WHOSE HOUSE IS THIS ANYWAY?

I awakened this morning to a beautiful pink sky and a soft tapping sound on the window behind my head.  I like to have a window near my head as I sleep, to open and close as I choose.  Also, to look outside as soon as I open my eyes just to have a few moments to be grateful before the busy day begins.  This soft tapping I soon realize is a little bird pecking either at its reflection or possibly bugs.  But it is winter and there really are not a lot of bugs out there.  Anyway, my usual quiet moment became a tapping contest back and forth.  I'd tap, it would tap and so forth...until I gave up and got up.  

I always shower first thing in the morning, and I also take a bath at night.  I enjoy a morning shower just to extend a bit of alone time to think about my day.  And, I like to end my day in a nice warm bath, usually reading or writing.  As I was enjoying my morning hot shower, I could hear tapping and little knocking sounds.  We have a sky light in the bathroom.  And the little noises sounded like they were coming from up there.  So, I look up and there are seven (7) doves (14 little feet that looked like spiders, pecking at something and then sliding down the sky light.  As I said,  it is winter and so there is some snow/ice on the sky light.  The doves would climb up to the highest point, peck at something and eventually slide on the slippery surface, down to the lowest part.  When my husband enters the bathroom, I point up and he says that possibly they are getting the grit from the shingles.  Or adds, maybe they are just having fun :).  

At least once a day there will be a woodpecker knocking on some side of our log cabin.  Now, I think that they really are doing that just for fun.  There are many trees right around the cabin (there are several thousand acres of state land around our 40 acres) that he or she could choose from...but, they choose our home to do what they do.....

A little history of this (new to us) log cabin.  It has been a 'camp' for many years.  Families would just come up here occasionally to hunt or whatever.  We are renovating (slowly because it's winter) into a year around home. 

We've noticed that the wildlife on this forty acres really does not pay much attention to us.   The birds that come to the seed basket don't even move when we add more seed or walk past them as they are helping themselves to a sunflower seed.  The deer just walk around and drink out of the pond and eat the corn that we put out for our sheep like they are part of the herd.   The squirrels do not even run when we walk out onto our deck and they are in the seed basket.  

It is as if, this place is their's and we are just a mild inconvenience. 

This log cabin has an attic and we have closed it off for the winter.  It is full of stuff (junk) (not ours) and we don't really want to address it at this time.   We filled an industrial dumpster with the junk that was here from the first floor and plan on attacking the attic in the spring.  That is unless it attacks us first.  We hear running around up there every day.  Sometime with boots on, sometimes rolling bowling balls, sometimes yelling at one another.  My husband thinks it's kind of funny....I guess I do too, but occasionally it sounds like they are going to drop right down on our dinner table as we eat.  We're thinking squirrels.  There are definitely openings in the ends of the roof and it's an easy entry for anyone that can climb up there.  Perfect sleeping quarters during this cold season.  

We've been here about two months now and we are so used to all of the noises that if we don't hear any running or tapping, we wonder if everyone is okay.  Our dogs don't even look up anymore.  Once everyone quiets down at night, we wish them a good nights sleep, assuming that they are tucked in, curled up and enjoying all the heat that escapes from the 1st floor.  

We are not hunters, I am a vegetarian and so, harming any animals just isn't our thing.  This was their home and place to be, way before we bought this place.   So, we have learned to cohabitant.  As long as I don't have to sleep or bathe with a squirrel, I'm fine with that.  There are apparently bears and other large wildlife around here also....(our land butts up against thousands of acres of wet land/state land) and so, our current group of little creatures that live with us, are really our more desirable neighbors and housemates.  

PREVIEW OF...... I BELIEVE....

I've been working on this book for the last few months.  Rather than a short description of what the book entails, I compiled a few excerpts from the book for this blog...hope you enjoy.

An Enlightening Possibility of the Hereafter… that Might just Help a Grieving Heart feel a bit Lighter….

So….

I BELIEVE…

Well, long story short, I died.  After a rather lengthy, painful and totally unfair illness, I quietly slipped away at my family home.  I felt blessed to have my husband, children and a good friend with me as my journey on this earth ended.   My sweet husband of 20 years held my hand and gently touched my forehead and told me that everything was okay, that they would be alright. He kept telling me that he loved me, and, would always love me.  Our three daughters held on to each other, crying.  Our youngest daughter had our dog, Scruffy in her arms and was squeezing him, just trying to hold onto something.  They were all so frantic.  I actually wanted to leave quickly to put an end to this last painful stage and allow the healing to begin for my family as soon as possible.  

The day of the graveside service was not exactly as I would have liked, it was overcast and spitting a steady, cold drizzle, so miserable for everyone.  From my position, I could see quite a few black umbrellas, and a spot of color right in the middle, which was my umbrella.  I pictured one of my daughter’s bringing it and holding the handle very tightly just like we would do when we’d run in the rain from the car to the store or school.    I could see that it was my oldest daughter holding onto the handle.  I really did not want to die during the darker, depressing winter season.  I knew it would make it harder and more depressing for everyone.  But as I have learned during the last year of my life, there are so many things that are not within your control.  So, here I am, watching my own funeral.  When our minister stopped talking and gave the final blessing, everyone moved rather quickly to their cars to escape the cold drizzle and also the dark, depressing cemetery.  My wishes were for all to go to a restaurant that I picked out for a luncheon.  I wanted everyone I loved to be surrounded by others to talk about all of the good times that we shared and hopefully smile and maybe even laugh. 

As the cars rolled into the restaurant parking lot for the luncheon, I felt myself being gently pulled back.  The view was dimming, it was as if my eyes were closing, the dark day was getting darker. 

Suddenly, my eyes were wide open, I could see everything clearly and I could also hear voices and sounds. I was standing in a long line holding a clipboard.  I noticed that above a doorway at the front of this long line, there was a sign that read “The Waiting Room.”    The line moved rather slowly and I understood why when I finally reached a chair in The Waiting Room.  I was handed a 10 page packet which I clipped onto the board.  There was a pencil attached for our use.  On the top of the packet it said, “To be completed in it’s entirety”.  As I slide into a chair, a few of the seated individuals looked up and appeared to be about my age.  They would smile and then go back to filling out the papers on their clipboards.  I wonder if one of the initial steps is to be divided into age groups.   There are signs everywhere….Be Patient, We will be with You as soon as Possible,  You are Very Important to Us.  Shaking my head, I’m thinking, this is not at all how I pictured my “Transition.”  Standing in a long line for quite awhile and then being directed to a chair, given a clipboard with a pencil attached and a long form "To be filled out in it’s entirety.”  I always thought that I’d magically earn beautiful fluffy angel wings and just float around in a beautiful white, ‘heavenly’ place somewhere up in the endless cloud world.  Apparently not, well not at this stage anyway. 

A PREVIEW OF.....HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW

HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW - I've been working on this book for several years now.  Sometimes I wonder if I ever want to type 'The End' and for it to be finished, I kind of love it just being mine.   

This book is in essence. about two women, whose lives were intimately intertwined on so many different levels.  And, as life would have it, they do not actually meet until the final chapter of the book.  My vision for this book was to  involve the reader completely in each one of their lives individually.  And, at the close of the book, leave the reader with all of the emotion of being in a relationship that most only dream about experiencing in their lives.  That the reader would take that emotion and make it a 'real' part of how they live their daily lives.  Always drawing from the friendship and love that bound together these two ladies.  

My first main character, Ann, had just moved into her new home in California.  Her children were older and had recently moved into their own homes.  Ann's husband is a soon to be retired military man, currently serving his last tour in Iraq. As a military wife, Ann was very accustomed to moving frequently.  At first, this move felt harder than any of the others, because her children were no longer there on a daily basis.  She was living alone for the first time.   But through a series of events, this home became one of comfort and joy.  She began to plan on making this their forever home.  

 As with most of their moves, Ann never really became too close to their neighbors.  Usually just a wave and an occasional 'hello'. They were usually renting because they never knew when the next move would happen.  

 One sunny California morning, Ann was carrying some moving boxes out to the curb and she noticed an older lady next door tending to her lovely garden.   The older lady happened to look over at her just as she was noticing her and so they exchanged a wave and a smile. 

  Then, on one particular night, an ambulance arrives at the older ladies house, and unbeknownst to both of the ladies, their lives would thereafter be changed forever. 

 Stay tuned...this is a good one...I'm pretty far along on this story because it  feels so warm and happy just to sit down with a hot cup of tea and write. I literally disappear into this book when I am working on it.   I love it so much...the characters are my best friends (yes, that happens to writers and to readers also).   My  desire is to share this story and to add some hope and happiness into everyone's lives.......


These are the other stories in the works that will be featured in my next few blogs
....thanks for viewing....

BELIEVE
HAPPY TRAILS HOTDOGS
WE ARE DEFINITELY OUTDOOR CATS
EARL'S YACHT CLUB

A PREVIEW OF..... THE HOUSE ON WINDY RIDGE

YES, I am working on seven (7) books all at the same time.  I am 'at my best' when I am multitasking....never really have been able to really stick to just one project at a time.  I do eventually complete each one, never really missing a deadline.  So, the term 'multi tasking' really normalized my personality of jumping from one task or project to another...all of the time.   I never really lose sight of the project I just jumped from, it still is in my head...just moved to the back of the bus for the moment while I insert the next task or project in the drivers seat.

ANYWAY, enough about my 'MULTI TASKING'



The third story that I am currently working on is called...... 

THE HOUSE ON WINDY RIDGE  

It is based on a four square farm house that my husband and I purchased and renovated.  We enjoyed every moment of watching this house come back to life. A little history...  The forty acres was part of a 120 acre parcel that an acquaintance of ours was dividing and selling.  We inquired as to which parcel the old farm house was on and found out that it was just a bit outside of the forty we were interested in buying.  We convinced the seller that if they would adjust the lot lines, we would restore the house and it would be a benefit to him to sell the other parcels.   So, the seller was able to adjust the property lines to include the home on the land that we then purchased.  This house had a 'help me' kind of feel to it as we would stand back and think about what it originally looked like and talked about the many ideas we had about this renovation.    Others would call it 'creepy' but it wasn't to us.  It was just an old home that had not had anyone loving or taking care of it in many years.  It was gray with years of sun and rain, windows broken or missing, screen door hanging by a hinge and more holes than roof. But, the sill plates and foundation were in great shape and the exterior was in good shape, just so very weathered.  My husband is a contractor and I am an 'idea generator' and we have purchased several other properties, renovated, sold or kept.  This was one of those homes that spoke to us.  During the renovation and after we moved in, we were contacted by individuals that had a history with this home.  Our first call was from the great grand daughter of the original owner of the land.  He had purchased the land directly  from the US government.  She was researching the history from the time her great grandfather had purchased the land until present, and so we benefited from all of her research.  We later had an 'open house' for all of our friends that always enjoyed our renovations.  The children of the family that had lived in this house for many years had heard about the open house (small town) and decided to come.  We were so appreciative to have met them and listened to their stories.  We again, gained a lot of insight into this home, which, we learned was quite a sad and rather frightening past.  THUS, this story....THE HOUSE ON WINDY RIDGE.....

A PREVIEW OF.....THE VIEW FROM MY SWING

I have been a storyteller from the very moment I uttered my first word and engaged in my first ever eye roll.  My words and my facial expressions have told many stories over the years.  A few years ago I decided to put pen to paper (only an expression...I work on a laptop) and pushed myself and my first book to self publish as soon as possible.  I have learned a lot since then. Mostly that one cannot push the story or oneself.  You cannot possibly always have the emotion necessary or have the most effective words available for your story by just sitting down saying, 'today I'm going to write'.   One needs to be in the mood and that usually comes after having had a parade of thoughts for a day or so about one of your stories that are 'under construction'.  And then, the words and emotions just flow.  I'm going to blog a Preview of each of these 'books in the works'.  Stay turned, there are seven (7). 

SO...I am currently working on seven (yes, 7) books at this time.  My mind has always worked in  overdrive...occasionally, I am thinking about what I'm actually doing, but most of the time, I am watching in my minds eye, scenarios for my books.  Sometimes, an event, sometimes a character.  Sometimes in the middle of the night, sometimes in the middle of a conversation with my husband.  Thoughts, ideas and words just pop in there like a light bulb above my head, but it's actually in my head.   Characters develop more slowly.  I always have a general idea of who my main characters are going to be, but they take on more sides as I 'idea gather' from watching people on my outings to the farmers market, library or restaurants. I notice peoples expressions (some people don't seem to have any, but I must always remember that I am so animated, that anyone might appear that way to me), their carriage, their mannerisms, the tone of their voice.   I  listen to their choice of words (sometimes I actually do listen but, usually only for book character ideas). Sometimes my imagination creates an entire life for this poor person that I have within my radar.  I wonder if my face looks really 'judgey' while I'm studying people, but it's really that I'm scanning them for ideas for one of my books.  I've gotten pretty good at smiling and looking away quickly when they apparently feel 'the scan'.  

HERE is  what is currently rolling around in the old pumpkin...I add to each one of my stories as the mood moves...and I have a lot of moods believe me.....

THE VIEW FROM MY SWING - This was my first and only (so far) published book. Thought I should write it and publish it, like it was a race.  I wanted to write "The End" hit publish and become a published writer.  Apparently, it can work that way, there are a lot of books out there, but, that does not mean that they are really any good, just because they are published.  I don't want to be that kind of a writer, a quantity vs quality writer.   I did receive quite a few good reviews on my first published book,  which made me feel like I had arrived, but I also got some constructive criticism which at first I had a hard time accepting.  Thought I had written a Best Seller.  A few years later as I reread this book, I realize that I needed to expand and more fully develop the descriptions of my scenes and events as they unfold.  My characters also need to be much more thoroughly developed so that the readers could 'see' them.  I knew what they looked like, it was about my family, but, I forgot about the reader in the retelling of my early life.   I am rewriting this book because I love it, and I think it is worth a rework and a republish.

The View from My Swing is about growing up in Chicago during the 50's.  It's about me, as a 5 year old, talking about my everyday life living with my parents and my grandparents.  My parents were born in the United States, but my grandparents, as teenagers,  traveled through Ellis Island from Naples, Italy, to come to this 'Land of Opportunity'.

 We all lived in a two flat in a neighborhood in Oak Park, IL.  Our neighborhood was the only home I had ever known.  I was born there and lived there until I was 6 years old.  It was all just very normal to me then, but looking back, it was an amazing place to start ones life.  That humble beginning would impact the way I would feel about all the people that share this earth with me, for the rest of my life.  As I  relive, through the writing of this book, the best childhood anyone could have ever had, my heart is full, and I feel so grateful.  Our life was a really warm and wonderful melting pot with families that were originally from everywhere in this world.   The air was full of exotic foods cooking, lively music and languages spoken that I could only pretend to understand.  When spoken to by a neighbor, I would always just nod and smile, and, it always seemed to work.  We were all so similar in so many different ways. United in that we were all families just trying to make the best lives for our loved ones.

This main stage for this story is centered on a giant backyard swing that my dad and Papa erected for me (tall metal poles, chains and a grate for a seat). That swing was my very best friend.  I would swing from sunrise to sunset, everyday, rain or snow.  I could swing really high (much to my mothers dismay) and could see all of the goings on in the neighborhood (sometimes to the dismay of our neighbors).

The View from My Swing is a colorful journey back in time to when neighborhoods were  interactive and so very important to everyones life that lived within them.  Neighbors weren't strangers, they were extended family. Everyones lives were so much more enriched for being a part of it.....stay turned, hope to have the rewrite, republish out again sometime soon......

RAISING AND ENJOYING BEAUTIFUL PEACOCKS

My husband and I raise peacocks. Fell in love with them 25 years ago, after going to a bird show (yes, there are bird shows) and have not stopped buying and raising peacocks and peahens since.  We have watched 100's of chicks being raised by the best moms in the world.  The males are busy showing the world their beautiful tail feathers and the moms who have much more subdued plumage, are busy raising as many as 4 - 12 babies.  They average 6.  It takes 27 - 30 days to hatch and that mama will not leave that nest.  Ours are free range (generally) and they nest under hosta plants and hide so well that we sometimes just come upon them by accident.  Watching mom raise her chicks is so amazing.  She will take them out for a walk and if she feels any danger, gathers them under her and sits until she feels it is safe.  Everyday she has them roosting a bit higher.  I've seen her teaching them to jump up on a large clay pot and roost for the night.  The next time, it's up onto some saw horses, until she gets them to jump/fly to the lowest branch on a tree.  The growing chicks get so excited at sunset...they are all running and hopping a few feet off the ground under the big walnut tree, trying to work up the nerve to fly up to the lowest branch.  Many make it on their first try and others fall back down but they don't quit because mom is always calling from the lowest branch, until all of her babies are warm and safe under her for the night.  We are currently raising them in a protected building/run.  We just moved to the UP Michigan and it's winter and we wanted to have more control over our animals/birds for this winter season.

The males tail feathers are starting to grow in anticipation of spring showing off time and breeding.  Spring is such an active time.  The males come up to the females raise their tail feathers and then pull them forward (kind of around her) and then shake them...sounds like an old metal Christmas tree being shaken.  She either decides this is the guy or walks away.  Males will breed with any female...not true to any one female.  So, we do keep same species together and separate to keep that species true (white, blue or Indian and green or Java).  But, they do mix it up and we end up with some beautiful combinations.  We've lost our share of older peacocks and many chicks.  We've heard owls picking them off in the trees.  It's so sad because the mom will call all of the rest of the night for her chick.  I usually go out with a flashlight and look everywhere below the tree where they roost hoping that the chick just fell out and needs some help getting back up....but, have never found one....nature...love it...hate it....But, we really do love our peacocks.  They can be so funny chasing each other and running behind us on the tractor when we're mowing....catching bugs.  They do alright in the winter as long as they have somewhere to roost and keep their feet dry...and,  their heavy feathers keep them warm.....but, I am sure they are anxious for spring....just like me.....

• 

HAPPY 27th BIRTHDAY TO APRIL.....

UPDATE:  Wrote this blog two years ago when April turned 25 years old....now she will be 27 in a few days.  She is amazing...has expanded her vocabulary by several swear words and a new dog name....we rescued a 5 year old Chihuahua named Tipo...we call him TT....so she says in a high pitched voice TT...(like I do) She is now located in the kitchen where I'm sure she picked up the new curse words...but hopefully will pick up the timer ring sound, and start singing like I do when I do the dishes and when I bake, which is often during the winter months.  Currently still singing Christmas Carols....but will switch back to old favorites soon.   HAPPY NEW YEAR...I say that to her everyday (every time I pass the cage) and she just looks at me and asks for a chip...Oh Well...she does have a mind of her own.

This is April.
Today is her birthday...she is 25 years old.  Life expectancy of an African Grey is about 90 years.  So, she will still be here, probably living with one of my children/grandkids after I am gone.  So, I am busy teaching her as many naughty words and questionable expressions as possible so that my memory will live on as the eccentric, creative, potty mouth person that I am.

We are currently experiencing a possible health issue with April.  According to Google she might have anything from a fungal infection, bacterial infection, mites or depression.  We have moved from WI to MI over the last few months.  Our last trip we pulled an animal hauler with our sheep, llama, peacocks and chickens in it and our parakeet, dogs and April were in the backseat of our truck.  We had to move her from her large floor cage to a smaller cage that we could actually fit in the backseat.  And, carry her large cage in the hauler.

It has been hard getting in touch with a Vet in our new area, especially an Avian Vet to either have them make a home visit or take her in for blood tests that might possibly tell us something.  (Also, all of the Holidays) We did find out from some people that we met that there are two female vets in our very town that service a local zoo.  So, knowing that the local zoo has many parrots, I'm sure we're going to be in good hands.

On advice from Google, I thoroughly washed her cage with vinegar and water, cleaned and sanitized her bowls and toys and actually put her in the bathtub and gave her a shower.  She did not seem happy with me capturing her in a towel and placing her in a few inches of warm water.  But, after some complaining, she spread her wings and started to bath herself.

Once I put her back in her cage and put a warming light on her, she began to preen herself and afterwards looked much better.

 I have offered her every food in the world in the last few days....even going so far as to chew food myself and give it to her (I am her mom after all).  She really had stopped eating.  She would just push food around and mostly turn her head and put her beak into her back feathers and sleep.  But, after her shower, pushing food, rubbing her and talking to her constantly....she seems to be reacting and talking more.

I was busy thinking about how stressed I've been, selling our home in just a few days, packing up a very large home, filling a semi container and making several enclosed trailer rides to our new home (4.5 hrs. one way), (a small log cabin in the middle of not much).  But I never stopped to think about how all of the changes might affect her.  Birds are very sensitive and can become stressed and depressed I have learned.  So, we moved her closer to where we are most of the time and put her parakeet friend right next to her (like it was in her old house) and are making an all out effort to get her to eat and interact with us.

I had been so busy working...I'd throw food and clean water in there everyday and peelings and fresh fruit...and talk to her for a moment.  But, I am who she has bonded with, and I was letting her down.  I promised her that I would not let her down again...she wants kisses all of the time and wants me to rub her head and I now always make time to do that.  She is very important to me, more than I knew.  This is the first time in 25 years that we have had a potential health issue.  l

I have made an appointment with the vet to take her in....I just want to be sure....and, by the way, we refer to her as her but we have no idea is "she" is male or female....there is no difference in appearance in male or female African Greys....you have to blood test them to find out.  So, if our new vet thinks we should run some tests, I may actually find out after 25 years if April is a girl or if she is a boy.  She's still going to be April no matter what...cause she says her name....but, it will be interesting to know if I guessed correctly.  She just always struck me as a girl...just a feeling...we'll see if 'my radar' was correct.

UPDATE:  She, yes, she is a she...was getting ready to pass her first egg.  It was somewhat stuck...sticking out partially one morning.  So, I again put her in warm water and put her in her carrying cage and off we went to the vet.  They had to semi cut the skin around her vent to get the egg out...it was stuck and dried to her skin.  They got it off and out and gave us a lubricant to apply to her vent everyday.....it happens they said...good that we got her in.  Her first egg when she was 25 years old. I kept the egg, it looked like a golf ball....put it in her cage and she ignored it.  Glad she wasn't ill...just having a little trouble doing something normal...