This is a picture of what the little bird I was caring for will grow up to look like. Quite a change from where he is now!!

Baby Bird Update

I am happy to report that the little bird was still alive and chirping this morning. I took him to work with me and was able to finally locate the nest he came from. There were six other little babies there just as "beautiful" as he was!! I put him back and within minutes, the parents were there taking care of their noisy little brood. I hope the little guy makes it and lives a long and happy life. Nobody can take care of a tiny baby bird quite like its own mother!! Good luck "Beaker".

No More "Baby Smiles" for Me

Amelia finally lost one of her top front teeth. She was so excited when she pulled it out that she was actually shaking!! It makes me sad because now she is going to look so much more grown up (which is exactly why she is so excited). I love the little smiles they have when they have all their baby teeth. And also, this means we are one step closer to braces. Aaarrgghh! I don't want to think about that! Next thing you know, they are going to want to have their own lives, and ideas and stuff. I didn't sign on for that! I want my little girls to stay LITTLE!! But, I think I am going to have to accept this growing up thing. I guess I will just have to try to make the best of it. Hannah already complained that I "treat her like a kid, and she is not a kid anymore". I said, "But you are only nine years old!!". I was immediately corrected. She is nine and a half. I don't know what I was thinking....

The Return of Roger

So Roger the ferret has come back home. We gave him to the girls for Christmas four years ago, only to realize that Amelia was too young to safely be around such a small animal. Fortunately for us, a co-worker that was crazy about ferrets agreed to take him for us. She kept him until she moved to California, where ferrets are not allowed, when she in turn gave him to another co-worker. This person kept him for the last couple of years, and now she is moving away. Since Amelia is older and more responsible (I keep saying that out loud, eventually I will convince myself!!) we decided to take him back. I must admit I have sort of missed him. Ferrets are cute little critters, even though they are incredibly nosy and mischievious. Roger didn't skip a beat. He acted as though he had been gone for a weekend. He has made himself right at home. He has even torn the head off of a barbie already!! That was his favorite past time when he was here before. He keeps Otis on his toes, too. Otis must watch every move Roger makes when he is out and about. He is simply exhausted at the end of the evening when Roger goes to bed. Aside from the unavoidable, unmistakeable odor of ferret, we are glad to have him back. Just last weekend, after I spent a great deal of time working in the flower garden, Roger decided it needed a little more work and took it upon himself to do a little landscaping of his own. I have included a quick video of his work. The hole he dug took him all of 2 minutes to dig. At least it tired him out!

Roger after a busy morning (he helped my out during the yard sale).

I Never Seem to Learn...

Here I go again. I can't tell you how many times I have tried to be a good Samaritan and help out the little tiny birds that always seem to appear during the spring. This is a Moorhen chick, and he is my latest project from the zoo. I guess I have a sign over my head, because when it became apparent that he was going to need a little help, everyone immediately looked at me. And what could I say? How could you say no to this cutie? Hard to believe he looks like this now, and will change so much over the next few weeks (hopefully!!). His feathers will be blue and his legs will be yellow, and the red on his beak will be very prominant. Assuming all goes well, of course. Little birds are just sooo hard! And by the way, I am supposed to be a "primate keeper"!!