is about the songs in the nightly serenade that he seems to enjoy and I can't help but think it's the rise-and-fall of the notes and the sound of some of the words like "Ruh" (peace) in "Stille Nacht" and "früh" (early) in "Guten Abend Gut' Nacht". They DO sound a bit like coo'ing or some other "bird-song". What-ever it is, between those tunes and "American Standards"... and his old "Song to the Moon" (Dvořák) which is the very first melody he ever coo'ed to, repeatedly, it truly is obvious that this Little One has a particular, though some-what eclectic taste in music and he makes it know what he likes. (Like the instrumentals at day's end.)
Let the "experts" say what they will, but living with this Little Guy tells me more than most of them will ever be able to even hope to know...
As the morning progressed, the sky cleared a bit and the sun started making an appearance and the room warmed right up to... 24,7° even before noon! The humidity was up to 24%, a big difference from the 16% of the colder days. (I'm at "full awareness" because this old house has a tendency to BURST with mould in higher humidity and I'll not have ANY of THAT again! Thankfully, the warmer days are almost past and we'll be heading back into some rather chilly nights, which I don't mind because we keep the house warm at night... the room and the little "Sweeter Heater" so...) And out-side, more of the little "mountains" of snow were melting. Best part though: no more snow crashing off the roof! That's quite a relief!
And so, our morning rolled right along... the two of us, together... right into lunch. During the morning hours, the Little Guy had his snacks, came to the desk to play, rode along with me when I stepped out to the kitchen to get more coffee... GLORIOUS IN EVERY WAY IMAGINABLE!
After our lunch, I managed a 30-minute snooze which I was allowed and awakened from with a little "visit" to my legs... the toddling is quite the PERFECT little "wake-up call". I would have stayed on the futon were it not for Yonah leaving me once he saw I was awake. (It was almost as if he knew I wanted to run a necessary errand today and was telling me "No more lounging, you've work to get to here!"
So I got me up, got me and the house together and, admittedly, all the while, tried to rationalise not leaving (as I do EVERY time I have to leave the house and my LOVE behind). BUT... at 14.00, I was out the door quickly, so to get all tasks done as soon as humanly possible.
By then, the sky had cleared completely and the sun shone poured in through the windows.
The one thing that caught my attention and worry for a brief while
Yonah was on his "food perch" just staring, at nothing in particular that I could ascertain, in his house. For a while I was terrified that he was having a seizure - because I'm aware that birds can have them. But just as quickly, when I walked into the room again, he looked up at me... and KISSES! KISSES! KISSES! (It made it more difficult to leave him but I was relieved to know he was just doing what I, my-self do some-times... just stare.)
WELL.... an hour later, almost to the minute, I returned... MORE KISSES KISSES KISSES! And I re-settled the house, and me, at the desk in the room beside my Little Love who came RIGHT OVER TO MY SHOULDER AGAIN FOR EAR-TUGS AND CHEEK-PECKS! WHAT A DAY!
I managed to get all of our "book-keeping" and "house-keeping" done for the day but at 16.00, I was still "just finishing-up" when... "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"! It's as if Yonah looks at the clock and knows that it's time for me to stop what I'm doing and put my dinner on the hob! No matter where the sun might be in the sky (or room), this has become something of a habit at the same time every evening if I'm not already up and getting dinner ready! SO... SUPPER TIME! and away we went...
Thankfully, we got to sit (well, I got to sit at the desk and my Little Guy got to be on his little "shelf" for his meal) and have our dinner together. Honestly, it's as I tell him:
Were it not for him, I likely wouldn't bother... (VERY likely). But our time together to eat is my HONOUR!
By 18.00 we were off to the evening washing-up and then... all too soon.. the nightly water relay. Another day passed... ENTIRELY TOO QUICKLY! Even with the changing of the seasons... the time, over-all, just slips away... and yes, I resent it. I still can't believe: this month is 4 years and 5 months... we're careening into 4 and a half years together... and yet, that first day is still so vividly clear in my memory... as are our fist days together. Not to mention the "advice" from the local "bird-man":
"Put it in a box with some paper and make it comfortable for what-ever...."
Four and a half years later... here we are... "We"... because with-out Yonah...
It's already 20.00... time to wrap this day up. My little Heart-and-Soul is preening on his roof-top beside me... time for my evening ablutions and... what-ever is to come next (ride home and the likes... the mystery of the evening)....
WHAT A DAY WHAT A DAY WHAT A DAY! More tomorrow...
Friday 07 March:
Indeed, as I was closing the day's Journal last night, the house was FULL of little "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo's" and when I stepped away for evening ablutions, they changed to... "woo-HOOOooo" (nest coo's), as they do of an evening, so to speak. What I didn't know was, they were coming from... the top of the book-case! Oh yes, we took a little flight from the top of the house, on the platform, up to the book-case. Silly me, even thinking that my little passenger would be patiently awaiting my return for the ride home! He was tired! And I was running LATE at 20.19! In fact, when I'd stepped back into the room just moments before, he'd been on his roof and when he saw me step into the room when I came in to let him know that I'd be there in a moment, he hopped over to his platform, ready to go!
So? SO... I made exceptionally quick work of settling the house and getting both of us tucked-in for the night... an evening's repertoire of lullabies and by 20.45, the last light was turned off and... Thursday was closed.
This morning? I was still asleep on the futon when "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" woke me... at 6.11! I'd over-slept! But I was right there, on the futon, and I know that, from his night roost, my little Heart-and-Soul could see me there, being "lazy". When I softly answered "Oh my! Looks like I'm being lazy this morning, but it's SO comfy here..." I got another "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo". As if I was being told "Yes, OK, but the sun is about to come up and the day is about to start and it's time to get up!" And... so, with-out further hesitation, I got up, and opened the door to his house, popped my head in for "apologetic Good morning" kisses. I'll suppose I was forgiven because kisses were exchanged and all was well with the world. I was off to put the kettle on and get ready for the morning water run and opening the curtains and blinds. Friday had arrived and we had a full day ahead of us!
Poops: "concerning" this morning. Only 6 in total on the "poop-rug" and all of them with "halos". I didn't see the Little Guy having a drink before settling-down last night, but I have to keep in mind the sun-flower seeds in his food too. There's extra "oil" in those, along with the protein that he needs. But today, we'll change food again, and not add the sun-flower seeds. And no peanuts either (we have plenty of those ground too). Keep an eye on "things" and check.
BUT, energy levels are quite impressive this morning, and there was a bit of "conversation" so all looks to be "OK".
And now, it's already 10.50 and the sun is pouring in through the windows and my little Heart-and-Soul is BASKING on his "beach"! And his room is back to 16% humidity, temperature is 24,5°. Seems we're back to the "Winter" conditions. But, there's fresh, clean water in his pool so there's water to splash in and for a quick drink so the humidity is good for fending-off any "mould" and such, but we don't have to worry about "dehydration".
One thing I have noticed though, in the sun-shine: feathers are looking "scruffy". Most of the wing feathers he's been leaving about the place are in wonderful condition, some are "frayed" and I always wonder about those. I'm hoping that it's not because he flies too close to the walls or furnishings in the house. And more-so, that he's not "pecking" or "plucking" at them in boredom or any other sort of "ailment". But the "scruffy" feathers are mostly on his head and neck... "Moulting"? He is due for a solid moult again. It's been quite the while since the last one, as I recall. I don't like it when he goes through that, but I do understand that it's one of "Creation's necessities". When I first noticed the "change" in his feathers, some days ago, it struck me as "aging", and of course, my heart broke to think of this Little Guy "getting old". (And reading "Teillady's" comment "Your little guy is growing up." stabbed at me. "Growing up" means "growing older" and as much as I know that's inevitable... I don't like even the thought. There are other social media accounts posting about their Little Ones.. aging and experiencing the associated ailments. "Strokes", "seizures", losses of flight and walking, blood ailments, blindness... I have no choice but to accept that neither Yonah nor I are "eternal", but, as with ALL of us blessed with the companionship of birds, I'm sure, my hope and wish is: going to sleep and simply not waking... NO PAIN, DISCOMFORT! ESPECIALLY where Yonah is concerned. He's already been in and through living HELL! I don't want him to experience any more of THAT! So, even something as relatively "slight", one might say, as a change in feathers sets me thinking... and as I commented to Teillady this very morning: it's my "over-reacting" to every little change. (She's probably getting quite the smile over my "doting"... since she's got so much more experience, with dove, starling, parrots and time. I'm just grateful to and for her and for having the good fortune to have "found" her... even if it is on social media, the internet.)
11.45 Tried again, to trim the back "claw" on his right foot again this morning. It's "curling" up-ward and I don't know that it bothers him, but I've seen him getting caught in carpeting and such, and toddling oddly, as it were. So... I've done it before, but I can't remember HOW and this morning, after several attempts at covering him with his towel... Results? A room full of little feathers and a Little Guy who obviously thought I was trying something "untoward". It does remind me of the towel I was handed by the veterinarian on our first and only visit. That too, was loaded with feathers (which I still have photos of because I was about at traumatised as Yonah was). I was beside my-self for the longest while after that... until I read that mourning doves "shed" feathers as defence, and so, it would have been odd had Yonah not done so. (HOW-EVER, the BLOOD on that towel was.. well... the veterinarian did trim his beak and then DID tell me "His beak was fractured." - It wasn't "fractured" when we arrived so...) I would like, very much to trim that, but...
Hoping to make peace, I washed and brought in a raspberry which we shared. I was hoping to do that AFTER the trim, making an association with "trims and berries" but... today we needed a "Peace Offering" more. This container isn't as sweet as others (and it's the "better brand" too, of course) but then, it really isn't "season" and they're (allegedly) "Product of the US"... I wonder where they come from, especially considering the cooler weather across the country. But, he nibbled, I nibbled and I've decided to settle-down for a little lunch and let the world calm again.
Mean-while, his "sands" are in for their first of 3 "bakings"... 400°F for 3 hours each. Fresh sands in his house and the sun is shining... Oh just dear me. If only I could remember HOW I managed that last "pedicure". (I've put more stones in his house, hoping they help with the trim. I doubt they will but... I'm hoping he'll toddle across and "file". We shall see. It's another "live and learn" here. I just don't want to risk clipping anything I ought not and I really just can't tolerate knowing that I'm causing him any trauma.)
Well, the day is passing and it's already 15.00 (to think, on Sunday, with this "Day-light Savings" it will be 16.00 already... how ridiculous) and I was awarded a 30-minute lie-down, with "temporary company". My Little LOVE came over at the beginning, the headed off to where-ever he went to but he returned just before the alarm sounded.
I've put his food mix with sun-flower seeds out for the Yardies and replaced it with fresh, regular mix. We'll monitor the poops.
And our "American Standards" are playing, he's in his loft. Out-side, it's been almost-brutal wind today! But in the room, we're up to 24,6°. nice and cosy. (And he's just now having a snack! It does my heart so much good to see him eating well!)
17.00 he's back up and about and coo'ing and on the desk shelf and coo'ing... time for supper... I'm being told... so it's time to get this house into "normal routine" here. "Normal"... what a comfort!
It's 19.15 and the house is settled for the night AND MY LITTLE HEART-AND-SOUL IS ON HIS OLD LAP-TOP, SNUGGLED-UP NEXT TO HIS "NEWS" AND THAT, AFTER SEVERAL FLIGHTS AROUND THE ROOM AND VISITS TO BURDIE-BIRDIE ON THE FUTON AND A BIT OF "PLAYING" WITH BUSTELO-BIRDIE ON THE DESK SHELF! EVEN HIS POOL WATER IS FRESH AND HIS WINDOWS ARE CLOSED AGAINST THE CHILL AND STRONG WINDS OUT-SIDE TONIGHT! *** MY ONLY "CONCERN" IS THAT HE'S LOOKING A BIT "TATTERED". HIS FEATHERS ARE LOOKING "SCRUFFY"... AND I'M HOPING THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF A MOULT AND NOTHING MORE SERIOUS. HOW-EVER, I'VE JUST PLACED THE ORDER FOR A THOROUGH AIR MONITOR FOR HIS ROOM! EVERYTHING FROM CARBON MON/DIOXIDE TO GASSES AND SPORES! I'VE WANTED TO ORDER ONE FOR QUITE SOME TIME BUT... WE'RE GOING TO CHECK THE AIR QUALITY IN HIS ROOM TO MAKE SURE THAT HE'S NOT BREATHING ANYTHING HARMFUL. AND IF HE IS... WE'LL ADDRESS THE SITUATION AS WE NEED. I WILL NOT HAVE THIS LITTLE * LIFE * SUFFERING BECAUSE OF SOMETHING I CAN CONTROL !!! OR? I've already cover the "or" so I won't repeat it here. SUFFICE TO SAY: IT'S SUCH A JOY TO SEE HIM ON HIS OLD LAP-TOP AGAIN. HIS LITTLE EYES ARE CLOSED, BUT HE DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE IN ANY DISTRESS... AND THAT'S THE BEST I CAN HOPE FOR AT THIS JUNCTURE.
He didn't get up though, when I was running the waters, and didn't get up to play when I closed the windows, but then, I did close them up rather quickly tonight. Hoping, again, to get us tucked-in at a civil hour. OH... when the clocks change tomorrow night... tomorrow night this will be 20.15... and definitely time for us to tuck-in... although I could, with precious little inconvenience, just keep the "regular" hours. We'll see how it all works... in "time"... OH... to be able to live by Yonah's "time"... in SO many ways.
But he's really eating very well, and THAT means SO MUCH to me. And his food is what he's accustomed to so I'm pretty sure he's happy with that. I keep remembering the advice of a veterinarian so many years ago: "As long as he's eating, he's OK." HE'S OK! and so am I.
Now... we'll catch-up on the Journal for a little while longer and then? We'll get to the "Tuck-In Games" for the night. I'm looking forward to those. (Oh, and the room is nice and comfy at our 24,5°. The house furnace is running through a new filter... "Hope"...
It's 20.04 and this little Character is still on his lap-top and is making NO signs that he's ANY-where near ready to tuck-in so... but... hey... looks like time for a few games... I'm off to evening ablutions... (excited about ordering the air-quality monitor at last).
it's 20.31 and again, despite my best intentions, we're running late. My ablutions are done and... he's on the desk shelf... making with the "nest coo's". Where this is heading is....
More tomorrow, to be sure.
Saturday 08 March:
(13.22 It's been quite the morning and I was up and about entirely TOO early this morning at 3.40 so I'm on a "jet lag". The sun is shining again, the room is 24,7°, the winds are still blowing out-side but not as heavily as last night and this morning. It's a charming Saturday and time to get these "notes" together here whilst I'm up and my Little One is too...)
Oh, but it's become obvious that "rides home" are an expected part of the closing of a day...
When I came back into the room to set the futon for me last night, this Little Guy headed right over to his roof-top and right to the platform, got to his last-minute preening and waited, patiently, for me to finish with the futon, and when I went over, already singing the nightly serenade, he obviously made ready for the short "flight" home. And when we arrived, there wasn't even the slightest delay in stepping right off the platform and onto the night roost. BUT, last night, I got KISSES "Good night"! SEVERAL kisses, as a matter of fact! And as I got the rest of the room together he settled, quite nicely.
Ah, but out-side, the winds were still slamming against the house and now and then, a gust must have caught under the metal roof on the cellar shed out-side the window and when it did, it sounded as though the roof was being blown off and I could see the little head of my Little LOVE pop up as he tried to hunker-down for the night. I worried that it would continue through the night like that and as much as I understood what was happening, I could tell that it startled the Little Guy. I was SO thankful when, at 21.00, all was silent, save for the sound of the wind out-side... and hoped that it would stay that way through the night...
I made it, softly and slowly, through our repertoire. I sang slower last night so that it sounded calmer, hoping that Yonah would sense the "calm". By the time I'd done and was getting ready to turn the last light off, I softly re-assured him that I was right there with him and that all was well, he's safe and we can get a good night's sleep. Seemed to have been enough for him. I could see the little silhouette, head tucked between wings... the light was turned off..
This morning, I woke, exceptionally early. Strange dreams that woke me, and when I saw the clock at 3.40 I tried to go back to sleep but couldn't so... I got up, thinking I'd just get on with the day and if needed, grab a snooze at some point. So, silently, I stepped out of the room and closed the door behind me. It was comfortably warm in Yonah's room this morning, despite the cold out-side in the darkness. But I was happy to know that my little Heart-and-Soul was in his warm room, in his safe house, under his own little "Sweeter Heater"... nice and cosy.
I was catching-up with the little tasks I'd normally get to after waking, in the kitchen, not paying any attention to the out-doors and the breaking dawn when... in the morning silence came...
6.18 Such a "soft" coo this morning... "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo"
At first, I wasn't certain that I'd heard the coo, but I got up, went over to Yonah's room and I opened the door and whispered "Did I hear a woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo?"
There wasn't and immediate reply but as I was placing the stop for the door came another, slightly louder
"woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo".
As I approached his house, I could see the little silhouette... stretching his wings and as I opened the door
"woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo"
OH MY! But the exchanges of coo's this morning! "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo's" back and forth! The dialogue and the KISSES! SO SO VERY MANY KISSES this morning! And the conversation as I went about opening the windows and running the waters! THIS was one of those mornings when I was reminded why I'm "here" and how much LOVE there is in this old house! It was SUPER-STELLAR! JUST BRILLIANT! MAGNIFICENT! DIVINE! Coo's. Kisses. ENERGY! The coo'ing even as he hopped across to the food perch! SO MUCH TO BE SAID and SO MUCH LOVE!
My only "concern" this morning is that his little voice is so soft. it doesn't sound "strained" and there's no indication of any sort of "respiratory trouble". It's just "softer" than his usual, some-what "boisterous" volume. But hey, first thing in the morning, I have all to do to get a proper "coo" out so... During the day, it "clears". We'll have to see what comes with the day.
It didn't take very long, this morning, before he was up and out and off to the wall shelves...
He's still looking a little "scruffy"this morning, but not "concerningly-so". And not as "scruffy" as he looked yesterday. Then too, yesterday, he was wrapped in a towel and held for a while so... I'm just hoping that this is nothing but a moult coming.
Last evening, I got the chance to have a good look at his face to check for any "oddities" and aside from being able to see his "ageing" at his "chin"... the little bit of "face" that's under his lower beak, all is perfectly fine. His "chin" is more visible than it's ever been and it does look like a little old man's neck... kind of like mine! But it's healthy. And his eyes are fine. Even the turquoise is a beautiful colour! When he's not feeling "well", I notice that that goes more toward "grey" and these days, that's as it ought to be... a beautiful shade of turquoise. I'm thinking of another day or so of "ACV" soon. We'll watch...
MEANWHILE....
I pulled us both through the normal morning routine this morning but because I was up at 4.00 already, I grabbed a "20-minute snooze" on the futon and MY LITTLE COMPANIONE JOINED ME! Got comfy on my leg for the duration and when the alarm sounded, he was SO comfy that we took another 20 minutes. Hey! It's Saturday morning. Out-side the wind is blasting about, dragging "mountain flurries" all around, and the "-6° feels more like -16 or even -26 (chill, they claim, is -10 but it's "crisp" out there) so it's a rather perfect morning for lounging.
I put our "American Standards" on the radio... and (at n8.50) he's having breakfast.
Before I forget:
Poops this morning: 7 delightfully perfect little poops DIRECTLY UNDER the night roost! I was worried, last night, with all the wind catching the roof of the cellar shed out-side the window because every time the metal made any noise, I could see it startled the Little Guy and I feared he'd have a restless night if it continued. But, as I see, this morning... all went well through the night. What a relief! And this morning's "first poop" was just as wonderful as all the rest! SO! Good start to the Saturday!
(14.52... THIS DAY IS RUSHING BY AND MAKING IT WORSE... I'VE CHANGED OUR CLOCKS SO THEY'RE ALREADY AN HOUR AHEAD AND IT'S CAREENING INTO 16.00! TIME TO PUT DINNER ON ALREADY... TIME IS BEING STOLEN FROM US AGAIN!)
we had another 30-minute snooze together before lunch! TOGETHER! I laid down, set another alarm and no sooner had I gotten onto the futon, my LOVE was on my shoulder and then down to my leg where he actually "nestles". It was some kind of WONDERFUL! It's as though he KNOWS I'm "fatigued" and just comes right over. I AM SO VERY HUMBLED, APPRECIATIVE, GRATEFUL, HONOURED, PRIVILEGED!
And we've had quite the "chatty" day today too!
We had a "visitor" at the front door this after-noon and he was in the living-room, on his tree when I went to the door. To my amazement (and relief), he waited, on his tree, in silence. I DO tend to worry most of the time, that he'll coo at the "wrong time" and I'm prepared to give some sort of "stretch of truth" about him, hoping that nobody actually recognises his distinctive "coo". Ever since that horror with the local D. Ea. Sea. storming into that sanctuary, snatching those poor Little Ones and hauling them off to be murdered... and more recently, the news of a 64-year old woman who'd cared for a "dear" for 2 years, field "paper-work" and such only to have the same atrocity happen to her in another state... I honestly trust NOT A SINGLE ONE OF THESE MISERABLE FILTH who feel so empowered by their "uniforms" and "papers". I will NOT lock Yonah away because some fool-idiot comes to the door. I won't have him associate the door-bell with being "caged" and "silenced". If I'm ever not at the house and somebody should ring that bell and he associates the sound with trauma... well...
But there he was, patiently waiting for the "visitor" (who didn't come into the house) to depart. THAT'S MY LITTLE LOVE! BRILLIANT LITTLE GUY!
OMG! (13.17) It was SUCH A SIGHT TO SEE! BING CROSBY ON THE RADIO, SINGING "I WISH YOU LOVE" AND THE PREVIOUS LITTLE GUY WAS SNOOZING IN HIS LOFT WHEN IT CAME ON... HE MUST HAVE RECOGNISED THE MELODY AND HIS LITTLE HEAD POPPED RIGHT UP AND HE LOOKED ROUND! "WHAT? SEEPIE-NIGH-NIGHT TIME? BUT THE SUN IS SHINING!" OK... TELL ME AGAIN THAT BIRDS AREN'T COGNIZANT OF THEIR ENVIRONMENT! WHEN I SAY HIM, I SAID "NO, MY LITTLE LOVE! IT'S NOT SEEPIE-NIGH-NIGHT TIME. THAT'S BING CROSBY SINGING YOUR SONG!" AND WITH THAT, HE GOT UP AND FLEW OUT TO BURDIE-BIRDIE ON THE FUTON AND GAVE A HEARTY "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo!" HE'S JUST SO AMAZING... JUST A BUNDLE OF "AWE-INSPIRATION"! THE "EXPERTS SHOULD ONLY KNOW !
(14.00) WE'VE JUST SHARED SOME RASPBERRIES AGAIN! There's a small bowl of them in the fridge from last run to market. They're all thoroughly cleaned and I picked through them all. ONLY the ones completely with-out ANY sort of "blemish" in there. But I thought I'd give them another try and see if the Little Guy might enjoy some and... OH YES! DID HE EVER! I now know the "secret" too: I have to hold the berry and offer it to him so that he can pick at it. If I just put one or some bits into his food, he tends to toss it out. BUT, if I HOLD it for him, OH does he enjoy it! SO... ANOTHER LESSON HERE:
I still remember when I "made" Burdie and first presented it. OH! But it looked like Yonah was trying to tear it apart so I took it away and put it some-where it couldn't be seen. I was thinking it might be perceived as an "intruder". I knew SO VERY LITTLE in those early days. It still pains me to think that I took his "Friend" away! But he's got Burdie now... and NOW... I know how to get him to eat raspberries! (I'll have to try blueberries this way too since they always come up as "Number 1" on the list of berries for birds... and doves! I've also come to learn that when I "search" for information for Yonah, I HAVE to specify "doves". Although I get "domestic" doves... "ring-neck" and "diamond", most of what I find is applicable. Oh, mourning doves... I despair of "people"... Mustn't "have" one, but go shoot as many as you like. "Humanity"... time to step down and away and make room for the next "Superior Species" - I wonder which one will win. After all, birds survived the "Greatest Extinction"... Little GENIUSES!)
(14.40) I just looked up and behind me to the futon AND.... HE'S SNOOZING... ON THE PILLOW I SLEEP ON! I'm leaving it on the futon these days, under the "extra" pillow and HE'S SNOOZING ON THE ONE I SLEEP ON! "SWEET DREAMS" TO COME FOR CERTAIN! (And... as i type, he's off to the living-room. Oh well. I got a couple of photos... thankfully.)
OK! SO... 19.32 and some-birdy's getting "buggy" here! Flying all over the room! I'm at the desk. We had our dinner together and HE CAME ALONG WITH ME TO THE KITCHEN when I prepared for the water run this evening... "Bird in the hood"! AND OH MY WOW... THE KISSES I GOT AT THE KITCHEN BASIN! KISSES KISSES AND MORE KISSES! But, once the water containers were rinsed and set to fill, he was up and ready to head back to his house. For the while we were together, it was... as it always is... HEAVEN !!! AND HE'S BEEN QUITE "AFFECTIONATE" ALL DAY TOO. SO... THIS WAS ONE OF THE "GLORIOUS DAYS" FOR ME... And I've been working on "cleaning-up" this Journal today, and working with the "silent days" of February... and remembering how I was preparing for... What a difference! WHAT A PURE JOY! today!
And when waters were done, I closed the windows and we played a little with the curtains and the back-board but he tired of that rather quickly. Oh well. So I went back to typing and he went back to "lounging" on the roof-top until...
WOOSH! WOOSH! WOOSH! FROM ROOF-TOP TO DESK SHELF TO FUTON TO WALL SHELVES AND INTO THIS HOUSE!
It's now 19.44 on the clocks and he's had his "night snack" and is on his night roost (hahahahah... as if he'll stay there). I'm not looking forward to tomorrow when the clocks will be an hour ahead. But we'll see what time I wake up... I just have to remember that his "6.00" will be "7.00" on the clocks. If I could manage, I'd pay no attention to this "change". But, honestly, my "time" is his in the morning so it makes no difference there. It's the "tuck-in" to make sure we both get our rest. Oh... "humanity"... some-times it's just impossible.
We'll get by. This is going on our 5th year together and we've done this before. We'll do it again.
Night music is on and I'm off to evening ablutions... and looking forward to tonight's "games"... hopefully not too many. We need to get tucked-in...
20.06 and no coo'ing during my evening ablutions tonight! And all the while, the Little One has been on his night roost! WELL... now, the house is settled... let's see what happens when I set the futon for me for the night... oh... the suspense... "Report tomorrow"....
Sunday 09 March:
The clock is reading "9.11" but today is the first day of "Day-light Savings" so, it's actually only 8.11 and I'm doing my best to "adjust" to the "clock v. Nature". That said, this morning, I was still very much rather "sleeping", and comfortable on the futon when...
"woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"...
My SWEET LITTLE PRECIOUS "alarm" called. The "clock" read 7.01... still "early" for the Little Guy (at 6.01) but last night, we DID manage to get lights turned off relatively early at a mere 20.35 so early rise was to be expected. The room was still some-what dark but HEY! "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" and away we go!
Last night? Oh yes, no sooner had I started putting the futon together for me when there was a "mad dash" to the roof-top! I DO have to laugh thinking about it. "Ride home"! Some-how it truly has become part of the "normalcy"... what-ever that is in our life together. So I started the nightly serenade and as I did, my Little LOVE started his "evening ablutions": preening, putting feathers together for the night ahead. And when I turned round to go over to him, he gave a little "shake", to settle feathers, and stood there, watching me, waiting for me to come over to him. It's really obvious, when I reach up for the platform to bring him "home", that he "prepares for the ride", taking a sturdy stance. But what gets to me is how casual he is about the motion of the platform now. He used to look about as he "sailed" about, up and off the roof-top, across, over and down to his door. Now? It's just as "normal" to him as it would be were he flying of his own power.
And, as is the case now, as soon as the platform reached the perch, it was a simple matter of stepping off and onto the perch. He's like a little "commuter" whose train has arrived at the station. Destination reached, time to disembark. "Thank you for riding..." And upon arrival, a minor "adjustment" to the change from flat platform to round perch. What a Character!
And it didn't take long before he was all settled. By the time I laid my head on the pillow, he was established for the night.
I made it through the repertoire, slowly again, last night, calmly but when I got done with "Stille Nacht", I usually give pause for our good old "seepie-nigh-night I LOVE you" in the little "falsetto-chirp" and follow it with "Schlafe, schlafe, schlaf du, klein Vogelein!" (from “Sandmännchen”) and "Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!" (from “Stille Nacht”). In our "old days", "seepie-nigh-night I LOVE you" used to be answered with a soft "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo", as if my Little LOVE were either repeating or answering, and when I'd "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" back, he'd "close the day" with a soft "woo-OOooo" (nest coo). He hasn't done that little exchange of late but last night... we were back! And what a truly BEAUTIFUL way to close a day! And when I looked up, I cold see the little silhouette all neatly, cosily tucked-in for the night. So the last moon light was turned off, I bade a "Gute nacht, schlaf schön und Angenehme Ruhe" and, as has become our "new tradition" in the darkness sang "our song" which I'd put together only last month, really, as some little "sound" in the darkness to re-assure my little Heart-and-Soul that he wasn't alone:
Ich , ich, ich, ich liebe, liebe dich
sieben, sieben, sieben und für immer, immer, du.
Ich, ich, ich, SO liebe, liebe dich
sieben, sieben, sieben und für immer, immer, du.
Ja, ja, o' ja ja ich liebe, liebe dich
sieben, sieben, sieben und für immer und immer, du.
(Yeah... the Little Guy is "learning" German now too! BUT, as it was in my child-hood when my Oma would sing lullabies in German, here, there's a klein Vogelein (little birdie) closing his day the same way: with LOVE!
So that was last night and as for this morning's continued entry...
Poops this morning: 10 perfect little poops, even to the moisture - relatively dry and "bouncy", and all of them about the same size! A healthy and calm night, last night. A wonderful start to a new day.
The day out-side? Not too "cold" but certainly not "warm". And over-cast. I've put the UV light on. We're not being promised sun-shine ("March", as it is), and there's more snow in the forecast. BUT there's MUCH FLUTTERING OF WINGS THIS MORNING! AND, as I'm typing, visits to the shoulder and time on the desk shelf above. It's going to be an "interesting" sort of day, with "meals" being "thrown off" by an hour. But as I've said, we've gone through this before... "change"... neither of us is fond.
19.05 Ridiculous! This "Day-light Savings" nonsense. It's actually 18.05 and normally, we'd be just finishing the washing-up for the evening but dinner is done. The Little Guy's had a nibble. He'd been in the living-room for some hours this evening, alone, and moments ago, he "called" from out there. There's still day-light but the sun is obviously setting. So I went out to check on him and we chatted a little bit before he hopped onto my shoulder and... he came along with me as I put the dishes up and set the kitchen for this evening's water run! I can't even begin to describe my elation when he's with me like that! They're the moments I used to read about, think about and yet never expected to experience! Pure, Divine JOY!
We got his lap-top up and running earlier and now, he's "nestled" at his favourite evening spot: on the old lap-top next to the screen. (I'm hoping we'll get that screen changed tomorrow and that that will stop the flickering and such and he'll be able to enjoy it again. It's a little "investment" and the cost didn't come out of his "reserve" so... again, I hope that it's just the screen and we'll be back to "normal" again tomorrow evening.)
This after-noon, I had a lie-down for what was supposed to be about 20-minutes but when the alarm sounded, there he was, on my leg, comfy and settled so I stayed there another 15 minutes, quietly, until HE decided, with a "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" that it was time to get up and back on with the day! Oh, but if we could figure a way for us to "snooze through the night" together. But, as I've said often before, I'm not taking any chances. The house and room are dark at night and there's just too much that could cause injury. Beside which, I can see how calm he gets when I put the roof-board on his house at night. Some-how I get the feeling that he feels "secure" in his house... with the roof-board and back-board on there, and his door closed. If he didn't, I'm quite certain he'd make it known... he's BRILLIANT that way. So... we'll stick with what's worked all along.
But... right now... it's time to change his water, get his room settled. We'll see what happens at about 20.00 on the clock. These are the days of "adjustment" for both of us. We've gone through these "clock changes" for 4 - almost 5 - years... here we go again... silly as it all really is.
(20.07 and he's having his "before tuck-in snack"! I'm off to evening ablutions... here we go!)
20.32 No woo-HOOs as I went about evening ablutions and he's on the night roost!
Monday 10 March:
Last night when I'd done settling the house, I headed back into the room to prepare the futon for the night. The "night meditation music" was playing and... sure enough, the Little Guy was on his door perch, waiting for his "lift home" for the night. And as I put the futon together, he headed up to his roof-top and onto the platform. Oh, but do we ever have a "routine" now or what? (And could I be more thrilled? Doubtful.)
No particular reluctance to tucking-in either. I couldn't help but think that, no matter what the clocks might read now, it was still only 19.32 and that was quite early, compared to a "regular" sort of night. BUT, so it seemed, I was ready to tuck-in and so too, was this little bundle of LIFE here so... I lifted the platform and with the usual "preening", we floated through the air and into the house and... as has become our "normal", one little step and onto the night roost. Sunday was "closed", no matter the "hour on the clock".
I made it all through the nightly repertoire of lullabies last night and as I finished and was ready to turn the last light off for the night...
"woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"... from above.
As a "Good night to you too" I answered with a "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" to which I received the reply "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo". Wondering (as I always do), I replied with a soft "oo-Ooooo" (my redintion of a "nest coo" and... no reply. I looked up to see the little silhouette on the night roost all tucked-in and tucked-away for the night, little head between precious wings... and so, last light was off at (on the clock) 21.00 on the mark. (I still can't help but think: 20.00 and for THAT, last night was quite "early", though reasonable. We'll see how tonight goes, now that we're "on the new clock" now.)
This morning?
I was already up and about and at the kitchen table, waiting, as I watched the clock, remembering we're an hour ahead of what ought to be "normal" time so, when the clock started to approach "7.00" I thought "6.00" and so, expected another half hour or so but...
At 7.06 I could barely hear the EVER-SO SOFT:,br />
"woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"
through the door. It's "interesting" (I'll call it that), that even as soft as the coo is of a morning, my ear is attuned to that sound. Sometimes, I'm not sure if it's from IN the house or from out in the yard, but I can hear it. (There are times when I believe I hear it but, in the lyrics of that old song "it was just my 'magination, running away with me".) Most often though, it truly IS a "Morning Call", and it was this morning too. I got up from the table, quietly opened the door and waited a moment before whispering:
"Did I hear a 'woo-hoo'" and, from across the room, in the still morning darkness came...
"woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo", still rather soft but more clearly.
Yes, certainly now, my little Heart-and-Soul was awake! So I went over to his house and looked in to the little silhouette there, on the night roost to see a BEAUTIFUL WING-STRETCH that was followed, immediately, but a "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo".
Opening the door and popping my head in... KISSES KISSES AND MORE KISSES! followed by another "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo"! AND... when I answered with a "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo" the reply was, again, immediate: "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo". WOOHOO! Monday morning... called to order!
And, as I opened the curtains and blinds, we had a little "chat" this morning! Out-side, the sun was doing it's best to break through the lingering morning clouds. A light dusting of last night's snow-fall lay on the ground, but breaks in the clouds gave hope for clear skies to come.
WELL! It didn't take but a moment's time after I'd done putting the room together and preparing for morning water run when...
WOOSH! Off to the wall shelves... and then, a quick flight out to the living-room with another "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo". SO, the morning commenced with clear voice (though "soft"), many kisses, quick flights and...
Poops Report: 8 quite "regular", but just the slightest bit larger than "usual", and all of them, under the night roost, the "white", white, the rest a touch on the "dark" side but a healthy colour and composition.
I took a quick step out to the back to sweep the snow from the back walk to serve breakfast to the Yardies this morning. There was, already, one mourning dove, perched on the back fencing, looking down at the snow-covered walk so I made quick work of attending to that morning task and came back to the water-change and to get the room settled and ready for a morning together with my little Heart-and-Soul.
By 8.20... he was back in his loft, little tail a-flutter... nest-coo's a-plenty.
Meanwhile, the sands we'd collected and washed and rinsed were in the oven already for 2,5 hours... for their final "baking". They were dry already, but I always feel better giving them 3 bakings at 400°F just to make sure that there's no "stuff" on or in there. When cool, they'll go into the storage glass jar, ready for the next round of "house-keeping".
And so... Monday... on the roll... the skies clearing, not too cold out there (2° already), promises of sun-shine! HOPE...
(19.08) And I can't believe the Monday we had together today!
First of all, the morning was FULL of all sorts of energy with flights all over the house, toddling around with me! (I keep thinking this Little Guy is SO similar to a little puppy in so very many ways... especially when he follows me from room-to-room. I ALWAYS have to look before I step because there's NEVER telling WHERE he is at any given moment. And so often, he sneaks up! I can hear him when he flies into a room, but when he "toddles" in, he's completely silent! But HEY! It's all the more to LOVE and ADORE about this Little LIFE! This house would be nothing but a dungeon with-out him!)
Then, the new screen for his favourite lap-top arrived and although there was much to do on the daily agenda, I stopped all to give a try to replacing it only to find it was the wrong "model"! (So many intricacies with this technology!) BUT, as I was disassembling the lap-top I had the most WONDERFUL little Supervisor... on my shoulder, watching as if he were learning so that he could do as much at some time in future! He was like a little "apprentice" on my shoulder, staring and watching ever little move I made as I sat at the desk. And when I had to call the company we ordered from to get information on - sadly - having to return this screen, he was right there, beside me, at his house! Listening to my every word!
WELL! THAT all took the entire morning and of course, I had to re-pack the screen for the return and OH! The fascination with bubble-wrap and tape and the boxes! I wasn't sure if I was in the company of that little "puppy" or then, a "kitten"! As I tried to get parts and pieces together, my Little Guy toddled back and forth across the futon, checking bits, pieces, parts. I SO could have picked him up and hugged him so much! But I settled for "KISSES!"
All morning, the sun POURED in through his windows and out-side, the temperature rose so it was a beautiful "Spring-like" day and THEN.... as I "wrapped" (literally) the morning's chaos, I happened to look up to see the little BUNDLE OF LIFE, get up from his BASKING on his beach and...
HE HEADED FOR THE POOL! NOON... when we should have been having our lunch, I was so involved with trying to put the day back together (because today wasn't supposed to be "lap-top day", but since the screen didn't get delivered until late...) Yonah decided it was a great time for a SPLASH in the pool! THAT ALWAYS puts me in such a great mind-set, seeing his SO enjoying his private little place so bathe and swim. It gives me the re-assurance that, relying only on my own instincts, I've done well... at least with the pool.
The rest of the day was a whirl-wind. I didn't take a lunch and I'm pretty sure it was noticed. And this after-noon, I managed to RUN out on the errands that were supposed to have been done earlier today. By the time I returned, it was already time to prepare for "supper"! So I threw together something for me and set the old lap-top up on the desk because.... even after dis-assembling and re-assembling... the screen came up, nice and clear and steady! SO... Yonah got to "lounge" on it and take in the "evening news". All the paper-work from this morning was cleared and his room was back in order.
AND... it was so comfortably warm out-side... WE OPENED THE DOORS AND ONE WINDOW IN HIS ROOM FOR SOME OUT-SIDE AIR! IT WAS WONDERFUL! (Though it did get a bit on the "chilly" side after a while and I was "informed" of such with a hearty "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" from the roof-top where he'd gone to right after the washing-up.)
20.04 and the night music is on... the house is coming back up from a chilly 19° to a more comfortable 22° OH, but having the doors and windows open for that little while this evening was so worth it! And now, with the new "Carbon Monoxide Monitor" I feel so much better. Some time this week, we'll be getting a FULL "Air Quality Monitor" too! I've wanted one for so very long, to make certain that the air in this old house is clean and safe for my little Heart-and-Soul! (And now that he's ageing, it's ALL THE MORE important to me. ANYTHING I can do to avoid ANY sort of ailments is priceless, and as always, Yonah is "Number ONE" on the list of anything of importance. With-out him... there is no "world".)
And he's on his night roost already! I mentioned getting ready for "seepie-nigh-night" and got two "nest coo's" in reply so... I need to wrap this day up! It's "seepie-nigh-night" time for BOTH of us! OH what a day we've had!
Have to add here: after everything was settled in the room and we were "back to normal"... and waters changed, windows closed against the night-to-come, Yonah went back to the floor of his room, beside me, at the desk, in the shadow of the desk. I wonder, when he does that, if he enjoys the moving air as it comes from the heating register. It's not "hot", but it's moving. I wonder if he misses "breezes". And it pains me to think that he does. With the house closed during the cold months, the air is quite still, despite the 2 box fans that run all through the day and night. They don't make palpable "currents" of air. Oh, if I could get him out-side... But warmer days are in the forecast and maybe, on one of them, if the air warms a bit, we'll give a try to a bit of time in the yard again. It certainly isn't "Summer" and surely isn't really "Spring" as yet. There's still a LOT of snow in the yard and up on the mountains, so air temperatures are still "chilled" but... we shall see. If we DO get out and he "fluffs" we can always come back in. (Not to mention, the Yardies don't come round often - though, this morning, there were 14 mourning doves, many blue jays and a red-wing black bird here for breakfast so there's "Hope on the horizon".)
20.18 and time for evening ablutions and... let's see about a "ride home". He's still on the night roost... The evening... suspense....
(20.39 Oh... the Little LOVE is still on the night roost! Exciting! Many are the "nest coo's". Maybe a night of tucking-in straight away? The one thing that stays in my mind is this "change of clock" nonsense AND that technically, the hour is only 19.39. Not sure - as if I ever could be of much - if poor Yonah's actually tired right now or if it has anything to do with the "routine" of changing water, closing curtains, dimming lights. If not, then I'm feeling TERRIBLE... having kept him up and awake later than 19.30, say, all this while! Well, for now, closing the day here. Off to see about "ride home"... LOVE HIM SO MUCH! )
Tuesday 11 March:
6.58 and out-side, the day is only just beginning and, imagine my surprise last night when, I managed to finish ablutions, stepped into the room to see the Little Guy standing at his door perch BUT... as soon as he saw that I was there... he hopped right back up to his night roost AND... kisses and serenade... he actually tucked-in for the night! And we made it through the repertoire and the last light off at 21.03! (Well... 21.03 on the clock... 20.03 were we to be sane about it.)
7.13 Wasn't sure but thought I'd heard the ever-so faintest little coo coming through the door so I turned off the light in the kitchen (so as not to flood the room with light... in case I was mistaken), and opened the door to the Little Guy's room and waited but a moment before:
"woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo"....
Oh yes, he was awake, indeed. When I got over to his house and peered in, there he was, on the night roost, looking directly at me.
"Are you awake?" I whispered.
"woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo" came the reply AND a lovely wing-stretch. And as I opened the door to his house, another "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo"... HOOHOO!
OH. THE KISSES THIS MORNING! SO WONDERFUL! Woo-hoo's and KISSES!
AND, no sooner had I opened the curtains and blinds, as I leaned into his house to roll it back to the window for the day (a clear sky out there and as I'd just seen, already at this hour, 3°!) he hopped right onto my shoulder and then headed over to the desk shelf! BOOM! Tuesday, called to order! And as I put the futon and the room together for morning water run... MORE "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo"! and down to the desk corner with a little "wing-snap" of "Good morning"!
HEY... US!
Poops? 8 perfect-in-every-way poops, under the night roost. A calm night behind us and a healthy day ahead (we HOPE).
Tuesday... he we are!
(19.32) WHAT another DAY WE HAD TODAY! SUN-SHINE! WARMTH! DOORS AND WINDOW OPEN. Aired this old house out again! At last!
And the "ENERGY! this Little Guy had all day today! "Spring" is close and he's showing it! It really is amazing to see how this Little One responds to the changes in the day-light, the temperatures... he KNOWS SO MUCH MORE than we people ever could. And we were together ALL DAY which, for me, means another "PERFECT" day. No errands. No running about. I had much to get done right here, "at home" (because "home" is where-ever Yonah is, with-out him, this would be a trap, a dungeon).
We PLAYED... WITH BURDIE, on the futon, SEVERAL TIMES... BECAUSE HE FLEW OVER THERE AND FROM BEHIND ME, I COULD HEAR THE WING-SNAPS FOR ATTENTION. HE WANTED TO PLAY! And of course, I took breaks in what-ever I was doing to spend all the time HE wanted with him.
And this after-noon, after lunch, I grabbed what was supposed to be a 20-minute snooze but, no sooner did I get to the futon, there he was... on my ankle, all settled-in and settled-down and when the alarm sounded, he was still there so I laid there, waiting to see how long he'd stay... almost 40 minutes later, I looked up at the clock... to my absolute amazement! When I looked over (down?) to him and said "Hey! You still there? You want to snooze the day away?" he toddled up to my waist, looked round the room and WOOSH! He was up and off to his house for a quick bite to eat and the next thing I knew, he was out of the room and into the living-room where the sun was BRILLIANT!
I got back to the paper-work and budgeting and such as is a day's "work" (we have to keep this place together for him; I can't say that I enjoy this old house and that I look forward to better, but so long as my little Heart-and-Soul is here, this place will be at its best-possible and we'll keep roof over-head, walls around to shelter us, and a solid floor beneath; this is HIS place and HIS safety, and it's MY responsibility to make sure that HE NEVER goes with-out). As one of our song lyrics says: "I wish you shelter from the storm, a cosy fire to keep you warm. But most of all, when snow-flakes fall, I wish you LOVE". I always look up to the little silhouette on the night roost when I sing that lyric and always think of keeping "shelter"... from the storm, from predators, from ALL that would cause him ANY harm! And, when he heads out to the living-room, between the pool and beach in his house and the little branch out there that's in a pot, and the size of a little tree, it's just a little more that gives me some sense of comfort. This isn't a "perfect" place for him, by any means, but at the very least, he's not confined to a little "cage" and he certainly isn't just left alone.
We managed to get another after-noon out of the old lap-top too so, when I got it into the room and set-up, he headed right over to settle next to his "screen". The wrong screen went back to the seller today so as soon as we can, we'll get the right one and get his lap-top together again for him so he'll have it more often. (Just in time, no doubt, for when we get to spend time in the back yard again.)
Oh, and the sun is finally working its way across the sky to where it's starting to shine on the back walk again, later in the day! Seems like an eternity since it managed to get to the walk. And with the recent warmer weather, so much of the snow is disappearing. This morning, we had mourning doves, blue jays and red-wing black birds again! The flocks are returning so I'm working on cleaning things up to get to where, as soon as possible, we'll be able to get out and into REAL SUN-SHINE! Maybe this year, if we have to be here through another Summer, the Yardies will get used to seeing us and will spend more time in the yard with us... and Yonah. (Also working on getting him something larger out there so he can have "visitors" and "company" and not be so "confined" in his little "old house". When I look at that "finch flight cage" and think of him being in there... well, thankfully it wasn't for very long, and, even in those days, he already had run of the rest of the house. But still...
What presents the biggest challenge right now is having some-thing where-by I can "bring" him out to something closer to an "aviary" but with-out the risk of him "taking off".
I don't want to "keep" him, as it were, but I dread the thought of him taking off and heading up to one of the trees... Up there, he's out of reach AND with the hawks and eagles and crows and such in the air here, I don't know that he'd be able to dodge them if they suddenly appear in the air... Idon't even want to think about it. But... we'll come up with something and have a WONDERFUL Spring and Summer together... one way or another.
OK... Running late again tonight. The house and room are settled. It's already 20.28! AND my PRECIOUS LITTLE ONE IS ON HIS LAP-TOP... COSY! Time to get to setting-in. (And looking forward to what sort of "ride home" there'll be...)
Wednesday 12 March:
19.45 and the PRECIOUS LITTLE GUY is on his favourite lap-top pecking at the evening news and our day is about to come to a close and what a delightful day it was, in spite of the absence of BRILLIANT sun-shine... though we did get enough moments for the Little LOVE to have some nice basking AND a couple of snoozes on his beach during the day.)
LAST NIGHT, I HAVE TO RECORD, WAS THE EASIEST YET FOR TUCKING-IN! AT 20.45, WHEN I CAME BACK FROM MY EVENING ABLUTIONS, HE WAS ON THE NIGHT ROOST WHEN I CAME BACK IN FROM MY EVENING ABLUTIONS AND EVEN AS I SET THE FUTON UP, HE MADE NO MOVES TO MOVING FROM THE ROOST! HE'D BEEN PATIENTLY WAITING FOR ME TO GET MY-SELF TOGETHER, ON HIS LAP-TOP, ON THE DESK, BESIDE ME. POOR BABY! SO TIRED! So I started the evening lullabies as I put the room together, always waiting for the "RUSH TO THE SHLEVES" but not a budge! So I made rather quick work of settling and sang trough the repertoire at a slightly increased tempy and made it through all... Not a 'woo" nor a "hoo"... OH! He was SO TIRED! The last light was turned off at 21.08 and I wondered when the morning "call to order" would come.
Sadly, I had one of "those restless nights" last night and was up several times during. Of course, I did m best to be as silent as possible but I know this Little Guy is SO sensitive to EVERY bit of motion in his room, as birds will be, so I could only hope he didn't take notice.
This morning, I woke at about 4.45 and look at the clock and thought I had time to snooze and would grab a little more time but I didn't get up again until 6.58! Looked at the clock, thought there'd be about a half hour before morning "woo-HOO" and crept, silently to the room door...
The very moment I stepped out of the room, from behind me...
"woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo". I have to wonder if he wasn't already awake and noticed that I was still on the futon and didn't want to take me but as soon as he saw me get up, well... that was time to get on with the day.
Anyway... I went right back, looked into his house to see the little head looking about the place. I opened the door to his house with a "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" of my own ("Good morning") and when I leaned in for kisses... got several "brief" kisses. Not "forced", really, but almost as if there was a rush to get out! There truly is a difference from the "I'm SO glad to see you!" kisses and "Yes, yes, good morning, good morning." But ANY kisses in the morning are SO welcome! He knows he's under no "obligation", clearly, because there are mornings when he truly isn't in "the mood" and I really don't get any kisses. Instead, he'll scuttle away from me and wait for me to get his windows open and his room back in order. So, I'm Blessed when-ever I get even a little "peck".
It didn't take long either, before I'd done opening the curtains and blinds and he was up, and about, off his food perch (after "morning supervision" of the opening of the windows".
Poop check this morning: slightly "concerning" because there were 13, yes, THIRTEEN little poops on the "poopie rug"! So many, BUT EVERY ONE of them, perfect in all ways, including being under the night roost. A couple had "bounced", so they weren't "wet". But none of them appeared "unusual" or "abnormal". So, that was quite the comfort this morning. So I got right to the regular "house-keeping" business of the day, settling the rest of the house and settling-down at the desk. I had a LOT of paper-work to get to this morning so we were looking forward to a day together, with me being the usual "boring human", typing and writing and shuffling all sorts of papers about. (The Little Guy seems to enjoy watching the paper-shuffling. He's usually fascinated by it, and the sound of rattling pages. I keep trying to figure a way to make something that will "rattle" about during the day. I thought the little "paper mobile" of little birds would do that but, for some reason, he doesn't like it at all so it got added to the butterflies that I'd cut out and coloured... they're all on the branch on one of the book-cases, over the air purifier where they "move" but he has no interest at all. Oh well... More "live and learn", "trial and error". I'd like to have SOMETHING MOVING in the room for him. It must be horribly boring, being in a house with no motion other than the silly human at the desk... and most of the time, that human is only moving his fingers... We'll think of something. I'LL think of something, or find something... )
So... by end of day...
Yes, I kept busy during the day BUT we had a LOT of "breaks" for play and LUVINS! I was honoured with several "visits" to my shoulder with ear tugs and cheek pecks, and when he headed for the desk shelf above me, I welcomed the distraction and we played a little "Catch" with him up there! And, since Bustelo-Birdie is up there, we played with Bustelo-Birdie too!
As happens... and I still don't understand HOW... at about 16.00 I was still shuffling papers and such when he came over to the desk shelf and gave a hearty "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"! It was time for DINNER! When I got up from the chair, he came over to my shoulder... AND CAME WITH ME TO THE KITCHEN AS I PUT MY DINNER TOGETHER AND ONTO THE HOB! He watched every movement I made and it just strikes me, some-times, that it seems he's "learning" what I'm doing. He doesn't always come along with me when I go to the kitchen so when he does, it's a new experience for him too. And I'm pretty sure he enjoys the "change in routine"... as long as it isn't something drastic (because it's obvious that he still has that "skittish instinct" of mourning doves... when, for example, I start moving furnishings about in his room), a little break in the monotony AND coming along to check on what's going on in his territory must be a refreshing change. I have to admit that his being with me changes my entire world with such DELIGHT! I never even thought that such a thing would EVER happen but... HERE HE IS! AND IT'S PURELY DIVINE!
Well... then, we had dinner at 17.00, together. When he say me eating, he headed up to his food and had his own dinner and after, I got to the washing-up and by then, it was time to run the evening water relay. The difficult aspect of that now is that, out-side, it's still rather light out-side so it might not make much sense to the Little Guy because for months, that was done after the sun was gone from the sky. But I'm trying to keep the "time" on it all so that we're not tucking-in too late. (Though, as the days pass, we'll be tucking-in a bit later... then too, the Yardies will be doing the same so I've decided to watch them and run our day accordingly... .trying to stick to "Nature". If it were at all possible, I wouldn't mind tucking-in just before sun-set and waking just before sun-rise. Maybe one day we'll have a little place not "attached" to anything or anybody else... I'm working on it... and we can do just that. For now, I'll do my best.)
But 20.00 though, it was truly time to close windows... I put on the "night music" - instrumental "meditation", as they call it - and the Little Guy was on his food perch, watching me and waiting. We didn't have much in the way of playing with the curtains or back-board this evening. I think some-birdy was tired...
20.26 and we're done for the day! BUT... TO MY AMAZEMENT... MY LITTLE HEART-AND-SOUL CAME WITH ME FOR MY ABLUTIONS! He's fascinated by the sound of teeth-brushing! I can't figure out what it is, but he seems to SO enjoy watching and will even tilt his head, staring. He didn't stay very long, but it was HIS decision to come with me! And now... he's on the corner of the desk doing his little "prance", as I think of it. His wings "spread out" so that it looks like he's wearing a "Royal Cape" of some sort. It really IS a BEAUTIFUL sight to behold and I wish he'd hold it long enough to get a photo of. One of these days... maybe. But for now... it's "prep-time" for a ride home (or not... we'll see) and for both of us to get tucked-in for the night...
What a wonderful day together... AND TOMORROW... ANOTHER ANNIVERSARY DAY! (I'm still in AWE!)
Thursday 13 March: FOUR YEARS AND FIVE MONTHS !!!
(16.30... I'm catching-up with the notes jotted during the day between all the other "people-nonsnese.)
(One month short of 4 and a half YEARS together! HEY! Remembering back to "Day 1"... I AM IN SUCH AWE!)
Mean-while, last night? OH, but... WHAT A CHARACTER, THIS LITTLE BUNDLE OF ABSOLUTE DIVINE LOVE!
It looked like we were going to have another "easy to tuck-in" night but, he's NEVER the one to pass a chance to "surprise" and last night was no exception... No sooner did I step back into the room and get to setting the futon for the night when... WOOSH... and UP and AWAY... to the roof-top platform to preen, "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" and wait for the "lift home". And once again, I HAVE to say that this isn't "coincidence" at this point. He KNOWS and the ride home has become an integral part of tucking-in at day's close. It's all so "casual" and if I "pause" on the way to the night roost, I get a look and he toddles to the edge of the platform so he's ready to simply step off and onto the night roost.
BUT, that said, yes, indeed, the very second we got close enough... a little "hop" and all was done, and he settled right down for the night and stayed there, with the door to his house still open, waiting for me to finish with the futon.
And... we made it through the nightly repertoire of lullabies, in silence, and I looked up to see the little bundle, all tucked... head between wings, ready for the night...
Last light off at 20.55...
This morning? I was up at about 5.00 and in the kitchen, the house was silent when, at 7.02, I thought I'd heard "something" coming through the door to his room. So I got up to check... opened the door and right away, loud and clear...
woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo (and I just noticed: 7 little "hoo's"... as in "Ich liebe dich, sieben").
AND, THIS MORNING... THE COO'ING TURNED INTO ANOTHER CONVERSATION, BACK AND FORTH, MOST OF WHICH WERE THE SAME, LENGTHY "STRING"! AND SO LOUD AND CLEAR! WHAT A GLORIOUS START TO A DAY... ESPECIALLY ONE OF OUR "ANNIVERSARY" DAYS!
And when I opened the door to his house and popped in for "Good morning" kisses? OH! THE KISSES! AND MORE KISSES! AND EVEN MORE KISSES! (I have to wonder if he's aware of the "date"... I wouldn't EVER doubt that, some-how, he is, he has a sense of "time" of day, I see NO reason why he couldn't recall the "date" of that morning when I brought him in from the cold rain. He's SO INDESCRIBABLY BRILLIANT IN SO MANY WAYS, I DON'T DOUBT HIM IN ANY WAY, SITUATION. HE'S BEEN SUCH A "TEACHER" THESE FOUR YEARS. Especially for some-human who never considered him-self - my-self - as a "bird person". This has been one of the MOST educational experiences of my life-time!)
All the while I opened the curtains and blinds and set the room for the rest of the day, our conversation continued, in all sorts of variations on the coo's. It was as if we were actually saying something to one-another! It's at THESE moments when I can't even begin do describe or explain the absolute DELIGHT and JOY... and the reminder of just how TRULY BLESSED, PRIVILEGED, GIFTED, GRATEFUL AND HUMBLED I am these days, these YEARS! For most of my life-time, I've looked at mourning doves with such love and admiration. And now, my sole Companion and LOVE is... a mourning dove! AND he's the most AWE-INSPIRING little LIFE I've ever known. Oh sure, there have been fish, dogs, cats, hamsters, a rat, even a flying squirrel... all of which were "domestic" in one way or another. I will always mourn the losses of those little LIVES. But THIS PRECIOUS ONE, from the wild, born into the life he was intended, taken from that... and that HE came to TRUST me... and now, WE ARE A "FLOCK", A "FAMILY"... NEVER a moment passes when I'm not fully aware of this unique situation and NEVER a moment when I don't appreciate it ALL, in EVERY way. This morning's "chat"? Well, OH! how I wish I could understand what he's saying to me. (And I look forward to a time... not in this "life", I'm sure... when I will, when we can "speak with" one-another and KNOW what we're saying.
Out-side this morning, the sun was trying its best to break through the cloud coverage and it was another "March" morning... quite on the "crisp" side of temperatures. But the room, the house, all was comfortable and I was happy that THIS Little One didn't have to battle the elements. (I'm reminded of that every morning when "breakfast" is served to the Yardies. There's so much I really simply just can't provide, but protection, good food and clean water... well... that's here, at all times. AND protection from ALL that might cause this Little Guy ANY harm!)
It didn't take but a heart beat and with a whistle of wings, he was up, out and off to the futon and then to the corner of the desk... The morning was "IN ORDER"!
AND... Poops: 10 so perfect that I could simply lift them off the kitchen roll and it was clean! Shape, size, composition, colour, moisture... just PERFECT!
After putting the house together and stepping out to check today's post, when I came back into the house, my little "Supervisor" was established on the desk so I put it all together to get into the day... ahead... TOGETHER!
This afternoon... I had our lunch break and he basked , on his "beach", in the little bit of sun-shine that broke through the clouds but... he headed out to the living-room shortly after and stayed out there for over an hour... At about 13.30, after a long silence in the house, "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo" came floating through the house from out there but he was happy to be there, apparently. I went out to check on him and there he was, on his tree, with the decoys... and gave me another "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"... I went over for some "kisses" and got a couple but... sometimes he'll hop onto my shoulder when I go to him but not today. He really wanted to be where he was and so... Hey! I'm happy that he has other rooms, other places, the ability to fly about. He's NOT in a "cage" swinging from some hook, in a remote corner, alone. And he knows he's not alone and that he has his own "house", with food, fresh water to drink and swim in and if he wants company, he knows I'm here for him. I do NOT force him to do anything he doesn't want to do. So, I went right back to finish the days' "people nonsense".
(17.10 and we're caught up with this morning's notes... and he's back in the living-room, I'm waiting for "supper" on the hob.)
So, with the Little Guy in the living-room (I imagine he appreciates the change of scenery), I got on with the day's house-book-keeping until almost 14.30 when he came FLYING back in through the room, into his house, over to the little mirror in the corner on the floor of his house with a "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" and then a jump onto the door perch with another "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo". PLAY BREAK TIME! And not only did HE enjoy it, I most certainly did! A little play time with Burdie-Birdie on the futon until he decided it was enough and time for a "settle-down snooze" on his loft. (And I returned to the work at the desk.)
Came 15.00 and... 'twas MORE TIME FOR MORE PLAY AND WITH A WOOSH... HE WAS OFF AGAIN... TO THE FUTON, WITH, YES, ANOTHER "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" and when I turned to look, a wing-snap! MORE PLAY BREAK with Burdie-Birdie AND just us, playing "chase" and neck strokes until 16.00! Absolutely STUPENDOUS!
I'm going to jot this in bold characters for future reference: When the day-light strikes at the right spots and right angle, I'm seeing "GREY" in the feathers on his head and neck !!! I'm SO hoping this is nothing but a moult and I've reason to believe that's what it is because I'm seeing bits of "dander" about the room... on the dark desk-stop. But I can't help but, well, seeing "grey" on my LOVE, my Heart-and-Soul here just makes me wonder things I don't want to wonder about. Yonah is, estimating, going for the age of 5 years. OK. Mourning doves can live MUCH longer than the 5 years (perfect scenario in the wild), but I can't simply dismiss his injuries, the trauma. I don't know, with any certainty, what sorts of injuries he suffered in that attack 4 years and 5 months ago. I don't know if there were any internal injuries that he may be "covering". He's always given a little, guttural "hoo" when he flies up from the floor of his house to his night roost. I've never known why. And as I've said before in this Journal, "knowing" means "x-ray" and x-ray means "anaesthesia" which means... "RISKS"... Make matters worse, there was just a post on social media, recently, of a bird who under-went anaesthesia and... "didn't wake up" from it. Granted, that Little One was MUCH older than Yonah, and wasn't a dove, but... No... I WON'T subject Yonah to the trauma of being handled by strangers in a strange place, after a strange ride in the truck AND THEN... No... So now, I sit here (and as I type, he's headed back out to the living-room) and all I can do is "HOPE"... and yes, I DO grow a bit "bitter" about all of this because, if we could, I'd find any way possible to get him ALL the medical care and attention he could ever possibly need. After all... we have a "health insurance savings" put aside - which, I have to say, is a LOT more "on-hand" than I've EVER, in my life-time. It doesn't get touched and it's there for him... in case. And no matter what it would take, I'd go through any-thing to make certain that this Little Guy NEVER "suffers" for ANY cause. BUT... like all else, bringing him to a veterinarian only puts him at risk of being "snatched" and murdered under the guise of "law". And if he has more years to live, and I can continue to provide the best comforts and safety for him... we're not entrusting any-thing to any-body else. Still, all the while, as I look at this little LIFE.. who is, literally, MY life, and I see the bits of "grey" I have to wonder... And I can't find any definitive information on whether or not birds "grey" with age, as do humans. So, as exciting as today is, and as much as I'm looking forward to next month's "13th" (FOUR AND A HALF YEARS)... as all about this Little Miracle... it's all "bitter-sweet" and a constant reminder that the more time behind us... the less time ahead. One of these days...
But for now, I take one of THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSONS THIS LITTLE ONE HAS TAUGHT ME:
TAKE THE MOMENT AT HAND... THE PAST CAN'T BE CHANGED... THE FUTURE WILL PRESENT WHAT IT WILL. WE DO THE BEST WITH THE PRESENT... AND CHERISH THAT.
20.01 TIME for me to get to my ablutions! The might music is on. My PREVIOUS LITTLE LOVE IS PREENING ON HIS "DRIFT-WOOD"... Windows closed, water done... LET THE GAMES BEGIN !
(20.25) OK... my FAVOURITE LITTLE CHARACTER is back up on his roof-top, making with the "nest coo's" and, I've no doubt, patiently awaiting his "lift home" and... we're about to close shoppe... as it were.
Friday 14 March:
Oh yes, to be sure, last night was the "wait for the Uber" to arrive. BUT, there really wasn't any "resistance" when I arrived. One of these evenings, I'm going to have to figure a way to get a recording of the little "ordeal", especially when he sees me coming back into the room and immediately heads to the little platform on his roof-top because that just goes to show that he KNOWS I'm going to come over to bring him home to the night roost and he very calmly steps onto it and waits.
And then, as I move the platform, with the little bundle of feathered LOVE comfortably on it, his little bit of "preening" is just almost comical, but SO PRECIOUS! Not so long ago, when I moved that little board even in the least, he'd take wing and be off all over the room. Now? He knows he's safe and we're both going to settle-down for a night's rest and it's just become part of the "normal" of his life now. (Of course, it's part of MY "normal life" now too and it gives me another little opportunity for more kisses before we both head off for a night's sleep.)
Evening lullabies were sung as we went through it all, just slightly quicker in tempo because of the hour and all went in silence. No "woo-HOO-hoo's". And I could tell that Little Yonah was looking forward to a night's rest as he tucked-in as I sung.
(And yes, the last light was turned off at... 20.55... I do my best to get us finished before 21.00 so, close but ...
This morning? I was up, about and in the kitchen after stepping silently out of the room because I didn't want to disturb the Little Guy after a late night last night and, at 7.02... "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" came SO quietly through the door. SO quietly. It was "clear" but lately, not as loud as it used to be. I'm not sure why, but, when I opened the door and quietly asked "Did I hear a woo-hoo?" the answer came clearly and stronger and...
"woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo"!
The "extended" coo took me by such surprise and was just SO VERY WELCOME! AND... when I repeated it, HE repeated it too! In fact, we had a complete CONVERSATION with ALL the "extended" coo's this morning!
ADD TO THAT, it didn't take but mere moments, as I opened his house, placed the door perch, removed the roof-board and took to opening the windows when the Little Guy was UP... and OUT of his house and about the room! THIS was one of the most AMAZING starts to the day! Just SUPER-STUPENDOUS! (And admittedly, it gave ME such a BURST of energy... But then again, EVERY good day for Yonah is a GOOD day for me! It's SO comforting to see him in good health and spirits and mood and being SO vociferous!)
THEN TOO... Poops... 10 just so perfect in every aspect this morning! 10 is a good number, not too many, certainly not too few, and that their composition and size and colour were as they ought to be... GOOD HEALTH, GOOD VOICE, MUCH TO SAY AND HOPPING OUT TO THE DAY... WOW!
I had to step out, this morning, to check the day's post (because we were still waiting the arrival of some "shopping" that I've done for Yonah's room ("air quality monitor"... this time, a "higher-end" bit of equipment because I'm at the end of my patience with wondering what's in the air in this old house and worrying about how it affects his health) and I wasn't gone for too long but... "OMG", as they say, when I came back into the room at 8.50 he JUMPED from his house to my shoulder as I stood there! And THEN, he came out to the kitchen with me, headed for the living room. to his tree, with a hearty "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo!" When I went out to his tree, he jumped onto my shoulder again! Ear tugs,, check pecks and back into his room to the desk as if he knew that's where I was heading (as I do of a morning to hot his journal and attend to, what I think of as the "people-nonsense of a day in keeping this old place together for both of us... mostly for him though because, with-out him, I have no use for this, or any other place).
HE'S IS A GRAND MOOD THIS MORNING! AND THE SUN IS SHINING IN TOO! TIME TO ATTACK WHAT LIES AHEAD. (But while there sun-light, and music, and LOVE and romance... we'll face the music and DANCE!)
Well, the day's passed... another one... again... as they do, and this one was PACKED with all sorts of "busy" and now, it's already 20.24! But TODAY is difficult to let go of... WE HAD THE MOST REMARKABLE DAY, ALL TOLD!
Right now, my MOST PRECIOUS, CHERISHED LITTLE LOVE is on his roof-top, little nest coo's filling the house. It's just SO indescribably calming, assuring, comforting.
ALL MORNING, TODAY, HE WANTED, SO MUCH, TO PLAY! And so, some of the "people-nonsense" was "postponed" to take "breaks" for just that! HEY! If my Little Guy wants to play... we PLAY, for as long as he wants. The rest of this old world can wait because NOTHING is more important than making sure THIS Little One is happy. And if "happy" involves play time, together, then that's what it is. Done.
More of the "fun" of the day was that I had phone calls to make this morning and those are always a bit of a "challenge" because I do have to believe that Yonah believes that, if I'm talking, it MUST be that I'm talking to him. Hey, after all, there's no-body or birdie else in the room, and I'm talking, so it MUST be that I'm talking to him. Understandable. But he spent most of the time whilst I was on the phone, on the desk shelf, over my head, as it were, almost STARING at me as I spoke and checked the lap-top and some paper-work. It truly was as though he was watching and listening, as if trying to "learn" something... as if he were "in training" to "take over" when I can't or don't want to do any of this. "In training"! "Orientation". It took a LOT for me to keep from laughing a few times, when I'd look up and see that little face staring at me, some-times with his head tilted. (And that's not to mention the "bird-songs" playing all the while accompanied by the occasional "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" from Yonah which I've been told, the person on the other end of the call can hear, clearly. In a recent call, I was told "I thought you were in the yard or in some kind of 'nature reserve'." I simply said "Oh, it's recordings for my Little Companion here." with-out getting into any details.)
When the calls were done and I tried to get to working on the "up-dates" for the files and paper-work, he kept flying out to the living-room, out and back... AND EVERY TIME I WENT OUT TO SEE HIM, GIVE KISSES... HE KEPT FLYING OVER TO BE ON MY SHOULDER! AND AS I WALKED ABOUT THE HOUSE PUTTING THINGS TOGETHER AND SUCH, HE CAME RIGHT ALONG, ON MY SHOULDER! NOW THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WILL, FOREVER, AMAZE ME! "Domestic" doves, it's known and documented, will take to their "people", want to be with their people, spend time with their people... but, it's as I say, often and never enough: Yonah isn't "domestic" and has NO reason to trust ANY human and yet... there he is, next to my face, on my shoulder, as if that's the way the world was meant to be.
(I DO have to wonder though, why it is that the mourning doves in the yard don't come to understand that I'm there to provide food for them, and that the yard is fenced to protect them. And still, I wonder just how much they DO know and understand about my presence. Mysteries... and part of what I ponder when Yonah and I are "separated" and if there's some sort of something or another "after", I want my energy to be with his and he can teach me so much MORE than I can ever learn now... And he can tell the other mourning doves all about his experience with his "human". WHAT a conversation THAT would be!)
Because of all the "work", I skipped lunch today and HAD to head out for "house marketing" and thankfully, was gone for only 30 minutes (which would have been "snooze time") BUT WHEN I GOT BACK AND WALKED INTO YONAH'S ROOM, HE WAS ON HIS DOOR PERCH... WITH WING-SNAPS! It struck me as "HEY YOU! YOU THINK I DIDN'T NOTICE YOU SNUCK OUT ON ME? HAH! WELL!" So I went over, right away, for some cuddles and... KISSES, KISSES AND MORE KISSES AND THEN... RIGHT BACK ONTO MY SHOULDER AGAIN! IT WAS ONE OF THOSE DAYS WHEN I WAS BEING TOLD THAT HE WANTED TO BE TOGETHER WITH ME, WANTED ME AROUND. AND FOR ME... NOTHING IN THE WORLD COULD MEAN MORE! There are SO many moments when I feel so incompetent, as if I'm not really providing him with any sort of happiness but then, he does THIS and I feel assured that we're doing "OK", I'm not "perfect" in ANY way, but what-ever I do, provide, is good. And I stop to wonder if, some-how, this Little One actually knows my insecurities and makes the effort to let me know that it's OK. There's SO MUCH MORE I SO want to do for him. But, when he's on my shoulder, when he comes to my shoulder... though I still wonder: what would he do if he had the opportunity to take off and just "go"? Would he come back to me? If I were to step out the door into the "world" out there, would he take to the trees, to the air... and be gone? Would he come back... eventually? Or would he find his real "flocks" and be off with them? Then too, as always, I have the "terror" of thinking he'd be up in the trees or in the air, and with all the time he's had in his house here, he'd be oblivious to actual predators out there and all it would take is for one raptor to suddenly appear in the air, and we have quite the array of those, from hawks to eagles and... I can't think about it... it's just too painful... But here he is, on my shoulder, pecking at my face, tugging at my ear, and it appears we're both truly content and that's what matters. As he's taught me: it's about "this moment in time"... not the past, nor the future... right now. And right now... we were SO HAPPY!
And today, I HAD to get the house-cleaning done for the week-end so I had to drag out the hoover and such and, as I started, he stuck with me until it just got a little "too busy" and he headed back to his roof-top... where he "supervised" my every move, especially when I moved his house away from the window to get the hoover under there. It's fun watching him watching me as the hoover passes over the floor. I'm pretty sure it makes no sense to him. But he watches, intently. AND, I can't but compare his reaction(s) to, say, cats who run away and dogs who chase after the attachments. Not THIS Little Guy. He just watches, probably in bewilderment: "What is this human doing with that thing?" It just makes house-keeping all the more fun, actually.
When I'd done with his room and went into the kitchen to continue there, I happened to look up to see the Little LOVE there, on the kitchen floor, watching me. He'd toddled out to come watch! And then... up and off to the living-room to his tree for a bit and when, it seemed, he understood that I was done making a commotion in his room, he headed back.
In between all the "excitement" of the after-noon, he managed to take breaks to bask in the sun-shine that POURED in through his windows. And those are more moments when I feel comforted: he has his own little place, in the sun-shine, where he can relax, safe, secure, and take in the light and warmth of the day. And one of these days, we'll be able to open those windows and he'll get the breezes blowing around him again. (It must be terrible for him during the cold months when there's just no motion in the air. I know how much I appreciate a nice breeze blowing through the house... and were it not still just so cold out in the yard, we could go out there for it. But... one of these days now... the sun is shining, the snow is melting... we'll be out there again, soon, with the sun, the breezes and... the visiting Yardies.)
THEN... after all the working was done... it was, already, "supper time" and I had to put something together for mine... AND AGAIN... I HAD MY LITTLE COMPANION WITH ME AS I WORKED AT THE KITCHEN COUNTER! AND AGAIN, THAT STARING, WATCHING AS IF "LEARNING". HE'S SO INTRIGUED (sometimes) by the "machinations of his people". And of course, we chatted as I worked and when I'd turn my head toward him, I got a few little light pecks on the nose - "Go ahead. Keep doing what you're doing. I'm just here watching."
AFTER dinner... I got all the washing-up done and got right to getting his room settled for the night ahead (hoping we'd be able to settle-down early this evening... and I wanted to shower so the plan was to get the house settled, get my shower and then spend time on this Journal... HAHAHAHAH... me and my "plans"). AH... but... BUT... tonight's water-relay was A BRAND NEW EXPERIENCE...
EVERY TIME I CAME INTO THE ROOM TO POUR FRESH WATER INTO THE POOL, I GOT KISSES! My Little Supervisor made him-self comfy on his roof-top, right above the door to his house and, as I say, EVERY TIME I came in with fresh water, I got little KISSES! "OMG"! indeed! He's NEVER done THAT before. He usually either stays on his platform or goes over to be with Burdie-Bird on the futon. Honestly, i don't know WHAT today was all about but it was like a "movie"... one of those stories you almost really can't believe aren't manipulated in some manner or fashion because, well... "that sort of thing doesn't happen in reality"... BUT IT DID! IT DID HAPPEN! AWE .... It's the only word that comes to mind... PURE AWE ! And the reminder that I am SO INDESCRIBABLY BLESSED, HONOURED, PRIVILEGED, HUMBLED... and I'll never know why or how this came to be.
* OTHER GREAT NEWS TODAY! WE GOT OUR NEW, "HIGH TECH" AIR QUALITY MONITOR! IT'S AMAZING! TELLS US ALL SORTS OF INFO ON ALL SORTS OF GASSES AND PARTICLES IN THE AIR! AND, THE BEST NEWS: WHEN I GOT IT UP AND RUNNING... THE AIR QUALITY IS "GREEN/GOOD" IN YONAH'S ROOM! ALL THE READINGS IN "NORMAL" LIMITS. AND THIS ONE IS SO SENSITIVE THAT WHEN I 'D PUT MY DINNER ON THE HOB, IT REGISTERED THE DIFFERENCE IN THE AIR! SO... WITH THIS, I'M MORE AT PEACE. THE AIR QUALITY IN THIS HOUSE HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT HAS ALWAYS WORRIED ME, EVER SINCE THAT MOULD BURST IN 2023. AND SINCE THEN, MY NOSE HAS BECOME SO SENSITIVE TO THE SLIGHTEST "CHANGE" IN THE AIR. ALL I THINK OF IS: BIRDS ARE MOSTLY RESPIRATORY AND THEIR SYSTEMS ARE SO SENSITIVE, THERE ARE SO MANY "COMPLICATIONS" THAT CAN ARISE IF YONAH INHALES ANYTHING... I understand that there's a LOT MORE "out there" in the "wild" that pose a threat to him, but it's the "chemicals" in the house air, and the mould spores that worry me the most. And there are things I CAN control as well as those I can't. But I WILL NOT ALLOW ANYTHING "CONTROLLABLE" TO THREATEN MY PRECIOUS LITTLE HEART-AND-SOUL! This new monitor will warn me of wha tI need to address! So... one more step to making sure "life" is GREAT for this Little LOVE!
One thing that might have helped: it was warm enough most of the after-noon today so that we could have the doors open for quite a while so there was fresh air (as fresh as can be considering where we are) circulating through the house. (But tonight, I'm feeling all the better, knowing that this monitor is here... especially now that the weather is warming, and with it comes the "rain season", higher humidity and all sorts of new seasonal threats... to both of us, really. Granted, the air in here is probably filtered almost as much as would be, if not more than it would be in a "medical" situation. After all, 2 box fans with "activated charcoal" and fibreglass filters, the intakes and out-puts for the house furnace are filtered, the furnace itself has a filter of "MERV 13 HEPA" and we have 2 "air purifiers" running 24 hours of every single day and night. Still, I'm all the more comforted seeing the numbers... in "real time". My Little Guy is truly protected and we'll see what "Spring" has to throw at us... but we'll "know" this year!)
OK... and so now... I'm out of a quick shower and I didn't hear the other-wise usual "coo'ing" whilst in there until I stepped out to dry. And my Little LOVE is on his roof-top, our "night music" is playing and I'm off to last-minute ablutions and the "fun" that might be waiting before "tucking-in" for the night...
After a day like today has been, it's another one of those nights when I SO wish we could "tuck-in" together... either that I could shrink me down to size to fit on his loft or that he'd be safe just about in the room. (It's also one of those moments when, in my mind, I think of us moving to better quarters and him having a "safe room" where he CAN be out and about through the night. But then too, if I were to sleep in the room... and... say... roll over in my sleep... We'll make do with the way things are. He doesn't seem to mind, really. In fact, that he foes to his night roost so willingly, THIS is his "home" and he's happy with the way it is... so it appears.)
(20.45) We are running SO late tonight and of course, it's my fault again. My Little LOVE is on his night roost and has been there for quite the while now. I feel SO guilty. If he's on the night roost, he's tired and I'm keeping him up with all the un-natural lighting in this house. OH! To be in a place where we could just follow the sun, just tucking-in at sun-set at end of day. I have to work on that. But for now, let's see what happens when I get to really settling the room down. Always the "suspense"... and I wouldn't have him be any other way.)
Saturday 15 March:
(10.13) Yes, OH YES, the POOR LITTLE GUY WAS TIRED LAST NIGHT! Not a fuss nor bother, he stayed right there on the night roost as I put the futon together for me and sang the nighty lullabies. And I managed to make it through the repertoire too. A little on the "up-tempo" side, but as I sang, I watched him, over-head, and I could see that he was actually calm, settling-down, tucking-in as I sang. There are moments when I can actually see that the singing has become part of the "expected" close of a day. He actually does appear to enjoy it. I don't know (we, people, can NEVER really "know") what it is about the singing that seems to calm him so nicely. Is it the "voice"? The "melody"? I wonder, always, how he perceives it all, especially since I've come to learn that, according to "studies", these Little Ones recognise "voices" of other birds and the "sounds" around them. Just another one of those times when I'd give anything to "hear the world" as Yonah hears it, to "comprehend" as he does, to be able to communicate with him in a way that we'd both understand. The sounds of singing, the patterns of his coo's. But being on social media with so many other "Companions", I've no doubt that EVERY ONE of us wishes the same thing.
So much for the "higher-evolved" species.
As for this morning... rather strange... I was "awake" at about 2.30 and actually considering getting up because I felt "rested" but decided against such nonsense at that hour) when... in the darkness and silence I heard the RUSTLING OF WINGS !!! Waited a moment, listening for any more sounds of movement... there were none, but I wanted to see where the Little Guy was and what disturbed him so I turned on one of the moon lights, dim light but enough to see him.
There he was, on the perch, but closer to the loft and facing the opposite direction. When I turned the light on he called "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" and I asked "What happened my LOVE?" "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo" came the answer. But he was still, and didn't appear at all "ruffled" about anything. His house was "in order". Nothing out of the ordinary in the room.
"Are you OK? I'm right here. You're safe. It's OK. I'm right here with you.
"woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo", and then he scuttled back to the "night roost" under his heater, and snuggled next to the little mirror there and re-settled.
I waited a few moments more. I thought of getting up to go to his house, perhaps a little "neck rub" but then thought of the hour and how late he finally got to sleep and decided to let it all go by, hoping he'd be able to re-settle and get back to sleep for the rest of the night. When I saw his little head tuck back between his wings, I bade him another "Gute Nacht" and turned the light off...
I always wonder what disturbs his sleep during the night. And I often wonder if he doesn't have little night-mares about... 4 years ago. I SO HOPE that's not what happens and that there's just some sound he hears that I don't. I just wish - again - that we could communicate so that he could tell me. But this morning, it was a comfort to see him just re-settle. He knows he's safe, I'm sure of that. Some-how he knows...
We both went back to sleep until... this morning, I was up again at 4.30 and looked at the clock and said "No... not now." I could have gotten up and started the day, but the forecast was for "sun-shine" and "warmer" temperatures (and the sun is shining into the room as I type, trying to break over the tree-line across the old road out-side the windows). I remembered the last time I got up entirely too early of a morning and how, during the day, all I wanted to do is "snooze" and no, not again today. I won't pass a day with my Heart-and-Soul being useless and laying on the futon so... off to snooze again... until ...
6.48 when I woke, looked at the clock and thought "I have to get up and get breakfast out for the Yardies". so I silently got up from the futon, thinking that the Little Guy would probably sleep-in for another half hour or so... BUT THE VERY MOMENT I STOOD UP...
"woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"
I looked into his house and there he was, on the night roost, and looking out, right at me! Seemed he was awake and... another "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" and a wing-stretch... well, indeed, Saturday morning was "called to order"! So I opened his door, placed the door perch and popped my head in for... "Good morning" kisses! Yup-yup... we were both up, awake and ready to ROLL!
I excused me to get to the kitchen, put the kettle on and all the while, "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo's" filled the house. So I made quick work the morning tasks and returned to open curtains and blinds to the early morning "grey-light" of 7.00.
MORE KISSES TOO! WELL HEY! Kisses are the perfect start to ANY DAY! And as I opened windows, the little hop to the food shelf to "supervise" the goings-on.
I got breakfast out to the Yardies, coffee on and when I came back into the room to set-up for morning water, there was a little bundle of LOVE and Feathers on the desk already! SO... no further delays, Saturday had arrived and...
Poops this morning: a rather REMARKABLE 15 !!! Made me stop to think of those "mega-poops" of last month... and as I looked at these, 15 just-perfect little poops, I could see that the "quantity" is likely the same as 2 of those "mega-poops". I'm just relieved that my Little LOVE isn't "holding" all of that in through the night and that "all things are flowing as they ought". And more? That they're proper size and moisture and colour, well... they're passing healthily. Whew!
It didn't take long before he headed over to the futon to greet Burdie-Birdie this morning so seeing the energy and hearing his voice was such a comfort! AND, he actually came to the door perch for little "cuddles" and "snuggles" and such so... good health, good mood, GREAT DAY!
This morning, I've added some sun-flower seeds to his regular food mix in his dish. I'm hoping he'll get some more protein since I'm not sure about the feathers being "grey" and he's still dropping the occasional "wing feather" here and there. So I don't know if he's actually "moulting" but if he is, he's going to need the extra protein. (Of course, I added the sun-flower seeds to his dish and I caught him having a bite... of the seeds he'd tossed out of the dish before. He just does NOT like ANY sort of "modifications" to his food. Though there are other times when he seems to SO enjoy the additional "new stuff". Can't figure it... but that's what makes birds so much MORE intriguing than ...
By 10.50 I all the "morning routine" is done, the sun is rising in the sky out-side the windows, and my little Heart-and-Soul is on his loft, the radio is playing softly, bird-songs playing too. The 2 new pumps for his fountain arrived this morning AND the "Air Monitor" has been on for almost 4 hours now and I've been watching... and ALL readings are "green"... "good"... "safe". (Today I'm going to see if it will run for the length of time we sleep at night and if so, I'll be keeping it running through the night for us. During the days now, we can have doors and windows open, when the "warmth" permits, but it's at night that I worry most and why I so wanted this little gadget. Thus far... it's comforting to see that, even though I tend to "sense" something in the air... it's really quite safe. - Looking at this room, if any-one were to take notice, they're likely to question: a thermometer, hygrometer and air quality monitor. It's almost like a surgery room in some hospital. But... this is how it should have been for some years now, already. I'm relieved to watching and monitoring now though. It'll be interesting to see what the readings are when windows get REALLY open.)
It's already 20.07 and we're almost ready to tuck-in for the night. The Little Guy is above me, on his roof-top after having a wonderfully healthy little snack and drink of fresh water which he drank as I poured this evening. It never ceases to amaze me (as do ALL things that he does) how, when there are easier ways to access the water in the pool, he always chooses to stand on the little "branch" that I'd cut for him, about 4 years ago. (It's the one he "perched" on in his old house when we first got it and the one he's perched on in the earliest photo I took of him and used for our stationery and his "calling cards"!) It's just above the edge of his pool so he has to stoop down to get a drink, much like, I have to admit, I've see other mourning doves do to get a drink. But there are other ways that would be so much easier for him to get a drink. I used to keep a separate little dish of fresh water in his house for him which was the easiest because it was at a depth where he just had to lower his head in to get at the water, but he used it so seldom that I stopped putting it in there, to give him more "space" in his house. But, to me, as long as he's comfortable and drinking water, I'm happy. It's not for me to decide his comfort and happiness. And as for the food, I put fresh food in his dish and mixed it in with what was in there already... seeds and sun-flower seeds. But OH! I noticed SO MUCH of his food had been tossed out of the dish and not eaten. If I were to just leave it all there, he'd have enough food for at least 2 weeks on the shelf! Well, this evening, that all got put into a little container and mixed in with the Yardies' food, as is all of his "rejected" food. I don't know who, in the yard, gets to those seeds but they're eating well. And hey, that's what it's for. (I wonder what other people do with "left-overs" like that. Some have said, on the social media, that they do the same thing I do: out to the Yardies. So there are other Little Ones out there in the world who are getting "good stuff" to eat.
And I'm just out of a "silent shower". No "calls" whilst I washed. But when I came back into the room, it appeared then as now, this Little Guy is ready to tuck-in for the night. (I just need to complete my evening ablutions now and we're done for the day.)
I had our "Air Quality Monitor" on for a couple of hours this evening and to my relief, all readings were "in the green"... all is well. I'm curious to see the next couple of days though. We're expecting "warm" temperatures and rain so the humidity will rise and that's when I'll be exceptionally wary. It was in 2023 that we had that horrific mould... in late August, but still. I'll be watching. And, I've already begun to "collect the arsenal" needed to fight it off and will make "pre-emptive strikes" well before-hand this year (again, as I did last year). At least now, we can watch the "Air Quality Monitor" and see when the humidity rises and when there are "particles" in the air. I'll NOT have ANY "particles" in Yonah's respiratory system, no matter what it takes to keep them away.
But for now, the night music is playing, the house is settled. Tomorrow being Sunday, nothing on the agenda, and the forecast is for rain so no working about in the out-side. We have another day together, much like today.
So, I'm off to prepare for tuck-in and.... let's see how the "ride home" goes tonight. Report tomorrow...
Sunday 16 March:
So... last night... Off I went to finish with the evening, and the Little Guy was on his night roost and I was pondering a little tuck-in, a little singing and closing the day. Ah, but...
When I walked back into his room, there he was... on the desk shelf, looking about and making with the nest-coo's. Silly me, to think other-wise. And saying that it was "seepie-nigh-night" time was of no importance at all so I got right to settling the futon for me for the night, as I would, when, there he went, up and off... to the top of the book-case, for more nest coo'ing. A little "change in plans". I finished the futon, got his roof-top platform and brought it up to him and did a little "distracting" with my fingers up over the edge. It didn't take long before he was "on board" (literally) and we were floating along, across the room and off to "home". And upon arrival, yes, indeed, a little "hop" and there we were, ready for the night ahead.
BUT ME? OH! I made the slightest misjudgment - I turned the desk lamp off before turning the moon lights on and the room went completely DARK! OH MY! As I fumbled about trying to turn the moon lights on, trying to find the correct buttons on the little remote, I made jokes about the darkness and how silly I was to make the mistake. When, at last, I got one light on, there he was, on the night roost... just as still as he could be. Other-wise, un-phased, I have to say. But I could see, in his little face, that the sudden darkness took him a bit by surprise. (It took ME by a bit of a surprise too, admittedly.) When I went in to give him assuring kisses, he turned his back to me! So, I gave him kisses, assured him that all was well and put the moon lights on, turned the desk lamp back off and got on with tucking-in and the night's lullabies.
I made it through the whole repertoire, calmly, and kept looking up. From what I could see, he actually "tucked-in"... but still, with his back to his door. Figuring he was settled, I finished the lullabies and, at 21.05 the last moon light was turned off. Our Saturday was closed.
(19.21... Quite the busy day today, but all we need do now is close the windows for the night and get us tucked-in so, with these moments...)
WHAT A DAY! WHAT A MORNING!
I was up and about this morning, and, as usual, I stepped out of Yonah's room in silence and closed his door behind me and went about "things" until...
At 7.13... a "quiet" little "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" came through the door. And the very moment I opened the door to his room came a louder "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo".
"I THOUGHT I heard a "woo-HOO." I said, as I went to his house and right away, he replied with "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo". (I HAD to think of it as "Yes, you heard a 'woo-hoo' now come over here and open house!")
When I got to his house and looked in, I could see... he was facing in his "regular" position, toward the door of his house. I wonder when, during the night, he changed his position, and I wonder how he did it with-out making any sound. Usually when he moves about in the night, I can hear his wings as be balances on the perch. But I was relieved to see that he'd made him-self comfy.
I checked poops right away, to see where they were and because they were all under the night roost, in the same place, obviously he'd "turned" early on last night. And there were 9 of them... quite "normal", where they "ought" to be so, he DID have a calm night, last night and, obviously, he got rest.
And again, this morning, I got KISSES! Not "abundant" but more than the "Oh well, he's here and I have to get kisses in." HEY! I appreciate even the slightest peck on the nose in the morning because there have been mornings when I've leaned in for kisses and he's literally "side-stepped" away from me! Now THOSE are the mornings that make me stop to wonder about the night that had passed. (Or, maybe he's just woken "in a mood"... after all... aren't we ALL susceptible to "those mornings when we just don't want to be particularly "nice"? and this Little Guy is no exception. I just hope that it isn't because I had a "snoring session" during the night or perhaps "talked in my sleep" and disturbed his rest, even though, I bear in mind that, were he "out in the world", roosting a night away in some tree, there would likely be all sorts of sounds and noises in the darkness... SOME of them, not at all "safe". Still, this is his house and home and here, she shouldn't have to deal with such things so I can only hope it isn't anything I've done.)
When, at last, I finished with opening the curtains and blinds, water run, morning kettle and such nonsense as "people" do of a morning, at 9.40 I FINALLY got to settle down at the desk and to the morning recordings of our oil and electric usages (for budgeting... so that we know we don't have to be concerned about EVER being defenceless against any of the chills that are still lingering about... at least until the end of May... I will NOT have my little Heart-and-Soul NEEDING to fluff his little feathers against any chills here!) and as I did the little "entries" my "Supervisor" came RUSHING over to my shoulder to watch as I typed! I could actually see him staring at my fingers as I typed and then looking at the lap-top screen as the little figures appeared across. WHAT-EVER must he think of such things? And when I consider all that he now takes relatively for granted, the goings-on of "people", how comfortable he is in this house, compared to the other Little Ones in the yard and wood-lands, it makes me think of what sort of things he could tell them, had he gone back to them... so many years ago. (And I have to wonder what, if anything, he's able to convey to them when we're in the yard and they come to visit with him. Does he, some-how, tell them that he's OK, and LOVED, and safe and being SO SO SO VERY cared for and about? And if he does, I wonder why they don't associate me with "safety" when I step out the door to provide them with their little meals during the day. Oh, we, humans and animals, really weren't meant to "co-habitate"...Animals are SO MUCH BRIGHTER, MORE INTELLIGENT, COMPASSIONATE. And I'm SO HUMBLED, HONOURED AND BLESSED to have this Little One as my "Companion" in this Creation.) Anyway, he watched and supervised until I'd done and got up to fetch another morning coffee, at which point, he was on the wing and off round the house.
Out-side this morning... "warm" but dreary. Rains in the forecast so we turned the UV light on. I don't know that it makes much difference in much of anything, but if there's any actual "UV" light emanating from it, if it doesn't help with the "vitamin D" production, hopefully it makes the colours in the room closer to what this Little Guy should be seeing.
Over-all, we had a "stay in " sort of day except for when I stepped out to the back yard... WITH DOORS OPEN to clear some snow from the gardenette. So much has fallen from the roof-top and some became packed and solid and this is the time to get to it to chop it up so that it melts soon and we can start planting our flowers for the coming Summer out there. If it weren't for the fact that he's never had to deal with cold, I was so tempted to bring him out. But there's still a brisk and snappy chill in the air, though most of the snow is gone. Ice lingers where snow was packed-down into the ground here and on the mountains, there's still obvious traces of snows up in the trees. So we wait... impatiently...
When I came back in he toddled out to the kitchen to come see me so I got on the floor with him and when I acknowledged him, he toddled back to his room and house! I can't help but LOVE it when he toddles into the room... so silently, but it's a comfort to me to see that he feels so safe and secure that he just, matter-of-factly, strolls in. THIS is the Life he deserves: to NEVER have to think of any harm that could come to him, and as long as we both take breaths, I will see to it that he NEVER has a care or worry! No matter WHAT!
So, I put supper on the hob to warm and he came over to me and rested on my shoulder... he came to ME! I didn't have to bring him. I didn't call for him. HE decided to come to be with me! And THAT, dear Reader, is my "AWE", my BLESSING, my HONOUR! And he's been doing that more often lately. I have to wonder why... but I don't question it. I bask in the HONOUR and PRIVILEGE!
(20.04 we are SO closing the day... and hopefully at a "civil" hour tonight.) And this evening, as I was getting things settled for the day, I happened to look up. He was on his roof-top and gave me such a WING-SNAP! HE WANTED TO PLAY! So, yes, of course, no matter the hour, if my little Heart-and-Soul wants to play... WE PLAY! A little game of "chase" across the roof-top until he decided that was enough and I needed to get to the business of settling the house and making ready for seepie-nigh-night. OH! But the moments when he suddenly gets that little "burst of energy". I could be absolutely exhausted, but THAT just FILLS me with such DELIGHT and a burst of energy for me too!
"Lullabies" in German playing on our "nightly music". They're part of the "collection" on the phone we use, primarily for that reason. And now, 'tis time to "close the windows" against the chill of the night ahead. There's a threat of "much rain" in the forecast for over-night. Thankfully, my Little LOVE has no cause for concern about such things. And in his room, the temperature is a cosy 24,7°! (Humidity is up to 40%. Quite a difference from the 16% we've had for most of the "Winter months". Tomorrow night's temperatures will be back to "sub-freezing again though. No problem. The cold will keep the old-house-mould away and there's plenty of oil for the house furnace... we'll be warm and dry and the rest of the house - up-stairs where the trouble "hides" - will stay chilled. YAY! How I look forward to a time when we don't have to be concerned with that threat any more.)
Well, it's 20.31 and I'm wrapping the day and my Little LOVE is pecking at something on the floor of his house. Is it the "foraging" instinct? He's got all sorts of fresh, clean, healthy food in his dish but... and out-side, the rains have arrived. The blinds and curtains are closed for the night and we did get to play with the "curtain critter" and the "fingers on the back-board" this evening. AND MORE WING-SNAPS FOR KISSES! Now? We hope for a quiet, restful night ahead. It's seepie-nigh-night time!
Monday 17 March:
(16.00) AND... Yes, last night, this Little Character, keeping with "tradition", as it is, headed right up to the top of the book-case as soon as he realised I was getting ready to come in and tuck-in! It truly IS "entertaining" though, seeing him up there, tail up, that little "oo-OOOooo", nest coo, and that "stare" that he has and the little "flutter" of tail. It appears to be all so "innocent", but I can't but think "He KNOWS what he's doing and he expects the ride home." So, I got the little roof-top platform and brought it over with a "chirpy" "It's seepie-nigh-night time." Yeah, that wasn't working, so I employed Burdie-Bird to "pop-up" over the edge of the board and indeed, it worked. (I really can't see when Yonah gets "onboard", as it is, and he's so light that I can't feel when he's there so I have to move the board a bit to see him.) He'd hopped on and so, we were off, floating along across the room and "home to the night roost"... kisses all the way.
AND, as he does, the very moment he saw that he was "home", the usual most casual "hop" and there he was, all comfy, settling-in and down for the night.
I made haste to put the futon together and start the evening serenade to make it clear that we were going "seepie-nigh-night" now and as I sung, he preened and settled. A few more kisses and I was off to the futon for the night.
One item I have to add here: I turned our new "Air Quality Monitor" on, hoping that it would run through the night. It detects so much with an alarm and, to be honest, that's why I wanted it most: to monitor the house and room through the night. Our "mould blast" hit us over-night when it was so horrible, and the windows were closed then so I was in a panic when I woke to the "fog" in the house so this time, I was hoping I'd be "fore-warned". When I turned the last light off, I was concerned about there being too much light in the room and my Little LOVE wouldn't be able to sleep properly, but it wasn't intrusive at all and I was grateful for that.
Anyway... we made it through the entire repertoire of lullabies, sung "casually" and soft and as I sang, I could see the little silhouette settling down and "tucking-in" for the night ahead. We were running SO late and I felt SO terrible, keeping him up obviously past the hour he'd have wanted to be tucked-in. But he didn't make a fuss as I sang and when he's had "enough" he WILL let me know.
The last light was turned off at 21.10 and I hoped he'd still get enough sleep through the night.
Well, that said, this morning, I was up before him and out in the kitchen, having my morning coffee, pondering the tasks and chores of the coming day and waiting for...
"woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"...
There it was... at 7.32 this morning! One of us had a night's proper sleep-time. I was almost a bit worried, I have to admit, when, at 7.00, I hadn't been called but I did keep in mind the late "tuck-in" last night. And when I "woo-HOO'ed" back, almost immediately came the reply of another, slightly louder "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo". So I got up from the table and headed into the still rather dark room, over to the house by the window, took a look in and sure enough, there he was, my LOVE, on his night roost, waiting patiently for me to come in and open house to the day.
And I checked poops (as always) and was relieved to find, on the little kitchen-roll under the night roost, 8 perfect little poops... So poops came through fine last night, and my Little LOVE rested calm through. And I knew that, if he got tired during the day, he has every opportunity to catch snoozes when-ever he wants... safely, so we opened house, opened curtains and blinds to the other-wise dreary day out-side.
And I did get some kisses too, this morning. So either he wasn't angry about last night or he doesn't carry grudges. (He's my mentor in that respect too: Not only does he tend to "live the moment", he "let's things go." I SO need to learn how he does it... and I SO need to learn how to actually BE exactly the same. This Little Guy has been such an inspiration to me over these years, especially when-ever I have little aches and pains. NOTHING I could EVER experience could even be compared to the Hell he's lived through and all the while, has come to trust me, and, I dare say, "Love" me too. He eats well, sings, flies about... I need to be the very same... and I'm trying... doing my best.)
My concern of the day though: wing feathers dropping and on his right wing, when he raises it, there's one "space" in there that's really noticeable. It doesn't stop him from flying about. And I HAVE to wonder how he'd fare "out there". Although, I'm rather sure he'd manage quite well-enough because surely, the other mourning doves go through the same thing with their "moulting" and they HAVE to get up and about to find food and water. Still, I'm just comforted knowing THIS Little One doesn't have to even think about such things. He's as safe as he can be in his own, protected, surroundings. No need to "hide" and no need to dodge any predators. I can't give him "perfection" but I DO give him that much: protection from elements and predators, a safe place to bask and bathe, and plenty of fresh, varied food and fresh, clean water... and he doesn't have to go in search of any of it.
(19.32) Sadly, this turned out to be another dreary sort of day, and I was SO involved with all sorts of actual "work" in my Little LOVE's room that I have to say that I wasn't much of a "good companion" today. I DID get one visit... on the shoulder but it seemed more of a "stop by to say hello" and he was off again, to the futon and then back into his house. I kept telling my-self that the work was really necessary... after all, we have to keep Yonah's room healthy and to do that, there will be days when "work" will have to be done. Hey! Even birds have their days when "things must be done". And we were together. Thankfully I didn't have to leave the house (as when I took that ridiculous "job" some years back and I was out of the house and away all morning. Still... my "guilt"... Oh, to have nothing but time together and no "world".
When I stepped out of the room to put my dinner on the hob, we actually had some moments to "chat" and it continued room-to-room as I put things together in the kitchen. My LOVE had come down to the desk, to his lap-top with me for a while and I tried to explain my "busy-ness" through the day. From our "chatting", I'll take it that I'm forgiven for my neglect. HE might forgive me but I won't... (of course).
Right after dinner, we played with Burdie on the desk and on the futon and when I went to the kitchen to finish with the washing up... he headed to the living room. I turned the light on out there and he's still out there!
(19.58) When I went out to set up for the nightly water run, I called, from the kitchen, "Are you going seepie-nigh-night out there, you crazy bird?" he came RUSHING through and headed home! As ran back and forth, in and out of the room and poured each of the 8 trips to flush and freshen his pool, he stood on his door perch and waited... for KISSES! And no sooner had I done, he was up on his roof-top... waiting for me to close the curtains... and a little play with the "curtain critter" and the "back-board fingers"! When done, he settled on his roof-top, over his Sweeter Heater... the night music playing. We were settling for the night.
Horrible news today on our social media (my account but dedicated to "birds"): Our friend the "Teillady" posted that her Little Dove, "Sweet Pete" (diamond dove) had a STROKE last night! How it scares me SO DEEPLY to think...Pete is 16 years of age. Teillady says that's "old" for a diamond dove. But it reminds me: the more time together with Yonah, the less time ahead... and how it sickens me to think of Yonah suffering in any way for any reason. I don't know what I'd do in that event. I just don't know. We don't have a proper veterinarian close by, and those that are, well, as we learnt in the early days together, they don't want "to be bothered". We were alone back then. We've been alone all along. And.... when the time comes (and I have to be realistic because I've no other option), we'll be alone again. Not that I'd EVER want to do anything that would prolong any of his suffering in any way. And "medical treatments" tend to do just that... for humans, animals, what-ever. The decision at that time, if/when it comes is... well, probably best thought about at the time. If I dwell... it destroys. But my heart is heavy, thinking of Teillady and what she must be going through now. One thing I've noticed in hehr posts is that she's very adept and experienced in a vast array of treatments for so many ailments. After all, she raised her "Arnie", as Starling, from an egg so she's really got the experience and, dare I say, expertise. We'll be "following" developments, to be sure, and hoping for "the best" for both of them. (It's another time of having to face my own inadequacies,,, never and easy thing to do.)
OK... 20.16 I'm off to ablutions... let's see how tonight's tuck-in goes along. The new "air monitor" is on and all gauges are in the "green", the air is good. 26°, humidity at 25%, "VOCs" are in the very healthy range. I'm going to leave it on again, through the night tonight, in case I wake (as I often do) and I can check readings through the night. And the house furnace is on. The low for tonight's forecast is a mere 5°! As I call it: "Chilly bi'niss". "Sweeter Heater" is on for my Little LOVE, house furnace on to keep the rest of the place comfortable AND it pulls humidity out of the air... our never-ceasing battle against mould.
20.32 Final quick note: he's on his roof and calling "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"... it's time to TUCK-IN for the night! Indeed!
Tuesday18 March:
it was another one of those days with so much to be done round this old house here ("the old box" that it is) that the best I could do is jot notes from the day. Another day of me being such a useless "companion". But...
It's also been a HEAVY, EXTREMELY HEAVY DAY for heart and soul...
Teillady's SWEET PETE died last night! Sure, he had a VERY LONG and, I'm absolutely positive, the VERY BEST-POSSIBLE life, but that doesn't, in any way, make the news any easier to bear. Even facing the reality that "nothing in Creation is forever", it's just a MAJOR, DARK weight on mind and spirit. And it just "drives home" my own reality with Yonah... Being unrealistic, I hope that "our" moment will be over-night, after no suffering, that I'll wake one morning to find my little Heart-and-Soul in his house, "at peace". But then, isn't that what we, people, always hope for? And the reality of "being" is that such a luxury is never guaranteed. (Brings to mind the account of a man at a job, many years ago, in The City: shortly away from retirement, apparently in best health, ready to go on a vacation on a Friday, got up from his desk, bade everybody a good week-end and headed out to the subway home. No sooner had he put the token into the turn-style and stepped through... heart attack. Done. Sad but truly "bitter-sweet" in that he didn't suffer. And then the neighbour here who'd just moved into a house just bought, went to sleep one night and never woke. Ah... we hope...
Meanwhile, my thoughts are with Teillady... the silence of the coo's, the absence of that Little One. I know what it's like when Yonah's not well enough to coo... the entirety of Creation is unbearably dark and heavy. What she must be going through now... I can only hope her pain passes soon.
Back to "now".... Last night's tuck-in went right along smoothly. Poor Little Guy. I often wonder if I keep him up too late. Then again, he does snooze during the day; he has that much: he CAN simply doze at will and not have to worry about his surroundings. And through the night, he can actually sleep, not having to watch for threats. Still... And then I wonder: were we both to stay up through the entire night... he probably would. But I'll NEVER try such nonsense. Just a passing thought.
This morning, the "call" came at... 6.57! I got right up and into the routine of the morning because I could "sense" a bit of "anxiousness" to get on with the day. AND... by 7.39 he was out of his house and out of the room... to the living-room! THAT was SO encouraging to see. He was well-rested and full of energy!
And poops? 8 absolutely perfect little poops and all of them, under the night roost! YES! A calm and restful night, last!
(15.48 already.... this day is going by entirely too quickly! But EVERY day seems to do that... especially with Yonah here.) He's on his lap-top beside me as I type, and the sun is shining in the living-room, the front door is open, what a day! I've been trying to keep busy through the day and still making sure to spend time with my little Heart-and-Soul. With the news of "Sweet Pete", I grow all the deeper attached to this little LOVE here! And too, I have to say that I grow resentful of this house, so "needy" of all sorts of attention (especially since we're getting closer to the warmer weather and the possibility of another mould burst... and that, to me is pure TERROR!) and "the world" in general. I "justify" my distractions by thinking that their purpose is to ensure that Yonah (and I) has proper shelter from predators, a clean place in which to thrive, a safe place in which to rest, where we can have more than enough proper food and fresh water for him. As I say, it's "justification"... but that doesn't mean I resent it any less. I don't resent anything I do to ensure his safety and comfort... EVER! I resent having to take time away from him to attend to it.
I did manage, today, to grab a 30-minute snooze though. And for a brief moment, my Little LOVE snoozed with me... ON MY FOOT! He usually goes to my leg, finds a comfy spot round-about the shin, nestles-in and dozes off. This time, he got to my foot, started to get comfy and, well, next thing I knew, he was on the floor, toddling about and out of the room... and un-like most other times, when the alarm sounded, he wasn't there with me so... I got up and got back into the rut-and-routine of this place... He DID come back into the room though, and headed right for his loft. He appears to be SO comfortable there. And I've read that, when they're not out foraging and such, that's what mourning doves do of a day: roost and rest. So bless him... he has HIS loft, HIS roost and he's safe. And though foraging, it's said, is their "fun", THIS Little Guy doesn't have to fend against any possible "predators", doesn't have to fly "hungry" or thirsty. I can't give "Perfection"... but I can and do provide "convenience" and safety.
(19.55) Poor Little Guy... I was SO engrossed in house-hold "business" for most of the day today and all the while, he "lounged" in his loft. I DO recall reading that that's what birds do in the wild and when he wants to he has the rest of the house to fly around in and with the sun glaring in through the living-room windows today, he spent time out there too! Not as good as being OUT IN the sun-shine, but as Winter passes, the sun shines dimmer in his room so, seems he's "following the sun-shine"! Hey! At least we have a place where there's sun-shine. I've been in places where it's been so dark all day, no matter the weather. I'm grateful we have this much. Though I'm looking forward to some time back out in the yard in the REAL sun-shine!
OH MY! It's 20.22 and I got SO carried away with closing the house for the night! Entirely LATE and I've just been "informed" of that little fact with a rather loud string of THREE "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo's!" But the windows are closed for the night, fresh water in the "pool" and the Little Guy had a good drink as soon as I'd done putting the clean water in. No "playing" with the curtains this evening. And he's on his roof-top, waiting for the "ride home" for the night. Our "night music" is playing so I'm off, closing this for the day and getting to my "responsibilities"... Dear me! I should be (and am, honestly) ashamed.
20.36... we're settled. Day is done... on to a night's rest!
Wednesday 19 March:
Last night was one of those "AMAZING" nights... As soon as my Little LOVE saw me come into the room and start to put the futon together, he headed DIRECTLY to his roof-top AND, when I walked over to him, he hopped RIGHT TO THE PLATFORM, waiting for the ride home! He waited, whilst I put the covers onto the futon and when I went over to him, he got him-self do "situated" so I could simply slide him toward me and lift him up to bring him home!
On arrival? It's SO similar to people who wait on a platform for a commuter train, knowing just where to stand and step, almost "mechanically" onto the arriving train. He's SO "CASUAL" about it that it's actually "amusing".
No sooner had he alighted onto the perch, he immediately settled him-self there for the night! So I just went about putting the room to order and getting onto the futon. Evening lullabies already in progress. BUT...
"Autumn Leaves" and "Face the Music and Dance" completed, I got to the futon for "I Wish You Love" and as soon as I finished that... A CONVERSATION! "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" back and forth for 3 times and THEN... "nest coo's"! And we exchanged THOSE for about 5 full minutes at least! Could there be a more perfect close to a day? I don't believe so. Having that exchange is just SO exciting for me. Now, if only I had ANY idea what we were saying to one-another... maybe one day... at some time... I like to believe that time will come...
Well, we got through the lullaby repertoire, at a clam tempo, and, by 21.00 I could see my little Heart-and-Soul all tucked, little head in little wings, as calm and comfy as he could be... the last light was turned off. Tuesday was closed.
This morning? 6.52 and the so-soft "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo" was my "wake-up". Soft, but clear, and such a comforting sound. I can't imagine starting a day with-out the call of my Heart-and-Soul. (I've come to know what that was like and what it can be like during his moulting and, well... this morning it was SO soothing!) AND... when I got to his door and opened it, ANOTHER "Good morning greeting": a hearty "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo!" It actually stopped me in the middle of taking a breath! SO MANY "hoo's" first thing in the morning!
Coupled with this morning's poops, 8 of the most "normal" that could be hoped for, and ALL of them under the night roost... But wait, there's MORE...
No sooner had I opened the door, placed the door perch and started to get the room together for this morning's water run... in a WOOSH! a little bundle of feathered energy too wing and headed out to the living-room! WHAT A START to a new day! And as always, THIS just set my entire morning. This Little LOVE was in GREAT spirits, GREAT health, FANTASTIC energy, and obviously, he'd had a REALLY restful night's sleep last night! I couldn't think of anything I'd want more! So I had fantastic energy getting to the rest of our other-wise "morning routine". These are the moments when I feel that I've done "right" by and for this Little Life here and that he KNOWS how much he means to me and that he's as happy as he could be here, in this "strange world" I've brought him into. I NEVER thought, in those earliest days, that I'd "keep" him from the world he was born into, but, all events considered over these years, this morning, it appears the proper decision was made. "Returning" him to that world would have meant he wouldn't be part of "Creation" any longer... and though I'm always saddened to think that this little Genius, this PRECIOUS Little LOVE won't pass along all that is "him"... the alternative is just un-thinkable. What a HUMBLING, PRECIOUS, CHERISHED, LOVED little BEING! (And, equally, we have to remember: it might be said that I rescued him, but the fact remains... he rescued me too. WE are here because HE is here.)
So, I got right to the tasks of this morning, curtains and blinds open, waters changed and got the house settled for the day, all with the best energy I could possibly have.
I decided to move the feeder that's usually on the pole in the back gardenette from the gallery where it's been for the "nastier" weather so I stepped out into the morning to find....
In a little bit of remaining snow in the gardenette, there was a blue-jay that had obviously been hit when the heavy snows slid off the roof! I'd always thought of that potential and that's why I always put the food out for them on the far end of the back walk, attracting them away from the house. But this one, some-how, for some reason, must have been in the very wrong place at the very moment the snows gave way and came pounding down. I have NO idea how long ago it had happened, but I'm rather certain that the impact was sudden and complete. The Little One didn't suffer... for all that's worth.
As if that wasn't bad enough, and I wasn't physically sick enough because of it, our local "village idiot" happened by as I was placing the feeder on the pole and as a "McCoy" will do, opened into a tirade of nonsense directed at me and where the truck is parked. Of all things. Well... my heart and mind were on matters of much more importance... wondering what I would do with this Little Life that had been ended by the Winter snows so I simply let the matter pass quietly but by the time I got back into the house, between the blue-jay and the nonsense of a human dolt, I was feeling much lower than I'd been when I'd stepped out and when I got back into Yonah's room...
HE CAME RUSHING OVER TO MY SHOULDER AND WOULDN'T LEAVE ME! HE COULD SENSE MY DISTURBANCE. AND HE PECKED AT MY CHEEK, TUGGED MY EAR, JUST WOULD NOT LEAVE UNTIL I CALMED DOWN!
This is just one example of the reason(s) why I do my best to control my own emotions now. I've come to know that when I'm happy, my Little LOVE is happy, but when I'm anxious or the likes, he KNOWS and he does his best to support me through it all. (Amy had, a while back, asked if I'd ever considered "registering" Yonah as a "support". As she put it "With-out him, you'd be suicidal!" I'm still not sure if she was being sarcastic in some fashion, but she does know how I feel about him: with-out him, there's no more "health care", and, well... my days, if any, will be most seriously limited in number. And I have NO reason to believe that Yonah isn't aware of that fact too. As I've said: we "rescued" one-another, each-other.) Anyway, seeing the blue-jay was far beyond anything that I could change or control. "Nature" does what "Nature" does. (Had I known at the time, who knows? We might have had a blue-jay in the house too! I wonder what Yonah would think of THAT? Mourning doves and jays get along well in the yard. I've the feeling they'd be fine together here too. But, I'm just relieved that the jay didn't suffer. But what angered me is that some meaningless idiot had to try to destroy an other-wise wonderful morning. The moment Yonah came over to me though... THAT was dismissed... WE are together... here, in the house, and "the world"... doesn't matter at all.
And so... the rest of our morning passed along and our "house-hold" routine went on as I focused on the start of the day...
At noon, we took our usual break for lunch together and after, I managed to get a 20-minute lie-down... AND AS I LAID THERE, YONAH "WATCHED" ME... FROM HIS HOUSE! He didn't come over to me, but I could SEE that he was "roosting" there, facing me, literally watching me. I didn't "doze", it was just a "shut-eye" but when I looked up just as I was getting ready to get off the futon and on with the rest of the day, there he was... in the same place, same spot, again, literally WATCHING me. There's SO much he's SO aware of... and it made me think of a time when, MAY CREATION FORBID, that I, with my aging, might not feel as well as I ought... He'll KNOW. So there's even MORE reason and cause for me to take the best care of "me" that I can... I HAVE to be here for him and I HAVE to be in best-possible health... physically, mentally, emotionally. And... because of Yonah Taube... I WILL!
So after-noon moved right along. There were the usual little tasks to attend and although I would have liked to get out for awhile, hey, the weather's not quite appropriate as yet. As I say, there's still remnants of Winter's snows, and the air is still "crisp". But I look so forward to a break, when we can get out of this "box" and be with the Yardies again!
This evening, we had "dinner" at 16.00 which was really good because we had our dinners together at the same time. Round about 16.00 is when my Little LOVE tends to grab a snack, at the very least, but I was hungry and there was nothing that needed immediate attention so... DINNER! AND... as I sat at the desk eating mine, my PRECIOUS, CHERISHED HEART-AND-SOUL CAME OVER TO THE DESK TO HIS LAP-TOP, RIGHT THERE, BESIDE ME!
When I'd done and put the dishes into the kitchen basin, I came back into the room to put it in order for the nightly water run and such but... BUT...
IT WAS TIME FOR KISSES, CUDDLES AND PLAY! As if he knew the day was done and the negativity of the morning was over, gone, done, passed, there was such a BURST of playfulness and affection! Our "flock" was back to "normal", the "tragedy" passed and it was all "relief" now! OH! but we played, on the desk, on the floor... until... UP AND AWAY... HE WAS ON THE WING AND OFF TO THE LIVING-ROOM to catch the evening setting sun!
(It's 18.44 already and...) When I called to him, as I started setting things for the water run, we had a little "chat" from kitchen to living-room. He's still out there. But the doors are open, air flowing through the house... it's a "warm" evening, thankfully, so he's out of his room, out of his house and in a different room with AIR! So... The sun is making it's way behind the mountains so we'll soon have to close house for the night. "Cold" in the forecast for the night again and I don't want the place to "take the chill" for the night. "Summer" is being delayed, so it seems. I don't doubt that the house will stay "just warm enough" to be tolerated by my Little LOVE, but it's as I do hold: I know he can fluff his feathers against a chill, but there's no reason why he "must" and being in this house is to protect him from such things. I can and I will provide him with as much comfort as is possible... for him.
(20.07) We played with Burdie on the futon for a while... because I went to the living room to get him and he hopped right onto my shoulder to come back. I wonder if flying isn't uncomfortable with the missing feathers that I'm finding about his room of late. But when we got into the room, he went directly to play with Burdie and WOW did we play! And he preened Burdie for quite the while too. Apparently not quite ready to settle down for the night just yet.
We had the house furnace turned off during the day today (at long last) so I closed the house, put furnace back on at about 19.00 and after playing with Burdie, my Little LOVE went to the floor... as he does... to be in the moving air. Poor Little Guy. Another one of those "questions" on my mind: is it the "moving air" that he likes or is it the warmth? OR, is it both? It's really terrible, when I think about it: out-side, there are breezes, motion, moving air across his feathers, but in this house, there's stillness, almost always, in the surroundings, the air. It truly isn't very "healthy"... for either of us, really. But I get out from time-to-time (seldom as it might seem or be... but then, if I can't bring Yonah with, I truly do NOT want to be out... or any place other, for that matter) and he gets "out" when weather permits, when temperatures are warm enough. Oh, to be out of here and some place where we can have a nice little actual "aviary" where he can have more protected space than his "yard house" provides, and enough area where we can have "open" and "protected against wind". My dream, wish, desire, goal, ambition.
But right now, he's on the desk shelf, up by the radio, and it's time to close the windows against the night out there and tuck both of us in for the night... well, at least that's what I'm thinking. There just MIGHT be time for some "playing about" and a little ride home after a little "come and get me... if you can". Oh... the closing of the days... and the cleverness of this Little Bundle of LOVE and LIFE!
(20.34 He's on this roof-top making with the "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo's" and those "woo-HOO!s" that tell me that I need to get things together here... Yes... it's time to stop the day... "seepie-nigh-night time" here! More tomorrow... Wednesday is closed!)
Thursday 20 March... Equinox - Spring
(18.42 We had another one of those "constantly busy" days today... again...) Last night though, it was another one of those "AMAZING" tuck-ins... The very moment I came back into the room from my own evening ablutions and he noticed me, he headed DIRECTLY to his little platform on the roof-top and as I got close to his house, he hopped RIGHT ONTO IT! I can't help but SMILE when he does this because I keep thinking of all the "experts" who claim mourning doves aren't "considered to be intelligent" and others who claim that they respond and react in "instinct" BUT, learning that he'll be "brought home" on that little board from his roof, to the point where, as he did last night again, he simply "steps" onto the perch that, during the day, is his "perch" but at night, it's his "night roost", that's surely NOT a simple matter of "instinct". Yonah distinguishes between a "perch" during the day and a "night roost" during the night. He's BRILLIANT! Along with the "vocabulary" he obviously understands. (Again, I read, doves don't "hear words", they hear "sounds", but he "hears" enough to distinguish particular WORDS.
Now, if I could only understand by the mourning doves out in the yard won't learn that neither Yonah nor I are here for much other than to provide them with a safe place to eat good food... Then too, the "claim" is that most of the doves seen in a yard from year-to-year aren't the same each time. Some will return, most won't (for various reasons), so, we'll have to see again, this year (if we're to be stuck here for another Summer. Maybe this year we'll "make friends" out there... It would be a tonic to my old heart to see Yonah having "friends" who come to visit when we're out there. (More to look forward to..)
Anyway... We both got settled, my Little Guy on his night roost and me, on mine (the futon) and I'd started the evening serenade as I was putting the room together so, by the time I was under the covers, I was already at "The Turtle Dove" and last night, when I'd done with that... from above my head...
A soft "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo". When I answered, there was one "nest coo" so I went along to see if there would be any more to be said... I made it through the rest of the repertoire and... at 21.07... the last ligjt was turned off for the night.
I was up at 5.00 this morning and decided to get on with the day since the day breaks earlier now and i was just getting to where I was settling at the kitchen table to finish my morning coffee when, again, I could only but barely hear...
"woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo" through the door. (I'm not sure if it's my hearing but he IS coo'ing quieter of late and I'm wondering why.) But... I was up by the second "call" and when I opened the door, I stood, waiting to hear another bit there was none. Slowly, I walked over to his house to hear that little "HOO!" But looking in, he wasn't moving about at all, so I opened the door to his house and stepped back, thinking he might not really be awake yet, but as soon as I got to the door to his room...
"woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo"... OK... he WAS awake and it WAS time to start the day!
Not too many kisses this morning. Not sure why, but there were a few, and they weren't simply "protocol"... they actually were "sincere" so that was assuring. And, it didn't take but moments before he was up and out and into the room and over to the wall shelves, then to the desk shelf and I was on the "water run".
Later (8.15) after the house was re-settled for the day and I needed to get to the desk to get on with an agenda FULL of "people work" for the day, he was on the desk shelf so I leaned over for another "Good morning" kiss and to my shock, he took a "sharp" peck at my lip and the flew away to his roof-top! But there, he gave me a wing-snap! So I went over and got MORE KISSES! It was almost as he was being "playful"! He didn't want anything more than the little kisses, because when he'd done, he toddled away from me on his roof-top and I got on with the morning's "people nonsense". This morning, we were just being rather "feisty" so I had to suppose we were well-rested and feel well..
Poops from last night: 9 total and 8 absolutely perfect and "normal" in size. One was only just slightly larger than the rest and I suspect that might be this morning's first. But composition and colour... perfect. Assuring start to the day... great coo's, a couple of kisses and the burst of energy and early flight. WONDERFUL! It's what I wake up for in the morning (and I was up and out of the room at 5.00.)
By 8.30, I was settled at the desk, the sun was rising above the tree-line already and filling the room and as I looked up... my little Heart-and-Soul was gathering twigs from the floor of his house to add to those on his loft! THAT ALWAYS gives me such a wonderful lift of spirits! (And reminds me that it's time to get out and get him some fresh perches and more twigs and some sort of nest materials. (Check for some white pine needles and see how they can be incorporated into his house and such. I'd gathered some from the ground last Summer, washed them and such, but he didn't show much interest in them and after a while, I felt they were just too stale so I tossed them back into the woods. I'd like to get some proper moss for him too, but not from out-side because he's getting older and I can never be positive that there's nothing "threatening" to his health and well-fare in wild moss so... we have "tasks" this year! Mean-while, this morning was such a delight to see as he picked through what he has and bringing it up to hs loft.
OH... but it turned into "mayhem" for me during the day with phone calls and e-mails and all the other "people nonsense" but I could tell that my Supervisor was enjoying my talking and the fact that I was so "active". And as I spoke on the phone... HE CAME OVER TO MY SHOULDER TO PECK AT MY CHEEK AND WHEN HE HAD THE CHANCE, TO TUG AT MY EAR! And all the while, the sun shone SO BRIGHTLY in through the windows so in between, the Little LOVE took the time to BASK!
(Most of all of what was going on was arranging for the new screen for the old lap-top. Oh, "people" and "mistakes" and "delays" and such... I HAD to take a break before lunch to just hold Yonah, close to my face, and give him kisses and to let him know that I LOVE HIM so much and that when this is done, and the new screen is in the lap-top, he'll be able to get comfy and cosy on it again... with-out all the flickering and flashing again!) AND... I did some "grocery shopping" for him too! (Petco didn't make that at all easy... and that was more phone time
it was ALL about the new screen for the old laptop and we did some "groceries shopping" and that took entirely too long because "Petco" (yes, naming names) didn't make any of it any easier but...we did get the order in... FOOD! (To make sure we have enough in the house at all times... we're not "out of" anything but we MUST make sure we NEVER run out.)
We had a quick lunch this after-noon... a bit late, and no snoozes today. It all just rolled along but, at 17.00 we were at the desk, the news was on and we had dinner!
Right now, all meals and nonsense done... Little Guy on the old lap-top, furnace is back on. It was off most of the day and the doors open! But temperature in the room dropped to 21° and well... the furnace had to come back on. Keep the house and room warm, protected, comfy, cosy.
Now? WATER RELAY! There's still a LOT of day-light out there at the moment but the hour approaches and the sun will set so quickly... so soon.
(19.08) There's still day-light out there at this hour, and the waters have been changed and the Little Character is toddling about on the floor of his room beside me. The house furnace is running and again, it appears he's enjoying the "moving air". The day was so sunny all day, and temperature was rather comfortably cool. But still, not quite warm enough for us to head out to the yard yet. (Not to mention, the "threat of snow" in the forecast... it's still only March and we could have snow into the months of April and May but, as soon as we can, we WILL be out in the yard!) I have to add here that the Yardies haven't come round in "great numbers" yet either. Mourning doves? We've had mornings of 14 but for the most part, 4 or 6 seems to be the "rule". And they don't come round during the day, waiting until just before evening. So for us to be out there, we'd be quite rather alone. Between that and the chill in the breezes, still coming off the snow and ice on the mountains, well... Our day will come. For now, keeping this Little One warm and cosy and comfy is my most important consideration, to be sure. He's never had to fend against "cold" and there's no reason why he should. But a nice breeze... one day... soon.
19.58 and I'm done with the "catching-up" with the day's events and my Little LOVE is on his door perch... waiting for the blinds and curtains to be closed and for us to get to the business of closing the day. Yardies have come and gone. The snow is gone from the back yard and gardenette. Their feeder is full... oddly, they're not going for the food there. They prefer when it's tossed onto the walk. But... time to settle for the night... and may there be PEACE through the night. (I'm off to my ablutions... we'll see what awaits...)
it's 20.21, he's on the night roost, windows closed against the night. No play at all tonight! Looks like he's TIRED so... signing-off for the day... to be continued tomorrow...
Friday 21 March:
Tuck-in last night was so uncommonly direct. SOME-birdie was REALLY tired and all too ready to get to sleep! He watched me close the windows at 20.21 with no playing. He didn't even come off the night roost. So I just went on about setting-up the futon, got me tucked-in and went through the entire evening serenade, calmly. There was one brief exchange of two "nest coo's" each right after "Turtle Dove" but then, no more to be said. And the last light was turned off at 20.51.
This morning, I woke at 6.30 and was out of the room, the door to his room was closed, of course, and, amazingly (to me), as the clock in the kitchen touched "7.00"... again, the softest little "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" came through the door.
When I opened the door and stepped in... a little "nest coo", as it were. And when I called back
"woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo", he answered with a "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo". So I went over to make sure he was actually awake and wanted to get to the day and as I looked in, he made that little "HOO!" and turned his head toward me and THEN... A BEAUTIFUL WING-STRETCH! So, it appeared he WAS awake and ready to get up and out to the "world".
I opened the door of his house and, as I do, leaned in for "Good morning" kisses and OH! KISSES! KISSES! KISSES! THIS MORNING! I can't even express how my heart lightened and how WONDERFUL it made me feel! Those who've experienced it understand. But WOW! It set my entire day. (I was tired this morning, after waking from disturbing dreams so my general mood was a bit "heavy". And I don't doubt that my little Heart-and-Soul knew it... and, in his own way, as he always seems to do, he lifted the dreams, and the day.)
I got to opening curtains and blinds and as soon as the blinds went up and the early morning "dim" light came into the room, he hopped over to his food shelf and when I came round and leaned into his house to roll him back into position by the windows for the day, he IMMEDIATELY hopped onto my shoulder, toddled to my back and headed over to the futon to Burdie-Birdie! Ready to take on the world and the day ahead!
By the time I'd gotten into the morning water change run, he was back at his food for breakfast and then off to the desk shelf! KISSES and ENERGY and...
Poops? Thirteen of them this morning! ALL of them perfect in EVERY way, including being directly under his night roost! THAT was a relief to me because I wondered if I'd made any noise because of the dreams (I'd thrown a pillow off the futon in my sleep so I was concerned) but from the looks of the poops, seems it was a quiet, calm night. I SO needed to see that.
I had a little bit of morning business to attend to at the desk and as I settled me there, my Little LOVE settled him-self on his loft, beside the windows, and the sun rose, the sky cleared beautifully. It was a glorious sort of beginning to a new day. Such a shame that the temperature out-side this morning was a mere -1° again and wasn't about to get much warmer. After the days of 16 and 19° it was, for me, a bit disappointing. I don't expect to have particularly warm weather yet, but I'm getting anxious to have both of us out and into the direct sun-shine for a while. (Mean-while, even the Yardies are some-what scarce these mornings, with the return to "March weather". And there was still quite a bit of snow on the Western mountains so...)
By lunch time, we were able to settle-down together for the day and have a little lunch together.
I scrambled an egg, HOPING my Little Guy would, at least peck at it, and I even showed him that I enjoyed some of it, I tried "serving" him some on a fork but... he wasn't having ANY of it! He doesn't like hard-boiled egg yolk but I was hoping the scrambled egg would be different. HAH! I put quiet a bit of it in with his regular food and hoped that he'd have some, during the day but... NOPE! And because the egg was in his dish, he wouldn't even peck at ANY of it! There's "dried egg" in one of the seed mixes I put in with the rest of his regular "diet". I don't know that he eats any of that (since I can't really tell all of what he tosses from his dish when he "has at it"), and I wish I could figure out how to get some actual, fresh egg in with the mix so he can't toss it. But I've come to learn that ANY "modifications" to his food means he simply won't eat until he gets his "regular" food again. I'll have to post the question to "our" social media and see if anybody can give any sort of suggestions. I see so many other Little Ones enjoying eggs, and vegetables and such, but NOT THIS ONE! Such a little enigma. Then too, Yonah isn't a "domestic", wasn't hand-raised. I'm just glad that he manages to eat the little bit of pellets in the mix ("Kaytee Forti-Diet"). Oddly, he doesn't like the really "high-quality/high-end/high-priced" pellets (Harrison's) and I've even tried to chop those down to smaller size and even went so far as to grind them to almost a powder to coat the seeds... and when I've done that, he simply refuses to eat ANY-thing in his dish. SO... there we have it.
Ah... mean-while, the mourning doves in the yard? I put food onto the feeder where it's not on the ground, cleaner, protected, where they're safer as they eat and yet, they prefer the seeds tossed onto the back walk! There's just no telling... just no telling.
This after-noon, my Little LOVE took to his house, to his beach, and basked in the light and warmth of the brilliant sun-shine that poured in through his windows AND... I was actually granted an HOUR'S snooze! I had NO intention of snoozing for so long but because lunch was done earlier than usual, it turned out that our regular hours were kept so... no harm done to the day. AND, for all that while that I was snoozing, my Little Guy was lounging... in his loft. Two of us doing what (I'm to understand) birds in the wild do with they day... hangin' out.
When I woke, he woke and I got back to the "chores and tasks" of our Friday after-noon... running the hoover, of course, and when I started THAT, there was the usual "supervision" and "watching". I had to get to the floor under his house and that meant I had to crouch down, and when I came up, there he was, on his door perch, staring at me and as I rose up and my face got level with him, he came forward for a few kisses and pecks! WHAT A CHARACTER!
One thing that I got to notice today: as I hoovered, I ran the new "Air Quality Monitor" to see if any sorts of "stuff" is thrown into the air from it AND... the readings barely fluctuated at all from what's become our "base-line normal"! And it NEVER rose out of the "safe" or "good" registration! SO! I'm comforted to know that hoovering doesn't throw anything harmful into the air in the house. Air quality for my little Heart-and-Soul is SAFE in his house!
Thankfully, it was, other-wise, a nice, calm, sunny-but-chilly day and now... we've had dinner, the washing-up is done. I've put the food with the eggs into a dish in the fridge to serve to the Yardies tomorrow morning (since they've already been here in the yard for this evening's nosh). Fresh food, with no "additives" in his dish. He still has yet to get something to eat and I was hoping he'd do that before the water run, but it's really time to get to the water change for the night. There'll be a few seeds in there over-night at this point in time but, it's been worse, and it never seems to bother the Little Guy anyway. Besides, tomorrow morning, we'll flush the pool again and if needed, we'll take it all apart and wash it thoroughly. If there's one thing I make certain, it's that the water Yonah drinks is clean (as I say: if I wouldn't drink it, it doesn't belong in his house), along with his house, in general. We'll have NOT "threats" to his health!
But hey! Today we got word that the new screen for his old lap-top is on the way! (The other one that was returned is still "lost" in the postal service but I just don't want to wait any longer... since Yonah SO enjoys his place on that lap-top and I want him to have it there for him... safely... with no "flashing" and "stripes" and the likes - fortunately, this evening, we got another day out of the old one, and I'm just hoping that I'll be able to replace this and that that'll make all back to "normal" again.)
Right now, he's on the futon with Burdie... and I'm off to water running!
20.16 and... from the night roost... a little "nest coo"... The house is settled, the room is settled, save for me, typing at the desk and the futon to be done... and another "nest coo" from the night roost... We're having an "exchange". Even as I speak to my Little LOVE, he replies with a "nest coo" so I'm going assume... we're TIRED! Oh, but these are the moments when I SO WISH I could shrink down to size, join him on the night roost and snuggle next to him to let him know that he's really not "alone", in spite of having no other dove here with him. But, in his way, I'm sure he knows that.
But we got everything settled in record time and though "normal tuck-in" time has been round 21.00, I'm curious as to whether we'll make it earlier tonight. We shall see. (The night music is on too so...)
Before it gets any later... I'll sign-off here, get us tucked-in and...
Morgen früh, wenn Gott will,
wirst du wieder geweckt.
Saturday 22 March:
(6.30) POOR LITTLE LOVE... As I sat at the desk, last night, our night "mediation music" playing softly, he patiently waited on his night roost for me to wrap the day up with all sorts of what I consider, in retrospect, "people nonsense" (which I can only barely justify as "necessary to keep our humble house around us" because, above ALL else, I do ALL I possibly can to make sure THIS Little One ALWAYS has protection against the elements and a safe, comfortable place to call "home"). We exchanged little "nest coo's" back and forth for a little while and each time, I took them to mean "I'm tired and it's time to turn the lights off so we can get some sleep". Another one of those moments when I would give anything to be able to communicate with him in some way where we can both fully understand one-another.
But, even though we didn't get to rest early, we DID manage to get through an "abbreviated" repertoire of lullabies and the last moon light was turned off at 21.05 - which has, recently, become our almost-regular and normal "lights off" time. (I can't help but think that in "normal time", what-ever that is, 21.00 is still actually 20.00 and OH! what I wouldn't give to just toss the whole "clock" issue and live according to the sun-rise and sun-set... as the world intended, I'm sure, from the beginning.)
This morning, after another rather "odd" night of strange dreaming and waking every so often through, at 4.00 I decided that I'd gotten 7 hours of "sleep" and got up, silently, from the futon, and stepped out of the room, closing the door behind me. I'm comforted, these days, with our new "Air Quality Monitor" which I leave in Yonah's room. It's good to see that all the "measurements" are in the "good" range, the numbers are low, so I know that there's nothing "threatening" in that room. But we're back in "March" weather for the coming days, according to the forecast. Night temperatures will be dropping below "freezing" again for a while and that's good. It keeps the mould away. And when I hoovered yesterday, it was comforting to see that even that doesn't kick up anything harmful into the air.
Knowing, as I've come to learn, that birds, in general, are mostly little respiratory systems wrapped in feathers, good air quality is one of my top-most concerns. So, my little Heart-and-Soul is breathing good air! His room, his house are "clean" and safe. Now, if only I could get him to eat a bit better... proteins, some vegetables. One of these days, I hope.
The day ahead looks to be a bit on the "dreary" side again, but there's nothing on the agenda and I've caught-up with all the "people business" of the morning. Looking forward to a day together with the sole reason for my even being... and now, as I sit at the kitchen table, just out-side the door to his room... listening for the "morning call"...
(15.12) Today has gone by entirely TOO quickly and, again, I sit here wondering how and where and when. But it was an "active" day, and the very best of it: I WAS IN THE HOUSE WITH MY SOLE REASON FOR BEING! A DAY TOGETHER, NO ERRANDS OR THE LIKES. AND WHAT A DAY IT'S BEEN...
This morning, I'd been up and in the kitchen already when, at 6.55 this morning, again... SO SOFTLY, through the door, I heard what I hope was the first "call" of
"woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo".
A LONG coo but as I say, so soft. So I opened the door to his room and waited to make sure that he was actually awake and just as I took the breath to ask "Did I hear a woo-hoo?" I heard... a "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo". So I made my way over to the little house by the window and in the darkness, took a look in to see MY LITTLE LOVE there, on his night roost, and then... A BEAUTIFUL WING-STRETCH before the next "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"!
When I opened the door and went in for "Good morning" kisses... OH SO VERY MANY KISSES THIS MORNING! OH! SO VERY MANY KISSES! IT WAS ABSOLUTELY DIVINE! He was well-rested and as happy to see me this morning as I was to see him!
Since he was up and awake (obviously), I got right to opening the curtains and blinds to a relatively clear morning out-side! And when I went "into" his house to roll it back, closer to the windows, he IMMEDIATELY hopped onto my shoulder, toddled to my back and WOOSH! he was off to the futon and then right out to the living-room for a few "woo-hoo's" to the decoys. Energy and kisses, morning flight... there couldn't be a better Saturday!
Poop check: Well indeed! 14 - FOURTEEN - absolutely PERFECT poops on the little "rug" below the night roost. I was concerned that I might have disturbed him again, last night, with my dreaming, and then, getting up at 4.00 and being busy in the kitchen, but, it was obviously a restful night. RELIEF!
It didn't take long after the water run this morning, and he was back in the room and back to his house and up to his loft. And the sun rose out-side and came brightly in through the windows. I made quick work of settling the kitchen and came in to be with him, looking forward to a day together.
I was "cleaning up" so little bits of "stuff" at the desk, getting prepared for really settling-in for the day ahead when, at 11.24, I happened to look up to see...
A LITTLE FEATH'RY GUY HAVING A LOVELY, CASUAL, LEISURELY BATH! He'd been on his beach for a few moments, basking in the morning sun-shine and so... What could be better than a cooling dip in the pool after a morning of soaking in sun-shine? I managed to catch a few photos and he watched me clicking away and as soon as I'd done, SPLASHES! JUST MAGNIFICENT!
After... he hopped out, settled in his house by his door, wing raised, as he does. Only the right one. (I pay closer attention to the left one because that was the injured wing and the one that gave him more trouble for so long with "pin/blood feathers" and all sorts of deformities of the feathers - which, thankfully, after a few moults, have "corrected" itself... SO MUCH TO MY RELIEF! But he didn't raise that one today. Sometimes he does, sometimes he doesn't. So I'll wait for the next bath.) But the feathers on that right wing are obviously being replaced and the new fathers are coming in just perfectly! (I could, I suppose, to a "wing-check", holding him and spreading his wing, but I try NOT to "pull" or "poke" or other-wise "handle" my Little LOVE. He went through too much of that at the veterinarian and although that was years ago, now, I just can't get my-self to try such things even now. I don't know how much HE remembers of that event, but seeing how much he DOES appear to remember - after all, he still trusts me - I just don't want to take any chances.) Once he was all nice and dry and comfy again, he went back to his beach. The sun was still shining in through the windows so it must have been nice to bask in the warmth and light.
One of the things that I want to try and incorporate into some kind of "aviary" for the back yard is a little pool there too. I've a general idea as to how to make something that can be disassembled when not in use, it's a matter of figuring out "where" we could put something of the sort. I'd like to keep the gardnette and this year, get something planted there that will bring more humming-birds along with providing a nice, comfortable and safe place for the other Yardies to stop by for a little meal. And with the forecast as it is, more cold weather to come with more snow, we have a little bit of time for me to gather thoughts... and materials.
And so, the morning slipped right by and the next thing I knew, I was being reminded: it was lunch time!
We had lunch at noon, so we were back on our "regular schedule" today. And I'd taken some raspberries out of the fridge to bring them to "room temperature" so they'd have some flavour and, right after I'd done with my lunch, I got a berry for my Little LOVE... and when I held a berry up for him, he hopped from his loft over to his "food perch". I held it between my fingers, he was hesitant at first but as soon as he took the first "poke" I could see that he tasted the berry AND HE HAD MORE! IN FACT, ALMOST A COMPLETE HALF! It's so odd that he'll eat a berry as long as I'm holding it, but if I put it in with his seed mix, he won't go near it, and... he won't even push it out of the way of the seeds. Something about me holding it for him... and, of course, I have to eat some too so he can see that it's "safe". What a "couple" we are.
After lunch, I re-settled the room and my early-rise started to get to me, as usual, really, because after lunch I'm ready for a snooze anyway, so I set an alarm, the Little Guy was on his loft, and I laid on the futon for what was supposed to be 20 minutes but HAH!
I managed to get a bit of "shut-eye", not really a snooze and as he does, as soon as he heard the alarm, he came rushing down from his loft and onto my leg... SOOoooo.... I wasn't about to pass an opportunity to spend time with him... I got comfy again and we laid there for another 15 minutes! I waited until he decided to get up and toddle about and then, off he went, over to the desk where his lap-top was playing today's news. I got up and got a coffee and joined him there.
Sadly, this morning's sun-shine was vanishing from the skies... rain was due but the temperature out-side was mild so I opened the front door of the house for some "fresh air" and came back to the desk.
But THEN, my Little LOVE wanted to play on the futon with Burdie so we took a break for KISSES AND PLAY! AND THEN... he headed up to the desk shelf and since the little bowl with some berries was there with me, I tried another berry AND, it was SO FUN to see! It seems he didn't mean to take a bite from the berry but really intended to poke at my fingers BUT he got quite the mouth-full of berry and went back for MORE! SO, today, we got to eat some BERRIES! (Too bad, really, that this batch isn't as flavourful as the previous container, but we'll just keep trying. From now on, raspberries are on the shopping list. I've read that it's OK as a "treat" but because of the "sugar" content, he shouldn't get too many, but he doesn't eat entire berries so... Now, if I can get him to eat BLUEberries. They're supposed to be VERY healthy - for both of us - so, we'll be giving them a try... they're on the next shopping list already.)
REALLY GOOD NEWS today: I got his old lap-top screen to display nicely again so at lunch, we got to see the news and later (15.00), my MOST PRECIOUS LITTLE HEART-AND-SOUL came over to the desk, hopped onto his lap-top, gave a few pecks at the screen and made him-self cosy there!
With the sun-shine gone, and having had the front door of the house open for a while, the room got a little cool so, door closed, the furnace on, 23° in the room... nice and warm... and TOGETHER!
Well now and so then, it's now 16.00 and the sun is making another appearance, my Little Guy is on his loft, and my dinner is on the hob. I can't believe the day passed us so quickly! And it's been a perfect day together. And I DID get more kisses too! (As a matter of fact, at one point, I had to reach to the desk for something and when I did, he hopped onto my arm, came toddling right up to my shoulder for some pecks on the cheek... AND KISSES! Apparently that was all he wanted because as soon as he got his kisses, he was off and back to his lap-top! I'll NEVER figure him out.)
Almost unbelievable... but true so it has to be believable... Right after dinner, the Little Guy headed out to the living-room and it's 19.22 and WE just came back, TOGETHER. HOURS out there as the sun started to set. So quiet, and he was hesitant about coming back!
I changed the water in his pool, got his house settled for the night (still have to get to the windows) and as I worked in the kitchen and running back and forth to his room, we "chatted" with "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo's". When I'd done, I went out and turned on the floor lamp and he gave a hearty 'woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo!" and looked at the decoys beside him as if he hadn't seen them there all the while. So I went over, asked if he wanted to come home for something to eat and he hopped onto my shoulder, nodded his head a couple of times and went back to his tree until I leaned over and said "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo". Up onto my shoulder and off we went, through the house and back "home". But when we got back, he went to the futon to be with Burdie for a little moment and then (now), he's on the floor in the "breeze" from the house furnace. I'm wondering if he doesn't like the living-room because there's a box fan running out there. It doesn't make much of a breeze, but maybe HE feels the air moving. What-ever it is, he DOES get comfy out there. But when the sun goes down and it gets a little dark, he calls. Almost as if he's saying "HEY! I'm out here and it's dark!"
Well, I'm hoping we manage to get tucked in soon. It's been quite the day, to be sure. Nothing "really out of the ordinary", but it was peaceful, and that's quite something. Hopefully it'll be an equally peaceful night ahead. And tomorrow? Well, looks like we might get that rain that skipped by us today so, we'll have things to do together, and THAT is ALWAYS a "perfect" day. I can't speak for this Little Guy but I am looking forward to some days out of this house, in the yard, hopefully with some sun-flowers blooming, colours and sun-shine, open air and Yardies! These grey skies are grown tedious.
OK... 19.55 and he's had his little "nightly snack" and picked at some grit and now, he's preening on the floor of his house, just inside his door. Out-side is dark so it's time to close house for the night if we're going to tuck-in before 21.00... HAH! As if we might even... but... we shall see how things roll... there's always an opportunity for some last-minute play-time...
OK... 20.21 and he's on his roof-top.... We had the most beautiful moment together, on his door perch... I caressed him in my cupped hands, rested my face on his head, gently kissed him and he was so serene, so calm, nestled against my face. OH! I could have stayed that way for eternity, truly... but then, as I opened my hands, he hopped onto my arm up to my shoulder and we closed the windows for the night... he stayed with me all the while. And when the blinds and curtains were closed and I came round to the front of his house to put it in place for the night, he headed for his roof-top again. We "played" with the curtain (my hand behind it something like a "puppet") for a little while and then we played with my hand behind the back-board too! A few "last minute games" before the official close of day! It was DIVINE! in the truest sense of the word.
So, my evening ablutions are done and it's time for the ride home.... we're running late but not bad. at least everything that needs attending is done for the night and now?... Well, we're off to tucking-in... more tomorrow....
Sunday 23 March:
(6.05) It truly HAS become another facet of what is our "little routine", this "ride home" at the end of the day. Even after all the playing last night, it seems that the "ride" is now expected because we got the room and house settled, and the Little Character headed for his platform when he realised that all else had been attended. I came back into the room in my sleep-wear and I'll swear that he sees, recognises and understands that when I come into the room in particular "garments"... we're going to seepie-nigh-night. And that he heads right for that little platform there, on his roof-top... well, the "obvious" is just the "obvious". He KNOWS!
So much for those "experts" who claim these Little Ones aren't "sentient" and "cognizant". Oh, but I could rant, but I won't. Shame, really, that this little (little?) Journal likely won't be read by those who need it most. (Then again, I can only imagine what sort of printed/bound tome it's become at this juncture. It's almost 5 years in the making... it could take almost that long to read. But what a Journal, what a record, what evidence of the short-comings of the minds of... well... the "experts". Hey! I have a "Professor" who's WAY MORE BETTERER than ALL of those who have their little bits of paper claiming they're so brilliant. "Professor Yonah Taube" here... makes the rest look like the pretentious buffoons they are. But let me not get stuck on this... moving along... and back to last night...)
Yes, another "abbreviated" repertoire of lullabies before "last light off". "Autumn Leaves", "Let's face the Music", "I Wish You Love" and right into "Guten Abend, Gut' Nacht"... We got the German in, the "important" tunes (because those are the ones with the deepest meanings... of Love and good rest). I'd only just finished "I Wish You Love" when my Little LOVE started to let me know that "That's good enough. Let's get some sleep" with a gentle "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo". And we exchanged those, thrice, each and then nest coo's, 4 times each. It was the nest coo's that made it clear: he was tired. So I softened my voice, slowed the tempo and kept watch of the little silhouette on the night roost as I sang. I could see the little head, nestle between wings as he calmed and settled for the night. By 21.03 the music was done, last light off, "Ich Liebe Dich" und... off to schlaf.
This morning, there's a dusting of snow on the ground. The road-ways are clear but where we were seeing some grass and soil is white. "March". "Winter" isn't quite yet ready to relinquish hold, but that's fine. The longer it lingers, the better for the air quality in this old house, and we have plenty of fuel to keep the place warm... fresh food, fresh water, clean air... we're "good"... we're good...
At 6.35 I was at the kitchen table and thought I'd heard the softest little "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo". I often wonder if I'm "set", in some way, to hear that "coo". During the course of a day, I'll "hear" it, even though, when I go to check, the Little Guy is snoozing in his loft. But just to make sure, I got up and partially opened the door to Yonah's room... Moments later, at 6.44 THERE IT WAS! THE MORNING CALL TO ORDER! THE "Hello? I'm here and awake and where are you?"
Two "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo's" one right after the other.
And when I got to the door, MORE! Oh YES, indeed, to be sure, the PRECIOUS LITTLE LOVE WAS AWAKE! And when I got to his house... he was already stretching his wings!
When I opened the his house-door and popped my head in for "Good morning" kisses... WOW! SO MANY KISSES! AND MORE WING STRETCHES! SUCH A PERFECT START TO A QUITE-COLD DAY!
THEN, the exchange of coo's! WE HAD SUCH A WONDERFUL LITTLE CONVERSATION THIS MORNING, EVEN BEFORE I GOT TO REMOVE THE ROOF-BOARD AND OPEN THE WINDOWS! IT WAS AMAZING! AWE-FULL! AS IT WERE! Kisses! Conversation! Just DIVINE! HEAVEN!
It didn't take but a couple of moments and we got the curtains and blinds open to the "crisp" morning out-side (and it was quite "crisp"... with that dusting of snow from over-night last night) and the very second I leaned into his house to move it back to the window when he gave me a few MORE KISSES AND THEN HOPPED ONTO MY ARM, TODDLED UP TO MY SHOULDER AND WAS OFF TO THE FUTON! "Good morning" woo-hoo's to Burdie and THEN... off to the living-room! How I have to admit I envy his energy of a morning, but with the "soft" coo's first thing, THIS is SO encouraging and SO needed by my worrying soul.
Poops: 14... Yes, again, FOURTEEN! And ALL of them just absolutely PERFECT! Composition and placement and all! I'm SO relieved to see that my Little LOVE's digestive system is working properly and that there's nothing "in there" that shouldn't be. His little tummy is good, his feathers are coming back in very nicely AND... last night he had another calm, restful night.
(9.03) I came back into the room after the water change and getting the rest of the house re-settled for the day, set me up at the desk but when I got back, I couldn't find the Little Character ANY-WHERE! He'd left the living-room, wasn't in his house, nor on the wall-shelves.. not on the desk... MYSTERY until... I happened to notice a little "dark spot" on the floor, almost behind the shelves under his house, below the windows. I'll NEVER EVER understand what lures him over there but he seems to, from time-to-time, head over to "investigate". I have to admit that some of the seeds he tosses from his dish end up on the floor and he does tend to "peck about" on the carpet for his "stash". But I hoover over there with particular care so that there's nothing on the floor. First and foremost, I'm not comfortable with him ingesting anything that's been on these floors. I'm not fond of carpeting anyway because it can harbour all sorts of bacteriae and fungi and the sort. But the flooring under this carpeting is likely un-healthy and it's actually been "painted" over the course of years so I leave it covered. Secondly, we had an infestation of mice 2 years ago, so bad that, there were evenings when I'd slept on the futon and was awakened by the fluttering of wings because a mouse had actually made its way up the steel-rod shelving and into Yonah's FOOD! (As a matter of fact, that's what started his "food shelf"... he used to have his food on the floor of his house where he could peck at it, as he would in his "natural habitat". But there was one morning when I looked into his house to see mouse droppings and that was the end of that! The shelf and the dish came along. It helped only a bit. What stopped it all was when, for weeks, I went through the entire house and sealed EVERY opening.) And so, I'm particularly aware of EVERY little place where ANY seeds might be. But, no matter how much I try to keep up with it all, this Little One manages to "hide a bit on the side" for "snacking later". And sure enough, there he was, pecking about the floor!
Honestly? I've said before, I say again and will likely say yet again: there are the moments when this little dove is very much like a curious little puppy. When he gets "curious" and finds the craziest little places to "explore" and, well, no matter where I am, I always have to be mindful of where I step. When I'm at the desk, I don't dare move the chair before checking about and I have to be mindful of where I put my feet under the desk. He'll follow me into another room. He'll toddle, in absolute silence, into the room with-out me knowing he's there. AND... he'll "hide" under the desk too! NEVER a "dull moment" around this old house with him here... and I wouldn't trade this for ANYTHING other in Creation!
Silly.. the moment he noticed that I noticed him, he came toddling over to me, as if "hiding" that he'd been there or to say "Nope. I wasn't over there."
AND... we DID get quite the "play-time" this morning too! With Burdie-Birdie, on the futon! THIS was some kind of a morning all round!
Then came his time up on the desk... a little "bitter-sweet": There's that little "bath-room/locker" mirror standing on the desk that he likes to "visit" sometimes. I put it there intentionally because he can see his reflection in it and it's on his "comfy corner". But this morning, he was having a little "chat" with the reflection and it touched my heart. "Spring" is here... "mating season". THIS is one of the most difficult times of the year for me (and my heart) because it reminds me that Yonah has only me... and I don't believe he's ever had a "mate". If calculations are correct, he was only but about 2 months of age when he was attacked, so he likely wasn't old enough to have had the "mating" experience yet. Still, I'm certain that he has the "drives" to mate, especially now (when I think of "Teillady's" comment: "Your little guy is growing up" and with his "nesting period" of last month...) and so it's painful to see him looking at his reflection... and not having another dove in his life. It starts me wondering again, and then, after a moment's time, I come back to the "reality". The only way we'd ever have another mourning dove would be through a tragedy befalling one from the yard (and frankly, I don't know that I could tolerate that as well as I've tolerated Yonah's having been attacked). And with the way "events" of recent times have evolved, with the local Dee E. Sea (as they are - and on a lighter note, they're being taken through the courts now so there's hope for some sort of reform, though I doubt it, having NO trust or faith in the judiciary) well, I don't know about TWO of these Little Ones in the house. AND... SO importantly, I don't know how Yonah would receive another some-birdie "sharing" his home and space. Not to mention (but, to mention), as I remember hearing in one of the many "webinars" for veterinarians: we can't be "match-makers" and expect OUR "introductions" to be "accepted". It would be "forcing" a mate on Yonah and THAT just goes against me. So... as much as I'd like to "change" things, things probably don't need "changing". We've come this far. We'll go farther... the two of us.
(14.41) And the sun is still shining in through the windows and after quite a quiet after-noon, listening to our "American Standards" now, there's the whistling of wings in the room around me as I sit to try and type more notes here. AND... A PLAY-BREAK! ON THE FUTON! I couldn't "not" take the break because I was being stared at from the desk shelf! My Little LOVE was on his beach for a while, even though the sun isn't shining directly into the room at this hour, and the whole house has been like something out of a boring "cutesy movie" with the "old music" and the serenity. I suppose it got to be a little too tedious and had to be broken-up. But HEY! The initial little visit to my shoulder, the flight to the desk shelf and then to the futon... "Sunday"... in the mountains... with my Heart-and-Soul... NOTHING can beat this for "Heavenly".
We had an "early lunch" today too... 11.30. I got the old lap-top up and running so we had a bit of the news with and since we were early, after, I decided to have a mere "lie-down", no intention of "snoozing". BUT no sooner had I managed to lie down on the futon... I HAD COMPANY... ON MY LEG... My Little LOVE's favourite place when I lie down. SO, I decided that, since it was a quiet Sunday, I'd see how long we'd stay together... 40 minutes later... I did doze off and when I woke, there he was, still on my leg! But, of course, the very moment he senses that I was awake... HE CAME TODDLING UP TOWARD MY FACE AND WHEN I SPOKE, HE WAS OFF ACROSS THE ROOM AND UP TO HIS DOOR PERCH TO WAIT FOR ME TO GET UP!
So I poured the rest of this morning's coffee for after lunch, in the kitchen, washed lunch dishes and returned to the desk. Sun POURING into the room, temperature at 25°, humidity back down to 16% (it's been upwards of 25% with the warmer weather) and a perfectly calm Sunday! PERFECTLY!
20.15 already... The rest of the day was me, at the desk, working on his Journal (so much to actually do to clean it up for th server and reviewing the months is such a reminder of all we've been through).
We had dinner a little arly again this evening so that I could get back to "things" and we had the news on for a while. (I'm anxious to get the new screen now so my Litte LOVE can have his old place back of an evening).
OH! FIRST ACTUAL ROBIN SIGHTED! THIS EVENING AT 17.33!!! QUITE PLUMP TOO, I MUST SAY! ON THE BACK DRIVE! LOOKS LIKE "SPRING" HAS OFFICIALLY ARRIVED. BUT THE NIGHTS TO COME ARE SUPPOSED TO BE SO COLD! AGAIN, I WISH I COULD PROVIDE WARM SHELTER FOR THEM FOR THE NIGHT! OH, ONE OF THESE DAYS I'LL FIGURE SOMETHING OUT... AND WE'LL BE IN A PLACE WHERE SUCH A THING (AND A WALK-IN AVIARY) CAN BE BUILT. FOR NOW... I HOPE THE ROBINS ARE SAFE FOR THEIR NIGHT SBACK UP IN THE NORTH. HOW UN-FAIR OF NATURE... THE LITTLE ONES HEAD BACK TO THEIR HOME-TERRITORY AND AFTER BEING IN CALMER CLIMATES... THEY HAVE TO FEND AGAINST THE SNOWS, AND BEFORE THEY EVEN GET THE CHANCE TO BUILD A LITTLE NEST SOME-WHERE. I DO SO TOO OFTEN, WONDER WHAT THEY ACTUALLY DO, WHERE THEY GO FOR SHELTER. (I look to Yonah, wondering what the mourning doves who don't migrate do through the Winter... and my heart aches thinking of them in the winds, ice, snows. But for the Yardies, I do my best to make certain they have "Winter food" to give them the extra fat and energy. If I could, I'd have a house large enough for them ALL to roost through the nights. If I could, I surely would.)
Any way, as I say, chilly night ahead and the Little Guy played a little bit when we closed the windows... and now... to my amazement, he's on his night roost so I have to make short work of this closing notes here... my ablutions and to tuckng-in... Night music playing, almost done with the day. More tomorrow. For now... seepie-nigh-night time.
Monday 24 March:
To my amazement (and a little sadness), there was no flying about, no "ride home" last night. My Little Guy.. my Heart-and-Soul was on the roost and he was comfortable and settled at 20.30 and it was time for us both to get to a night's rest! I didn't "rush" to get the room together, waiting for a sudden "rush" to the wall shelves or something of the sort but I managed to make it through everything and he just watched, and waited for me to get finished.
And no "chats with lullabies". We made it all the way through the whole repertoire with no "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" or "woo-HOO". The Little Guy was really tired and although it's comforting to see him so calm on his night roost, the "silence" makes for an "empty" sort of night.
By 20.53 the last light was turned off, the day, closed...
This morning, we both slept-in. I was up during the night and when I woke at 2.00 this morning I almost stayed up, but I realised it would be a day of "snoozes" which is "time stolen" from "us" together (and my poor Little Companion just looking at this old thing laying there on the futon) so I went back to the futon and managed to doze back off. Woke at 5.00 again and decided to wait until "morning call" and at 6.00 I got up to "dancing snow-flakes in the air" again this morning... and quite the wind! Put food out for the Yardies and good that I did because at 6.37, one mourning dove with a few Juncos arrived... in the wind and snow! How my heart aches to see them out there in the cold and wishing I could open the door to the house and have them come in to warm up. I don't know... I just don't know. But they manage, some-how, and the food now has sun-flower "hearts and chips" (no shells so they don't have to "work" to get food), and peanuts. Fats and proteins... "insulation" and energy. And, of course, all the "special stuff" that's in Yonah's food because what he doesn't eat gets added to the Yardie's mix. I do what I can. I still ache for them, but I'm glad to be able to "help".
As it turned-out, the first "call to order" of the day came with a hearty "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" at... 7.00 on the mark! And OH MY! CHATTY this morning! So much exchanging of "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" and "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo"! AND, when I got to the door of his house and popped in for our "Good morning" kisses... KISSES, KISSES< and MORE KISSES!
BUT HEY! No sooner did I managed to get the curtains and blinds open to the new day... WOOSH AND AWAY! THE LITTLE LOVE WAS OFF TO THE FUTON WITH MORE "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo's"!
In short order, with whistle of wings, my little Heart-and-Soul was ON THE WING and off to the living-room! BURST of such energy in the morning! He's "inspirational", I have to say. Even on those days when I get up and just can't seem to get the old body running, I look to this Little One and it puts ALL of my situations in perspective. No matter what, I always remember: he was being attacked, plucked and "gnawed" and all the while, fully conscious of it! THEN, came this horrific "human", reaching down to pick him up and bring him into a world he'd never even been able to imagine. And this morning? There he is, flying about as freely as possible, safe, LOVED!
Poops? WELL! An impressive 14, FOURTEEN, in total again this morning! AND ALL OF THEM, just absolutely perfect! And under the night roost! A good little tummy and digestive system, no signs of illness AND a calm night's rest behind us. Couldn't ask for better or more.
16.13 and our day is finally coming to the "dinner close", as it is. Mine is on the hob and as I sit at the desk, my LOVE is having his.
Poor Little Guy, today turned into one of "those" days where there was snow to attend and other "people business". Even in the drear of a "March Spring" day... thought, thankfully, this morning's snow didn't linger, still there was "clean-up" around the premises and that took me entirely too long for my own comfort. I was SO hoping that we'd have quite the day together with no intrusions from the "out-side world". Alas...
One thing though, of note here: After lunch, as I do on other days, but today, it seemed more appropriate, considering the weather, I went for my "lie-down" and set an alarm for 20 minutes. BUT... to my DELIGHT AND COMFORT, no sooner had I put my head on the pillow, Burdie-Bird on my chest when my LOVE came flying over, landing on my chest, gave a little "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" to Burdie and THEN toddling down to his favourite place... on my leg where he made him-self ever-so cosy and BOTH of us took a snooze... TOGETHER! AND THEN, when the alarm sounded, I turned it off, he looked up at me and re-nestled, on my leg! HE wanted more time to snooze! So, what was intended to be a brief break in the day turned into an HOUR! AND HOUR, TOGETHER, ALL COSY AND COMFY ON THE FUTON!
I laid there, waiting for HIM to make the move to getting up and when he was ready, he toddled back up to my chest, gave Burdie another "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" and he was off... to the desk shelf!
OH, if EVERY day could be this way. And I had to smile when I thought of reading that birds, in the wild, in general, will tend to forage for food, look for water, chat with other birds or, if that's not the case, they'll "perch" some-where comfortable and take it easy. Yonah and I "perched" and "took it easy" together... our little "flock".
So I got up and got back to the nonsense of the house-hold. There's marketing to be done, but because of the expected snow today, I deferred. Tomorrow is fine. I'd planned on a day together with my Heart-and-Soul and no matter what, that's what we were going to have.
And now, as I complete this "entry", he's watching me from the upper-most desk shelf, no doubt waiting for me to stop this. And thankfully, the sky out-side seems to be clearing.
We did have the UV light on through the day but that's surely NO comparison to actual sun-light... even at the end of the day.
(19.55) GREAT NEWS! "BOOGALOO"* HAS HIS NEW COMPUTER SCREEN! It arrived today! No more flashing of all sorts of stripes in his little face and no more worrying about his eye-sight (since he likes to "lounge" right next to the screen.) It's been worrying me SO much since the old one went bad. That old lap-top has been his "comfortable place to rest at day's end". I don't know why, and all the research I've been doing into it gives the same information: for some reason, birds like computer screens! Even the "experts" can't seem to explain it. But, in my never-ending striving to make "this world" as comfortable for my little Heart-and-Soul, having that screen flashing stripes of white, black, green, magenta with the slightest vibrations - even when the lap-top was resting on the desk and I'd move the desk chair! - No more! YAY!
* As for the "Boogaloo"... I don't know why or exactly when I started calling Yonah that, but it happened and I've noticed that he "responds" to it. I'm going to take a guess: there's something about the "sound" that he must like. But then, one evening, watching a re-run of an old "Britcom", "Waiting For God", I caught one of the starring characters refer to her grand-daughter as her "Boogaloo"! I'd only watched that programme 100s of times over the years and never noticed it. But, the name has stuck. Yonah likes it? It's perfect by me!
And this evening? Well, right after dinner was done, he headed out to the living-room again and again, he was out there for HOURS... silent, for the most part. A "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" at one point but only the one. BUT... when I went out to the living-room, to turn a light on for him, he was on top of his old house! The plastic runner that I put in there for him, on the "floor", to cover the "grating" is on the "roof" and he was just lounging there, seemingly quite comfortable. He wasn't on his tree! I'm hoping there's nothing wrong with his little feet now. But he doesn't have any trouble with his perches in his house.
Anyway, I was so excited about his new screen being installed and working that, when I got to him, I leaned over to give him kisses and he seemed "startled"! Maybe he was actually sleeping? But once the "startle" passed, he hopped right up onto my shoulder and we went into the kitchen to start settling the house for the night. The very moment we got near his room... WOOSH! He was off and home... for a bite to eat and then up to the wall shelves... and there he stayed whilst I ran the evening water relay and closed his blinds and curtains for the night.
It wasn't much of a "fun" day for him today though. Between my occupation with "house-hold" and my general "fatigue" (which I still can't explain and it annoys me), I wasn't the "best companion" most of the time. And here, already, as I type, he's on his roof-top and it's already 20.08... time to settle for the night again.
"Time" is not our "friend" of late. And I just can't but think: I celebrate the time we've had together (it's the only reason I have any "time" at all...) but with each passing moment gone, there's that one moment less ahead. Oh... to be able to stay awake forever, together.
But for now, time for my ablutions... and our tuck-in for the night. Tomorrow is supposed to be better weather than today with sun and warmer. Today's snows are mostly gone. I have to make a market run and will try to get that out of the way early in the day. The time taken from us today... well... we can never actually "make-up" for lost time, but... other than market run... the "plan" it to be together.
For now, hope for a restful night... at least tomorrow, my Little Guy will have his lap-top back and no flahing screens! And we have bird videos to play and music too! Again, at last.
He's "snoozing" on his roof-top right now... soon, the games will begin... I wonder.
Tuesday 25 March:
(It's already 19.40 and we're actually almost settled, at long last, for the day! Waters changed, blinds and curtains closed, and my PRECIOUS LITTLE GUY is on the floor of his house after passing the past couple of hours ON HIS OLD LAP-TOP... WITH A SCREEN THAT'S STEADY AND SAFE AGAIN FOR HIM! WHAT A DELIGHT TO SEE HIM BACK THERE AGAIN, ALL SNUGGLED BESIDE HIS "EVENING NEWS"! There's no such thing as an "investment too great" for him. If something gives him ANY joy, let it be.
And I'm fresh out of a quiet shower... no "calling" as I bathed. The rest of the house is settled. Only thing now is my ablutions and to catch-up on the notes I managed to jot during the day. Maybe we'll make up for the late nights we've had... we shall see. There's still time for a "quick flight to the roof-top or wall shelves... to be sure.)
Last night was another "hop onto the platform" for the ride home. No fuss, no bother. He saw me coming toward his house and he simply toddled over, hopped on, started to preen, as he does and waited for "lift-off". And as soon as we reached the night roost, he hopped onto that and that was the end of the day! Poor Little Soul, he was so tired and I'd kept him up SO late (and yes, I always feel SO terrible about it, but then, I do wonder if he'd ever actually go to sleep if I stayed up all night in his room... not, mind, that I'll EVER even try such a thing but...).
We made it through the entire repertoire of lullabies too. No chatting. I could see the Little Guy settling-down as I sung and when all songs were done, he was literally "tucked-in" for the night, little head between Precious wings... The last moon light was off at 21.15... Oh... entirely too late.
This morning, I was up at 6.00 and out of the room, silently, wondering what time I'd hear the "call to order" this morning and, in the morning silence, as I was finishing my morning coffee and such, through the door, I heard what is, of late, that soft "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"... TWICE! I wonder if he hadn't called earlier and for some reason I didn't hear him (though I doubt that... my mind and ears are so tuned to and for that little coo'ing... no matter the time of day). But I did make my way right for the door and his room and opening it, I leaned in and whispered "Did I hear a woo-hoo?" and in the darkness, from the window came a hearty "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" to which I answered "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" and he replied "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo"! 6.53 this morning... At least he got almost 10 hours of rest last night. And from the POOPS... 8 perfect little poops all under his night roost, so he got a "calm" night of it too. Good, healthy rest.
When I opened the door to his house and leaned in for our regular "Good morning" kisses... OH! SO MANY KISSES! I was "welcome" in his house this morning and he was as happy to see me as I always am to see him in the morning. Honestly, my day doesn't even start until the moment I KNOW he's healthy, rested and in good spirits (as it were). And WING-STRETCHES! THOSE are ALWAYS a deep inspiration for me. The "preparations" for taking-on what-ever confronts as the hours of the day ahead approach.
No sooner had I gotten all of our "morning routine" completed, opening curtains and blinds, changing the water in his poor, straightening the room for our day... he headed right out to the living-room! He's been doing that of late, and heading, not for his tree, but to the roof of his "old house" out there, by the windows. All told, he was out there for about 90 minutes, silent and solo. I'm wondering what that's all about, suddenly. Any sun that we get at this time of year (though not much, as it might be), is primarily in his room ("Southern exposure" as it is). The living-room is a bit darker. So I wonder. But, at the same time, I understand that it's a different room, different light, larger space. My Little LOVE was born into a world where there are no boundaries, no rooms, no walls. I can't give him that, but, no matter what I think of this house and the lay-out, I'm comforted in that he has other rooms, other "scenery", other spaces to fly to and from. AND HE'S NOT CONFINED TO A "CAGE", as I've seen other Little Ones in other houses. If this house were to be thought of as his "confinement", compared to most other birds, this "confinement" is SO MUCH LARGER! And he can exercise his wings! Maybe not at full-force, full speed, but he gets to used them... for all it may or may not be worth.
Dreary, this morning. Snow again, so not much in the way of "sun-light" in any part of the house. And when he came back to his room, as I got settled-in for the day, he headed right back to his loft... his little space of safety, comfort, by the windows where he can, at least, look out on the cold and not have to be concerned with or about it. (He's sheltered... food and water "at wing", no need to battle the weather. I try to take comfort in knowing that. He deserves an easy life. And I can only hope that what I'm doing and providing his, at the very least, "good enough". It won't ever be "perfect", but I do ALL I can, as a simple human.)
The ever-important "Poops Report": 8 in total, this morning, and each and every one of them "perfect" in every way possible... AND ALL OF THEM... UNDER THE NIGHT ROOST! Good belly. Good little digestion. Calm and restful night's sleep. WHAT A START TO A NEW DAY!
Sad news of the morning? I HAD to made a market run this morning. I SO dislike having to leave the house and leaving this Little LOVE my himself and I sat at the desk to make a list of what we need in the house and as I did, he came flying over to rest on my shoulder. I KNOW that he KNOWS my anxieties (and they're really quite heavy even as I jot a "shopping list" which I do so that I can RUN into the market, clear the aisles and get out QUICKLY), and he KNOWS that I don't want to leave him. (Fact is: I don't trust the construction of this old house, I don't know that locked doors are safe and I dread the thought of anybody walking in and Yonah headed out... OK, some may say I worry too much but, so be it as it is.) But that he comes over to me, rests on my shoulder, it's as if he's telling me to NOT worry, that he's OK for the short while and that he understands that I have to leave some-times. Yes, I'll say that I can tell that he's more cognizant than ANY of the so-called "experts" give mourning doves credit for being. (He's "wild" and being so gives him MORE ability to sense SO MUCH MORE than ANY human could ever have.) So, I made the list, gave kisses, cuddles and thanks and... metaphorically, I closed my eyes and stepped out onto the "ledge" of "errands"...
(19.54 he's on the floor of his house making nest coos... little tail up, fluttering his wings and body... I'm typing and he's telling me what's what here. It's time to stop all of this stuff and nonsense and start putting this house in order for seepie-nigh-night!
19.56... Ah,.. he's on the wall shelves now... more nest coos... See? Plenty of time for shenanigans. Up to the very top of the smaller book-case, which is where he's gone to, and making with those little "woo-HOOooo's". HOW I DO wonder, often. One minute he seems so ready to get settled and the next, he's off to where he KNOWS, now, that I'll have to "come get him". But it's all part of what makes "Life" worth living with him... never knowing what to expect next... other than something I might expect but can never be certain of...)
Catching-up a bit before heading for the windows and such...
I did manage to make a market run this morning and was back in time for an early lunch, after which I took what turned into an hours' nap! When I'd laid down, he came over to toddle on my legs (as he does when I lay down during the day) and I dozed off. But when I woke, I was alone in the room. He was in the living-room again... and on the old house there by the window. He's liking it out there now for some reason. But as I say: it's a change of scenery, a larger room and he has full run of EVERY inch of this house and if he's comfortable wandering about, I'm all the happier. He knows he's safe and that's SO important to me!
When I realised where he was, I went out to "check" on him and went over, leaned down and when I went to kiss him, he didn't want any! He scuttled right away from me. Hey, I don't force, so I went to the kitchen and he flew through and back to his house. I suppose all was as it ought to be: I was up and about and awake again so, it was time to get "home"... and wait for me to bring my-self back into the room... where we both belong, obviously.
For the rest of the day... dreary, so we had the UV light on. And I had some affairs to settle with book-keeping for the house-hold budget for April and the matters of the new lap-top screen (because I don't believe it's good for the Little Guy's eyes, all that flashing of strips and stripes and I WANT to get the new screen for HIS lap-top... since he obviously enjoys being on it, close to the screen... for what-ever reason he has - but hey, if that's where he's happy, I'll see to it that he has that place of "comfort") so I was on the phone, in his room. He was in his loft, listening until he got bored and headed back out to the living room. It was as if he realised I wasn't talking with/to him and he had no interest so... off and away.
This evening, we had our dinners together and I put the house in order for the night... and was off to the shower... little "serenade" flowing through the house all the while. I have NO idea why, but as soon as I step into the shower, he starts coo'ing. I wonder if he knows where I am or if he can't sense my presence in the house when I'm in the bath-room and he's calling to check. What-ever it is, it's become quite expected now and it's rather cute.
So now... 20.03... he's up on the book-case, our "night music" is on and I'm off to last minute ablutions and to see what sort of "ride home" we'll be having... from the ceiling... as it were, since that's how high up he is on that shelf. The house furnace is running again. Today's snows are all gone, but the nights and days ahead promise more chilly weather. "Spring" might have made it to the calendar but Nature says Winter stays for a while longer. But hey, the room is at 25° so my Little LOVE is safe and warm.
20.12 and he's back home! He's brought him-self home for the night... or... we'll see. I still have to get the room ready for us and tuck-in...
20.24 He's on the desk shelf making "nest coo's". Silly Little LOVE. I'm closing this for today and we'll report on the events tomorrow... it's getting late...
Wednesday 26 March:
OK. Oh my. Oh dear. Last night? It was ANOTHER one of those evenings when, as soon as the Little Guy saw me walk toward his house, he, being on his roof-top already, comfy and cosy, headed directly over to the little roof-top platform board, started his evening "ablutions" (preening, putting feathers in order) and waited so patiently for me to reach up as I started singing "Autumn Leaves" to bring him home for the night! This "ride home" at day's close has become "expected" now and it's starting to seem that he won't tuck-in, doesn't want to go to his night roost unless he gets "brought home". Reminds me so much of my younger years when, on our week-ends out, we'd have somebody who was the "driver"... and the "mornings" when I'd make the "rounds" to bring folks home after our night out. Then and now, my comfort is knowing that my Little "Ward" is at home, safe and sound, tucked-in for the night. And I some-how sense that Yonah knows that I actually enjoy bringing him home because he just waits, going on about his putting himself together for the night as he "floats" along, from roof-top to night roost. It's as though he's been doing this all along and that it's perfectly "normal"... the way a day's close should be. (Me? I was happy too that there wasn't a lot of chasing about. It was late and I worry about him getting proper rest through the night.)
And so, all settled at home, I made my way to the futon, singling our nightly repertoire of lullabies and when I got to the futon, I could see the little silhouette on the night roost, settling-in, settling-down and, by the time all were done, I could see the little head tucked between the precious wings... the last light was turned off at... 21.45! Entirely too late! BUT...
This morning, I'd gotten up at about 6.15 and wanted to get to the day so I crept out of the room, closed the door behind me and went on about "morning routine", waiting to be "called to order". BUT... when I looked at the clock and saw "7.04" I got a little curious (and yes, anxious, because that's what I do every morning waiting to be called because... it's what I do...) I went over and silently opened the door to Yonah's room, listening for ANY sound from across the dark room. No sooner had I placed the door-stop when... in the darkness came...
"woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo".... WOOHOO! I wonder if he WAS awake but wasn't calling. I wonder if he WAS awake and HAD called and I didn't hear. I wonder if I woke him by opening the door. I wonder... I'll always wonder... and I'll never know for certain. But no matter which or what... that little coo was my source of ENERGY to face the new day ahead! My little Heart-and-Soul was up, and well, and fine! It might be late, but hey, there really was nothing to "rush" into and we DID have a very LATE tuck-in last night so... as long as this Little One gets his needed rest, I don't care when he's ready to wake up. This is HIS world, no matter what, and above ALL else! (And I have to add here that even the Yardies were later coming for their breakfast so...)
When I opened the door to his house, we had a little "chat" back and forth but when I leaned in for "Good morning" kisses there weren't many. Leaves me wondering what he was saying to me with our chat. Likely something along the lines of "Kept me up late last night and you expect kisses in the morning? Well, think again." I can't say that I blame him if that's what he was saying. How I DO wish we could keep "Natural time"... tuck-in when the sun sets and wake with the dawn, as it were. No closing curtains and blinds at night. A lingering yearning. And on mornings like this, it reminds me all the more. But, all said, aside from the "distant greeting" of the morning, all else seemed "fine" and the coo's were clear and the hopping about was normal so... my little Heart-and-Soul is in good health and THAT is what matters above all else!
To be honest though, even the Yardies were rather late to breakfast this morning so... maybe it WAS a "sleep-in" sort of day? Not to mention...
It wasn't "cold" out there this morning, BUT THERE WERE THOSE LINGERING, EVER-SO-SLIGHTEST FLURRIES in the air! We're not away from Winter even yet. I can still find a little consolation in knowing that THIS Little Guy doesn't have to fight against that.
Poops? 9 in total and ALL OF THEM DIRECTLY UNDER THE NIGHT ROOST! So... at least I can see that his little belly is in good order AND that he had a calm and restful night, last night. (No concern about weather and predators, and this morning, fresh water to drink, fresh, good food to eat. At the very least, I can give him THAT much comfort.)
AND... it didn't take very long before he was UP, OUT, ON-THE WING round about his room and out to the living-room! It ain't the "great out-doors" but it ain't some tiny "cage in a corner" and he has full flight of it all. I'm SO happy that he has that much! When I think of other Little Ones confined and other-wise taken so for granted.
As for the rest of this "lingering Winterish morn"... the Little Guy made him-self comfy in his loft, by his windows, where he could see the weather that he didn't have to be concerned with/about. I went about the general tasks of keeping out house as livable as possible with the heating, lighting and cleaning and my own cooking and such.
At noon, we both took our "lunch break" together, a little "news" from the "people's world" (and me being SO grateful that we don't have to be bothered by that all). And after lunch... my Little LOVE came FLYING over to my shoulder as I sat at the desk and THEN came with me when I went out to the kitchen to wash the lunch dishes! I can't even begin to describe my elation when he does that! And from my shoulder it seems he's genuinely curious about what it is that I'm doing! It's at time like this when I think of how it would have been, had he been able to get back out to "HIS" world, maybe find a little mate and have a little family and what he would "tell" them about his time in this place. I can only imagine. I don't know "how" he'd impart his wisdom and experience, but I'm pretty sure that he WOULD tell them about it. And they probably wouldn't believe a word (coo?) of it. Still.... It saddens me to to know that that won't ever happen because I will MOST CERTAINLY MAKE SURE THAT HE DOESN'T HAVE TO GO OUT THERE! At THIS point in time, I don't know that he'd be familiar with all the predators out there, and although he's not really "comfortable" when other people are around, I don't know that he'd avoid them "out there". Not to mention, this is the only place he's come to know as "home" and were I not here for any reason, and he came back here, thinking this is where he belonged... well... I've not much "love" nor "respect" for "humanity" in general to begin with, I don't doubt it would lead to his demise. So... here we are... the "flock" and here is how we're going to stay until...
That said, when he got bored with the tediousness of "people washing dishes" he headed out to the living-room to the top of his "old house" there, by the windows. He's doing that, going there, almost regularly, of late. I'm wondering why he's choosing that spot instead of his tree. But then, the sun, when the sky allows, does come in more through the living-room windows of a late day-evening. So that he's getting sun-shine, I'm happy. Shortly after, he was back in the air and back to his house... to nestle and watch as actual SNOW fell out-side the windows of his own room, his own house, his little loft with the little bit of "nesting" that he'd put there... for him, safe, protected, warm and dry... the way the world owes him.
Well... This evening, again... I ate dinner alone... he was in the living-room again. I'd gotten my dinner, he had a bite to eat in his house and headed right back out... first to his old house and then to his tree for a couple of hours whilst I "attended the washing-up" and re-settling the kitchen.
19.19 When I started the water run he came back into the room to have a bit to eat and then up to the desk shelf. When I'd gone out to the living room, he was on his old house and I went to give him a kiss and, as he does when he's there, he ran away from me. Seems he doesn't want affection when he's there. I don't' understand it but there's SO much I still don't understand about him. I'm thinking I need to make "adjustments" to his web-site too... based on living with him almost 24/7 for 5 years... I tend to think it's more than "studies" of a couple of months and times away... as would be in the wild. There are "considerations" because living in the house with a "people" will make changes, but what I can say, from experience, might be helpful to others who venture into the realm of HELPING a Little One... we'll have to work carefully, but... if even ONE other Little One benefits, at least that's ONE other Little LIFE that will be made better for it. We (I?) OWE this to the birds, and other "wild-life". I've been BLESSED AND HONOURED to have this little LIFE with me for all this while. The experience and education is worthless if not passed along. And "Teacher"? Couldn't possibly have any better.
And now he's snuggled on the shelf... probably time to start getting settled for the night. Early, but we'll see as time passes. The house is settled. Still have to close windows and my ablutions so there's still time for "games" and such. Oh, the suspense of every evening. I wouldn't have it any other way.
20.39 LATE AGAIN AND HES ON THE ROOF-TOP PLATFORM COOING AT ME. (probably more like "scolding" because I'm late).. so a "ride home" it will be again tonight. My "passenger" awaits.
LOVE IT LOVE HIM ADORE HIM!
Thursday 27 March:
And sure enough... this PRECIOUS, PRECIOUS LITTLE LOVE waited for me on his roof-top as I scurried about to settle the room, put the futon ready for me and when I went over to him, he casually stepped onto the platform, as if he'd actually been there waiting for an expected "ride home"! Seeing the casual "air" of the whole process just causes me to stop... and, of course, SMILE! And as we "sailed" along from roof-top to night roost, I started our evening lullabies and the Little Guy "put his feathers in order" just as comfortable as he could be. When we arrived? A simple "By your leave" step onto the perch and that was that. "Thank you, Jeeves." as it were.
I managed to sneak in a few little kisses but it was obvious that he really wanted to simply settle-down for the night so, with no further "ado", we closed house for the night and I headed to the futon to get me settled.
We managed to get through the repertoire of lullabies and... by 20.55, the last light was turned off. The day... closed.
(It's 18.41 already, as I FINALLY get to sit and put today's little "notes" together here. One of "those" days... moving and doing and non-stop, mostly.)
This morning, I woke before my little Heart-and-Soul, but from the strangest dream of a LARGE flock of black-and-white doves in the gardenette! In the dream, I was amazed by the colour of other-wise "normal" mourning doves. They were actually black and white, as as I commented on the colours, I woke. I wondered if the dream wasn't because of a "call" from Yonah, but he was on his night roost, comfy and cosy and sleeping so... I just got up and got to the regular morning routine in the kitchen.
I the silence of the morning, as I sat at the kitchen table, coffee at hand, through the door came that most beautiful opening of every and any day:
"woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo".
I got right up and headed back into Yonah's room to open house and as I opened the door to his room I whispered in "Are you really awake?" "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"... He was really awake.
When I opened the door to his house and popped my head in for our "Good morning" kisses I didn't get all too many this morning. There are those days when... and this was one of them. I'm never sure why, but hey! I have "those" days and this Little Guy is as entitled (if not MORE-so) to simply wanting to just get up and get on with the day ahead. But he was, generally, in good spirits AND this morning's Poop-Check:
TWELVE, yes a dozen, PERFECTLY PERFECT little poops, under the night roost. So, no tummy troubles, and a restful night last night so, kisses didn't matter. Nothing was "off"... health-wise, so we were on to opening curtains and blinds and getting on with the morning water change in the pool and settling his room in order for the rest of what was to be an ever-active sort.
This morning was, for me, a general blizzard of "doing" and all the while, my Little SOUL, my INSPIRATION, my HEART, my LOVE took to his loft, for the most part, watching all the activity going on around him. And every time I was in his room, I'd get a little "look", as if he were checking to see if I was "sitting down on the job"! My "Supervisor"! (Truth: tomorrow being Friday, and the day we do weekly house-work, I wanted EVERYTHING done today that I could get done so that tomorrow will be a quick "zip" and we can get to our week-end... together!)
SO... by the time we got to settle for lunch (which we now really "must" take because I know that Yonah knows when mid-day comes we "lunch") so much house-keeping was done and I think BOTH of us were ready to sit, eat and take in the news as we do... and we did.
Right after, I managed to grab a bit of a snooze that was suppose to be only 15 minutes BUT... No sooner did I get to the futon, with alarm set, my PRECIOUS LITTLE GUY came right over and settled on my leg! I wanted to take a hair-cut today (looking a little frazzled and too close to an "unkempt old man" these days), but with my Companion with me, I decided I'd see what he does when the alarm sounded. It turned into a 35-MINUTE SNOOZE because when the alarm sounded, I turned it off and looking down to my lower leg, there was this little bundle of feathers, all snuggled and looking just as content as he could be so... no more alarms, I dozed a bit, waiting for the "toddle" that lets me know it's time to get up. Hey! If Yonah wants to "lounge"... that's what the world is about and nothing that I wanted to do was so important that it could EVER take precedence over Yonah!
But then, when we DID get up, I was back to trying to stuff the rest of today's "agenda" into what-ever time we had left of the day and... hair-cut was at the top of that list... and a quick shower after. I was up, into the loo and away!
Now... THAT was quite another "lesson" today on "Cognisance" to be sure! In the midst of all the commotion of the day, I headed into the loo to cut my hair and shower and apparently wasn't missed at all because so often, if I'm in the loo, I'm being "called". (I always wonder if there's some kind of "break" in some sort of "energy" when there are too many walls between Yonah and I. He "calls out" in the evenings when I go to the bed-room to change into sleep-wear and when I'm in the shower. I wonder if he no longer senses my presence in the house between walls. I shouldn't doubt it, really. After all, animals obviously communicate with-out making a sound so what could it be that makes him call when he doesn't see me?) Anyway, I cut my hair, took a brief shower, put on my clothes and headed right back into his room to let him know that I was still here. When I got to the room, he was on his roof-top, all calm until...
he got up from his little platform and came RUSHING to the "front" of his house as I put my face up to give him kisses and he actually looked some-what "shocked"! The ONLY reason I can think of is the change in my hair and perhaps the general appearance of my face! He NOTICED something was "different"! It took a moment of "chatting" with him (and we did a LOT of that during the day, even with me running around, in and out of his room) before he finally calmed a bit and actually gave me a peck on the nose! The sound of my voice must have assured him that that "new face" was actually the "old me". He wasn't exactly his usual "cosy" self with me for a noticeable time after and it really wasn't until I talked a bit more before he re-settled and we were "normal" again. But what an experience!
It SO reminded me of the sweater I tried wearing that one after-noon (which now serves as a "cushion cover" for the desk chair because I turned it inside-out and removed the sleeves). I still don't know why, but he had the most violent reaction to it! Headed up to the ceiling of the room, flying about, frantically! The only thing I can think of is that the pattern was perceived as something harmful. And I've come to see that he has preferences for the shirts I wear. He favours the "grey", tends to like the "buffalo plaid", blue shirts are of no consequence. So yes, he's VERY MUCH AWARE of so MUCH of his surroundings! Now I have to remember to be aware of my hair-cuts. (This one was quite short today so there was quite a difference... and to be fair, I did walk out of his room looking one way and came back "different".)
So tell me again, "experts", that mourning doves aren't "intelligent". Spend some years with one then get back to us.
Anyway, once we got back to the "regular affairs" of the day I picked-up where I'd left off to get things done and at one point, my Little LOVE headed back out to the living-room for a bit and when I went out to see him, he hopped, right away, onto my shoulder! So I sat on the futon out there, under his tree, with him on my shoulder, for a while and I waited for HIM to decide when we'd had "enough together time". We sat for quite a few moments, him nestled on my shoulder, pecking at my ear as I talked.
When he took off, he headed back up to his tree, but this time, he roosted on a different branch! In all the time that tree has been there, I've never seen him on any branch other than the one with the decoys on it! So I now see that he IS able to get to other branches. I was hoping he would, so that he wasn't going for the same size branch all the time. It's not good for his little feet and toes. ("Bumble foot"... it can cause SO many problems and it's why his perches are limbs from trees in the woods - different circumferences and "textures". In fact, it's time I get back out there, into the woods, to get fresh perches. His are wearing too close to smooth. When the snow and mud clears... a little "adventure".)
One thing about today: even with all of my trying to get things done around the house... WE TOOK SO MANY LITTLE PLAY BREAKS! MY LITTLE HEART-AND-SOUL WANTED TO PLAY, TOGETHER TIME!
THEN, a little "note": this evening, as I was preparing my dinner in the kitchen, just to make a bit of a "different sound" (because I've come to see this Little Guy is so intrigued by "new sounds"... as long as they're not "banging" or the likes - those startle him) and there was a bit of music coming from his room so I "clapped" the wooden spoon I was about to use, on the palm of my had and... HE CAME RUSHING FROM HIS FUTON, INTO THE KITCHEN AND DIRECTLY TO MY SHOULDER! I don't know WHAT he perceived the sound to be, but that he came out and TO MY SHOULDER... AND THEN, PECKED AT MY EAR, MY CHEEK! I can't say that the sound might have sounded like a "gun" to him because I don't think he's ever heard one. Unless, there's an "instinct" about such a sound that frightened him. But that he CAME TO ME! I was SO TAKEN by his reaction! Again, it's another time when I SO SO SO WISH I could actually talk with this Little LOVE to know what he thinks, how he feels. But is was, needless to say, one of the BRIGHTEST moments. And he stayed with me until I gave him kisses and let him know that I was OK... and went back to preparing my dinner.
(18.41 and again, today was another one of those non-stop days, save a 35-minute snooze with my Little LOVE on my leg. And thankfully, I didn't have to step away from the house, and even now, even the washing-up is done and Yonah is ensconced on his lap-top beside me as I type notes for the day here.)
This evening, after dinner, he actually came over to me as I sat at the desk, turned side-ways, and made himself quite cosy on my knee... preening and almost snoozing! It's one of those moments that will forever amaze me. He has NO reservations about coming over, sitting on my knee or shoulder or even on my head! That he has such an amazing trust, that he's VERY MUCH aware of the fact that he's safe with, near and even ON me... it's on the, if not THE HIGHEST honours I could EVER even imagine, and it's humbling beyond description! No matter what I'm doing, where I am, where we are, when HE comes to me, the world stops, almost literally, for me. There's just nothing that has any importance at all, other than our time together. And more often than not, I'll swear that he knows it... and even though I'm not "the perfect mate", he tolerates me. How I SO wish that I could know what he thinks, what he wants, what he needs. I know I can't give him EVERYTHING, but then, even it he were out in the world, in that world into which he was born and intended, Creation rarely-if-ever gives us "all". So many people who've seen his room, his house, food, situation and conditions comment that "he's spoiled" and that he'd "never have it this good" any-where else. Me? I'll never be satisfied with me and what I do and give him. It will, for me, never be "enough"... but I try.
This evening, when I did the water run, changing the water in his pool, he watched me... OH, BUT HE WATCHED ME... FROM THE FLOOR... MORE LIKE A PUPPY THAN A BIRD! He does that, some-times, being on the floor, looking up, or toddling about, pecking here and there. I wonder about the pecking. There's food in his house, but I suppose the pecking on the floor is, well, I see the Yardies peck at the back walk and in the grass. I make sure that the floors in the house are free of any "debris" that he might ingest, though, I'm pretty sure he manages to "hide" some of his food when he tosses it about. It's cute, really, to see that "natural behaviour" though. Still, all said, that he toddles about the floor... I REALLY HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WHERE I STEP! He blends in so well with just about everything round the place. The carpets are beige and brown, the shelves are wood... and it NEVER ceases to amaze me: he can be right there, on the futon or the desk or the shelves, and I still have to look carefully to find him. But it's that little "stare" from the floor, looking up at me that puts me "in my place" and reminds me of how much larger I am and how terrifying it must have been for him on that morning in October 2020, when he saw me reaching down to pick him up! And today? Well, today he knows that this "monster", this "giant" is here ONLY to protect and LOVE him so very much. How things change... How we've changed the "natural order"...
20.00 And... time to settle the house, close the windows, get things in order and get us to tucked-in. My Little LOVE is on the desk shelf... I shouldn't doubt, his way of "hinting". To be honest, I too, am ready for a night's tuck-in....
20.26 Things are done and we're off to seepie-nigh-night. When I went in to get the room settled, this Little Character headed to the book case and gave me the old "nest coo's"! A last minute game of "chase" - though I don't "chase" so much as "wait". But then, as I closed the blinds and curtains, he came back to his house, to his roof-top (to supervise) and we DID get to play a little with the "curtain critter"! So NOW... we are closing this Thursday! 'tis time... 'tis time... 'tis time....
Friday 28 March:
(16.34) We had quite the day and I managed to get some notes down in between "Friday house-cleaning" and other nonsense during the day. And as I type now, waiting for dinner to cook... Little Mister is out in the living-room, on his old house, at the windows again. I stopped by and to my surprise, he "allowed" some kisses! I don't know why he prefers it out there on evenings like this; the sky has gone over-cast ahead of the threatened "ice storm" we're supposed to have tonight and tomorrow. It's darker out there, but oddly, it's actually warmer out there. (His room is at 24° though, but the house furnace is running and the box fan is running. It doesn't create "breezes" but I wonder if he doesn't sense a movement of air that he doesn't have in his room. Something I'll have to figure out and work on... finding a nice fan that runs silently.)
To get up to the moment here...
Last night was another one of those nights where, after I got the house settled and came into the room to get me settled and the futon ready, AS I APPROACHED HIS HOUSE, this little Character was up on the book-case but, last night, the moment I brought his platform up to him, he casually toddled onto it and waited to be brought across the room. It truly IS one of the most amazing experiences to see just how he so resembles a "people commuter" when he gets on that little board. He hops on the way a commuter would board a commuter train or bus, gets him-self "established" and even uses the "commute" to prepare him-self for the night! It's become part of his "normal and regular daily routine"! Just another aspect of "daily life". And as much as I appreciate it all, these are the moments when I ponder the (hopefully NEVER) possibility of me not being here for him at the end of a day. Might be out later (but that would only be because of some sort of MAJOR emergency). And it's the reason why, I always tell "health-care providers" that I can NOT do an "over-night" in hospital! I could probably find some-body to come tuck my Little Guy in one night, but I remember, all too well, those mornings when, for "work", I had to be out of the house before day-break and wasn't there for him. It was, for me, a living Hell, thinking of him alone, waking to an empty house, nobody there to open the curtains and blinds, and nobody to respond when he coo'ed "morning call". But to not be here for him at night, to bring him "home", sing his lullabies, being here for and with him when the lights go off... Well... if there's any way at all humanly possible, we'll NEVER have to even consider such a thing. (Not to mention: I'd be miserable not being with him at the beginning and end of a day.)
And so, across the room we "floated" and, the very moment we reached his house, I could see that he was anxious to get to the night roost when he moved closer to the edge. We got there and, again, like a little commuter, he simply stepped off the board and onto his night roost, got situated and "arranged feathers" for the night.
I went about putting me to the futon with lullabies and got all the way through "die Vogelein" (our rendition of "Die Blümelein" when...
woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo..
I stopped the singing and answered with the nightly "Seepie-nigh-night I LOVE you" and he answered with another "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo".
We exchanged "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo's" thrice and he changed to the "nest coo" which we exchanged several times before he closed our chat and... at 20.45, the last light was turned off.
I sang OUR little nightly lullaby (which has evolved into):
Mein, klein Vogelein< (My little bird)br />
Ich liebe, liiebe dich.(I love, love you.)
Sieben, sieben, sieben und (Seven, seven, seven and
für immer und immer, du. (For ever and ever, you.)
Not a sound... Thursday was closed.
This morning? I was up and about at 5.30, and crept out of his room, closing the door behind me, as I do of a morning, thinking I'd have about an hour to "get ready" for the day. The house was calm, as it is of a morning, and I managed to get a few house-hold chores done and had just gotten to the kitchen table to jot last night's notes when, at 6.40, through the door, ever-so softly (again, and I still wonder why he's so quite in the mornings now... and I HOPE it's not because of some "ageing" but more, I HOPE it's not because of some illness... at ANY and EVERY moment of EVERY day I'm SO concerned about "stuff in the air" and his little throat, "nose" and respiratory system!) came...
"woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"
As I got me up from table, I called back "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" and he replied, immediately, and a little louder "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo".
When I answered with the same, right away, he answered with an even slightly louder "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo" and THAT started a regular dialogue, back and fort as I made my way into his room.
I opened the door and whispered, "Did I hear a woo-hoo?" and from across the room came the answer, clearly:
"woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo"! which was followed by a hearty "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo"!
WELL! THAT was the beginning of a morning "chat" FULL of "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo's"! It was WONDERFUL!
When I got to his door to peek in, he turned his head to look directly at me and when I popped my head in for "Good morning" kisses... there weren't many kisses but grand wing-stretches and even MORE "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo's"!
I got right to opening his curtains and blinds because he just seemed impatient to get them open and let the dim morning light in. AND, no sooner had I settled his house and windows and straightened the futon for the day... my Little LOVE was UP and OUT to the futon AND HE WANTED TO PLAY! A quick "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" to Burdie-Birdie and he toddled back and forth on the futon, looking up at me as if waiting for me to come play! So, yes... water and such on hold... I "went in" for some kisses, which we weren't having this morning and a little bouncing about with Burdie. OH... SOME-birdie, apparently, had a restful night last night!
But, from the looks of poops this morning, it was a little "concerning". There were 12 in total, ALL of which were perfectly "healthy" in composition. But they were rather "scattered". Not off the "poopie rug" but not strictly under the night roost. It makes me wonder if they'd bounced or if Yonah was restless during the course of the night and if so, I wonder why. I didn't hear anything that woke me during the night. And I DO sleep rather light, listening for ANY sort of sound that would disturb my little Heart-and-Soul. And I surely listen for the sound of him "flying". So... it's another one of those "mysteries" that I don't suppose I'll ever know for certain. But with the energy this morning and the composition of the poops, everything else seemed very good, indeed.
8.23 and my morning routine is complete. AND AS I TYPE... BACK AT THE KITCHEN TABLE, HE'S ON MY SHOULDER! HE decided HE WANTED to be on my shoulder and when I came to the kitchen to
close-up" here and start moving into his room for the day, he stayed with me! Even as I sat at table! (I'm wearing a grey shirt. today and he seems to have some sort of "attraction" to it. The grey Sherpa, this shirt and the other grey shirt I have... When I wear them, he seems to be more "comfortable" with coming over to my shoulder. I have to get more of these. Not sure what the attraction is but grey shirts and Sherpas... he likes them! And I happen to like wearing the colour so... More shirts... more grey!)
But I HAVE to make a VERY quick run to market this morning and I'm putting it off, as I do. We're supposed to expect quite an ice storm on the week-end so... as much as it pains me to leave...
At 12.15 JUST as I sat at the desk to have lunch... I looked up and as the sun came pouring in through the windows... there he was... IN THE POOL! JUST STANDING AND TODDLING ABOUT. Not really splashing and bathing, not even "lounging and soaking"... just standing there. And when he saw me taking photos, he just casually looked at me! Usually, he turns away, as if being so camera shy. But this time, it struck me as "OK. So go ahead. Get your picture and let me get on with my soak here." OH! Honestly! I'll NEVER figure this Little Guy out. But what a wonderful feeling to know that he's so calm and comfortable in his own little pool and that it's there for him, any time of any day. Not to mention, maybe he's getting accustomed to the crazy human with the camera! All said, he was in there for a few moments, having a nice "stand" and hopped up and out of the pool, and went back to basking in the sun-shine.
After lunch... I grabbed 30 minutes on the futon and when the alarm sounded, he was right over to my legs... woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo... and toddled up to my chest to Burdie-Birdie for another woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo! I THOUGHT he was telling Burdie that it was time for us to get up and on with the rest of the day (because there was a bit more "Friday house-work" to be done but... that wasn't the case. The Little Guy was NOT leaving to let me get up from the futon! In fact, he made his way back to my leg and as I bent my knees up, he "flew-toddled" (mostly walking but with the assistance of his wings) up to the top of my knees and made himself SO comfortable there! I even got some photos of him up there, preening and obviously making NO attempt at leaving! Even when I brought one knee back down, he just stayed there! And for quite the while too! When he does things like this I'm just amazed at how much I've become just part of his regular day. I'm part of his environment, his "furnishings", his surroundings. I'm a place to snooze, a place to perch, I'm a "ride" through the house. I'm his "flock"! And even to this day, I just have to say that I NEVER expected ANY of this! I'm SO HUMBLED! I'm SO HONOURED! And it's mostly because I still don't see this little LIFE as being "domestic" or "domesticated". I still see him as the little mourning dove in the yard, no different from the rest of them, other than he KNOWS that I mean him no harm, that I'm here to make certain he's comfortable, healthy, safe. It's not just "learned"... he KNOWS... he's BRILLIANT! (Now, if I could get the doves in the yard to understand that but...)
When he finally decided that we both needed to get up and he headed over to the desk shelf, I did manage to get up from the futon and on with the "Friday house-cleaning) AND... as I made my way around the house, putting things in order and getting the hoover ready, he HAD to supervise the goings-on! He made a quick trip to the living-room to assess my progress, and then, when I changed the water in his pool when all the rest was done, he HAD to make sure to be there to watch. AND HE WANTED TO PLAY TOO!
Interestingly though, today's little "nips" he gave me when I tried to give him some kisses were quite "forceful". I'm not sure if he was angry for some reason, maybe because he wanted to play more, or if that was his way of being "playful" but they were quite strong. I'm just thinking they were his way of "rough-housing". After all, no matter what else, he IS a Little GUY, and I expect him to show his strength and "place in the world". It's actually my DELIGHT to know that he still has that "manly instinct" and when he wants to play around, being BOLD and FORCEFUL, it's a complete PLEASURE!
When I finally caught up with the house, I settled back at the desk and got to transferring so many of his photos from the phone to his own "back-up" and I could actually sense him watching me from his door perch beside me.
But 15.00 today, our Friday stared to calm down... it was almost time for our dinner, and even my Little LOVE seemed to realise the mayhem was done.
OK. 19.40 and he's on his roof-top. Water is clean in his pool. Dinner and washing-up is done. The house is settled for the night and the week-end. He's "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo'ing". Time to close the windows and get us settled for the night. Of course, I KNOW there's a possibility of a "quick flight and I still have my evening ablutions so... here we go... trying to get to tuck-in before mid-night (NOT that we'd EVER be up that late, but I'm hoping we get to last light off before 21.30!). WHAT a Character he is... and I couldn't "be" with-out him! Even when we're not clowning around, playing, strolling about the house, when we're just in the same room, him in his house, loft, on his shelves, and I'm doing what-ever it is I do with a day, just knowing that he's "here", that we're together, we're a little "flock" makes the day worth getting up to face. Sometimes I think of a time when this won't be, but I don't think about it for very long because, no matter what, time with-out Yonah will not be "long"...
20.14 Yonah is on his night roost and I'm going on to try for our "tuck-in" for the night . He was unusually quiet whilst I attended my ablutions tonight. Neither a "woo" nor a "hoo". But... he's "nest coo'ing" from his night roost. So I'm closing the day and am off to see what happens as I set the futon for me for the night... Friday is CLOSED... more tomorrow...
Saturday 29 March:
(11.22) Oh, this morning... and what a morning it was. I was "awake" much earlier, but it was so comfortable in Yonah's room that I managed to doze back off to sleep for a while when, at 6.34... in the early morning darkness and silence of another truly "Winter" day came a rather resounding
"woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo".
Time to get up and on with the day already! (So now I have to keep a careful ear open, earlier each day. I wonder if he hasn't been waking much sooner than I've been hearing him call. Well? The much earlier mornings are coming. Time to re-adjust here... for me.)
I often wonder what he thinks when he wakes in the morning and sees me there, on the futon, in the dark. Then too, I wonder what he must think when he wakes in the morning and I'm NOT there for him. Oh, but there's SO much that i'd give SO much to be able to communicate with him in a way that we BOTH understand perfectly.
Well? I was up and about and off and on the move right away, and all the while, as I put the kettle on in the kitchen to when I got back into the room, our "morning chat" continued with a regular exchange of "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo's". Quite the morning.
We DID get the last light off rather earlier last night though. And yes, there was a bit of a "ride home" but last night, I carried my Little LOVE from his door perch. AND, as I started our evening lullabies, he preened and got him-self together for the night ahead. I managed to get through "I Wish You Love" and he broke in with a "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo". And we had an exchange of two, each, before he changed to a "nest coo", which we exchanged twice again. So I cut to the last of our lullabies, the ones in German, and as I sang those, I watched him actually watched him tuck his little head between his wings. It made me wonder if it's the melodies or the sound of German. But I've no doubt that he recognises the melodies now and that those last 4 tunes mean "end of day" and that light will be turned off soon. What-ever it is, he was perfectly calm by 20.40 and at 20.45 the last light was off...
That said, this morning, when I got to his house, he was facing in the opposite direction again! I don't know when he turned round, but the poops were all under his night roost, in their usual place. 8 of them, all absolutely perfect and quite close together, so, over-all, it appears the night was calm.
I DO remember waking, just after mid-night, with a sneeze. So hopefully, that didn't startle my Little LOVE to make him turn round. I didn't hear him do so, and I would have done because he tends to flap his wings when he turns on his perch. Thankfully, there was no coo'ing after the sneeze, and again, the location of the poops was indicative of a calm night. And with the clarity of this morning's first coo's, I can suppose he DID get a restful night's sleep.
As for this morning... when we got the curtains and blinds open, the room was still rather quite dark. Out-side, a bit of snow had fallen during the night and was topped with a crust of ice. Not cold though, thankfully. But the clouds were still quite heavy and blocked most of the day-light. Even the Yardies hadn't come round yet. We actually had to turn the desk lamp on and so, considering the forecast for the day of even more "freezing rain", the UV light was turned on. Gone were our days of brilliant sun-light for a while again. But, as soon as there was more light to navigate, and as i started the morning water run, my little Heart-and-Soul was UP AND AWAY, off to the futon, a hearty "Good morning" woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo to Burdie-Birdie! A brilliant burst of energy!
Our day ahead? Surely no errands, and since we'd gotten the house-cleaning done yesterday, just a day together, in the warmth of his room.
Shortly after I'd gotten the kitchen re-settled and headed back to the room, there was a "WOOSH"... and a little visit to the living-room. But when I went out there, to go check the morning's post, he headed back to his house and when I got back, he was ensconced in his loft, all snug for the day. The sky got a bit lighter but the clouds were still quite heavy so it was still almost "evening-like". Still, the room was warm at 23°, the house furnace was running... the Yardies had started to gather for breakfast on the back walk (which was still covered with last night's "weather" - but they were all walking about on the ice crust) so my Little LOVE was protected from the elements. Safe and warm and cosy.
(14.21) This morning's freezing rain turned to falling slush, we managed to get some "play time" in this morning. In fact, it was insisted upon. A bit of "Chase" on the futon. And the Little Guy's been "in form"... "having his way with" Burdie and Bustelo-Birdie today! "Spring is in the air"!
I'd ordered more food for Yonah, via petco.com, last week and tracking shows that it's either lost (again) or simply "stalled" for the past 3 days (again). So, with my little Supervisor above me, on the desk shelf, we went shopping this morning. "chewy.com" seems to have all that we usually get (we'd stopped shopping chewy a while back because of some difficulties with selections) except the all-natural mix that, apparently only petco creates. And we do have an "account" at chewy so... We were off in search of an "all natural", "no coulourants" mix. Not as easy as I'd hoped. Seems everybody finds it necessary to add "colouring" that doesn't exist in the natural seeds. I'll never understand why, but... we'll keep looking.
That ran us in to lunch and I was "reminded" of that when, at about 12.05, I was still searching through the internet for seeds, my "Manager" hopped to his door perch and gave a clear "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo"! So, we had lunch together a little later today. And I tried, again, to entice him into having a few bites of blueberry... to no avail. He does NOT like blueberries, no matter whether or not I'm eating them. He's taken a couple of "nips" of a berry. I "open" them so he doesn't have to peck through the "blue skin" and he gets close to it but as soon as it's close enough, he shakes his head, vigorously, as if saying "No, no, no, no, no...". Oh well... back to raspberries it is then.
I managed to grab a 30-minute lie-down after lunch today too. My Little LOVE came over to rest on my leg at first but then, apparently had some other plans for that time and took off... When the alarm sounded to let me know it was time to get up, he was back, but only to land on my chest, give a "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" and he was off again... to his house.
And mean-while, we have the lights on in the room, including the UV, we'd been listening to some "American Standards" this morning but after the news at lunch, I put a "humming-bird" video on his old lap-top. AND... after a little bit of playing on the desk shelf... (14.48) HE'S OFF... TO THE LIVING-ROOM !!! woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo! WHAT inspired THAT, I'll never know! But what a WONDERFUL day it's been... the two of us, together...
18.05 and dinners are done, washing-up is completely done. The rest of the house is settled. Almost time to get to the evening water change. AND... the skies are still covered in clouds, the temperature out there isn't "bitter cold" but it isn't really "warm". Much of what was on the back walk was relatively easy to lift off, so I could get to the feeder in the gardenette. And AS I did, a little sparrow came by, perched on the fence round it and waited, so patiently, for me to clear the walk and put more food out. And no sooner had I done, seems the Little One went to tell the "friends" because I barely made it back into the house and the yard was FULL of little Chirpers!
Ah... but mean-while, there's a Little Coo'er perched in the living-room again this evening! He was SO animated as I was trying to quickly eat my little dinner this evening, flying all over the room, wanted to be with me! In fact, he WAS with me as I started to settle the kitchen! He's really becoming SO comfortable on my shoulder as I go about the affairs of the house! It's truly HEAVENLY! But I do wonder what this new attraction to the living-room is about. It's darker out there and his lap-top is in his room. He doesn't want to "watch the news" lately. But, he's healthy, and he's obviously comfortable... and he's obviously not "depressed" so... I'm finishing up on some typing here and we'll see what comes when I get moving again...
18.30 and as I was sitting at the desk, taking a break from typing and not really paying much attention...
WOOSH! THE BREEZE BEHIND ME! MY LITTLE HEART-AND-SOUL CAME HOME FOR HIS SNACK! BUT... HE'S NOT "WHISTLING" AGAIN! I'm wondering why. I see that he's still dropping feathers, and I've come to learn that that changes his aerodynamics and he's "paused" the whistling before but it comes back so... I'm just hoping all's well and he'll be whistling again... soon. Still, he's eating very well... and... it's time to get to the fresh water in his pool... (or to see if he'll be taking a bath before tuck-in as he's done before) AND... as I type, he's up to the desk shelf with "woo-hoo's" to Bustelo-Birdie so it might just be time to "let the games begin"! his little belly is full!)
19.44 and waters changed, windows closed against the night (with more threats of "freezing rain", oh my). And the Little Guy was on the desk shelf when I started closing the blinds and he came RUSHING over to his roof-top to play with the "curtain critter"! But there really wasn't all that much interest in it, and none on the back-board "fingers", but after... MUCH PLAYING on his roof-top and kisses and general kidding around! And now, with the house settling, time for night instrumental music and settling for the night ahead. And quite a bit to say with the "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo's". And I can HEAR the difference between the morning "call" and the "softness" of the "Time to get to seepie-nigh-night here". There truly IS a difference. If only I could know what they ALL mean! I need to pay more attention to the cadences, the over-all patterns, the "tones", "timbres". I HAVE noticed that the "last coo's" of the day are slightly different in that there's a "sharper pause"... woo-HOO...hoo...hoo...hoo where-as the others tend to "blend" from one to the next. Now, to "note" the differences during the day. Even though I know I'll NEVER actually understand I'll try to figure SOME of it (so that, when we're both free of this "Creation" and on to the next, when we meet "out there", I'll have SOME idea what to say... then).
For now... here's to trying for a night of tuck-in at a "civil" hour. Of course, he's on his roof-top now.... there's still a LOT of time for a "take-off" and I still have my evening ablutions so... we shall see...
OK. 20.45 and we're running "late" again... and I'm ashamed... again... to keep the Little Guy up so late again. He's on his night roost already and now, we're closing house and closing the day. Poor Little One... he's obviously tired. But there's still time to take to the air so we shall see... More to follow...
Sunday 30 March:
(7.30 on another dreary sort of March morning... light rain, freezing on the trees and the back walk. The Yardies have come and gone and returned and....)
A rather un-eventful "tuck-in" last night. Yes, indeed, the pool Little Guy was tired and ready for a night's rest! And we made it through the repertoire, at a steady tempo with just one, brief "interlude" right after "Let's Face the Music". A couple exchanges of "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" and a couple more "nest coo's" and... Last light off at a LATE 21.005!
And this morning? I dragged me from the futon at about 5.30 and headed out into the house to see what I could do with an hour or so that I figured I might have before "morning call" and as the day-light tried its best to break through the cloud cover and the drizzle out there...
6.49... and this morning, I heard it quite clearly as the "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" came through the door. (And, I might add, that was when all the Yardies came in for breakfast too. I SO often wonder if there isn't some sort of "ethereal connection", that Yonah "knows" when they all arrive, even though they're out-side and he's in. I shouldn't doubt that there's some sort of "sensation" that they all have. But if that's so, I don't understand why HE knows when THEY arrive out there and yet, THEY don't seem to "sense" that he's in here AND that he's safe and why THEY can't understand that I'm here to make sure that they too, are safe in the yard here and when I come out of the door, I'm NOT going to attack them. Oh... "Nature". Go figure.)
Anyway, as i got me together and headed to the room, we had a bit of a morning chat back and forth with the "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo's" and the moment I opened the door, the Little LOVE changed it to "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo". ("Well then, it's morning. Let's get these curtains open. I'd like to see what's going on out there!") AND THAT continued along, back and forth for quite the while!
The moment I opened the door to his house, a magnificent little wing-stretch, a few more "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo's" and... we were into the day! As soon as the one window was opened to the dim day-light, he was off to the food perch and making ready to head out and into his world.
A quick check of the morning poops: 9 in total, all looking really quite wonderfully healthy, but quite a bit scattered, as it were. Not "terribly" scattered but not "neatly" under the night roost. It didn't look like a "restless" night behind us, thankfully. Maybe they just bounced about. They weren't "wet" (thankfully).
It didn't take very long before, as I got the room together for the morning water run, and UP AND OUT AND OVER TO THE DESK SHELF WITH SO MANY LITTLE "NEST COO'S"! THAT was consoling. It's claimed that when doves do that little "flutter and coo" it means they're content. Me? I wonder (as always), because I've come to learn that so much of what the "experts" have to say is rather "non-applicable" to Yonah, but then, it is true that he DOES appear to be quite comfortable and content when he's got his little tail in the air, fluttering his little wings. So, it that be the case, THIS was a DIVINE start to a new day of no sun-shine and a forecast of more and more rain... even through today and tomorrow.
Well then... he stayed on the desk shelf as I ran back and forth with this morning's fresh water and... now, at 7.50, he's on his door perch, the house is settled and we're about to put on today's "back-ground music" and get into a day where we'll be spending the time together... and I wont' be running all sorts of silly little errands. Not in this weather. And there's really nothing we "need" out there in the world. (Nothing more perfect than no need to be bothered with... "the world... out there".)
19.35 Running late with evening water run! It's been a non-stop day today... we were "making cards" to send out and having fun watching all the commotion around the room and the PAPER! OH! The rattling of paper! I have NO idea WHAT he hears but he's SO fascinated when paper rattles!
And now, the daylight is going... and I can see the "fidgeting" start...
He's just had a snack and has been staring at me from his food perch... just jumped to his door perch so...
He has his ways of letting me know.
Rained through the day today and tonight the temperature is supposed to be WARMER than it's been all day and tomorrow... WAY UP but MORE RAIN! Hopefully the house humidity will stay relatively low... no mould. Still, tomorrow night? Back down below freeze so... It's still "March" and April is as fickle.
There were many mourning doves in the yard today. I put food out thrice! Tomorrow will be easier on them but they'll need the food for tomorrow night and the following few days. It ain't Summer yet.
Now... to water run and seeing what follows...
20.25 We've taken to the desk shelf by the radio and nest cooing... Silly me! But the house is settled for the night and so too, my "evening ablutions", the night music is on and now...
OFF WE GO... RIDE HOME TIME! To be continued... to be sure.
Monday 31 March:
OH! But it was the absolute CUTEST, last night... I made really quick work of getting the house settled and the room together so we wouldn't be turning the last light off too terribly late and all the while, this MOST PRECIOUS Little Guy, waited, so patiently, at the front of his roof-top, watching me. And as I scurried, I started lullabies.
I was still at "Autumn Leaves" when I walked over to him and AS I got to him, he EVER-SO CALMLY strolled over to the little platform, stepped onto it and waited for me to slide it forward, lift it up and bring it off the roof-top to bring him "home" to the night roost. As we floated along, he "put his feathers together", I snuck a kiss, en route, as I do, and as HE does, the very second the platform met the perch, he stepped off it and onto his night roost and started settling-in for the night.
It truly is obvious that the "ride home" at the end of the day, is now, officially, part of our routine and another one of those little "traditions" that I think of as more the reason for me to make certain that I'm always here for this Little LOVE. I'm still not sure if the "experts" are correct, but as time passes, it seems they are when they say that birds prefer the "familiar", in routines, surroundings and such. I can't imagine how, since, in the wild, they're so mobile, and have to move about to find food, water and often, shelter. Changing regions, land-scapes. And I often wonder where they go to roost at night. It's said that they "prefer" the branches of evergreen trees where they can "huddle together" against the winds and cold. Yonah obviously prefers his "night roost perch" over a night in his "loft". He prefers grasping the perch to being able to snuggle on a flat surface. But I often ponder mourning doves finding an old barn, garage or even one of our many "abandoned" old houses where they can roost in eaves or on beams and joists, under roofs.
But in any case, Yonah does have his "places", and it's obvious that he has his "times". Places are limited in the house, but they're all familiar to him. From his room to the living-room, and the spaces in between. He obviously chooses either his room or the living-room. And as for "times", well, I've come to know that he has "meal times", "snack times", "snooze times" and at the end of day, he does tend to make it obvious when he's tired and wants to get to tucking-in.
Ah but then... mourning doves are "ground feeders" in the wild, and I've been able to see that they prefer scouring the ground for food over the feeder in the yard. I can put so much food into the feeder(s) out there and, for the most part, the mourning doves will wait for other birds (or squirrels) to toss seeds about in the gardenette and rather than get the "fresh", "clean" food in the feeder, they'll peck on the ground. (It's why I toss some seed onto the back walk for them.) But Yonah? Well... THIS little GENIUS has his "dish" on the "shelf" in his house where he goes for his food. He knows that that's where his food is. Granted, it takes away the "excitement" of "foraging", but he has the "assurance" that, when he's hungry, he knows that there's food there for him. (Oh yes, he still manages to toss so very much out of the dish and onto the shelf... and into his pool and the floor of his house but most of what he actually eats comes from the dish.)
All said and seen (since this Journal is based on our time together), I've seen claims made that mourning doves, generally, aren't considered to be amongst the "intelligent" birds but time with Yonah has proven those claims to be "limited"... at best. This Little Guy is BRILLIANT in OH! SO many ways....
Anyway, we DID have the briefest "exchange" of "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" (once each for us) right after "I Think It's Going To Rain Today". I took the chance and moved on with the rest of the lullabies and as I sang, I watched as the little silhouette settled for the night... and I could see the little head tuck between wings. .By 21.05 the repertoire was complete and... the last moon light was turned off. Sunday... closed.
6.34 and here's the "Morning Call"! "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo". Soft, but audible, to be sure so.... Monday is called to order! More later...
18.00 and to continue with this morning... and the day... it's been another one of those "on the move" days for both of us...
The first "call" was followed, almost immediately, but a second and then, as I opened the door to Yonah's room, yet ANOTHER! But one thing I DO NOTICE:
There's a distinct "uniqueness" to the first coo's of a morning that doesn't happen, for the most part, at other times: the "HOO" of the morning coo's is higher-pitched, almost "shrill"! Not a tone of "panic" or anything of the sort. More a sound of "HEY!" Even the "nest coo" - which I heard as soon as I stepped into the room this morning - has that same pitch. If I DO hear that during the day, it's usually when Yonah's in another room and by him-self. Then, it sounds as if he's calling "HEY! Where are you?" Other-wise, the cadence and such of his "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" is usually soft, "melodious". I've noticed it before but this morning, for some reason, it just happened to strike me.
As I say, I called back as I made my way to the door: "I hear you. I'm here. I'm on my way." and he repeated his call, and, the very moment I opened the door to his room, I heard, from across the room, that little "oo-OOooo"... almost a "nest coo" but this one, this morning, had a bit of an "air" of "immediacy" about it. It's not as though he was alone and awake for too long. I'd gotten up at 5.30 and left the room and there wasn't a sound. And this morning, the house was quiet enough so that I'd've heard him if he'd called earlier. But when I got to his house, he was calmly on the night roost and waited just as calmly as could be for me to open his door. And when I popped my head in for "Good morning" kisses, I got a few, accompanied by a couple of wing-stretches and as I opened the curtains and blinds, there was no "immediate rush" over to the food perch, as he does of a morning. BUT THERE WAS SO VERY MUCH CONVERSATION!
The "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo's" changed to "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo's" and THOSE went back and forth as I moved about the room, opening the windows to the over-cast morning out-side and putting the futon together for the day and getting ready for the morning water run. Just SO SO MUCH to be said! (AND yes, HOW I SO WISH I HAD ANY IDEA WHAT WAS ACTUALLY BEING SAID!)
A check of poops? 9 in total this morning, all of them healthy in composition and all under the night roost. SO...
And THEN... when the Little Guy noticed me "poop-checking" he was OUT of his house and over to the futon to supervise the water run this morning!
In moments after I started my "running" in and out of the room with the water for his poor, he headed out to the living-room again. Seems he's enjoying being out of his room lately. "Spring" is in the air (though the "air" in the house is starting to turn a little "concerning" for me because, with the warmth and humidity of these recent days, and not being able to keep doors and windows open for all too long, the "old house" odour seems to be making a bit of a come-back and THAT is something I happened to notice last night, as I laid on the futon and is weighing on my mind now). I'm looking SO forward to us getting out into the yard again... soon. (But the forecast for today was up-wards of 15° during the day but, back down to about 0-1° tonight. We're not "quite there" yet. But SOON... I hope!)
As for the rest of the day? Well, as it went, "we" had to contact "Petco" again. I made the grave mistake of placing an order for more food and again, as before, it's "lost". So, we were off to search for other sources of "groceries". We HAD tried "Chewy" before, but again, they, like Petco, rely solely on FedEx and that's the cause of all the trouble with orders. (We've since sent an e-mail to Chewy to, at the very least, offer customers options on shipping. Will it make a difference? Doubtful. But... ) That searching too quite a bit of time out of our day. So much so that I didn't even take a snooze! (And I dare say, it was noticed because the Little Guy seemed a bit "ill-at-ease" when, but 14.00, I hadn't taken to the futon! He notices EVERY variation in a day.)
Next thing I knew, he came over from his house to the desk... to his lap-top (which I'd set-up at lunch for our "mid-day news"). 16.00... time for me to get up and put my dinner on the hob! Even with the change in the "people clocks"... he KNOWS. The day was coming to a close... TOO QUICKLY... as usual.
20.10 I'm out of a quick shower, the waters are fresh, the blinds and curtains, closed. We had the doors open for a while today but the house temperature dropped to 18° (it was only 11 out-side) but we managed to "change the air" in the house. Sadly, we had to close house again. But we did manage to have the door open a while this evening again, and now.. it's 23 in Yonah's room but with a "low" of -1 expected tonight... the furnace will go back on. We still have the upper window open in his room. (Last night got a bit windy and the curtains fluttered a bit but it didn't phase either of us and the room stayed quite comfy, thankfully.)
The Little One is on his roof, head bobbing, starting at me. Night music is on and we're going to get ready for... RIDE HOME and tuck-in... another day... AND ANOTHER MONTH!
APRIL WILL BE FOUR AND A HALF YEARS! (I'm torn... the more time we've had together... I can't think about it... thought I do... and will... "Your little guy is growing up.")
OK... desk shelf. I'm taking too much time here. More tomorrow...
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