5 days agoWhy Is The Hall Floor Rug On Your Bed?The Slow Erosion of My Husband’s Mind — I am standing in front of the kitchen sink watching a woodchuck through a drain-streaked window when my husband appears. “Did you remove the rat I shot earlier? I can’t see it,” says he peering over my shoulder into the rainy backyard. My husband keeps a gun leaning against the…Dementia3 min read
Jun 8Wildlife Babies, Other CreaturesThis story is a pictorial view of our yard and some of its inhabitants The photo captures a woodchuck (groundhog) baby, recently weaned, nibbling on a weed. The baby’s diet will consist of plants, some of them from my perennial garden, and grasses.Wildlife Babies3 min read
May 30Damn! I Didn’t Notice The Egg!Now there are ten doves, about 8 too many. — How could I have been so careless? For years, many, many years, I pulled eggs from beneath nesting birds. My fingers searched under warm bellies, then tossed the small ovals into the trash. Because I felt horrible doing this, I chanted, “No babies. …Birth Of Baby Bird3 min read
May 17I Used To Shower With My HusbandNow I shower with thirsty plants — Over the years, I have showered with my husband, small children, and several large parrots. Nowadays, I find myself alone in the shower or with plants that need a good soaking. My husband even built a plant bar for our shower to accommodate hanging plants. Most birds delight in bathing…Showering With Husband2 min read
May 8Death In The Bird RoomA bird wake is held before burial — The death of a loved one is hard to accept. Brady’s companion, Gracie, died during the night. I expected the tiny, green body sprawled on the cage floor this morning. I expected an upset Brady. Note: Most of my flock are senior birds, well into their teens. …Death And Wakes3 min read
Apr 29So What If It Takes Us A MonthOur yard is large, on a hill, and we are way past our prime — I Know What You Are Going to Say Why spend a month cleaning up your yard when a landscaping crew can clean up the leaves and small branches in a couple of hours? Why struggle with this chore twice a year? Well, to us, it is a matter of choice…Annual Yard Work3 min read
Apr 12An Astonishing PhenomenonThousands of crows streaming toward me — You know about the crows if you drive north or south on I-495 at sunset over the bridges spanning the Merrimack River in northeast Massachusetts. This massive crow population roosts in the city of Lawrence starting in the fall around October and continuing into March. …Hundreds Of Crows2 min read
Mar 3030 Birds Get Soaking WetOur monthly group bath — Bright eyes focus on me. I alter their morning routine by yanking up the poop-covered newspaper lining the floor and wiping down cages. I lay down plastic sheets on the floor and their excitement increases. It is bath day. …Bathing Birds2 min read
Mar 13Wildlife Needs Access To WaterWe provide water year-round in our yard — The skunks are the most frequent winter users of the heated water dish in the backyard. We have seen foxes, raccoons, and possums enjoying the availability of a drink, and, of course, the feral cats. There are three heated bowls, a large one in the backyard, a shallow one on…Water For Wildlife3 min read
Mar 3Feeding Mr. Grouchy, A Feral CatRain, sleet, nor snow deters Mr. Grouchy from his meals At 5 am, it is 4 degrees, not as cold as some recent mornings, but requiring multiple layers before stepping out the cellar door to feed the feral cat. …Feeding Feral Cats2 min read
