Pay It Forward

While browsing around and attempting to catch up with some of my favorite blog people I ran across Serindipity home to dear Faerwillow.  I am sure many of you know who I am talking about.  She never ceases to surprise me in some manner whether it be her wonderful swaps or a review on something wonderful she has recieved. It is hard for me to believe yet this girl has somewhat inspired me at times to become creative in manners I never thought possible.  Well, she has done it yet again.  

A simple little exchange of sorts.  The rules are as follows:

*  Create something hand crafted for the first five people who leave a comment on this post who say they wish to participate. 

*  To play along one must be willing to likewise repost these instructions and also create something handmade for the first five people who comment on their post.

*  All gifts are to be created and handed out during 2011.  I myself can promise that it will be sooner than this as if I wait for the entire year I will forget about it... I have already started on all my goodies for whoever may wish to join

That is it... that is all there is to it.  Sounded like a fun idea to me and a wonderful way to get to know new people.  As well as also spreading a little bit of joy.  If you do decide to participate be sure and leave me your email or a manner to reach you so that I can get your shipping info. 

My New Houseguest

About the time we first hear the Robin's ringing welcome to spring

 we may listen for the Bluebird's more gentle greeting.

No bird's song is more associated with the return of Spring

 than the Bluebird's:

 - Frank M. Chapman, Birdlife, 1897

Last week on return from a visit to the moms we pulled into our driveway.  We entered the house and removed Winston from his crate and allowed him to go outdoors and relieve himself as he had spent some time inside.  Since the sun had already gone down the next task at hand was to gather our kitties,  Sweetie and Sunny to let them go into the garage for the evening.

Usually when we have been gone and return in the evening they are more than ready to go in for the night.  Living in the country there are many not so friendly noises and animals to go along with such noises to warrent a quick run to the safety of their evening bunk.  Yet on this night they were not anywhere to be found.  Even after calling, the slight tinkle of their bells could not be heard. 

I went inside to prepare supper, when I heard a strange noise on the front porch. When I opened the door there sat Sweetie.  When I looked further  to see why she was there as opposed to the back porch, I spotted Sunny as well.  This was odd as they do not usually frequent the front porch, especially after dark.  I quickly told Vincent where they were and commenced with dinner.

Finally shortly after, Vincent came in and informed me that the two had cornered a bird underneath the front porch and this was the reason they were relunctant to come when called.  He then said that in order to get them to come he had to get the bird and put it in the trash so they would follow. 

Now many of you know the many exploits I have had with my kitties in regards to their adventure with birds.  Many a time I have saved a little feathered friend only to bury it the next day when it finally passed.  So when Vincent told me of this misfortune I had to ask him what kind of bird they had caught.  He looked at me in a sorrowful manner and I knew that they had caught one of my precious bluebirds that frequent my yard. 

The next morning when I went to let the kitties out and take Winston for his morning duty, I went to the trash can to see the bird.  I had full intentions of preparing a proper buriel for him with the other "misfortunes" Sunny and Sweetie had given me.  To my surprise as I opened the lid I looked for him yet at first glance did not see him.  As I looked further, I spotted him sitting snuggled up at the botton between a couple of small bags of trash.  I carefully took him out and proceeded to examine him for the extent of his injuries.

Now mind you the many times I have "attempted" to save a fine feathered friend I have looked at them and expected them to be ok only to soon after come back to find them gone.  I did not see any visible signs of major distress except that a wing looked to be slightly banged up.  Yet as he jumped from my hands and attempted to fly I could see that it was damaged in a manner that meant if I did not tend him he would surely be breakfast. 

I put him into a bird cage I had purchased last summer to aid in my many attempts of rescue and put him in the silence of the garage while I went in to have my morning coffee.

Needless to say I was surprised when he seemed bright and alert when I later went out in the day to check on him.  I brought him into the house for warmth and also to examine him more closely.  He definately had a bad wing and bled slightly from underneath.  I did not think he would make it through the evening yet once again the next morning I was pleasently surprised when I awakened to his song.

He has been with us now for 4 days.  I researched online to see what I could do to help him out and we bandaged his wing up as best one can for a small bluebird.  He still likes to crawl out of it on occasion yet I bind him up again to keep his wing as immobile as I can.  He has proved to be quite calm and allows me to hold him in my hand without attempting to fly.  He likes to be soft spoken to and a soft stroke on the side of his face seems to make him quite content.  Each evening he nustles his head down and dozes off to sleep and his song fills our house during the daylight hours. 

I am grateful for each day that he remains with us and pray that he makes it to the point where one day soon I can allow him to return to his world.  There is a sweet solace in a birds pressence.  The blue bird in its colorful beauty is a wonderful example of this.  He seems to talk to me with his eyes and even seems to enjoy when I cradle him in the soft piece of red fleece I use as a blanket for him. 

So my absence the last few days have been spent tending to my new friend.  And hopefully in the days to come my time will equally be asked for as he slowly recooperates back to his old self.

Spring Fever - A Bit Early

Before I say anything else I have to say thank you to all of you who left such wonderful words and thoughts in regards to my last post.  I appreciate so much the condolences for Blackie and know that he would too.  He was a loner to say the least yet he possessed a kindness to him that was hard to describe.  It truly was my honor to have been someone that he felt somewhat at ease with to the point of allowing me to tend him while he was here.

Time still seems to be going at a slow pace but that is the way during the waning of the year.  The cold weather comes and goes and at times I see tiny glimpses of the distance reentry of spring.  Last fall I planted some new lily bulbs under my faerie tree and they have started to peek out of the earth.  The flickers and downy woodpeckers have returned and even seemed to have paired.  Odd at such an early date  yet each day I see them it is always in twos.

I find myself watching the trees for that distinct look that shows them wishing to start to bud.  I know that it is only the end of January and March 21 is still a good two months away yet still spring always seems to start calling me early.  We have been blessed with no massive snow storms yet this also has brings it cons.  The lack of snow also means the lack of moisture so many things would love to have that extra drink of water.  I usually do not find myself watering in the winter time yet this year I think there may be several occasions where I may need to, especially if my bulbs continue to peek out a bit early.

The time indoors has gotten me in a mood of reorganization and cleansing of my living quarters.  If this mood continues I plan on painting and revamping our bedroom as well as the master bath.  It is a bit of a daunting task yet one that I have had good intentions of doing for some time.  The new look will be a nice change for the coming year. 

There are also other projects that call me.. My writing as usual (nothing new there)... sketching (I need to give it more serious time).... My sewing machine and all the projects that I want to start (and finish)... my garden (which is a never ending project)... and my craft.  Not sure how to explain the last one except to say that is sort makes up the whole of me. 

What kind of changes and/or projects do you have in mind for the coming year.  Are they daring and different than anything you have done before or are they similar to the same old thing?  I always try to do something that is a little off the chart for me as a means to sort of challenge as well as spark up my life.  Sometimes it turns out good other times I realize exactly why it is that I do not do such things.  In any case it is a evolution. 

Today think about what it is that you might enjoy exploring in your life.  Something different... something you have dreamed about dabbling in... just something new....

RIP Blackie

If you read my posts on a normal basis you know that I have a dear love for feline.  Sweetie and Sunny are my own kitties that are now a little over two years old.  Still I am one of those who if a stray comes around I am sure to put out food for them and see that they have shelter and water. 

Although two of the other cats that frequent my yard are not what you would call strays (one is the next door neighbors and the other live a bit further away) they still come on a daily basis to eat breakfast or a late snack. 

Then there is Blackie.  The last of the black cats that roamed the area since we first moved here over 6 years ago.  At one time there were 6 of them and yes I tended all of them.  I even took them into a vet and had them all fixed as well as shots.  Over the years they have slowly disappeared.  I never found any signs of them and thus I kept the positive view that they found new homes elsewhere.

Blackie was the last of them.  A big black tom that came on occasion to the back porch and spoke to me.  His call was distinctive and I always knew when he was at the back door.  When the weather was warm he did not come around too often.  He was content to roam the area and find birds and mice to fill his tummy.  Yet as winter set in and the temperatures became colder he would frequent my back porch so much more. 

Yet last week when we received the coldest temperatures of the year thus far, I was surprised when I did not see him.  I would call in the evenings expecting to hear his cry and see him come from out of the brush at the bottom of the yard.  Yet he did not come.  He had been away before so I did not worry much.

The other day, Vincent and I ventured out to town for the first time in a few days and as we drove the road out of our area I heard Vincent gasp and stop the truck.  I asked what was wrong and he started to back the truck up and told me to wait and I would see.  As he backed up and stopped the truck he told me to look upward.  Hanging in the tree was Blackie.  His stomach was open and exposed and it was obvious that he was no longer with us.

Today we went and brought him down from the tree and gave him a proper burial.  It was apparent that he had not climbed into the tree but was thrown up into the tree, landing between two branches.  His front paws and head hung through the front and his hind legs dangled freely.  His stomach was completely exposed and he was stiff from the cold and the time he was evidently there. 

I wondered what had happened to him.  Was it accidental?  Was he struck by a car and someone tossed him out of the road? Or was it not accidental?  I will never know I am sure yet still I found the manner in which we found him so sad.  He was a loner of a kitty.  He was not held and cuddled much if at all as he was quite skiddish.  I had petted him a few times yet it was not often enough.  As I lowered the box into the hole that Vincent had dug, I felt sadness that he did not experience such kindness.

I will miss his occasional visits and most of all his unique cry.