Pigeon Post

Aha, you left the pigeon loft door open. The joy of human forgetfulness!

Well we now have four (sometimes five) resident racing pigeons. Probably down to the fact that I'm a big softy when it comes to animals and partly to the fact that they've decided that our new home is still their home. Of course, I had to name them didn't I? Above is Specky (left) and Addie. These two have fallen head over heels and adore each other, which means I will have to keep an eye out for eggs so that the four don't turn into many more.

I once looked out and saw eight, sitting in row on the pigeon loft. Thankfully the 'extras' didn't stay. I woke up the following morning wondering if I'd dreamt it.

I must admit, I have grown quite attached. They wait on the house roof in the morning, until they see me heading down the garden, fly above me, land on the patio and if I'm not arriving quick enough, walk to greet me, turn round and walk back to the patio with me. They then have their breakfast, pecking away at the pigeon food in my hands. I'm not daft, I know that I am the object that feeds them, but it's the building of trust that's tugged at my heart strings.

Did I mention the others? There's Amtrak, who was collected by courier and flew back here in a couple of days, Bully (who no longer does) and Pink Ring (Amtraks on/off girlfriend).

Call me a big old softy, you know you want to......................

Hugs, Sarah x

Award!

I got an award from the lovely Babs at Simplycats . How lovely! Its rounded off my day beautifully.

The award is the Arte y Pico and is awarded to people whose blogs inspire others with their creativity and their talents, also for contributing to the blogging world. When you are given this award it is considered a special honor. I'm terribly chuffed!

Thanks Babs!

The rules for passing this honor on:

1) Pick 5 blogs that you would like to award this honor to.

2) Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his or her blog to be visited by everyone.

3) Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her or him the award itself.

4) Award-winner and the one who has given the prize have to show the link of "Arte y Pico" blog, so everyone will know the origin of this award.

I've decided to pass this award on to the people whose blogs I visit most regularly.

Contents of a Fried Brain - Sindie is always positive and cheerful, whatever life throws at her. An inspiration.

A White Cat - Babs has already awarded this blog, but I couldn't resist! Beautiful cats and brilliant photos!

Rachael Rabbit - Lovely crafts and cute knitted animals!

Wild Thyme Originals - Gorgeous bears and humourous insights!

Bearing All - More gorgeous bears and fellow British bearmaker!

So there we are!

Thanks again Babs, I'm still chuffed!

Hugs, Sarah x

Racing Pigeons

Be aware when buying a house that belonged to a keen racing pigeons enthusiast, that when the said pigeons are sold on, you might get the odd one or ten come 'home'. This is whats been happening to us. We are now up to nine, though one is a 'repeat' visitor. Two have gone back after being 'shooed' away, four were collected by the new owner, one went to a local pigeon association as it didn't belong to the new owner all the others were sold to, one went by carrier (in an 'approved' box the poor pigeon couldn't even turn around in) and two are now pottering around in the garden as I type.

The repeat visitor has opened my eyes to the harsh reality of pigeon racing. Apparently if the said pigeon can't be broken in, basically his neck will be rung, as, as the new onwer said to Robert, " It'll be of no use to him". He suggested as a deterent, putting them both in carrier bags and shaking them or letting our cats have a go at them. I read someones blog yesterday, who had found a stray racing pigeon and luckily found a 'forever' home with a lovely couple. As she said, sadly some enthusiasts just see them as tools in a sport.

I'm praying that all my striding up the garden and flapping an umbrella at them will do the trick and they'll go home. It's wearing me out, but the thought of the repeat visitor being collected Friday to possibly meet it's death, I don't think I could handle.

Wish me luck with my umbrella flapping..............I think I need it.

Hugs, Sarah x

A Tiring House Move

Sooooooo tired

Weeeeeell I'm back! Miss me? ; )

We moved to our new home on the 23rd May and I'm still rather shattered from it. Plus I started a little part time job in the morning which gets me out of the house and brings a few more pennies in. It's a 20 minute walk there and then 20 back and probably a few miles walking in my job, so eveything aches and my feet are stiff in the morning. My feet actually make snapping and cracking noises first thing in the morning. Did I mention I'm still 'only' 37? I think I shall be like the Bionic Woman when I am a little old lady. New hips, kneecaps etc.

This house caught us by surprise. We were adamant we were going to live in a village and we've ended up on the edge of the town we originally lived in. BUT, if we walk 100 yards up the road we are in a village. The clincher for us was the tree lined avenue and the 203 feet by 35 feet garden we have! Plus all the houses original 1928 features. We have a lime tree outside our house at the front and if I opened our bedroom window I could hold it's leaves! We have two mountain ash trees in the garden, a silver birch, a cherry and a laburnum. The silver birch is taller than the house and the others aren't far off. I adore them all, despite the leaves we will have in the autumn!

We have squirrels too, that visit regularly. Sometimes three at a time, in a group, foraging for the peanuts they're hidden in our lawn!

The cats settled in pretty quickly. Hopefully when we have the rest of Mum's cats (3) they will too. Although there will be the introductions to ours to deal with too! We will certainly have to re-do the conservatory in the future, with 7 cats there'd be no room for 'people' furniture!

I'm itching to get bearmaking again on full throttle. It's a case of finding everything first!

Toodle pip for now! It's nice to be back.

Hello Hattie

I liberated little 10 week old Hattie from cramped and stark conditions in a pet shop over a week ago now. She is the new friend to Lottie after the sad loss of our Tilly (see previous post). Lottie is quite taken with her. I put her back in the hutch with her after trying to get her used to being handled and Lottie dashed up to her and started gently nibbling her ear.


I was watching Hattie having the time of her life, dashing in and out of the tubes and arches in their run at high speed (with a little jump in the air for good measure!) yesterday evening and felt my heart sink thinking of the guinea pigs I left behind in the pet shop. I hope they all (about 6) find a good home soon.


Fran is off to the USA! Hello Lori, if you are reading this!


We complete on our 'new' house on the 23rd of this month! After nearly 7 months renting the Vicarage it is time to start packing. Where did the 7 months go?

I Miss You

Sadly, Tilly, the guinea pig I mentioned in my previous post, died on Sunday. She wouldn't eat earlier, so I kind of expected it, but it still knocks you sideways.

Lotty we still have, but she's all we have. Although she seems happy, it breaks my heart to see her all alone in the big cage we'd only bought a few months ago. Plus, we have two big runs we made not long ago. I've been looking online at guinea pig and animal rescues, but some are too far away and they all mostly seem to be boys. We've had boy piggies before and loved them, but it would mean waiting until he was 'seen to' to put him in with Lotty. I'd prefer to get an older rescue guinea (or two) as we were planning, after 15 years of having guineas to no longer have any, but with Tilly leaving us sooner than expected (she was 3 1/2) it's left me scratching my head.

If anyone knows of anyone in the Cambridgeshire or Norfolk area that has an older piggy (or two) needing a home, drop me an email or include it in your comment.

Lotty is in the video with Tilly when she was just a few weeks old. Turn up your speakers to hear Tilly 'chatting' away.

I miss you Tilly.

xxx

New Bear!

I have at last got around to finishing this little chap! What with house buying and trying to empty Mum's house, it's been hard trying to concentrate of late. Plus, two, slightly three, of the cats have colds. Alfie is picking up after feeling very sorry for himself. Lily is as cheerful as ever, but not fending hers off so well with her being 15. Harvey has been quiet today, but so far no sneezes. It's not nice being sneezed on by cats. They don't have our good manners to cover their noses. Also, one of our two guinea pigs is off colour. Piggies go downhill so quickly. Something else to add to the worry pile!

Anyway, hope you like the new little man. He's yet to be named!

Have a good weekend when it arrives. We are off to a friend's 94th birthday meal Sunday! Yum!

x