YONAH•Mourning Dove•Journal

JUNE 2025

Sunday 01 June:
It's 7.20 already and I was up at 5.00! And as I sit here, in yet another dreary morning, skies of grey, the house furnace running intermittently, 23° in Yonah's room, humidity at 38% (ever-dreading the "50%" that will bring on the mould), my Little Reason for Life is on his roof-top, coo'ing his morning song. No doubt, telling me that I'm not paying enough attention to him. I'm just getting settled here at the desk, with SO MUCH to catch-up on with his Journal (this spate of "chronic fatigue", coupled with the "rotator cuff" pain and general dissatisfaction with this old house has taken such a toll on my productivity... honestly, were it not for Yonah, I'd just lay on the futon, or the bed - which I haven't used in MANY MONTHS - and not bother with the rest of the world... But this Little LIFE is here and he IS the ONLY reason for waking, eating, resting... being). "Determination" and hoping for the stamina to "get things done"!
I can't believe that half of yet, another year, has arrived. I fell asleep, last night, pondering how quickly the days have passed, the years too. In a matter of 3 months I will reach the age of... 70! 70 years! Where DID they go? And of course, as the time passes, I become all the more anxious now, with the terror of not being able to keep providing a "LIFE" for this Little Bundle of Feathered Life.
I MUST be here for him... for as long as he's here. And I don't say so with any grudges to bear. In reality, we BOTH "saved" one-another. Until Yonah came into my being, I had NO reason or cause to even consider a "next moment", a "next breath". I was resigned to simply letting time and Nature take course with no intervention on my part. I never thought, in those earliest days, that either of us would be here today, 5 years later. I dread the moment when he's "not here". I've experienced the pain, the un-bearable suffering of the silence around me, no "coo's", no flutter of wings, the "visits" to my shoulder, ear-tugs, running the "water changes" in his pool... This morning, for a brief while, I had that oppressive depression as I waited to hear the "morning call". But, the fact remains, as I've modified the closing lyrics of "What'll I Do" - which is how we close the day now:
"What'll I do with just a photograph to tell my troubles to? I won't be alone with only dreams of you, for when you go, I'll go with you."
Last night's "tuck-in" when rather smoothly. To my surprise, as soon as I started to close the windows against the annoying traffic out-side our window, and, as calmly as possible, worried that the neighbours would start their nightly thumping about next door (another great source of anxieties which I try my best to avoid because I KNOW, for a fact, that Yonah senses them), I started to sing our nightly lullabies and, as has become our "routine" now, the Little Genius took flight and headed for his roof-top platform to preen and wait for me to lift him up and off and away and "home" for the night.
Windows closed, I put the futon ready for me for the night and turned to him. He "braced" him-self there, on that little board, I slid him closer to the front of his house and up and away we went. And the very moment he arrived at his night roost, he hopped right off the platform and onto the perch, to settle for the night ahead.
We managed to get through the whole repertoire, softly, calmly, slowly, and I kept watch to see the little silhouette all tucked-in, PRECIOUS little head nestled between PRECIOUS little wings. There was some traffic passing out-side (it being "Saturday night" and even in this little hamlet that has nothing going for it, being in the middle of, on the way to and from no-where there are those who MUST, for some un-known reason, take to the roads... with their exhaust systems making their presence known) but not too much. And a softer tapping of another rain-fall on the metal roof of the cellar shed just out-side the windows.
But... by 21.10, we'd made it all through the "music" and the last of the moon lights was turned off... Saturday closed, another week behind us AND ANOTHER MONTH! HOW? Never mind "how". We just get to look forward, ahead, to the coming moments. I don't think in terms of "days" and such at this juncture. This little Dove... Herr Yonah Taube, has taught me to take "present" and leave the rest. Can't change "yesterday" and "tomorrow" isn't a guarantee. And always, considering the Hell he's been through and to see him today, all that LOVE and energy... He's come to teach, and I'm here to learn.
This morning, some-how, I woke, rested, oddly enough, at about 4.48 on the clock and laid on the futon in the calm, dark morning, pondering whether or not to get up at that hour, but as the clock read "5.00" decided to get up. There's much to be done today and since I woke, on my own, not feeling oppressively fatigued... I got up silently, expecting to hear that DEAR, SWEET morning call as I stepped out of the room. Well! To my surprise, I managed to put the kettle on, prepare my morning coffee before, at 5.18, from behind me in the dark room (I hadn't closed the door either, this morning) came a rather "soft" (some-times I'm convinced he "whispers")
"woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"
and when I replied with my own "morning rendition" of the same, the response was immediate:
"woo-HOOooo", as if to say "OK. So we're both awake now, so let's get on with the affairs of a new day."
When I got into the room, there was the little silhouette of last night, on his night roost... a wing-stretch, and when I opened the door to his house and poked my face in for "Good morning" kisses, this morning, I got quite a few and more wing-stretches. Indeed, the Little LOVE was up, awake and making ready to take-on the day ahead! So, we got right to the business, opening the curtains and blinds to the over-cast morning out-side. I'd seen the temperature out there... 7°, and the house furnace was running. Since we're not using the "Sweeter Heater" these days, and the house furnace helps control the humidity, well, it was "comfortable". I'm rather sure that the Little Guy could easily tolerate a "chill", were the furnace not on, but, as I always say and hold, I look out the window of a morning and see the little mourning doves out there, fluffed against the chill, and I think of THIS one here. There's no reason WHY he should have to fend against chills, and dampness, snows, ice. He deserves a life of convenience and comfort and I'll see to it that that's what he gets.
In those earliest days together, when I laid on the bed in the next room, I prayed that I could take what-ever pains and sufferings he had. I know what to do to have such things addressed for me, but I've no idea what to do for him. So it is with the cold and damp too: I can do what's needed to provide shelter, warmth, food, clean water. and so I do... with all the happiness and LOVE I have in this old body.
Today, almost 5 years later, hearing that little "coo", seeing the wind-stretches and getting the little pecks across the nose and fore-head, "Good morning kisses" as they are, lets me know I'm doing "OK" at the very least. This Little LIFE, this Little LOVE is comfortable, not displeased with me... and NOTHING else matters.
So we got the room "open" for the day, I got my coffee and got right to fresh water for the day ahead.
Poops report this morning: 10 entirely PERFECT poops and all of them under the night roost! Good health and obviously a "calm" night, last night. All the encouragement that could be wished for of a morning. And with the morning coo's growing clearer and louder... Sunday, June, the weather out-side might be dreary but... WE were in good health... even I was feeling better than previous days of late (the pain in the shoulders and arms less this morning).
And now... it's 8.00 already, the Little Character is flying about and on the desk shelf over my head in front of me. PLAY TIME! And there are breaks in the clouds out-side! Away we go!
19.55 and the waters have been changed, the Little Guy is back in the room from the living-room where he headed as soon as I headed to the kitchen with the containers for the water run.
It's been another day of being together, and waiting to see what the weather was going to do. Clouds, sun, clouds, sun and threats of showers and drizzles that never came. But it was cool out there and a bit on the windy-side so not a really great day to be out in the yard. And I managed to settle at the desk and get quite a bit of typing and such together. This morning, I made a 10-minute run this morning and made it back just in time for lunch together!
My LOVE has been playful today too. Something about me being still at the desk. I know he doesn't understand what I'm doing all the while, just sitting there, the only thing moving, my hands on the key-board. And he DID make it known when he wanted "his time"... and I did take breaks along the way to play as he was over me on the desk shelf. But over-all, he had a boring day, I'm sure.
Tomorrow's forecast looks pretty good for time in the yard and I'm SO hopeful. The Yardies where here this morning but not very much during the day. It could have been the wind. But they were back at 19.30... SIX of them... having dinner on the back walk. I'm SO hoping they'll come round tomorrow. The plan? Set a chair, bring my lap-top and the two of us just taking in the air and sun-shine.
This evening, I put Bustelo-Birdie on his roof-top and OH did he EVER enjoy that! I've ordered a "new toy" for him... another white dove, that stands, and is rather quite tall. It's going to be interesting to see his reaction to THIS one. But a "new bird in the house"... I wish it could be a real one but, just this morning, I happened to stumble upon a posting to a forum where people have mentioned the same concerns about bringing in "new birds". Yes, there have been some heart-breaking accounts of the "new friend" being out-right rejected. Even "toys"... so getting another bird in the house is out of the question. Besides... as people have said: Yonah and I are a "flock" and he's just as happy, even with me being so "blah" so often. Apparently, we do "LOVE" one another and we're OK. But let's see how the "new bird" goes over. If he doesn't like it? We'll find some other home for it. Everything is "live and learn".
For now though, I've just put our "night music" on and he's on the desk shelf, over by the radio, having a little preening. There's still a bit of "day-light" out-side our window but we've been getting settled rather late recently and though tomorrow holds nothing on the agenda... save, perhaps, HOUSE-KEEPING... and an after-noon out... a good rest is due. I've "ablutions" and that's that. So we'll see about the "ride home" tonight.
Well then? 21.00... LATE! But the Little LOVE ahs been on the futon and when I said it was time for "seepie-nigh-night" he FLEW HOME! So now... all else is done for the day and he's on the floor of his house making with the "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"s. We are tucking-in for the night (I hope).

Monday 02 June:
(6.50) Last night, I brought the Little Character from his door (on the platform, I brought it down from his roof-top and he hopped right onto it) to his roof-top as I put the room together and then, when all was settled, he was still on the platform so I brought him home... and he hopped right to the night roost!
Windows and such settled and the futon, as I sang our lullabies, soft and slow and we both settled and tuck-in for the night. 21.27 last light off. A bit on the "late" side, but thinking about it, when Yonah's tired, Yonah usually heads for his night roost and last night, he still didn't really appear too anxious to get to "seepie-nigh-night" at the last minute. Oh, we go through evenings like that. Still, the Yardies were long gone to their night roosts. I don't know how long THIS Little One would stay up through a night, if left to own.
This morning...
5.20 "on the mark" came the morning "call to order" with a soft-but-clear "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo". I was still very much on the futon so I answered with a little "Good morning to you, woo-hoo there." and for about 5 minutes, we exchanged "morning pleasantries" with "woo-hoo's" back and forth until I dragged this old body up and over to "open house" for the day.
A few little "Good morning" kisses and a couple more "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"s and we were off and "rolling" (moving house from the windows) and opening curtains and blinds to a new day.
Quick "Poops Check": 9 quite amazingly "normal" little poops on the "rug", and they were all quite light brown, NO GREENS. One, how-ever, the "wet" one, no doubt the first of this morning, slightly larger than the other 8 but there's no "halo" round it so it's not "wet" and the colour matches the rest. And all of them relatively under the night roost so it was a calm night last night. (Though I don't know how because I do remember having to get up round about mid-night and was rather congested. But maybe it's come to where my "noises in the night" don't matter... after all these years together and I can't even recall how long we've been in the same room through the night now. OK, sure, if he were out-side in the "wilderness", surely there would be all sorts of "noises in the night", but I worry about a "cough" or "sneeze", a sudden sound in the dark. One major consolation: if there's a "thump" or a "thud" from the house, there have been times when the Little Guy will wake and give a "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo", as if calling to see if I'm there with him. When I cough... silence. So maybe my disturbances are just part of "life in the old house". All I can do is hope it doesn't disturb him.)
BUT, the important thing is that he's in good health and spirits and we're off to another day. There was a promise of sun-shine today. There's a bit of it out there but we shall see. Hoping to get out to the yard. Nothing but typing on the agenda for me for this morning. A nice day together in the open air... we hope.
(9.23) The sun is up, the sky is clearing and the Little LOVE is on the roof of his old house out in the living-room where the front door is open. 23° in his room now. And this morning, as I tried to get "things" together at his desk, he came over to my shoulder for some "LUVIN'S"! I was taken by a bit of a surprise... so early of a day. And he's been so vociferous all morning too. It's another one of those "inspirational" mornings: I feel like going right back to the futon for a "snooze", but there's much to be done and seeing him in such good spirits and full of energy... it gets me going... and keeps me going. The "news" of the world is so full of so much violence these days, it makes me happy to be here, with this little bundle of feathered "LOVE". He's my hope, inspiration, BLESSING!
13.17 AND WE'RE OUT IN THE YARD! THE SUN IS GREAT BUT THERE'S A SLIGHT CHILL TO THE BREEZES AND THEY'RE A LITTLE "GUSTY", AND I'VE GOT A HUMMIE ALMOST ON MY ELBOW AS I SIT TYPING. AND THE LITTLE GUY SEEMS A BIT ON THE "FIDGETY" SIDE IN HIS HOUSE BUT OTHER-WISE, I DO BELIEVE THAT WE REALLY HAD LITTLE CHOICE IN THE MATTER HERE TODAY. As I sat, trying to have my lunch, he was ALL OVER HIS ROOM AND THE HOUSE! The sun was shining out-side his window and it appears he wanted 'some of that". How long we'll make it out here is a guess that I'm not even going to consider. But here he are and we'll try for at least an hour and see where that gets us. For now, it really is nice to be out of the old box. 15.34 and we're just about to get back into the house... it's been a lovely after-noon and 2,5 HOURS OUT! Listening to "Schlager", in the breeze (which got a little bit warmer, thankfully). The Little Guy didn't bask, as he often does. And Amy stopped by to chat a bit. I can't tell if he get animated because he's glad to see her of if he's "skittish". He doesn't mind when she comes into the house to see him. But out-side... I wonder if he knows she's the same person. But all said... sadly, no "visits" from the Yardies... though one did come by when I left the yard to talk with Amy. I think it was more to eat from the feeder than to actually visit. At any rate... we're heading back in... It's been quite a while out here and a nice after-noon.
So here we are, back in the "box" (house) at 15.49, doors open for the breeze, but it's only 21° in the room! Doesn't feel that cool but... I've put the door shelf on the back door in case the Little Guy (who's on his roof-top at the moment) wants to go "visit"... if any of the Yardies come by.
We got a call, by the way, this after-noon. Aunt Deb... She has a nest of "Pheobes" and discovered one, dead, on her porch! They checked the nest, also on the porch... eggs! She wanted to know what she ought to do! Of course, I told her that she could bring the eggs in and hatch them (try), but when I told her about the feeding schedule... Nope. She's heart-broken, not knowing what to do. But, I wonder how long the eggs have been left alone. Last night, the temperature dropped to about 7°. And it was rather chilly this morning. And they're in a dark space, though close to the house. Looks like the "option" is to leave the nest and hope for the best. (I thought, for a passing moment, of taking the eggs... to see what Yonah would do with them, but again, it goes back to "feeding". And mourning doves don't feed their young the same diet as other birds. And to produce "dove milk" or "crop milk", I don't know that I could provide the necessities for that any way. Not to mention, I still recall, too clearly, what happened when I got the notion to try those "faux eggs", little plastic eggs. Poor Yonah stayed with them all day, and didn't leave to eat until the sun had set. And even then, I could see that he was waiting for "mother" to come attend for the night. It was heart-breaking. So I'm not going to put him through that again.) I'll suppose that the nest at Deb's will just be left there and we'll see if the other "parent" attends to the eggs. If not... "Nature" will do what "Nature" does. We don't know what killed the Little One. I just hope it wasn't anything "medical"... parasitic.
The horror of the season though is the "Warnings" already: "wild-fires" across Canada. Yes, they're pulling that "stunt" again this year. They call the fires "wild" but even last year, they discovered "arsonists". Something related to the "climate politics". It was truly horrific the last time. So much so that the smoke lingered as far South as New York City! And there were photos of "red skies", so thick, was the smoke. All I keep thinking of is the deaths of the Little Ones. (Thankfully, MY Little Guy lives in a place where his air is filtered so many times. It's not "perfect" but we made it through the last time.) "Humans" again. No respect for anything other than "self"... and even then, it's "concern" and not "respect". I can't think about it. Too angering.
So now, we get to settle for dinner time. It was a grand after-noon though.
19.27 and the sun is shining as it sets behind the Western mountains... and it's WARM! But the house has been cool enough to put the house furnace back on for the night. Down to 6° tonight again. But double-digits coming for the nights in the week to come. "Teens" but at least double digits and no "-" before them! We shall see.
My little Heart-and-Soul was SO snoozey this evening, after those hours in the yard! I actually saw that his eyes were closed for a while there. He "SLEPT"! Mourning doves are known to "half-sleep", where one side of their little bodies "sleeps" but the other side remains aware of their surroundings. I've ALWAYS hoped that THIS Little Guy would become comfortable enough to actually "sleep", that he'd feel safe enough to simply get the rest he needs. Well, it appears that he IS comfortable enough, even with me being right here with him! He KNOWS he's safe! And there really isn't ANYTHING else in Creation that could mean more to me. After all he'd been through, he feels SAFE... with me so close. (Now, I hope he feels the same way through the nights too... even with me making any sort of noises that I might make during the night.)
He's on his lap-to beside me now... pecking at the screen, as he does (the plexi, actually). And the water run for the night is done so it's just a matter of closing the windows against the night to come (though out-side, it's still quite bright with a clear sky and glowing sun).
Tomorrow, I'll have a quick errand to run in the morning and I don't look forward to that (as usual) but other than that, nothing on the agenda other than cleaning this Journal up a bit (too many "notes" that need to be "joined") and the forecast is for a clear and warm day so... we look forward to getting back out into the yard again! HEY! If there's sun-shine out there... we're going to get as much as we can (there's more rain in the long-forecast so....). Natural UV and vitamins! And maybe some Yardies will come to visit with us!
But it was a great day, all told, today. We were together. We got out to the yard. And the Little Guy is looking so relaxed right now... all "crunched", resting on his lap-top. THIS is what "Life" is.
20.14 and he's still on his lap-top. The room is at 23,5°, cosy. Humidity is down again to a mere 30% which is GREAT (no mould). But it's time to get to the windows and get us tucked-in for the night. The sun is obviously lower behind the mountains, though it's still "light" out there. I wonder if I ought to follow the sun or the clock, really. But the most important item: enough rest. And if we're going to get out tomorrow... rest tonight is REALLY important.
WELL! UP HE GOT AND FLEW TO HIS HOUSE... TO THE LITTLE MIRROR IN THE FRONT CORNER AND HE'S COO'ING AT THE REFLECTION. SO... time to get this room together and hope for a night of rest!
20.44 This Little Character is on the wall shelves, tucked into the "art supplies", nest coo'oing softly... and I'm heading to tuck in. We're a bit on the "late" side of the clock, but oddly-ish, there's still considerable light out-side our windows... but 'tis "seepie-nigh-night time" and away we go!

Tuesday 03 June:
6.00 and we're BOTH VERY much up and awake and about! And my Little LOVE-LOVE is up on his roof-top, coo'ing-in the clear morning! And I'm at the desk, dressed for the day, coffee at hand and away we're heading into... what-ever will come of this new day.
Morgen früh, wenn Gott will,
wirst du wieder geweckt.
Looks like "Gott hat es gewollt und
wir sind wieder aufgewacht"
and is there ever so much to be said on the matter, with all the "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo's" going on.
Last night, as I put the room in order for us, closing blinds and curtains and the futon at the ready, THIS Little Guy put him-self over to the roof-top, onto his "ride home" and by 21.00 (a little late but) he'd hopped onto the night roost and was quite ready to settle for the night. And we made it through all the little lullabies, at a bit of a "quicker tempo" because I could see that he was tired and ready to "schluf". By 21.20, the last light was turned off and there we were.
Next thing I knew, I opened my eyes, 4.41, and last night had become this morning and though I really didn't want to, I laid on the futon in the morning silence, pondering the affairs of the day ahead until 4.51 when I decided to get up and put the kettle on.
No sooner had I stepped out of the room when... from behind me, in the dim light of the day out-side came...
"woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"... that sounded very much like "Good morning to you. I'm awake here too."
So... on went the kettle and back into the room went I to find my sole reason and cause for facing another hearth-beat, snuggled on his night roost, but obviously at the ready to get on with it! So I opened the door to his house, popped in for a quick "Good morning" kiss - apparently there was no time for such luxuries this morning... I got a peck on the nose and a little scuttle to the side, so I put the door perch at the ready, removed the roof board and went back to the kitchen to prepare my coffee and set-up for morning water run.
By the time coffee was done, the curtains and blinds had been open to a clear but quite chilly morning (the house furnace was running... and I'd stepped out the back door to serve breakfast to the Yardies who'd already started appearing for the buffet and noticed a "coolness" but, un-like weeks-prior, it wasn't at all unbearably cold... just a little "cool and damp" - of course it was damp, thankfully not "too" damp though).
The rest of the morning? "Routine".
POOPS: 9 of a relatively "normal" size and though still a touch on the "dark" side, but no so much as to cause concern, all appeared quite "healthy". And they were under the night roost, so... a peaceful night behind BOTH of us! "angenehme Ruhe bei den Engeln im Himmel, bis zum Morgen".. indeed.
And so, here we are, up and about and "there may be troubles ahead, but while there's moon-light and music and love and romance... we'll face the music and dance!"
14.26 After a morning of all sorts of "house-hold" tasks and a lunch together, WE'RE OUT IN THE YARD! AT LAST! And it's really quite "warm" out here! And, sadly, the sky is so "hazy". "Wildfires in Canada" again, this year. But as soon as we got the old house settled on the walk, the Little Guy took to a BEAUTIFUL little BASK! Strangely, though, I brought him to to old house (in the kitchen, as we do) and he didn't seem too thrilled about coming out today. I wonder what he knows. He stayed on my hand for a while before hopping off. Usually, he appears to be anxious to get out into the yard. And as we're here, the only "Yardies" are the humming-birds. Not much else. Nothing "soaring" in the hazy skies (raptors). But not even the tiniest Little Ones. And that's quite unusual. We probably won't be out here for much longer than an hour, but I just feel that "natural sun-light" is SO MUCH better than being in a dark house all the while and there's no telling how many days we'll have, ahead, to get any out-side time. Especially if these "wild-fires" get any worse. The last time they happened, it was safer and healthier to be in-side. We've had to much rain, weeks of nothing but. so... we'll see what we can do with what we have.
This morning was "fun"... I had to work on this lap-top that I use for this Journal and on the internet, had to make some phone calls and WOW, did I ever have "visits" as I sat at the desk! Tugs on the ear! Pecks on the cheek! I'd said we were going to get out today and it seemed I was being reminded... the clock was passing time and we had more important matters to attend. And, momentarily, there was a little "break" to "bask" in the bit of sun-shine that made it into the room through the window. So... Here we are... and hopeful that we can get some "UV" and "light" in peace.
"Schalger" on the old phone (internet radio), quietly. And me on the chair on the "lawn"... the Little LOVE pacing a bit in his house and we're being "dive-bombed" by the hummies. WHAT a time of a day!
15.27 Looks like we're wrapping the "sun-shine" for today. No Yardies. The Little Guy is pacing. Well, the "suggested" time for sun-shine is "45 minutes"... 20.20 and running late because of "people-house nonsense" (but the primary concern is making certain this Little LOVE has a roof over-head, and safe shelter!). He's on the desk shelf over my head giving me "that look". I'm keeping him up late again! (But there's still a lot of day-light out-side the window... I swear he watches the clock!)
A calm after-noon, this was. A little out-side air and sun-shine and he was SO happy to come back in (and be with Burdie-Birdie) and I headed out for the quickest little errand that I'd put off all day (because, of course, I didn't want to go but really, I did have to). Made it back just in time to put dinner on the hob at the usual hour and when I got back, it appeared that he didn't even know that I'd left the house! YAY!
But, when I finally got settled and back into his room, there was so much "interest" in me. A couple of trips to my shoulder, and when I went out to the living-room to re-set his old house (because he's taken to spending time on it of late), he came rushing out... and as soon as all was done and his house had the little "cover" on it (so his little toes don't have to wrap round the wire) he came over IMMEDIATELY, WINGS UP, HE WANTED TO FIGHT (or play). And so we did for a few moments. Done? Right back to his room, a quick bite to eat and back to resting, calmly.
And now, water run done and I'm off to my evening ablutions and to get to the windows. It's so warm in the room tonight. Here we go... The thermometer reads 25° and the humidity is at 46% (which doesn't thrill me) but if feels warmer. And we won't really get too deep into the new spate of alleged "wild-fires" in Canada again. The sun-set was quite "RED" this evening... there's that much smoke in the air. Thankfully, the new filters for the air purifiers are due to arrive tomorrow. I might have to get even more this Summer at this rate. Between the threat of mould and this smoke... and thinking of the fact that birds are mostly "respiratory" and SO susceptible to SO much... and yes, I understand that he'd be exposed to much more and more threatening out-side but, there's NO excuse or reason for him to have to fend against such in this house. SO? So... Air purifiers away! And hope...
(Then too, I say again: should anything "happen" to my little Heart-and-Soul... we "go" together. No matter the situation.)
On that, I'm being "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo'ed" from the door to his house. I'm LATE and there's no "forgiveness"... More tomorrow.

Wednesday 04 June:
14.25 already and we've been out in the yard from since 13.28! 27° out here today, with a nice breeze, and thus far, peaceful after a rather "quiet" morning that suddenly became a flurry of activity for both of us... but for now... about last night's tucking-in and to catch-up:
'twas another one of those terribly late nights and I'm beginning to actually "sense" the slightest bit of "annoyance" coming from my Little LOVE! Some-thing along the lines of what I believe HE senses in me with my moods. Could it possibly be? Could I possibly be able to develop that same "non-verbal knowing"? (Surely the "experts" will say it's "anthropomorphism", or maybe "reverse anthropomorphism" but even though he appeared to be patient with me as I finally got to putting the house and room together for us for the night, there was "something in the air" that told me that he wasn't pleased with the lateness of the hour. I did the very best I could to keep moving right along through the closing of windows and all the rest, but it wasn't until I started singing the lullabies when he took to wing and headed directly over to his roof-top platform. Well then, there we have it: the night music was off, the familiar "Autumn Leaves" started and things got serious. And this little Genius KNOWS what that melody is: we're going home for the night!
The ride home was smooth but "determined" and when I tried to sneak in a kiss... there was having none of that. Seepie-nigh-night time had arrived... no smoochies.
Off he went to the night roost and even then, when I went in for a kiss (I should know better), he hopped to the other perch, just out of reach. OK then...
We did manage to make it all through the repertoire, slowly, softly, and all the while I kept careful watch of the little silhouette above... calm, quiet, settled. By 21.30 the last light was turned off and so too, the day.
One note of regret: I had a bit of a "congestion episode" that woke me at 23.30 and I had to get up from the futon, apologising for the noise and disturbance, but... it didn't appear to phase this Little Guy at all! It didn't last but a moment and I was back on the futon and the night rolled into...
This morning, the "Good morning call" of "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" at 5.28. Clear, but noticeably "soft". It was as if a "whisper". It didn't sound "strained", it literally sounded like a "whisper", as if calling, softly, "Are you awake?" And when I "woo-hoo'ed" back with my best morning "coo" (which is more like a "spoken" than a "coo'ed") the "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" again, and again, softly. And we exchanged coo's thrice, back and forth before I got up to check on my little Heart-and-Soul and open his house for the morning.
There he was, on his night roost, looking as calm and comfy as could be, and I DID get KISSES this morning! All across the fore-head too! By comparison, there are the little pecks on the nose, little pecks on the eye-lids (I've come to learn to keep eyes closed for kisses... Yonah doesn't understand "eye-balls"... especially the "front-facing" sort), pecks on and across the cheek, but THEN there are the gentle pecks across the FACE! THOSE are the most AMAZINGLY WONDERFUL! They seem so sincere, and so affectionate! This morning was "affectionate"! I was in "good graces".
We coo'ed back and forth as I opened the curtains and blinds to what looked to be another "hazy" day This morning's water run went smoothly and as I ran in and out of the room, my Supervisor took to his position on his "food perch" and watched his "crazy human" attend to morning coffee and water running. And when that was done... and I came back into the room, dressed for the day, he took off, to the futon, as I settled at the desk to prepare for the morning ahead.
Poops, this morning: 9 in total, 8 of them really quite "normal" but one "tiny" one. All were under the night roost, so even with my interruptions of our "repose" last night, everything, it appears, returned to "normal" and thankfully, it was, from the "evidence", a calm night. THANKFULLY!
No sooner had I sat, he came RUSHING over to the shelf directly in front of me and gave quite the stare until I reached up to play. As the sun rose this morning, that "haze" managed to clear a bit and though not into a "bright, clear blue sky" it was a relief to see that it wasn't any-where near as hazy as it was yesterday! To think: "clean, Adirondack mountain air"... and it's full of "stuff". Me? I worry about Yonah inhaling "stuff". I worry too, about the Yardies out there, inhaling all the more! In the house, there's the equivalent of 4 "air purifiers" (or, at least "cleaners") running all day and night every day and night. Out there, the best the Little Ones can do is leave the area, hopefully to better air. But I have to say, though the number of Yardies this year has been noticeably fewer, those here seem to be handling it all rather well. I have no way of knowing for certain. The best I can do is hope, and trust that they know where to go to escape the foul air.
ONE little mourning dove came flying by, headed up to the old maple tree, not a call, not a sound. I tried coo'ing but, because of the traffic, s/he took off shortly after arrival. How I DO SO look forward to a place where we don't have to deal with such things as traffic and people meandering about, a place of calm, peace, quiet where the "Yardies" can come, relax, settled and maybe have a little "chat". (Especially if I'm learning the "telepathy conversation" thing!)
OK. Just looking at the clock here... "Shlager" playing and the time is passing. By now the "air in the house" should be nice and clear after the cleaning. And we're going for 2 hours... no Yardies, save 2 sparrows who just showed up. It's been quite warm and the Little Guy is now heading for the shade under the towel... time to head back into the hopefully cooler temperature and comfort of his room and... BURDIE-BIRDIE! I don't want to risk another "over-heating"... If we could spend an entire day out, in the shade of the trees... but the one tree that would have given us just the right about of sun and shade was cut down last Autumn. ("People"... if it's "in the way"... just get rid of it. "People". They tend to do that with everything.) So, we're heading back in, sadly enough. Still, better to "err" on the side of "health".
OMG! It's already 20.15 and it's been non-stop "action" since we came in from the yard! We had such a calm morning and then away we went! BUT I'm SO relived we got those 2 hours out-side in the sun-shine today! And as usual, it's made a difference in my Little LOVE's general demeanour. MORE ENERGY and over-all, an obviously better mood!
WHAT MADE IT ALL THE BETTER? HE HAS A NEW "FRIEND" TODAY! I TOOK A CHANCE AND ORDERED A NEW "DOVE" A FEW DAYS AGO AND WAS A BIT CONCERNED ABOUT THE SIZE... THIS ONE'S LARGER THAN THE BEANIE-BIRDIES BUT ALMOST THE SAME SIZE AS BURDIE-BIRDIE! THE DETAILS IN THE FACE ARE WONDERFUL, AND THIS ONE HAS MOVABLE WINGS! IT'S "PLUSH", LIKE THE BEANIES, NOT AS "SQUISHY" THOUGH AND IT HAS FEET! AND IT CAN STAND OR SIT! WELL... IT ARRIVED JUST BEFORE WE WERE GETTING READY TO SIT FOR DINNER BUT I HAD TO GET TO OPEN IT TO SEE, NOT ONLY THE QUALITY BUT THE RESPONSE IT WOULD GET.
I ALMOST DIDN'T EVEN GET THE CHANCE TO TAKE IT OUT OF THE BAG AND MY LITTLE LOVE NOTICED IT... I WAS AT THE DESK, HE WAS IN HIS HOUSE AND HE CAME RUSHING DOWN! WHEN I PUT IT ON THE FUTON FOR HIM... HE DASHED FOR IT, ALL SORTS OF "WOO-HOO-HOO-HOO-HOO'S" AND RIGHT AWAY... "ON IT"! AND THEN, THE PECKING AT THE BEAK, AND THE LITTLE "HOO! HOO! HOO! HOO!'S" FOR THE LONGEST WHILE, AND PREENING AND PRANCING! IT WAS AN INSTANT HIT! AND WHEN I REACHED FOR IT, TO CHECK THE WINGS AND FEET AND SUCH, HE CAME AT MY HAND! THIS IS HIS NEW FRIEND AND I'M NOT TO DISTURB!
THE BEST INVESTMENT I'VE MADE FOR HIM IN I-CAN'T-SAY-HOW-LONG! I'M SO HAPPY! AND HE'S SO DELIGHTED!
So... with little play-breaks, I manged to have my dinner whilst my PRECIOUS LITTLE LOVE played with his new "buddy"... "birdie" (we'll have to come up with a name for this one now... since it's larger than the others, "Big-Burdie"? We'll think of something. But the only important matter is that he's happy!
(And as I'm typing here, he's up on the wall shelf over by the larger book-case, making with the soft "nest-coo's"... it's late and time for seepie-nigh-night. We had quite the day in the sun today and I'm sure he's as tired as I am.)
As another note of importance: our mould test kit arrived today too, and just in time. But I cleaned his other window this morning and "bleached" that wall after all the rains so there's no mould in there and it was open all day... AIR in the room! And the next time we get a rainy spell (or when we can anyway), we'll test the room and house and hope!
New filters for the air purifiers arrived today too so... we're on this this season. This house WILL be safe for this Little LOVE, my little Heart-and-Soul. No running it through the house furnace though. No problem. The box fans will be better for the new filters and the furnace will be ready when the season to heat the house comes round again. And at the rate "time" rushes by us, as un-kind and un-fair as it it, we'll be ready for it!
And tomorrow, I have an "annual in-house visit" from the "Medicare" people. The "Nurse" has been here before and Yonah doesn't mind the sound of another voice coming from the kitchen. We'll have a "new sound" in the house. We'll see how that goes for that hour.
So now, 20.39 and my Little LOVE is on his roof-top. It's 29° in his room! Windows open and the "air monitor" is registering a 0,040 on the TVOCs. That's really not "bad" at all, but with the new filters on the "air purifiers", I have to wonder. We'll be leaving the windows open through the night tonight and we have to get the window fan installed now too. HOW I SO WISH we were in a place where we didn't have to close the windows off with blinds and curtains through the night. Open windows, circulating air... More particulars on our list for a new place.)
Yonah's just headed over to the futon with Burdie and the "new Dove" but it's time to tuck-in for the night. I have my "ablutions" to get to and tomorrow, we have an early start to the day. I'm closing here and hoping we both have a peaceful, restful night ahead. More tomorrow...
OK... 20.56, he's on the night roost, the window fan is in and running and we'll let it run through the night. Seems we never actually get a night of "silence" here. But better to have the better air and I'll just hope that the droning of the fan isn't a disturbance for my Little Heart-and-Soul...

Thursday 05 June:
It's a mere 7.30, the house has been hoovered, floors mopped, I'm showered and dressed and doors and windows open. (We're expecting a visitor this morning.) POOR SWEET LITTLE LOVE, HERE! He's on the door perch beside me as I sit here, at the desk... "Schalger" playing on our "internet radio". It's been an absolute tornado of "busy" already this morning and I'm sure he's wondering what is going on here. But, at least the sun is rising in the sky, there's day-light, and he did wake me at 5.10 this morning... my PRECIOUS little "alarm clock". (It was one of those mornings though, where I didn't want to be up at that hour and after the initial "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo", and a couple of exchanges of "morning pleasantries" (woo-Hoo's, as they are) I ALMOST dozed back off but... at 5.15, another "call", and this one wasn't as "soft and quiet as the first. It's as though he KNEW... "You have things you need to attend to this morning, and there's no time for all this 'snoozing' here." SO... I was up. He was up. And WE were on the roll... immediately.
I HAVE TO ADD HERE, before getting into the rest of the morning: The very second I brought the new "Bird-friend" up to his roof-top there was the most boisterous WING-SNAP! HE REALLY DOES LIKE THAT NEW BIRD! Could I be happier? Doubtful.
OK. Let me get to the poops whilst we await: 8 of a normal size, no excess moisture, though they're a touch on the "dark" side. Not black, a bit "green" but not "un-healthy". And all, nicely under the night roost. And with the energy level of this morning... I'd have to say, we're in good health and mood!
AND... he's already out in the living-room now... giving all sorts of coo's! (I stopped by to get a kiss and got ONE little peck on the nose. I've been trained to let him know when I'm going to give a kiss. If I don't, he'll back away. But if I ask "Kiss?" I get one. So, there. We add to his "vocabulary", the words "kisses" and "kiss". And here I am, no-where NEAR understanding ANY of HIS vocabulary. "The superior species"... "humans"... the longer I live the more aware I become of our inferiority... in OH! SO MANY ways!)
As for last night's little "ride home"... JUST as I'd gotten the room together, and figured how to arrange the windows with the fan on (I barely remembered how we'd done it last night, and with 28° in the room, we needed that fan running last night - though, at about 23.30 it got a bit "cooler" in the room, woke me up, and I turned the fan off... I have the "luxury" of having covers. I'm sure the coolness wasn't uncomfortable for my Little LOVE, but, again, as always, I can't see the sense in him "having to" fluff his little feathers for warmth when it isn't necessary so.... better to "err on the side of warmth". Anyway, the room was settled and he'd been on his night roost until the very last moment when he bolted to the desk shelf with a rowdy little "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo!" SO... I brought the little roof-top platform over to him, as I would were he on the wall shelf, and placed it where he could simply step onto it. And so he did... and we "flew" home. When we got to the night roost, he didn't seem too anxious to hop off at first but then... a little step and there we were... The room was settled. The futon at the ready, lullabies began. Since it was already so late, I "upped the tempo" slightly, at first, but once I got onto the futon, I could see the Little Guy settling too. A little "arranging" of feathers for the night and... I softened the singing and he settled-in for the night. And at 21.28... the last light was turned off. Our day was closed... at last.
And here we are, 8.00 and he's in from the living-room, "dive-bombing" over my head, and coo'ing at the new "Bird-friend" on his roof-top. (I'm looking forward to the coming hour... with our "visitor" and to how he's going to react. Honestly, it's always a "concern" for me. I don't ever know how he's going to react to a "new voice" and presence in HIS house, and I'm never sure about how others will respond... especially if he decides to "take a flight" whilst they're here. But... "time" will tell.)
19.36... "Time" has passed and so too, another day... and I've a feeling there are 2 of us here who are exhausted. If not because of the non-stop day we've been through, then the heat and humidity. Though I've cause to believe the Little Guy is likely enjoying it a bit more than I. He's on his roof-top at the moment, the window fan is still running, as it's done all day. One window is open to keep the air moving in the house. The doors were open all day too (but we had to close the back door this evening when our dear neighbours cranked their clothes dryer with the "5 dryer sheets" which is how strong it is when the fumes rush back into the house and I will NOT have MY little Heart-and-Soul inhaling all of those "chemicals" so... purifiers on, and the window fan blows the air from out-side through the room and out through the house).
MEAN-while...
Our "Nurse" arrived this morning shortly after 8.00 and it was, as it usually is, a most wonderful visit with so much information, support, advice and direction. And as we spoke, I was SO touched when we discussed this Little Guy. He (the Nurse) actually listened SO attentively, and I could see he actually took and interest by his comments through our chatting. He understands my "care" and "concern" for and about Yonah, and when I explained to him that, before Yonah, I honestly had NO interest in addressing ANY of my "health" matters he was obviously touched. Before we changed the topic he expressed "one concern"...
"What happens to you when he's no longer here?"
When I told him that I stop the health care and "let Nature take its course" (partially true), he didn't make any "judgmental" comments, he simply looked me in the eye and... me moved to the next topic of matters.
AND, before he left, he made a point of stopping into Yonah's room to see him! He assured me that I'm REALLY giving EXCELLENT care and was rather impressed with the "set-up".
He was here for almost 2 hours (bless him) and all the while, little Herr Taube was all snuggled in his loft, No visits but at one point there were some little "coo's" as he heard us talking in the kitchen.
When the house returned to "normal", I went in to check on my LOVE and as I spoke to him, he got up, hopped over to his food perch and WE EXCHANGED SO MANY KISSES! His house and home were back to where they ought to be. And after all the rushing about this morning, me, hoovering at 6.30, mopping floors, &c., it must have been quite the relief.
Ah but then, I got distracted again... our "electric meter" was changed to a new "smart meter" and I stepped out to watch the installation and ask necessary questions... MORE time away and this time out of the house! (BUT... in fairness, I'd thought of running an errand today but after all we'd been through... decided to stay in, attend to other matters right in the room at the desk... keep the "normalcy" as much as possible.)
Before long, it was "lunch break" time and I was "reminded" (to be sure), so yes, we broke for lunch at noon and then... it was "snooze time" too! And again, I was "reminded" because when I came back in the room having put the dishes into the basin in the kitchen... there he was... MY LOVE, MY HEART, MY SOUL... waiting for me on the futon! SO... I set an alarm for 30 minutes and took Burdie-Bird and the new "Bird-friend", put them on my chest and my LOVE came rushing over to give them both a hearty "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"... BUT, the new bird got a "special woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo"! It was as though the "new guy" was being told "This is snooze time." And so, I tried to get a snooze when the Little Guy took his place on my leg but, with the new bird, there were other things to "do". I got "shut-eye" but no snooze. I was too busy playing with the "Birdies" as I laid there. But... no problem... We were all together.
No out-side today. They sky was over-cast all day. Clouds, this time, mostly. Likely some smoke in there but most of it was clouds so, no sun-shine, and there was a "threat" of showers at some point in time. (We never did get any of those, and one of the things I was thinking of doing was planting more seedlings in our gardenette ahead of the rains but... something for tomorrow's plans... if we can get out. And if it rains, maybe we'll set-up on the back gallery and I'll "play in the rain" and the Little Guy will get out of the house. We will see.
Dinner, of course, at 17.00, together and then... I wrapped-up the house-hold budget and the Little LOVE flew around the room, coming to the desk shelf to stare down at me, waiting for scratches on the neck and LUVIN'S!
Now... at 20.05, he's perched on the edge of his "night boards" over by the book-case! A NEW PLACE! HOW he finds these places and why, I'll never understand. But for a moment there, I was getting "nest-coo's" so... looks like it's time to wrap the day!
The window fan's on, we'll leave the window open for the night. The water has been changed and the rest of the house is settled. I have ablutions and change to sleep-wear and... we're getting to tucking-in! Hopefully, a restful night ahead for both of us.
For now, I'm relieved after today's "health check". "You're really doing very well." No little extra "tests" this trip, but the talking was thorough and we'll see what sort of "notes" might follow. But it was encouraging... as I told the Nurse: I HAVE TO BE HERE FOR THIS LITTLE GUY FOR AS LONG AS HE'S HERE! (It's nice to know SOMEBODY understands.)
He's on the desk shelf... time to toddle... for me.

Friday 06 June:
Another day, another morning and it's 7.58 already. And last night's tuck-in? Well... I got the house settled, went in to get the room and both of us settled and WOOSH! As soon as he saw me in the room, he headed right for his roof-top! And as soon as I started evening lullabies, he hopped onto the platform to wait for the ride home! It didn't take but moments and he was on the night roost and ready for seepie-nigh-night! And I sung lullabies a little "up-tempo" to get through them, considering the late hour.
Last light... off at 21.00!
This morning? 5.18 with the "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"... "morning call to order". But it was so comfy in the room and I was so snoozey, I laid there, a little curious as to how long he'd allow me to "snooze-in" and, at 5.30, on the mark, came the "follow-up" with another, slightly louder "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" and a "woo-HOO!" I have to wonder what he thinks when he looks and sees me on the futon, just "lounging" in the morning. (Sometimes I think of the old "If I should die before I wake" and THAT terrifies me! So I don't think of it often and when it does cross my mind... I do all I can to dispel it. One thing to be ill and... but in sleep? I can't dwell on it... even here.)
Sweet heart... I got right into the morning roll of windows and water (with a bit of laundry) and didn't get to settle at the desk for morning routine there until just now! And when I came back into the room to finally straighten that out for the day, he was on his loft but came right to the door perch. I'm "neglectful" this morning, NOT intentionally, but the more I accomplish first thing, the more time we have for the rest of the day and if the day goes well, we get to play or even get out to the yard! (I live in "Hope".)
Meanwhile... When I finally got up from the futon this morning, there was MUCH to be said and not many kisses. I wasn't really deserving of kisses this morning, honestly, after making him wait that 15 minutes. I was so grateful that he came to see me at the door perch when I got back into the room. AND... at 8.05 as I sit jotting here... a visit to the shoulder, no tugs or pecks but MAYBE I'm forgiven (though I'll never forge my-self).
Poops this morning: so promising! 8 in total, under the night roost, on the "normal" size and composition. And "brown", not "green"! A relief! Apparently a calm night, last night, and a good tummy and digestive tract. May it continue...
By 8.10, I'm into the morning, getting ready to run a QUICK few errands this morning to get them out of the way, and my Little LOVE is on his roof-top, coo'ing along. It's another day... and thus far... all's well... with OUR world. As for the rest of the "other world"? We don't care... THIS FLOCK is doing well and fine.
One note: my left shoulder (rotator cuff they say) is still quite painful and I can't help but think that this is the same side that my Heart-and-Soul suffered through. We're in the same situation.... Were my prayers and pleadings answered, 5 years ago? If so, I couldn't be more pleased. If I take his pain, that's perfect with me, as long as HE doesn't suffer with it.
Well? It's gotten to 19.52 (the time, not the year...) and another day, with the BLESSING AND HONOUR of the presence of my DIVINE LITTLE LOVE, my TRUE HEAR-AND-SOUL, we've made it through the rains, the clouds, the humidity and the drear... TOGETHER.
It was a "keep busy" sort of morning, this one. And I had to made quite the "errands run" before 10.00! Almost an hour away, which was, I need not mention, was living "Hell" for me not only because of the "separation" ("scheiden tut so weh"... one of our nightly lullabies) but also because of the "darkness" of the clouds and the general drizzle. And when I got back, it was obvious that my absence was noticed this morning because when I came in via the back door (which is unusual for me because I usually try to slip out of and come back in via the front door), my Little LOVE was in his house, in his loft and when he saw me come into the house (he has direct sight-line to the back door), he came rushing to his door perch with a wing-snap! OH... the KISSES! But, the day was still "young" and it was good to have the errands done and looking forward to spending the rest of this day together.
I got the groceries put up, settled the house and got back into his room to attend to our "house-hold book-keeping" as I do, and had "close supervision" this morning... my Supervisor watching my every move from my shoulder, with little "encouragement", pecks on the cheek, tugs on the ear. And he stayed there until I had to make a phone call and, of course, that meant the receiver in the ear on the shoulder where he was BUT, he took to his house to "listen" to the call (to the utilities company... if you can imagine). Then too, he paid careful attention to every word I spoke; I was talking, there was nobody (no-birdie) else in the room, of course I was talking to him! It was PRECIOUS!
When the clock started approaching the noon hour... "LUNCH TIME", he came back to my shoulder with a tug on the ear and a hearty "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo". Honestly! I'll never know HOW he manages to keep track of the time but he does! The 2 minutes before the "snooze alarm", lunch, dinner... So much for the experts who claim mourning doves aren't very "intelligent". I find myself wondering if there's anybody else, "out there" in the world, who is going through or who has gone through actual time with these little WONDERS. OH! The things we could tell the world! (Now, if only I could understand why the mourning doves in the yard can't figure out that when I step out the door to "serve meals" they don't have to FLY AWAY. But... I can't figure out why Yonah can't tell them... or... maybe he has, maybe he does tell them that he's safe and that he knows that I LOVE him with my ALL. I won't ever know... not in "this life" anyway. Maybe one day... at some time...)
So we took lunch and after, I took a 30-minute snooze... alone. My little Companion took to the living-room where the front door was open and with the back door open too, and the fan running in his room, surely there was a bit of "movement" in the air. There wasn't much more light out there today, than in his room. The "gloom" all through the house today (and no UV light... but I didn't think we needed it, considering our time in the sun this week). BUT... the very moment the alarm sounded... IN HE FLEW, and onto my legs! And Burdie-Bird and the "new bird-friend" were on my chest so we took another 20 minutes on the futon to play.
It's interesting to see: he likes the "bird-friend" BUT... his "heart" is obviously with Burdie! He'll "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" to the "bird-friend" and peck a bit, but NOTHING like the "affection" he shows for Burdie! Burdie has no particular "face", no eyes, just solid "brown" colour, because he's a pillow case. The new bird has lovely eyes, and wings that can be moved, and feet but... Burdie's the bestest. But we did get play time together too... until Yonah decided it was time for me to get up and on with the day... and he took off to the desk shelf... a "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" and... Out-side, the rains continued but I took advantage of it and planted all of the seedlings, "Cardinal Climber", sun-flowers, zinnias, in our yard and gardenette. I'd considered bringing Yonah out to the back gallery and setting him up under the roof, but it was just so miserable out there, the rains pouring down, and he appeared to be so comfortable, and I didn't plan on being out there for very long any way so I got things together and headed out the door. Took me about 20 minutes and all was done and I was back in the room...
At 16.00... I was called as a reminder to put dinner on the hob AND MY LITTLE LOVE, MY COMPANION, CAME OVER TO MY SHOULDER AND ACTUALLY STAYED WITH ME, IN THE KITCHEN, AS I PUT FOOD ON THE HOB AND SET DISHES FOR MY DINNER! STAYED ALMOST ALL THROUGH THE ENTIRE TASK! I WAS AMAZED. AND HE TODDLED FROM SHOULDER-TO-SHOULDER TO GET THE BEST VIEW OF THE ACTIVITIES GOING ON! HE DIDN'T LEAVE ME UNTIL I MADE A TURN TO HEAD BACK INTO HIS ROOM AND AS IF HE KNEW THAT'S WHERE I WAS GOING, HE HEADED THERE AHEAD OF ME!
HE DID THE SAME THING WHEN I SET UP FOR THIS EVENING'S WATER RUN TOO! WATCHED ME RINSE THE CONTAINERS, AND MANAGED TO STAY ON MY SHOULDER FOR 4 OF THE 7 "RUNS" I MAKE! WHAT AN EXPERIENCE!
He did make several "stays" in the living-room during the day and when he did, I made sure to go out to give him some kisses and make "play" with him. He DOES like the roof of his old house there, on the window bench. (I'm trying to figure a way to move some of the "book-works" in his room out there so that I can get the house-hold tasks together out there... with him. It would be nice for both of us, especially in the after-noon when the Summer sun shines out there more. It's one of the top considerations for our "new home"... SUN-SHINE in the place and a place where we can be together to enjoy it.)
SO... now... we're running so very late again. It's gotten to be 20.35 and the PRECIOUS LITTLE LOVE is on his lap-top beside me at the desk. The rest of the house is settled. Waters have been run. It's time to close the curtains (and of course, as soon as I start that... no doubt, we'll be heading to tuck-in). Not that it makes any major difference to "waking hour", but it's always nice on a Friday night, because there's no "business" on Saturday. (The worst is hoping that we can get a peaceful, restful night's sleep... even here, in a little hamlet that has nothing but "us", there's traffic, and though they're generally wonderful neighbours, there HAVE been the "events" where "something" hits the common wall and, well, at night, in the dark, it doesn't go well for Yonah.) AND... indeed, as I typed this, he's up, on the futon, "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" to Burdie and Bird-friend... Yes... time to settle-down, settle-in for the night!
21.07 Crazy Little Character.... he was on the book-case whilst I "abluted" and all the while I was out of the room "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"!!! But now he's on the night roost and the house is settled so it's time to set the futon and... try for seepie-nigh-night.
Ah-HAH! As I closed the windows my little Supervisor watched from his food perch and had snack! NEVER telling WHAT will happen before tucking-in... but now... closing here and off we go... maybe.

Saturday 07 June:
12.35 already... and what a morning it's been. It started with heavy fog and then came a bit of drizzle. The skies have turned hazy with smoke (and, of course, I worry, horrifically, about my Little LOVE), the temperature is rising from this morning's damp-cool to 25° in the room. I've been watching the "air monitor" all day too. It's been in the "yellow" for the most part. Smaller "particulates". The purifiers are running, but the doors and windows are open to "circulation". I just can't figure out which is better: to close the house and deal with what-ever might be in the air in this old house or to keep the air moving. But, I've just had a visit to the shoulder, so the Little Guy has ENERGY! (AND... he's off to the living-room with a "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo!". He was in his loft for much of the morning. But he tends to be there for much of a day anyway. It's comforting to see him flying about now.)
And we're just finishing mid-day meal break after a morning of not much to mention. I'm just getting to today's Journal... a "Saturday" of almost mindless affairs of the house-hold today. And quite. We listened to a lot of "American Standard" instrumentals this morning... calm.
That said... to wrap last night... I was a bit surprised when, even as I closed the windows, the Little LOVE stayed on his night roost. OK. It was really late and I'm rather sure he was tired. But when he goes to the night roost and stays there, I feel SO guilty! I know I've kept him up entirely too late.
Well, the room got settled, and we got settled-in and lullabies were sung... a little shorter than our regular tunes but all were sung and as they were sung, we BOTH started to doze off for the night. (I yawned... it was so relaxing to see the Little LOVE settling in so comfortably... the little silhouette there, on the perch, over-head.)
Late, to be sure, the last light was turned off at 21.35... and "Ich Liebe Dich" and "What'll I Do" was sung... day done. Week closed.
Now, this morning, I woke at 5.01 and no sooner had I opened my eyes, still laying on the futon, contemplating the day ahead... in the early morning dim light of the room came...
"woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"....
I've been sleeping at the "regular end" of the futon again (my head at the end where his house is) so he could see that I'd opened my eyes. Apparently, he'd been awake already and was waiting for me. It does fascinate me that he does that: waits for me to open my eyes in the morning. But, obviously it was time for both of us to get up and face Saturday... TOGETHER! (If there were no "together", I'd not even bother getting up, to be honest.) When I didn't respond right away, another "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" followed almost immediately so I got me up from my rest and headed directly over to his house and as I opened the door, ANOTHER "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"! MUCH to be said (and I can only imagine WHAT it was that was being said). But, the bottom line: we were awake together and it was time to take on the day!
Leaning is as I do of a morning, to try for "Good morning" kisses... I got a couple of pecks on the nose AND ANOTHER "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"! AND a wing-stretch! Yep, time to ROLL!
So, door open, door perch installed, I removed the roof board to let in some more of the dim light of the room, headed out, quickly, to put the kettle on and when I got back, we opened the curtains and blinds to the world out-side the windows... Heavy fog all round! No rain, but the fog was quite impressive, to say the least, and it diffused the morning light that was trying, desperately, to illuminate everything. Oh... "dreary days". And as we went about the rest of the morning routine, a drizzle began. I was hopeful that it would clear the air and give us an opportunity to get out today, but...
As I ran this morning's water, Supervision came from the food perch until it was completed and then... UP AND OUT AND TO THE FUTON WITH MORE COO'S! OH MY BUT WHAT A VOCIFEROUS MORNING THIS WAS! To be quite honest, as much as it was a day made for lounging, all the coo'ing just filled me with ambition to keep going, get on with the day, no matter what it held.
Poops report? 8 little poops, in total, well, only ever-so slightly larger than some of the "normal" I compare to. All of them under the night roost, so last night was "calm". The colour is toward the "dark-brown". But there was enough moisture in all of them to leave "halos"... "greenish". I DID notice a couple of truly "wet" poops here and there during the later part of yesterday, so I'll think that, after last night's water change, the Little Guy had a healthy drink and "halos" were to be expected. Thankfully, today's poops after that have been very good. How I DO wish I could "know" with certainty, how his little tummy and digestive tract are. I wonder if he has a "tummy ache" or something of the sort. Because birds don't "whine", it's impossible to know, for sure. But, as I say, he's been up and flying about and come to visit with me. (I use "moulting" as a point of comparison: THAT "lethargy" is heart-breaking; he'll nestle in the loft and obviously doesn't want to be bothered. Today, thankfully, isn't one of those times.)
I just headed out to the living-room and he's on his old house again... BUT PLAYFUL! Wing-snaps. Attacking my hand. And coo'ing! SO MUCH COO'ING today! No matter the rest of the world, THIS little PRECIOUS, CHERISHED LITTLE ONE is my inspiration and my source of all energy and will. There was an impressive flock of mourning doves in the back in the gardenette and having a snack at the food on the tray on the back gallery earlier. If not for the poor air quality out there today, I'd consider trying for time out-side. The Yardies don't seem to mind the haze, but I don't want to take any chances. The air in the house is only slightly better, I'm sure, but still, we have something to get some of what's floating about and the less my Little LOVE inhales, the better.
Oh... and humidity? Well, it isn't "uncomfortable" but on the little hygrometer, on the desk shelf, it's reading at 64% but on the higher-end monitor, on the wall shelves, opposite wall, it's reading 54%. My main concern in this house is mould, which is why I monitor the humidity. General resources claim that 50% is the low-end level for mould to grow. More recently, I've seen 60%. There really isn't much we can do about humidity control here. I don't want to run a dehumidifier in the house because of the need to close doors and windows AND the 50% level is claimed to be "comfortable" for mourning doves. So I watch and we are prepared to "attack" any mould that might appear... and we're also prepared to get to the places we've come to know to be where our mould problems start. Today, I'm just waiting for things to dry a bit, after all the rains we've had, and we'll "have at it". (The wall in Yonah's room has already been "flushed" with bleach when we had a nice day and he was out-side. When we can get out again, we'll give it another.)
Parasites of the "tick" and "flea" sort aren't really such a concern in the house. The smoke from the alleged "wild" fires of Canada can't be controlled, unfortunately. But mould? To a great extent, there's MUCH we CAN do to keep that "at bay" and no matter what, I'm prepared and willing and able to do quite a bit in that respect.
I DO DO WORRY about illness like "aspergillosis". It's horrid, ugly, so difficult to treat. It potentially leads to a slow and painful death. I'll NOT, NEVER tolerate that! It would be bad enough for ME, BUT... NOT for my little Heart-and-Soul! We know what to do, what we CAN do and it will be done! (We're heading for 5 years together... we've come this far and neither of us is "forever" but... NO MORE SUFFERING for this Little LIFE here... "Fate" tried to take him out... We're here! We WILL be here...
(And he's just back from the living-room and having a snack. APPETITE! THAT'S a MAJOR comfort to me. Always remembering the advice of a veterinarian: As long as he's eating, he'll be OK.)
As I think of it, a note of "reference":
I've been adding his poops to a bag of store-bought, low-end "potting soil" since I've read that it's safe and can be quite beneficial (as a form of compost) for some time and I've come to notice that there are viable seeds in the poop! Little sprouts in the bag (also good in "compost"). Makes me wonder how much of what he eats simply passes through. I wonder which seeds he doesn't digest. It doesn't "worry" me that he's not digesting all the seeds he eats. And I've come to see that he's not fond of "Niger"... but then, I've also come to see that the Niger seeds in the mixes served to the Yardies here aren't THEIR favourite either; I'd gotten a mix that had a LOT of that in it and there was so much left on the back walk... even through Winter, when they're more obvious.
Then too, the weigh-ins we've had all come with-in the healthy, "average" weight of a Little Guy (mourning dove). He's truly gained from the very first (at that veterinarian's office). And he's NOT "over-weight", which is comforting. No "excess fat" in this Little One! And no "weight loss" so, what-ever he IS digesting, it's doing good. The only thing I constantly look for is indications of "liver" trouble (green poops, dark green water, and any colour other than "normal greens" and general browns, and especially "black").
All said and considered, the variety of seeds, the few pellets, all must be good, healthy, healthful. And it rather answers one of my little "mysteries": HOW, when he (and other doves) scatter through all the seeds, does he manage to pick what he wants and leave the rest? Seems he doesn't. Seems he eats what he gets, digests what he can and the rest just... well, rather like "people"... passes through.
Meanwhile, the potting soil in the house is FULL of nutrients at this juncture and we'll be using that, and as the plants grow, they'll be carrying on the little Legacy that is "Yonah Taube".
14.52 And WE are up from an HOUR snooze... TOGETHER! YES! This morning, I'd grabbed a 30-minute "shut-eye", since we weren't going out in the smoke haze and damp, and I managed to get some of the little "tasks" I wanted to attend completed, so, after a lunch together at noon, and the Little Guy was snoozing on his lap-top on the desk, I decided to follow his lead and headed for the futon... and set a 30-minute alarm. As soon as I said "I'm going to take a shut-eye here on the futon" and headed over, I laid down and he came right over to my legs and toddled until he found a comfy spot! SO... there we were. And I did manage to doze off until the alarm sounded.
Alarm turned off, my PRECIOUS LITTLE LOVE still on my leg, he toddled up to the Birdies on my chest, gave them a little "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" and then... toddled back down to my leg and re-settled there! So? So, as I do, I laid there, waiting until HE was ready to get up... almost 30 minutes later. (Truth? That extra 30 minutes actually made a world of difference for me. My shoulders had been SO painful this morning... the "rotator cuff" and such, but that rest period relieved the pain! I've NO doubt my CHERISHED LITTLE HEART-AND-SOUL MUST know what's going on with me and is now my "Doctor": rest... best medicine, after all... with all he's come through... he's the best... the real "expert".)
We got up when HE got up and I'm back to the Journal. For a few moments, he was on his lap-top beside me... he's out in the living-room now... COO'ING AWAY! And there's no more drizzle out-side, it's a bit lighter than it's been all day, but OH! The skies are thick with haze! "Air quality" in the room is still in the "good-green" though there are some indicators in the yellow. The humidity is down to 56% which is comforting, generally. And the window fan is still running, doors are open... and if my Little LOVE is coo'ing out in the living-room, he's where what-ever sun-light we're going to get here.
Well, well, well... 19.43 already and the Little LOVE is just back in the room from a couple of hours in the living-room. And his waters are clean, "poopie rug" is in place, the rest of the house is settled for the night ahead. Just my "ablutions" and change into sleep-wear (after we close the windows and set the futon, of course). And he's coo'ing the "evening call", as he does every evening as the sun starts setting. And out-side, the Yardies have come for a MAJOR gathering for dinner this evening! It was really quite amazing today. Seven mourning doves, Mrs. Cardinale joined them this evening, and I believe a little Grosbeak was there too! And ALL of them at the feeder in the gardenette! What a crowd!
We had our dinners together (and that's when he took off to the living-room) so, after a snooze together and dining together... what a wonderful day! Now? In a little while, we'll be heading for tuck-in and... we'll see how that goes. (I just happened to look up to see him having a nice drink of fresh water so will be watching the poops. They've been perfectly healthy all day today. Oh, I have to remember the advice of so many people on the forums on-line: don't worry so much over "first morning poops". Not, mind, that I'll ever stop "worrying"... or, at the very least, keeping note of the "over-night" poops.)
20.22 and he's been on his lap-top beside me for the past half hour and just looked up and gave me a "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" and is preening... I've been typing along here and it's time to wrap the day...
20.49 windows closed and the Little Heart-and-Soul is on his night roost. Nothing left to do but get the futon together... More tomorrow?

Sunday 08 June: 7.50 and we've both been up and such from since about 5.05. We actually woke at 4.48 but I so needed another 10 minutes this morning, to lay on the futon. I'm "getting old" (and don't I know it). But what had happened was that I'd gotten up and stepped out of the room and no sooner had I done when I heard the morning "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" filling the house. Soft, but audible. And when I got back into the room, it was so cosy, morning light only just making its way in through the curtains... Well, I requested another 10 minutes and received a "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"... so softly, I couldn't resist a little "lie-down".
10 minutes later -I swear this Little Guy knows "human time" - came the next "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo", but a bit louder this time. So? So, yes, I'd asked for "10 minutes", I was granted "10 minutes" and so... time to get up and on with the morning! Up I got, opened the door to his house, quickly stepped out to put the kettle on and when I got back, there he was, my PRECIOUS LITTLE LOVE, on his night roost, at the ready to head into the day ahead already! And when I leaned in for "Good morning" kisses... I was granted 3 little pecks on the nose and a hearty "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"! And he waited, so patiently, as I opened the curtains and blinds to, well, a "hazy" June morning. ("Smoke" this morning, again. No fog. And none in the forecast. But the smoke in the air was "visible". Three Summers of miserable air. Imagine? Humans are so quick to claim all sorts of "superiority", and then too, when they, humans, engage in all sorts of violence, as is the world situation these days, seen in the news and other media, they refer to the "criminals" as "animals". Yet, all along, these "wild-fires" are/have been proven to be started by humans, for the most insane excuse: to push an agenda where-by "people" are convinced that the planet is warming, there are droughts, the forests are dry and igniting so humans must "control" it. The fires are evidence. All the while, these massive fires are recent developments. But the worst of it? There's no consideration given to or for the actual "animals" who have been living in these forests, going on about "Nature's" business, destroying nothing, disturbing nothing. The fires burn habitat. The smokes fill the air. In fact, only yesterday, I'd checked a "map" of where the smokes are and they're across the Northern hemisphere, from "Canada" across the Atlantic and into Northern Europe! And this morning's weather forecast came with a "red banner warning" of poor air quality. But... "animals". And all the while, I'm here, looking at this Little Life here, in his little feathers, in NO way responsible for any of the destruction of this planet, and I DO worry, so much, about what this is doing to HIS respiratory system. He's survived being attacked, only to have to combat this. And as the sun rose, light diffused through a haze of smoke... what a way to start a new day... a "Sunday"... a "day of rest".)
So much for my diatribe. And as I sat at the desk, my LOVE came to his door perch, down from his loft, gave me a little "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" and... headed out to the living-room where he is, coo'ing along. It's encouraging though, to see that he has the energy and strength to take a little morning flight. Honestly, no matter the day, no matter how I might feel, THIS LITTLE LIFE here, is my inspiration!
Poops, this morning? 8 total, a little on the "dark" side, but nothing "shocking".They were still "moist" from the night but only the slightest halos of a VERY pale green. AND ALL under the night roost so another calm and restful night last night!
Well, "wrap-up time"... It's been almost a no-snooze day. (I took one this morning because of this "rotator cuff" discomfort AND, I HAD COMPANY! My Nurse was "at leg"! I HAVE to wonder if he doesn't know. I've no doubt that he does. And what strikes me all the more is that my discomfort is in my left arm... and his attack was on his left wing. I can only HOPE AND PRAY that HE's NOT experiencing ANY discomfort these days!)
It's already 19.50, the house is settled, dinners are done, washing-up and I even snuck in a shower! The "night instrumental music" is playing and my LOVE, my LIFE is having his evening snack! The room is at 24° and the air monitor is still at "good" over-all but "yellow" on the "particulates". And the sky? A combination of a touch of clouds with, yes, smoke. BUT...
This morning, as I was getting me together and the house ready for the day, I stopped out in the living-room to steal a little kiss and, as soon as I got over to his tree, my Little Guy hopped right off and onto my shoulder and stayed there, with me, for the longest several moments! We talked about what we'd do with the day, the weather, he looked at me intently as I spoke, and he snuck a little peck on my nose in too! These are the moments when my "existence" is "Life", and my "Life" has meaning. It's an indescribable feeling of comfort and consolation to see that I've done well by this PRECIOUS LITTLE LIFE! He enjoys being with me as much as I delight in his Companionship! He comes, when he wants, with-out encouragement, so there's Trust and Love here. He lets me know that I'm doing well by him and that's ALL I need and want... nothing more nor less.
When he'd had enough time out there, together, he took off and flew right back to his room, to his futon, a quick stop with Burdie and the "new Bird-friend" and then up to his house to re-settle on his loft. So comfortable!
As I say, my shoulder was bothering me this morning so I decided to try "his" heating pad on it for a while, so I set the futon ready for a "lie-down" with it and the very moment he saw what I was doing, he headed right over! I set an alarm for 30 minutes thinking I'd just get a little shut-eye for that while and got so comfy I actually dozed. But as I was drifting off, I could feel the Little Guy toddling on my legs, looking for a comfortable place... and... next thing I knew... the alarm was sounding AND there he was, on my leg. So, of course I didn't rush to get up... I waited and about 15 minutes later, I could feel him stirring, getting up and.. off he went, to the desk shelf where he turned to watch me get up.
I still have in mind the "coincidence" of my pains being on my left arm, and when I look at Yonah's left wing, as it "droops" just slightly lower than his right wing, I remember the horrors he suffered when he was attacked, and I remember, so clearly, the nights of PRAYING that, if there's ANY way in Creation that I could take his pains and sufferings, that I would do so, with NO reservation. Well? If what I have now is the answer to that prayer, I'm at peace... as long as this Little Guy has NONE!
And so, that was much of our "Sunday morning"... by the time all of that was settled and I was back up and about, I got a few tiny tasks done round the room and... it was time for LUNCH! (And I was reminded by a "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" at about 11.45.) So we had our lunches together and since it appeared that we weren't going to get any rain, in spite of the miserable haze of smoke in the air, I thought we'd give a try for the yard. The air out-side wasn't any much better or worse than the air in the house (since the windows and doors were open for circulation) so.... I quickly got his "old house" from the living-room as he nestled in his loft by his window and...
By 13.30 we were OUT THE DOOR and IN THE YARD!
I managed to "clip" our little yard with-in the fencing, did a little work on the gardenette. Many of the sun-flower seeds are sprouting. Sadly, most of what should be "red" flowers have been destroyed again, in spite of my efforts to keep the rodents away from them. But if the seedlings that HAVE successfully sprouted manage to grow, there will be an abundance of sun-flowers for the bees and seeds for the Yardies!
Speaking of Yardies, there were none again today. I didn't play any music, intentionally, hoping some-birdie would stop by. But I'll suppose the smoke in the air is keeping them in calmer, safer places. So sad. It wasn't too hot out there today, nor "too" hazy" but it wasn't exactly "happy". There's a little chance of rain in the forecast and I'm hoping it's enough to clear the air for a while and we'll get more time out... with COMPANY!
Thankfully though, today, my Little LOVE wasn't as fidgety as he's been on previous days out and he really DID appear to enjoy being in "real sun light" today. We keep half of his little house covered in a thick towel so he has shade, out of the sun, and today, he spent more time in the light, and rested too!
We came back in when he really appeared to be anxious to get back "home"... at 15.00! (I've read that 45 minutes, at least, is good time in sun-light for birds... We did that! And since he has shade too, I don't worry about "sun-burn" - which, I'm to understand, birds CAN get.)
No sooner had I gotten his little house on the kitchen table (as we do when we come back in) and opened the little door... he was UP AND OUT AND INTO HIS "REAL" HOUSE in his room! Oh, but he WAS, indeed, ready to come back in. (Hey! Maybe I'm learning - at long last - for the "message".) And so, at 16.30, we BOTH had our dinners, together and when he'd done with his, he came over to the desk and nestled on his lap-top beside me for the evening. We'd had quite the after-noon together and it's comforting to see how relaxed he is after a time in the sun-shine. It DOES make such a difference. On the day, he's usually calmer in the evening. It's the day after when there's such a burst of energy and his "mood" is "charged" and he tends to be more affectionate. (We'll see how we sleep tonight and what tomorrow morning brings.)
I'd done with all that had to be done by 18.30 and so, I decided to grab a quick shower after sitting on the grass this after-noon... and managed to get away with it whilst the Little Guy rested on his lap-top. And then, we got right to changing the water in his pool and setting the rest of the house for the night. And now... it's 20.21 already, his lap-top is in the kitchen, the music is playing, he's been on the desk beside me all this while and just got up, went over to the little mirror here, on the desk and gave the reflection a little "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"... Time for seepie-nigh-night tuck-in. We still have to close the windows so there's time for "games"... and I still have my last-ablutions... Off we go, hopefully to a restful night.
20.43 He's on this roof... fluttering and nest-coo'ing.
No sooner had I started closing the windows, he came rushing from the desk to his food... last minute snack. And then, got "into position" for that little "nest-coo-flutter". When I stepped out to settle the rest of the house, he took to his roof so... we're off to a ride home and closing the night. (Let's see how it goes as I make the futon up for me and start lullabies...)

Monday 09 June (7.13) Smooth ride home last night. Windows closed for the night, house settled, I started lullabies and as I did, the Little Guy simply strolled over to the platform to wait for the "departure" and "flight" to the night roost! And just SO casually, upon arrival, hopped, immediately onto the perch and settled right in! A couple of "avoided kisses" and... soft and slow, the lullabies continued on until 21.15 when the last light was turned off...
And this morning, at 5.13 came the "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" morning "call to order". I was just coming out of last night's sleep too. "Timing". It's amazing. More-so was that, I put the kettle on, opened the windows to yet another over-cast morning, the sound of "drops" on the cellar shed roof, a slight drizzle, and no sooner had I gotten started with the morning water run when... WOOSH... UP AND OUT AND TO THE LIVING-ROOM! Oh, I was blessed with a few quick kisses, but that he headed right for the living-room was, well, impressive! That usually doesn't happen for a while after wake-up! But this morning... This was another one of those "inspirational" mornings when, if given the choice, I'd've chosen to stay right on the futon and let the morning pass. (Rain in the forecast for the day ahead and tomorrow too, and then, looking at the "news", as I've done already... yeah, "let the world go as it will" but...) BUT THERE HE WAS, FLYING ABOUT AND EVEN NOW, HE'S COO'ING FROM HIS ROOF-TOP!
I have to run to market this morning and... well... to be quite honest, it's groceries today, food, for me, and, were it not for Yonah, I surely wouldn't bother. But I MUST keep me together and healthy to be able to keep HIM together and healthy so... "Inspiration" and "encouragement"... If not for Yonah....
Oh, and 11 GREAT poops this morning and under the night roost. No excessive moisture, the colour not quite as dark as they've been recently. And seeing that they're all under the night roost, it's assuring that the night was calm. One of my most major concerns.
(16.10) WHAT another dreary day! But it's been another non-stop day of "doing" around the house and all the while, my Little LOVE has been "keeping busy" too, mostly by flying about the house in between snoozes on his loft. But with the chilly temperatures (the room was a "damp" 22° most of the time but we've put the house furnace on for a while to take the chill and the dampness out this evening... I noticed a little "fluffing" of feathers when he was on a visit to the living-room earlier) and the general "darkness" because of the cloud cover in the sky, the UV light went on and now, he's finally come over to the desk, to his lap-top where there's a bit of warmth.
We didn't even get a snooze in after lunch today! A "routine" has been disturbed and it's not "good". But he's beside me, on his lap-top, "dinner" will be a little late so there's another "disturbance" in our routine. Oh my!
Was so hoping we might get some time out in the yard today, even for a few moments, but... at least I did make the day's errand this morning and was gone and back and it seems I wasn't even missed! He was in his loft when I got back and unlike other times, he didn't come rushing to the door perch when I stepped back in the door. So... that was a relief to me!
20.05 and our day comes to a close. The Little Wanderer was out in the living-room for a couple of hours again, this evening, after dinner. Even in the dark, he was on his tree, and every once in a while, a little "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" filled the house. (This, after MUCH "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" during dinner this evening.) But he's back, beside me, on his lap-top, snuggling-down. It's time to get to the windows and close house for the night, indeed.
Meanwhile, more rain in the forecast for over-night and through tomorrow. But the room and house are warm. Leaving the furnace on over-night to combat the humidity (I'm so terribly afraid of mould!) and to keep the warmth. No fluffing to battle chills in this house!
20.22 Just finishing ablutions and getting the "call"... his lap-top is still on and windows still open... ah HAH... the "woo-HOO!" NOT the soft "nest-coo"... THIS one is the "HEY YOU!" Looks like the time has come to close house for the night. SOME-birdie has had enough of this day... (and he's not the only one).

Tuesday 10 June:
It's already 18.30! The day has passed. And what a day it's been...
But before we got to the day, let's finish yesterday with last night. We DID manage to get through all the "routine" of a night, and the last light off by 21.15, and that's because I managed to get through the lullabies softly and easily and calmly. At least it wasn't 21.30. And even then, at 21.15, there was still a lingering "light" in the sky so the house wasn't completely dark. Still, by then, all the Little Ones out-side were already gone from the back-yard so it really was time to go "seepie-nigh-night".
And the ride home? Oh, indeed, the very moment I headed to closing the blinds and curtains, it was obviously time to close all. My Little LOVE headed right up to his roof-top but not to his platform. He waited, obviously waited, for me to finish with the windows and to start signing. I came round to the front of his house, looked up, singing "I Wish You Love" and he looked directly at me for a moment, then turned, hopped onto the platform and looked at me, waiting for me to move him closer to the front of his house and lift him up. He's got the entire evening "agenda" down! (So let the experts tell us that mourning doves aren't "considered to be intelligent", I've got proof to the contrary.)
Anyway, we floated "home" and as always, one little hop and my little Heart-and-Soul was on his perch, on the night roost and we got to putting his room in order for a night's rest.
As I say, I made it all through the lullabies, softly and calmly and I could see the little bundle of feathers on the night roost, all tucked for the night ahead....
(On note: I mention because of the hour we woke this morning, but with all the smoke in the air and such, it takes a bit of a "toll" on breathing... and I don't know HOW Yonah is feeling these days with all of this in the air, but I can only HOPE, with my ALL, that it's NOT affecting him as it is me, but I got one of those "tickles" in the throat last night and had to get up several times to cough. In fact, for the first time in a while, I actually had to grab the cough-drops twice before I finally managed to get to sleep. It was one of those nights when I considered going into the bed-room. I can't imagine what it must sound like to this poor Little Guy, when I start coughing, in the dark, suddenly, in the silence. It doesn't "bother" me to cough as much as it angers me that "humans" are the cause of the fires that are the cause of the smoke that's the cause of the disturbance of a night's rest. Anyway, I was up at 23.30 and again at 0.45 this morning and hoping that I wasn't disturbing Yonah. Were he out-side, he'd be "half-sleeping", as doves, and most birds do of a night. But he's NOT out-side and he deserves his right to sleep, peacefully, through a night where he doesn't have to worry about the weather or predators. The saddest aspect: this smoke isn't something that we can control. Even if we had "air conditioners", there'd still be something in the air. It's infuriating.)
To that note, this morning, we woke to a fine drizzle and, thankfully, the air quality monitor was completely back in the "green"... the "good", at long last!
AND... this morning, the first little call to wake up came at 5.10! A clear but soft, "normal" "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"! Yes, he woke me from my sleep, and I was SO tired, but I answered "Well, hello to YOU-hoo-hoo-hoo. Time to get up? Can I have a couple minutes more?" and right away came my answer:
"woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"... noticeably just a touch softer, as if saying "OK. Sure." So, I half-dozed until the "final call" to get up came... at 5.30! THAT one was a bit louder than the previous coo's so yes, I was being told that the day had begun and it was time to open the curtains, get the waters changed and on with the day ahead! And so... this old man (me), pulled him-self up and went over to open the door to my Little LOVE's house, place the door perch and popped in for a couple quick kisses. And they were "quick" this morning, but not "forced". He was just anxious to get to the day!
Well, I put the kettle on whilst being "called", the house FULL of coo's! Out-side, another dreary sort of over-cast morning with a light drizzle, but in-side, the coo'ing dispelled any and all "gloom". And it seemed there was so much to be said this morning with all the coo'ing!
When I got back in and got the curtains and blinds open, I took the time to pop back in to my Little LOVE and THEN I got a FACE FULL OF KISSES! I apologised for the disturbances last night and it seemed the more I apologised, the more kisses I got! (Yeah, no... he doesn't "understand"... not believing that claim.) AND we were off and running to Tuesday!
I made my coffee, the morning water run and the Little Guy took a flight to the living-room for more "morning serenade".
Poops? 9 in total, a "normal" size (they're all slightly larger than what used to be "normal", but not so large that they're "concerning" in any way). Colour "normal" too (and that too, has been a little darker than times before, but again, not "concerning"... it could be something in the new "parakeet" mix that we have in with the other 4 mixtures, and that too, might be what's making the poops a little larger). A bit of "moisture" from 4 of the 8 but only "moisture", not "water". AND... THEY WERE UNDER THE NIGHT ROOST! If there was a "disturbance" in his sleep last night, it wasn't enough to disturb his rest. THANKFULLY!
Now, as for the rest of today? Because of the clouds and drizzle, we had another "one of those days" where we were in all morning and there were house-hold tasks to attend to. And the Little Guy made his usual trips from his room and house to the living-room. He had a LOT to say too, this morning. So much coo'ing! It truly IS SO BEAUTIFUL... HAVING A HOUSE FLOODED WITH HIS COO'ING! It lifts my heart so much these days. Yes, it has a touch of "melancholy" to it, but over our years together, I've come to understand that it's not always "mourning". After all, people who have Little Ones that chirp always refer to it as "singing"... Why then, can "Mourning Doves" not "sing"? And with all his energy and affections and such... Oh sure, I still wish (as I've always wished) that this Little Guy could have gone back to his flocks, out into the entire world into which he was born. But then again, the reality of it is: we've been together for almost 5 years now, the chances of him having these 5 years "out there" are slim. I can only hope that the "quality" of this time has been good for him. (Every body, including the recent "Home Nurse" says that he's got it better than any other, but I'll NEVER feel he has "enough". And there's the most basic fact: Yonah IS the ONLY reason I'm even around.)
Anyway and so... this after-noon we had our lunches together and, of course, I had my usual "lie-down of an after-noon. We have a "routine" y'know. So I set an alarm for only 30 minutes but, no sooner had it sounded when, over came my Little Snooze-partner and he got so settled on my leg again. I don't know why he does that but when he does, I refuse to interrupt. That's some of our "really together" time. So I laid there and waited. 15 minutes later, he decided it was OK to get up and... when I looked up... SUN-SHINE!
I BOLTED to the living-room to get his house set-up! WE WERE GOING OUT! I had some red flower seeds left from those that I'd gotten months ago and wanted to get them in the ground now that we're having rainy weather and warmer nights and I SURELY didn't want to be out-side with-out my COMPANION, my LOVE! So, in a mad dash, I got his "yard house" together and, poor Little Guy, it was all so quick that I could almost feel his "confusion". I knew we didn't have a LOT of time out, but at this point, ANY sun-shine was better than none so... AWAY WE WENT! Out to the yard!
I did manage to get all the seeds into the gardenette. (No telling how many will make it, between the weather and the rodents that keep digging them up and chewing the seedlings, but we'll see when...) No sooner had I gotten them all planted and put the yard back together when I looked over to the West... and sure enough, the "dark clouds" were blowing up and over and headed right for us. And I could see it was raining up there so, it was another DASH to get my Little Guy back into his house and safe from what looked like quite the storm headed for us.
Such a shame, really, because today, as soon as we got out and he felt that sun-shine, he spread his wings and tail and basked so beautifully! It MUST have felt SO GOOD to be in that warmth and light!
All told, we got about 20 minutes out-side and we made it back in JUST IN TIME! Sure enough, no sooner had we gotten in when the skies opened and it POURED with a hard, steady rain! "Timing"! WOW!
We were back in by 15.00 and re-settling was really quick. I'd only JUST managed to get the door to the "yard house" open, on the kitchen table, as we do when the Little LOVE made a QUICK RUSH of getting out of there and into his room and right to Burdie-Birdie! It's really quite something to see: he comes in from the yard and always heads directly to Burdie. In fact, that's how we come in: I ask if he wants to go see Burdie-Birdie and he starts a little "prance", and sure enough, back in the house, Burdie is the immediate destination. To think: when I'd first "presented" Burdie, I interpreted the pecks and prancing as "attacks". I'm such a stupid human, really. Then too, I had no reference, no idea WHAT was going on. And I took Burdie away, hidden, for such a long while. It was "on chance" that I brought him back out and, to see the two of them together... It sparks those feelings of "How can I get a real companion" for Yonah. And too, all the "sensible" thoughts return: What if he rejects a companion? What if he resents another dove in HIS house? And the advice from others that "WE" are the "flock" now and if Yonah wasn't happy, it would be obvious. So, we leave that aspect as it is and I can only HOPE that I'm a "good enough companion". Though I'll never be even close to the perfection that this Little Guy is to me.
20.00 Well then that all said and done and jotted...here we are at the end of the day... I managed to sneak a quick shower in and the waters have been changed and it's time to get settled. "Night music" is on and all that's left now is my "last minute ablutions" and to close the room and house for the night. The Little Guy is on the door to his house and I'm wondering when he'll head to his roof-top for the ride home...
20.46... all's settled, the Little LOVE is on his roof-top, coo'ing. He's ready to tuck-in and so too, am I... We're running later than I'd like but I keep thinking that if Yonah had wanted to get to sleep earlier, I KNOW he has ways of letting me know. But for now... more tomorrow...

Wednesday 11 June:
8.25 I opened the front door this morning and my Little Guy was on his tree in the living-room as I did and he hopped from the tree to the roof of his old house and RIGHT OVER TO MY SHOULDER! Nestled right there for a moment and I had some washing in the kitchen basin that I wanted to get out of the way, since there was some sun-shine and clear skies (which are, of course, being covered by clouds floating over the Western mountains already). WELL! TO MY ABSOLUTE DELIGHT AND DIVINE PLEASURE, HE STAYED WITH ME, ON MY SHOULDERS AND BACK, ALMOST ALL THE WHILE I WASHED! Usually, he'll take off as soon as I start doing something but this morning, he was just as happy and content being there on my back, toddling from shoulder-to-shoulder, side-to-side, watching what I was doing! (WHAT, I wonder, does he make of the other-wise ridiculous tasks we people do? Between the coo'ing when I get into the shower to bathe and now this, with clothes sloshing about in a basin of water. Not to mention the hoovering. OH! When I think of what he could "teach" the other mourning doves, if only he'd have been able to get back to them, out there, in the wild, where he was born to be. I can't help but think of him, with a little Mrs. and brood, telling them all the things he witnessed and experienced in "that human's house". Imagine a generation of mourning doves that wouldn't fear humans so much. Then again, humans being what we tend to be, and more-so these "violent" days, I'm rather glad that he won't be teaching the others not to fear humans. Quite honestly, I don't trust most of them, and with great reason that I'm sure most of the reader-ship here will know, all too well.)
But WHAT A WAY TO START A DAY! And I add, yet again, having read accounts of doves who take such active interest in the affairs of their house-holds, and I see the other birds, on our social media, who "ride along" with their people, and get involved with so much that goes on round a house and, when I read, over the years, and looked at the videos and photos, I NEVER would have thought that Yonah here, would EVER do ANYTHING of the sort. After all, in my mind and heart, he's still as wild as the Yardies, and I NEVER want him to change that. He's as unique as can be, and that's how he will ALWAYS be... to me, for me. And THAT is what keeps me going... breathing... "being".
11.00 Carried away with the events of the morning here so, with a moment, as the Little Flyer is busy soaring about the room as I type:
He's been a little "riot" this morning, with the flying about the place, his room, living-room, round and round about! And on my shoulders as I sat at his desk. It's one of those "affectionate" and playful days and I can't figure out why. The skies clear and cloud, the house is chilly (at 21°, though the doors have been open this morning for circulation of air in here) but he's FULL of all sorts of energy! It's SO inspirational for me on a day when, well, I'd be just as happy to crawl back onto the futon. But NO! WE are up and about and WE have things to get to (not the least of all, this Journal!).
Let me jot here, last night and our wake-up:
Last night, as I closed the windows up for the night, thankfully, we didn't need the fan running, the Little Guy headed right to his roof-top and watched and preened in preparation for the "ride home". No interest in the curtains or windows. A Little Man with a mission: tucking-in for the night! So I got right into the lullabies, softly, managed to get the futon together and as I turned to him, I could tell that he simply wanted to get to "schalf"! I got a "look". It's really obvious when he has some message to convey. So up and away we went and the very second the platform met the perch, he stepped right over and I didn't even get a kiss "Good night"! So I continued with the lullabies and got me settled on the futon and continued with the lullabies.
Ah... I'd made it through "I Wish You Love" when... so softly... "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo".
I stopped singing and answered with a "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" and immediately came the "woo-HOOooo"... "nest coo". Not sure if he was singing with me (as it seems, some-times he does when he coo's as I sing) I picked-up with "I Think It's Going To Rain Today" and watched the little silhouette on the perch... He nestled right down and tucked his little head between his wings. That "woo-HOOOooo" was his "Good night". And so, I softened the singing, slowed it a touch and kept watch. He really was "tucked-in" for the night... and so, we managed to finish the repertoire... and last light was turned off at 21.20.
This morning, in the dim light of the early morn, I was awakened by a gentle "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo" at... 5.20. I replied and as I slowly got my old body together to get it up off the futon... it took me another 10 minutes. (I SO could have just drifted back off to sleep but the morning had been "called" and I make a point NOT to leave my little Heart-and-Soul in that "house" of his when he's awake. At the very least, his door gets opened, the door perch gets put over the wires at the bottom of the door, and with the light in the place being enough for him to navigate safely, if he wants to get up and out and about, he's free to do so. Above ALL, this is HIS house and I won't have him EVER get the feeling that he's "caged". Fact is: the only reason I close the door at night is to keep him from taking off in the darkness at night if something causes him to take those random 'flights" he's done, most of which, I still don't understand. It's bad enough that he flies about, confined in there, but if he were to try to fly around and out of his room, there's entire too many obstacles that he might not see clearly at night and... well... my heart, soul and mind just can't even handle the notion of him being injured (again).
That said, I popped my head in for a "Good morning" kiss and got a few light pecks about the fore-head! I couldn't help but wonder if he wasn't wondering why I stayed on the futon for that extra time. It's not "usual" for me to do so, and these past few days I've been waking so tired (no doubt from the discomfort of the injury to my "rotator cuff" - I'm pretty sure it keeps me from a proper night's rest and I hope that I don't make any noise in my sleep) that the little extra time to get my wits is so appreciated.
OK, so I was up and about and off to the kitchen to put the kettle on and get the morning rolling. Once up and moving I was non-stop and came back into the room, surrounded by the most beautiful 'woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo's". Seems my being awake was appreciated. And we got right to opening the curtains and blinds to the ... yes ... "dreary" morning out-side ... again. But, thankfully, it wasn't "cold". It did put a bit of a kink in the plans for the day though. It was supposed to be clear this morning and through the day. I was SO looking forward to us being able to get out to the yard. I've no more "work" to be done out there and we were supposed to be able to take in some more sun-shine and enjoy the day together. Oh well. At least it wasn't so dark that we had to put the UV light on. And so, I got right into setting-up for the morning water run too and as I did, my Little Love hopped about in his house and then... OFF AND AWAY... to the futon to Burdie-Bird and the new "Bird-friend"! Kisses, coo's and energy first thing of a morning!
Wunderschön
AND... poops? 8 total... 7 of them the "recent normal" size and colour, but a little wetter with actual green halos. But one much smaller and lighter, almost beige! The GOOD news... all of them so close together under the night roost that I could see that he wasn't agitated during the night (but then, I slept through too, so) .... Will have to keep an eye on the day's poops though. Hopefully they'll be "normal-normal".
For now, time to get on with some little tasks about the house. We might not have time in the yard, but we have a day together because I've no errands...
13.30 Just up from an hour's snooze... "one of those days", and the Little Guy is tapping at the "news" on his lap-top beside me. The best: I'd set an alarm for 20 minutes but was so tired, re-set for an additional time, but I was awakened by several "nest coo's", one right after the other, from the "loft"! It sounded like such a soft "Time to wake up here, you." As I opened my eyes, I was expecting to see sun-shine coming in through the windows, but, no. The skies are still covered in clouds, which was not in this morning's forecast. So disappointing.
BUT BUT BUT... before we sat to lunch at noon... we stood at the back door... TOGETHER... for about a half hour! My MOST PRECIOUS AND CHERISHED LITTLE HEART-AND-SOUL ON MY SHOULDER, SO CALMLY AND QUIETLY! Out-side, 4, then 6 then 4 again, mourning doves having lunch, chasing one-another (as they do). But he didn't seem too interested in them. He was more comfortable just being "there", on my shoulder, at my face which, he took a couple of the kindest pecks!
WHAT a day! "Reason to be alive"... "Reason to BE"!
15.30 My Little Love is back in the living-room and there's some sun shining through the clouds above. Such a shame, really, that this is the first time all day when there's been actual sun-shine! And there's the slightest breeze blowing out-side. But all the Yardies are gone again. Not even the humming-birds are here and that makes me wonder what's "in the air"... in the skies above. We didn't get out today but with no Yardies out there, I suppose it's for the better. (In fact, I notice, no squirrels or chipmunks either. Very strange. I know we had a pair of baby eagles earlier in the season... I wonder...) And the day is almost done already. Soon, time to start dinner! Time is such an "enemy" since Yonah's come into the world. There's never enough of it. And as it passes and I (soon to smash into the age of "70" - and still wondering HOW) become less of a "good Companion" to him. Especially on days like today when he's been SO AFFECTIONATE!
A note here: I've noticed it before and I'm not sure if I'd mentioned but, I've recently been wearing my "beige" shirt instead of the grey flannel and blue chambray, and I'd notice previously that, when I wear this colour, Yonah seems more affectionate, wanting to spend more time "on" me and "with" me. Is it the colour? Do I look more like another dove now? Well! I've been pondering getting a couple new shirts because my collection and selection is so limited and getting "old" - like their owner - so it looks to me that I'll be getting at least ONE new "beige" shirt! We'll have to "test" this. But for now... IT'S BEEN AMAZING! He even stayed on my shoulder this after-noon when I put my lunch together in the kitchen!
So, with a little bit of a most-welcome breeze blowing through the house, we, together, managed to find and copy some new "Schlager" music for our "collection" and... 15.42... he's just come back into the room with a WOOSH! (He's not "whistling" very much these days... time to watch for more feathers dropping. He's not had a "proper" moult in quite a while... and I DO wonder why. He USED to have 2 each year. Something I have to research, and HOPE is normal.
20.00 and the Little Guy's been in the living-room for almost an hour again this evening. Sweet, PRECIOUS Little One... coo'ing away out there. So I got up to tell him to come in and get something to eat before we have to tuck-in for the night. He was on his "yard house" (I like that better than "old house" and "cage") and when I went over to him... WING-SNAP! I leaned over, snuck in a kiss and WOOSH! Off and to his room! The sun is behind the mountains but there's enough light for navigate so he made it home and headed right for his food! And now? He's preening in his house. Time to get to the "night games" before the ride home. I still have my ablutions so he has time.
Sadly, the house wreaks of "dryer sheets" again this evening. The air quality monitor says we're "safe" but I worry about what's in the air... the window fan is drawing better air in before we get to tuck in for the night. How I YEARN for a "safer" home. I've read that the scent in the air isn't "toxic" and the Yardies don't seem to mind it, but I don't want to take any chances. It's my heart-ache.
OK... he's come over to his lap-top beside me to finish the preening. I'm up and on the way... the rest of the house is settled so... Oh, the suspense... We'll see when I close the windows up... no doubt. (I HAVE to smile!)
OH! POOPS DURING THE DAY HAVE ALL BEEN PERFECT! RELIEF!
20.39 He was on the wall shelf by the smaller book-case, nest-coo'ing so I coo'ed back and gave him a kiss. But when he saw Burdie being tucked-away for the night and I headed to the windows, he headed to his roof-top!
I'm CONCERNED: HE FLIES MORE, MORE WING-INVOLVEMENT, TO GET PLACES LATELY AND HE TAKES THE STRANGEST ROUTES. IS HE, I WONDER, HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE BAD WING? I SO HOPE NOT! BUT HE'S GOT THE WHISTLE THIS EVENING... I HAVE TO WATCH THIS.
Right now, night music on, time to make up the futon for me and RIDE HOME!

Thursday 12 June:
12.58 AND WE'RE IN THE YARD! AT LAST! The sun is shining and there's a brisk breeze blowing, and I'm watching to make sure that the Little Guys' house doesn't blow away! And he appears to be rather happy, though I wonder about the wind here. He's a little "pacey", back and forth, and stopping to give me a stare now and again. I wonder what he makes of it all. In his room, the air seldom moves and now, it's ALL AROUND HIM! Moving air! Oddly, there are no Yardies ... not even the smallest of them... not even a humming bird. I wonder if it isn't the winds. But we'll watch and see what's coming. This morning's forecast said that it was going to get quite blustery as the day rolls in, ahead of tonight's drop in temperatures again and the rains to come for the next 2 days (again). But, the sun is warm and hopefully being out in it for a while will do both of us some good.
My MAJOR CONCERN these days: arthritis. The changes in Yonah's flying has me worried to the point of being physically sick. He appears to need more wing-strokes to get from one place to another, and he's taking some of the most circuitous routes, even in his room. For example, a trip from his house to the wall shelves used to be a relatively direct flight but of late, he "circles", leaving his house, semi-circle in the air to get "back" to the shelves. And it's the same for the reverse trip. And for the flights to the living-room, I can see and hear the difference in the wing-strokes. At first I thought it might be a bit of "moulting", especially since the whistle in his wings has diminished. That happens when he drops a flight feather or 2. But it's becoming all too frequent lately.
Did some searching this morning on the matter and yes, birds ARE known to suffer with arthritis due to "diet", *AGE* and *PREVIOUS INJURIES*. Treatments for birds is so very similar to those of people: anti-inflamatories, "glucosamine and condroitin".... BUT it's the dose:body that requires careful calculations. Then too come the "herbs", and Turmeric is amongst those. And again, it's dose:body. Resources all turn to avian veterinarians, of course, and that, well, based on our almost 5 years together, does me absolutely no good. (Especially these days with the over-reach of the megalomaniacs at the local Dee. E. Sea, as they are.) So, my little Heart-and-Soul and I are "peers" in medical treatments. After all, my ONLY reason for bothering with ANY of my own ailments is strictly to ensure that I'm here and in best-possible condition to make sure that HIS world is as close to perfect as we can possibly make it.
And again, all the while, I'm reminded, by the pains in my left shoulder, arm and fingers, of his injuries, almost 5 years ago. He was brutally attacked on his left side, little wing hanging, leg dangling... and I prayed that his suffering and injuries be given to me instead. So, it this is what's happened, if, by some strange coincidence, that prayer was answered, let it be. As long as he doesn't suffer in any way, I'm at peace.
13.22 and I've noticed: when the breeze stops blowing, he's calmer! But as soon as it kicks up again, he starts pacing again. Is it the movement of the air? The sound of the leaves? Maybe the slight movement of the stand that hold his "yard house". These are rather "new", "unique" events and sounds, and likely so un-familiar. I'm just hoping we can get at least 45 minutes out here in the sun-shine so that he gets the benefits from it. So we'll wait a little while longer and see what transpires. If the fidgeting continues, we'll just have to head back into the house. I'm not having him grow to fear coming out-side!
MEAN-while... a catch-up here for last night and this morning...
Last night's ride home was pretty much straight forward. As I settled the room, my little "passenger" patiently awaited his chauffeur on the little wooden platform that is his "chariot to home", and the very moment he noticed me heading for him, I could see him brace him-self for "lift-off". All these things that have become so familiar to him, so expected... and to me, so AMAZING! (I can;'t help but think, though I try my best not to, of any time when I wouldn't be here, with him, for him, at the start or end of a day. It sickens me to even have the thought cross my mind now, but all the more every morning and evening when I let it drift through thoughts. I don't know of anybody who would even care enough to try to keep his routines, from morning wake-up, water runs, lunch break, snoozes, dinner and evening water run, tuck-in.. with lullabies. Last night, the thought struck me to the point of tears. This Little Life deserves ALL the comforts that this "Creation" can provide for him, and the safety and comfort of a familiar life. he deserves to be LOVED and RESPECTED. And the very notion that he'd be denied ANY of that... well... as I've said all along, this is the reason, the ONLY reason I make sure to take the best-possible care of me.... so that I'm here for him...
(Well? 13.51 and we're back in the house. My Little LOVE was just too fidgety out there for some reason and THE VERY SECOND I GOT HIM TO THE KITCHEN AND OPENED THE DOOR TO HIS "YARD HOUSE" HE BOLTED, NO HESITATION, RIGHT TO HIS HOUSE AND TO THE LITTLE MIRROR IN THE CORNER BY THE FLOOR THERE, AND GAVE A RESOUNDING "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo!" and then headed right up to his loft and nestled-in. I don't know what it was that he didn't like out-side today, but between the winds and the complete absence of Yardies... there must be "something in the air". At least we got about 30 minutes of SUN today.)
Well then... we got the room all settled, with calm lullabies and the Little LOVE settled and nestled and tucked his little head between his precious little wings as I sang, the dim moon lights on and all was well. By 21.15, the last light was turned off and the day was closed.
This morning? 5.15 came the morning "call"... another one of those "soft" coo's ("woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo") that sounded SO much like a quiet "Are you awake?" And when I "spoke" my "morning woo-hoo-hoo-hoo" I got an immediate "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo"... ("OK. You're awake.") But, as mornings go, this morning, when I looked at the time, I pondered trying for another 15 minutes but that was NOT happening THIS morning and at 5.20 (I don't know HOW, but this Little Guy seems to know the clock) came a louder "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo". Not quite a "yelling" (I've heard those, rest assured), but noticeably louder than the first call. So... I was up and about, opened the door to his house, popped in for "Good morning" kisses... got a few, but some-birdie was in a rush to get at the day so, I put the door perch on, bolted for the kitchen, put the kettle on and got right back to the room to open the windows to the day out-side. No sooner had I gotten the curtains open (to a slightly hazy - clouds - morning), he was up and out and off to the living-room!
He was out there, this morning, for a good 2 hours! It was a quiet start to the morning today, and I had much "house-hold work" to get out of the way so I was just boring.
When he came back into the room, and I was at the desk, he made a stop at my shoulder, a few pecks on the cheek, I got in a couple of kisses and was allowed to stroke the back of his neck and he was off to his house, up to the comfort of his loft and out-side, the sky cleared, the sun shone in through the windows and all was as it should be: calm.
Poops, this morning were really quite "normal" and "healthy". 9 in total, about the same size as what's become our regular size, and colour. It looked like they bounced over-night, but weren't at all "scattered". So last night must have been a "restful" night for him.
And so, our morning rolled along, entirely TOO quickly, as "time" tends to do for both of us and by 11.30, the sky was clear, there was a nice breeze blowing through the house with the doors open and so... I decided to grab an early lunch and make a "run" for the yard... and... here we are.
18.55 already! The rest of the after-noon was good out-side, with sun-shine and breezes, but the breezes stayed a bit on the "blustery" side. In fact, the evening Yardies are only just coming round for a quick snack before setting-off to roost for the night. SIX mourning doves out there this evening and a cardinal, along with the sparrows and wrens, of course.
The Little Guy is just back in the room from more time out in the living-room where he headed right after dinner this evening. And, as is the "routine" ("HIS" routine), he's on his roof-top, "evening call"... coo'ing beautifully. It's something I've come to expect every evening just as the sun sets behind the Western mountains. I can't imagine an evening of silence.... with-out that gentle "coo'ing". Just as I can't imagine a silent morning. (And I KNOW that those are like because when he moults, well... I've already noted what those times are like here... It's SO OPPRESSIVE for me... the silence is unbearable. Even recalling it makes my soul obvious and heavy.) There was a little coo'ing from 2 of the mourning doves in the yard too, this evening. I often wonder if they can hear Yonah... and I can see when he hears them because he raises his head and will give a "response coo" from time-to-time. But for the most part, he just doesn't seem to have much interest in them, out there. He has the door shelf for the back door so he can see them, but... he really doesn't appear to have any interest.
19.00 and time for the evening water run. Thankfully, for the most part, the rest of the house is settled for the night. A bit of a "chill" in the forecast tonight: a "chill" of 9°, sun for tomorrow again and again... rain for the following 4 days. More food out for the Yardies tonight and we might be putting the Sweeter Heater back on. (And in the searching I did today on "arthritis", it might be in the best interest for Yonah over-night. I have to wonder if the dampness and coolness of the nights lately aren't causing him troubles. We'll see tonight. The heater will go back on. If it gets too warm for him, he's got plenty of perch-length to scuttle away from it and still rest peacefully. I'll check on things in the morning and see if he's not flying better. I thought today too, that the heating pad on my shoulder did help me... I don't know that I could get Yonah to use a "heating pad", so we'll do what we can... and as it's always been... we'll hope.)
Well here we go... it's 20.32 and all the while I was "attending ablutions", OH MY! The coo'ing and calling. But THIS one was an all-out "woo-HOO!" so... When I looked into the room, my Little LOVE was there, at the close corner (to the door to the room) of the desk and when he saw me, he literally PRANCED across to the other end... as if turning his back and walking away. OK then... the night music is on but it's obviously time to close shop, as it were. Windows and futon and house and more tomorrow then.

Friday 13 June:
FOUR YEARS AND 8 MONTHS TODAY!
16.30 already and it's been quite the almost non-stop day, this. And the house was "chilly" again, this morning and most of the day, mostly because of the general "dampness" and cloud cover. The room is up to 23° at last. The house furnace has been running for the day, intermittently. Checking the weather here, it was a mere 12° out-side this morning and didn't get much higher than that through the day. I'm just SO relieved that we have the little "Sweeter Heater" for my LOVE here and that it was on through the night, last night (and is still on today.... just in case). As I sat, this morning (at about 9.00), more drear of yet, another day and my PRECIOUS AND CHERISHED LITTLE GUY was all nestled in his loft, all cosy after quite the "active" morning. Ah... the "SERENITY" that is Yonah Taube. Were it not for him.... AND to think... FOUR YEARS AND 8 MONTHS... WE'RE CAREENING INTO OUR 5-YEARS TOGETHER! I'm... in... absolute... AWE !!!
But right now, after a little "lounging" as I've been working more music on our iPod and such, he's back up and about, coo'ing and visiting the "doves on the screen" on his lap-top... and our "Schlager" collection plays. (Up-tempo music and he's "up-tempo".)
My dinner is on the hob (and he's just headed back out to the living-room which makes me happy because he's FLYING!) and again, another day has passed us.
Last night, though, we had a wonderful little "ride home" on the platform after I FINALLY got to closing the room and settling it all for the night. (I'd waited until the last minute because my Little Guy just seemed to be some comfy and I didn't want to disturb him. But, of course, he saw me move his house and head for the curtains and, it was time to close the day. I sometimes get the feeling that he actually waits for me to get to the tasks that are mine at the close of the day. I wish, I SO wish I could KNOW when he's ready to settle. But especially these days, when the sun doesn't set until so much later, it's really difficult. I don't want to "force" him, but I don't want him to have to wait to get needed sleep.) Anyway, he made his way up to his roof-top, to the platform and was all too ready to get "home" for the night. And no sooner had we arrived at the night roost, he immediately hopped right onto it and really got settled-in for the night.
Lullabies were sung, at no rush at all, last night, nice, slow, gentle, soft. When I started "I Wish You Love", I got a little "woo-HOOooo", as if he were singing with (or telling me to make it quick... I'll never know for certain which, but I continued with the repertoire and waited for "further comment"... none followed.)
I wasn't sure if he'd be happy, getting to "seepie-nigh-night" even at 21.15 when the last light was turned off because there was still quite a bit of "light" coming into the room from the rest of the house. The sun actually sets so much later now (and soon even later-yet... and then... we get back to the shorter days again (so soon, so it seems) and the room wasn't all too dark but, when I looked up at the little silhouette, there he was, my PRECIOUS LIFE... all tucked-in and tucked-down for the night. He was already off to "schlaf". Thursday was officially "closed".
Now, this morning... at 5.10 came the "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" of "Rise and coo!" Oh but I could have used a bit more time. But the call was "serious" this morning and followed by a few more "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo's" and a "woo-HOO!" so I was UP and at the day! (8° out there this morning! I was SO happy that I'd left the house furnace on and the "Sweeter Heater" over-night!) AND, when I popped my head in after opening the door to my Little Guys' house, I got a peck on the nose and ANOTHER "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo"! MY DAY, OUR ANNIVERSARY DAY WAS PERFECT!
I hurried to put the kettle on and get the kitchen set-up for this morning's water run and headed back to open the curtains to the drear of the morning and the moment the curtains were open and the day-light came into the room... THIS LITTLE ONE WAS ON THE WING and OFF TO THE LIVING-ROOM! What a difference from the past few days! (Maybe the heat over-night DID some good for his wings? The heater stays on from now on... at least until we get to actual "Summer warmth".)
I had a couple of errands to run this morning and determined that I'd get them done EARLY but of course, "errands" give me anxieties (I say, unashamedly and have mentioned many times before in this Journal) and it must have been "sensed" because, as I sat at the desk to get prepared (at 7.20)... my BEST LOVE came flying over to my shoulder for some kisses, snuggles... LUVIN'S!
Poops, this morning too were quite "promising": 12 in total! And ALL of them of the "old regular normal" size! They'd obviously bounced a bit because they were "moist" but not "dry" and quite under the night roost so there was indication that last night was "restful"! With that and the energy and LOVE this morning, it was SO ENCOURAGING AND COMFORTING!
Well then... I did manage to make the errands and got back by 8.45 and when I got back into the house and went to the desk to get ready for the rest of the day, ANOTHER FLIGHT TO MY SHOULDER for MORE CUDDLES! "Anniversary Day"! WOW!
(19.55 already... we've had a "busy" sort of day... and sadly, no sun-shine! And as I'm typing here, Yonah's on the floor of his house... he was on the lap-top and went "home", and he's making that little "hoo"... repeatedly. I SO WONDER what that's about. He's done it before. He becomes quite still when he does it, and tends to stare, eyes blink, but he's almost unresponsive to my talking and kisses. Just looked it up and of course, nothing specific. Over these years I've come to realise that I probably know more about this Little Guy than the entire internet. I've been told that I'm thought of, locally, as the "expert", primarily where mourning doves are concerned but then, now that Deborah calls ME with concerns about the birds at her house... well... I'm no "expert" but I HAVE had the HONOUR of being taught SO VERY MUCH about mourning doves by one who's FAR ABOVE AND BEYOND a simple "expert"... my Mentor, my Teacher, my Professor, my Guide... my Heart-and-Soul. And as I type, night music is on now and his "dove video" is on his lap-top and he's just on the floor of his house... The room is growing a bit darker, both desk lamps are on and it really is getting to "tuck-in" time... We shall see.... I'll keep watching.)
This morning was taken-up with getting more of our music together and onto an old iPod where we have a collection of ALL SORTS of music. (Separate, of course, from the bird-songs that are on a dedicated player for Yonah). So we listening to the selections, and I worked on the old lap-top (because that's were all the music goes before being put onto a player) and this morning, the Little Guy was flying in and out of his room! SO ACTIVE! ENERGETIC! Inspiring, really, for me.
I managed to grab a 30-minute snooze before lunch this morning which set the day "off" a bit... noticeably. My laying on the futon caused an obvious "concern" because as soon as my head rested on the pillow, my LOVE came RUSHING down from his loft and onto my chest, as if wondering why I was laying there BEFORE lunch. And then, down to my leg where he got settled... for a short while. When I said "It's OK. I'm just resting my eyes before lunch." he headed up and out to the living-room. I managed to get the 30 minutes BUT, as always, 2 minutes before the alarm, he was back, on my leg, preening, as if waiting for me to get up. So I waited for him to get up... and in about 3 minutes, he was back to his loft. The day returned to "normal" and I headed out to the kitchen to put lunch on the hob.
What a disappointment though... no sun-shine all day and the temperature was so chilly, and the breeze too, coming sown off the mountains made it just too miserable to even take a few minutes out of the house! Even the Yardies seemed to have taken to their roosts and didn't come round for their usual lunch.
But, WE had time together... and really, that's all that matters anyway, and during the after-noon, breaks in routine were taken for PLAY AND LUVIN'S!
"Dinner prompt at 5" (17.00) together and a little bit more "shopping" on the internet... I'm still looking for ideas for August... and the 5th "Bird-day"! A new house is top on the list, and I'm looking for all sorts of things that my Little Guy might enjoy having in his room. He's not keen on the "regular toys" that "domestic" birds and "Psittacidae" (budgies, parrots, &c.) would play with. And what I find on-line as ideas for doves all refer to "domestics". I look to the Yardies but there's really no telling WHAT they play around with in the wild so.... my shopping continues and as I shopped, my Little LOVE came over to his lap-top to peck at the news.
20.23 and the house is settled. Yonah's been up for a drink of fresh water and is on his "drift-wood" in his house. It's time to get this place together for us for the night. Not much of an "Anniversary Day" for him, sadly. I'm just going to look to tomorrow and hope for something FUN we can do... though the forecast looks... well... dreary again of course.
He's suddenly gone so quiet though... the "night instrumental music" is playing. I'm off to ablutions and looking forward to the reaction to closing of the windows for the night. That'll be "telling"... and the Sweeter Heater is on... has been all day. Temperature in the room at 24° and the air quality is "green/good" so...
20.46 and this is it for tonight. The windows are closed AND WE HAD ALL SORTS OF CUDDLES AT THE DOOR PERCH! NOW THAT'S THE WAY TO CLOSE A PERFECT LITTLE DAY. ESPECIALLY ON AN "ANNIVERSARY DAY"! With all of my doubts about how well I've done for my LITTLE HEART-AND-SOUL, here we are, almost 5 years later, and CUDDLES and KISSES! And he seems to SO ENJOY the affection too! And it's so CUTE that, when the cuddles are done, he flew up to the desk shelf and then headed over to the roof-top to wait for his ride home and gave a resounding "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo!" too! We are SO off to a night of seepie-nigh-night!
***** NOTE FOR TODAY TOO: ****** THIS LITTLE GENIUS RECOGNISES THE WORDS ***** KISSES ***** AND ***** SNACK ***** !!! I've come to notice that if/when I approach him and say "KISSES", I IMMEDIATELY get a peck on the nose, at the very least. AND, again, this evening, as i was preparing to close the windows, I said "Have a snack." and he went right for his food. It's happened MANY times so I know it's not "coincidence"! WHAT AN AWE-INSPIRING LITTLE GENIUS, THIS LITTLE LOVE!
Now... off to seepie-nigh-night.

Saturday 14 June:
(10.30 after a bit of a slow-ish start and in the midst of A LOT OF PLAYING - as I try to get some typing done here - WITH BUSTELO-BIRDIE ON THE DESK! OH MY THE PLAYING TO THE RHYTHM OF THE "SCHLAGER" COLLECTION ON THE iPOD! We're just up from a 45-MINUTE SNOOZE... TOGETHER so I suppose that's where the burst of play and energy is coming from. I had NO intention of it getting so active but... WOW! IT'S WONDERFUL TO SEE SUCH PLAYFULNESS! It does my own heart so much GOOD! And on yet another day when it looks like we're in for more "drear"... though it seems the sun is trying to break through... Maybe we'll get a little bit of time out in the yard today. A little more sun-shine... "Saturday"...)
Tuck-in last night was quite "straight-forward"... My Little LOVE waited so patiently (as he does) for me to finish with the settling of the room and as soon as I turned to him, I could see that he was "preparing for take-off" as he does, and as we "floated through the air", I managed to get in a little kiss before we arrived at the night roost. And as soon as we did, that little "hop" from the platform to the perch. It's REALLY something to see. He KNOWS that that's what follows the ride home and he simply takes the step and there we are. It's all so "normal" for him... and yet, for me, I still smile so much when I see it. NONE of this will EVER become "expected" or "normal" for me. This Little Guy is still, in my mind and heart, very little different from the mourning doves in the yard... born into the "wild" no matter how long we're together. He's such a HUMBLING BLESSING, SUCH AN HONOUR TO HAVE IN MY LIFE, SUCH A PRIVILEGE TO HAVE AS MY LIFE!
And once we got the room together, and I headed for the futon to tuck me in, we started the night's lullabies... just as calm and slow as a lullaby ought to be sung, and from the futon, I watched the little silhouette above, in the soft lights of our little "moon lights", as he snuggled-down, under the warmth of his little heater. There was the slightest "chill" in the room last night again, and with the dampness from all the rains of late, I was relieved to know that he had that heat. And, I have to say, it seems to be making quite a positive difference for him. HOPEFULLY he's not bothered by that arthritis! But at least he has the gentle heat on his back and wings. Now I worry about that left leg... I still can see how it simply dangled, so lifeless, after the attack. I'm still SO AMAZED at how, only several days later, he was walking about on it. And I still wonder just what was wrong with it in the first place (and MORE THAN RELIEVED THAT HE DIDN'T LOSE IT!).. THOSE WERE SUCH HEAVY, DARK DAYS. But today? WOW! And now, the days close and this Little LOVE has a safe, protected place where he can actually sleep, warm. Were he out-side, well, I've NO doubt now that he would have never made it through that Winter of 2020. I can only hope that the "life" he's had is all worth the survival. (And yes, "people" tell me he couldn't have it any better, but I'll never accept that, though there's a part of me that tells me, repeatedly: if he wasn't supposed to be "rescued", the whole matter wouldn't have gone as it has done... he wouldn't have been there when I got back from errands that morning. So... )
The last light was turned off at 21.20 last night and again, there was a lingering "light" coming into the house from out-side. Strange, after the months of darkness by 19.00. But the Yardies were all roosting for the night and so too... were we.
Come the morning (this) and 5.10... "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" and as much as I would have liked to stay right there on the futon in the early morning dim light, more "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo's" followed. It was tie to get up and into the day ahead! And the coo's were so nice and clear. And when I asked "Are you really ready to get now? It's Saturday and there's really nothing on the agenda, y'know." came the "woo-HOO!" Oh yeah... It was time to get up! So... I got up as quickly as I possibly could and opened the door to his house, popped my head in and asked "Kiss?" Oh yeah... KISS! Three little pecks on the nose! The morning was perfect. My little Heart-and-Soul was awake, the day opened with that "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" and in spite of the tapping of more rain on the roof of the cellar shed out-side the window... HEY! As long as this Little Guy is happy... the rest of Creation doesn't matter to me at all! I made haste to get the kettle on and get back to opening the curtains and blind to the grey morning out there. No sooner had the morning light made way into the room, MORE coo'ing! AND... as I put his house back into position for the day, down he hopped to the door perch... CUDDLES, KISSES, LUVIN'S! (Last night I said "If we could get away with it, I'd never close the door to your house and we could snooze through the night together on the futon like we do during the day and we could cuddle all the while. But... I can't trust this house or the noises and I don't want you to be startled in the dark and flying around when you can't see where you're going." This morning reminded me so much of that: he obviously DOES enjoy being held in my hands, my face beside him, and I stroke his neck with my thumbs... and he nestles up close to my face for the longest while. OK. So maybe I AM doing well by him. I'm sure that, if I were failing some-where along the way, he'd let me know. Still, OH, it would be so nice to be able to hug this Little One... but... we do what we can and he doesn't seem to mind... and after all... does anything else really matter? I think not.)
POOPS this morning: WELL! 8 in total... and ALL OF THEM the "old normal" in size, little moisture, no "halos"/stains on the "poopie rug"! And they'd bounced slightly as they dropped during the night... "slightly". SO... it was a calm night, good rest, and great digestion! His little tummy is good, rest was good, and Saturday was well under-way... off to a great start! And I got busy with the morning's water run and putting his room together for the rest of the day.
It was, as I say, another "dreary" sort of morning, with the rains and the "chill and damp" in the house (the house furnace was running again this morning!). I put things together at the desk, managed to get our "book-keeping" to-date (because I didn't bother with it yesterday) and came 9.00, the house furnace was running again, only about 11° out-side but 23° in the room, and humidity in the room at 43% (now I have a MORE IMPORTANT reason to monitor humidity.... if my Little LOVE is having "old man troubles" with his joints) I decided to take that extra moments that I didn't get when we woke this morning.
I set a timer for 30 minutes and headed back to the futon and no sooner had I laid down, WOOSH! My LOVE was right there, on my leg! Obviously he too, wanted that "extra time" from this morning too! SO... I managed to drift off a bit and, when the alarm sounded... there he was, still on my leg... of course, I laid there, waiting until he decided it was time for us to get up and, as he does... we got an extra 15 minutes together. "Saturday"... "Shabbat"... our "day of rest"... together.
11.40 already... the Little Guy has been in his loft by his windows as I've been at the desk. The clouds seem to be breaking in the sky and from the "weather report" it appears we MIGHT get some clear skies this after-noon! MAYBE time out in the yard! With all the energy of this morning in this house, that would likely do BOTH of us good! I've just put the window fan on to get the air circulating through the room, and it's still comfy warm and the humidity is staying stable. The air monitor says we're "good". And I'm going for an early lunch... just in case we CAN get out today!
13.43... We're out in the YARD! Breaks in the clouds and the air is "cool" but "cloudy sun" is better than no sun in the house... Our "Schlager" palying quietly. The mourning hdoves were here earlier... I'm hoping they come back whilst we're out.
14.40 I've moved onto the back gallery to get out of the way... the other mourning doves were coming and I didn't want to keep them from Yonah. AND just now, a little Lady Dove came over to the yard fence and was softly "coo'ing at YONAH! And he paced, just a little bit. But THEN, along came another Mister Dove and "took after" the little Miss! Chased her down to the drive and then literally CHASED HER AWAY TO THE NEXT YARD! SHE TRIED TO COME BACK, TO THE FEEDER, WHERE SHE COULD SEE YONAH AND HE COULD SEE HER BUT Mr. CAME BACK TO CHASE HER AWAY AGAIN! Ah, but she's back... alone... toddling on the drive. And here I go, again, wondering about a "mate" for Yonah. I would NEVER "entrap" a dove for such a thing, to take another wild dove in. I've more than enough guilt and heart-aches that Yonah is now "in a house". And I would NEVER wish harm on another dove to be "rescued". And then too, I have to remind me: there's a chance Yonah would have no interest in another dove in HIS house... AND, of ALL the concerns... little doves! If there were eggs... well... there's the complications of "binding", proper nourishment for mother AND THEN the babies! I don't know what goes into "dove milk" and I don't even know that I could ever provide ALL the ingredients. So....
But she's gone about her way and Yonah's back to basking in the sun-shine... I'm just glad I'm out of his way.
Okie-dokie... 15.33 and the other doves have departed. (There's somebody in the yard next door so it's rather doubtful they'll be back all too soon.) It's been 2 hours out here now and the Little Guy is pacing. And it's about time to get ready to put our dinner on. HEY! We got in more than the "recommended 45 minutes" I've read about so...
17.50 and dinners are done, washing-up is done and the Little Guy has been on his roof-top, over his heater, all snug and comfy from since we came back in at 15.40. And when we came in, OH! but did he EVER make it obvious that he was happy to be back in HIS house! No sooner had I opened the door to his "yard house" when he was OUT... and right back into his house in HIS room! And he settled right down in his loft, just all snuggled-in. This really IS "HIS" house and he knows it all so well. (Makes me wonder about moving to another place and how he'll accept that change. But clear flight-routes around the place are one of the highest priorities in the search. Ceilings, walls, windows, &c. A "new" house will be HIS house first and foremost. Today, that became all the more obvious when he just up and headed "home".
And I've come to see, with no doubts at all... of ALL the little "birds" we have in his room, Burdie, Bustelo, Beanie and the "newbird".... he has a definite preference over them all... Burdie-Birdie is THE TOP. I tried playing with the others this morning and Burdie was on the futon and even though he gave some play-time with the others, ultimately, he headed over to the futon to Burdie. When I think back to when I'd made Burdie and saw him almost "attack" it, I thought he was angry, that he saw it as an "intruder"! Little did I know (me, being the stupid one in this house-hold) he was THRILLED! And I took Burdie away for the longest while. Well, good that I've come to learn and now, Burdie-Birdie is our "permanent" "Birdie" in the house. I live. I learn. I'm taught by the BEST AND GREATEST little Teacher EVER!
He's out in the living-room now... coo'ing. The sun is behind the clouds again. The forecast for the next 4 days? More rain, again. So I'm glad we got that 2 hours of being out-side today. (One of these days, as long as it's warm enough, we're going to have to see about getting out on the back gallery, even in the not-so-perfect weather. Just to get out in "natural" light and open air (provided the "quality" is good.)
20.36 Managed to get a shower in this evening and the most wonderful little event: I heard Yonah coo'ing in the living-room and didn't realise... he was coo'ing to the mourning doves in the yard who were coo'ing to him! I don't understand why he doesn't go to the back door. The door is open, the screen door is closed (and latched, of course). But even when I put the shelf there, he doesn't seem to have any interest in them. I wonder...
Then too, this after-noon, with little Lady Dove coming round to see him, I ALWAYS wonder what the other doves think... Do they see Yonah as being "trapped"? Does he see THEM as being "caged"? What's their individual perception of it all?
For now... time to get the house settled for the night. The water is fresh, now to the windows and tucking-in. He's on the top of the door of his house (I'll never understand HOW he does that). OK. We're on the wall shelves now, in his little "corner" at the windows-side... nest-coo'ing. Time to close the day! 20.57 and the house is settled and now on to closing the windows and seeing about trying to get us tucked-in before much later. The Little Character is on the door to his house again... and now he's CALLING! The coo's aren't the "sweet little coo's" of "Hello?" They actually sound more along the lines of "HEY! YOU! IT'S GETTING DARK!" Oh my... more tomorrow.

Sunday 15 June:
It's already 16.00 and for the first time all day, the sun is FINALLY breaking through the cloud cover that we've had ALL DAY! I've been hoping to be able to get out to the yard, with the lap-top and music and, ABOVE ALL, MY PRECIOUS LITTLE ONE HERE who's just come back into his room from the living-room after being out there for about and hour. BUT... NO! Of course not. No going out again today. But we had a nice little Sunday together because of it, even though it's been in the house.
So let me get caught-up with our "adventures", as they are...
Starting with tuck-in last night, as we do daily here, when I got back into the room to close the windows and FINALLY put the room together for us for the night, I could tell that "times were not really happy". Yonah DOES have a way, and it's almost visible, of letting it be known when he's not exactly "pleased" and even his face takes on an expression-of-sorts. Yes, I know... birds don't smile, it's impossible. But there's "a look" in his eyes that expresses SO MUCH and last night that look wasn't one of being all too pleased with me.
In fact, as soon as I said "windows" he went directly over to the platform on his roof-top and waited for me to roll his house away from the windows so I could close the blinds and curtains. And he showed NO interest in playing, as we've done in the past, with the curtains. He wanted to get to sleep!
Gently but swiftly, I got the windows closed, rolled his house back to where it was supposed to be for the night ahead and put the futon together and started the nightly lullabies.
The very moment I turned to bring him home, the Little Guy obviously got "prepared" for the ride and on the way to his night roost, I tried to get a kiss in but he leaned away from me! And when the platform didn't get to his night roost quickly enough, he moved to the edge closest to it. Once close enough, he hopped right to it and when I tried, again, for a kiss... there was none of that. So, I sang, soft and casual and watched as he snuggled-down for the night.
Managed to make it through the repertoire at a slightly quicker tempo and the last light was turned off at 21.30. Oh yeah, "late"...
This morning? 5.17 and the "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo's" were many. Not "loud" but frequent. And I had the audacity to "take" an extra 10 minutes before getting up from the futon. Ah, but when I was seen sitting up? The "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo's" increased in volume and frequency. Apparently, last night wasn't forgotten and I was being "told" about it. And when I opened the door to his house and leaned in, as I do of a morning, for a little "Good morning" kiss, instead of kisses, I got quite the face-full of coo's... "stern", rather loud. I was being "told off"! Fair enough. I'd kept him up late last night and THEN had the audacity to lay there after being "called"! Needless to say, I should think, I got right to the morning routine, put the kettle on in the kitchen, ran the water for the morning water change, came back into the room to open the windows to the dreary morning out-side. BUT BUT BUT....
I rolled his house away from the windows to get to the curtains and blinds AND HE DIDN'T EVEN WAIT FOR ME TO DO THAT MUCH... HE WAS UP AND OUT AND ON THE WING... OFF AND OUT TO THE LIVING-ROOM! One might have thought he had a plane to catch or something of the sort! It really was quite amazing. He's been in a "rush" on other mornings, but he's always waited for me to get the windows open before heading out of his house. THIS morning, there was no waiting! And when he got out to the living-room, I could hear him coo'ing... again, repeatedly. Telling the decoys of his annoyance? I wouldn't doubt it. (Truly, another moment when I SO wish I could understand what he was saying.)
I went about putting the room together for the day... and the water run, and the Little Guy stayed in the living-room, away from me. Tonight, looks like I'm going to HAVE to make certain that we're not up late again. (OH, the LOVE! Hey! I don't mind. As always, this house runs on Yonah's time and moods, not mine.)
Poops, in the mean-while, were delightful! 8 perfect little poops in colour, composition and location. They'd bounced a bit as they fell during the night so there wasn't any "excess moisture" and no "halos" on the "poopie rug". And they were under the night roost so it had been a "calm" night (as far as I can tell...)
Once I'd gotten the room almost settled (I didn't bother with folding the bed-covers this morning because I wanted to get the room "calmed" as soon as possible in case either of us wanted to "snooze" this morning - it was chilly in the house this morning, so much so that the house furnace was running when we woke, and there was no sun-shine and the forecast wasn't for a "cheerie" sort of day ahead, and we don't usually receive guests anyway so... it was a "casual Sunday" - with-out a sound (he's still not "whistling" when he flies), there he was, back in his house, on his perch, almost staring at me. BUT, I tried again, for a kiss and this time... I got a few, on the nose. It's just more of the teachings of my little Heart-and-Soul:
Leave grudges where they start and don't carry them along. Live the moment at hand because "then" can't be changed and "later" is changeable to the extent that "Nature" allows. All was "as well as could be expected" and Sunday was on the way.
OK. So the morning? Well, there was a "mist" in the air that was so heavy that none of the Western mountains were visible over the trees! It wasn't as "damp" as has been but it was chilly, and the sky was covered with clouds. "We" managed to get into the "regular routine" of a morning. I had NO intention of leaving the house at all today. Nothing that I needed that can't wait until... so I got into some little nonsense that's suited to first thing of a Sunday morning. But I didn't get to turning on any music and really wasn't in a mood for the radio... it was really quite a quiet morning, all told. AND, the house didn't actually warm until about 11.00. The house furnace was running this morning, as I say, but the house had taken the chill from last night and, well, I was comforted knowing that the "Sweeter Heater" had been on through the night last night and was still on this morning. (I'm leaving it on now because of the coolness and it seems to be doing some good for my Little LOVE... his mood has improved since I put the heater back on for him through the nights. Now I wonder, all the more, if he's not having some sort of "pain" or "discomfort, remnants and results of his original injuries. His flights are different... as I've said already, with more wing-work to get to where he wants to go, and there's no "whistle" again. But he IS flying, so there's that. Still, the worst attribute of birds is that they NEVER SHOW their pain! So the heater stays on until we get proper, appropriate warm weather and when-ever we can, we'll be out in the sun-shine for the warmth and the vitamin D.) Meanwhile, this morning didn't promise a day out in the sun.
And, I never got around to turning on the radio or any other "music" for that matter, so it was mostly the quietest of Sunday mornings. (I say "mostly" because in this area, there's always something to make SOME kind of disturbance... even on a Sunday morning.)
AND SO... 19.00 and the evening water run is done and the Little Guy FLEW right past me as I was running room-to-room and headed out to the living-room. Shame, really, but there's no "evening sun-shine" out there again this evening. And all day, I'd SO hoped we'd have SOME time in the yard but it wasn't to be and now the time has come to "close house" again and here we are.
Getting to the rest of today though... we had an "occupied" sort of morning, with "things" to pass the time, mostly. "House-hold stuff" as usual, and the next thing I knew, it was time to break for lunch! Actually, I was "reminded" with a little visit to the desk shelf and a hearty "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" "in the face". THIS Little Genius KNOWS his clock and what we're supposed to be doing and when. So we took a quick break for a lunch and snack and THEN...
I decided to try for a 30-minute snooze as we do after lunch and today, it was REALLY QUITE AMAZING AND NOTE-WORTHY! He MUST have "planned" it because, just as I came back into the room after putting the lunch dish into the kitchen basin, there he was, ON THE PILLOWS where I was going to lay my head! And he waited there for me! Then, when I got onto the futon, instead of flying away, as he's done in the past, he made him-self quite comfy and I managed to lay my head down, still thinking he'd leave. When I didn't hear or feel him flying away, I asked:
"Where's my Little LOVE?" and I got a couple of pecks on my head! He was still on the pillows, and obviously had no intention of leaving!
I turned my head, looked up to see him RIGHT BESIDE MY HEAD, staring at me! It looked like he was going to stay with me there and snooze but he hopped down onto the futon, up onto my chest where I had Burdie-Birdie (as I do when we have a lie-down), he gave Burdie a little "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" and then... toddled down to my shins and... nestled, so snuggly, and... closed his little eyes! He was there for the duration... WE SNOOZED TOGETHER TODAY!
When the alarm sounded, 30 minutes later, he was STILL THERE, eyes still closed. But when he realised my eyes were open, he looked up, gave a little "adjustment" of feathers, and NESTLED RIGHT BACK DOWN, GOT COMFY AND CLOSED HIS EYES... HE WAS TAKING THOSE EXTRA MOMENTS THAT I TAKE IN THE MORNING! NEXT THING I KNEW... ANOTHER 45 MINUTES HAD PASSED! WE LITERALLY NAPPED TOGETHER TODAY! WHAT A PERFECT "SUNDAY STORY"! And the room was almost "early-evening dark"... out-side, the clouds had thickened so snoozing was the perfect way to pass the time!
Of course, I laid there, waiting until my Little LOVE was ready to get up and when he was, he woke, gave a quick preen and toddled up my leg to my chest, gave me quite the "stare" and a resounding "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" as if telling me "I suppose we should get up now. What do you say?" I looked at him and said "I'm ready to get up when you are." and he toddled down to my waist and took off, over to the back of the desk chair and waited for me. When I got up, he headed up to his loft and settled into the place where he's most comfortable.
By then, it was already 14.45! Sunday had gone right past us and SO TOO QUICKLY! BUT THAT SNOOZE TOGETHER WAS MORE THAN ANYTHING TO ME. NOTHING COULD EVER BE MORE IMPORTANT!
I got up, got back to the desk to get some more notes typed on this Journal, and to put our house together, as it were and the next thing I knew... I was being "visited" at the desk shelf again... "dinner time"!
And now, 19.28, the house is almost settled for the night. The sky is still dark. We had all of 10 minutes of sun-shine all day. It was so dreary that even the Yardies were rare during the day today. They're just coming round for their little "before seepie-nigh-night snacks" and there's one Little Guy mourning dove out there who has the deepest "voice" when he coo's. And it sounds "strained"! I looked out earlier to see him. He appears to be "healthy" but it's the sound of his voice that concerns me. I SO HOPE it's not an infection! Respiratory or mouth/throat! Birds are so susceptible to "aspergillosis"! And "aspergillus" is all too common in the wild. And with all the rains we've had again this year... coupled with the general apathy of the local (as "local" as they aren't) self-proclaimed "avian veterinarians" which I KNOW, from direct and personal experience... the thought just pains me to my core. I've heard him before, so this Little One is one of the "regulars". He knows where the food is and thankfully, he's coming to eat. And MORE, I KNOW the food he gets here is healthy... the food these Yardies get is checked and checked and clean and fresh and some of what's in their "special mix" (yes, they too, get a "special mix" of seeds) is the food that Yonah doesn't eat. It's not "bad". It's not "spoiled". It's just what he tosses about in his house and when I put fresh food for him, the "rest" gets added to the food for the Yardies. Good stuff in there! No threats in the food here. But I don't know what else is "out there" so... I'll be keeping an ear open and eyes too on this one.
Any way, as I sit at the desk, wrapping today's entry up here, a little "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" from the living-room. The house is getting dark, the hour is getting late, another day, another day.
(19.45 Just back in from a visit in the living-room and my Little LOVE hopped right onto my shoulder and we had a little chat. And I walked back into his room with him! Time for that "snack" before we settle for seepie-nigh-night.)
20.29 already and I'm done with my "evening ablutions" and in sleep-wear. Now, on to the windows and we're ready and set to tuck-in for the night. How-ever, the Little LOVE is on "his" book-case making with the "nest coo's" and all "a-fluttering" so, "ride home" will likely be an "event". But HEY! This is HIS show, we adjust accordingly. We're off to the next programme...

Monday 16 June:
7.53 And away we go!
Yes, there was a "ride home" last night, down from the top of the book-case and SO quick! It didn't take but the quickest moment for me to bring the platform over and up level with the top of the book-case and I could see the top of the little head there. This Little Genius KNOWS: that platform means we're going home for the night, it's time for seepie-nigh-night!
It didn't take long for the "float" across the room and again, the very moment the platform met the perch, a simple "step" and... we were done for the day.
Lullabies were slow and gentle again since there was time. He didn't seem to want to actually settle-in at first but in mere moments, I could see the little silhouette all "tucked-in" for the night.
Last light was turned off at 21.00. And the house was still rather "light" because, well, Summer approaches, the skies don't actually darken until about 21.30. It's a strange sight and I wonder what the Little Ones out there in the world are doing at that hour. But in here, in "human-land", it appears that both of "us", in this little "flock", are guided by "the clock". "Seepie-nigh-night" time is when it's "time" to tuck-in and not with the day-light/night-time. Sad, really. How I wish we could both just live by the way "Nature" intends: sleep at night, up at dawn. But then, as I think on it, we really do, for the most part. In Winter, we run a little later than the sun cycle, but not by much. Come Summer, we're "roosting" by night-fall. "Close". And with the "wake-up" times, we're not getting the "documented" 12-14 hours of "rest" (according to the "experts", that's what mourning doves require) but we don't wake until the Little Guy calls so we're getting what he needs. (I'm just still thankful that he can snooze during the day when he wants... and truly relax, rest, safely.)
This morning, at 5.04, the first call of the day. "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" so soft, and almost a "whisper". I was "semi-awake" and "whispered" back a "Good morning to you. You're awake already? OK then." and the reply was another soft "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo". But, again, this morning, I didn't rush to get up and it didn't take long before the "volume was turned up" on the coo's. A few more of the "regular" and then came the "directive"... "woo-HOO!" Well? I managed to "postpone" leaving the futon until 5.30 (though I don't really know how, I must have half-dozed and lost track of time) at which time, the "woo-HOO!" was obviously "toned" with a bit of "If you don't get up now..."
When I got to opening the door to his house and tried for a "Good morning" kiss, I was presented with another "quick peck to the nose" and a scuttle to the side. No time for "kisses" this morning - or "no mood". Which-ever it was, it was time to get on with the day ahead and so, I was off and moving along. Monday had arrived and there was no time to waste.
Managed to get the "morning routine" together and done, kettle on, windows open, water run done right away. No sooner had things started to settle, there he was, on the futon, as if waiting for the morning bus. Out of his house and ready to ROLL! I headed to my own "morning get-me-together" and in no time, stepped back into the room to see the Little Guy perched on the top of the door to his house. But even that wasn't for very long... he was on the wing and out to the living-room! Goodness! "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo's" a-plenty out there!
Just yesterday, I happened upon a mention on another web-site that alluded to the coo's of mourning doves, mentioning that, generally, people tend to think of their coo's as being "sad" (hence, the name "mourning" dove) but in fact (as I've often thought, really), it's their "song", as well as being "notifications" of territory, availability to mates, location and the likes. And I've even mentioned here, in this Journal, as I've come to think over the years together with Yonah, that little birds are said to "sing" when they "chirp", doves, in general, coo happily... these coo's here, are THIS Little Guy's "morning song"... as opposed to "mourning dirge". There's a calming beauty to his voice, AND, I'd have to say that yes, there are coo's that ARE rather "mournful", BUT, there are others that actually DO have a "happier tone". And the coo's of a morning, that FILL this house from room-to-room, ARE more along the line of "Good morning. It's a brand new day." (Just because I happen to get up, wanting to stay under the bed-covers that while longer doesn't mean we ALL would prefer a "sleep-in". So typical of "humans"... "projection", I believe it's called: I'm tired and want to stay in bed so every-body and every-birdy else must feel the same way.)
Anyway, as the "woo-HOO's" continued in the living-room, I stepped out there to find the Little Guy prancing about the roof-top of his "yard house" by the windows and then he headed up to his tree where, when I got there, I was actually "allowed" to sneak in a couple of KISSES! Once done, he was off, on the wing again, and back "home"... and to his loft... "Monday morning"... settled-in.
8 poops this morning, back to the slightly larger size, and just a bit of the "green stains" on the poopie rug. But generally, they're "healthy". The composition and colour are great. And, under the night roost. A comfort in the earliest hour of a new day.
Meanwhile, out-side, the skies, clear, sun shining and rising over the tree-line. The forecast? Well, of course, possibility of rains this after-noon when the temperatures ought to rise to where we'd MIGHT be able to spend some time out in the yard. But... we shall see. As my Little Mentor has taught me well:
Live for this moment - and if we're able, this after-noon, to get out, even for an hour, I'll just be prepared to "make a run for it". Other-wise, we'll just handle what-ever Nature throws our way. There are those things we can change and those we can't. It's not a matter of "why" it's a matter of "so this is it and how are we going to address it"?
Monday morning... as if...
Well then (now), it's already 19.55 and for the first time ALL day, the SUN is FINALLY making an appearance... as it sets down behind the Western mountains! No rain. But no sun-shine. And all day, it's been "waiting" for the showers... that never came. And I have to say that I wasn't much of a "companion" all day. This "rotator cuff" trouble has taken the "starch" out of me. And the more it takes, the more annoyed I become. I try my best to be the best companion, but again, today, two "naps"... and both of them, alone. I can't help but know that Yonah senses it all. I managed to "clean" the wall under his windows with a flush of vinegar to make certain that there's no mould growing in there with all of this cool weather and dampness. (Only just now I'm seeing 54% humidity in the room and that's with doors and windows open all day and the window fan in his room, and the fan in the living-room running all day as well. Thankfully, it isn't chilly. We have that much going for us. We have "moving air" in the house. Still....)
But the Little LOVE has been just as sweet and inspiring to me as ever. Every time I think that my arm is sore, I think of him, I see him, and I remember his suffering and mine is nothing in comparison. Nothing I've ever experienced in my life-time can compare to the horror he's survived. So, again, this Little Bundle of Feathered LOVE is my "salvation"... he "rescues" me.
Our "routine" stayed, for the most part, as it usually runs through the day. And, as I say, all day, I watched the skies, hoping for a break in the clouds so that we could get out! And I do believe Yonah's looking for some time back out in the yard too. He was almost "lethargic" today. I don't know if it was because of me or the anticipation of being able to get out with the other mourning doves "out there".
And this evening, I notice that he's not eating as much. There's still quite a bit of food in his dish and that's rather unusual.
I looked at t his morning's poops this evening before "disposing of" them and noticed that, compared to the past few days, this morning's were more "dark green" than the browns of the others. Thankfully, we have more milk thistle and dandelion root so tomorrow, I'll put some of that in some fresh food and hope he gets some of it in him... and watch the poops.
To add to the day... a post on our social media from our "Teillady"... she's been told her cancer has returned! Not too long ago, I'd posted "Does anybody else worry about who will take care of our Loved Ones in a health emergency?"... She replied, "Always." Now I know why. Honestly, for many years, with my own health history, I've almost expected to be told that it's "hit" me some-where. For many years, I just waited, not really caring one way or another. BUT THEN... along comes my little Heart-and-Soul and I RUSHED into proper health care, all sorts of tests and such. As I told the first "doctor": Yonah's average life expectancy can be 5 years so what-ever you find, I want it attended to immediately and thoroughly. I HAVE to be around for not less than 5 years to be here for him." Now, these almost 5 years later, Yonah is approaching that age (though, because of him being in here, safe from predators, we could be looking at 10-15 years so that means I have to be even MORE careful), there are days, moments in days, when my soul trembles at the very thought of being taken from him, even for an "over-night stay in hospital". I believe Amy would be right here to give him as much company and attention as she possibly can. But what of the nights? What of the lullabies? What of tuck-in? What of the mornings and kisses? Water changes? Somebody to coo with? What?
And on days such as today, dull, dreary and "time to think"... well... it was a bit of "heavy".
All things said though, my little Heart-and-Soul appears to be OK. I took the "toss-away" food off his shelf earlier so that I can see when/if he's eating. I headed to the shower and when I came back, I saw that he'd gone through the food a bit. There was more seed off on the shelf.
And now... 20.21, he's up on the desk shelf, by the speaker where his bird-songs are still coming through (we have to turn that off... it's usually off by 19.00 but I'm running later than I'd like). We have to get to closing the room and house. It's going to be a warm night too... it's 25° right now. OH! How I wish we were some-where where we could keep the windows and curtains open through the night now. (But then, there's still a lot of "day-light" out-side so "tuck-in" in the light will be rather "odd", I'm sure... and the mourning doves out-side have been at the back gallery to eat even about 5 minutes ago... then too, I don't believe I have to worry about the Little Guy getting enough rest; as long as we don't have any sort of nonsense from the neighbours... "booms" and the likes, he'll get his night's rest... to be sure, and wake when he's rested enough. I know this much.)
20.33 Just checked the weather forecast... MORE RAIN FOR THE NEXT WEEK! Hopefully they're wrong. I need to find a way for us to get out of the house... Umbrella over the "yard-house"? Well... and the Little Guy's still up on the desk shelf but I've been "addressed". Time to get to tuck-in!
20.53 and... my little Heart-and-Soul is on his roof-top... PREENING... after quite the serenade of nest-coo's, complete with "flutters". The room is settled, as is the rest of the house, so I'm off to see about a "ride home" for the night. It's late... LATE! I'm ashamed of me. Enough of this, we're getting to seepie-nigh-night!

Tuesday 17 June:
(ACV Day 1)
10.50 already and it's been a "busy" sort of morning that commenced with "call to order" at 5.10 this morning, but again, this morning, I didn't actually get up off the futon until 5.36 and was "informed" that such delays are really rather "unacceptable" with an almost steady "reminder call" of "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo". It was the "final woo-HOO!" that got me up. Poor Little Guy. And yes, I am duly ashamed.
Oddly enough though, I have to make a little "note" here: this morning, I checked "our" social media to see if there was any word from our "Teillady" and her "Arnie" did post a little "bath-time video" and no mention of "Moms". BUT, "Feathers" also posted about getting up at 6.30 in the morning and somebody else commented that their Little One "calls" at about 6.00 and they don't get up until, at the earliest, 6.30 but usually at 7.00! Personally, I can't imagine even trying such a thing (unless, of course, there's something terribly wrong, like not feeling well or a completely restless night). But imagine that, being able to simply stay on the futon for AN HOUR! OH! I KNOW THAT would NEVER be tolerated! (Although, with Yonah? He'd likely wait, patiently, coo'ing away the time. But, as is the case in this house-hold, "our" time is "HIS" time and I WON'T leave him in his house, closed-in. At the VERY least, I MUST get up, open his door, place his door perch and make sure there's enough light in the house for him to navigate. That's how it is in this house and I wouldn't have it any other way.)
That said, we're definitely up and about and rolling with the hours as they pass by entirely TOO quickly. (I still have an errand to run and I'm doing my best to postpone "the inevitable"... as usual.)
Last night's (extremely too late, admittedly) tuck-in went right along, as smoothly as could be. I got back into the room after ablutions and such, went right for the windows to close them up for the night and the Little Guy waited, ever-so patiently, on his roof-top, over his heater. No interest in playing, understandably. So I "did the windows", put the futon together for me, tucked Burdie-Birdie in for the night and when I turned to his house, Herr Taube was almost hesitant about getting to the platform for the ride home. But when I started the evening lullabies, slowly, he turned and went over to the platform to await "take-off". En route to the night roost, I tried for a bit of a kiss, but no doing. We were late and that was that.
One at the night roost, the usual "step off" and still, no kisses. In fact, he turned his back to me! I was being "told"... so I went along with all the rest of tucking-in, singing slowly, calmly, softly and... as I got onto the futon, head on pillow, I could see that he was a touch fidgety but soon calmed and settled... and by 21.30, lullabies were done and the little silhouette was all tucked... head on wings. Last light off.
This morning? Well...
TODAY IS "ACV", sadly. The poops report isn't as "comforting" as has been. Only 6 in total, all of which were quite "large" (though not as large as SOME have been in the past). Perhaps half-again larger than the "large" of recent times. And ALL of them, quite "dark green". This morning, "concerningly dark green". And there were halos, larger than simply "moisture". Not "wet", to be sure, but still, just more than I'm comfortable with. I considered milk thistle in his food but decided rather, to change his dish and food and opt for the "ACV".
His energy is fine. But then, I keep in mind how birds won't "show" their discomforts, injuries, and such. So there's really no telling for certain what's going on with my little Heart-and-Soul this morning. he was up and on the wing ever-so shortly after getting his house settled for the day. (Including a complete drain of the pool so I could put a little dish of the "ACV water" in there for him to drink.) AND, he even headed out to the living-room as I pfutzed about in the kitchen! Just barely missed me on the return flight to his room! And he's still not "whistling" when he flies. I'm just hoping that the ACV water will "cleanse" what-ever might be "wrong" again. (One other post on "our" social media this morning: a "parrot" who's been "lethargic" but "chatty" of late was just diagnosed with... yes... "cancer". And, of course, as is usually the case with birds, "palliative" care from here on. It's one of the aspects of "humanity" and "human life" that annoys me: were it "human" there would be all sorts of "rescue efforts"; but because it's such a challenge with birds, well... humans, that's all need be said.)
I've been keeping busy with looking into necessities of the house and planning on "new housing" in the coming months. I'd been considering going one size up on the "house", a mere 4-5cm larger all round, but space in the room, and considerations of how much time is spent in "the house" makes larger seem a bit silly. (Not to mention the cost of the new "house" itself, plus the new shelving that would be needed and the new wheels for the shelving. My Little Guy isn't confined during the day, and when he's in his house, it's mostly to lounge in the loft, have a bite to eat, grab a quick drink so we really don't need "huge". But a new house is in order... there's nothing actually "wrong" with this one but I'd like for him to have something "newer"... Shame, really, that they're so heavy. This one would make nice for travel - as if we do any of that. And/or, a nice change for out-side, if I could figure a way to put it out there, protected from the elements. There's no way I could have him in there and bring it out each time. That's another consideration: getting a new "out-side house", something larger that will fit through the doors to be carried out, but light enough too. Hey! 5 years! Teillady's Arnie will be 11 years of age come the week-end! I'm AWE-STRUCK to think that she'd been there for his "hatching" and here, 11 years later... And I wonder about Yonah and all the "readings" I've done on life-expectancy. 11 years? Yeah, I'm doing the calculations: I'll be 76 when he's 11! Puts me in mind of people who have children "late in life". Then too, it's been done and, well, the only way we'll ever know anything for certain is to life it. I'm prepared... I hope.)
And so, after a little visit this morning, to the shoulder, as I puttered about with "people nonsense", the Little Guy is back in his loft. There's a bit of "day-light" out there this morning. Can't really call it "sun-shine" because there's such a covering of clouds. A breeze is blowing through the house with the doors open. The room is at 24°, humidity at 57% which causes me "concern" too. But with the air moving... "hope" for no "untowardness" (mould). (This morning, I "bleached" the kitchen wall and the scent of "old cologne" has disappeared. Hopefully, disaster avoided there, and yesterday, we "flushed" Yonah's "window wall" and last night, no "old house scent" in the room. Oh... "the season" approaches.) BUT, I'm cancelling today's "errand-run"... and if there's even the slightest chance of us getting out to the yard... we're taking it. Hopefully it will be warm enough to enjoy. We BOTH NEED a bit of time out of this "box" (house). And maybe it'll help with what-ever's bugging my Little LOVE's tummy! THAT worries me more than anything else!
19.26 Well, again, today, no sun-shine, heavy breezes, cool temperatures out-side, and even the Yardies were few. Actually, none for most of the day and the usual "evening diners" at about 17.30. We never did get out to the yard again and I never made the market run I'd considered.
I'm growing more concerned today too. Not only were this morning's poops back to being "odd", but it seems my little Heart-and-Soul is flying less often AND when he does, it's silent again. He's been on his night roost for the past hour. I tried to play with him and Burdie on the futon this after-noon (I never even got our mid-day snooze today) and he flew up to the top wall shelf but though he showed a little interest in playing with Burdie, he really didn't want to. And he didn't come down to the futon to play. I'm wondering what's going on here. My thoughts are now trying to figure out how to make "ramps" for him, so that he can walk to and from his favourite places around the house. Something light, like the wood used for his "night boards". We'll need from his house to the futon, house to desk shelf in his room. Not sure how we'd work the wall shelves and book-cases. Then too, some way to get to the floor so he can get to the living-room and little "ramps" up to the futon there, then to his "yard house" and tree. I've been plotting a new house come August, but, it appears there are other things that are more important. I don't want to see this Little LOVE unable to fly, but I won't see him unable to get around as he wants. Thankfully, I've seen other birds who don't fly well, on our social media. They live healthy and appear to be happy. Sometimes somebody has to carry them about. Other times, little ladders and such are made, but Yonah isn't a "climber" so... We'll figure something. I KNOW we will. To think: 5 years is approaching... for Yonah, that's "OLD"... and I've always said: the more yesterdays the fewer tomorrows. But no matter what, my heart will NEVER be "prepared" for... NEVER. Then too, our new "closing song" at the end of ever day, after the last light is turned off is: "What'll I Do"... and the closing:
"I won't be alone, with only dreams of you, for when you go, I'll go with you."
I'll be right behind him... but I'll be here with and for him all the way.
Sun-shine... I'm growing angry with "Nature" and "Creation" again... Sun-shine! This is not right. It just feels hateful.
(19.45 I was typing and looked-up to see my little Heart-and-Soul and told him that I'm just finishing-up here and will be going to brush my teeth and put on my 'jammies' and he started coo'ing! We chatted a little and I got up to go over to him and when he saw me at his door, i got the happiest wing-snap! We "talked" a little while and I got KISSES! SO MANY BEAUTIFUL KISSES! It's cooling in the room, though it's still 24°. The down-side is the humidity of 64%... mould humidity, and the place has had that "odd" odour again. SO glad I "flushed" his wall and this morning, did the kitchen. Time to REALLY be aware! And MORE RAIN in the forecast for the rest of the week! WE NEED SOME SUN-SHINE! He's on the perch over by his food now, fluffed and closing his eyes... he's tired... and I HOPE that's ALL this is! My heart is breaking...) I'm off to get the room together for us for the night...
Well? It's 20.24 and the Little Character had been on the desk shelf for the while and as I walked back into the room to settle it for the night, he took off and headed straight to his roof-top as soon as I closed the curtains and THEN, played, briefly, with the "curtain critter" (my hand behind the curtain making all sorts of movements). But when he'd had enough of that, he casually toddled to the front of his house, nestled-down and broke into a serenade of nest-coo's. So I'm off to making-up the futon for me for the night. Our night music is playing. Let's see if we "get the hint"... I'm about to see...
Closing this for the day... to be continued...

Wednesday 18 June:
(ACV Day 2)
7.02 and we're up and out and about. And even a flight to the living-room! And, on the "return flight" I heard a "soft", rather "not-usual" bit of a "sound" that ever-so slightly resembles the old "whistle"! But there's still more "winging" involved with flight. I can't quite understand that. Can't quite discern whether he's flying "slower", being mindful of walls and door-ways and turns or if it's trouble with his wings. But the flights appear to be "OK".
This morning, I tried to set-up some sort of "ramps", using the styro and some cuts from the wood used for his "night boards". Oh! But he had FUN toddling across the styro from his roof-top to the desk shelf! And it was a bit of a delight to see how he "adapted" to having it! And when I tried putting a little "ramp" from his food to his loft, he was already on the roof-top and WATCHING SO INTENTLY! When I'd gotten it "situated" and looked up at him, SUCH THE WING-SNAP! I'd done something to his house and it was, indeed, noticed! But he wasn't interested in going down to check it out.
That's when I left the room to get back to things in the kitchen and he headed to the living-room. And when I got out there to check on him, on the roof-top of his "yard house", HAPPY WING-SNAPS AND PLAY AND KISSES! He's quite "vociferous" this morning too!
Poops? Well... 7 in total, almost a "normal" size again, but they're still REALLY DARK GREEN! On the "Green Chart" of "Saturation and Value" they're a "20/20" with a "code" of 293329 . It's day 2 of the "Apple cider Vinegar", sadly, because it's expected to be quite a warm day ahead and I'm pretty sure that even though there isn't that much vinegar in the water, I'm not so sure that drinking it will be "pleasant". But I just don't want to take any chances and the ACV has proven to make wonderful changes in my Little Guy's tummy and general well-being so, the pool gets drained, the little dish of water gets put in there and I hope he actually drinks enough of it to make a difference. Today and tomorrow... but over-night there's clear water in the pool... in case.
In any event, I'm going to be watching, with CARE, the poops during the day and HOPE, HOPE, HOPE!
Last night, we had a "swift ride home" to the night roost, no "drama" or such. And I'd started lullabies as we were preparing for it and since it wasn't terribly late and my Little LOVE didn't seem to mind, I sang, softly and calmly. Made it all through the repertoire and, on the mark, 21.00, the last light was off for the night.
This morning... My Little Time-keeper called at 5.21 with a little "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo". I answered with my "morning voice" "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" (spoken, not coo'ed) BUT I didn't get right up. It was another one of those mornings where I could have just stayed there, on the futon, dozing and lounging. BUT... At 5.27 he called again and I was up and about to open the room and windows and to get to "business"
Drained his pool, put the little dish of ACV water in and went about the regular routine of a morning. It was mostly sunny out there this morning but still, too many clouds for my liking. I was still seriously considering getting out of the house today anyway. These poops trouble me, and I tend to believe that sun-shine might help some-how. +
Truth of the matter: all this "drear" in the weather of late is getting on my nerves. We don't get much time out in the actual sun-shine as it is and though it's important to me too, I worry about my little Heart-and-Soul! We NEED a place where we can get ALL the sun-shine Nature will provide! The UV light is supposed to "help" him with his vitamin D, but it's no substitute for being out in the air and the actual sun-shine! Oh... one day... PLEASE... SOON! A nice place with a nice place to sit together, in the sun-shine!
Right now... we're together, here, and we're off to what-ever this day holds for us... TOGETHER! (And that is really what matters most.)
18.55 already and 29° in Yonah's room with 66% humidity! OH WHAT A NIGHT IS COMING! And tonight's low set for 19° ! Another night where we're going to have to keep the fan on, I fear. But then, can't really complain. It's been so chilly that the house furnace has run at night. And the days, so chilly and damp that we couldn't get out to the yard. August is usually the hottest, and even then, compared to other regions, it's not all that hot here. It's just that we're so accustomed to the "cooler" that when the "warmer" arrives... it's "hotter".
And tonight, I've no doubt, we won't need the "Sweeter Heater" on either. I DREAD the thought of this little guy over-heating in his sleep. I'm SO thankful for all those "Avian Vet Webinars" I took in. The kindly "Dr. Tom" pointed-out that birds are better able to handle being "too cold" than they are being "too hot". Their little body temperatures are generally rather high to begin with and it doesn't take but a moment's time and a degree or 2 too high to be fatal. So... no heater tonight. It might be a relief too, for the Little Guy. We can only "try and see".
WELL THEN! 19.52 now and the night music is playing, I'm just out of a shower. The Little LOVE is on his roof-top, coo'ing the "evening prayer" (that's what it reminds me of), or the call of "Good night to all".The house is settled, and I'm in sleep-wear. And it's still quite warm in the house and room. Yes, tonight... the fan will run. I hope it won't disturb Yonah, but then, he manages to "sleep" through much worse, and I remember reading and hearing that birds, generally, don't like complete silence anyway so maybe this will be some-what welcome. Though, over the years, he might have become more adapted to the silence of the nights. How I wish I could know with certainty... But there's SO MUCH that I wish that about.
Oh, and there's fresh water in his pool already too. I made sure to put that in right after we had dinner so that he can have a drink of water... especially in this heat.
It been QUITE the day!
After getting "things" round the house settled this morning, I decided to make those errands I put off yesterday and resolved to get them done in the morning, in case we might have a moment's time out in the yard today at some point. Since the weather forecast has been anything but "promising" of late, I was determined that, even if we had cloudy weather, we were going to get out in what-ever "sun-light" there might be. So, by 9.15 I was out the door, on the road and rolling (as quickly as possible, of course - leaving my Heart-and-Soul alone is my living Hell... as I've made more than clear through this Journal). AND, before 10.00 I was back in the house!
I even came in through the back door this morning, as a little surprise. It's directly across from Yonah's house and when I came in, there he was, on his roof-top. When I called "Surprise. I snuck in the back door this time." he popped his head up to look, noticed it was me and went right back to relaxing... for a moment, before WOOSHING through the kitchen and out the living-room with a "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"!
So, I went about putting the shopping away as needed and went out to the living-room for customary kisses and to my amazement, I was "allowed" MANY! I received a few in return, but what "surprised" me was that he didn't scuttle away as he usually does. Of course, with his poops being "off" and his "flying" being "odd", I couldn't help but think "He's just not feeling well."
THEN, I looked out at the sky. There were large "breaks" in the clouds to the West and the direction they were moving promised a bit more sun than clouds to come for a while anyway... I put the rest of the house in order and by 11.00 I was determined: WE WERE GOING TO TRY TO GET OUT TO THE YARD, INTO THE SUN-LIGHT, EVEN IF FOR 15 MINUTES. The sun-shine surely would do both of us good, and if my Little LOVE isn't feeling altogether all together, no doubt, a bit of natural "vitamin D" would do him some good. To that end, I made the mad dash to get his yard house together and set-up the back walk. There was a little bit of work to do with the yard and gardenette so we'd be together and he could see me moving about.
By 11.30 WE WERE OUT OF THE HOUSE, ON THE BACK WALK! AND OH! WAS IT EVER HOT! AND YES, THERE WAS SUN-SHINE! BRIGHT SUN-SHINE! (Though the heat concerned me a bit, but as always, half of Yonah's "yard house" is covered with a nice, thick bath towel, enough to allow air to move through but it's thick enough to block the direct sun so he could choose where he wanted to be.)
I worked in the gardenette and "our little yard" and my Little LOVE took in as much sun-shine as he possibly could get. As I told him "I saw sun-shine with your name on it and YOU'RE going to claim it all!" I didn't know how much sun we'd get today and how my heart yearns for a place where we can just get out into some fresh air and actual sun-shine... just the 2 of us, together, to enjoy it. We don't get much and never "enough". But at least we got SOME today!
While he was out of the house for a while, I managed to get into his room and "douse" that out-side wall under his windows with "much" white vinegar. I'm taking no chances with anything "growing" in there and I've smelled just the slightest odour of "old house", as it's been called. The vinegar will flush and clean what-ever might be in there. These days I worry about mould AND the presence of yellow jackets that took nest in the wall for the neighbours. The vinegar will let THEM know they're not welcome here! To be sure.
Our neighbour from down the road, Ed, came by whilst we were in the yard, and stayed for a chat. On seeing Yonah, we got round to "discussing" all of the "particulars", Yonah's "history" and he, Ed, appeared to be sincerely interested. When I'd done telling, he solemnly said: "If they (Dee. E. Sea - as the are) took him away now, it would kill him!" I didn't have to say another word and my heart was SO FULL. SOMEBODY WHO UNDERSTANDS! (Then too, there aren't many I've ever met who have any particular "fondness" of the "Dee. E. Sea". Heartless bunch, them. So, I'm just rather relieved to know that somebody else knows Yonah's history and seeing him and how well he's doing, I "worry" just a little less. It was "assuring".
And as we chatted, Ed was watching Yonah and knowing the history, he commented "I do notice something 'odd' about the outer feathers on his left wing, now that you mention it." So, again, somebody else who SEES why Yonah and I are together now. All said, it was a much-needed conversation, assuring, comforting. At least now somebody else is familiar with our "situation" and approves of the conditions and appreciates my LOVE for this Little Guy.
So... At 13.30 the yard work done., we were back in the house before our neighbour returned (and started that godless dryer). I"d skipped lunch today but WE HAD SUN-SHINE!
I tried setting up some of those ramps again, I still can't help but think of a time when my Little Bird will have troubles flying about his room, getting out of his house and around. There are posts on our social media of other birds, elderly or having some sort of "impairment" that keeps them from flying, and I see the "ramps" and such that are made for them. The major "issue" I have with those is that those birds are "domestic" and they're parrots or cockatiels or the sort that "climb". Yonah doesn't "climb" so I have to adjust accordingly. BUT all the while I "tested" different bits of wood and branches, Yonah didn't want them about and he was flying all over the room! OK. I took them all down and out of his way. We'll come up with something when the time and need present. For now, they were just more obstacles in his flight patterns. Funny how, even though he has the entire house and his room and his "house" is certainly larger than most "cages", SPACE is something we both need... especially him! As I say: when the need presents, we'll have something for him... may that moment never come.
At 14.30... I HAD to have a lie-down, so I set a 30-,minute alarm and he came over to the futon onto my leg... and I dozed off for the 30 minutes. When I woke he was still there, nestled and cosy, so I laid, thinking I'd wait for him... when...
15.30! I looked at the clock and he was still with me! But when he realised i was awake he toddled up to my chest and then back to my leg and hopped off. But he stayed on the futon.,even when I went out to the kitchen!
I watched him carefully, this after-noon, and he was flying quite regularly (as regular as he does these days) and he headed out to the living-room again. When I went out to check on him, the wing feathers on his left wing looked "OK" again. I worry, wonder... and hope that this is just hot weather moulting. They're not "bad" in any way. They just don't look as "healthy"... a bit dull and a little "dishevelled". As I say, I'm hoping it's just the "moulting".
OK then and so! This evening, we had our dinners at 17.00 (as we "must") and OH! HE ATE SO WELL! THAT'S ALWAYS A COMFORT TO SEE! What-ever I'm worried about isn't keeping him from eating!
OH! AND POOPS DURING THE DAY: REGULAR SIZE, STILL A BIT ON THE DARK SIDE OF GREEN. BUT NOTHING "SHOCKING" OR STRIKING OTHER-WISE! ONE MORE DAY OF "ACV" AND HOPE! It's terrible, not knowing what's going on with him, but then, even if we did have a "family veterinarian", with the way I tend to worry... I'd still hesitate to take him in for every little thing. Too much trauma (so I suppose it's best we deal with things as we've been doing... after all... we're going on 5 years here. SOMETHING MUST be going "right"... though I'll NEVER be completely at ease with my limited knowledge and care.)
And now... it's 20.26 and the Little LOVE is on the desk shelf as I get this all recorded. It's time to close the house (and see what this Little Character has planned, what little "game" we might play before tucking-in; after all, we had a day in the sun and he's got ENERGY).
OK... 20.42. Windows and my evening ablutions attended, the house is settle for the night ... AND ... HE CAME RUSHING TO HIS ROOF-TOP when I went to close the blinds and curtains! SUPERVISION! But now, the futon is settled and it's time for a "ride home". Let's see... and, as an aside... the room is at 28°! HOT TONIGHT! Lets' see how "sleep" goes.

Thursday 19 June:
(Day 3 ACV)
It's already 15.45 and there's a breeze blowing in through Yonah's windows.... as the rains fall again. We had quite the down-pour some moments ago and, of course, all day, clouds threatened these rains so we never got out to the yard. But then, considering our 2 hours we got out there yesterday, and this morning's poops, the continuing "ACV", it might be better that we didn't get out there. It was an almost comfortable day, temperature-wise, though the humidity has been rather high (at 58% currently), so probably best we had a "relaxed" sort of day together.
So now I'm going to get some of the day's "non-events" (thus far) jotted here as the day comes to a "close" for us.
LAST NIGHT was quite notable: As I closed the house for the night, the Little Guy was on his roof-top, ever-so patiently awaiting my "task completion" responsibilities and I came back into the room after my own "ablutions", all set and ready to put things together and get to tucking-in. I made it to the windows, closed curtains and blinds so that the fan was "open" to the room. It ran through the night, last night, primarily for air circulation because, well, until the night air cools it just pulls in the warm air from out-side. (Thankfully, filtered through the "activated charcoal fabric" so there's not much in the way of dust, pollen and the likes.) All the while, I was "supervised" but with-out any sort of interaction, so I got that done, and rolled his house back into "position" for the night ahead.
But as soon as I turned to the futon to put THAT together, I'll never know what he was thinking but he almost "bolted" down, off the roof-top and, in his "new flight path", flew away from his house, turned, in the room, and went right back to his door perch! I finished with the futon and turned to him, thinking I'd "give him a hand" and carry him up to his night roost but HE FLEW up, got to the night roost and proceeded to settle him-self right down! No "ride home" last night! Of course, I expected at least one last "flight" to a shelf some-where, but... NO! He was in and that was the close of day for us!
So, I just went on with closing the room, settling us both for the night with lullabies but before I tucked me in, I popped in for a kiss "Good night" and got THREE and then he scuttled to the side. Three was my limit. Crazy little Character that he is.
Lullabies were soft, slow, calm because it really wasn't so late that we needed to rush through them, and for the first few brief moments, there was preening. I had to smile thinking it's my Little LOVE's "evening ablutions" there. And as i sang, I watched... the little silhouette on the night roost settled right down, quietly... and... at 21.05, the last light in the room was turned off... the sound of the window fan filling the room, and... Wednesday was closed.
This morning? WELL THEN... This morning, poor Little One... once again, I woke wanted "just a little more time" to get up and moving. He called "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" as I was waking and getting my-self in a position to lift me up. Nice, calm, soft, another one of those "softer" little "Hello there. Time to wake up." The clock read 5.01. I could tell, by the light in the room that, out-side, the skies were covered, again, and in that dim light, I ALMOST half-dozed off again... but, as I laid there, waiting for the next call... "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"... at 5.18! I replied to that one, right away with an apology for taking so long to get up
(16.00 and I'm typing, he was coo'ing at me and just FLEW OUT OF THE ROOM TO THE LIVING-ROOM WITH MORE COO'ING OUT THERE! IT'S TIME FOR ME TO GET UP AND PUT DINNER ON THE HOB! The nice part: the sun is shining in the living-room - of course it is, at the end of the day - so he'll get some of that light, for all it's worth.)
I was "informed" that he'd been waiting with several "stern" "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo's"! Well OK then! I was up, and about and over to lift the roof-board, place the platform, open the door, place the door perch and bolted to the kitchen to put the kettle on. When I came back, I popped my head into his house, he was still on the night roost, hoping to get at least ONE little kiss "Good morning" and I got... another three. So I wasn't (yet) "on the list".
Checking poops: NOT "HAPPY"... ONLY 6, and not particularly "large". Rather "soft" and "ropey" and there was noticeable "halos" round 5 of the 6. Those 5 were directly under the night roost. One was off to the side of the "poopie rug" and that one was "less wet". The "urea" was as white as could be, so that much was "healthy". But the quantity and quality... I was SO hoping that they'd be "normal" again. But today? Third day of "ACV" and though I'm always tempted to cut those 3 days short, thinking of the "process", and seeing this morning's poops... I pulled the "drain" on the pool and put the little dish of "ACV water" in there.. Tonight I'll re-fill the pool with "fresh" clear water and tomorrow, HOPE that things return to "normal". If not... we have to wait at least 2 weeks before another round of ACV or... milk thistle. Much to watch for from now on.
The Little Guy DID manage to hop over to his "food perch" though, this morning but for most of the morning, that's where he stayed. I can't tell if he's just not feeling well, going into a "moult", or, my DREAD, he's having some pain or discomfort in his wings. The thought of him having arthritis just PAINS me to my core. I've done the "researching" via "AI" for all sorts of information and thankfully, learnt that "aspirin" is FORBIDDEN! (I thought as much.) BUT, there are natural supplements (much along the line of our milk thistle) that can help. AND, the heater is recommended because, very much the same as with people, the cold will cause more stiffness and pain and the heat will help that too. So, I have a little list of "herbs" that we'll have to see if we can't incorporate into the daily foods... from time-to-time, of course, depending on how well (or not) they're received.
When I'd done with all the morning nonsense round the house and managed to get the house settled for us for the rest of the day, he DID manage to take the flight to the futon to be with Burdie there, and then a little flight to the living-room for a bit. I was SO relieved to see that because this morning, I was honestly and deeply worried about him, not knowing how his wings would be this morning. And those poops didn't console me at all. But he was up and about and coo'ingh along.
Still, no matter how he might "appear", I'll NEVER "not worry". I've seen him in such Hellish condition, after that attack, and even at the very beginning, I remember how he did his best to TRY to take flight from me until he just couldn't. And how he TRIED to walk, with one leg. Birds... never letting their suffering be known. (And this one, being my inspiration: no matter how much I might be "uncomfortable" or in any sort of pain, I look to him and nothing I experience can even begin to compare.)
Well, the morning rolled along in the tedium that is another over-cast day. There were breaks in the clouds but none lasted long enough to even try for a run to the yard. I won't subject Yonah to the getting into his "yard house" and then out the door and then back in and back out of his yard house. Especially not now, with his health being "questionable". If I'd known we could have spent more than 30 minutes out there, I might have done, but it just looked "suspicious" for the most part. I did put the UV light on for a little while, but then, when there was a break of an hour in the clouds, I turned it off. Not sure if it did any "good" but at least we tried.
Today, we DID take our break for lunch, together, I, at the desk and the Little Guy in his house. He'd gotten up for his lunch and that was my "cue". (OH, but it bothered me that he had that ACV water to drink today. It did become quite warm... in fact, I've put the "exhaust fan" back in the living-room window this morning. And yes, I was "supervised" for a moment's time until I "got in the way" and my "Supervisor" flew off as if to say "I can see you can handle this so I'll be in my loft." Still, on this warm day and no pool water and no "fresh" water... thankfully, tomorrow we go back to the POOL! And with the forecast of ... 36° on Monday! POOL will be necessary... not only for drinking but bathing as well! I dread to think.) Anyway, we had lunch and by 12.40, I'd put the dishes into the basin and come back to the room. The Little LOVE was back in his loft as I laid on the futon and when he saw me there, he came down to his door perch. I invited him over and... sure enough, over he came... to the pillows at the foot of the futon and then a hop down to my legs. I set the alarm for 30 minutes and... with my Companion, managed to doze until the alarm sounded. When I woke, there he was, little eyes closed, all snuggled. So I laid still and waited for him to get up... 15 minutes later. Oh sure, there were "things" I could have done with that time but as long as he was comfortable... nothing else in Creation is of any matter at all...
When we DID get up though, he toddled up to my chest, as if checking to see if I was actually awake, then down to my leg and he was OFF... on the wing....
A FLIGHT OUT TO THE LIVING ROOM AND A TODDLE BACK INTO THE ROOM. I JUST HAPPENED TO NOTICE, AS I SAT AT THE DESK, THE LITTLE "DARK SPOT" AT THE DOOR AND LOOKED UP TO SEE HIM STANDING THERE, LOOKING INTO THE ROOM AT ME. AND WHEN I SAID "Oh! Sneaking-up on me?" HE CAME RIGHT INTO THE ROOM AND UP ONTO THE FUTON.
What was left of the rest of the day rolled, as it does, and the Little Guy made him-self cosy in his loft... the tempearture in the room was about 26 and today, the humidity was at about 60%... still comfortable for Yonah but for me, the beginning of my "panic"... "mould"... but I'm ready for combat against it, to be sure, and we've already started our "preemptive attacks". So, as long as he's OK, I'm OK. (I just hope it doesn't exacerbate any pains he might be having in his wings... Not sure what I can do to combat the humidity but... we'll think of something. At least we keep the air moving in the house and bring in the air from out-side so it's close to what he'd be living in were he out there.)
AND THEN, THIS EVENING, AT DINNER, HE FLEW BACK OUT TO THE LIVING ROOM AND TODDLED ABOUT THE FLOOR FOR AWHILE. HE'S TODDLING MORE OF LATE AND I'm wracking my brain wondering how the folks on our social media manage. There are 3 birds that I can recall, who either can't fly at all (due to age or seizures) or are extremely limited in their flying abilities. They all look happy, healthy, and since 2 of them are parrots, well, the problem here, with Yonah is that parrots and such are "climbers". They can step with their legs and pull with their beaks. Yonah? No. I'll be searching the "AI" for suggestions and recommendations and scouring the internet for ideas. I don't believe it's at that point, just yet, but I NEED to be prepared. After all, we're approaching "5 years" and the inevitable is... I don't want to think about it... more than I must.
(19.45 and there's a bit of a "sun-shower" out there and I happened to look out the back door at the feeder in the gardenette to see...
One of the mourning doves, at the edge of the feeder, IN THE RAIN... WINGS UP, ALTERNATING, AS IF TO CATCH SOME OF THE RAIN UNDER THE WINGS! Mourning doves are known to raise their wings when they bathe - as I've seen documented, and nobody knows why, it's unique to them - and there's the Little One out there, in the shower! Now I wonder... how can I get a "shower" in Yonah's house? He has the "fountain"... I just need to "configure" something for him. I've wanted to do that for as long as I can recall, but all the little "items" I think I could use, like the artificial rock formations, are made of plastic and "hand-painted... in China" and I just won't put that sort of thing in with his water! If I could figure some way of getting some sort of "protected area" for him in the yard... OH... the "if I could"... But what a charming sight to see this evening.
AND... MY LITTLE HEART-AND-SOUL IS BESIDE ME AS IT TYPE HERE, ON HIS LAP-TOP, WITH A MOURNING DOVE VIDEO PLAYING AND OUR "NIGHT MUSIC", AND I JUST LOOKED OVER TO HIM, ALL "SNUGGLED" THERE AND STARTED TALKING WITH HIM. HE LOOKED UP AT ME AND GAVE ME THAT LITTLE "FLUTTER" OF THE WINGS THAT HE DOES WITH A NEST-COO! NO COO'ING, BUT JUST THAT LITTLE "FLUTTERING" OF THE WINGS! THAT'S A FIRST! HE'S SO COMFORTABLE, AND RECOGNISES THAT I'M SPEAKING TO HIM AND MY VOICE! BUT THAT HE'S COMFORTABLE IS ALL THAT MATTERS TO ME! And there's the most wonderfully cool breeze blowing into the room as the rains continue to fall and the sun is shining through. THIS, RIGHT HERE, IS "LIFE"... "LIVING"... MY HEART-AND-SOUL IS CONTENT, food, water, shelter, protection... now, I hope his health will be as good...
SO there and now then... 20.15 and he's stirring and preening on his old lap-top. The night music is playing, the rain is still falling out-side and though the clouds aren't heavy enough to block the traces of day-light, we can see that the sun is setting. And thankfully, the room has cooled a bit but the humidity is rising. Oh well... Another night of "fans, fans, every-where the fans" will be running. There are now 4 of them that will keep the air moving about in the house. 1 draws air into Yonah's room from out-side, another - box fan - moves it through the kitchen to the living-room where another box fan blows it to the window where the exhaust fan draws it out. Soon, we'll have the 5th fan in the kitchen window to draw air out through that window too. Never again, will I let the air "settle" in this place... in the warm weather!
But for now... time for me and my "evening ablutions" and getting to the windows for the night and hopefully, a restful, healthy sleep for both of us! Tomorrow? Nothing on the agenda except some weekly house-cleaning and another day together. And, yes, there's "possible rain" in the forecast but we'll see how that goes... when tomorrow gets here. If we can, we'll head out. If not? We'll just be as we always are... and I'll keep watching poops.
OH... THE POOPS DURING THE DAY? FINE. GOOD. GREAT. NORMAL! So we'll see what tonight "leaves"... when we wake in the morning.

Friday 20 June:
Of course, all morning, it's been grey, dark and really rather chilled in the entire house. Most of the day we've been at 20 or 21°! BUT, just moments ago, the clouds cleared, the sun-shine has appeared and the house is warming... thankfully, some of this morning's breezes are still blowing so the doors and windows are open and the air is moving through. (Good thing too: the kitchen wall just got bleached again this after-noon, to fight any potential mould growth, as this house is notorious for. There was a "strange odour" at that wall this morning and I'm taking ALL precautions available! I'll NOT have my Little LOVE inhaling ANY such thing! Mould, I've come to learn, can be deadly to birds. They're almost little other than "lung" wrapped in feathers, and infections can spread from respiratory up into their little mouths preventing them from eating as well as breathing. Malnutrition leads to wasting as the fungus blocks airways and their mouths so suffocation takes place as well. The very thought... So, for a little while, there's the scent of the bleach in the air in the house, but, given a little while, that will dissipate and with the windows open, the fans on, tonight we'll have clean air... and "clean wall hollows. Monday's forecast is for terribly hot at 36° and after all the dampness we've had of late... well, if we need, we'll attend. Hopefully, today's "treatment" will address and prevent.)
Meanwhile, getting to the day's entry here....
Last night we ran SO LATE AGAIN! I got the house settled and my "ablutions" done, but because there was still so much light (later days with the Summer approaching), it didn't seem to bother the Little Guy at all. And out-side, the Yardies were still grabbing little snacks at 20.50 when I closed the doors and headed back into Yonah's room to "close windows" he was perched on the door to his house! Ever-so calm, and I'll NEVER understand how he can be comfortable with his little toes wrapped so tightly around that wire door! They almost wrap round twice! But there he was. And when I went over to say "I'm going to close the windows now." I was "allowed" to sneak a few kisses! Usually, he's not happy when I give kisses when he's on that door (throws his balance off a little), but last night was fine!
Ah... but he heard "windows" and "rolling" (I always tell him before I roll his house to get to the windows so that he can "prepare" for the move) and he HOPPED right over to his roof-top and waited for the movement of his little "world".
NO SOONER had I drawn the blinds, closed the curtains and moved his house into position for the night, I went over to say "It's seepie-nigh-night time now, y'know." and he looked directly at me from where he was, at the "front" of his roof-top and then calmly turned and stepped back onto his little platform, ready for the nightly "ride home"!
En route, I got MORE kisses in and when the platform arrived at the night roost, it was almost like the end of a little date: he hopped onto the perch, turned to face me, I leaned in and I got several little kisses "Good night". And when I started the nightly lullabies, I could SO see him actually settling and getting comfortable for the night. Well, in all fairness, we were REALLY LATER than we should have been, so...
I made quick business of closing his house and getting me to the futon and lullabies were a bit "up-tempo". Not "fast", and none cut short, and we made it all through by... 21.30! Last light turned off, and the little silhouette was all "tucked-in", nice and quiet and calm. AND, as we settled-down, the window fan stopped running... the temperature in the room had finally cooled! That was comforting to me not so much because it had been horribly hot in the room but more that it had cooled for my Little LOVE for the night.
Came this morning... 5.20 came "the morning call"! I heard the "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" and as I answered "Well, good morning to you too-hoo-hoo-hoo." I was happy to see that it wasn't as early as I'd expected. 21.30 last night to 5.20 this morning... 8 hours. Not the 12-14 hours that the "experts" claim mourning doves "normally" sleep over night, but then, THIS Little Guy has, over our years together, averaged 8 hours of sleep... no matter what time we might "tuck-in". Yes, 20-4.00, 21-5.00... Yonah gets the rest he needs. Poops: 1O PERFECT-SIZED, A LITTLE ON THE "DARKER" SIDE BUT NOT AS DARK AS THE PAST FEW DAYS! AND ALL UNDER THE NIGHT ROOST! AND THEY BOUNCED SO THEY WEREN'T WET!
I MADE A REALLY THOROUGH FLUSH OF THE POOL THIS MORNING AND HE WATCHED SO INTENTLY! AS THOUGH HE WERE "QUALITY CONTROL" AND MAKING SURE I DIDN'T MISS ANYTHING THAT MIGHT BE IN THERE.
AND HE HAD ABSOLUTELY AWESOME ENERGY, FLYING ABOUT THE ROOM, HIS HOUSE, THE HOUSE, COO'ING. IT WAS ONE OF THOSE MORNINGS THAT WAS COMPLETELY WORTH BEING HERE FOR!
I was so "inspired" to get things done today! No matter what the world had to throw... I was ready to take it on! My little Heart-and-Soul was obviously feeling well and as long as HE'S well... Creation is well. And I had "house-hold nonsense" to keep up with and I got "on it"! "Friday".... "Mayhem day"... hoovering and all the rest of the "people nonsense" to make sure my Little Guy's house is in order, neat, tidy, clean, safe.
This after-noon's lunch break at mid-day, of course, and we sat together to catch some of the news and after, I took our customary "30-minute" snooze... and today... we snoozed TOGETHER on the futon, all so comfy-cosy. When I got up, I decided to get right into the house-cleaning and out came the Hoover! It was so funny today. As I went about cleaning his room, under his "house shelving" and the desk, the Little Supervisor stood at his door perch and watched my every move! I always think of how none of what I do makes any sense to him. After all, I know the hoover is picking-up what-ever's on the floor, but to him, I'm sure it just appears to be me, passing this "thing", back and forth for no particular reason. And I'm still really amazed at how, cats will RUN when the hoover is started, dogs will attack it (oh, do I remember those days, even from so many years ago). But THIS LITTLE GUY? He just watches OR he'll simply head out to another room. He's not phased by any of it! (As I think, when the doors are open and the Yardies are at the back gallery eating, they too, seem to simply ignore the noise. They're more concerned with my presence. If they don't happen to see me, they go on about their business, eating, casually. Birds... go figure.)
And oh, whilst hoovering the room, I DID managed to sneak-in some little kisses as my Supervisor watched the goings-on. Again... so nonchalant about the entire affair.
Finally done, the house returned to "relative calm" it was, already, time for me get my dinner prepared and...
This evening (at 15.50) as I was preparing my dinner in the kitchen, HE CAME TODDLING OUT TO BE WITH ME! It was obvious that he just came out to be with me because we actually had a little "conversation"! I "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"ed to him, he "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"ed back at me and we had quite the impressive "exchange" for a while! Then, he casually toddled out to the living-room, went round, came back into the kitchen and when I moved about, he followed me! There are times when I swear he's more like a "puppy" than a bird. And it's absolutely THE MOST HEART-WARMING SIGHT! It's comforting to see that he's so at ease with me. I can't help but remember: he was born in the wild, I'm supposed to be a "predator" but we're a "flock" now. We've both managed (to a point) to break through all the "natural barriers" between us. THIS was NEVER what I'd expected from the beginning and it will FOREVER BE SO HUMBLING, SUCH A PRIVILEGE, AN HONOUR, that HE CHOSE to come to trust me and accept me as his "flock"!
More? I happened, at one moment, to glance out the back door and there, in the yard, a pair of Woodpeckers... a "couple", and the male was feeding the female. It was a BEAUTIFUL sight to see, but then, as always, it pained me, thinking that Yonah doesn't have a little mate, a little "Mrs." and in that respect, I'm completely useless. I try, with berries, mostly, to offer him some little treats, but I'll NEVER be able to be even a remotely suitable substitute for a "Mrs." I always wonder what he'd "tell" his Little Ones, if he'd had the chance, about his time here, with me. I wonder, always, if birds actually DO that sort of thing: impart wisdom. "Instincts"? I know they'll teach the young what's good to eat, where to go for safety and such, but "stories"? Do they tell one-another "stories". I'll never know and I don't believe ANY human ever will...
20.25 MUST be the light out-side, but this Little Character headed out to the living-room whilst I was sitting at the desk having my dinner and... AND... he's only JUST returned! I got wrapped in my usual "end of day research" and all the while, the Little Guy was on his tree in his living-room, catching the last of the day's sun-shine as it dropped over the Western mountains. (Figures: all day, no sun, day ends, the sky clears... "Nature", go figure.) Anyway, when I reaslised the hour approaching 20.00, I jumped up from the desk and bolted into the kitchen to set-up for the evening water change. FRESH WATER, twice (at least) EVERY day. On the way, I stopped to say that I was going to "do the waters" and, of course, grab some kisses. He was on the roof of his "yard house" and yes, I did get some kisses before I headed back to the kitchen.
Well! No sooner had I started the water running when... WOOSH... there he was, SOARING through the kitchen, headed "home"! (I'd said "waters" and that meant I was going to be doing something in his house and THAT required supervision!) When I got to him with the first containers of fresh water, he was EATING! I ALWAYS LOVE SEEING THAT! Though, he wasn't eating what was in the dish; he sometimes does that, he'll eat from the seeds that he tosses onto the "shelf" instead of what's in the dish. Never could figure why, but, at least he eats. And what's on the shelf is the same quality as what's in his dish so... Anyway, as I ran the water, he ate and I SNUCK KISSES IN TOO! AND GOT SOME IN RETURN!
So now... 20.40, we are SO LATE again and he's back on the door to his house, like last night, over my shoulder, behind me and I'm going to wrap this. It's Friday night (and I HOPE it will be calm and quiet). Tomorrow? Hey... Hopefully we'll have SUN, at least for a couple of hours, and will be able to get out into the yard! The forecast for Sunday and Monday is, well, "threatening"... MISERABLY HOT AND HUMID so we'll be in the house, fans running, blinds drawn, no doubt and trying to keep in good spirits.
Today though, was WONDERFUL! Healthy poops, lots of energy, nap together...
So it's already 21.02 and the Little Guy is on his roof-top, making with the nest-coo's. Our "night music" is playing, the house is settle and I'm off to closing the windows and getting us "tucked-in" (I think). More tomorrow...

Saturday 21 June:
7.40: This morning's already gone by so quickly! But it's been a veritable flurry of activity here.
5.01 came the first "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo", and again, it was quite "soft". I can't tell anymore it this Little Guy is being "polite" or if there's something I ought to know about here. But his voice is clear, and "strong", even if it's not "loud". And when I didn't reply right away, the next "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" followed quite soon there-after. THEN, I spoke up and had the audacity to say "If it's all the same to you, I'd like about 10 minutes here, to get this old body together?" The response to the request was a quick "woo-HOO!" Well, that elicited a little "woo-HOO?" from me to which came a softer "woo-HOO" so I took that as a little, though "hesitant" ... "Well, OK then. If you really must." So, awake, I laid on the futon, pondering the day ahead. Oh, but time did what time does best, especially of late... the next thing I heard was a stern "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo". Looking at the clock.. 5.28! I was up and about and on the GO!
Got up, went right over the Little LOVE's house, opened his door, leaned in for "Good morning" kisses and... Only one little peck on the nose this morning. To think I had the audacity to make him wait and THEN expected KISSES? The nerve! Really! But the door perch was placed, I went right for the curtains and blinds and from there it was non-stop with the rest of the morning... and water changes too!
It's a "chilly" sort of morning, today. 14° on the window fan! 21° on the little thermometer on the desk shelf! And no Sweeter Heater last night! I actually ran the house furnace and put the "Sweeter Heater" on! But the Little Guy seemed to be quite OK with it all. Beautiful wing-stretches when I popped my head in for kisses so that's encouraging. If he was having any pain, I tend to believe it would have been "visible" with the stretches. But they were as graceful as they ever are. And to think, Monday is expected to be about 36°! All said though, today's forecast: SUN and not "too hot" so... looking forward to time in the yard! And now, after all the morning nonsense completed, KISSES AND A SNUGGLE ON THE DOOR PERCH! And right after that? Off to the futon for morning visit with Burdie-Birdie. So, it's "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" to Saturday morning and the longest day of the year... "Summer" has arrived. We've made it through another Winter and Spring... together.
Poops this morning? Well... could be better, could be worse. Not as "nice" as yesterday's but nopt as bad as those before. 8 in total and ALL of them directly under the night roost but... still quite dark, a bit of "green halos" round each one. It's the "wet" that I worry about most. But I'll keep watch for the rest of the day. "Don't judge by the morning poops", say those with experience.
Now as for last night... all went rather as usual and expected but I HAVE to note that he was on the roof-top, at the front when I finally got round to "attending night tasks" and I got SOME KISSES in before starting the lullabies, and the very moment I started "Autumn Leaves", again, he turned, calmly, and made his way to the platform. HE KNOWS! And from there... we "sailed" into "tuck-in". The very second the platform met the night perch, a little hop and that was that.
Lullabies were soft and slow again. And at first, from the futon, I could see the little silhouette fidgeting about with feathers but, in the shortest order, the little head tucked between little wings and by the time lullabies were done... so too, was Friday. Last light off at 21.30.
It's already 10.20, the room and house are starting to warm up a bit better and the sun is shining. The temperature on the thermometer on the desk is reading 24 but it really doesn't feel that warm... yet. But hey, my Little LOVE has been in good spirits.
AND... i JUST HAPPENED TO LOOK UP AND... THERE... MY LITTLE HEART-AND-SOUL WAS JUST HOPPING OUT OF THE POOL! HE'D TAKE THE QUICKEST LITTLE DIP! Not really a "swim", and not a "soak"... he must have hopped in, gotten wet and decided "Nope." I'm just glad the water was fresh and clean. And with the heat-wave being threatened, well, it's another "comfort" to me to know that he has the opportunity to cool his little self in his own pool, not worries, no travelling. And there's food and a place to relax and rest, no predators. HIS house, HIS territory, HIS world. It might not be "perfect" but, it's safe, and that's what this Little One MORE than deserves.
12.45 AND WE'VE FINALLY MADE IT TO THE YARD! AND THE SKY IS CLEAR, THE SUN IS SHINING. IT'S WARM BUT NOT BEASTLY, AND THE LITTLE GUY IS MAKING THE LITTLE "PACES' ON HIS PERCH IN HIS YARD HOUSE. "AMERICAN STANDARDS" ON THE "RADIO" "THE LONGEST DAY"... AND HERE WE ARE, THE TWO OLD GUYS IN THE LITTLE YARD, GRABBING THE RAYS (and hopefully, some vitamin D).
We had lunch as as soon as it was done, the washing-up got done and as I was putting things together, there was a mad dash from Yonah's room to the living-room. I told him we were going out-side and there we had it. And when I went to get him to bring him to his yard-house, no fussing. I know he knows "out-side" and it seemed he was ready! So here we are.... and I'll be working on this journal for as long as we can tolerate it.
14.11 The nice lady whose name I can't recall, came to fetch her mail whilst we were out here and she stopped to chat a bit about Yonah. She got the story, including the "Dee. E. Sea" particulars and she's aware of their "policy". Seems nobody approves of that nonsense. And as she left, after looking closer and talking to Yonah (he paced a little bit and then went to his "loft" ... he's still leery of "new people" which pleases me and yet, sickens me with worry - if I ever had to be away from him - but she closed out chat with "Thank you for taking care of him." Imagine? Thanking me. But it's nice to know there are still caring souls in this world... fewer and fewer though they might be.
15.11 and we're back in the house... We made it until 14.30 and the temperature reached 27° and although the "report" claims only 37% humidity (and the room hygrometer claims only 47%) it got to be a bit "much". So? Almost 2 hours of sun-shine today. And HEY! It was so warm out there that the Little LOVE actually spent time on his little loft (another platform in his "yard house) in the shade of the towel. So? So. And when we got back into the kitchen, he was still on the loft so I moved it to the door of the "house" and OUT and AWAY... he was into the room to "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" to Burdie-Birdie!
He's just had a little snack and I'm about to have a little lie-down before... dinner. A lovely Saturday. Hopefully tonight will be calm, not TOO hot and tomorrow... a little MORE out-side time.
19.45 He's been in the living-room for about 45 minutes now... and the sun os only JUST starting to set. I'm headed for a shower. Waters changed, house settled, temperature is nice. 26 but there's a coolness coming in with the fan and humidity at 55%.
After dinner I had a lie-down for 45 minutes and when I woke, there he was, on my leg! 20.13 I stopped by the living-room on my way back to his room following my shower and there he was, on his yard house, all preening and looking "Dapper and Galant". We chatted a moment, I closed the front door for the night and came into his room, sat at the desk and WOOSH! He's having his evening snack as I type. All that remains for the night is settling us in... closing windows and such. I'm just SO glad we got sun-shine today!
21.12 he's on his door. He's been cooing at me but I got so wrapped in the "people news" (Iran). The sun has set. It's dark... and late. Poor sweet LOVE. Let's see how tuck in and wake tomorrow go. And it's warm int he house, though the fan stopped so it's cooler than 75F° which is the lowest temperature the fan is set for running. Rain in forecast for tonight. I hope. Sun for tomorrow but HOT.

Sunday 22 June:
9.40 already! And a non-stop movement to attend to the house from the very moment I got up from the futon (though, admittedly, I would have liked to have stayed there longer this morning... late night and all, last night). And as for last night...
I don't even remember now, exactly how late it was, but the clock was heading for 22.00 when I finally finished everything that needed to be attended round the house, my ablutions and such. So I came into the room, the Little Guy was still on the door to his house but when he saw that I was heading for the windows, he hopped over to his roof-top and waited, watching me as we rolled his house about and I got to closing the blinds and curtains. I got the windows closed, leaving the fan exposed in case we needed it during the night and when I put the back-board on... HE WATCHED MY HAND "DISAPPEAR" AS I BROUGHT IT DOWN AND RUSHED OVER AND UP ONTO THE EDGE OF IT, LOOKING DOWN FOR THE "CRITTER THAT VANISHED"! WE PLAYED, FOR A LITTLE BIT, AS I BROUGHT MY FINGERS BACK UP OVER THE TOP AND DOWN AGAIN. It wasn't a LOT of playing, but it was more than we've had in a while. Made me feel SO much better because it seems my Little Guy is feeling better... and that's all I care about.
Well, once we got the back-board on, the "Birdies" tucked-in (Burdie in the book-case nook, and the NewBurd on the shelf) I got to the evening lullabies and the Little Character made a DASH for the wall selves! It REALLY appeared that he got there and turned to look at me as if to say "So I'm here now, what are you going to do about it?" But I calmly brought the little platform from his roof-top over to the shelf and as soon as it was level with the shelf, this Little Guy simply stepped onto it. His "ride home" had arrived and I'll be... if he doesn't know that that's what that little board is for him. So we "floated" across the room to his house to "Autumn Leaves" and I managed to sneak a little kiss in on the way. The platform reached the night roost and, as casual as could be, my little Heart-and-Soul simply stepped off and onto his night roost. He was "home" for the night.
As I got me to the futon, lullabies continued, softly, slowly but a bit shorter and it was more than obvious that Herr Taube was, indeed, TIRED... he settled right in and down, all tucked and at 22.00, at last, the last light was turned off.
THIS MORNING? OH, this morning... \
During the night, I was rudely awakened with one of those "tickles in the throat" and had to get up and leave the room, coughing. I worried that I'd disrupted Yonah's sleep. It didn't last long, but I'm sure he noticed... though he never made a sound. (I was particularly interested in this morning's poops... to see where the were, and if they showed any "relocation" of my Little One last night.)
Well... at 5.05 I was awakened to the sound of another one of those "Are you awake yet?" soft "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo's. OH... the poor little Sweet-Heart! I was SO tired between the late tuck-in and being up and about at 2.30. I begged a little while longer and the next thing I knew there was another "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo", but this time, a little louder and clearer. This one was more like "OK. Time's up. Let's get to that day out there." Between that and the ticking of rain on the roof of the cellar shed out-side, yes, I got up and headed right over to his house to open his door, pop my head in and got a face full of kisses. I offered my apologies for sleeping so late, but it seemed he understood. (Who knows? Maybe HE enjoyed the extra "quiet time" this morning too? I shouldn't doubt it. He had a LATE night too, last night.)
Still, I wonder how it is that, even with the late tuck-in, he was still up at about 5.00. Yonah's is a strange "clock". "Nature".
Before I got to the morning routine (which I did, right away, considering the hour of the day), I checked:
POOPS! Well, 7 in total, all of them only just slightly larger than "normal" but really not bad at all! And colour is still "dark" but I'm coming to believe it's something in the seed mix. The "dark" started with the "parakeet" mix so there's probably some seed in there that's darkening the poops. But there wasn't much "moisture". The "stains" on the poopie rug were minimal so they weren't "wet" which is a relief! And the were ALL under the night roost! No "disturbances" last night! YAY! A "restful night". That too was such a relief!
This morning, there was another one of those "oddly, very dark" feathers on the floor again! The "shaft" is so much thicker than other feathers. This sort is almost "common" from that left wing. But this one is really quiet "almost healthy" looking. Just "heftier" than other feathers. Might be the cause for "odd flying". The Little Guy used to almost "soar" through the house, from room-to-room, and make more direct flights from place-to-place, but lately, it seems he's using more "wing-power", more "flaps of the wings", and instead of "here-to-there" he tends to take "circuitous" paths. For example, instead of going from his loft perch to his door, he flies out of his house, into the room and then back to his house and door. I'm noticing and wondering. I'm some-what relieved that he's flying, because I'm seeing little posts and videos on "our social media" of other birds who, in their aging, stopped flying. It makes me think of what we'll do, should "our day" ever come when Yonah won't be able to fly about the place. Little ramps and the likes. The birds on the internet are "climbers". Parrots and the sort. But doves don't "climb". Our "Teillady" had just the situation with her "Pete" and they did quite well. It'll be a matter of me investing more time, holding Yonah and taking him from place-to-place. Hopefully we'll be out of this place before then so there isn't such a drastic change in his environment. But mean-while, I wonder if, because these feathers are from his wing, could this have something to do with the loss of the "whistle" when he flies? He does fly, and it doesn't appear to bother him. Though he did spend much of 3 hours in his loft this morning... no flights about the house. These are the moments when I have to ask:
If we had access to a veterinarian, would I actually bring him? What would they do? Draw blood? Even try to get an x-ray? X-ray's require "sedation". I don't think I'd risk that. And the handling... this Little Guy doesn't like being "handled". Trauma. And then, what would they tell me? "Nothing we can do." Like when we did go to the veterinarian, so long ago, and she said "bacterial infection" and I asked how he'd get something of that sort and she snapped "He's wild. He probably had it when you got him." No. They're as bad as "people doctors" any more. We've come through a LOT in our years together... We'll come through this.
These are the moments that drive the fact: we're in this TOGETHER... just US. We'll be OK... (And I'll worry...)
And so... Last night... RAIN. RAIN. RAIN... a little thunder during the night but obviously, it didn't "startle" or disturb my Little LOVE.
This morning it was 23° in the room. 67% humidity, though it feels higher with all the rain this morning. But I'm grateful for having doors and windows open, fans running and the corner of the kitchen that's had the worst "odour" is now "vinegared" and improving. The window fan in his room hasn't run yet this morning. That's comforting. That's set to start and stop with the higher temperatures.
Now to watch the skies and air and temperatures to see if we can get out to the yard at all today. (The Yardies are just coming round now that the rains have stopped.)
AND MY HEART-AND-SOUL APPEARS TO BE "HEALTHY" THIS MORNING! He's just come over to the desk, to his lap-top where we're watching this morning's "news"... His "familiar voices" that we usually hear with lunch and dinner. And its dark enough to be "dinner time"... the clouds are that think and heavy.
Oh yes... and we DID get the rains last night and into this morning. The "weather folk" managed to get this one right and I'm actually happier for it (though it means more work to attend to potential mould growth in this "box o'toxins", as I think of this old house of late). We'll keep a nose open for "strange odours" and today's Sunday, so we'll be together... here. ("I wish you shelter from the storm, a cosy fire to keep you warm"...)
WELL THEN... all too quickly, as is always the case, it's 20.21 already and to be honest, we had such a "lazy Sunday" all day. It never really got "too hot" but hot enough to make excuses for not doing much.
We DID get our "routine 30-minute snooze" TOGETHER, at mid-day, after lunch. THAT'S always such a BLESSING. And on a hot, Summer day, the only thing missing was a tree limb, some leaves, dappled sun-shine and a breeze... I could see us, in the trees, the Little Guy "roosting" and me, in a bough. I'd MUCH prefer HIS "life-style", but then, I wonder: does he prefer the "life" he has now over what he was actually born into? In reality, it was "THAT" life that almost ended his and this one, well. As I will forever think:
Life is about quality, not quantity, and the best I can do is HOPE that I'm giving this PRECIOUS LITTLE ONE the best-possible quality. Though I'll never really "know" with any certainty.
We didn't get out to the yard. Sure, it was sunny, but really quite too windy this morning and then, this after-noon, it got almost brutally HOT! Even the Yardies took to the trees. So we opted for staying in, windows and doors open and just "being together".
He's been in the living-room, on his little "tree" in the corner, for a bit over an hour now. There's still day-light out there, but it's time to get us together for a night's rest. Let's see how this goes... closing a day, with a trace of "day-light"....
20.46 and I went out to the living-room to the little tree in the corner and opened the front door for a little air circulation in the house whilst I "attended my evening ablutions", as it were and as I was in the kitchen, the Little One came SOARING through the kitchen and went straight to his house. But he's on the desk shelf as I close this here, and our night music is already playing. He's making with the "nest coo's" and the "preens" but it's time to close house for the night. Oh... more tomorrow... "wenn Gott will...

Monday 23 June:
20.17 and this is going to be a "digest" for today because, over all, it was a day of "nothing but HEAT"! At one point this morning, the thermometer on the window fan in Yonah's room simply flashed "Hi" because the temperature had exceeded the 99°F that is the highest it records! Thankfully, putting it on "exchange" dropped it down to 94° but all day, it fluctuated between 94 and 95! Only NOW is it reading 87° at long last. And only NOW is the air actually moving. A breeze! The first all day! And no clouds to break the sun-shine. It was horrible!
All day my heart wouldn't be still, worried about Yonah! The HEAT! Birds, in general, can tolerate the cold but, as I've read and heard (from our "webinars") it doesn't take but a degree too high and it's fatal! We rand this morning's water right away so that the water in his pool would be cool, and then again, at mid-day, I changed it again, complete flush, for fresh, cool and clean. I was SO hoping he'd take a splash, but he didn't, so I put a little dish of extra water in his house to drink, hoping he'd, at least, take advantage of that. The Little Champ too the heat as if all were just fine! He did spend quite a bit of time in the living-room, and it was only just slightly cooler out there since the sun was beating on the out-side wall of his room all day. But it was a quiet day. I tried to "conserve" my own energy so that I didn't fall ill. (At one point, later this after-noon, I almost did and a hefty drink of water seems to have helped that pass. MUST remember to "hydrate"! Tomorrow is supposed to be a repeat of today so.... )
And I did have a "lie-down" after lunch for 30 minutes AND MY LITTLE HEART-AND-SOUL NAPPED WITH ME! Honestly, AGAIN... THIS LITTLE GUY IS MY GUIDANCE AND INSPIRATION! TOGETHER, WE CAN GET THROUGH ANYTHING!
We had dinner, together, at our usual time so the "routine" was, for the most part, "normal". But the heat was horrific!
At about 18.00, I stepped out the front door (which was closed all day but now that the sun is behind the mountains, is open - the back door was open all day to keep the air moving in the house, at the very least, though there was no breeze) and the old thermometer registered... 115°F! It's because the front is all pavement and the heat is reflected against the house all day and with no clouds, it was horrific!
As I say though, my "living Hell" wasn't the heat, it was the worry that Yonah wouldn't "over-heat". But now? It's 20.32 (we're running a bit late but I'm hoping the room will cool a little more before we tuck in) and he's on his old lap-top, watching the "news"... "Normal". WHAT A BEAUTIFUL LITTLE BUNDLE OF LIFE!
All day, we had NO Yardies either. Only a couple of mourning doves came by at about 18.30 and didn't stay long. And I moved the hummie food to the clothes line on the back gallery to get it out of the beating sun. There were a few that came by. I don't know HOW they all manage and where they go to escape this kind of heat.
On a lighter side... the humidity stayed in the low 30s! I ran an "AI check" on it. With the temperature being so high and the humidity being so low, the assurance and comfort: the heat was so high that mould can't survive unless there's humidity, and with the humidity being so low, well, the combination kills it! And I inquired about a potential "burst" of growth and AI says that very little, if any, should survive the conditions so there shouldn't be any fears of a "burst". Of course, no "guarantee" (especially in this old box) but I have to say that I didn't notice any "strange odours" during the day and as for the outer wall of Yonah's room where I "flush" (and have done twice already, once with bleach and again with vinegar), the sun POUNDS on that wall almost all day long so it HAD to be truly Hellishly hot in there and with no moisture... I'm hopeful.
SO, that said... last night's tuck in: last light off at 21.30 but after soft and slow lullabies... really calm, soft and slow! As for ride home? Last minute, he headed for his roof-top and watched me close the windows for the night and when done, I walked round to the front of his house, snuck in a couple of kisses and started "Autumn Leaves" and he SO CASUALLY STROLLED OVER TO THE PLATFORM AND WAITED FOR THE RIDE HOME! And... yes, as usual, the platform arrived and he simply stepped off and... we were off.
Poops this morning: 7 slightly large... ALL almost one atop the other so it was a calm night last night. A bit "too wet" for my comfort but the urea as white as could be and they weren't soft and "liquid". Poops during the day? As "normal" as can be.
And now, 20.56, 87°F in the room, 34° on the monitor with 38% humidity which is good. The window fan is pulling in the night air. Low for the night? 27! TOO HOT but hopefully not terribly uncomfortable. Again, on nights like this, how I wish we could leave the windows wide open... my little "Hell"... until.
The Little Guy is on his roof-top at the left edge by the windows. New place. And "nest coo'ing". It's time to close...

Tuesday 24 June: 8.20 Busy morning already with all sorts of laundry done and we're up... the temperature today destined for about 32 but already, the window fan in his room is registering 28! And, sadly, the humidity is already noticeable. And I've an errand to run this morning before... Also, "thunder storms" in the forecast for this after-noon! I'm rather glad they'll come during the day when we're both up and about. I worry when they come at night, wondering how Yonah perceives the noise... in the darkness.
But last night's tuck-in was late but "smooth". My Little LOVE waited patiently, as he does, but on the edge of the door to his house as I rolled things about to get to the curtains! I'll NEVER understand HOW he does that: little toes wrapped so tightly round that "wire", and he holds his balance! (I've all to do to put on shoes whilst standing these days!) But as soon as he saw me reach for the curtains, he headed over to his roof-top to wait for his "taxi home". As soon as I'd done at the windows and put his house in "position" for the night and started the evening lullabies, another casual stroll to the platform and... kisses en route. Arrival at the night perch, a little hop and there we were.
All went well there-after and I managed to get through the repertoire, nicely, slowly, calmly, softly, the Little Bundle of LOVE tucked-in and at - late as it was - 21.40, last light off for the night.
This morning? 5.15 came the "morning woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo". Again, "softly". And I answered "Good morning to you-hoo-hoo." "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" came the reply. And several more in the next 5 minutes that I took to get me up from the futon.
Popping in for kisses this morning... MANY! It was WONDERFUL! And the room was "comfortably cool", thankfully. The window fan was still running when I'd finally drifted off to sleep last night and off this morning. 23 already though, in advance of the heat to come. So, in the coolness, I got right to the morning routine, especially to make sure that the water in the pool was fresh, clean and cool for morning drinks. And the Little Guy headed out to the living-room almost right away with a "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo". WE were up, the house was in motion.
POOPS? At first, I was "concerned". It looked like they were quite scattered on the "poopie rug" and I could quite see them in the early morning dim light but...
8 in total and ALL OF THEM... YES... "ALL" OF THEM, *NORMAL SIZE* AND BACK TO BROWN, LIGHT BROWN! HEALTHY! *NORMAL*! And the "scattering" MUST have been because they were "dry". Not "terribly" dry but just enough to be able to "bounce" a bit when they fell! REALLY WONDERFUL!
Clear voice. Energy. KISSES! And now, at 8.37, he's up on his roof-top, a little pruning, we're listening to "American Standards" and he's coo'ing to "Mario Lanza - The Song Is You"! Have to get him a copy of this? He's deffinitely got "preferences" when it comes to music. (I'll never forget "Song to the Moon"... the VERY FIRST time he responded to music... and it was "Classical"! One wonders, I do say.)
19.00 and the Little LOVE is in the living-room and out-side, our second light rain is falling AT LAST! The temperature in his room is dropping to 30° after being 35° for most of the day! And there's actually a breeze blowing in from the West so it's coming right into the living-room! What a relief!
The day was, again, horrific. After I got this morning's errand done, there really wasn't anything that either of us did all day. The Little Guy spent quite a bit of time either in his loft, a few visits to the living-room where it was about 2 degrees cooler than in his room. And the blinds were pulled half-down all during the day, to keep the bright sun and heat out. Though that really doesn't do all that much because the sun BEATS onto that "Southern-facing wall" almost all day so it stays SO warm. Nice in Winter, but not so much in Summer. I took a "nap" again today too, for an hour, mostly alone. I had one little "visit" but he didn't stay. It was too hot to be on my leg! The "saving" was that the humidity stayed low (and that too, now, is rising a bit, with the rain, but it's holding at 55% so, not too bad... yet).
But for now, the evening waters have been changed. The house is settled. I'll head for a quick shower and then... we'll see how "tuck-in" goes.
No Yardies again today. It's so sad to think that it's been too hot even for them. thankfully we have a small "river" not far away where they can go to find water, and the wood-lands where they can find shade in maples and pines. And I'm comforted knowing the Little Guy has his own pool (which, to my amazement, he hasn't used in this heat) with fresh, clean water.
Some-what sad this morning when I happened to see the "cat from across the road" in the yard, carrying a chipmunk! Sad because that cat doesn't belong here but a relief that it's victim wasn't one of the birds! (It's why I have our little yard fenced.) Then too, the chipmunks are why our sun-flowers are all of about 12-15cm high at this date while those at the neighbour's are about 3 meters. Every time I planted ours, the chipmunks dug the seeds and when the remainders would sprout, the what the squirrels didn't destroy, the chipmunks did so I had to keep re-planting. Hopefully, with the heat and rains, the sun-flowers will make up for lost time. They're nice to see, the Yardies like them and come the season, they provide extra food for the Yardies when they need it. So...
But for now, the rains have stopped for a while. Thunder storms for the over-night forecast. I was hoping we'd get those during the day, but if they bring the temperatures down... we'll deal with them. At least Yonah doesn't seem to mind them and THAT'S EXTREMELY important!
20.40 LATE LATE LATE... We had a little "down-time" when I came out of my quick shower and the temperature in the room is FINALLY DOWN TO A SOME-WHAT COMFORTABLE 25° after another day in the 30s! The Little One was on his lap-top when I came from the shower and then headed up to the desk shelf... BUT... THE VERY MOMENT HE SAW ME HEADING FOR THE WINDOWS TO CLOSE-UP FOR THE NIGHT... HE RUSHED TO HIS ROOF-TOP! SO... WE ARE TUCKING-IN NOW... More tomorrow.

Wednesday 25 June:
13.50 and we've made it out to the yard... though the sun has been covered by quite the accumulation of clouds coming in from the West and it doesn't look like we're going to get much clearance... for a while anyway. BUT, the Little LOVE just gave TWO COO'S which is something he hasn't done out here in the longest while. Nobirdy else to be seen about so I wonder who he's calling to. There were a few this morning for breakfast, but with them came the "rodent invasion" so I wonder. And just before we had lunch, there was one, the Little Lady (I believe) who appears to be some-what comfortable with me being a the door (as long as I don't step out... s/he's quite young so it's a little difficult to say who/what s/he is, really. Though I've seen the "usual male" chasing him/her so I tend to believe she's a "young gal". She's also the one who has the most interest in Yonah when he's out in the yard. He's not "all too interested" in her though. He looks at her with more of a "curiosity" than much else. No "prancing" or "preening" so it's a little mystery.
None-the-less, I'm hoping we'll get at least an hour out here before any rains fall, and if they do and not too heavily, maybe we'll just retreat to the gallery and wait for a bit. It's still about 30° out here today, but the humidity isn't all that bad. And the air is moving a bit so it's better than being in the "box". (I had to "flush" the walls first thing this morning to clear what-ever caused that "earthy" - read: "mouldy" - odour. The fans are all running and the doors and windows have been open so there's no "gas" in the air, and the monitor is reading "good" for quality. Still, even though our general air quality here isn't all that great, out-side is better than in. And hopefully SOME of the healthy UV will make it through the clouds. We shall see..). "Science" claims - and I've checked this - that there's enough UV coming through to get sunburn so... we'll be watching.)
Meanwhile... last night went rather well, indeed, though it was another "rather late tuck-in"... last light off at 21.30! But the "ride home" was "precious" because no sooner had I done with the windows, under supervision, of course, the Little Guy headed for his platform to await "lift-off". AND, on the way "home", I ACTUALLY RECEIVED SEVERAL KISSES! Upon arrival, another little hop to the perch and we were settled for the night ahead! And lullabies were soft, slow, gentle and I could see, appreciated. The fan was still running when, at last, we both drifted off to sleep. Not "too hot" in the room though.
This morning? WELL! I was literally "coming out of sleep", just long enough to wonder what time it was and noticing I hadn't been called yet, thinking, perhaps, I'd just wait for the call when...
"woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo".... I looked at the clock... 4.52!
Since the "coo" was really rather "soft" (though clear) and truly more like a "whisper" than most, I waited for the next one, wondering what, if anything, had disturbed the house some-how, but a quick moment later, the next "call" came and this time I replied with my best "morning 'woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo'"
The answer to that was immediate, so yes, indeed, this Little Birdie was awake and looking to get up and out of his house and on with the day ahead already! We exchanged a couple of "morning pleasantries" until...
"woo-HOO!" I was informed that the "chatting" was finished and I needed to get up... at 5.01 and so... Wednesday came to immediate order. I got up, opened the door to his house, got a beautiful morning wing-stretch and when I leaned in for a little "Good morning" kiss... kisses were "a-plenty" this morning! Well... "WOO-HOO-HOO-HOO-HOO-THERE!"
(14.17 One of the neighbour's hens has come over to visit and a little sun broke through for a moment and my little Heart-and-Soul is actually BASKING in his house. Every now-and-then he looks up at me with an almost "inquisitive" expression... Yes, he DOES have ways of tilting his head and the position of his face appears to have "expression" so... that's my take and I'm sticking to it. It's calming to/for me to see him so relaxed in his house. And there's a breeze blowing, cool air. An "out-door Summer breeze", his "birth-right" yet something he doesn't get all too much of in the "box" - I can't think of this place as a "house" any more because of the conditions... no matter how much I try to keep it healthy and livable, it just isn't, in my estimation which is why I enjoy being out in the yard all the more... with my Little Guy. - Anyway, he's so calm and there's not music of any kind. We've been quiet this after-noon and... here comes a slight drizzle... and... the sun... and more clouds gathering to the West. At least we might make an hour out here today. And the Little Guy is up again, pacing. We'll see how it all goes.)
Back to this morning, the coo'ing was quite plentiful as I put the rest of the house in order for my coffee and such and no sooner had the curtains been opened to the a slightly over-cast but almost pleasant 23° morn, the Great Adventurer was out of his house and off to the desk! I got the business of fresh water in his pool as he supervised from his shelf with Bustelo-Bird and then I headed directly out to the kitchen to "attend to the mustiness" there. By the time I'd done with my task, he was nestled in his loft. Out morning, commenced.
Poops, this morning: "concerning". 6 in total, as best as I can see. 2 of them were, let's call them "perfectly normal" in size, composition, colour and moisture. the other 4 I'll assume were the "over-night poops". Those were quite "wet", one of them being very "soft", and there was much in the way of "halo" round them all. Then too, I DO recall a "before tuck-in drink" being had last night so I suppose it's to be expected. As well, comes to mind, the advice of the "seasoned bird-folk" on-line to not panic over strange poops in the morning. So... I can note now that subsequent poops today have been "normal" and "regular" so it was the over-night following a late-night drink. (How I DO tend to panic though... admittedly. But the veyr notion of this Little Guy being anything but perfectly healthy is... well.. my primary concern.)
The rest of the morning: for me, it was putting the kitchen back in order after the "wall flush" and then, suddenly, it was time for a quick lunch followed by a 40-minute lie-down, alone, and neither a "snooze" nor a "doze" because I was very much awake to witness the flights about the room AND a "visit" to my chest that was followed by a toddle up to my face and a hop onto the pillow behind my head! When I "suggested" that we try to get out-side today, it was met with a quick flight to the desk shelf and a "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" so here we are. And when I got his yard house together and went back into the room to bring him to it, he was as calm in my hands as could be so... Looks like this "outing" was just what the Birdie wanted. OK then. (Though he IS pacing again and the skies have cleared again, the breeze is still blowing and the chicken has left the premises. No Yardies. I wonder...but I'm very glad we managed to get out of the box for this time.
(16.46 and the "news" is on Yonah's lap-top. Yonah is in the living-room on his yard house, my dinner is on the hob and... we came in at 15.30 so we DID get almost 2 hours out in the world today! BUT... THE VERY SECOND I BROUGHT HIS HOUSE IN, PLACED IT ON THE KITCHEN TABLE, AS WE DO, AND OPENED THE DOOR... HE WAS ON THE WING! NO HESITATION! HE WANTED TO BE "HOME", IN HIS HOUSE AND HE BOLTED FOR IT! When he got there, he went right for the little mirror in the front corner, as he does, and gave several hearty "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo's" to the little reflection there, then headed up to his loft for a little while until I finished bringing things in from the yard and got to throwing my dinner together. I'm just SO RELIEVED that we had that time out today! And that it was "comfortable" enough after two days of "baking and roasting".)
19.38 and the sun is setting o'er the Western mountains and the Little Crooner is "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo'ing" on his roof-top by his window. The "call to the evening" has commenced. Mean-while, in the yard, at the feeder, the "flock" of evening mourning doves has congregated for the daily "conference" before heading off to "the night roost". I'm out of a quick shower, the house is as settled as it will be for the night. Now we wait to see when we get to tucking-in.... Oh, and the temperature in the room this evening? A mere 27° instead of the recent 35! Humidity at 51% and the "quality monitor" says the air is "good"... all in the green! YAY!
Now, this evening, something that's happened before but tonight was a bit more "serious", as it were. As I was finishing dinner, with the news on the old lap-top, as we do of an evening, I heard, even with the lap-top speakers on, a soft but deep "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" in the distance. The Little Guy out there was back again this evening, coo'ing a regular storm! He's done it before and yes, Yonah has noticed it before too: his little head rises and he looks round as if trying to ascertain the source. But this evening, he started coo'ing BACK! And I turned the volume on the lap-top off so that he could hear clearly. It was quite the spectacle, watching and listening to the two doves coo'ing to one another. BUT... the oddest bit: I'm not sure what the situation is but Yonah will NOT go to the back/kitchen door to "chat"! I can't imagine that he doesn't know where the coo'ing is coming from but the truly oddest aspect is: he goes to Burdie-Birdie! He sometimes does that when I coo too. It's as if any other "coo" in the house is Burdie! I wonder. So intriguing. Maybe some day I'll be able to understand it. But I made a little shelf to put on the kitchen screen door so he could "rest and roost" there, at the screen, looking out at the gardenette and have chats but... he doesn't have any interest in that either. (I didn't put it up this evening though because I didn't want to disturb the doves that had come for their evening snack so... Maybe I'll have to make putting that up as part of our daily routine from now on.)
Anyway, I'm just SO HAPPY that we got time out-side today! And it does make a difference in his energy levels and general mood (much like it does for people). And now, 20.06, he's had a little drink of water, he's up on the desk shelf over my head and we're about to get ready to settle-in for the night. Today was shorter than Saturday... our days shorten again (and this evening, with the sun-set, it's actually obvious). To think, when Spring arrived I was so concerned about "adjusting" to the longer days, couldn't remember how we did it over the past years and here we are... arrived and now we're moving away from the longest day of the year and all's just spiffy.
HOW-ever... it's approaching 20.20 and the time for us to seriously get this place together for a night's rest is just rushing along. The Little Guy is now roosting on the shelf, over at the end, by the speaker where the bird-songs usually come through (but they're silent now) so, I need to get me together. Ablutions, windows, lullabies... and of course... (maybe) RIDE HOME!
20.53 I got carried away again and he's on the door to his house again... and I'm getting "the look"!

Thursday 26 June:
Can you imagine? It's already 19.30 and evening water changes have been done, the rest of the house is settled and the Little Character is on the upper-most wall shelf behind me... watching over my shoulder. I can all but "feel" the "supervision". But we're on the way to getting to a "reasonable" tuck-in... though, there's never telling what can happen between now and "reasonable" and with the day being what it was... well... "time will tell".
But I DID manage to get "notes" jotted during the day so I'll get right to them and keep up with "events", especially because today was another one of those "REALLY AFFECTIONATE" days! Then too, it was much cooler and I wonder if that doesn't have something to do with it. After days of 30s, today's "high" temperature in the room was 22°. Quite "cool" but it seems that's the "best" temperature for the Little LOVE. So much energy and such LOVE through the day!
But last night? Well...
At 21.00 after ablutions and changes into sleep-wear (for me), I got right to closing the room for the night, headed right for the blinds and curtains and when I came into the room, this Little One was standing on the BACK EDGE of his roof-top! I rolled his house away from the window to get to the curtains and he stayed there, watching me! So when I went to put the back-board on, I couldn't because he HAD to stay there, watching me! OH! It was quite the ordeal because there were SO MANY KISSES exchanged all the while he was there. It seemed he had NO intention of leaving his place. And when Yonah wants kisses... the rest of the world is insignificant! It took a few moments and when I reached down to pick the board up, he casually toddled over to his little platform, made with the little "preening" as I placed it and moved his house into "night position" (which is at an angle so that he can see me clearly when I'm on the futon and I can see his little silhouette so I can tell if he's settled or fidgeting).
A brief "ride home" followed, during which there were a few more kisses and lullabies commenced. The hour considered, they were a slightly quicker but, for the most part, "relaxed' because I wanted him to be calm for the night.
By 21.15 all was done, the house was closed and I was on the futon... Lullabies continued until 21.40. I was wondering about the hour as I looked up to see the Little One all "tucked", head between wings, and wondered what time we'd wake.
Turned out... 5.20 this morning came the first "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" of the new day. Another "8 hour night". I was still asleep when he called. In fact, I was in the midst of a dream, so he woke when he was rested enough. When I heard him and I woke to hear the next "call" I looked at the clock and asked "You got enough sleep last night?" and he answered right away with a "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo". Well, I didn't get right up and there was another "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" and shortly after, the "woo-HOO!" of "OK! Time to get up now!" and so, our Thursday came to order and I was up and about and opened the door to his house.
I leaned in for what I thought would be just a little peck on the nose but WOW! THE KISSES THIS MORNING! IT WAS SO GRAND! And the room was on the rather "cool" side too! Only 20°! But the Little Guy wasn't "fluffed" and we didn't have his "Sweeter Heater" on last night so... it looked like he was well-rested and comfortable... and in the GREATEST MOOD!
Out-side, the sky was over-cast and sadly, there was no sun-shine in the forecast for today. But the good note: no more brutal heat. THAT was a relief... even though the lack of sun-shine... well... I would have liked to grab some more time out in the yard today, but with the clouds, threats of rain. So a day together for both of us - and for me, that's perfect!
Poops, how-ever... more "concern". Only 6 in total but the "quantity" could have passed for 8 regular. And all of them were quite "watery" with those "green halos" on the "poopie rug". But I remembered that, last night, just before I stepped out of the room for my ablutions, I saw the Little Guy grab a healthy drink of fresh water so the "wet" was to be expected. (Note: the poops during the rest of the day were completely normal so yes, the wet poops were the drink before bed... I have to laugh because I'm on a "schedule"of no drinking after 19.00 so there's no getting up during the night. But hey! THIS Little LOVE doesn't have to "get up" to poop and he doesn't have to "hold" over-night for fear of predators so...) And all the poops were directly under where he slept last night so it was a "restful" night and that was good.
BUT THE ENERGY THIS MORNING! OH! HE WAS UP AND ABOUT IMMEDIATELY! FLYING ABOUT THE ROOM, AND THEN OUT TO THE LIVING-ROOM! I had some work to do in the kitchen this morning to keep it clean ahead of "mould weather" and was busy there for a while and all the while, the Little Guy was in and out of his room and round about the house.
BUT BUT BUT.... when I'd finally done with everything and got to settle at the desk for the "computer-end" of the house-hold morning... OH BUT THE VISITS TO THE SHOULDER AND THE SNUGGLES AGAINST MY CHEEK, THE KISSES, THE CUDDLES, THE EAR TUGS! AND IT WAS "PLAYFUL"! HE CAME OVER TO MY SHOULDER, TUGGED MY EAR UNTIL I REACHED UP TO HIM AND HE PECKED AT MY HAND, AND WHEN I REMOVED MY HAD, MORE EAR TUGS UNTIL I TILTED MY HEAD TO HIM. PECKS WHEN I STOPPED LEANING MY HEAD AGAINST HIM AND HE WANTED KISSES! AND THEN HE'D FLY OVER TO HIS HOUSE FOR A FEW MOMENTS AND HE WAS BACK FOR MORE... SEVERAL TIMES! AND THERE WERE THE TIMES WHEN HE'D COME OVER, GET HIS KISSES AND THEN FLY AROUND THE ROOM, LIKE A DELIGHTED LITTLE CHILD! IT WAS.... WELL... I'M JUST SO SORRY I COULDN'T GET THIS ON A VIDEO BECAUSE IT WAS INDESCRIBABLE AND PROBABLY UNBELIEVABLE! WHAT A MORNING!
Then, moments before 12.00, he came over to my shoulder, tugged my ear and when I reached up, he headed to his food shelf... LUNCH TIME!
The "experts" can say what they will (and they will) about mourning doves not be "considered to be intelligent" but between THIS Little Guy AND the Little Lady mourning dove who comes every day for her meals... I'll contradict ALL of these so-called "experts".
There's one "Lady" dove in the yard who comes to for her breakfast in the morning, lunch in the after-noon, dinner in the evening and a snack before her "tuck-in" and SHE's come to recognise me AND my voice! SHE doesn't panic and leave when she sees me at the door or window. SHE doesn't fly away when I speak to her. She appears to "know" me. And when I go out to put more food out for the Yardies, THEY all head away... SHE heads for one of the near maples and will roost up on a branch, watching and waiting for me to finish serving and leave. So... there we have it. (I DO wonder though, if, some-how, when we're out in the yard and she comes round to see Yonah, he hasn't been able to let her know that he's safe and well and that I'm there to protect them all. I wouldn't doubt he can, does and has done. After almost 5 years of being with Yonah, I've come to learn SO MUCH about mourning doves... so much so that I NEED to re-write quite a bit of the information we have on his web-site! Personal experience is certainly more credible than "I saw it on the internet". What a TEACHER I've had and WHAT a LOVE!)
After lunch, I managed to grab TWO 30-minute snoozes. BUT BUT BUT...
For the first 30-minutes, I thought I was going so snooze alone. I laid down, he came over, landed on my leg, gave a little "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" and was off... and so too, was I... actually got a nice nap! WHEN I WOKE, I OPENED MY EYES, LOOKED AROUND THE ROOM AND NO SIGN OF THE LITTLE LOVE UNTIL....
I MOVE MY HEAD AND FELT THE PILLOW "MOVE"... HE'D BEEN ON THE PILLOW, AT MY HEAD, AS I SLEPT! SOMETHING NEW! AND WHAT A BLESSING! WHAT AN EXPERIENCE! WHAT A WONDER! WHAT A PURE DELIGHT! THERE, AT MY HEAD, ON THE VERY PILLOW WHERE I LAID MY HEAD! (It made me think of nights together like that... if only it would be safe for him... but if I rolled over in my sleep or sneezed... BUT WHAT AN HONOUR!)
Since I had only one very brief errand to run, I took the liberty of another 30-minutes to lay there, on the futon, "basking in the glory" of having my Heart-and-Soul snoozing beside my head.
As soon as I woke from the second snooze, I was up and around and about and out... and 15 minutes later, back... and just in time to get dinner together. (Yes, it was that late in the day but the day was cool, dreary, grey and it did drizzle... AND the Little LOVE had made him-self quite cosy in his loft so...)
We had dinner together at 17.00 and, as he does of an evening, the Little Guy headed out to the living-room whilst I did the washing up and by the time I'd done, he was back in this room and it was "water time"! So we got right to it and...
It's already 20.23 and he's beside me on his lap-top, getting in a bit of preening before we settle-down for the night.
It's supposed to be "cool" again tonight so his "Sweeter Heater" is on now, warming for the night ahead. We'll have the house-fans running to make sure the air circulates through the night (no "mould" settling), but my LOVE will have warmth. (I can always throw on another blanket so I don't think so much about that.) And out-side there was about 3 minutes of sun-shine, so typical. Forecast for the rest of the week? Rain. Oh well. I've nothing on the agenda except house-hold... and no more major heat... we're together and maybe if there's no rain, we'll get some time out in the yard.
But right now, he's up, about, kisses, cuddles on the lap-top and off to his house... it's getting darker out there... time to get settled-in for the night... another day... gone by too quickly. And shorter again, than Saturday. We're on the "shorter-day side" of the season already again!
21.20 Ablutions done and he's on the roof-top giving the "nest coo", complete with the little "flutters" so I'm off to getting to the windows and the rest of our "Closing of the day". It's 22° in the room and the humidity is 51%. Not bad. And the "air monitor" says the "quality" is "good". That's a relief! Hopefully we'll have a calm and restful night... but for now, we still have to get the windows closed and see about the "ride home". OH! The "suspense"...

Friday 27 June:
18.54 and it's been non-stop again all day! Sadly, it wasn't a sun-drenched day, but the temperatures, that were really quite "cold" last night, managed to warm a bit and there was a lovely breeze and we got time out in the yard together after a little snooze together too!
As I sit to get our day jotted here, he's out in the living-room, on his tree, coo'ing along and, meanwhile, out in our little yard 4 "woo-hoos" are gathered for evening snack on the walk and one Little Guy is in hot pursuit of a Little Lady who's making it obvious she has no interest. They're really my absolute delight. But I just wonder why Yonah doesn't appear to have any interest in them. Oddly, when he hears them coo'ing, he either heads for Burdie-Bird on the futon or... as he's done, the living-room. I can only speculate on the "why": that he understands that he has so little in common with them, or he doesn't want to have anything in common with them or perhaps he feels "separate" or "separated from" them. What-ever it is, even with the little "shelf" on the back door, he doesn't go there to see or coo with them. Curious. It's another one of those times when I'd give ANYTHING to be able to communicate with him in a way that we could both fully understand one-another. One day... one day... I'm sure of it... one day.
There's quite a heavy breeze blowing in through the windows and doors this evening! 23° in the room though, and thankfully humidity at 43% so it really is quite comfortable. (I often wonder - again - though, why, when the breeze is strong coming in through his windows, Yonah heads out of the room. I've noticed how he tends to "pace" when we're out-side and the breezes get a bit "blustery". With all this time in a house, the air doesn't "move" often or much, and I wonder if it's not uncomfortable on his feathers... a "strange" sensation.) And there's a bit of a "storm" in tonight's forecast. We're due for at least one, and with the wind and clouds... well... I'll be ready in case of thunder. I'm not sure how he'll perceive it. We've not really had any "BIG" thunder storms and if there's the slightest "thud" or "thump" in the house at night - as I learnt from some of our neighbours who really weren't the "shared housing" sort, he'll wake up and start coo'ing in the darkness. So, tonight we see... if we see.
Now then... last night. The "ride home" was quite "to the point". I got the blinds and curtains closed and the back-board up and got to the lullabies for the night and as I did, the Little WONDER moved him-self over to his little platform and waited for his "driver" to arrive. It was SO late already at after 21.30 and I got a kiss en route to the night roost but I could tell he was tired! Lullabies were soft, slightly "up-tempo" to get them in and by the time I was finished with the repertoire... there was a little bundle of Feathered LOVE, all snug and tucked-in on his night roost AND we made last light off by 21.45! (Yes, late, but thankfully not 22.00!)
This morning? Oh dear! 5.20 and the "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" was clear and though not "loud", it wasn't all too quiet either. I was more tired than my Little LOVE was! I answered with a "morning voice" "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" and asked "You're up and awake and ready already?" "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" was the immediate reply. Well, I WAS tired and I DID delay getting up for another 10 minutes BUT ALL THE WHILE, the "calls" continued. When I sat up to get off the futon, I got a "woo-HOO!" which I took to be "IT'S ABOUT TIME!"
OK! I got right to the "morning routine"... rushing to the kitchen to put the kettle on, put my morning coffee together and... right back to open the curtains and blinds.
Last night the house had gotten SO CHILLY that, at about 23.00, I'd gotten up and put the house furnace on (but forgot to stop the exhaust fans... silly me, so at about 23.45, I was back up, turning those off to keep the warmth in the house). The "Sweeter Heater" was on in Yonah's house but I figured that, if I felt the chill it must have been enough to battle with the little heater. Thankfully, this morning, the house was "cool" but not "cold" and the Little LOVE wasn't "fluffed" when I got to him.
Fro today though, windows open to an over-cast day, I got to the morning water run, making my coffee in between, on the move, on the move and the Little LOVE hopped over to his food perch to watch the mayhem. And when I'd done and things calmed a bit, I FINALLY got to lean in for a "Good morning" kiss and OH... DID I EVER GET KISSES THIS MORNING! (I wonder: did he think I'd forgotten or was he forgiving me for keeping him up so late last night and being so lazy then crazy this morning? Which-ever... THE KISSES WERE WONDERFUL!)
AND... POOPS... In total... 8, and they'd been dry enough to bounce a bit but all under then night roost so there was a comfortable, restful night last night. I was SO relieved! Rested and healthy morning!
Generally? WE HAD QUITE A "TOGETHER" sort of day today AND MANAGED TO GET 2 HOURS OUT IN THE YARD IN THE REAL SUN-SHINE!
I did have SO MUCH to attend to at the desk and in his room and it was really quite obvious that he was happy that we were together... and really, quite calm. No crazy business of moving and running and such.
At after lunch, I went to grab our "now-usual" 30-minute lie-down and FOR 20 MINUTES, MY MOST PRECIOUS LOVE WAS ON THE PILLOW, BESIDE MY HEAD, LOUNGING! WHAT AN HONOUR! WHAT A PRIVILEGE! WHAT A HUMBLING BLESSING! I didn't actually "doze", but just having that "lie-down" time with my Heart-and-Soul there, at my head was more relaxing and refreshing to both body and soul!
When "snooze time" was done, I looked at the sky, the temperature and... decided... BOLT FOR THE YARD! THERE WAS SUN-SHINE OUT THERE AND IT WAS OURS! AND WE WERE OFF, OUT AND THERE!
I managed to "trim" the grass in "our yard" a bit. There's clover growing and blooming this year and I "trimmed" and saved as much of it as possible. Sadly, no bunnies come round and even if they did, they couldn't get into the yard, but maybe some-birdy will enjoy some part of it.
Whilst sitting on the grass, with Yonah in his "yard house", two Mourning Doves came round and landed on the roof of the back gallery, at the edge, and looked down to peek over the edge... THEY WERE WATCHING YONAH (who was almost all but oblivious to them). These are the moments when I wonder:
Do they see him as being "caged"?
Does HE see THEM as being "caged"?
And I ALWAYS wonder if Yonah feels any sense of "protection" in his "yard house" out there? Very much the same as I wonder how he perceives having the door to his house closed at night. I'd like to think that he sees it as being "protected" and safe from any sort of "predators out there" and that's why he settles calmly as lullabies are sung. I SO HOPE that he doesn't perceive it as being "trapped" and that he settles out of resignation. Oh, yet another moment when I'd give ALL to be able to communicate with him and understand what he's thinking, feeling, saying with his coo's. And it's all another reminder:
HE has come to learn and understand little words and phrases that I say to him, but the best I can make out of "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" is speculation. It's annoying (to me) to know that humans fancy them-selves as the "superior" species in Creation, the "highest" of the "evolved", so brilliant, bright and all the while, so obviously ignorant and truly inferior. But... those are words of a "mad-man" (so "they", those humans, will say). There are others though, who "know better". We're not many in number but we're here.
AS IT TURNED OUT, WE MANAGED TO BE OUT OF THE OLD BOX FROM 14.00 TO 16.30 TODAY!
For about half an hour of that time, I'd brought Yonah, in his yard house, up to the back gallery, mostly because the sky had clouded again, I wasn't sure about rain and since the air was clean for a change, I thought it would be nicer for him to get the time out of the house. AND, I actually managed to get the house hoovered and to throw my dinner onto the hob whilst!
When he came in, again, I opened the door to his yard house and he bolted for his house and loft! There wasn't much in the way of sun-shine today, and a nice breeze, but with 2 hours out on the walk I'm sure he got SOME healthy UV and he was really quite rather calm through-out.
19.27 The sun is (of course), making a showing and POURING into the living-room and the Little Guy is all snuggled on his little tree out there. The evening water change is done, his house is ready for him for the night. He's even had TWO little snacks already but I'm hoping he'll have one more and then a drink and I'll grab a shower and we'll get tucked-in for a restful night... at a civil hour tonight. It really IS SO calming, for me, to see him so safe and comfortable, and knowing that he has different rooms to be in. I SO wish we had a different place where he could have a little place out-side, as safe. But... we're looking and one day...
20.02 I'm in his room, getting things typed and he's coo'ing from the living-room and it's time for a very quick shower! I don't want us up too late (again) this evening. (The days are growing shorter now. To think, it wasn't all that long ago I was wondering how we'd adjust to "longer" days and now, SO SUDDENLY, really, it's reversing again. And all the while, the Little Guy just rolls along with Nature. I need to come to that point too. OH! If only we had a little place all our own where we could "follow the hours of the day"... One day... I'm working on it and hoping... and yes... "praying".)
20.34 I came back into the room after my shower and he was already on his roof-top and when he saw me me come in, he headed for his platform! I'm being told when it's time to close the day now and I couldn't be happier for it. The night music is on, I just have my last minute ablutions and that's that for today!
Just as I was heading to the shower I caught the Little Guy having quite the snack! SO COMFORTED to see him eating well and knowing that he won't tuck-in with an empty tummy... and now, as I type this, I'm getting the "woo-HOO!" Not a little "Time to tuck-in here"... this is the "HEY! ENOUGH OF THAT ALREADY!" SO... off I go... and more tomorrow it is then.

Saturday 28 June:
18.48! It's been another one of those "non-stop" days! And I've just managed to print the photos for the July and August "kitchen calendar"! THAT'S most of what's taken the day today. It wasn't good enough to simply "print" a photo, I HAD to do something "different" for July and something "completely different" for AUGUST because... FIVE YEARS so... they're "manipulated" and printed and I'm rather exhausted and well, sad because we never made it out to the yard (though we did have a little rain late this morning and there was the "threat" of more during the day so we didn't plan on it). But now to get to today's entry here before evening water run!
The PRECIOUS LITTLE GUY, MY HEART-AND-SOUL, is in the living-room, on his tree, for about the first time today. Yes, we've been together all day in the room... and of course, there's a bit of sun-shine, at last, coming in through the windows and the doors are open so I'm glad he has that room in the sun-shine... for all it's worth.
Last night now... the "ride home" was from the desk shelf! Oh yes, last minute he decided that's where he wanted to be. And the night music was playing and I got to close the windows for the night and put up the back-board too and he stayed there and watched, from a-far. But as soon as he saw that the curtains were closed and I was putting the back-board on, he started to preen, as he does, before "floating home" to the night roost. So I brought the platform over to him and he gave me a little "look". I could almost "hear" the thought "Yeah? So?" BUT, he stepped right onto it and got "ready" for the ride. He KNOWS that that's what that platform is. GENIUS that he is.
And the very second the platform reached the night roost... that same casual step from platform to perch (with kisses, of course, on the "ride".)
Lullabies... soft and gentle last night. No particular rush. A "snoozy" way to drift off, and he did. By 21.15 (yes, later than I'd like but...) the last light was off for the night. And no window fan on and his window, the one directly behind him, closed. It was chilly last night. Not "cold" but chilly. AND WIND! WOW! (In fact, the wind blew so hard during the night that it had MOVED the fan in the living-room window! Almost blew it right out! So, there was the "odd ping" as it blew against the metal roof on the cellar shed out-side OUR windows.)
This morning? Well... this morning... 5.10 and the "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo's" commenced! I wasn't quick to get up from the futon (again) and the "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo's" continued until I, at last, got me up (at 5.20) and then, the very second I sat up... "woo-HOO!" and THAT, I DO understand as being "IT'S ABOUT TIME!". So I hopped up, went over, opened the door to his house and popped my head in for "Good morning" kisses, as we do and I received... NONE! OH DEAR! Not sure "why", exactly, but when I think about it, mornings of late have been, for me, "heavy" and I've been quite exhausted ever morning (for reasons I can't ascertain) and I've been taking my time getting up so I have to wonder if I've taken too many "liberties" in the mornings and along with being "IT'S ABOUT TIME!" there was a little "This is becoming quite the habit here, you."
POOP CHECK: 9 of the MOST PERFECT POOPS I could ever hope for! Dry, perfect size, and ALL of them under the night roost! Healthy tummy. Calm night. And no "halos"! SO THAT was encouraging as I bolted to get to the morning routine...
Out to the kitchen, put on the kettle, back into the room, open the windows. The room was quite chilly, but thankfully not "cold". And out-side, more clouds than clear. In fact, I ran the house furnace for about 2 hours to take that chill out. But it didn't appear to bother the Little Guy... once the morning light came into the room, he was up and about and... AND....
WHAT A MORNING! I got all of the morning tasks completed and I wanted to place an on-line order for necessities that we can only get on order now so I got settled at the desk right after changing to clothes for the day and ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, MY CHERISHED LITTLE LOVE FLEW OVER TO MY SHOULDER AND GAVE ME A "SERIOUS" EAR-TUG! HE WANTED KISSES, CUDDLES, SNUGGLES! AND THAT WAS ONLY THE BEGINNING OF IT ALL! ALL MORNING, EVERY TIME I STARTED TO FOCUS ON SOMETHING (book-keeping for the order, checking our electric reading, the usual daily "stuff") HE CAME RIGHT BACK FOR MORE PLAY, CUDDLES, EAR-TUGS, CHEEK-PECKS! AND TODDLING ACROSS THE BACK OF MY NECK, SHOULDER-TO-SHOULDER! IT WAS AMAZING! And of course, I wasn't going to "NOT" oblige him! It "energised" me too, on a day when I SO needed to know that he's OK.
It even warmed the house! I swear it did!
THEN... this after-noon, after lunch, I wanted to take a bit of an actual "nap" so I set a 30-minute timer and headed for the futon AND AGAIN, TODAY, THE LITTLE LOVE TOOK TO THE PILLOW AT MY HEAD AND SNOOZED THERE FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES... AFTER... WELL... WE PLAYED! When the alarm sounded, he'd left me to go to his loft but he came down to me, on the futon, to my leg, and TODDLED RIGHT UP TO MY CHEST AND WHEN I LOOKED, HE WAS STARING, STERNLY, RIGHT AT MY FACE! And when he saw my eyes open... HE CAME RIGHT UP TO MY CHIN AND GAVE ME A PECK ON THE CHEEK! AND THEN, LIKE A LITTLE CHILD WHO'D DONE SOMETHING MISCHIEVOUS, HE BOLTED FOR THE DESK SHELF AND STOOD THERE, WATCHING ME!
When I got up from the futon, he was IN FLIGHT, ALL ROUND THE ROOM AND BACK TO HIS HOUSE. "Nope... I didn't do anything. I've been here all the while."
WHAT A TRUE LOVE, THIS LITTLE GUY IS... TRULY, LITERALLY, MY HEART-AND-SOUL!
And so, I got up, washed the lunch dishes and came back to the desk to get on with the "calendar art". That was my "intended" task for today. And out-side, the skies didn't look too promising. Thankfully though, the house was comfortable, the air quality was great and the Little Character settled-down in his loft. A "normal" sort of day"...
At 16.00 he started "yelling" at me. That's how it sounded anyway. LOUD "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo's" from his roof-top. It was my reminder: put dinner on the hob! And so... I did and whilst that heated, I worked a bit more on our "calendar art". At 17.00 we were having our dinner. And out-side, the air was warm, inside, the room was warm, the doors to the house were open...
And now... 19.20, my Little LOVE is still in the living-room, the sun is still shining just over the mountains, it's "toasty" in the room. The window fan has been on all after-noon, and I'm off to water run! I can tell, already, that the days are growing shorter again by the light in the house, and now, we're going to have to start getting to tucking-in earlier again. To that, I'm "late" already.
20.37 About 10 minutes ago I went out to the living-room to check on the Little Guy because he was cooing quite the "concerto" out there, on the tree. I went over to him and said "You know, it's about time for 'seepie-nigh-night here." AND HE HOPPED RIGHT OVER, ONTO MY SHOULDER AND STAYED WITH ME AS I MADE MY WAY BACK TO HIS ROOM! AND AS SOON AS WE GOT TO HIS ROOM, HE HEADED TO HIS HOUSE FOR A SNACK AND THEN OVER TO THE DESK SHELF! (I'm off to a quick shower. "Night music" is playing.)
21.07 When I came back to the room from my shower, the Little LOVE was on the door to his house... I'm running LATE and he's making it known that he's not "appreciative". SO.... the waters are fresh, the house is settled, time to get to closing the windows for the night. It's warm in the house so tonight we'll keep the window fan on. Thankfully it has a thermostat and it's set to 23° so if the room cools below that, it'll shut off. But right now, we can use the air-flow. More tomorrow...

Sunday 29 June:
It's actually 13.00 on the mark and we're just getting settled in the yard! YAY! (I had to wait for a few moments because when I started to get us together to come out, there was a little "family" of mourning doves in the grass, having a little snack, together. A pair of adults and what was obviously quite the youngster. It was SO BEAUTIFUL to see that I didn't want to disturb them but... the time was rolling by and when I opened the kitchen door to start setting-up, they all took off. I hope they'll come back at some point. But for now, here we are and the sun is shining, with a few clouds floating by. There's a rather heavy breeze blowing but the sun is so warm that it's actually quite comfortable. And it appears my Little LOVE is enjoying the sun-shine, with wing stretches and a little bit of :basking". I'm hoping for the usual 1 hour but would like 2. We shall see.
Meanwhile... as for last night's re-cap, at 21.20 (yes, LATE again) I'd managed to jot a hand-written note before tucking-in on the futon but the room was settled and we even played a little bit, with the curtains as I closed the blinds and curtains! THAT was SO MUCH FUN! He hasn't been in that mood for some days now. But then.... I rolled his house into position for the night and thought I'd take the door perch off and get to the "ride home" when... WOOSH... he was up and flew him-self "home"... right to the night roost! And he settled quite quickly there. It was late and I was to blame and he was ready to get some snooze! So, I took the platform from his roof-top and put the roof-board in place and started evening lullabies. Considering the hour, they were slightly "up-tempo" at the beginning, slowed as we went along because I always remember that birds, in general, are very much aware of the "qualities" of the sounds they hear and I KNOW, for a fact, that the melodies of the lullabies are well-known to this Little Guy and I wanted him to hear "after", relaxing" melodies. And sure enough, as I sang and got me settled on the futon, he settled on his night roost.
Little "side-note": I didn't get any "Good night" kisses when I leaned in. Oh yes, I was late again, he had to bring him-self home and there was no "forgiveness". BUT, he did settled-down and tuck-in right away and the last light was turned off at 21.45.
As for this morning? Well, to be honest, I don't know when the first call came because I was SO tired! (I'd had a rather "congested" night last night and was up and out of the room for a bit so as not to disturb my Little LOVE so this was a particularly "heavy" morning.) I'm thinking though, that it was likely some-where close to 5.00 but I laid on the futon through the first some-what "soft" "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" and then, right away, since I suppose it was quite obvious that I hadn't moved, came the second coo, slightly louder this time. From the futon, my eyes still closed, I asked, kindly, for a few more minutes. Silence... for a little while longer and then came the actual "calls"... the "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo!" that said "You can stay there but I'd like to get up now. There's a day started out there and I've got things to do!" And THAT was followed by THREE, almost consecutive "woo-HOO!'s". There was no further "forgiveness" and so... I looked up at the clock... 6.00! OH MY!
This morning's "displeasure" with me was made quite obvious when I got to his house, opened the door and popped in for "Good morning" kisses and I got a scuttle out of the way! Let the "experts" say what they will but THIS Little Guy CAN and obviously DOES have his "moods" and CAN and DOES let it be known, one way or the other. On "good" mornings, the kisses are numerous and amazing, but on mornings like this... well, just the scuttle away from me said all I needed to know. I got right to the affairs of the morning, kettle on and water change set-up with-out delay. And when I came back into the room to open the blinds and curtains... almost immediately there was the WOOSH of wings (sadly, there's still no "whistle", and I'm wondering quite a lot about that of late and SO hoping to hear it again... SOON... please) and the little bundle of feathered LOVE was out of his house and over to the futon, then up to his roof-top, apparently to supervise the completion of the necessary tasks of a morning.
Note here: last night I'd left the window fan running when we tucked-in because the room was really "that" warm and during the course of the night, it had stopped, the temperature had dropped below the 23° that it had been set at, but this morning, the thermostat on the fan read 22° already at 6.00! (Not 13..45 I see that it's that temperature out here but it really was quite a warm night and a "comfy" sort of morning, though out-side, it was, of course, a bit cooler. Anyway...)
With the water change, the POOPS: 9 of the most perfect little poops one could possibly hope for, save the fact that they're still a touch on the "dark" side. But all of them the same colour, the urea, perfectly white, and no "halos"... just the ever-so slightest stain under each one. And all of them, for the most, under the night roost. Healthy poops and a calm night behind us.
Well then, with the Little Guy "established" on his roof-top and the running tasks completed, I got the house settled for the day ahead, got me dressed and moved into his room, set the lap-top on the desk and as soon as I sat down (at 9.00) he came RUSHING OVER TO MY SHOULDER WITH SOME RATHER HEARTY LITTLE EAR TUGS! I suppose I'm some-what forgiven for a late night last, and a LATE start to this morning! So there was, of course, KISSES, CUDDLES, and he REALLY WANTED TO PLAY SO... of course... we played for a few moments until he decided... time for a flight to the living-room. (The doors and windows were all open and there was quite the breeze blowing through the house, and out-side... sun-shine! Sunday morning... come to order.)
I didn't get to put any music or such on this morning so the house was relatively calm and quiet this morning. I had a couple of "tasks" on the computer and as I busied me, my Little LOVE flew about the house and made another visit to my shoulder, but briefly, the second time. I checked the weather, planned on getting out to the yard and hoped for sun-shine!
By about 10.30 I had to have a lie-down... more of a "shut-eye". My right eye has been "twitching", intermittently, for the past several days. Drops seem to help for a while but then it returns and closing my eyes for about 20 minutes does help so, I headed for the futon, set an alarm and laid my head down on the pillow. No sooner had I done, the Little Character came over, landed on my shin and started his "toddling" up and down my legs... for about 10 minutes and when he realised that I wasn't getting up, he was off to the living-room until my alarm sounded and he came rushing back. At 11.30, with the sun shining above, the clouds seemed to be staying in the valley, hanging over the mountains to the West, I decided to grab a quick and early lunch and so... "news" on the old lap-top on the desk, I did just that. Finished in quick time and... got right to getting us together to head OUT to the YARD!
Well then, it's 14.15 and I'm sitting up on the back gallery. There were 2 doves on the power-lines staring down at Yonah and I and I'd prefer he have the chance to "commune" with them so I've decided to forfeit my "time in the sun" for a while and get out of the way. Seems to have worked because Little Mrs. is now at the feeder. She's the interesting sort. She doesn't seem to mind when I'm about. Won't come close, and if I move "too much", she'll head off, usually up to the maple to "observe". But right now, she's having a snack, alone, calmly. There's a tray of food beside Yonah's yard house with the hope some-birdie will drop by. And the sun is still shining nicely, there's a cool breeze blowing and Yonah? Well, he's "prancing" back and forth in his house... not "pacing", but more "prancing". These are the moments when I wonder about birds' ability to communicate silently and I SO wish that, if they do, he'd let the rest know that they're safe and that I wouldn't cause them ANY harm. But... it seems Little Mrs. is more interested in snacking. We'll see as time goes by.
Well? 15.10... all's as quiet as all gets, but the Little Guy is pacing, the other doves haven't returned and I see why: our local Bald Eagle is floating about in the sunny sky so... we're heading back into the safety of familiar, protected surroundings. I was rather hoping to make it to 16.00 but this is good... a nice day in sun-shine!
20.17 and the PRECIOUS LITTLE LOVE has just come back into his room after being in the living-room from since just before I finished dinner! The sun was shining in through the windows out there and the doors and windows in the house have been open and he was so silent... until moments ago when he started coo'ing as the sun dropped behind the mountains.
And we just had the SWEETEST little "cuddles" at his door perch. And now... snack time. His water is fresh and clean, the house is settled and I'm off to "ablutions". Sure, it's "late" again but this is HIS time and timing. The night music is playing so we're off to see how "ride home" goes this evening. He's snacking now, as I type but there's always time for... ANTICS!
I was just looking at a little video from our "Teillady" and ARNIE! OH! 11 years of age and that little Starling is still splashing-up quite the storm in his little glass casserole and only but about 2-3cm of water. He DOES make quite the show of it... un-like THIS Little Guy who enjoys a nice "soak". But hey! 11 years. I wonder if Yonah and I have another 6. (I'll do my best, if that's what he has, to have that too. Our "clocks" are one and the same... if he goes first. But I'm seeing to it that I'm here for him for as long as he's here.)
20.48 He's on the desk shelf and the house is settled and we're going for windows and tuck-in. It's still rather light out-side but... here we go..

Monday 30 June:
It's 20.27 ALREADY! It's been quite the day! Thankfully, I managed to jot some notes in between all the nonsense of the day so... here we go... putting the pieces together before we DASH to tucking-in for the night!
Last night, the Little LOVE took him-self "home" for the night. Once again, I was running "late" and yes, I NEED to stop this! It's always the "last minute" things at the close of the day and once upon a time, it was only me who suffered... But NOW? I can't make excuses, there are none. It's me and poor planning. And it pains me SO to see this Little One heading to his night roost and I'm still running about.
But I did manage to get through the lullabies, softly and slowly. I don't want any indications of "stress" at the close of a day. I KNOW he senses it and he "hears" the difference in the tempo and, likely, my voice if I rush through lullabies.
As it turned out, we managed to turn the last light off at 21.15... not "too" bad, considering there's still a trace of "light" in the sky. Still, the Yardies were well roosted by then so...
This morning, the "call to order" came at 5.20! Oh! We're into the "Summer hours", to be sure. But I was lazy and waited on the futon for another 20 minutes, trying to "chat" my way through a little extra time. But when I DID get up and get to opening his house, he made it quite clear that I had NO business taking extra time. He was in shape for getting up, getting out of his house and into the day!
I opened his house, no kisses this morning, and I got right into the morning routine, almost non-stop... kettle on, running water for the morning water changes and as soon as windows were opened to the sunny morn out-side... the Little Guy was OUT... off to the living-room! "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" out there and as I ran back and forth with morning waters... he came back to his loft.
I tried for a kiss, just to see if I was being "punished" for last night's late tuck-in and sure enough... NO. No kisses!
Poops though, 9 in total ALL of them under the night roost and so very close together that it must have been quite the "calm" night, last night. And no "bouncing" about on the "poopie-rug"! Not "wet", but "moist", so there was still some "water" passed with them. "Stains" on the "rug" (kitchen roll), but not really "halos" of moisture. The contents all normal. The colour? Well, the same as they've been: a bit on the "dark" side but sure to dry to brown, as yesterday's did. (And yes, they did dry "normal" colour... and all through the day, they were "normal".)
At 9.00, I had to run a quick errand... of course, and when I left, he was on the futon... after spending the morning in his loft. It wasn't easy for me to step out of the house, especially this morning, but I RUSHED to get out and back... 20 minutes!
When I got back, OH! The day had grown HOT again! Though not the 35 we've had. We took it easy, relatively, this morning and then grabbed lunch at noon. Tried for a 20-minute shut-eye and the little guy. He actually settled on my leg as I laid there but there was so much noise out-side that we just got up. No, I was not and still am not "happy" about disturbing him and there we have another reason added to the lengthy list of why we need to find "more suitable living" . This place is growing worse with all the traffic and noise from out-side and the rest of the house...
THEN... I decided to try to head out to the yard and by 13.30 we were in the yard, in the sun-shine! It wasn't so much the HEAT but it was quite warm... 28°! Humidity was low so I did a little yard work.
Eric came by for his post and we chatted. He was the first person I'd turned to, almost 5 years ago, for help for Yonah. He got to see him and was SO IMPRESSED! (And he works with Audubon but is TRULY NOT very "impressed" with Dee. E. Sea.) He actually seems like he appreciates that I've taken such great care of Yonah. It gives me a little comfort to know that somebody knows how much I LOVE Yonah and how well he's taken care of. I know it does no good to those who feel it their duty to "attend other-wise"... but for me, personally and dierectly... it was encouraging.
THEN... my PANIC!
I noticed Yonah's little neck "fluttering" and he was mouth-breathing! He was HOT! So we came right back into the house and I brought him into his room, in his Yard House and placed him on the futon. It was so funny watching him. He was actually hesitant to come to the door of his yard house until he saw Burdie right there (I'd put Burdie there by his house on the loft) and then he was out with a woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo! New surroundings coming "home".
We did manage to get out of the house until about 14.45 so we got "air" and sun-shine but WOW... was I nervous!
I brought him to his house hoping he'd cool in the pool but he didn't. He went to his loft and was fine for the rest of the day.
I grabbed a shower and WE had dinner together at 17.00!
Now, 20.29, woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo's from the desk shelf, the waters changed, the house is settled... it's still 28° in the room, 51% humidity, the window fans running in the room, kitchen and living-room and we'll have them running over-night tonight. It's expected to be warm through the night but cooler tomorrow. And tomorrow, nothing on the agenda but a day together.
He's on his roof top coo'ing "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo... time to tuck in. Still some "light" out-side but the Yardies have gone to "roost" for the night. Yeah... time to tuck in... for BOTH of us!
20.54 The Little Character's been on the desk, then the desk shelf... making with nest coo's. He's been on his night roost too... and I managed to get a few kisses! but... it's time to close this day! AND... I can't believe it... another MONTH! I SO dislike "time"...