Blah!

I'm not doing so well on my nanowrimo. I only have 440 words. And, Sisco is just as naked as ever. But...at least I have 440 words! That's more than what I had before! So what if Sisco is naked? At least she is happy! Maybe a little chilly, but happy!

Two Weeks From Hell

My family has had the worst 2 weeks imaginable! We lost the patriarch member of my husband's family after a lengthy illness. It wasn't a complete surprise, however death is never welcomed or expected.

On top of losing my husband's grandfather, my 95 year old grandmother fell and broke her femur bone and had to have surgery to fix it. Since she had a hip replacement surgery less than 5 years ago, it wasn't as simple as putting in a few screws. She had to have a plate, some screws, and wire to hold it in place! She is such a trooper and came through the surgery with flying colors!

All of this has affected Sisco. Her new shoulder feathers are gone. Her leg feathers are gone, there is a tail feather on the floor next to her cage, and she did nothing but yank and pull feathers out last evening while we were cuddling. Needless to say, she is pissed at me! 

Grumpy Gus!

Sissy is very grumpy. Who could blame her tho. Last week at this time, she was all tucked into bed. Daylight savings is hard on our babies. But...at least she still has all her new feathers!!!

Dare I say It?

This morning, Sisco still had her new feathers on her shoulders and the ones on her chest are still there! Today's plans are to give her a bath and to get her to eat some scrambled eggs. We're not going to be home much today, but while I am home, I will make sure to give her one on one attention. 

New Feathers!!

Sissy has new feathers on her shoulders and 2 coming in on her chest! Yes, I am celebrating these feathers even though I know that they won't stay for very long. It's an accomplishment, no matter how tiny! :-)

Last Night

Sisco was quite grumpy and picking a lot. I am pretty sure she was stressed and that's why she was picking. This morning, she got lots and lots of cuddles, then a bath, then a treat of warmed up mashed potatoes (which reminds me that I wanted to get some sweet potato baby food from the store and I completely forgot! Doh!!!) because she hates bathes. But, she had to have one because she had a slight odor to her which I never smelled before on her.

It is still raining in south central PA, but it has slowed to a drizzle. An hour south of us has blizzard like conditions with 2 feet of snow!

Phew! That Was Close!

Thankfully, Sandy wasn't as bad as they were predicting for our area, it was bad enough for some people! Hoping that everyone is OK and everyone's animals are OK, too. Ours are fine. Sisco had a tough time with the noises, but we got lots of cuddling in and this morning she is good. I can tell that she didn't get much sleep last night, because we already napped on mommy this morning :)

All in all, we did pretty well for our first major storm of the season. Love to all!!

Another Observation

Tonight's cuddle session lasted almost an hour and a half and not 1 pick or pluck!

A Discovery

Last evening, Sisco didn't get her nightime cuddle until much later in the evening. This made her very unhappy and she picked and plucked the whole entire cuddle time until I put her back into her cage. So, she seems to pick and pluck when she is tired and upset. What should I do about this? Hubby and I don't go out often at all, maybe 2 times a month, but when we do, I want it to upset Sisco. How can I make sure she won't be upset when we leave and she didn't get her cuddle time?

Day 2 of Sisco training

Today is far from over, but I wanted to share something... Normally, when I am busy doing housework, Sisco is on her cage. She is just too much of a handful to cart around with me all day. She either bites at me, preens me too roughly, or pulls my hair. She also digs into my shoulders and scratches my neck all up to smithereens.

That doesn't mean that she can't come into the same room as me, tho and hang out while I am doing other things. Duh! She was in the kitchen with me while I cleaned (non-toxic chemicals of course!) and while she was with me, we talked and I kept her engaged so she wouldn't pick!

Since the sun is shining so beautifully today, we will work on her fear of water. 

My new full time job

I have been given some wonderful advice regarding Sisco's plucking issues. She told me that I may have to dedicate 6+ hours into helping her to stop and it is going to be a long process, but it is doable. I am determined and encouraged to get her to stop plucking! And of course, I will keep everyone posted on our progress.

Awww

                                          Isn't she precious?!

Yep! I Got It All Under Control

Biggest lie I have ever told myself!

I Totally Made My Son's Day Today

and exposed myself to a little bit of culture at the same time. How did I do this? I took my son to a jazz festival. He enjoyed himself immensely! He was rocking out in the way only he can. Snapping his fingers, tapping his cane (umbrella), and beating his hands against the wall. It was too cute!

Unfortunately, even at a jazz festival where funky hats and bohemian style clothing is perfectly acceptable, he still stood out and got quite a few people gawking at him. He wore his fedora and scarf. He was also carrying an umbrella, but it was pouring and a tornado touched down in the next town over so it was warranted and he wasn't the only one carrying one. He also wasn't the only one that was totally getting into the music. 

My son is one of the people that I look up to, because he has no fear of standing out and being his own person. He's awesome!

Me thinks I will be hearing more bongo drumming coming from his room in the near future :)

This is who we saw today: http://renemarie.com/ She's awesome!

In Reference To My Post From Last Night

Live each day as if it is your last. And, don't forget to tell the people that you love and care about them just how much they mean to you every single day. You never know when it is going to be the last time.

Oh how I hate talking doom and gloom, but in reality, no one ever knows what is around the corner; what fate has in store for us. I don't think anyone has ever laid on their death bed and thought how they wished they would have worked more or neglected their family more (I'm sure they may have been a few people who had wished they could have provided for their family better, but not in a sense where that was ALL they did). Because we don't know, do not take anything or anyone for granted. It can be gone in an instant.

It's Almost Bedtime! Woot!

I'm a morning person, really I am. I do my best thinking in the morning, I have loads of energy in the morning, and I enjoy morning (close your eyes kids) nookie. But, bedtime is my favorite time of the day. Maybe because it is the end of the day, therefor closer to the start of a new day (aka the morning!), or maybe it is because I love sleep.

Actually, I think it is all of the above, plus I get the most wonderful snuggles from Sisco. I am a lucky momma!

It's taken me a long time, but I have learned not to wish the day away. Today is today, but tomorrow is no guarantee. I am appreciative of my time I have on this earth, however short or long it may be and I try to make the most out of every moment. It is sad for me to know that there will never be another Friday, August 24th, 2012. How did I spend it? How did you spend it?

Spend, according to my handy dandy dictionary app means to pay out, dispose of, expend, to use up, consume, or exhaust. Spend doesn't mean to loan or give back. Time is gone. Spent. Used up. Never to return. Use your time wisely, because you'll never get another today. 

Babysitting This Week

Normally, I do not like the term 'babysitting' because I do not sit on babies. Not to mention, during the toddler stage, one does not sit much! But, I can't say that I am doing childcare again, since I'm not. Although, this week has made me realize that I really miss it. I am good with kids. No, I take that back...I am AWESOME with kids! I think I will put an ad back up on care.com and advertise to watch a few older kids. No babies. My life is too hectic to watch wee ones. Plus, I can still write while the older kids are at school or busy with projects and such.

And, since no post is complete without pictures... the birds had to get in on the act as well.
 

Kiwi wanted to play Polly Pockets, too!

Baby tried to disguise herself as a Gusher! Didn't work!

New Idea For Sisco's Ponchos

Sisco is so smart that she can lift up her poncho to get to her feathers. I am going to sew snaps so that I can snap it underneath her wings. It'll be more like a one piece, but not as confining as a one piece. I tried a one piece on her and she furiously plucked out feathers as soon as it came off. I don't want that to happen again.

She's also learned a new trick...When she wants me but I'm not paying attention to her screams, she will climb down her cage and walk across the floor to where ever I am. I guess she forgot that she's a bird and can fly.

Camping This Weekend!

In exactly the same spot where 2 years ago I lost Joey. I am going to be a nervous wreck! To say I'm going to be a bit overprotective will be an understatement!

Finished Ponchos

I made 2 and finished them both. These can be done in a matter of minutes.

How To Make a Poncho For a Plucking Parrot: A Step By Step Guide with Pictures

The first is to buy your things. You will need:

• fleece - You can buy remnants from Walmart or any fabric store. Use fleece because it will hold up to lots of pulling and tugging from your parrot.
• toddler socks - Depending on the size of your parrot. Mine is a Nanday Conure, one of the larger conures so toddler or young child socks work best. For a smaller bird such as a lovebird, infant socks should work fine. 
• embellishments - Buttons, felt,beads, feathers...something big enough that they can pick at but not harm themselves if they get it off. 

Next, take your piece of fleece and fold it in half, like so...

Remember, my bird is a Nanday Conure, so I am using a piece of fleece that when folded measures 5 inches by 5 inches.

Then, you're going to make a neck hole in your fleece. An easy way to do this is to fold it in half again and cut the corner of the fold. Like this...

Perfect neck hole.

Now, if I was making a night time poncho I would stop there. Sisco will pull and tug at the turtleneck part and make it unravel. The poncho we're making is to be used during the daytime, preferably during supervision. I have yet to find a sock that won't unravel...

Anyway, next comes the sock part. You're going to cut the cuff part of the sock off for the turtleneck. More of the sock you cut, more of the sock is left exposed for unraveling... So, just try to cut as close to the cuff as possible. 

Next, we're going to sew the sock cuff into the neck hole. We're going to make knots as we sew so that with one tug, the thread doesn't pull on the neck hole and strangle your baby. Make tiny stitches because we don't want the stitches to irritate her delicate skin.

When you have sewn completely around, tie off under the sock cuff on the inside of the poncho. Again, we don't want that knot to irritate her skin.

Next, trim, if needed and embellish! Have fun and get creative. Think preening fun :)

More About Sisco

I found the cutest buttons at Walmart while grocery shopping and decided to buy them to use on some of Sisco's ponchos. These buttons are lightweight and made of felt. So cute!!

The one with the little collar is for day time and the one without the collar is for night time. The reason for that is because she will pick at the collar and make it unravel.

Life

Sometimes the only thing keeping me on this planet is that little green ball of feathers, asleep in the next room.

Two years have gone by

In just a few days it will be 2 years since I lost my Baby Joey.

June use to be such a happy month with lots of occasions and events to celebrate. Last day of school, my birthday, Peanut's birthday, Kiwi's homecoming, my son's birthday, and my wedding anniversary. I remember when I was little, my birthday and the last day of school coincided with each other. Even though that only happened once, it was still pretty cool!

Now most of that is overshadowed by one event. One event that I won't ever forget - the day Baby Joey flew away from me into the trees. It was an accident, but I will never forget that last sight of him as he rounded the corner of the camper and up, up, up. My heart broke that day and has yet to be repaired.

To this day, I can still hear his little voice, in my birds here at home and the birds outside.

I hope where ever you are, my sweet baby, that you are safe and loved as much as I loved you and took care of you. You were one special birdie that will live forever in my heart. I will love you forever and always. 

***Please, let our mistake teach you not to take your birds outside without some sort of restraint, preferably a carrier or a harness. Baby Joey wasn't outside when he flew away. He was, or so we thought, safely tucked away in our camper, only to be swept away by one careless mistake - an open door. Clipping a bird's wings does not mean that your bird can't or won't fly away. Neither does an overly bonded bird. A small bird can easily get lift off on a windy day. There are thousands of both small and big birds reported lost on the internet every year. Don't let one of them be yours.

Happy Birthday to my awesome little man!

In 2 days, June 20th, my sweet baby boy will be 5 years old! Gosh, I don't know where the time went. It seems just like yesterday that I brought him home. We learned so much together, I learned not to stress out over his stages while he learned how to trust me. I treasure our times that we spend together, but especially our night time snuggles. Those night time snuggles are the best time of the day for me! I look forward to those because it is just me and my baby, I relax and let the world take care of itself. He is the light of my life. My Peanut!

Sisco Sissy Sissybug or Sis

Whatever you want to call her. She's my nekid Nanday Conure whom I love with unconditional love. I have to, she's nekid and I don't think that'll change any time soon. I have been trying new things out to see if I can get her to at least lessen up on the plucking. The other night I heard what sounded like a painful scream but since she is normally making some sort of noise, I didn't really think much of it. The next morning there was dried blood on the bottom of her cage and she has a sore under her leg. I don't want to put a collar on her, it won't change the fact that she plucks. I want to trade her bad habit of plucking to something better.

The changes that I am making:
Soaking bathes at least once a day.
Outside time if weather permits.
An occasional outing with me.
An occasional walk.
More veggies and fruit.
Different ponchos to deter plucking but to encourage playing as well.

She also gets my undivided attention at least 2 times a day. We sit and snuggle and she normally falls asleep on me. Once in the morning and once in the evening. Sometimes, if I'm not running errands or doing some work we will sit in the afternoon and she'll take an afternoon nap. If I'm not holding her, she doesn't nap.

Today she is playing with toys!! What's different today than any other day? Well, I am home and the curtains are closed. Nothing else is different. I don't get it.

I have to modify her poncho a little because it is too loose around the neck. She is able to get to her shoulders with this one on. She has plain ponchos for night time just in case anyone was concerned about her getting a bead stuck in her beak or something...

My Arm Has Fallen Asleep

Oh, the discomforts I go through for the sake of my birds. Numerous times a day I will have: various body parts go numb, restless leg syndrome, bleeding eardrums, feathers in my coffee, and feetie prints in my mashed potatoes.

As I type this, I have a precious baby, snuggled against my chest, leaning into my hand for support. We've been sitting this way for an hour, her sleeping and me playing around on my computer. I was content sitting on the couch with the dogs, but she wasn't content being on her cage. So, she hopped to the floor and started walking towards me, letting me know that she wanted held!

I've had people tell me that birds, "do not cuddle. That's a human want." Yeah, ok. They're missing out on a lot if they think that.

Howdy

Wow! A lot of things have changed since 2010, mostly with the birds. Some have gone to the rainbow bridge, some have found new homes, and some new ones have come in and some old ones have come back.

We are all doing well and we're happy. I try to keep in touch with the new families that have adopted some of my birds, and I've been reassured that they are all doing well. I'll try to catch everyone up soon.