Thankful

It’s that thankful time of year, with Thanksgiving coming up soon. This year I am thankful that I am a bird, and not just any kind of bird, but a beautiful squawky parrot.
I am thankful that am NOT:
• a turkey, which is a very dangerous sort of bird to be in November
• a dumb robin, so that I don’t have to migrate twice a year but can relax in the comfort of my own cage
• a chickadee, which is a very nice sort of bird but has to spend all winter outside in the cold and snow
• a catbird, because who wants to be named after a predator
I AM thankful that I am a beautiful parrot with pretty green feathers and a melodious squawk!

This and That

It’s been one of those quiet months so far, and there hasn’t been much out of the ordinary to write about. The walnuts are in their place (my food dish), my person’s been acting pretty nice, I get my treat every afternoon, I haven’t spotted any unusual predators. . . .everything seems to be in place. The only thing is, I’ve pretty much given up nesting for the time being because I’ve been so busy helping my person. She’s gotten a lot of work recently, and of course she counts on me to help her with it. So I have to spend most of the day sitting on her shoulder while she works and that leaves me little time for chewing things up to make a nest. But that’s OK. There will be plenty of time for that later on. So that’s the news from the birdcage for this week.

Of Walnuts and People

OK, so we already know how interesting the opening of the refrigerator door is to me because of the walnuts that are always sitting there on the top shelf winking and smiling at me in such an attractive way as if to say, “Eat us now!” And we know how mean my person can be sometimes, making it difficult for me to get my beak on those tasty little morsels. So the other day she says, “Just because a walnut is there doesn’t mean that you have to eat it.”
Huh?
Doesn’t mean I have to eat it??? Of course it does. That’s what it’s all about. Sheesh. People can be so clueless.

Rude Snow

My readers are well aware of the fact that I’m no fan of snow. However, I know I have to accept the fact that it spends several months of the year here. OK, so it gets around four months every winter to hang around here and do whatever it wants. You’d think that’d be enough, but that snow has gotten mighty pushy recently and has shown up not once but twice this week. That’s right, twice, and its still only October. The first time it just kind of danced around and teased us a little. That was really rude, but I decided not to pay it any attention. That’s the best way to deal with teasers. But then it decided it had to jump up and down and shout for attention. It made a really noticeable visit last night and now it’s lying all over the ground. I’m sorry, but I just think that’s so rude. I mean, we’re kind enough to let it spend the winter here, so showing up more than a month early seems ungrateful and is just plain bad manners. Well, ha, ha, the joke’s on the snow, because it’s going to get all melted up really quickly. That should teach it to mind its manners!

New Hobby

I’ve recently taken up sculpture. I realized it would be a good use of my chewing talents. Here you see a photo of my latest work. I guess you could call it an altered book. I’m pretty happy with the way it’s turned out, but I have the same problem that so many artists have: How do you know when it’s finished? I’ll probably give it at least a few more chews.

Migration

I know I’ve said it before, but I’m saying it again: I just don’t get all this migration business. My person says migratory birds are looking for a place to spend the winter that’s warm and has food. If that’s all they’re after, then I have to ask this: Why don’t they just stay in their own cages? After all, a cage is warm and has a full food dish. On top of that, it probably also comes with toys and a person who gives you treats. And it’s right here. You don’t have to fly anywhere to have all this. Why would any bird want to go anywhere else? I just don’t get it.

Autumn Tea Party

I just love tea parties! We had a friend come over last night, and my person served lemon balm tea and pumpkin pie. Mmmm, there’s nothing like a fresh hot cup of tea. I stood on the rim of the tea cup and sipped up little drops of tea. Then I scraped up little pieces of pumpkin pie with my beak. When my crop was full, I settled down on my person’s shoulder and listened to her talk and laugh with her friend. Talking and laughing are such pleasant sounds. I chirped and laughed right along with them. Tea and pie taste so much better when you have guests to share them with, don’t you think?