I thought this was a great article for traveling with any of your pets, not just parrots!
TRAVELING BY AIR WITH BIRDS IN THE CABIN
After 9/11
by Sandee L. Molenda, C.A.S.
(link from: http://www.birdsnways.com/wisdom/ww62eii.htm)
Since the horrible tragedies of September 11th, we have all been informed of the extra-ordinary but much needed changes in security regarding flying. For those of us who have the occasion to fly with our bird, these have certainly been interesting times. We all acknowledge the need for the searches and screenings and as someone who flies frequently, I applaud the extra vigilance. However, I have found, that unfortunately, many security personnel are unsure how to handle pets that are flying with their owners. I hope to offer some insight and tips on how to make your next flight with your pet as smooth and easy as possible for security personnel, owners and above all, the bird.
Booking Your Flight
Before you book your flight, make sure the airline you choose allows pets in the cabin. Not all airlines do and all of them have the restriction of the bird fitting underneath the seat in front of you. Others limit bird size to only cockatiel or smaller. FAA regulations allow for only two pets in the main cabin so you must make reservations for your bird with your airline. There will be a charge anywhere from $50-$100 each way which you will have to pay upon your check-in at the airport. Also, get a health certificate from your veterinarian no earlier than 10 days for your RETURN flight. Not all airlines require a health certificate but that may not matter if you are dealing with someone who is unaware of the policy. Best to be prepared just in case.
Preparing Your Bird
Buy an airline-approved under-the-seat carrier. The #100 Cabin Kennel is inexpensive, easy to clean and comes with either solid or wire top. It can be purchased at most pet supply stores. Get a small cage that comfortably holds your bird and fits inside the carrier. Be sure to include a perch and food and water cups. Do not cover the bottom of the cage or you may be required to remove your bird from the cage. Place a small bag of your bird's food and bottle of water inside but make sure there are no scissors, wire cutters or other sharp objects inside. Again, do not line the cage or carrier.
If possible, clip the bird's wings (not possible for people who exhibit birds). This is always good insurance under any conditions but even more so now. The day of the flight, feed and water the bird and then place it in the cage with food, millet, juicy fruits and an ice cube in the water cup (it will melt before you get on the plane, believe me).
What to Expect at the Airport
Get to the airport at least two hours prior to your flight; some places were requiring four hours so check with your airlines. You should confirm your flight before you leave for the airport and make sure to check any connecting flights. Some airlines have reinstated curbside check in for luggage but not all. And, if you are flying with your bird, you will have to check your luggage. The FAA has limited carry-on bags to one plus a "personal" item such as a purse, briefcase or lap top computer so your bird will count as your carry-on even though you are paying extra.
When you get to the counter, immediately inform them you have a pet, who has a reservation, and that you need to pay his expenses. Present your health certificate and confirmation number for the bird's reservations. Do not be surprised if the person behind the counter is unfamiliar on how to process the bird's "ticket" but remain calm and do not get frustrated. There are a lot of armed law enforcement and military in the airport and you do not want a misunderstanding to develop with anyone. Remain calm and wait patiently - eventually, things will be done and you will be on your way. Make sure you have both receipts - one that is kept for your records and one that should be stapled to your ticket. This proves you have paid for the bird and should be shown to security personnel if asked. It is often asked prior to boarding the plane as well. Also, keep your health certificate handy - sometimes airlines and/or security ask to see it.
When you approach the security screening areas, ask for a hand-search of your bird. Most airports have turned their x-ray machines up to the highest level and this may be harmful to your bird. Inform them you can remove the bird from the carrier for inspection. You will have to hand the carrier to security, walk through the metal detector (without setting it off) and comply with all other security procedures (turning on laptops, removing cell phones, etc.) Gather your belongings and immediately open the carrier and remove the cage with the bird inside. Hold it so all angles can be seen by security - they may ask that the empty carrier go through x-ray to make sure it does not have a false bottom. Again, this procedure can be difficult because there has been virtually no training among security personnel on how to inspect animals especially birds. Most assume you have a cat or small dog that can easily be removed. Be patient and show whatever papers they request - receipt from the airlines, health certificate, whatever. Do not get angry or act rudely - remain calm and if all else fails, ask to see a supervisor.
Once you have gone through security, you may be asked by airline personnel to see the receipt for the bird and/or the health certificate. This may also be done at subsequent plane changes so make sure they are kept handy.
Things have definitely changed with flying in America and it is much better for all of us. I am sure I am safer flying now than I was six months ago. However, until the security system can be uniform at all airports by trained and skilled people, things are going to be difficult. But it is something that we can be prepared for and adjust to so long as we use a little planning and a lot of understanding.
Tips For Flying With Birds
1. Make Reservations For Bird
2. Get Health Certificate
3. Use Cage in Carrier
4. No Paper or Substrate on Floor
5. Use Airline Approved Carrier
6. Arrive 2 Hours Before Flight
7. Pay for Bird & Obtain Receipt
8. Present Receipt/HC When Requested
9. Have Bird Hand Inspected
10. Remove Bird in Cage for Inspection
11. Remain Patient and Calm
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
NOBODY EVER TOLD ME ...by Lori Zywiciel
I had hints, I had advice, I had cautions, but nobody told me how owning birds would completely take over my life.
Nobody told me I'd become a bird store junky, standing at the checkout counter in bliss until half way home and then wondering just how long it would be before the Visa came in or husband asked for the check book to balance the account.
Nobody told me my husband would say, "I think you ought to stay away from the bird store. You seem to have lost all control". Hmmmm ... Me? How did this happen?
Nobody told me when I saw a particular cage for $595.00 I might think wow that IS a good deal. Or when someone mentioned a $4,000.00 cage I could see the reason some people might need a cage like that.
Nobody told me that I would be up at 7:00am on Sunday morning peeling yams and apples to cook so they would be added into a corn meal and wheat cereal mash.
Nobody told me I wouldn't mind when feeding that mash to my bird he would head shake his head with that mixture flying in every direction, on to my carpet, on to my clothes, on to my face.
Nobody told me how much money I would spend on food, how much of it I would buy and just how little my birds would like any of it.
Nobody mentioned that once you own birds you need an extra freezer in the garage.
Nobody told me that I would spend an hour standing with my hand on a tree branch watching for hawks so my bird could hang out in the sun and chew new buds.
Nobody told me I would be on the computer at all hours talking and reading about birds.
Nobody told me I would make friends I will never see and that I would worry about them and theirs as if family.
Nobody told me I would check my son's bed for old or damaged stuffed animals to give to the bird like that stuffed cat. He never really liked it and it is missing a leg anyway.
Nobody told me I would do two extra loads of laundry a week with bird towels and sheets. Nobody told me every morning I would put a sheet over my covers, litter my bed with weird wooden things, stuffed animals, leather pieces, apple slices and peanuts.
Nobody told me just how much he would squawk. Nobody told me I would come to hear differences in the tone and shrillness. Nobody told me I not only could tell the difference but would learn when to respond or that my husband would say it's okay, this is his good morning happy time he will settle down.
Nobody could have known that my husband would say, so he squawks it is less and less the kids will deal with it.
Nobody told me I could play with him like I do. That he would chase me and I would chase him. That he would be just as exuberant as a puppy.
Nobody told me my husband would rather snuggle with the bird in the morning than make his bagel.
Nobody told my husband would make an extra half a bagel to share with the birds.
Nobody could have convinced me that this same husband would agree to shower with the birds in the bathroom (for the steam) and then without urging, could be heard to play peek-a-boo while drying off.
Nobody told me how much I would sing out loud. Nobody could have guessed those songs would be golden oldies like You Are My Sunshine or songs from musicals.
Nobody told how excited I would get to come home after 6 hrs. and see seed thrown all over the place. Yea! He ate while I was gone.
Nobody told me that I would not resent vacuuming twice a day to clean up the mess he made while eating alone. Nobody told me how my heart would tighten when I got home today after being gone for six hours and took my squawking baby out.
Nobody told me how I would feel when sooo tired I put out a sheet on the floor, put toys all over, grabbed a pillow for me, lay down and my birdy only wanted to snuggle with me.
Nobody told me how it would feel to have a little bird body across your chest and neck, little head on your cheek. I was not told how soft his kisses would be or how warm his face was as he fell asleep on my cheek cooing softly.
Nobody told me how long I would lay there awake so he could sleep.
Everybody told me I would love him. Nobody could tell me how much.
Copyright © 2000 Lori Zywiciel. All rights reserved.
Email: zywiciel@earthlink.net
Nobody told me I'd become a bird store junky, standing at the checkout counter in bliss until half way home and then wondering just how long it would be before the Visa came in or husband asked for the check book to balance the account.
Nobody told me my husband would say, "I think you ought to stay away from the bird store. You seem to have lost all control". Hmmmm ... Me? How did this happen?
Nobody told me when I saw a particular cage for $595.00 I might think wow that IS a good deal. Or when someone mentioned a $4,000.00 cage I could see the reason some people might need a cage like that.
Nobody told me that I would be up at 7:00am on Sunday morning peeling yams and apples to cook so they would be added into a corn meal and wheat cereal mash.
Nobody told me I wouldn't mind when feeding that mash to my bird he would head shake his head with that mixture flying in every direction, on to my carpet, on to my clothes, on to my face.
Nobody told me how much money I would spend on food, how much of it I would buy and just how little my birds would like any of it.
Nobody mentioned that once you own birds you need an extra freezer in the garage.
Nobody told me that I would spend an hour standing with my hand on a tree branch watching for hawks so my bird could hang out in the sun and chew new buds.
Nobody told me I would be on the computer at all hours talking and reading about birds.
Nobody told me I would make friends I will never see and that I would worry about them and theirs as if family.
Nobody told me I would check my son's bed for old or damaged stuffed animals to give to the bird like that stuffed cat. He never really liked it and it is missing a leg anyway.
Nobody told me I would do two extra loads of laundry a week with bird towels and sheets. Nobody told me every morning I would put a sheet over my covers, litter my bed with weird wooden things, stuffed animals, leather pieces, apple slices and peanuts.
Nobody told me just how much he would squawk. Nobody told me I would come to hear differences in the tone and shrillness. Nobody told me I not only could tell the difference but would learn when to respond or that my husband would say it's okay, this is his good morning happy time he will settle down.
Nobody could have known that my husband would say, so he squawks it is less and less the kids will deal with it.
Nobody told me I could play with him like I do. That he would chase me and I would chase him. That he would be just as exuberant as a puppy.
Nobody told me my husband would rather snuggle with the bird in the morning than make his bagel.
Nobody told my husband would make an extra half a bagel to share with the birds.
Nobody could have convinced me that this same husband would agree to shower with the birds in the bathroom (for the steam) and then without urging, could be heard to play peek-a-boo while drying off.
Nobody told me how much I would sing out loud. Nobody could have guessed those songs would be golden oldies like You Are My Sunshine or songs from musicals.
Nobody told how excited I would get to come home after 6 hrs. and see seed thrown all over the place. Yea! He ate while I was gone.
Nobody told me that I would not resent vacuuming twice a day to clean up the mess he made while eating alone. Nobody told me how my heart would tighten when I got home today after being gone for six hours and took my squawking baby out.
Nobody told me how I would feel when sooo tired I put out a sheet on the floor, put toys all over, grabbed a pillow for me, lay down and my birdy only wanted to snuggle with me.
Nobody told me how it would feel to have a little bird body across your chest and neck, little head on your cheek. I was not told how soft his kisses would be or how warm his face was as he fell asleep on my cheek cooing softly.
Nobody told me how long I would lay there awake so he could sleep.
Everybody told me I would love him. Nobody could tell me how much.
Copyright © 2000 Lori Zywiciel. All rights reserved.
Email: zywiciel@earthlink.net
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Braddock Bay Raptor Research's Holiday for Hawks
Braddock Bay Raptor Research held a great event this past November 14th, 2010!
Ron Walker of Friends with Feathers, and Anne and Paul Schnell of Institute for Environmental Learning working in conjunction with Daena Ford and the volunteers of BBRR made it all possible!
A special surprise guest to the show: a Rough-legged Hawk! After being recorded and banded, he was brought over to the show, then was adopted by a wonderful family with two young boys!
Broad-winged Hawk
Harris Hawk, Bronson, the Socialite and life of the party!
Adorable little Kestrel
Peaches organized the craft vendor section, and it gave the public fun things to look through while trying to avoid the chilly, drizzly weather!
Amanda made conversation with her neighbour :D Pottery! Potterypotterypottery....
Peaches and Peaches' mommy threaten to give me the eggs!
The crocheted ribbon necklaces were really neat!
It was a long day for photographers, but it was gorgeous and full of amazing photographs to the very end! Even the sunsetting over the fall foliage didn't disappoint us! Please don't use any of these photographs without my consent, thank you! (The exception is BBRR!)
Thursday, September 9, 2010
So Good, So Far (X-posted from LJ)
I'm SO sorry I've neglected this journal for so long!! I'll try to update everyone on the progress made over here for my friends and family! There was a major issue with me VS Flovent, so my gastroenterologist switched me over to Singulair, instead! I've been really super busy trying to get the garden in gear before the snow hits us. I've since learned how to use the riding mower (It's like Autopia at Disneyland!!!), cleaned up the library room, had a brand new forced air conditioning, a furnace, water heater, dehumidifier, filtration unit, and all the ductwork installed, including taking a whole chimney out and having roofwork done. There was a boxocalypse (that is, apocalypse for boxes...during which, all lingering boxes were broken down and were fed to the recycle men's truck...). I had an arts/crafts show at Braddock Bay for Red Tail Days, and am now preparing for the next MayDay Underground in November. I got an awesome new phone, a Samsung Galaxy S, which is now indispensable to me. I've been working with my various doctors to fix all of my medical issues, and I'm trying new supplements to fix the glaring holes in my diet, as well as being more active.
So far, I'm actually feeling perkier on Singulair...and I've somehow managed to lose ten pounds! Not that I'm complaining! I have changed my diet a bit, I'm taking half a daily whole foods vitamin a day, vitamin D, vitamin E (every other day), omega oils, SAMe, eat more sweet potato (vitamin A), bananas (potassium), drink more water, and I tryyyyyyy to remember to eat every four hours (that part is hard...especially when I really get into a project).
Singulair has documented side effects, but I haven't experienced anything yet besides the runny nose thing - and even then, it might be more because I've been outdoors working in the garden. The high winds are also kicking up a lot of dust, I was practically coated in it when I came in after planting my front yard up.
I feel strangely energetic, despite the weather wreaking havoc on my body, and I'm getting a lot done outside. Maybe it's just anticipation of fall :) I went out shopping today and came home with future Christmas presents :D I seriously need to think of a good way to wrap blankets, maybe I'll just use fabric and sew it together ...wouldn't that be fun to unwrap? Har har har...pull the stitches to open! I know my sister would use the fabric, at least :)
I've been keeping a journal for side effects, issues I may have had, and the way I treated my issues, but more also for my mood, the weather, my diet (geez, who eats chicken curry for breakfast? Besides me, I mean...), and the amount of pain I'm in and where. My cats seem to have a knack for stepping on my pressure points every single day...especially my shoulder-rider, Murdock.
Olliecat got back from the emergency vet's on Sunday after we took him in on Saturday night. He had another blockage and had to be cathetorized and the whole bit. They shaved both his arms and his poor little kitty groin area >.< Good thing he has no sense of modesty, because his little boy kitty bits are all hanging out for all to see. Dignity? What's that if you're a cat?? Doesn't he feel an odd draft? I suppose his meds are keeping him dopey enough to miss that fact, though. He's peeing great on his own and hasn't had any accidents yet.
We're going to be feeding him a variety of anti struvite crystal diets, because he is totally sick and tired of the Royal Canin SO formula after the six years he's been on it. I don't blame him. I wouldn't want to eat steak every day of my life for the rest of my life. I'll be slowly mixing in Purina UR so he adjusts to it, and hopefully he'll find it tasty. I also heard there's a Science Diet version, which I'll ask my vet about more in length next time we're there for a check up (or issue). I hate supporting Purina, Science Diet, and other shitty companies, but I'm not really willing to risk my cat's life while I search for a better diet.
I'm going to be looking up more information on other possible holistic methods, compile the info, and then present it to my vet to see what she thinks. If we can't come up with something, I'll be visiting a holistic vet (once I find one that isn't totally insane...). I'm buying kitty mix from the website formerly known as Feline Future (way back in the day, now http://www.knowbetterpetfood.com). After looking up the Purina UR formula, the bastards' first ingredient is "meat by product"......UGH....hello, 4D foods. Next huge red light? RICE and OATS....f*ck. What part of "kitties don't eat grains in the wild, never mind the fact that it alkalizes the urine, which causes struvite crystals in the first place" doesn't Purina get? I'm bringing this up with the vet when I go in. Hopefully the Feline Future raw diet will work out.
While we lived in California and Oregon, all of my kitties were on a raw food diet. I had different kitties back then, though, but they all did fabulously and had no health problems. My long haired kitty didn't even have health problems. Once I started working full time, I confess I got lazy and switched to manufactured food, though we did switch to Wellness. When my older kitty began to come down with kidney disease, however, I had to switch him to a Science Diet formula instead. I didn't want to chance his health ;( Of course, not more than a year or so after that, he succumbed to an insanely aggressive lymph cancer. I felt like, well, if he was going to die anyway, I should've just kept him on a raw meat diet that he actually enjoyed. At least in his last days, he got to eat things like lobster, sashimi, prime rib, and other tasty things...
My little munchkins here get raw meat as I prepare dinner for hubby and I, too, especially since Wegmans likes to package 3 chicken breasts per package. Kitties get one breast, hubby and I get one each. Mitzy was confused by the appearance of raw meat in her bowl, but she gobbled it up once she realized it was edible. At least I know everyone will readily devour a raw diet... My dog can't stomach raw, ground sirloin, but he's eaten turkey and chicken without any barfing whatsoever. I had kind of gawked at him when he turned his nose up at ground lamb, but apparently he hates it - even in canned food.
In other news, Kai cracks me up. I've taken to saying pokemon sounds/names to him, and last night, while perched upon my arm after dinner, he looks up at me and says, "Pika pika!" I almost rolled off the couch laughing. I forget if I mentioned it, but he also sometimes announces, before he cops a squat, "Potty!" and/or "Poop!" and maybe also "Poofy bird" (when he fluffs himself up, I say Poofy bird! and he often fluffs himself up, shakes his tail, and squats before pooping...so he Poofy birds...and he realizes this LOL). He really enjoys walking around across our laps and the couch now, too. I spread towels across us and he runs about picking up and throwing the wooden toys I scatter around, or picking up/kicking his footie toys. He nestled between R and I briefly, which was really adorable, but then he spied a sunflower seed...Since Sacha (the dog) likes to lay next to R, Kai also marches over to preen his tail or bite at his ears. Sacha, being asleep, generally doesn't even notice, so I guess Kai isn't biting him very hard. :)
Kai also really loves hanging upside down, the little weirdo. The first time he did it from his perch, I thought he'd gotten his foot caught and died!! I screamed and went to pick him up, and he started when I cupped his back. He can whistle part of the Adamm's Family song now, too, and he also makes up his own songs using a combination of the whistles he already knows, which I think is adorable.
It's almost midnight, time for bed...but I feel inspired to draw and create, so I think I'll do that for a while before I turn in :) I have the huge May Day Underground art show coming up on November 6th, and I'd like to have more stuff available for sale this time around :)
I've got a lot of gorgeous birds visiting my new platform feeder! Here's a sneak peek at future photographs to come! (Only, not as blurry.....I need to clean my window, YIKES!)
So far, I'm actually feeling perkier on Singulair...and I've somehow managed to lose ten pounds! Not that I'm complaining! I have changed my diet a bit, I'm taking half a daily whole foods vitamin a day, vitamin D, vitamin E (every other day), omega oils, SAMe, eat more sweet potato (vitamin A), bananas (potassium), drink more water, and I tryyyyyyy to remember to eat every four hours (that part is hard...especially when I really get into a project).
Singulair has documented side effects, but I haven't experienced anything yet besides the runny nose thing - and even then, it might be more because I've been outdoors working in the garden. The high winds are also kicking up a lot of dust, I was practically coated in it when I came in after planting my front yard up.
I feel strangely energetic, despite the weather wreaking havoc on my body, and I'm getting a lot done outside. Maybe it's just anticipation of fall :) I went out shopping today and came home with future Christmas presents :D I seriously need to think of a good way to wrap blankets, maybe I'll just use fabric and sew it together ...wouldn't that be fun to unwrap? Har har har...pull the stitches to open! I know my sister would use the fabric, at least :)
I've been keeping a journal for side effects, issues I may have had, and the way I treated my issues, but more also for my mood, the weather, my diet (geez, who eats chicken curry for breakfast? Besides me, I mean...), and the amount of pain I'm in and where. My cats seem to have a knack for stepping on my pressure points every single day...especially my shoulder-rider, Murdock.
Olliecat got back from the emergency vet's on Sunday after we took him in on Saturday night. He had another blockage and had to be cathetorized and the whole bit. They shaved both his arms and his poor little kitty groin area >.< Good thing he has no sense of modesty, because his little boy kitty bits are all hanging out for all to see. Dignity? What's that if you're a cat?? Doesn't he feel an odd draft? I suppose his meds are keeping him dopey enough to miss that fact, though. He's peeing great on his own and hasn't had any accidents yet.
We're going to be feeding him a variety of anti struvite crystal diets, because he is totally sick and tired of the Royal Canin SO formula after the six years he's been on it. I don't blame him. I wouldn't want to eat steak every day of my life for the rest of my life. I'll be slowly mixing in Purina UR so he adjusts to it, and hopefully he'll find it tasty. I also heard there's a Science Diet version, which I'll ask my vet about more in length next time we're there for a check up (or issue). I hate supporting Purina, Science Diet, and other shitty companies, but I'm not really willing to risk my cat's life while I search for a better diet.
I'm going to be looking up more information on other possible holistic methods, compile the info, and then present it to my vet to see what she thinks. If we can't come up with something, I'll be visiting a holistic vet (once I find one that isn't totally insane...). I'm buying kitty mix from the website formerly known as Feline Future (way back in the day, now http://www.knowbetterpetfood.com). After looking up the Purina UR formula, the bastards' first ingredient is "meat by product"......UGH....hello, 4D foods. Next huge red light? RICE and OATS....f*ck. What part of "kitties don't eat grains in the wild, never mind the fact that it alkalizes the urine, which causes struvite crystals in the first place" doesn't Purina get? I'm bringing this up with the vet when I go in. Hopefully the Feline Future raw diet will work out.
While we lived in California and Oregon, all of my kitties were on a raw food diet. I had different kitties back then, though, but they all did fabulously and had no health problems. My long haired kitty didn't even have health problems. Once I started working full time, I confess I got lazy and switched to manufactured food, though we did switch to Wellness. When my older kitty began to come down with kidney disease, however, I had to switch him to a Science Diet formula instead. I didn't want to chance his health ;( Of course, not more than a year or so after that, he succumbed to an insanely aggressive lymph cancer. I felt like, well, if he was going to die anyway, I should've just kept him on a raw meat diet that he actually enjoyed. At least in his last days, he got to eat things like lobster, sashimi, prime rib, and other tasty things...
My little munchkins here get raw meat as I prepare dinner for hubby and I, too, especially since Wegmans likes to package 3 chicken breasts per package. Kitties get one breast, hubby and I get one each. Mitzy was confused by the appearance of raw meat in her bowl, but she gobbled it up once she realized it was edible. At least I know everyone will readily devour a raw diet... My dog can't stomach raw, ground sirloin, but he's eaten turkey and chicken without any barfing whatsoever. I had kind of gawked at him when he turned his nose up at ground lamb, but apparently he hates it - even in canned food.
In other news, Kai cracks me up. I've taken to saying pokemon sounds/names to him, and last night, while perched upon my arm after dinner, he looks up at me and says, "Pika pika!" I almost rolled off the couch laughing. I forget if I mentioned it, but he also sometimes announces, before he cops a squat, "Potty!" and/or "Poop!" and maybe also "Poofy bird" (when he fluffs himself up, I say Poofy bird! and he often fluffs himself up, shakes his tail, and squats before pooping...so he Poofy birds...and he realizes this LOL). He really enjoys walking around across our laps and the couch now, too. I spread towels across us and he runs about picking up and throwing the wooden toys I scatter around, or picking up/kicking his footie toys. He nestled between R and I briefly, which was really adorable, but then he spied a sunflower seed...Since Sacha (the dog) likes to lay next to R, Kai also marches over to preen his tail or bite at his ears. Sacha, being asleep, generally doesn't even notice, so I guess Kai isn't biting him very hard. :)
Kai also really loves hanging upside down, the little weirdo. The first time he did it from his perch, I thought he'd gotten his foot caught and died!! I screamed and went to pick him up, and he started when I cupped his back. He can whistle part of the Adamm's Family song now, too, and he also makes up his own songs using a combination of the whistles he already knows, which I think is adorable.
It's almost midnight, time for bed...but I feel inspired to draw and create, so I think I'll do that for a while before I turn in :) I have the huge May Day Underground art show coming up on November 6th, and I'd like to have more stuff available for sale this time around :)
I've got a lot of gorgeous birds visiting my new platform feeder! Here's a sneak peek at future photographs to come! (Only, not as blurry.....I need to clean my window, YIKES!)
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Sunday, May 2, 2010
May Day Underground Venue Was a Success!
Woke up for a second to check mail and stuff...and write a tiny blurb that I made more money than I thought I would on selling art prints and photographs! Success!! I feel really good about all the responses I got to my portfolio in general, though next time I'll have a lot more to offer.
For next time:
~TAKE SOMETHING TO MAKE ME SLEEP THE NIGHT BEFORE. I was so nervous/excited that I got an hour of sleep...
~Draw more furry animals...like bunnies. My Bunny Foo Foo sold the most out of all my prints.
~Don't pack enough food to feed an army, it just weighs too much and I was so nervous or talking so much that I didn't eat any of it, anyway.
~Print more of my fox artwork, because a lot of people like foxes. (I didn't have many printed out, but I got orders to be mailed out!)
~Don't pack as many baskets/bins unless they can actually hold stuff well...Lopsided baskets FTL!
~Must get one 8 foot table to replace a 6 foot table...two 6 footers wasn't quite big enough...
~Moo business cards were a success! Must order more cards...Out of 100, I think 70-80 were taken!
~Have signs for prices printed already...maybe have someone with nice handwriting write signs.
~Sew more owls and kitties...kids loved them.
~Silk screen shirts...
~Colour more kitties...kids loved them and took home the ones that looked like theirs...and buy more frames for them...
~Print out pics of the other animals to display as my family - got a lot of attention because of the pics I had out!
Cool points:
~Peaches and Amanda did such an awesome freakin' job, I can't imagine how much time and effort it took for them to pull everything together. THANK YOU, GUYS!!!
~My husband was SO supportive and awesome. I love him so much! Next time, I think I'll let him go home and just have him pick me up, though. He was so bored...poor thing.
~I actually had everything packed the night before!! GO ME! Now...if I could just figure out where my missing prints went off to...I lost a few kitties somewhere.
~Crafters came out from as far away as Pennsylvania! Holy poohbear!
~We had a huge turnout despite the venue being in an industrial/warehouse zone.
~I had a lot of positive comments and talked more than I have in ages...so much that I lost my voice.
~I have an appointment to design some tattoos for a lady.
~Made lots of cool local crafter friends :)
~Scored lots of amazing artwork and fun things!
~Had a great time in general, despite feeling icky...still recovering from whatever illness this is, with allergies piled on top of that. (I had a fever of 100F on Thursday and wasn't sure I'd be able to make it to Saturday, but I did! Thank Dog!)
Silly final thoughts:
~There was a whole group of husbands-of-crafters at the venue. I think I shall call a collective grouping of HoC "a bored". "Oh, honey, look - a bored of husbands-of-crafters! Why don't you join them until I need you?" I think there needs to be a Man Cave Central at each show where they can sit together and play their computer games together when their wives don't need them to watch their booths. Or a HoC support group of some sort...! There could be a DVD with zombies or something playing as they drink beer and huddle together in relative silence...
~When the little girl tells you there's "a carnival" outside with a lot of food, but there aren't any rides, games, or a petting zoo....she means THE FOOD VENDOR. As a note, I shouldn't go around telling vendors I think there's a carnival going on outside, because I believed the little girl (and probably looked like a major blonde...). The nice lady at the quilt shop mentioned it might be the vendor cart in the alley and I finally realized...Ghhh....
But yeah, I had a really great time at the venue and I'm looking forward to attending more! The only thing is...I need to start drawing a couple months in advance. I imagine there'll be a bunch coming up throughout the summer, October, and November. I think I'll start on a bunch of Halloween related projects now, because that'll probably be the next one I'll want to attend :)
For now.....must crash and die in bed again. *Gurgle*
~TAKE SOMETHING TO MAKE ME SLEEP THE NIGHT BEFORE. I was so nervous/excited that I got an hour of sleep...
~Draw more furry animals...like bunnies. My Bunny Foo Foo sold the most out of all my prints.
~Print more of my fox artwork, because a lot of people like foxes. (I didn't have many printed out, but I got orders to be mailed out!)
~Don't pack as many baskets/bins unless they can actually hold stuff well...Lopsided baskets FTL!
(My booth! It's so uh....well, I'm an artist, what do you want? LULz)
(My sister was with me in spirit, and everyone loved reading my sign)
~Moo business cards were a success! Must order more cards...Out of 100, I think 70-80 were taken!
~Have signs for prices printed already...maybe have someone with nice handwriting write signs.
~Sew more owls and kitties...kids loved them.
~Silk screen shirts...
~Colour more kitties...kids loved them and took home the ones that looked like theirs...and buy more frames for them...
~Print out pics of the other animals to display as my family - got a lot of attention because of the pics I had out!
~Peaches and Amanda did such an awesome freakin' job, I can't imagine how much time and effort it took for them to pull everything together. THANK YOU, GUYS!!!
~My husband was SO supportive and awesome. I love him so much! Next time, I think I'll let him go home and just have him pick me up, though. He was so bored...poor thing.
~I actually had everything packed the night before!! GO ME! Now...if I could just figure out where my missing prints went off to...I lost a few kitties somewhere.
~We had a huge turnout despite the venue being in an industrial/warehouse zone.
~I had a lot of positive comments and talked more than I have in ages...so much that I lost my voice.
~I have an appointment to design some tattoos for a lady.
(Peaches can make birds really fast! I didn't quite catch this one :) )
~I got to play with Peaches :) (and finally met the mysterious Amanda!)
~Had a great time in general, despite feeling icky...still recovering from whatever illness this is, with allergies piled on top of that. (I had a fever of 100F on Thursday and wasn't sure I'd be able to make it to Saturday, but I did! Thank Dog!)
Silly final thoughts:
~There was a whole group of husbands-of-crafters at the venue. I think I shall call a collective grouping of HoC "a bored". "Oh, honey, look - a bored of husbands-of-crafters! Why don't you join them until I need you?" I think there needs to be a Man Cave Central at each show where they can sit together and play their computer games together when their wives don't need them to watch their booths. Or a HoC support group of some sort...! There could be a DVD with zombies or something playing as they drink beer and huddle together in relative silence...
For now.....must crash and die in bed again. *Gurgle*
Thursday, April 15, 2010
The Days Just Fly By (Cross-posted from LJ)
Sorry I haven't been posting here very often, I've just been so busy...! I'll go back this week and post older entries with pictures.
So sleepy.....I hate this time of the month. My new wardrobe got here yesterday, along with our new tempurpedic bed. The bed is magical somehow....I swear. I sleep so deeply on it that my cellphone alarm goes off for several minutes, and the only thing that finally wakes me up is Murdock bashing me in the face to say good morning (presumably after he's been driven crazy by the alarm). My back hurt a little, but I'm pretty sure it's because my spine isn't used to being so straight (like it's supposed to be) while I sleep. I got the same delivery guys as I had the first time from Raymour and Flanigan's, and they were really nice as always :) I loaded them up with Cafe Royal cans of coffee (the tastiest damn canned coffee EVER), a jar of Pace Picante salsa, a big bag of blue corn tortilla chips, a bar of cherry-chili chocolate, and a box of organic chocolate oreos. Maybe I'm weird, but I like to give people who deliver things to me snacks. I guess I feel bad that they have to deal with my ancient house, whose doors baaarely make it to 29" wide...with the doors taken off, mind you. I would also like them to be happy, though :) Food makes people happy.
I'm doing a field trip with a group of 15 8-10 year olds at the bay on Monday at 10 am. Daena just needs me to wrangle the little 'uns and help with passing out materials for games, help with displays, help ID raptors, and point out anything of interest as we lead them through the Owl Woods and up at the Hawk Watch platform. It should be a lot of fun, and I should be home by 1pm. I need to find my sun hat so I don't get toasted...
More than anything, I love working with pre-teen kids, because that's when they're not so obsessed with trying to impress their friends, texting on their cellphones, being little angsty jerkfaces in general, etcetera...Their minds are open to the world around them, they're excited to learn, society hasn't smacked them and attacked their creativity and individuality just yet (eg: parents/relatives telling them that they'll never succeed as an artist/musician/etc so they shouldn't pursue that path in life).
Sure, I love kids, but do I want kids? Nooooo........thanks. I like kids that I can give back at the end of the day. Doing this kind of work and volunteering for youth programs means nice single-serving kids :)
Mrs. D says that there's also a Girl Scout troop coming through on the Friday after the birds of prey days, but I'm not sure I'll be able to make it to that one. I'm really trying to make stuff for the craft fair on May 1st as it is...my inspiration just isn't coming. My brain is outside in the garden all day long...argh...focus, must FOCUS!
So sleepy.....I hate this time of the month. My new wardrobe got here yesterday, along with our new tempurpedic bed. The bed is magical somehow....I swear. I sleep so deeply on it that my cellphone alarm goes off for several minutes, and the only thing that finally wakes me up is Murdock bashing me in the face to say good morning (presumably after he's been driven crazy by the alarm). My back hurt a little, but I'm pretty sure it's because my spine isn't used to being so straight (like it's supposed to be) while I sleep. I got the same delivery guys as I had the first time from Raymour and Flanigan's, and they were really nice as always :) I loaded them up with Cafe Royal cans of coffee (the tastiest damn canned coffee EVER), a jar of Pace Picante salsa, a big bag of blue corn tortilla chips, a bar of cherry-chili chocolate, and a box of organic chocolate oreos. Maybe I'm weird, but I like to give people who deliver things to me snacks. I guess I feel bad that they have to deal with my ancient house, whose doors baaarely make it to 29" wide...with the doors taken off, mind you. I would also like them to be happy, though :) Food makes people happy.
I'm doing a field trip with a group of 15 8-10 year olds at the bay on Monday at 10 am. Daena just needs me to wrangle the little 'uns and help with passing out materials for games, help with displays, help ID raptors, and point out anything of interest as we lead them through the Owl Woods and up at the Hawk Watch platform. It should be a lot of fun, and I should be home by 1pm. I need to find my sun hat so I don't get toasted...
More than anything, I love working with pre-teen kids, because that's when they're not so obsessed with trying to impress their friends, texting on their cellphones, being little angsty jerkfaces in general, etcetera...Their minds are open to the world around them, they're excited to learn, society hasn't smacked them and attacked their creativity and individuality just yet (eg: parents/relatives telling them that they'll never succeed as an artist/musician/etc so they shouldn't pursue that path in life).
Sure, I love kids, but do I want kids? Nooooo........thanks. I like kids that I can give back at the end of the day. Doing this kind of work and volunteering for youth programs means nice single-serving kids :)
Mrs. D says that there's also a Girl Scout troop coming through on the Friday after the birds of prey days, but I'm not sure I'll be able to make it to that one. I'm really trying to make stuff for the craft fair on May 1st as it is...my inspiration just isn't coming. My brain is outside in the garden all day long...argh...focus, must FOCUS!
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Not bird-related, but....
I just had to post this from my sister's friend's FB! It's SOOO adorable!!
...Jonas: "Mama, sleeves?" so I rolled them up.
"Socks off?" so I took them off.
Then, he tugs on his little toe and says, "Toe off?" I told him they don't come off and he said, "Uh-oh, toe stuck!!"
Aah, the magic of 2 :)
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Holy Fallen Tree Limbs, Batman!
WHOA. That sums up my reaction this morning when I peered with bleary eyes out the bathroom window.
What is that, you ask? Why, that was the limb of the tree I was photographing last night! Actually, I was photographing UNDER that limb, more precisely.
Not one, but TWO limbs fell due to the weight of the snow, in fact, one right atop the other. I'm guessing that the weight of the upper limb crashing into the lower limb did the lower limb in, however. I'm so incredibly sad, because I loved the bushy "skirt" that lower branch in particular made. I like to use the shaggy tree limbs as blinds when I try to take pictures of birds, also.
These two photos were taken before the limbs' demises...So sad. QQ. I wish I could tape his poor limbs back on....but I don't think it would regrow. Hubby was only able to move one of the enormous limbs, which were nearly as long as my car. The other was too heavy to move. I couldn't help, because my back and shoulders are already torn up and strained from shoveling.
My magnolia tree, Mikari, looks rather splendid in the snow! The shots with longer exposure times turn out so dramatic! As long as I don't wiggle...
These are all taken with the (un)"natural" street lamps casting an amber glow over the scenery.
The world is such an ethereal place at 3am. I'm not certain what the blue glow is, but it's either the moonlight or someone's house illuminating the road down there.
This shot of a car driving up the road reminds me of one of my favourite Moonspell songs, Nocturna. We live right on the crest of a hill before it grades downwards towards the lake. It was really amusing to see people with their summer tires on in December trying to get enough traction to make it up this hill. There was one guy in a Corvette with drag racing wheels on. He was basically moving at six inches a minute all the way up - it was ridiculous.
I don't know what kind of tree this is, but this is Cicada Cottage :) This is where the most cicadas seem to emerge from during summer. It's an enormous, beautiful tree, too.
You know how I said we were going to get a lot of snow, right? Well....this is a snowshot from this morning! If you're wondering how I got most of these shots, it's because I was also using an umbrella to shield my lense and camera from the flying snow. I had my tripod, but my nightvision is awful, so please bear with my blurry shots...I can't always tell when I'm in focus when it's dark out. It's a different world at night...so beautiful.
I keep these cute little lantern lights out pretty much all year...the only problem I have is that you have to turn the inside foyer light on for one side and the street lamp light on for the other side. They're on separate circuits, so it's kind of annoying.
I was also pissed off, because yesterday, someone (probably the snowplow) hit our mailbox post and knocked out mailbox partially off of it. Well, this morning, when I peeked out of the window, i also noticed our mailbox had become completely detached from the post and was sinking into the snow. We didn't get any mail today, so I'm not certain if it's because we didn't have any mail, or if it was because our maillady is holding it for us due to our lack of mailbox.
Arrrrrrrrrr............!!!!!! And yes, that is a monkey riding a rocketship on our mailbox... :)
Arrrrrrrrrr............!!!!!! And yes, that is a monkey riding a rocketship on our mailbox... :)
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