☼♥☼OCTOBER 13: HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO US !!! WE'VE MADE IT !!!☼♥☼
MY LOVE! MY HEART! MY SOUL ! MY LITTLE GUY ! MY MOST CHERISHED COMPANION !!!
☼♥☼ AND HERE'S TO MANY MORE !!!☼♥☼
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 Friday 01 October:
Yonah's feathers are still coming out AND growing back, so this “moutling” isn't done yet... BUT HE'S COMING BACK TO HIS “LOVING AND LOVABLE” SELF AGAIN! MORE CUDDLES AND SMOOCHES... though the SNUGGLES are very brief... that “closeness” apparently bothers him, or, maybe his little body is sensitive to “touching”, with the growth of new feathers. BUT LIGHT CUDDLES (with my face next to him) AND SMOOCHES! I'M IN DIVINE ECSTASY! MY GUY'S MAKING A “COME-BACK”! HEY! IT MEANS MORE THAN THE “WORLD” TO ME! ESPECIALLY THIS MONTH !!!
And last night, his room stayed so nice and warm, even with the drop in temperatures out-side, and so, we BOTH got a good night's rest, together. And this morning, well, I woke quite early, having an early appointment, so I was up and about before the sun even started to consider breaking through the night. BUT... by about 7.00, Mr. Taube was up and awake and having breakfast so “morning routine” went into full swing... BEFORE I left the house!
I was gone for about two hours, and when I returned, he was there, on his shelf, all comfy, and when he realised that I'd returned, he went into his house for another nosh! (I swear he waits until I get back. He KNOWS when I'm not in the house and obviously, he isn't “comfortable” being alone. A VERY large part of why, if I don't HAVE to leave him alone, I most certainly don't. I'm fortunate in that I don't often have cause to leave, and, quite honestly, time with him, even when I'm just at the work table in his room, is, to me, the epitome of “PERFECTION” in life.)
He even gave an old, familiar “woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo” TODAY! Only one, but that's one more than he's made in what seems AGES! And when I walked into his room to do some paper-work, he gave a little “hoo”, which is something I haven't heard in quite a while. So he's back to “communicating” too!
These weeks of his silence and avoidance have been very heavy on my spirit. It literally pains me to think of him being in ANY discomfort... no matter how “slight” or “mild” it might be. But today, I hope this time of his is coming to a close... his feathers will all have come through and returned... and MAYBE we'll have another DANCE, as we did, just before the moulting began.
And the day was a delightfully bright, clear and sunny, and the sun radiated warmth through his windows. That must have given him a bit of a boost as well. The forecast is promising “double digit” nights for a while to come! “Rain” for the coming week-end, but at least a bit of warmth to replace the chills we've been having. Natural
This evening, when we were finished with “evening routine” and he was tucked-in, for a briefest while, I'd turned the “Natural Spectrum” light off and had the little desk lamp on... which is the one he had a year ago, beside his little “cage” (it was a “cage”, really, no matter how much I never liked thinking of it as such). And I said to him:
“Remember, about a year ago, when this little light was all that you had, especially through all those grey, dark days of the late Autumn and Winter? And that little wire 'box'? Wow, Little Guy! Today you have your own room, officially, a 'YUGE', spacious, open and airy house with a POOL and landscaping! And I was SO afraid to give you free flight around the place because I was TERRIFIED that you'd injure yourself in collisions with windows and walls... You DID do that... I'm sure you remember. But NOW? Door is open and this entire little place here is ALL YOURS, to roam as much as you want to! SO MUCH HAS CHANGED... for BOTH of us. And you know what? If my LOVE of and for you has changed at all, the only thing it's done is grown deeper and more intense. And all I can do is HOPE, with everything that I am, ever was and ever will be, is that I've been making your life as good as you could possibly imagine. I ALWAYS wanted you to go back out, to be with the flock. I still think about how much I wanted that then, and how much I'd love for you to be able to go now. But I wonder if you'd be OK back out there now. Not that I'd put you out at THIS time of year... with the cold, snow and ice coming! But could you still survive the cold? Even if you went back to the flock. And would the flock have patience with you when you couldn't fly as fast and far as they do? And what about FOOD and WATER? Especially come the Winter! I hope all of this here makes it at least OK for you. I WISH you had a companion. I WISH I could be sure that you want one. But no matter what, THIS is ALL YOUR HOME... this room in this house... and in my heart and soul.”
As I talked, he just stared at me... Sometimes I wonder if he's trying to understand. Many times I have to believe that, some-how, to some extent, he does. If he didn't, I'm sure he'd either have died of loneliness by now or he'd avoid me every time I even walked into his room.
Well, OK... the day went on and he was in and out of his house, on the shelves, on his door-perch, basking and eating. And I spent MOST of the time in his room with him, with the work that I had to get done at the beginning of a month. And the temperature in his room hovered at about 23-24°, even with his door wide open. So I'm hoping that the forecast is correct and that we'll have MORE of these days to come... before... well... I won't think about all that yet.
My Little Guy is now tucked-in for the night. His futon is “made up” for me in a little while... and tomorrow, I've nothing on any agenda except... being together with my little HEART, SOUL, SPIRIT and REASON FOR BEING. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT MONTH... FOR BOTH OF US! (I wish I knew what I could do to make it “particularly special” for him... but he's got all sorts of REALLY GOOD food there, especially with his current “high protein”... sunflower seeds, peanuts, fruits... and today... cheese. I'll have to see what I can do for him... Then again, as folk who know of Yonah and his story say: “He's treated better than people treat a spoiled child.” HEY! HE'S OWED THAT... AND MORE! SO MUCH MORE! So here's to October... and 1 day down, 12 to go until... “woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo”!
Saturday 02 October (It looks like I'll have that 5 years to keep giving Yonah all the VERY BEST that's humanly possible! Or, at the very least, as many years as HE has. Ah... MY LITTLE GUY!):
Another one of those pre-Autumnal dreary days, and Yonah and I were up and about at about 7.00 this morning. I slept on his futon again, last night, and I SO MISS those mornings when he'd “woo-HOO-hoo-hoo” to wake me. I got up and got to my own “morning routine” for a while before “disturbing” him this morning, though I opened his door right away. He wasn't in any rush to get up and around though... until, about an hour later, I got to HIS morning house-keeping. And as I changed the water in his pool... he had breakfast.
He did, shortly there-after, come out and headed directly for the corner, by the window, under that “limb” I put there for him, should he decide to “take to a tree”. And his “Natural Spectrum” light went on this morning, to “compensate” for the “drear”.
He DID “allow” for a bit of a “smooch” this after-noon, but he's obviously still not in much of a mood for any particular “contact” yet. And he DID drop another LARGE feather! I can't even begin to imagine where it came from because his tail is still the shorter, white-tipped feathers and his wings appear to be, well, “normal”. And he's still pulling and dropping those “downy” feathers. BUT THE FEATHERS ACROSS HIS BROW ARE COMING IN NICELY... I'm just waiting and hoping for the feathers around the upper eyes. I can see the “beginnings” of those. They're that “white stubs” now. I just SO DO WISH there was something that I could do to make this all the easier for him. But I keep thinking that, were he out-side now, going through this, it would be a bit more difficult for him. It's the “chilly, rainy” season, and he'd be dealing with trying to keep warm enough, having to fly about to find food. Here, now, he's warm, dry, and there's plenty of good food, and a variety of it, fresh water, and he doesn't need to fly any distance to find or get at any of it. And his “Bird-songs” play all through the day. (I have to find “new” for him... to add more variety...)
How I look for the day when he's through all of this... I took a snooze for an hour and he came out of his house, but he's still not coming over to be with me, as he used to. Poor little guy. One of these days... I just have to have as much patience as he does.
And so... at day's close, Yonah is tucked-in, in the warmth of his house, and he's on his “usual” place on his “night-perch”, all snug and sound. Fresh waters. Food readily available should he get hungry during the night.
And I've worked on the images for his Portfolio (which I have to REALLY attend to, but work on his site is my JOY... because, well... it's HIM!) into 2022. (And I'll be working on an additional three years in the days to come. It's said that mourning doves, in perfect situations, can live and average of 5 years... I'll keep hoping... to be sure.) And his September Journal page is now complete. So it's just a matter of October... our “Special Month”... our “Anniversary Month”.
He's REALLY starting to make his “come-back” lately and today, though he still RUNS from any “contact”, he's very much fine with the occasional “smooches”. And he was in and out of his house during the day. I find he DOES enjoy his “Natural Spectrum” light during the day though, and today was mostly “drear”. So, we begin the “lighting” season, and I'll be working on the “wiring set-up” for that now, to make it easier to turn the light on and off for him. But, as I say, he was in and out of his house today, though not as often as he used to be. Lately, he comes to his “door perch” and will stay there for a while. I'm almost suspecting it has to do with “flight” and the shortness of his tail now, until the new feathers come back in. He's dropped some wing feathers too, so that must have some effect on his flying about the house as well. But, it's a good thing I saved almost EVERY feather he dropped last year, so now I can compare the quantity as well as the “quality” from last year to this. And thus far, he's dropped fewer “larger”. Last year, he didn't moult around his brow and over his eyes as he's doing this year. But, considering his estimated age, I'm just supposing that this year is his first “serious replacement”. And the feathers that are coming in are quite beautiful as they mature. And he's got a good, “high protein” diet this year. It's just a matter of time now. I'd have liked to have taken him to a veterinarian, but, as I see it at present, I doubt putting him into his old “house” and driving those many hours to and from, and the stress of being handled by a strange human, well, this is difficult for him as it is. When the moulting is done and he's back to bouncing about, with “wing-snaps” (which I haven't seen in WEEKS and I miss that so much too), we can attend to all that medical. I'm thinking that blood-work and x-rays (if those are necessary) now, would just be trauma. When he's better, we can approach those aspects. For now... he gets his good food, fresh water, has every opportunity for exercise as he wishes. And, of course... LOVE!
One thing that truly “concerns” me is that his “coo'ing” just sounds as though he's “tired”. It isn't as strong and clear as it was. He doesn't show any signs of being “ill”. His feathers are fine. He moves about, even going from his house to other places in his room. His “poop” is good colour, consistency and such. And his appetite is just as good as ever. And, as photos and videos show, he still like to splash about in his pool. Maybe this IS “exhaustion” from the moulting. After all... as one article I saw on the matter (moulting), the reference made was “Angry Bird”. Moods and personalities change and can be drastic at this time. Yonah doesn't coo as often lately. But then, maybe he doesn't have all that much to say now. And... AND... at least he isn't coo'ing a LOT... “calling out” or “calling for” and not calling in pain. Oh, this is hard on my heart and soul... though, certainly, I'm sure, not as hard as it is on him! But I'm here... now... today... tonight... and I'll be here for him for as long as we have together.
So now, he's “snoozing” in his room and tonight, I'll “snooze” with him. The weather is giving a reprieve from the cold nights we've had. A week of “teens” for the nightly “lows”, as opposed to the low single digits. THAT'S a comfort (to both of us, I'm sure). His radiator is on though, to maintain warmth (as his feath'ry coat thins and returns) and to ward-off the dampness of the rains that are now falling and are expected to continue for the next few days. “Life” is protected and safe for him. And I look forward to waking tomorrow, on a Sunday morn, and the first thing my eyes will see is... MY LITTLE GUY, MY PRECIOUS LITTLE GUY. And how we pass another day will be seen... as we pass another day... TOGETHER! And me? I'm looking forward to MANY MORE DAYS TOGETHER, WITH HIM... OH, YES, INDEED, I AM! THIS Winter is going to be SO different from last. Yes, it most certainly IS! MUCH better... to be absolutely certain!
 Sunday 03 October:
Oh... we slept-in this morning! Until almost 8.00! BOTH of us, Yonah and I! The room must have been comfy last night and I didn't hear a sound come from Yonah until he took a little “flight” across his house. Imagine, if you can, being softly awakened by the sound of a dove's wings. There's nothing I can say that would do justice to the peace that takes the mind and soul. And that's how we began our day.
And it was another rather quite grey day, all day, with passing drizzles that were as light as a mist. It made for a beautifully calm day. And it wasn't at all cold. We had the window open for a while, and the back door. A circulation of fresh air, for a change from the past week (or more). And Yonah seemed to enjoy it so much, resting on his little “corner loft” as I worked on editing his photos from the past year.
I decided to try my hand at making a “montage” of photos to document what we've made it through this year. There are SO MANY photos, especially during the earlier weeks and months. And as I go through them all (and still have to go through them again, to bring the number down a bit more), I remember why I'd taken so many, then. I NEVER even imagined that we'd be together today. I never allowed myself to consider such a thing.
At first, I kept my hopes and thoughts on his recovery and return to the flocks out-side. But then, as the time passed, the days grew cooler, the nights grew colder, my hopes changed... and all I kept in my heart was the dream that he'd just make it through the Winter...
I remember how “heavy” those days and nights were, especially when he went through the first moulting! I didn't know what was happening! I understood then, that he'd moult, especially to replace Summer feathers with Winter. But I was never sure that that's what was happening. For the longest while, I was almost convinced that he wasn't going to make it, that he was dying. My heart was “obvious” in my chest because it was being suffocated with the sadness of the thoughts of him just “drifting away”. And every night I'd close the light in what was already then “HIS” room, and I'd close my day wondering if he'd “go” during the night.
Every morning, I'd wake, and the very first thing I'd do is go to him, and look, sternly, with purpose, as closely as possible, to check his breathing, his eyes and, yes, his “poop”. I knew that would give me some idea as to how he was doing. I checked to see if he'd eaten and, if so, how much. I “monitored” absolutely everything about him. And when I'd see that he'd been OK during the night and was OK in the morning... well... I'd hold the hope that one day, never soon enough, the winds would stop, the snows would vanish, the skies would become clear, the sun would give warmth again... and I'd watch this little one SOAR up into an open sky... and I wondered if he'd leave me forever or would he stay around the house. And I tried my best to “protect my heart” because, I loved him so much, even then, and I knew it was going to be painful when he left. But I wanted him to be free, as he was born to be.
But today, I look at the photos, and the dates... and I see the differences, the changes from a little “wire mesh box” with a flannel to a large, open “house”. Perches, trees, a little fountain and bath. And Yonah... Still here... still moulting... BUT APPROACHING THE END OF THAT MOULTING! And the photos of the first time he sat on my shoulder! Of him sitting on the “roof” of his house. We've both made it through all of that! (Actually... “WE” really have. He's still here. I'm still here. And from the latest “news” on my health... We've BOTH made it through!)
So, all day, I worked on the editing and, briefly, tried a bit of “soft-ware” to throw some random photos together and put a musical back-ground to a “presentation”. I need to learn how to “refine” it all, but I think it's going to be quite nice... when... on the 13th, we have photos to “close” our FIRST YEAR TOGETHER! Our FIRST year... of how ever many we'll have... together.
Yonah's “brow feathers” are still growing-in and beautifully (of course they are). There are some yet to come over his eyes, and I can see where there are more wing-feathers coming. His tail is already returning, from the “white-grey” feathers, back to the darker black and brown.
And though he still doesn't want “contact”... no “cuddles” and “touching”, “smooches” are permitted... in small “pecks”, as it were. He doesn't RUN from me... until he's “had enough”. And we did have a bit of “play” during the day, though that too, is limited to brief moments. He's obviously still a bit “off” in mood. But he flew about, briefly, to the shelf, to his “favoured corner” of the room. He's not going to his “roof” yet though. But too, he did light on the back of the chair at the work table when I went to make tea. And he did “check out” what was going on on the work table. So, it's good to see him about.
It's obvious though, that the loss of feathers is taking a bit of a toll on his flying ability and his “balance”. I wonder how birds manage this all in the wild. Though, there are the accounts of how they've been known to “wait it all out” under shrubs... staying there for weeks, “in hiding”. Well? At least Yonah doesn't need to “hide”. There's NOTHING here that would cause him any harm. And he can rest as he needs, eat when he wants, and even have a bit of a splash in his pool!
I know I'm not the “perfect companion” for him. But I try... I do my best to be as good as possible. And I DO believe, beyond “belief”, that he KNOWS how I feel about and for him... and he does show that he appreciates what I do... no matter how imperfect it is.
And so, tonight, I was in the kitchen at 18.30, wrapping-up my meal and such and I heard what's become the rare “call”... His “Natural Spectrum” light was on all day, but he could see, out his windows, that the skies were darkening... it was time to “tuck-in”! So, we got right to “evening routine”... waters and kitchen roll.
OH! I went to the yard to day and collected some white pine needles from the ground! I have to figure how to “incorporate” them into his house, but I know mourning doves like them for “nesting” so, I want to bring as much of Yonah's “natural environment” in as I can. But just to make sure they don't have “parasites” of any sort, I put them into a bowl and gave them several rinses under the kitchen tap... quite-warm water, 10 times. And then, I filled the bowl with boiling water and let them soak in that for about 15 minutes... followed by a few more rinses. They're on a cookie sheet tonight, to dry. If Yonah enjoys them, I'll be getting a LOT more... to take us through the Winter (just as I've done with his river sand). I'm anxious to see his reactions and responses. And I still want to get to the meadow for grasses for him as well... but there's more rain in the forecast for the next few days so... Thankfully, warm weather too. No “snow” and no “freezing”. There's time... Indeed... I have the time... All I can do is HOPE that WE have the time. But, no matter... I'll do my best for “US”... and particularly for Yonah.
So tonight should be a “relatively mild” night... rain, yes, but teens for the temperature. And tomorrow? I have a LOT more photos to sort through. (It's hard to choose... and though the photos I'm working with are all copies, and there are many other copies else-where, I HATE “deleting” any... THAT'S MY GUY... AND EVERY PHOTO IS AN IMPORTANT MOMENT IN HIS LIFE! But... we'll get it together... and we'll “launch” the final project on our ANNIVERSARY... IN 10 DAYS! WOW! THAT YEAR WENT BY SO QUICKLY!)
Well? Yonah's tucked-in, radiator on... and another day becomes another night... and he's been quiet, so I'm hoping he's sleeping... peacefully... He's safe, sound, warm, dry, protected... LOVED... AND OH-SO CHERISHED... ALWAYS.
 Monday 04 October:
OH YES! Yonah is making QUITE the “come-back”! He's ALMOST THE YONAH he was before all this moulting began! THIS has been a most amazing time and experience for me! And yes, painful... for BOTH of us! It isn't completely done yet, but it seems the worst is behind us. Nothing but *TOMORROWS* to look forward to!
This morning, we both rather “slept-in” because he didn't stir until almost 7.00! I only hope he's getting his much-needed sleep through the night. But, I was there, all night, on his futon and, oddly (or not), even in the deepest sleep, I'm still “listening” for ANY sort of sound that comes from him. Even when I'm in the next room... as I can attest to from our weeks of having mice in the house. Even the slightest “fluttering” of wings woke me then. So, since I heard nothing through the night last night, I'll suppose he DID sleep well. And, as is the case every morning, I check to see where the night's “poop” is, and it was all, very much, in one place, directly under where he “roosts” in the evening (his way of telling me: “It's time to put the lights out and get some sleep here!”). But, with the first “flutter” of this morning, we were both up and “morning routine” commenced.
Sadly, again, another heavy-grey day with periods of drizzle, but the “Natural Spectrum” light was on. I DO swear, it makes QUITE a noticeable difference in Yonah's general mood. But I DIDN'T expect today's “changes”.
TODAY, we had actual “Play-time”! He chased my hand round his house, pecking at it as he used too. In recent weeks, he'd RUN to an opposite corner and seemed to want to “escape”. Of course, I never “forced” play, but it was heart-breaking to see him just not want to be “bothered”. Ah, but TODAY... it was his grand old “playful attack”, until, of course, it was time to stop... which he made (as he does) quite clearly understood by just bouncing to an opposite corner or side.
AND... HE'S ACTUALLY ENJOYING THE “SMOOCHES” AGAIN. Instead of backing-away from kisses, once again, he literally “leans into” them! He's always enjoyed that closeness, went through this period of FLYING away when-ever I'd get my face too close. But today... TODAY, when I'd stop, he'd stretch his head up, push his breast forward... for MORE! MY LITTLE GUY'S COME BACK!
ADD TO THAT... this after-noon, as I was working at the table, he was back in his pool too! Splashing about and just having a GRANDEST time of it! Seeing him enjoy that pool always brightens my mood, lifts my spirits, but today, OH, how he SPLASHED about!
The feathers on his brow are almost complete again, and even under his “chin”. His face is growing “fuller”, as it was before the moulting, and his tail is longer, darker, fuller. He even seems to be getting his “balance” back! Not so much “wing flapping” as he tries to maneuver across a perch.
Oh yes, indeed... THIS has been a most amazing and educational period for me. (I almost liken it to a “teething” infant... and I might imagine there are similarities. First teeth have to “break through” an infant's gums and that MUST be quite painful. For Yonah, it's little “pin feathers”, breaking through his skin. But un-like and infant whose teeth are in one place, on the face, poor Yonah is going through it over his entire body! THAT HAS to be painful! Or, at the very least, annoying!) BUT... it appears he's making it through it all... like the “ULTIMATE CHAMPION” that he is!
He's been through such HELL, this past year. Attacked, brought into this house. Gone from a little mesh box to a large, open “house”. AND learning to tolerate ME! And coming to learn that I mean him only the very BEST and NEVER any harm. He's been through it, come through it and then... the moulting. Ah... he's more than just a simple “inspiration”. He's AWE-SOME! In the truest sense of the term!
So, I did spend the rest of the entire day with him, working at the table, as we listened to a combination of his “Bird-songs” and a bit of the radio music (which I played at a low volume, but the “mix” was obviously fine, judging by Yonah's going about his own business).
And although he's still not spending time on his “roof” yet, he DID come to the front of his house, and spent his “quiet moments” right beside me. So yes, it DOES appear he's “back” and that it's OK that I'm there with him.
This evening, the skies darkened by 18.30 already, and so, we changed the waters, freshened the house and by 19.00, “tuck-in” was done. Thankfully, the temperatures are warming back up a bit, but his radiator is on... just to make sure his room doesn't take the “chill” that this old house takes. The forecast is for more clouds, more drizzle for a couple of more days, and then, much warmer for a day or two. Hopefully, we'll get some actual SUN-SHINE again and there won't be a need for that artificial lighting. There are more than plenty of weeks ahead where we'll actually need that. But for now... it suffices.
Ah... but it's been a WONDERFUL day! My Little Guy is getting through his difficulties, and he's LOOKING BEAUTIFUL... ALL FEATH'RY AGAIN! There's still a bit more to come, where feathers are concerned. He's still dropping some, but over-all... he's “filling back in”. I suppose this is what he did last year, but then, I was so afraid of everything, every little change in him, that I was paying more attention to “worry” than “learning”. But we have more years ahead of us, and, come Spring, we'll be due another “bout”. Hopefully not as serious as this one, but, when it comes again, I'll be a bit more prepared.
But for today, we bid “fare well” to another, look forward to a restful, refreshing night... and tomorrow, no matter the weather out-side... here, Yonah will be warm and dry, and light will be plentiful... and we'll see about “play” and “affections” when the time presents for those. (I still want to get more pine needles and meadow grasses for him too... But those will have to wait, for the most part, until the rains pass... But he WILL have them... especially through the Winter!)
Tuesday 05 October:
7.15 and Yonah is still quite quiet this morning. I may have had a restless night on his futon, last night, as I woke once during and this morning, well, the futon was in a bit of “disarray”. I HOPE I didn't disturb him through the night. Poor little guy. I wonder how and if he sleeps through a night anyway. The only way I have of knowing anything about his sleep is in the morning... the “poop-check”. But even that's a limited “metric”. Just because he doesn't “travel about” of a night doesn't necessarily mean he slept through. And his rest these days, is so important. He's looking so well, as his feathers grow back. Ah... how I DO worry about him.
And this morning I have to think: We're approaching our “first year” together. An entire year! What weighs the heaviest is the “stats”. “Average” life-span, in the wild, 18 months. But here, he has the best foods and fresh water, and NO predators. The next “life-span” is 5 years. Well? I can only assume he was a couple of months old in October 2020, and now, we've been “together” for about a year. One year together... 4 years ahead? Of course, there's the “have been known to live 20 years” that I read. So there could be anything between the 4 and another 19. I just dread seeing him “grow old”. And the very notion of him growing weak, uncomfortable, ANY discomfort at all makes me physically ill. Then too, I truly don't see “me” with-out “him”. I've no trepidation about that aspect. It's not about “me”... this... It's, well, as I say, and have said, the injustice of “Existence” in this “perfect world”. Yonah came into it, in a little “nest-of-sorts”, nurtured by his caring, attentive, Loving parents, and then, shortly after, had to take flight into independence. He's been through the Hell of something trying to tear him apart, physically, whilst alive. And then... THEN... a “common predator” (human... ME) comes along, carries him into a house, puts him into a “cage” and... he's been “alone”, separated from “his own” for all this time. Yes, he's been given so much Love, attention, affection, the best foods I can find, the protection against the elements. But, the truth and fact of the matter: when it comes to “aging”, well there's no more I can do for him than could be done for ANYTHING or ANY-ONE... “Aging” is what happens to absolutely EVERY thing in this farce we call “Creation”... living and/or other-wise. And with it, there's the “break-down” of our very elements. Yes, I understand it, acknowledge it... but that doesn't mean I must “accept” it. And I don't... where Yonah is concerned.
Ah... the thoughts of a morning. Mean-while, 7.33 and time to take a peek in... Yonah and I have “some” time to look forward to, together. And I have that time to make sure he's as comfortable as can possibly be... ALWAYS. So, let's get to it! If today is anything like yesterday, we have some SMOOCHES to get to! (And there's still “morning routine” ahead here!)
Tuesday... 05 October... Let's have at it!
As the day rolls on, notes worthy of noting here... I went in at 8.25 to find Mr. Taube up, about and LOOKING GOOD! It's obvious he's not in a “chatty” mood (yet), but there he was, on his perch, looking at me as if to say “So where have YOU been?” And his face is even better-looking today, with the new feathers! Oh, there are some more of those little “white flecks”, common to this moulting, and a few more over his eyes, but for the most part, his body, face and tail are looking MUCH healthier, fuller. And he seems to be in MUCH better spirits!
This morning, as I settled-in at his work table, he came to the door of his house, where he “perched” for a few moments and the next thing I knew... he was ON HIS ROOF! He hasn't gone up there in what seems the longest while! And THEN... off to his place on the corner of the shelf where he made himself most comfy and snuggled.
And speaking of “snuggled”... HE'S BACK TO THE “SMOOCHES” this morning! Oh yes! We had “SMOOCHES” again... and again, today, he didn't RUN from them!
And this after-noon... HE'S BACK TO PLAYING! PECKING AT MY HAND AND FINGERS, AND EVEN TRYING TO GRAB A FIRM HOLD ON THE FINGERS TOO! THIS IS GETTING TO BE MORE AND MORE BACK TO THE “GOOD OLD DAYS”! WE'RE PLAYING AGAIN, AT LAST! I'm not going to “push” the issue with him. A little here and there, now and again, but... BUT... WOW! No matter the world... Yonah's making it through and that's ALL I ever actually need to know! THIS IS WONDERFUL!
His “Natural Spectrum” light's been on through the day though. Still, another grey day, and damp, so the radiator is on in his room. Oh... to think of the weeks (months, actually) ahead, of the grey, cold, damp. But, in Mr. Taube's room, all will be bright and warm and comfy-dry, to be sure. And THIS Winter, un-like last, there's a comfy futon where we can spend our days together. Quite the difference from last year... in the best of ways.
The sun has set on another STUPENDOUS DAY... spent, COMPLETELY, in the company of the MOST EXCEPTIONAL COMPANION ANY PERSON could ever even dream of. Yonah truly IS “BACK”! “Smooches”, “cuddles”, and PLAYFUL! OH! But we had the grandest times this after-noon! He was out of his house, on his roof, on the shelves. And we “smooched”! And we played. And he flew from place-to-place, into his house for snacks and meals... and back out, around his room! I worked (when I did), at the work table and watched and listened to him out, re-exploring spaces he's shown almost no interest in for these past weeks. IT WAS ABSOLUTELY GRAND!
Today's MAJOR effort was working on a “Video Montage” of photos from our year together... and, although the length is now, just short of 6 minutes, and when it's complete, it probably will be a full 6 minutes, it's 12 months, concentrated into mere minutes. On the 13th, I'll have it complete and “launched”, temporarily replacing the “Home” page, and then, incorporating it into the rest of his site. It took quite a bit of work to get the lay-out the way I want, including some searching and research into the coding. What makes the page more “special” is that the final results came from... that old... “trial and error”. Oddly, as it's been for me trying to find information on how best to provide for Yonah, the “coding” information I found was almost useless, and, at best, sparse. But, as it's been trying to find support for providing for Yonah, determination paid-off in the end. I'm happy with the “presentation”... Now, all that remains is to bring the photos up to-date... next Wednesday!
As I look at what's already been done, and re-live each moment represented by each photo, there's SO MUCH PAIN... from the FEAR I had in my heart, because I didn't know ANYTHING that should have been done for him! And the deep sadness, as I watched, feeling so completely useless to him, unable to understand what he was going through all the while, other than his own natural fear... of me. And then, the over-whelming ELATION when he stood on that one, limp, left leg... and then... THEN... TOOK FLIGHT! His first “real house”... the day it arrived, and I set it up and saw him in MORE SPACE! AND THEN... THE FIRST TIME I HEARD HIM “woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo”! I broke into sobs... of just DIVINE JOY! Then came the dark depression, knowing that he'd be destroyed if he were to return to the out-side, the “wild”, where he came from, was born into and was born to be. He'd never fly “properly”, never be able to keep-up with the others, never be able to escape another attempt on his life. THAT was NOT what I'd held in my heart all through our Winter together. I kept seeing him heading up-ward, across open skies, to high limbs on great old trees. I saw him re-uniting with his flock... finding a mate... raising his own little doves. BUT I RESOLVED TO DO FOR HIM, ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING HUMANLY POSSIBLE TO MAKE HIS TIME WITH ME AS CLOSE TO “FREE” AS HE COULD POSSIBLY BE... And then came the even LARGER house... the open door... his run of this old house... Every photo on this little video tells that story... HIS story! It's bitter-sweet in the purest sense of the term. But it's working well... and Yonah's story will be told... available to the WORLD!
And tonight, as the day-light, grey as it was, turned to the deep darkness of an Adirondack night, this little guy is on his perch, in the comfort and safety of his own house, in his own room and he's managed to get through the exhaustion of another moulting... and “WE're BACK”...
His room got a thorough Hoovering today too. And again, I marvel at how the sound doesn't phase him at all. As I “vrOOmed” about his room, he simply hopped over and had his meal. (SO UN-like a cat or a dog that usually goes into some sort of frenzy at the sound of a vacuum cleaner!) He's AMAZING... in more ways than can be listed.
So, waters changed, kitchen roll cleaned... radiator on against chill and damp... lights out. Yonah Taube is safe and sound... and tonight, short of any interference of “Fate” to the contrary... we'll have a restful night together, and tomorrow? Well... tomorrow will be what it will be... but it will begin with that beautiful little face, on that PRECIOUS little guy... and we'll deal with “tomorrow” when it becomes “today”... what-ever it brings.
Wednesday 06 October:
Last night (this morning) we had a bit of “Hell”... and today, it's been really obvious that “recovery” will be slow.
I slept on Yonah's futon again, last night, but, as is more common “at my age”, I had to get up for a “loo trip” at about mid-night. I'd been settled for two hours by then and too, Yonah was all settled for the night. But when I got up, Yonah gave his usual quiet “hoo-hoo”, and as I do when I see that he's awake, I spoke, softly, told him I'd be right back and left the room. Moments later, from across this little house, I heard FRANTIC FLUTTERING OF WINGS from Yonah! I headed to him IMMEDIATELY!
In the dim light in his room from the light in the kitchen, I could see him, pressed against the front of his house, on his floor... not on a perch! So I opened his door and reached in, SLOWLY, telling him that he was OK. I noticed that what had startled him was that the pillows on the futon had slid off, onto the floor. The same thing had happened once before and then too, it startled him terribly. I don't know if he sees the pillows fall or hears them, or both, but it frightens him... HORRIFICALLY! Well, sure it would! In the dark, something moves. The size of a pillow could be ANY sort of creature, especially a predator! And because doves don't see well in the darkness, the motion, the sound... TERRIFYING! (It's more on the “learning scale”.)
It took a little coaxing but, I did, finally get Yonah onto my hand and he IMMEDIATELY climbed up to my shoulder... and snuggled against my face! As HORRIFIED as I was over the situation, it was SO comforting to see that he DOES see me as “safety”. So we “cuddled” as I told him, quietly and softly, that everything was OK again, that he's safe, that I'm here for him and that he has NOTHING to worry about. This is HIS house, HIS room, HIS home, and that I'm always here to do ALL that I can to keep him safe. When I pulled my face back to look at him, he looked directly at me, and gave a little “hoo”. If that doesn't touch a heart and soul, well...
We sat, together, on the futon, for a few long moments, until Yonah became his usual, calm self, and I checked my arms and shoulder for any signs of bleeding... THANKFULLY, there was NONE. But when I brought him back to his house for the night, he was reluctant. I had to lean in, position my shoulder next to his perch and he did hop onto it, but, he went directly to the opposite perch, and roosted right beside the round mirror attached to the front of his house. He does that from time-to-time, and it strikes me as he's “resting beside another dove”... the reflection. He wasn't “sure” about being in his house, but he was “comfortable” with “the other dove” there. And so... I lit the small kitchen lamp out-side the door to his room, so the room wasn't so dark, so he could better see what was going on in the room, with-out disturbing his sleep (though the mirror blocks a lot of “direct” light), and I got back onto his futon and I drifted back to sleep, talking softly to him.
This morning, we were both up and about at 7.30, and I went to check, again, for ANY signs of bleeding from last night... none... but there were three rather long feathers that had come out in his frenzy last night! They're obviously “old” and from his wing, so I'm hoping they were due to fall anyway. The BAD part is that they were “blood” feathers... there was a little blood at the quill on two of them. But Yonah didn't shed any blood!
His mood? Again, he was NOT in a “Lovey” mood this morning. During the day, the sun came back (AT LAST) and POURED in through his windows... and he basked in it. Mood? Well, I got a couple of “smooches” but he didn't peck back and he really didn't want to be bothered. He was in a bit of discomfort, if not actual “pain”.
After all the weeks of him not being well, and only the past two days, making a “come-back”... I'm quite crushed!
Although, today was a most-welcome relief from the cold and drear. Sun-shine! The temperatures rose to 22°. Yonah had light, warmth, and the doors were open, so there was fresh air. I can only HOPE (as always) that he'll soon recover from last night. (And yes, I'm both hurt and annoyed... annoyed because I don't know what made those pillows fall!)
Anyway... because it was such a great day, Yonah and I were together for most of it, listening to the radio and his “Bird-songs Play-list”, and this after-noon, I headed into the woods, up the mountain... I walked through the meadow and gathered some milk-weed tufts, thinking Yonah might like to “play” with them, or even use them to make a bit of a nest. And in the woods, I gathered a LOT of white pine needles (since mourning doves favour them for nests, and if Yonah gets the mood to “build” one... well... he'll have PLENTY to work with now!). I also found more moss, thicker and deeper than what he's had already, and brought back MUCH of that as well. And little “clumps” of nice grass, which I'll have to figure into the scheme of his house. Oh... his house will be so close to his “natural” environment!
The moss is in containers, as is the grass, in the living-room, until I can be sure there's nothing in there that could harm Yonah. (I do that with ALL things that come in from the woods... to make sure there are no ticks, mites, little insects that he might eat or that might eat him.) The pine needles have been “blanched”, thrice. I pick through them to sort out any “odd” debris, put them into a large bowl and pour rapidly-boiling water into the bowl to soak them. I let the water cool, drain, rinse the needles with fresh tap water and then boil/soak again. And this too... to make sure there's nothing harmful in them. They're on the “cookie sheet” to dry now and when dried, some will go into Yonah's house, and the rest we'll have through Winter. We are PREPARED this year!
Tonight though, I started “evening routine” even earlier (about 16.15), thinking I'd get the “hectic” work done (water changes) and then put his “NatSpec” (Natural Spectrum) light on for a while. But, as soon as I'd done, Yonah was on his perch... ready to call it a day. So... by about 19.00, he was “tucked-in”. No “kisses” tonight, no “smooches”, “cuddles” or the likes. But at least he didn't move away from me when I popped my head in to say “Good night”. Maybe a good night's rest will help. (Again... I can only hope.) But tonight... I won't be on his futon. I have to figure out how and why things fall off. So, his radiator is on (forecast is for 9° tonight), the door to his room is almost closed, to keep the house light out and the noise of me being up and such. Before I go to bed, I'll check on the warmth in his room, and, of course, tonight, I'll sleep... but be listening for ANY noise from his room. (As I've already said/written: I DO hear him in his room, even when I'm asleep in the adjoining room... My brain stays “tuned” for him. It's just what I do.)
I'll look forward to a better tomorrow... I've nothing on the agenda other than some yard work which I can get done quickly... other-wise... WE'LL BE TOGETHER! And Yonah will know that I'm here for him... and... he'll see that he's safe... AND OH OH OH SO VERY VERY CHERISHED AND LOVED.
Thursday 07 October:
I tellya... There are moments when I do nothing but eat my heart out, as the expression goes, with worry over and about and for this little Yonah here, and then come the moments...
We slept-in a bit, this morning. I suppose the colder nights and shorter days are taking hold of both of us of late, and sleeping-in is becoming the “seasonal norm”. But when, at about 7.30, I went in to check on Mr. Taube, here, he was “up” and about. Sadly though, it seems he spent the night beside his “mirror”, instead of his usual “night roost”. It bothers me when he does that, because it strikes me as though he's looking for “company” through the night. Oh, I WOULD, so readily, see about bringing him a “companion”. As I've said before, I WON'T purposely “take” another mourning dove (“trapping”) from the wild. And though the very notion of “buying” a dove, or ANY sort of little one, makes me physically ill, I would gladly get him another dove, of some sort. But what stops me is not knowing if he'd “accept” another dove into his house and home. Perhaps he won't take to a dove of another kind (I've been thinking “ring-neck”). I don't know if he'd “appreciate” the company of a female... I don't know if he'd resent the presence of another male. And how terrible it would be, to subject HIM to any atmosphere of animosity. AND, the other dove might not take a liking to Yonah. And there's the consideration of him having his own house, food, water, pool... perches and such. Would he be OK with “sharing” that now? After a year?
And this morning, again, he was rather “stand-off-ish”. I wasn't “rejected” when I went in, opened his curtains to the morning sun and went about the morning tidying and water changes and such. But it was rather obvious that I wasn't “warmly welcome”. He wasn't particularly “hostile”, he just made obvious efforts to avoid me, even a “smooch”. Well, he's been through so much these past couple of weeks, and the night of the “falling pillows” didn't do much to provide and “comfort”. We've been through these “moments” in the past... I can only hope this one, as those, will pass... soon.
So, taking this morning's “clues” from him, I gave him the day to himself. I was in and out of the house with yard work and such, but always making sure to let him know that I was “near” and that he wasn't abandoned. Yes, no matter what, I AM right here for him, should he need or simply want to know he's not alone.
Well... at “dinner time”, he seemed more “calm”, not really “playful” but not as averse to my presence. He ate, and well, and I prepared my meal and ate as well.
As it is these days, short... entirely too short... go, shortly after meal-time, it was “evening routine” time as well. Yonah makes it “known” by coming to the perch at his door, and waiting for me to come in and “put things in order” for the night. So I went in, put his “NatSpec” light on to give him a little while more of some kind of light, especially so he could see me clearly, and I got to his house-keeping for the night. He didn't mind my presence, the little commotion of water changing and kitchen roll replacement. And I closed his curtains and put-up the “light block” boards as we do of an evening... and he took his usual place on his usual perch as if he was prepared for a “usual night”... and I went to the kitchen to get his little drinking-water dish of fresh water...
As I returned to his room to place the dish... HE WAS GONE! NOT IN HIS HOUSE! NOT ON HIS PERCH! NO... HE DECIDED THAT IT'S TOO EARLY TO GO “seepie-nigh-night”! HE WAS UP ON THE WALL SHELF! SO... I put his water into his house and went over to “chat” with him... AND HE STARED AT ME, LIKE HE USED TO DO WHEN I SPOKE TO HIM... AND HE WAS IN A MOOD TO “PLAY”! So...? WE DID!
It's now 19.20 and he's still up on his shelf, “resting” after a preen. His light is still on. So too, his radio and light. And he appears to be quite settled, as I type, at the kitchen table. OH! All day he was so “sedate”, almost “removed”... and NOW... it's almost like a child who simply just doesn't want to go to bed! And you know? I don't mind it at all. His house is prepared for him when he's ready. There's enough light for him to find his way back, when he's ready (or, if it gets too much later, when I try to coax him back... OH... THAT SHOULD PROVE TO BE SOME KIND OF FUN). He's more than entitled to keep his own hours, and I have things too attend so...
WHAT A KID! WHAT A GUY! WHAT A MOST PRECIOUS LOVE!
OK... It's 19.33... and Mr. Yaube is “tucked-in”, on his “night roost”... I went in to “chat” and put my hands up for a little “stroking”, which he always liked... and he was quite playful about it. There's a “little bit” of him “back again”. And he hopped onto my hand, so I gave it a try... bringing him back to his house... and as soon as he was back, he was IN! I often wonder about him in such a situation. He'll do the same thing during the day, when it comes time to eat. He'll wait for me to come into the room and reach-out to him, hop onto my hand or arm and be “chauffeured” back to the house where, as soon as he gets in, he heads directly for his food! Oh... as I DO say: Yonah is NEVER “boring”, NEVER “typical”... there's a difference in EVERY day... if not just about ever moment of a day. He has his “moments”. He has his “moods”, and each one is undeniably obvious. And it all makes him all the more LOVABLE, SWEET, PRECIOUS AND CHERISHED! I'll NEVER understand how people (“people”... what-ever) can be so ignorant of the sentient little beings, these little “LIVES” actually are! But... the truth is:
The claims that “God gave man dominion over all the creatures of the Earth”
and
“Humanity is the most-evolved species.”
were, after all, written by “man”, and isn't it just convenient that “man” should decide that “God” gave him “dominion”. (And isn't it just pathetic that so many actually believe such drivel?)
All said, it was a beautiful, delightfully bright, sun-filled, warm day today, and tomorrow's forecast calls for more of the same so we have that to look forward to! (I still want to get a new, little white pine tree for Yonah's house. He's “pecked” at the one to the point where it'll be planted in the yard and replaced.) And tonight, my Little Guy is safely tucked-in in his own house. Tonight's “low” is expected to be about 9-10°, so his radiator is on... just in case. So he's warm, protected... secure... and SO LOVED! (And we're another day closer to our FIRST ANNIVERSARY TOGETHER!)
Friday 08 October:
Today was an “unusual” sort of day... from start to close...
I woke (in my bed, because I've stopped sleeping on Yonah's futon since the last “pillow-fall”... I don't want him being disturbed, never mind, frightened, at night, so I thought it best, until I can figure out how to keep the pillows from falling, to just go back to my own room of a night), at about 6.30. Yonah was very still, on his perch, grabbing the last vestiges of a night's rest. So I closed his door and went on about my own “morning routine”. I let him “sleep-in” until about 7.30 when I heard him start to move about.
This morning, he was “OK” with me. Not his usual “HELLO! WHERE'VE YOU BEEN?” but didn't “dodge” me when I went about his “morning routine”. He went to his little “loft” and, for the most part, stood there, looking away from me. (So, it's safe to say, he has no “fear” of me. I actually felt “tolerated”, to be honest. But I'd rather have “tolerated” than “feared”... or “despised”.)
After that, for most of the day, he was quite on his own. I dropped-by to try some “kisses”, but he wasn't having ANY of that and shuffled off to the opposite end of what-ever perch he'd been on. OK.
HE IS LOOKING ABSOLUTELY *** GRAND THOUGH! The feathers on his brow are now smooth and silky again. His back and wings are filling-in with new feathers. And even the top of his head is filling back in with new feathers! He still has that little bit of “dandruff”, as that's how the “wax” coating of new feathers looks when it sheds. And his tail is still a beautiful shade of the palest grey, waiting for the new, long, “dove tail” feathers to grow in. But I notice that the tails on the mourning doves in the yard are the same so... poor little ones, they're all going through this horror! (Well, at least they're getting the “special mix”, the “high protein” that Yonah doesn't finish in a day so they're getting good nourishment here.) It's just SO comforting to see that his “tragic” period is coming to an end. Hopefully, soon, he'll be “back” to his “old” self, sitting on my shoulder, flying over to sit on my head as I sit at his work table. “Soon”... when he'll be out of this discomfort. I look forward to that.
As I say, I had yard-chores and such to get to today. It was another beautiful, bright, clear, sunny, warm day and Yonah soaked-in every bit of it as it poured in through his windows. The “nice” part of this time of year is that the sun stays to the South through the day, until just shortly before it sets, so from the moment it rises until just before “dark”, Yonah gets it ALL. (Come Winter, on the days when we have any sun, he'll get it all from rise to set!)
When I finally finished my tasks this evening, it was “meal time”, so I came in, put food on the hob and went in to see MY LITTLE GUY! He was “fine”, and he was eating well. But again, not so “thrilled” with my company. But we chatted a little and I had my meal and, sadly as it is now, after washing-up, it was time for “evening routine”. So I went in, got things together and to to changing the water in his pool and drinking cup... changed the kitchen roll on his floor, and chatted all the while... but THEN...
As I'd finished with all of it... he TOOK OFF, OUT OF HIS DOOR AND TO HIS ROOF! He wasn't quite ready for “tuck-in” AND, HE REALLY WAS IN A MOOD TO PLAY! As I tried to coax him back into his house, he flew to the shelves, and scuttled back and forth as if “Try to catch me! I dare you!” So... WE HAD PLAY-TIME THIS EVENING! AND WHEN HE WENT BACK TO HIS ROOF AND I PUT MY HANDS UP, HE FLEW TO MY ARM ANS SCURRIED UP ONTO MY SHOULDER! IT FEELS LIKE IT'S BEEN YEARS SINCE HE LAST DID THAT! AND HE SETTLED THERE! SO WE WENT “FOR A WALK”, AS WE USED TO DO. THROUGH THE HOUSE, STOOD AT THE FRONT DOOR AND HE LOOKED OUT, WATCHING AS A CAR PASSED *** AND *** PECKED AT MY EAR !!! NOW THAT'S SOMETHING HE HASN'T DONE SINCE THE MOULTING STARTED! IT WAS SUCH A TONIC TO THE SOUL! AND AS I TALKED TO HIM, HE STARED AT ME, AND PECKED A BIT MORE! OH, IT REALLY WAS EXHILARATING (to me, anyway) !!! So we looked out the door for a while, chatting, as we took another stroll about the house and when we got back to his house, he hopped off and onto his perch! MY LITTLE GUY REALLY IS (slowly) MAKING HIS COME-BACK!
Well, it was getting dark already, but I put the desk lamp on, had his “boards” up for the night, but I closed his door, put the radio off and let him “settle” for about 45 minutes and just before I went in for my shower, I went in to him, opened his door, leaned in and... KISSES! HE DIDN'T MIND! So it was “Good night” to him and he re-settled quietly. His radiator went on (11° tonight but I'm taking NO chances... I WON'T have him “chilly” at all, since there's NO reason why he should be here) and the light out...
And as I sit now, the day closed, he's tucked-in... and tomorrow... there's NOTHING on any “agenda” for me that will take me away from him. It's supposed to be another nice day, though not as warm as today's 20-something. So we'll have it ALL together (and I'm going to see how he is in the morning, and we'll take the day from there).
But, all said and done... it was quite a WONDERFUL day... and so, here's to tomorrow... And we're 5 days from... * ANNIVERSARY DAY * !!! A YEAR TOGETHER !!! The time passes SO quickly!
Saturday 09 October:
OH YES! Yonah IS making a remarkable and MOST WELCOME “COME-BACK”!
We began our day together, on this other-wise mostly “typical North Country grey” day, at about 7.30 with “morning routine”, during which, Yonah had breakfast as I “attended to house-keeping”. I DO LOVE it when my presence is of NO consequence to him! He trusts me, and is as comfortable with me changing water, checking for “poop” (which is discarded twice, daily, after a “health check”), disarranging and rearranging rocks and moss and such as he is when I'm not making a fuss in his house. Now, personally, I can't think of a higher compliment from a little one from the out-doors than THAT!
And today, we had a “visitor”! A neighbour came by and, of course, came to see Yonah, and whilst she was in the room, he did a little pacing and his low “HOO!”. Not exactly a “panic”, but he KNEW that there was a “strange presence” in HIS room and it obviously seemed strange to him. He kept to the back of his house as he paced, but other than the pacing, he didn't appear to be “afraid”. I'm actually pleased that he's “wary” of strangers, especially people. He and I have been together for just 4 days short of a year now and he still retains his “natural distrust” of people. He's not really “domestic”... and I don't think of him as a “pet” (and I never will... he's a “COMPANION”... and a BLESSING, but NOT a “pet”). So this, to me, is indicative of the fact that he isn't either “domestic” or a “pet”. I hope he always maintains that “wariness” of people. As long as we're both alive, he'll NEVER have to be concerned with or about people causing him ANY harm, but, I'm comforted by his “natural instincts”. It's terrible that he's been in a house, and worse that, going back out to the wilderness would only mean certain injuries or worse. I have NO intention of “changing” him in ANY way other than developing his trust in me... just knowing that I'm here to keep him safe, nourished, healthy, and as content as I'm humanly capable of doing.
For most of the day, he “lounged”, basking in the light of his “NatSpec” light, listening to the radio, as I did what-ever I needed to do at his work table. And we were just as much a “couple” as a “couple” could be. He appears to find comfort in my company, and I'm at my very best, from mood to health, when we're together. It was, over-all, a perfectly wonderful day.
AND... TODAY... WE GOT A COUPLE OF “CUDDLES” AND “SMOOCHES” !!! Another slight change from his “moulting” days. HE EVEN PECKED AT MY NOSE WHEN I LEANED INTO HIS HOUSE, AN “INVITATION” TO “SMOOCH”! AND WHEN HE WAS ON “HIS” SHELF, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN WHAT FEELS AN ETERNITY, I GOT A “WING-SNAP”... AN “INVITATION” TO PLAY! Ah... “The Good Old Days” are returning!
And course of events during the day made it even all the better because... if shipping goes according to plan, on Wednesday (OUR ANNIVERSARY), light-blocking blinds will arrive for his windows AND a shipment of his favourite foods too! “We” went SHOPPING today!
Just to note: The local “Town Clowns” installed the most horrific new “LED” street light out-side the house at the beginning of the Summer, and it's positioned such that it's aimed DIRECTLY AT Yonah's windows (as well as others in the house). I brought this atrocity to their attention and they've obviously chosen to view it as either a source of their own sadistic amusement or as a matter that's of no particular or actual concern of theirs. So, IN the house, we NEVER have “night” now. Rather, the light in the house, even through THREE layers of curtains, is, at most, “early dawn”... ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT! NOT conducive to proper sleep... for me or, more important, for Yonah! So, while I escalate the situation as best I can, I've gotten window blinds that will block most (I hope) of the intrusion and yet, provide access for air, should we have a warm night (or, should the arrogant officials continue to ignore our plight). Well, WE do what WE must... and so blinds it is. That they'll arrive on OUR “Anniversary” is just a bit of a delight in an other-wise horror.
So... blinds (and a good night's sleep) and a proper store of GOOD foods are my “HAPPY ANNIVERSARY” gifts to a little one who is, literally, my sole reason for having the next heart-beat, taking the next breath, getting up and out of bed of a morning, and generally... existing. (If I knew of anything else I could do for him... there are no limits! Sure, a little “companion dove” might be good, but I've already expressed my “concerns” about that... and most of all, I don't know if he'd appreciate “sharing” what he has so... It's him... It's me... It's “us”. And I can only HOPE that that's OK with him.)
And tonight, the sun set, the skies out-side went dark (as much as they could, considering the intrusive artificial nonsensical street light) and he noticed it... and came to rest, as he does, on the perch at his front door. I got busy with “evening routine” as he took his place on his “loft” to supervise. And when I'd done with all, Yonah took to his “night spot”. He was READY FOR SLEEP tonight! (Un-like last night when, at “bed time”, he was ready for some FROLIC!) All house-keeping attended, with fresh waters and a tidy house, he's all tucked-in. We're looking at another 9° night tonight so... radiator on... just in case...
My Little Guy is safe and sound and protected and LOVED and CHERISHED and TOMORROW, we're going to see about getting a “new tree” (because I happened to see a few very nice little white pines in the woods and ONE MUST be perfect... a bit thicker and such for Yonah's house). Meanwhile... we hope for a peaceful, restful night ahead... and look forward to another PERFECT day tomorrow! It isn't going to be as warm as the recent days... but it isn't going to be ... “COLD” ! So there's that much we can be happy about.
 Sunday 10 October:
BABY GOT A NEW TREE TODAY! Oh, indeed! And come Wednesday, if “shipping” goes as “shipping” claims, his “Anniversary Day” is going to see a front porch full of boxes! (I've been “Anniversary Shopping”!) In addition to the blinds to block the horrifying LED light all night, and the fresh foods, seeds, “treats”, helpful little additions (like the “moulting mix” for his feathers, and the oats and more calcium-rich grit), there are two more “trays” for his floor, one of which will cover what's been kitchen roll, and can be grass or pine needles or something more “natural” to him! And, a new little mirror, to replace the silly round one he “'snuggles” beside on his “off” nights. And this one will give him more reflection, so it'll be nicer to light in his house... especially during these coming “grey” months.
As for the “tree”... the little white pine in the front corner of his house, has become a bit “chewed”. Yonah likes to peck at the needles and “pluck” them. The tree is perfectly healthy, but it was just looking a bit “abused”. So... this after-noon, when the sun finally broke through the morning clouds, I headed into the woods and found a wonderful stand of white pines... with a grand selection of little ones. And one, in particular, was the perfect size for a little pot and the corner of Yonah's house so... it got dug-up and potted right on-site, and I added a bit of fresh moss on top of the soil and... when I brought it back, all that needed to be done was remove the old, put in the new. And now, this one goes right to the top of Yonah's house and is fresh, clean and just looks more like “woods”... and it gives more of a look and feel of his perch being “in a tree”! And he's been “in it” already and seems to enjoy it! So I'm guessing it was a “good call”. Hey! NOTHING is, as I always say “too good or even god enough” for MY LITTLE GUY!
And he was in his “off” mood for most of the morning today. We started the day at about 7.30 with “morning routine and again, he didn't “mind” my presence, but was in no mood for “play”... So I did what needed to be done, as usual, and, along with a bit of shopping for him, went on with my day. But by this after-noon, he was out and about in his room, and we DID get a few moments of “play”... and some KISSES! AND... HE WAS ON MY SHOULDER FOR A WHILE TOO! Not as long as other times, but... ANY little bit of a “return” is, to my heart, a GIFT! Maybe it's the “grey days”. Maybe it's the seasonal thing. I keep remembering last year... almost to the date... It was traumatic for him, but, it's “Autumn”... this is the time when he would be considering migration, leaving, heading else-where... or finding suitable protection... “out there”. Does he, I wonder, remember being attacked last year? I wouldn't doubt that there's SOME trace of SOME sort of record in his mind of it. Does her remember “time”? Well, “time”, as people observe it, is a human construct. WE remember “anniversaries” (as I do... especially now... with Yonah). But whether or not birds, or any other animals have a “time construct”? I shouldn't think they recall “anniversaries”. I'm fortunate in that, for a while, some time ago, I “lived according to the Earth”. At sun-set, I went to sleep, woke at sun-rise. Days of the week were simply something I needed to keep a little track of, but didn't effect anything I actually did. I literally lived by the seasons, the rotation and revolution of the planet. (It was WONDERFUL, by the way.) So I imagine Yonah lives the same way. And so, I think, this is his season for less activity, keeping well nourished, protected against the cold that comes with grey days... it's time for “Earth to rest”. So maybe that's what he's doing. And I can't really rely on last year for comparison because last year wasn't “normal”... not for Yonah anyway. He'd been attacked by something out-side, then, after a fashion, “trapped”... by a HUMAN at a time when he was most vulnerable! He needed time to learn that I was reaching out to him from my heart to protect him, give him a place to recover in safety and comfort. Hopefully, he's learnt that fact. But and so, if he's doing the “Autumnal wind-down”, that's perfectly fine. Bottom line? I have to learn to live by HIS routines and such... not the other way around. The only thing I can really hope for is that we BOTH have a GREAT, and comfortable Winter. And maybe THIS Winter, we can be together... cozy. Last Winter I was thinking of him recovering and being back in the wild, so I kept a distance between us. This Winter... we'll be together... and I've still got a LOT of LOVE to and for him. So... I'll learn, from him and one of these days, hopefully we'll be back to where he's soaring around the house and landing on me to wake me from a nap.
Well... along with the good news today, a bit more: the comments recently posted on a “Dove & Pigeons” forum that included links to Yonah's site, evoked two BEAUTIFUL comments (which were replied to immediately). Yonah's site is actually helping others... and that's what it was created to do. Ah... and it's absolutely COMFORTING to see others who care about the Little Ones of this world! Especially at a time in Creation when it appears that “caring” is dying, compassion for ANYTHING “other” is disappearing. As long as there are hearts that beat with concern for and about the Little Ones... we still have some HOPE to hold to.
And so... the sun set on us this evening, and Yonah was quite ready and waiting for “evening routine” when I went in to start. There he stood, in his door-way, on his perch. And as I went about the tasks, he supervised this evening and when I'd done... I GOT TO GET IN A KISS! A bit of a peck on the nose! SO... hopefully he'll get a nice, restful sleep tonight and tomorrow's forecast is for clear and WARM so... open windows, fresh air and... since I'm making a run to market... broccoli! Fresh (I hope) for Yonah! (There's NO trip to market with-out coming back with broccoli for Yonah. He enjoys it. It's good for him...) Lights out. Radiator on... just in case. And... “Seepie-nigh-night”. He's safe, protected, LOVED, CHERISHED and MY LITTLE GUY... MY LIFE.
Monday 11 October:
OH, but it was a truly delightful Autumn day. We were up and rolling at 7.00 and Yonah was “out and about” in his room, from roof-top to futon... work table... he had full run of the house, but took full run of his room. And it w as SO HEART-WARMING to see him actually “taking flight”... short though those “flights” still are. And, window open for a beautiful warm breeze, he basked in the warmth and light for most of the day!
Moulting isn't quite done yet, as is obvious because he still has that little bit of “dandruff”, but it's really obvious that he's moving through all of his discomfort. And THAT is most important of EVERYTHING in ANY day!
But today's TRUE HIGHEST POINT... I went in this evening, to do “evening routine” house-keeping and he was obviously in some kind of “playful” mood because instead of just “watching” (supervising), he was SO ANIMATED! So I managed to get him to hop onto my shoulder and we took an “evening stroll” round the rest of the house... AND... AS I DID THE WASHING-UP AFTER MY MEAL... HE SAT ON MY SHOULDER! AND WE CHATTED, AND AS I WASHED, I TALKED WITH HIM AND HE STARED AT ME, WITH HEAD TILTED, AS IF HE ACTUALLY LISTENING! OH! But it was SO GRAND! It was SO much like earlier weeks (and months... once he came to trust me enough to “roost” on my shoulder). My GUY is coming back.... coming through his little bit of Hell. And I couldn't be happier!
Ah... but AFTER... when he'd had enough of the “LUVEE” business... He took off, into flight, into the living-room, to his fave-spot there... on the futon (where he blends in so almost perfectly with the colours). He wasn't having any more of that “together time”. I went over to him, to chat a little bit more and “SWOOSH”... he was off and flying again! Over to the opposite end of the room and to the plants! AND, this evening, he found a little “hiding place”, UNDER an English ivy! The ivy “flows” over the edge of a raised pot, creating a perfect little place for him to run around in, “hidden” behind the foliage. And he took FULL advantage of it! From in there, he could see me and my every move, and when I put my hands out to him, he RAN for the opposite side, behind the pot, under the branches! It was SO CUTE!
Following some moments of “Hide-and-Seek”, he made his way to the end of the plant table and OFF AND AWAY and, as he always does when he's had enough “travel”, back to his house where he settled-in and, as I did “evening routine”, he had a little snack... and, at about 19.30, he was safely tucked-in for the night.
Well? It wasn't much of a much, but, it was a tonic to my heart and soul, having him on my shoulder again, being able to spend even those brief moments close to him. It means even more to me now, as we approach our “Anniversary” because I always remember what it was like for those early weeks and months together with him, last year. NEVER, then, for even a passing moment, did I EVER consider that he would actually come to be my very life. It was “heavy” for me back then... It was difficult and confusing through the Winter. To think, he'd come to trust me and that we would become... “An Item”. Oh! It looks like there are still some “Miracles” left in this old world... and WOW! Do I KNOW ONE! I'm BLESSED... TRULY BLESSED!
Tuesday 12 October:
It was a beautiful, warm day today. 23°! Sunny. Brilliantly sunny. But Yonah spent most of it in his house. Although I understand that he's still getting himself together and still going through the inconvenience and discomfort of this moulting, it's a bit hard on me to see him actually wanting to be in his house for so much time. But, he's recuperating, convalescing and needs his time of calm. So, I need to remember to be patient and allow him all the time he wants and needs. I mean, really, we, people, have those periods as well. But it's the inability to communicate with him, to KNOW how he feels and I can't ask him what he needs so... I wish I could. (It would have been great... almost a year ago.)
BUT... today... I DID FIND A LITTLE TREE FOR HIM! A sapling that I cut and trimmed and put into a terracotta pot. (I have to get some sand or something to weight it properly, but it's quite nice, fits into the living-room and it's now just a matter of seeing whether or not he “approves”. I'd like something with some sturdier branches, so I'll keep looking. But for now... he has a TREE to roost or perch in in the living-room, should he decide to “roam about”. Next... to find something similar for the kitchen so we can keep each-other company there too!)
AND... WHILST I was out “chopping his tree”, he, apparently, took another dip in the pool! When I came back in to tell him that I'd gotten his tree, I noticed that he was on his “door perch”, wings up and spread, and there was a little “trail” of water across the stones I have on his floor. (Those stones are there so that he has a place to peck at, and to scratch... to keep his beak and toe-nails trimmed... And, happily, they seem to actually make quite a difference... in both, his beak and nails. ANOTHER “trial-and-error” and working on my own “gut instinct” turned good. It's a slow l learning process for me and I'm grateful to Yonah for having patience with me.)
He still doesn't want to be “touched” though. I take it he's still going through a lot of “healing” with all the new feathers that have come through. Oh well... time... I have it. I hope HE has it too.
After I had my evening meal though, he DID get onto my shoulder when I leaned into his house! It was quite a surprise to me when he leapt from his perch and directly onto my shoulder! So we had a walk about the house. Front door, back door, round about. And we had a WONDERFUL little chat at the back door. And AGAIN, as I spoke to him, about the birds in the yard, and our anniversary, and how different things are this year at this time than they were last year, especially for him, AGAIN, I got the “stare” and the tilted head as if he were listening to me! AND, I got to “nuzzle” my face against him a couple of times and he didn't immediately fly away! So.. little-by-little, he shows me that he's getting better... physically and such. I'm “OK” to be around again. So I try not to “touch” him too much, especially with my hands (since he OK with a “face-nuzzle”), and I DON'T even try to hold him at all. And, so, our stroll-about and chat went VERY well, indeed!
Tonight's tuck-in... SO TOO EARLY! These days are entirely TOO short now! About 18.45 and he was back “at home”, on his little “loft” and obviously ready for a night's sleep. So, “evening routine” got done whilst he “supervised”... he had a little nosh. I put his “light-blocks” up, curtains close... it's supposed to be 12° tonight... which isn't cold at all, but just to be “sure”, radiator set on “4” of a possible “6”.
I'm HOPING to spend the night on his futon tonight so that I can wake with him tomorrow morning... FOR OUR ANNIVERSARY! And his new order of food is due to arrive tomorrow! His new window blinds are due on Thursday. Those will be nice for him, come the nights. Hopefully they'll block just enough light through the night so that he can have a “normal” night and rest well. (Humans... and their “need for light” all the time. What a waste of Earth's space and time.)
Anyway... he's “in for the night” and tomorrow? Well... it was about 11.00 last year, when I returned from market to bring him in. THANKFULLY, THIS YEAR, HE WON'T BE OUT IN THE ELEMENTS... AND THERE'S NOTHING IN HERE TO THREATEN HIM IN ANY WAY! We'll have a great day together... me and MY LITTLE HEART-BEAT!
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☼♥☼WEDNESDAY 13 OCTOBER☼♥☼
☼♥☼OUR ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY☼♥☼
☼♥☼
 And so very UN-like today, last year, today was, for the most part, quite GLORIOUS! A beautiful, warm Autumnal day, with the sun-light reflecting off the red, yellow and gold leaves on the trees and across the yard. The gentlest of breezes moving the fresh air around AND, for the first time in what feels, to me, like an Eternity, at 9.18... “woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo”... a “MORNING CALL” !!! Yonah was up, awake, about, and ready to take-on the day! ☼♥☼HAPPY ANNIVERSARY☼♥☼ !!!
WELL! SO! Sadly, I didn't make it through the night with him. I was tucked-in by about 22.00 and had fallen asleep but, as has become a “norm”, was rudely awakened by the usual “leg cramps”. So I got up, quietly, and went to “walk them off” but decided to return to my bed, instead of risking repeats during the night and disturbing the Little Guy. It was about 2.00 by then, so, I retired in the room-next for a “nap”. And at about 6.30, I woke. When I checked-in on Yonah, he appeared to be snoozing, comfortably, so I didn't disturb him and went about my own “morning routine” until I heard him call. And THEN... OUR day began...
A THOROUGH HOUSE-KEEPING! From the regular “morning routine” through to and including a complete scrubbing of his pool, flushing the little fountain pump and tubing (50/50 water and white vinegar), changing ALL of the kitchen roll, boiling of the rocks in the pool... oh... indeed... AND, for breakfast this morning, hard-boiled egg yolks... Vitamin D! Oh, I worked on it all morning under “supervision”.
I STILL marvel at how Yonah just doesn't appear to be bothered or disturbed in ANY manner, with my “presence”, as I pull things from his house and replace them. He “roosted” on his perches, one side or the other, opposite from where I was fussing-about, and just watched. And when I put the tray of sand back in where it usually is, he headed directly for it, and basked in the BRILLIANT sun-shine that POURED in through his window which, thanks to the warmth, was opened! (We take advantage of these days, because they won't be many in number soon, and we're looking ahead at many months when open windows will be a “memory of the past”... Winter is coming.) I continued with the task of house-keeping and he just lounged, BEAUTIFULLY AND PEACEFULLY. Seeing him so comfortable does such little miracles for my heart and soul. And more-so today...
Oh, how I remember last year, at about 10.00 that morning, seeing him laying on the wet grass beside the back walk. And then, discovering him “hiding”, under the step, as the drizzle fell all round. It was a “chilled” morning, dreary, dark, grey. And he was “nestled”, under the step, trying to shelter against the elements and, no doubt, hide from what-ever predator had tried to end his life. BUT TODAY, A YEAR LATER, he was/is here, in his own room, with his own house, so safe, protected, and SO VERY CHERISHED!
With-out “cutting corners”, I did my best to make short work of house-keeping and to get his breakfast served. By about noon, it was all done, his pool was re-installed, his fountain splashing against the clean river-rocks, and “peace” settled back into his world. And he was able to continue basking in the warm sun-shine, with NO cares or concerns. A life he SO WELL deserves. And me? Well, I'm still in a state of “AWE” and, to be honest, still in a bit of disbelief... that we are together, that we're STILL together, and how so much of my own life depends on him, his comfort, his “satisfaction”. 365 days, 52 weeks, 12 months... and HE'S MADE IT THROUGH... MAGNIFICENTLY! He's my heart, soul, spirit... my entire WORLD! And we've made it through, together!
Ah... but... at about 16.00, almost oddly enough, the skies darkened with clouds... and the day turned. It became the “13th October” as again, a gentle rain began to fall. (Thankfully, the temperature didn't drop too much, though.) That back walk took on the same dim appearance as it had a year ago, wet and bereft of sun-shine.
Oh, but instead of a little mourning dove, crouched under an old wooden step, Mr. Yonah was safe, dry, comfortably settled, on the little platform, on the “roof” of his house, looking out of the windows of HIS room in HIS little house here, in the Adirondacks. Plenty of food, fresh water, a safe place, with his own pool. White pine trees, a bed of moss and clean white pine needles to nestled into, should he wish. The “comforts” of a wood-land... and protection against the elements. And, to be so very sure, SO VERY LOVED, CHERISHED, HELD MORE DEAR THAN ANYTHING IN THE WORLD. And the birds of his “play-list” chirped and coo'ed. No, there's NO mistaking it: THIS IS HIS HOME... and it will remain so for as long as “Time” will give us.
He's been here for a year now. And today, of all days, more-so than most, I can't help but think of the documentation that I've read over the past year. “In their natural environment”, the “average” life-expectancy of a mourning dove is but a year and a half. Of course, “out there” are the elements, the changes of weather, the need to battle against it. There are “natural predators”. Here, we have coyotes, bobcats, hawks, owls, crows that would take any opportunity to attack a relatively tiny mourning dove. None of this is here, around Yonah.
In a “best case, long-term” situation, life expectancy increases to five years. Much nicer, but if Yonah and I have been together for one year, accordingly, we have but four more years to look forward to. And “time” can pass SO quickly. Four years is but a moment, particularly with this little bundle of DIVINE JOY. With this “limitation”, my heart holds tightly to each and every passing minute, moment. This has been a year of “AWE” for me, such indescribable magnificence and JOY! And never has passed a single day when I recall to mind how, this Little Guy actually IS my LIFE. He's the sole reason for waking in the morning, for taking care of me so that I can give him ALL that's humanly possible to keep HIM healthy, secure. And, with no trace of any doubt, should we have another four years ahead of us, I will NEVER fail him!
Then too, there are the accounts of twenty years! Ah... that we BOTH manage to be in good health for such a period of time! I'm already “at an age”, and I don't truly expect a “gift” of that magnitude... twenty years... together, with my most CHERISHED COMPANION. But if that's to be, then, we'll have another 19 years ahead of us. I'll continue to learn how to give him what's needed, and I'll do ALL that I humanly can to provide it... ALL of it, each and every minute of each and every day. And, of course, as with ALL in “Creation”, nothing is to last for Eternity, but, when the time arrives for one of us to “depart”, I'll be doing ALL possible to make sure that I'm here for him, through-out EVERY moment of his life. To be absolutely sure, THAT is my most important goal in my own existence.
For today, we're together. I HOPE he's even just slightly as happy being with me as I am, being with him. He appears to be. And today, he's even closer to being through all this “moulting”, looking delightfully BEAUTIFUL, EXCEPTIONALLY GORGEOUS AND STUNNING! He still has his “high protein” mix of food, with today's addition of egg. His feathers are strong and almost completely full. There's the slightest trace of that “wax” that he sheds as the new feathers come in. But... not only did he “woo-HOO” this morning, he even gave a “call” when I was in the kitchen, cleaning-up after this morning's house-keeping! So... He's “chatting” again as well!
We've been through an entire year together... and so here's to the coming year... and, hopefully, at least quite a few more to come.
One note of disappointment though: his shipment of fresh seed mixes, some special little additions and grit were to have arrived today, but, sadly, they were shipped via the United States Postal Service and in keeping with their record and history of failures, he and I are forced to wait another day... Instead of being here ON the anniversary, they'll be a day late. Ah... just another substantiation for my disgust with humanity. The self-serving sloth, inconsideration, and general abuse of others... Well? Let's just call it “consistency” and hope for tomorrow.
OK... End of day... WE'RE BEGINNING OUR NEXT YEAR TOGETHER NOW... OFFICIALLY! WOOHOO (hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo!!!)
Tonight's “evening routine” proved to be SUCH FUN !!! I MEAN... I LAUGHED SO HARD !!! I'd finished changing the water in Yonah's pool... though it was still quite clean from this morning's MAJOR cleaning... it's as I say: “If you wouldn't drink it, it doesn't belong in there”, and was going to give him a little “Good night stroke” when... HE TOOK OFF RUNNING... OH... RUNNING... RIGHT UP MY ARM TO MY SHOULDER! From the back (window-side) of his house, onto my hand, up my arm, out of his house and onto my shoulder! And when he got there, he made himself SO comfy and cozy and when I glanced over to look at him, he was STARING DIRECTLY AT ME! It was almost as if he was wondering “HOW'D I GET HERE?” BUT OH! HOW I LAUGHED! It was as though he thought he was “escaping” me and... well... THERE I WAS! BUT, all said, WHAT A DELIGHT TO HAVE HIM COME TO MY SHOULDER, AND NOT PANIC, NOT TRY TO FLY AWAY IMMEDIATELY! Between laughter, all I could say to him was “OH! HOW I LOVE YOU OH-SO-VERY-MUCH !!!” and all the while, there he stood, looking at me!
But, as he does when he's had enough “Us-Time”, he took off and back into his house. He knew the day out-side was done and it was now time to settle-down for the night. His house was tidy, fresh waters and food... I turned off the “NatSpec” light that I'd put on when the rains came. (They're passed now.) Left his little desk light on for a while longer, to give him time to have his “before bed snack” and at about 19.20, went in to turn his light off... he was in front of the little mirror, as he does, looking at his reflection. That often breaks my heart. He's all alone, really. All he has is me and I'm NO substitute for another dove. Oh... if I could only know for certain, that he'd accept another dove into HIS little house! I'll keep thinking about it and maybe, one of these days, I'll find another mourning dove... that needs a nice home. Until then... HEY! HE AND I MANAGED TO MAKE IT THROUGH AN ENTIRE YEAR! I BELIEVE THAT'S SAYING QUITE A BIT! (For BOTH of us! To be sure. MORE, though, for HIM.)
And so, his gifts didn't arrive today, which disappoints, aggravates and annoys me. But tomorrow, hopefully his new food will arrive safe and secure. And tomorrow evening... his window blinds. The new trays and mirror should come next week at some point. And... we'll embark on our next year together... with a little more for his “HOUSE AND HOME”.
OH, OH, OH !!! AND TONIGHT! I GOT THE LITTLE “PECKS” THAT HE USED TO MAKE WHEN HE WANTED SOME “SMOOCHES” !!! AND WHEN I LEANED INTO HIS HOUSE TO GIVE HIM SOME... HE DIDN'T FLY AWAY !!! “SMOOCHES” !!! NOW... NO MATTER WHAT KIND OF “HELL” THIS WORLD CAN THROW... SMOOCHES MAKES IT PERFECT AGAIN !!! HEY! Maybe he KNOWS I've been feeling “down” about his gifts? (I know, I know... but...) BUT no matter what...
☼♥☼HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO US !!! AND HERE'S TO MANY MORE !!! MY LOVE! MY HEART! MY SOUL ! MY LITTLE GUY ! MY MOST CHERISHED COMPANION !!!☼♥☼
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Thursday 14 October:
Beginning news today: Yonah's food is in the house, on his shelves, in his containers... It all arrived in perfect condition and order and, of course, I fetched it immediately! I'm SO relieved!
And in even GREATER NEWS: I was up before the break of dawn this morning, and went about my little morning affairs. Yonah was still asleep when I got up so I didn't disturb him until just after 8.00 when I went in to “check” on him. There he was, awake and staring into the little mirror again. HOW it breaks my heart! I don't know if he's looking at himself and recognises it as such. But I doubt he does. After all, he has no reason to understand “reflection”. So I wonder if he's lonely! How that BREAKS my heart into dust! I just don't “know”... I just don't “know” and there's no way I can possibly ever “know”. BUT... THIS MORNING, when “morning routine” was done... HE ACTUALLY GAVE ME HIS ONCE-UPON-A-TIME “PECK”... FOR * KISSES * !!! AND... WHEN I SNUGGLED-IN TO GIVE HIM KISSES... HE DIDN'T RUN AWAY ! HE WAS READY FOR KISSES AND... OH, I JUST CAN'T EVEN COME CLOSE TO DESCRIBING THE JOY THAT PUTS INTO THE CORE OF MY BEING ! HE'S COMING THROUGH HIS MISERY OF MOULTING ! OH... AT LAST ! NOW THAT IS ABSOLUTELY “THE PERFECT” WAY TO BEGIN A DAY ! MY LITTLE GUY IS BACK ! As the days grow shorter, the nights grow colder, MY LITTLE GUY IS HERE ! AND THAT MAKES MY WORLD COMPLETELY TOLERABLE !
And he seems to enjoy the pine needles I put in yesterday. Yes, there are many on the floor. He LUVS to “toss” things about. But, they're over his “basking sands” today (until the new trays arrive... when-ever that might be). And he's pecking through them for “grit”... and there's actual “grit” in with the sand so he gets some of that... especially the “oyster shells”... Calcium! Ah well... it's another little “addition” to his house and we'll have to work-out how and where. He's a never-ending education for me. And I'm BLESSED... with the GREATEST TEACHER POSSIBLE!
And there are more “comments” on that “pigeon.biz” site this morning. Comments and such to post... later. This morning, I want to get Yonah's “Anniversary Video” together and posted to his site. Keep his Journal up to-date. So we have what seems to be trying for a “sunny day” together. And? Well? THAT just makes life worth living! And, with his “greeting” of this morning... I look forward to it! (I'm just SO relieved that he has SO MUCH FOOD... GOOD, high quality food, in the house. MONTHS-worth! And plenty of fresh water. A radiator to keep him warm. A clean house, with places to rest, space to fly about... I wish I could do more for him... I wish I could know what more to do for him. But, we both live, learn and... WE'RE STILL HERE... TOGETHER!)
Well, as the day rolled along, the window blinds for Yonah's room arrived... and sadly, they're too small. There's much that needs to be done to get them returned, but he MUST have a good night's sleep and that street light affair is making that all but impossible. So... something to keep this old mind occupied.
THE GRANDEST NEWS TODAY: OH DID WE HAVE SMOOCHES, AND NUZZLES! AND YONAH'S COO'ING AGAIN! OH YES INDEED! AND, HE STOOD IN HIS DOOR TODAY, LIKE HE USED TO, WAITING FOR ME TO COME AND GIVE HIM SMOOCHES! AND AT ONE POINT, HE WAS ON HIS PERCH WHEN I WALKED INTO HIS ROOM AND HE CAME RIGHT OVER TO THE FRONT, WAITING FOR MORE SMOOCHES! BETWEEN THAT AND HEARING HIM COO AGAIN... REALLY, NO MATTER WHAT THE WORLD CAN THROW, IT'S INDESCRIBABLY WONDERFUL TO SEE HIM RECOVERING! AND WE HAD ANOTHER “STROLL” ROUND THE HOUSE THIS EVENING TOO! HIM ON MY SHOULDER, NUZZLED NEXT TO MY FACE! AND AGAIN, AS WE STOOD AT THE DOOR AND I CHATTED WITH HIM, HE LOOKED AT ME, AS IF LISTENING! MY BESTIE LITTLE GUY IS BACK... ALMOST! The only thing that concerns me is that his coo'ing isn't as “soft” as it was before this moulting. There's a bit of a “rasp” to it now. I'm hoping it's just the remnants of the moulting. BUT, I'm already planning on a visit to a vet... once the brakes on the truck are repaired, that's the very next item on the list... before the Winter snows start! MUST attend to my Little Guy! It's going to be just us, through another Winter... soon... TOO soon, for that matter. He went through an EXTREMELY TOUGH Winter last year. He's going to have a MUCH BETTER one THIS YEAR! I'll see to that! Indeed!
And this evening, I checked those comments on the “pigeon forum”. There's a gal “out there in the world some-where, who's taken-in an injured pigeon and she reminds me so very much of me, last year, with Yonah. She's managed to get her Little One to a vet who took x-rays and says the pigeon's leg is broken in two places. They applied a splint but the vet doesn't sound too promising about a proper healing. And the gal is so afraid of doing something wrong with the pigeon! AND, she's wondering why s/he does the “wing-snap” at her! Well! A year's experience... I was relived to be able to give some advice from my own learning, thanks to the great lessons from Yonah! But most of all... of ALL... it's SO COMFORTING to me to know that, in this world, other-wise gone miserable, SOME-where... there's SOME other person with a kindest heart and a glowing soul who actually has the capacity to LOVE a Little One and who WANTS to give as much as is necessary to help him/her recover. AND... TWO people have acknowledged Yonah's site, and one said she intends to read through it! So? So... MAYBE it WILL help others. Granted, this is a rather “limited audience”, but... one never knows. One just never knows.
And so... This evening, at about 19.00, I was getting me together for the evening and I looked in to find Yonah standing at his door... The sky out-side had gone dark and he was ready to call it a day! So I went in and gathered things for “evening routine” and as I was getting his fresh water, he got to his perch... for the night. He truly IS amazing! He KNOWS when he's ready for sleep! He KNOWS how to get my attention because he KNOWS there are things that get done before he settles-in for the night. And he KNOWS that I'll change the waters in his pool and drinking bowl... He KNOWS all these things now... and he KNOWS how to tell me when it's time! SO... indeed... I DID, change the waters, and the kitchen roll. We closed the curtains, put up the “light-block” and he settled-in for the night...
It really IS just indescribably grand to hear him coo'ing again. I look forward to hearing him in the mornings, as I used to. Hopefully soon.
Tomorrow night is supposed to be the last night of “double-digit” temperatures for the foreseeable future... His radiator is on tonight, his door is closed to keep the warmth in there, but, come Saturday night... the radiator setting will be up! Here we go again! Winter's running at us. But at least this year, I won't be as stupid about how to keep my Little Companion comfortable and healthy! He's got warmth, proper light, GREAT food and a house that, well, when I think back to this time last year... there really is no comparison. We're going to be just fine... the two of us!
 Friday 15 October:
DID IT TODAY! OUR, YONAH AND I, * VIDEO * IS ON-LINE, UP, RUNNING, LIVE, LAUNCHED! 6 MINUTES AND 45 SECONDS OF 12 MONTHS, A YEAR, TOGETHER! From the back walk up to the night of 13 October 2021. AND, what makes it even better? I did the work on it at the work table... in HIS room, as he basked in the relatively short period of sun-shine that we got today! But IT'S THERE! OUR STORY! OUR HISTORY! IT'S THERE! MY LITTLE GUY! MY HEART-BEAT!
MORE? YONAH'S COO'ING AGAIN! I MEAN... ACTUALLY COO'ING! SEVERAL TIMES TODAY... THAT HEART-WARMING, WORLD-ILLUMINATING “woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo” !!! GLORIOUSLY! HIS VOICE IS COMING BACK. TODAY'S CALLS WERE ALMOST PERFECTLY AS CLEAR AS THEY USED TO BE! HE EVEN CALLED TO ME WHEN I WAS IN THE KITCHEN... HAVING MY MID-DAY SNACK... AND THIS EVENING AS I HAD EVENING MEAL !!! HE'S CALLING!
AND? CUDDLES! SMOOCHES! KISSES! HOPPING ONTO MY SHOULDER WHEN I LEAN INTO HIS HOUSE!
WE ARE SO BACK TO THE WAY LIFE WAS BEFORE HIS MOULTING BEGAN! (Well, almost... BUT IT”S SO MUCH CLOSER!) He's loving, lovee, even PLAYFUL again! It feels as if it's been MONTHS (and, actually, it has been so, OK... YEARS!) since the hopping, coo'ing, wing-snapping little Companion was here! OK. Yes, I'll admit that even an hour of Yonah appearing “down” in any way, weighs on my heart, soul, my core. Every time he shies-away from me, for any reason, it's a bit hurtful because I wonder if he's in pain of any sort, or even slight discomfort. And this moulting truly did change him, his mood, his personality. Thankfully, it didn't decrease his appetite, and the “poop checks” have been perfect. I can understand how it must have been almost excruciating for him. All I can imagine is being covered, fully, with biting ants. And that there really isn't anything I can do to make any of it better, just makes me so completely useless and helpless.
BUT TODAY HAS BEEN REMARKABLY WONDERFUL!
Sadly though, the weather was, for the most part, quite delightfully warm... but cloudy. We had a bit of rain in the after-noon, and the clouds just stayed. Ah, but now Yonah has a “Natural Spectrum” light... WE CAN EVEN BATTLE DREAR! TOGETHER! Winter, this year, is going to be so indescribably different from and better than last year, to be sure! This year, Yonah will have light, no matter the weather of the day, more than plenty good, proper food and general nutrition, a pool to take a swim in, under his own white pines. I have moss that I'll be “growing” through the Winter so he'll have a little “wood-land” to nestle into. And, a bed of sand that will soak up the warmth of the Winter sun as it pours in through his windows, where he can bask. Summer... all through the cold and bitter days and nights to come. He's safe. He has no predators, no competition for his necessities. He has no need to search for shelter, forage for food. And he has EVERY bit of LOVE that I have to give him.
And, unlike last Winter, when I felt I had no resources, no-where to turn for help in times of need, we have access to medical attention, should he need. Thanks to a year of researching, I have resources at hand, where I can turn for advice. And, it has to be said, HE has become a resource for others. So WE're going to have to keep all of this up, current. WE have a busy Winter ahead of us... but the VERY BEST of ALL... WE'LL BE TOGETHER!
This evening, his new mirror arrived. Larger than the little “cosmetic” mirror he's some-what fond of, rectangular, thinner. I've noticed that there are nights when he roosts beside that little mirror, as if the reflection gives a sense of “company”. But it was small. This one gives him a “full view” now, and, of course, as soon as it arrived, I cleaned it (just to be sure it's OK) and hung it for him. Since it's really so nice, and he's actually beside it tonight, I'm going to get him another. There's a tiny mirror on the other side of his house, one of those “made for birds” sorts, more for finches and the likes, and he tends to peck at the reflection in that one most of all. So, yes, I'll get him a larger mirror. It almost seems un-fair, giving him a false sense of “company”, but, when I put the mirrors in, I noticed and immediate change in his general mood. Yes, he does, so it seems, appreciated the company. I still wonder if he'd be as welcoming to another dove. Well, there's time and I continue to consider. In fact, I've found a web-site that deals strictly with “adoptions” of doves and pigeons. It's mostly pigeons, but I'll be keeping a careful watch. And the site, I can't recall where, at this moment, is as opposed to the “sale” of little ones as I am. So... And there's the “rescue” here, quite a distance away, but still, a potential. Time will tell whether or not a little “feathered companion” would be a good idea. Meanwhile, mirrors (and me), it is.
All said, it was a GLORIOUS day with Yonah. And I got much of my own tasks-and-chores accomplished... in his room, with him beside me.
Tomorrow is Saturday... and a day where we usually stay together since I don't get bogged with out-side affairs and the likes. I'm looking forward to “lounging” with him. And it's our last “warm” day for quite a while. Tomorrow night, we plummet to the single-digit nights; 8°, 6°, 4°. The teens for the daily “high” temperatures. BUT... Yonah's room has it's own “climate control”... and he'll have no cause to battle a chill. I'll see to that!
For now, he's tucked-in for the night, safe, warm, sound. We'll face tomorrow when it arrives... and every other day there-after. We're embarking on a new year for “us”... We've come through a lot... we'll face a lot more... I've no doubt... but we'll both be better prepared for just about anything! For tonight... he gets to sleep... with NO concerns. Food, water, protection... all right where he is... as it should be (for ALL the little ones... every-where).
 Saturday 16 October:
IT'S AMAZING !!! IT'S AWE-SOME !!! IT'S BREATH-TAKING !!! YONAH IS FINALLY BACK !!!
OH YES !!! HE'S COO'ING NORMALLY AGAIN !!! CLEARLY !!! BEAUTIFULLY !!! EVEN TO THE LITTLE “MATING woo-HOO” AND THE FLUTTERING OF THE TAIL !!!
AND WE HAD STROLLS, TWICE THROUGH THE HOUSE TODAY !!!
AND THIS EVENING, WE HAD A TERRIBLE RAIN-STORM AND SOME-THING FRIGHTENED HIM, AND I HEARD HIS “HOO! HOO! HOO!...” AND WHEN I WALKED IN TO CALM HIM, HE GOT ON MY SHOULDER AND NESTLED NEXT TO MY FACE !!!
AND HE'S STANDING ON HIS “DOOR-PERCH” AND GIVING “WING-SNAPS” FOR ATTENTION AGAIN !!!
MY LITTLE GUY IS BACK... IN ALL HIS FULL GLORY !!!
These have been “heavy” weeks, going through his moulting and his being obviously “irritable”, especially with me. And it's been heavy on my heart, knowing that he's been, well, at the very least, extremely uncomfortable, and there was nothing I could do to make him comfortable. The blessings through it all were knowing that he was eating, and eating VERY WELL... a food mix of sun-flower seeds and peanuts in particular, full of protein that he needed more now than ever before. And he ate regularly and in GREAT portions. And his “poops” have been consistent in texture, colour and quantity. And he drank water. AND he BATHED!
OK. SOME might say that that's all perfectly well and fine. But it was his “avoidance”, whether I simply went near his house or got my hand or face “too close” to him that made it obvious that some-thing(s) just wasn't “right”. AND THE SILENCE! NO MORNING CALLS. NO COO'ING DURING THE DAY. JUST HOURS OF SILENCE.
When, today, I recall last year, at this time, I understood the silence and avoidance as being part of the situation where, he was in a small “confinement”, nursing an injured leg and wing. OF COURSE, then, he was in PAIN!
Add to the pain, the presence of ME, a human “predator”! I'd picked him up, put him in a BOX and then in an actual “cage”! He had very little space to move about and NO place for ANY privacy! And, because, then, I didn't want him to EVER become “comfortable” around ANY human, I kept my communications and such to absolute minimum, speaking ONLY when I cleaned his “cage” and gave him more food. Rarely, did I actually sit in the room with him to just “chat”. Back then, the intention was to set him back out with his flock, as soon as was possible, and, well, with so many absolute idiots, morons and dolts “out there”, ready to shoot him AND the rest of his flock... I NEVER wanted him to have ANY trust in ANY human! I wanted him to understand that I meant him no harm and was here to HELP him. But, drawing the line between “me” and “humans” in general... well, it made it all the more difficult... probably for BOTH of us!
AND, he MOULTED AT THE SAME TIME AS ALL OF THIS WAS HAPPENING TO HIM! Maybe the moulting had something to do with him being some-what incapacitated when he was attacked. I see now, how the loss of wing and tail feathers effects his flying abilities. (He wasn't doing much of that AT ALL through THIS bout.) BUT... to THINK that he suffered through the pains of his wounds AND the pains of moulting... AT THE SAME TIME... IT'S ANY WONDER HE PULLED-THROUGH ANY OF IT AT ALL !!!
THAT'S ONE RESILIENT LITTLE FELLOW, RIGHT THERE, THAT IS !!!
Maybe the fact that I gave him the “space and time”, in my reluctance to “bond” with him was perfect. It gave him what he needed, not only to heal his wounds but to finish his moulting. Truth is, I'll never “know” for certain. BUT... Maybe he DID come to understand that I was there to help him... and THAT added to the eventual bonding... He came to TRUST ME! Again, I'll never “know” for certain, but... WE MADE IT THROUGH AND ENTIRE YEAR TOGETHER !!! HE HEALED AS WELL AS HE COULD. HE'S AS HEALTHY AS HE CAN BE. AND... HE'S NOT JUST MY COMPANION... HE'S LITERALLY MY “LIFE” !!! AND, AS I SEE TODAY, IT APPEARS THAT HE “APPRECIATES” MY COMPANY ! IT'S NOT JUST A “TOLERANCE” ANY MORE. I MEAN...
I worked at his work table for just about EVERY moment of the day, today. We listened to the radio. Because the weather was so dreary, we both went about our “business” under the “NatSpec” light, so he had good lighting, in spite of the grey out-side. AND WHEN HE DECIDED IT WAS TIME FOR A BIT OF “ATTENTION AND AFFECTION”, HE CAME, AS I SAY, TO THE PERCH AT HIS DOOR (as he used to do) AND FROM BEHIND ME, I HEARD THE HEART-WARMING “SNAP” OF HIS WINGS !!! HIS WAY OF SAYING “HEY! LET'S TAKE A BREAK HERE AND GET SOME PLAY-TIME IN!” AND WHEN I PUT MY HAND IN HIS HOUSE, WE “PLAYED 'CHASE'” LIKE WE USED TO DO. AND HE GAVE A ONE-WING “SNAP” AT MY HAND. I GAVE HIM A ONE-HAND VERSION OF MY OWN ONE-WING “SNAP” AND HE PECKED AT MY HAND AND FINGERS... BUT, UN-LIKE THE PAST WEEKS WHERE IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT HE WANTED NO “PLAY” AT ALL, TODAY, IT WAS AS IT USED TO BE: HE'D PECK, BACK AWAY, COME BACK AT MY HAND, REPEATEDLY !!! And when “Play-time” was enough... he “retired” to his favourite corner, under his “loft”, and “snuggled-down”.
OH... IT'S FINALLY DONE! AND AGAIN, I'VE LEARNED SO VERY MUCH FROM HIM! (Not, mind, that the next time he moults it'll be any easier... for EITHER of us. For me, it's still, very much, a matter of knowing how he'll be in distress, discomfort... but hopefully not pain. But, at the very least, I'll know what he needs, and I'll be here to provide all for him.)
And this evening, sadly, the sun set at about 18.15... SO EARLY of an evening! Most of the day was quite grey, wet, just “Autumnal”, to be sure. And the rains POURED DOWN at one point, the WINDS BLASTED! (And tonight, the warm temperatures that we've been enjoying, are done and gone... 8° for tonight's low and the “highs” in the foreseeable future... the highest in the coming fort-night... ONE day of 17°... ONE night of 9°... the rest? Well, 11° for the high, 5° for the low... the COLD is rolling in!) BUT, we got the fresh waters, fresh food, a tidy house. And I've have the radiators on in his room and the living-room which have been keeping the house quite “toasty”. I'll close the door to his room, save a bit for air circulation, for the night, to keep HIS room quite nice and warm through, no matter how the temperature drops. (That's one thing I DID learn last year: a radiator in his room, with his door closed, can maintain any-where from 22° to... I remember one moment last year when it got up to 32°! SO... Yonah will NEVER go “chilled”! Well, as long as the electric doesn't go out, which it does in storms but...)
But he's been on his perch,  and quite quiet through the evening and I'm about to “roll-up” the day for my-self soon.
Tonight though, I can go to bed with a much lighter heart and spirit, knowing Yonah is, more than likely, going to sleep in considerably LESS discomfort and/or pain! He's still “coming through” the moulting. There are little bits of “white” where the new feathers are coming in and shedding their wax coatings. But his face and such, as can be seen in his photos, are BEAUTIFULLY FULL again! And he's flying, coo'ing and obviously more comfortable... and THAT is ALL I could EVER possibly want, need, desire, hope for!
YONAH IS BACK !!! MY BESTEST COMPANION IS BACK !!! MY HEART AND SOUL ARE BACK !!!
And the house is warm, dry, calm... and he's safe, protected... LOVED AND CHERISHED... There's nothing left in the world to think about.
Sunday 17 October:
It's 14.54 and there's a lovely bit of sun-shine coming in through Yonah's window... and he's lounging on his loft. Sadly, the sun is shining on his pool though and not on him. But, it's been a grey day for most, and, thankfully, not terribly cold, but certainly not terribly warm either. Still, the radiator has managed to keep a temperature of 25° in his room so, between the two of us, we're warm and quite cozy.
And he's been in a “good mood” today! I came in this morning at about 8.00, letting him “sleep-in”, because, well, he's still not coo'ing his “morning call” (yet?) so I don't really know when he's up and about. But he was, and we got to his morning routine and all the while, he didn't mind me at all. AND WE'VE BEEN GETTING THE KISSES, SMOOCHES AND CUDDLES, so THAT makes for a BEAUTIFUL DAY!
And I got out and into town this morning and got some “clips” to adjust his new mirror. He doesn't seem to like it though. He doesn't spend as much time with it as he did the little round one. I have to wonder what he sees in this new one as opposed to the reflection he got in the other one. With the quality of products these days, and no consistency in anything... maybe the reflection in this one isn't as “true to colour”? I was about to get another of the same but, I'll be watching to see how this one works (or not). If Yonah DOES approve, I will get another. If not... we stick with what we have. He doesn't seem to mind the little mirror and does seem to “like that guy in the mirror there”. So we're “OK” for now.
And he's eating ever-so well today. And his little “fountain” has been making “little splashes”, so, with the grasses and pine needles, sand, moss and pines... well... If I could fit in there, I'd move right in with him! It really is turning into a little “wood-land”. And when the new trays come, first plan is to put one under his pool, with a layer of sand... so, through the clear glass, it'll look like an actual pond! I'm curious to see how he reacts to that. (I'd always wanted to put sand on the bottom of the dish anyway, but, with the little pump, it never would have worked well... Any little thing in that little pump would stop it. This way, the “appearance” will be of sand on the bottom. And, well, he likes it as it is anyway. But... we shall see. His house is a never-ending “change”... just as it might be in the woods.)
I'm just rather saddened by these shorter days now and am actually looking forward to getting to December when this “shorter days” reverses. These days, it seems we no sooner get up and start the day and it's done! Ah but... THESE days... compared to these days last year... SO MUCH BETTER! And my Little Guy's looking SO good! Hey, last year, he managed with just his regular food... THIS year... more protein, more vitamins, minerals... And “more” is how it will be for him... for as long as I take breath!
At end of day, which comes ENTIRELY TOO SOON... Yonah and I had a most WONDERFUL day together! He was out and about all through the day, flying from his house, to the shelves, to, well, where-ever his little mind and heart took him... though, it was all in his room. It's really most interesting to me, how comfortable he is in HIS room. He TRULY ENJOYS being in there. And he OBVIOUSLY enjoys being in his house. Maybe it's the trees? Or the fact that he knows his food and water are there? What-ever it is, no matter where he might go to in the rest of the house, and he does enjoy the occasional trip too the living-room, with our with-out me, invariably, in short order, he returns to his house. Well, if nothing else, I'm happy, because I've given him a place where he feels it is HIS HOME. And that's really part of “the most I've ever wanted to provide for him”.
AH... BUT... THIS EVENING... As the sun set and it was time for “evening routine”... AS I went into his room, I heard him: “HOO! HOO! HOO!” as if some-thing upset him! He does that when he appears frightened, but there was nothing that I could ascertain that would or could have done that. As I spoke to him, as I do, trying to re-assure him, he'd have none of it. He was INCONSOLABLE! It RIPPED my heart! I felt absolutely worthless to him! I felt SO insignificant! He was upset about something and I couldn't see what it was that caused it, and he couldn't be calmed!
I put my hand in, to stroke him, as I often do at these moments, and usually, when I get to stroke him, he calms. BUT NOT TONIGHT! So I leaned my upper body into his house toward him. He was on his “loft”, and as I approached, he hopped across to his “favourite” perch, over his pool AND HE HOPPED ONTO MY SHOULDER !!! AND HE CAME RIGHT UP TO THE SIDE OF MY FACE !!! He continued to “HOO! HOO! HOO! for quite some time, even as I spoke to him. BUT THEN... HE NUZZLED AGAINST MY FACE, AS I TOLD HIM THAT HE WAS SAFE NOW, THAT THERE'S NOTHING IN THIS HOUSE THAT COULD EVER HARM HIM! “I'm right here, my Little Man. I'm right here and you're safe. It's all OK. Honest. I LOVE YOU! And I'll NEVER let ANY-THING EVER hurt you! NEVER again!” I SWEAR, FROM THE CORE OF MY BEING, SOME-HOW, HE UNDERSTOOD! And, I went about tidying his house, as I usually do of an evening, AND ALL THE WHILE, HE “ROOSTED” ON MY SHOULDER ! AND IF I HAPPENED TO BE IN A POSITION WHERE HE WASN'T COMPLETELY COMFORTABLE, HE HOPPED ACROSS MY UPPER BACK TO THE OPPOSITE SHOULDER WHERE HE NUZZLED AGAINST THE OTHER SIDE OF MY FACE. This went on all the while I was cleaning and re-arranging things in his house. And, in short course, he calmed right down and headed to the little “extended” perch he has at the corner closest to the work-table, and, as he perched there, I got to give him “kisses” and “smooches”... and HE PECKED, LOVINGLY, at my face ! WELL !!! YES !!! HE *DOES* UNDERSTAND THAT I'M HERE TO PROTECT HIM AND HE *DOES* UNDERSTAND THAT I MEAN HIM NO HARM AND THAT I'M HERE TO MAKE SURE HE'S SAFE !!! IT'S OBVIOUS THAT HE UNDERSTANDS THIS !!!
When all the tidying and arranging was done, I stepped back from his house and with-out a pause, he headed directly back in, and made him-self comfy on his perch again... ALL WAS CALM AGAIN!
Mean-while, I am SO COMPLETELY STILL IN LITERAL *AWE* !!! WE ARE EACH-OTHER'S “FLOCK”. WE ARE CLOSER “FAMILY” THAN... WELL, ALL THAT THE WORD IMPLIES ! HE ACTUALLY *DOES* TRUST ME !!! AND FEELS SAFE WHEN I'M THERE FOR HIM !!! Now, again, I think of those who refer to these Creations as “simple-minded”, “non-sentient”, incapable of actual thought, understanding, comprehension. And, as always, I'm angered by such utter incompetent ignorance, arrogance, pomposity! It's just intolerable!
But it's part of what makes Yonah Taube my heart-beat, my reason and excuse for waking to another day, for making sure that I take excellent care of me, so that I will ALWAYS be here to give him EXCELLENT CARE!
People with whom I've spoken of Yonah, find my attachment to him “cute”, “endearing”... Nobody has the slightest idea just how IMPORTANT, how INTEGRAL he is in and to my existence. He is THE ABSOLUTE GREATEST BLESSING I'VE EVER RECEIVED IN MY ENTIRE LIFE-TIME! A “wild” being, a life born into a “wilderness” with NO association with or to humans, born with an instinct to know that humans, as the rule, intend only to harm or murder him... and yet, over this past year, this little Being, this MOST PRECIOUS little LIFE, has come to accept my affections, intentions, my LOVE for him!
HE CAME TO ME FOR PROTECTION THIS EVENING !!! HE KNOWS THAT I'M HERE TO PROTECT HIM !!! NOW, IF THAT'S NOT “SENTIENT”... (To be blunt about it, it just strengthens my resolve: Humans are amongst the LOWEST of evolutionary life-forms... in general.)
Well-so, I finished the work in his house and left the little desk lamp on for about and hour after he settled, and I'd closed the door to his house for the night. The curtains were closed, his radiator, on, the “light-block” boards were “installed”. All was “settled” for a night. And, after about that hour, I went back into his room. He was calm, settled. I told him again, that he's safe, that his room would be nice and toasty, in spite of the 5° we're expecting for tonight's low. I re-assured him that I will be here all through the night for him and that I think his “new trays” will be arriving tomorrow so we'll work on getting them “installed”... he'll have a NEW environment (I'm going to put that sand in one tray, under his pool and do a thorough cleaning... as much as is needed, on the rest of the house). He was, as I say, calm, and so, I put the light out, leaving the door to his room open for a little while longer so that he'd have just enough light to see his way around his house, in case he wanted to move about before settling-in for the night.
About an hour later, I went to his door, whispered that I was closing his door so that the house-light won't disturb him and it keeps the heat from his radiator in his room for the night. He was perfectly calm and settled... and too, was my heart and soul.
No matter how “mundane” a day might seem to others, for me, with Yonah, NO day is ever “mundane”. He will ALWAYS do some-thing, even a simple dip in his pool, to ABSOLUTELY AMAZE ME! HE'S BRILLIANT! INTELLIGENT BEYOND DESCRIPTION! AND EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY, HE TEACHES ME SO MUCH... not only just about him but, through him, about other mourning doves, other birds of the wild, ALL Beings of “the wild”. Yes, he's a TRUE BLESSING to me... in more ways that I can account for!
I SO HOPE that others actually ARE seeing this, his web-site, his Journal. And I wonder how I cold possibly manage to condense all of this into a volume, easily read. OH! If I could just get this out to the WORLD! But... maybe, even if a few see this, they can pass the word along. After all... Yonah is on the Internet... and the Internet IS... the world!
Well, as I say, tonight, he's safe and warm, protected... He has his room, and in it, his house... and he's in his HOME. The night temperatures can drop, the weather can do as it will. He hasn't a concern about any of it. And tomorrow? Tomorrow will be what it will... but Yonah and I will be together for it... and I'll look forward to what-ever little “adventures” we'll have then.
THAT'S MY GUY! MY LITTLE GUY! MY COMPANION, MY LOVE, MY LIFE! THAT'S MY HEART, MY SOUL... MY BEING! THAT'S MY “YONAH TAUBE”!
 Monday 18 October:
OH! But it was another grey, windy, quite-chilled but GLORIOUS day! Of course it was! I spent it ALL with... YONAH! Oh yes, indeed, we did... spend the entire day together. I had work to do at his work table and he? Well, he passed his time away by resting on his sand, eating (SO VERY WELL... today was hard-boiled egg day), and... AND... flying about and GOING FOR STROLLS ROUND THE HOUSE! OH YES, we HAVE returned to strolls! AND we appear to REALLY enjoy them too! I don't know why he won't leave his room on his own, but he obviously enjoys perching on my shoulder as I do the walking. I'm his personal taxi! And I couldn't be more THRILLED about it!
And the COO'ing today! THAT TOO, has returned. From this morning's “call”... which is something I haven't heard from him since his moulting began... through the day, on and off, here and there, now and again. It's HEAVEN, hearing that “woo-HOO-hoo-hoo” again! Especially first thing in the morning. As I've said before, I can hear him, from the next room, when he calls in the morning. It “wafts” through the entire house and when it comes into my bed-room, it's like a gentle touch, beckoning “It's time. The day is beginning. Let's get together and have at it.”
This morning, I got out of bed with a smile on my face again. I've SO missed Yonah's morning call! Perhaps strange, how that happens, how accustomed to it I've become, and how “empty” the house has been with-out it. BUT... IT'S BACK! And I hope it's here to stay... at least until the next moulting... come Spring, I suspect.
AND... this evening, just as I was sitting to evening meal, the two new “trays” I'd ordered for Yonah's house arrived! So, I finished my meal, in almost record time, and, leaving the washing-up aside, got right to business.
A change of kitchen roll on the floor of his house. (I put a double thickness across the entire large tray, partly for cleaning, but for “cushioning” and now, as the colder weather approaches, insulation against any cold that might try to permeate up through that cold plastic. I'd originally done that in all of his other houses to give him a softer, more comfortable surface to walk on... particularly in his earlier days when his leg was healing. But it's a habit that evolved as we “moved house” and so, it stays.) His pool got washed, since I had to take it out to put in the new trays. And now... he has 4 distinct “areas” in-house.
His usual “sand bed” remained where it was, in the “back”, by the window, where the sun can shine on it and keep the sand and Yonah nice and warm as he “basks” there.
The “front” tray still has a light layer of sand, one of his white pines and his moss where he likes to nestle after a nice swim in the pool and, where he enjoys pecking and pulling at the moss from time-to-time.
But now... in the front, to the left of his “moss”, there's another tray with kitchen roll and his “grass” that I brought in from the mountain, and a little “stone walk” where he can peck at the rocks and walk over them, helping to keep his beak and toe-nails “trimmed”.
The MAJOR change now... The 4th tray is under his pool! BUT, there's a layer of fine sand (sterilised river sand, of course) under his pool! And since the “pool” is a clear glass, the sand shows through beautifully and looks so much more like a natural “pond”! And as the fountain moves the water, it looks like a little “brook” flowing there, under the other white pine in the corner! More “Nature”! More of the world he was born into! Now, whether or not he enjoys it is to be seen because, regrettably, I did all this just before it was time for “tuck-in”.
Ah... but again, as I worked along, pulling things out of his house, moving things about and placing trays and contents about, Mr. Yonah simply rested on his “loft” and supervised, sometimes with his head tilted as if trying to get a better perspective on what was happening in HIS house! It was SO humourous, yet, endearing.
SO... yes indeed-indeed, we had a GRAND day together! It truly IS such a lift, a literal “Life-Giving” to me to see Yonah, all feathered again (though he's still replacing some finer feathers here and there, but his face and neck are all FULL again), and to hear him coo'ing again. AND, to have him on my shoulder as I walk about the house, doing what-ever it is that I do in a day.
And his “Anniversary Gifts” will STILL be coming in the following weeks. We have the new window blinds coming, and another larger mirror, the same as the one I just put in for him so he now has a FULL view of “that bird in the window” (which is how I refer to his reflection... as he pecks and coo's at it). Soon, he'll have ANOTHER “bird in the window” too. Truly, it DOES make a NOTICEABLE difference in his mood. He's livened-up since I put the mirrors in there for him. I don't know if he perceives it as another dove or if there's any recognition that, as he moves, the “other” bird does too. But, if it makes him more comfortable, then, it doesn't matter WHAT or HOW he perceives it. He appears happier with it. So the other one will give him ANOTHER full-view bird to “communicate” with.
And there's another package of his “Netherlands” food coming as well! We're stocking-up for Winter, to be sure. Granted, it gets delivered, but, with Winter, there's no telling how roads and weather will be so, best to have much on-hand. Not to mention these conditions and circumstances where there's such a shortage of so much already and word is that it's only going to get worse before it gets any better. So... I can always find something for me as far as necessities are concerned. But Yonah's foods are “top quality”, full of nutrition, and I won't “settle” for anything less than what he has now. So, we're “stocked”.
I look at the shelves under his house and I can smile, with peace of mind and spirit, knowing he'll NEVER be with-out.
And so, when I'd done all the fussing in his house and room this evening, I put his “NatSpec” light out and put his little desk lamp on for a while. He was all “tucked-in” but I like to give him “quiet time” these days... leaving the light on so he can “situate” himself where he wants to be. And he “says 'Good night'” to his “friend in the window” before he settles for a night's roost, so this gives him time for that as well.
At the end of the day, he now has a freshly cleaned pool with fresh water, fresh water in his little drinking dish (which, honestly, he seldom uses as he favours the “pool”, but I keep the extra there for him, in case), a “new” environment... and tonight, the “threat” is a low of 4° with a “chill” of 2°... but his radiator is on and his room will remain toasty and comfy and cozy.
Tomorrow? Well, we'll handle that when it arrives. But for tonight, as with all nights, Yonah has nothing to fear, nothing to be concerned with or about, other than resting comfortably... LOVED and SO CHERISHED!
Tuesday 19 October:
Day-break... and in the silence that is the early morning, through the house, across my bed... “woo-HOO-hoo-hoo!” OH HOW GLORIOUS! The “Morning Call”! If ANY-THING on Earth encourages getting up and moving along immediately, that little “call” certainly does it. And, with a smile on the face and a spark in the soul. Yonah was up, awake, and ready to take on another day... and because of him, so too, was I.
So “morning routine” got attended-to straight away, with open curtains, open doors and the removal of the “light-blocks”. It was a grey morning, but there was natural light coming in through the windows and Yonah seemed quite pleased.
I got to putting the kettle on for my morning coffee and then to the changing of the waters in his pool and drinking dish. A “normal” start to the day. (It's as I say, where waters are concerned: “If you wouldn't drink it, it doesn't belong in there.”)
Ah... another day, another morning, and plans to take care of a few chores and pass the rest of the day with Yonah, in his room, comfy, cozy. And this morning, though there was a bit of a chill to the rest of the house, his room was quite delightfully warm. (He has no cause to “fluff” against any “chills”. Oh no! I see to that!).
BUT... in my efforts to put the “sand tray” under his pool last night, I'd finished the task and put the new pump on just long enough to see to it that all was working well... and... last night... it was... NOT so, this morning. THIS morning, some-how, I must have moved the tubing just enough to put something a bit “off”. As I sat to have coffee, another “call”... “woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo”. OK. That was unusually long. I got up and went in to Yonah, thinking it was a “HEY YOU! Come chat!” and what I found was WATER... the pool was almost empty and the tray under it, with the fresh sand, was, well, a “pool” of its own! The pump had drained the pool into the tray! And, of course, the tray flowed over into the rest of his house. (I tell you! This isn't the first time something went awry and he called me. He's BRILLIANT! And, in his own way he KNOWS that when something's just not “right”, a call will get me in there to attend to matters. No exaggeration. No “fabrication”. Just a plain fact.)
Well? OK. It wasn't a big deal. It was just a matter of doing a “thorough house-keeping” job and, in under an hour, all the trays and such were pulled, new kitchen roll was laid across his floor, pool washed, trays returned, fresh, dry sand under the pool and a close check of the fountain. DONE!
POOR LITTLE GUY! All that goings-on first thing in the morning! But, he took it all in perfect stride, stepping aside to “supervise” the activities and when it was all done... he had breakfast.
He's SUCH AN INSPIRATION! “Things go wrong? No problem. They get fixed in due course and when the work is done, we eat.” There you have it.
So, he started his day in a completely clean house and all was just perfectly fine. And I put his “NatSpec” light on, to compensate for the lack of morning sun and when all had settled, he took to his loft for a while, and I returned to the rest of the house-hold chores... as he listened to the radio and relaxed.
Mean-while, the wet sand from under his pool got a thorough rinsing (that sand had already been REALLY thoroughly rinsed, several times, and had been “baked” in a 500°F oven for about 6 hours total... 3 times 2 hours each, so it's really quite sterile to being with), and popped into a 350°F oven for a few hours... and I headed down to the river for new sand to replace it. We'll need to have a good supply come Winter, when the river-banks are frozen solid, and buried under snow and ice. So now, we have what was used and more! Yonah will NOT “go with-out”.
The rest of the day? I was in and out of the house with chores and Yonah was in and out of his house... with travels around his room... and COO'ING! He knew when I was in the kitchen, and as he does, he gives a “call” every now-and-again. I “coo” back and call “Come to the kitchen!” Oddly, he won't come when “invited”, but he HAS come in a few times, just out of no-where. Usually he'll fly in, fly across and fly back to his house. It's as if he's checking to make sure I'm here. And when he sees me, he's fine. But today, apparently, I was making enough noise to let him know that I was there and all was well in the house-hold.
So the short day rolled on and this evening, just as the sun had set and the sky out-side his window had gone dark... another “call”... This one is the “It's time to wrap things up here!” call. And so, in what seems (to me) mere moments after “morning routine”, we were back at the changing of waters, the tidying of the house and Yonah was getting to “settle-in” for the night. (I need to follow his “clock”: Up at dawn, down at dusk. The perfect hours for daily living, to be sure... As Nature intended.)
The pump had worked perfectly well during the day, a light trickle of water in the pool. And tonight, it was the third change so that water certainly is clean as well as fresh. And no “floods”! (And I have to say that the sand showing through the bottom of the glass “pool” truly DOES give it all a “natural” look. Clear water with a clean, sandy bed... VERY much just like the rivers here.)
When I'd done with all the little commotion of “evening routine”, Yonah took to his perch and... all is well with the world. The radiator is on just in case of a chill during the night. We're supposed to expect 10° but I take no chances. My Little Guy will NOT be even “slightly chilled”.
Tomorrow, we have to mix more of his “special mix” that he eats these days. He's still dropping feathers... larger ones, probably wing, so we're sticking to the higher protein and fat diet for a while. And I FINALLY found “oat groats”, so, I'll grind them down to “swallowable” size to add to his mix. I want to see if he enjoys them and if so, we'll just get MORE! they're good for him, healthy, vitamins and such, and easy to add to the mix of other seeds and such that he gets. AND... of Friday, the new window blinds are due to arrive so, HOPEFULLY, this week-end, we'll be able to block the intrusive, horrid street light AND head-lights AND, perhaps do away with putting the boards up at night! More air circulation for Yonah through the night... especially with the warm air from his radiator. (It'll be another “trial and error” as to whether or not he likes having his house more “open” at night. I get the feeling he likes the sense of “protection” with the boards... perhaps it's more like being in a barn, rafter or the likes. But, as I say, “trial and error”... “live and learn”.) I'm looking forward to having his house open though, so he never feels “trapped” or “closed-in”.
And so, Yonah tucked-in for the night on his perch. Curtains closed. Lights out. One more day behind us, one more day closer to ... “Winter”... but not matter what, we look at the days behind... but we look even closer, with greater anticipation, of the days ahead... and as long as we're together... I look forward to “tomorrows” with JOY!
Wednesday 20 October:
Well, “woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo”! ANOTHER DAY THAT BEGAN WITH THAT GLORIOUS “MORNING CALL”! I was up and about already, for a few moments, really, and, at 7.04, in the silence that is that hour of a day, through the door came that HEART-LIFTING “COO”! Life is “LIFE” again!
And the day was JUST PERFECT ALL ROUND! Clear! Brilliantly sunny! AND WARM! We broke the 20° point by after-noon! Yonah's window was opened, and OH, how he basked in the light, right beside it, as the warm breeze blew in and over him! He had a nice, tidy house, plenty of food, and the freedom to go where he pleased... and where he pleased was in his sun-beams. And the day passed just that way too; a bit of basking, a bit of eating AND COO'ING repeatedly!
And he had a “guest” today too! Deb came by with home-made preserves and asked after him, so I warmly welcomed her to come in and see him. He was, at that point, standing on his “roof” and when he saw Deb standing at his door, he stood tall, and gave a look as if to say “Hello there, nice lady!” Oh, but deb was impressed, not only with his house and room but HIM, of course! And it appeared, to me, that he didn't mind the “new face and voice” at all! It's not frequently that he's had guests, and the two previous times weren't exactly “comfortable” for him. But, it appears he's growing accustomed to other people and other voices!
When I think back on last year, at this very time, when I wouldn't spend much time with him, purposely, because I didn't want him to “bond” with ANY person, especially not me, and now, merely a year later... well... since we're going to spend the rest of our lives together, it's good that he has no fear. And it's assuring to me to see that he appears to know that, when I'm “there”, he's perfectly safe. THAT means more to me than... the WORLD! He's already shown that he trusts me. But, in the company of other people, to have that same trust? Nothing can compare! He “knows” I'd NEVER allow ANY harm to come to him! And that trust, from him, is... indescribable!
I made a “run” to the market this after-noon and got another bag of unsalted, dry-roasted peanuts for him. I'm continuing the “high protein” mix for a while longer now, because he's still in the process of replacing feathers. And I'm rather sure it will be good to have come the Winter months. (How I feel I neglected him last year, in my ignorance and stupidity! But this year, he'll want and need for nothing and I'll see to that!)
When I got back, it was “grinding time”! So I brought the peanuts into his room, sat at the work table to shell them. (I check each one, making sure that what-ever goes into his food is clean, and if I have any doubt, since there's usually 2 nuts to a shell, and each one halves, I make sure to taste a half before putting the rest into the bowl for him.) As I worked, he watched, with what looked like “curiosity”. So we “chatted” as I shelled and then... THEN came the “cooking” (grinding and mixing).
Fresh peanuts got ground to “swallowable” size. Then, fresh sunflower kernels. And today, I ground his oat groats too! Yes, indeed... OATS to the mixture! And all got ground, individually, down to a size that Yonah can simply peck and swallow.
When all were done, I mixed some of the oats, sunflower kernels and oats together and whirled them together in the grinder and then it was time to get to the seeds.
His special “Healthy” mix, with his “Netherlands” mix... the “Pure Fun” mix and the smaller milo and millet from the wild-bird mix got put together in a separate canister, to be at the ready. Then, in a separate container which I keep in the fridge because of the sunflower and peanut mix, I added today's ground seeds and nuts to his seed mix, a sprinkle of “moulting mix” to that and... it was quite interesting...
When I took his “food dish” out to empty his morning's “left-overs” (which went to the doves in the yard... THEY'RE eating VERY well now too... though left-overs, it's all excellent food), he gave a stern “wing-snap”! He wasn't at all happy with the loss of his food there! BUT... when I replaced the food that was there with today's new mix... he went directly for it and seemed to REALLY ENJOY it! So I'm quite happy! Now, with the oats in there, he's getting all the more nourishment and I'm relieved that he enjoys it!
So... by then, it was time for me to get to my own meal-of-the-day, so I took a break and went to the kitchen, giving Yonah time to relax and digest... and after... AFTER...
We took a “stroll” about the house! And as we stood at the front door, HE NUZZLED NEXT TO MY FACE AND GAVE A FEW “PECKS” ON MY CHEEK! We chatted. He cocked his head from side-to-side as I spoke. The world was at peace and all was a pure delight!
But the sun sets too soon these days, and so, we strolled back to his room and as soon as I got to his house, he was back on his perch. He truly DOES like “his house”!
“Evening routine”... waters changed, kitchen-roll changed, curtains closed. I put his desk lamp on for a while to give him time to “settle-in” and when, about 30 minutes later, I went to check on him, he was already where he wanted to spend the night. So I put the light out, “good night kisses”... his radiator is on because, well, today's 23° is expected to drop to 10° so...
He's tucked-in for the night... and hopefully, for a peaceful night.
On Friday, we should get the new window blinds! And I'll install them right away, to be sure. I'm hoping they'll block the street-light out-side AND the on-coming traffic head-lights as well. I'm not sure about not using the “boards” for the window-side and top of his house though. I tend to believe that he feels “secure” with them there, as he would, were he in a barn or some place similar. And, the board on the window-side will surely help to insulate him against any cold that might penetrate the glass... when the nights are -20 and colder. We'll see how he reacts... I'll give it a try, IF the blinds are as good as I'm hoping they'll be.
All said, all done, it was, as I say, a GLORIOUS day together with him! And tomorrow? Well, we'll have even MORE time together! I have things that I'll do at his work table and it's supposed to be cold, grey and drizzly, so we'll put on the “NatSpec” light, a little music on the radio and/or his “play-list” and together, we'll just let the world attend to itself... with-out our intervention... A “perfect” day... as are ALL days with Yonah.
(Quick addendum at end of day: the blinds are due to arrive tomorrow! Oh! That would be so nice! The sooner the better. I'm SO looking forward to Yonah having a room with “actual night” again. Poor Little Guy... if this lighting is disturbing MY sleep, I can only imagine that it must be causing him difficulties as well. Me? I can “adapt”, though not pleasantly. I WON'T “adapt” to Yonah's discomfort or inconveniences though. So as soon as the blinds come... INSTALLATION! As it is, we're looking at a day together tomorrow anyway... the truck will be at the garage and it's supposed to be rainy so... Perfect time to install “window treatments”... a “new look” for Yonah's room! YAY!)
Thursday 21 October:
Dreary sort of morning, this one. Grey, but, thankfully, not “cold”. I didn't want to get out of bed this morning and, even as late as 7.30, Yonah was awake but didn't appear to be in much of a hurry to open curtains and get to the day. But, in the yard, the mourning doves were at “breakfast” so, I did open house for Yonah, did “morning routine” and we both confronted the day ahead. Hey! As long as Yonah's good, so too, am I.
I took the truck to the garage and for the rest of the drizzly day, his room maintained a nice 25°, and his little desk lamp gave a bit of illumination and as I worked at his work table, we passed the morning, into the after-noon, together.
He's coo'ing during the day again and that's SO up-lifting to my soul. And, as I work, he roosts on the perch at his door again! We're back to being an “item”, a “team” a “couple”! And his new feathers are looking so very healthy! (Except, of course, those that come in on the damaged edge of his left wing. I'm just intensely grateful that that doesn't keep him from flying about. I wish it had all healed perfectly. But, he's got my heart and soul and all the time we have on this Earth... food, shelter, protection, LOVE... no need to take any “great flights”, so...)
And so we come to the closing of another SUPER day... ALL of which was spent with... MY LITTLE GUY! WHO, by the way, truly IS, back to his OVER-LOVING, EVER-LOVABLE SELF! OH YES! INDEED!
And his new window blinds arrived today! It was a bit of a “do”, installing them, but only because the so-called “contractor” who'd installed the windows, must have used what-ever spare lumber he had in his pocket and, well, as it is in this old “box”, no two windows are the same width, and none of them are “standard”. So we had to make “adjustments”. Still, the blinds are up and tonight, at “tuck-in”, we noticed the remarkable difference. Yonah now has a nice, almost “naturally dark” room again! The sun sets again, instead of that street light keeping it at “day-break” all through the night. Tonight, he'll get to sleep in comfort again! (And I couldn't be happier... save for the removal of that street-light which I'm sure won't be happening.)
I had to move his house over to the other side of his room whilst I “installed” today. (Having his house on the shelving with wheels is one of the most brilliant moves I've made, ever, over the entire span of my life-time. I HIGHLY recommend and STRONGLY urge such a set-up.) And, as it is when I move his house from his windows, he becomes obviously curious. Not nervous or the likes, but he keeps looking about the room. It's a different perspective! And I'm sure it's rather similar to the changes in his surroundings when we go for our “strolls”. He's neither flying nor walking but the world is moving and changing. Well, he was on his roof when I “moved house” and yes, again, the world moved and he didn't.
But the best (for me, anyway) was, as I was hanging the blinds, after drilling and such, Yonah flew over to me, circled about and returned to his house... several times. It was almost as if he was checking, supervising, making sure things were going properly and to see what “changes” I was making to HIS room! And, after circling, he'd return to his “roof-top” where he stayed at the end closest to me. Truly, it WAS as if he supervised my every move! I asked, a couple of times, if every-thing met with his approval and he literally cocked his head to the side as if saying “Well... you just get on with it and we'll let you know when you've done. Meanwhile, pay attention and keep working. I'm over here and I want to go back to the window... If you please.”
That's the Yonah I've come to LOVE and ADORE!
Well then, as I say, we passed this dreary day together and tonight, now, as I record this on his Journal, he's tucked-in for the night... in a room that isn't “illuminated”. I'm curious as to when he'll wake tomorrow morning. I don't like that he won't have the “natural” day-break as he used to. So I'll just have to adjust my routine and see when the room lightens and when he wakes. No problem. We've made it through much worse than this.
And as for the “light-block” board, I'll continue to use that because it does block any head-lights that might come at the window during the night and, come the colder weather, it provides insulation. Besides, I do believe Yonah feels more comfortable with the boards. I've no doubt, they do provide a sense of “shelter” and, so be it.
Tomorrow? Well, tonight's “low” is expected to be 12°... tomorrow's “high” is expected to be 13°! Only a touch of sun... It's Saturday... night... the first night of “ZERO”! which means LOWER, with the “chill”! Warm days are gone... for quite some time now. BUT... Yonah's radiator is on tonight, remains on during the day and... HIS world will ALWAYS be cozy! And essentially, that's all that matters anyway. We have tomorrow together again and, the following few days as well... the truck is in the garage, I've no place to be, and I've things a-plenty to do... at his work table. It's going to be WONDERFUL! (Of course it is... Yonah's here... and... HE'S BACK!)
 Friday 22 October:
This morning opened to a great, but slightly late, day... thanks to Yonah's new window blinds! AND A RAINBOW, THE LIKES OF WHICH I CAN HONESTLY SAY, I'VE NEVER SEEN IN MY LIFE-TIME! A SPECTACULAR START TO A MAGNIFICENT DAY... !!!
Last night, he had a room that was closer to actual “night” than he's had in the several months since the utility company and the local “Town Supervisory Board” installed the most horrific “LED” street-light right out-side his windows (and have the light aimed directly AT his windows). Yes, it's been addressed and the “Supervisor” made a trip to come to the house, but, of course, he came during the day, deflected responsibility and went on his way. And we've take the issue up to the Congress and Senate, so it's a matter of “when-ever, IF ever” ANY of them get around to doing anything about this fiasco. BUT, the new blinds made a WORLD of difference last night.
Sadly, the blinds work so well that poor Yonah doesn't have a “natural” change from night to morning. It was still quite dark in his room at 8.00 this morning. So I'll be “adjusting” my own morning routine to make sure that he gets his “natural mornings”. Still, it's a comfort to me to know that Yonah has “night” again, and, it appears, he appreciates it as well. He was in a GOOD mood this morning and through the day, today.
AND... WE HAD A BEAUTIFUL DAY TOGETHER, WITH BRILLIANT SUN, AND, IN SPITE OF THE 14° OUT-SIDE, IT WAS SO COMFY AND WARM IN YONAH'S ROOM! It was the SUN, POURING in through the windows! And Yonah? He made sure he got EVERY bit of both light and warmth... basking, beautifully, calmly, quietly, as I went about my own bits of working at his work-table.
At about noon, after some hours of “sun-soaking”, Yonah was in the pool! It does my heart so much good to know that, no matter the temperatures out-side his windows, he always has (as long as the sun co-operates) the ability to bask in the grand warmth of sun-light and then, take a splash in his own pool, to bathe and cool. And, from the way he splashes about, it's perfectly obvious that HE TOO, enjoys the little luxury. As Winter comes at us these days, it's such a comfort to now that he'll have no need to be concerned about cold, snow, ice, foraging for food and water... and he'll be able to splash in his pool.
Also, these new window blinds will provide nice insulation in his room as well. Keeping his room warm through the coming cold weather, will be effortless. How I recall last year, wondering if Yonah was warm enough, as he recovered from his injuries. We had nights of double-digit sub-freezing temperatures, and I did all I could, at the time, to make certain his room remained warm, but not too “dry”. Mourning doves enjoy 21° heat and minimum of 50% humidity. With the house heat here, having one or the other isn't an issue. But having BOTH is a matter of adjusting... always adjusting. This year? Yonah has his own “temperature zone” and, with the “pool” and his trees, he also has his own “humidity zone” as well. We've come a LONG way from those bleaker days. And he even has his own “day/night zone” too, with his new window blinds. (And EVERY bit of it, as we've worked along on the necessities, has been SO WELL WORTH ALL THE EFFORTS because, Yonah LOOKS BEAUTIFULLY HEALTHY, AND, AS HE FLIES ABOUT HIS ROOM, APPARENTLY HE FEELS HEALTHY TOO! NOTHING ELSE in the world matters more.)
So, the water in his pool got changed and refreshed after his “swim” and again, at the usual “evening routine”, so he's got clean, fresh water for the night. He's been enjoying the new “mix”, with the peanuts, sunflower seeds and oats... good, solidly healthy food. His blinds are drawn, the “back-board” is up again, tonight, mostly to fend against any “chills” that try to infiltrate through walls and windows. At day's close, he's tucked-in, all comfy and cozy. This is HIS HOUSE, HIS ROOM, HIS HOME... and he? He is my Heart, my Soul, my very Essence, my Joy, my Awe.
Week-end tomorrow! The only “concern”? My only concern... the plummeting temperatures that are in the forecast. BUT... as I say: Yonah's got his radiator, and now, even MORE insulation against the cold... We're going to be perfectly fine! My Little Guy will be PERFECTLY FINE!
Saturday 23 October:
Oh, 'twas mostly a dreary sort of day, with just a “tease” of sun-shine, here and there, now and again. But nothing really to “talk of”. Although Yonah DID manage to get almost every moment of if! How it does my heart so much good to see him get ANY of the sun's light and warmth. Few are the days to come when we'll have any. And next week... mostly clouds and rains. Autumn is giving way to Winter, indeed.
And I fear I was “late” again, this morning, with the opening of blinds and windows. (I'll be spending a night with him again, to see when the room lightens, how much and how dark it actually is over-night. That way, I'll be better prepared for his “Beginning of the day” schedule, through Winter.)
But he's been in “good spirits” these days, and, although he's not coming out of his house much, we did get a moment or two to play about during the day. For the most part, I was at his work table again, working on a “craft project” and balancing books and such. THAT was the BEST part of the day. And Yonah? He went from his perch to his loft to his “sand-bed” (when the sun hit it) and such. The occasional break for a snack, which also gladdens me because he IS eating well and as long as he's doing that, I'm encouraged to believe he's “well”.
Not much in the way of “conversation” yet, though. He's still rather “quiet”. But there were a few times when he “called”... “woo-HOO-hoo-hoo”. Mostly when I'd stepped-out of his room.
AND... his room was quite comfy this morning when I went in there, and remained so all through the day! I doubt we got much warmer than 8° out-side all day, but his room was a delightful 22°! So tonight, I leave the thermostat on his radiator where it is (“3,5” out of a possible “6”... what-ever those settings mean), but it's on “High” power... last night it was on “Medium”. Tonight's supposed to be about -1°, YES, THAT'S A “MINUS”, with a “chill” of -3° (so I know it'll be lower locally... well...). I'm seriously considering spending the night on his futon, just to make certain his room stays warm enough for this “mild coolness” (compared to all-out/all-in Winter).
By about 18.30, the sky out-side his window had gone dark and, as he does, when the sky goes dark, he “calls” me... “It's time to close shop!” So, by 19.15, waters were changed, house tidied. His blinds are closed and the back-board” is up. (It's comforting to know that the blinds provide even extra insulation against chills. Yes, I understand that he CAN fend against a “chill” in this house. I see the doves out-side all “fluffed” now. But, as I say and believe: I brought him in here and in here there's no reason for him to “need” to “fluff” against ANY chills. He went through Hell... I'll see to it that he's got nothing but comfort for the rest of our days. SO THERE!)
His desk lamp is on now, for a brief while, in case he wants to grab a snack before sleep. But, other-wise, he's all set for the night. (And again, tonight, I recall last year, this time. Poor Little Guy... in that horrid “wire mesh box”, so alone, in pain, barely able to move about because of no space and a bum leg and wing... and me... having NO idea, no clue, no notion as to what to do to make him comfortable. It's quite a difference this year... quite. Still, my stomach hardens and sours when I recall a year ago. Yonah and I have come a VERY LONG WAY in a relatively short time.)
Well, the day is “officially closed”. Yonah is officially “tucked-in”, lights are out. His door is closed, save a bit of an opening for “air circulation”, as it were. And it's nice and comfortably warm in there. With the door closed, it will be even warmer, but I'm still considering a night on his futon... just to be sure. I don't really doubt that his radiator will keep his room quite comfortable, but... I want (need?) to be certain. NO CHILLS for my Little Guy!
Sunday 24 October:
Well, indeed, we made it through the coldest night thus far, and though the house had taken-on a bit of a “chill” as the temperature dropped to -3°, Yonah's room was quite comfortable this morning. Ah... he certainly does have his own “climate control”, as it used to be known. And it works quite nicely, to be sure. Between his radiator and his window blinds, he had a nice, dark and warm night in which to sleep comfortably and quietly.
My heart went out to the doves in the yard though, this morning. But they too, are eating very well because, in addition to the food I put out for them daily, they get what-ever Yonah doesn't eat in a day. So now, they too, are getting their regular fare and sunflower seeds, peanuts and a bit of oats as well. And, from time-to-time, they get some cod liver oil (because Yonah gets some of that as well... about once a month). Good for the extra fat they needs to keep warm, good for their feathers and a good source of vitamin D, which they'd usually get from the sun-shine but that's going to be some-what scarce as the Winter months settle-in. Still, there's a part of me that wishes I could bring them all in for the cold months. (And then I wonder if Yonah doesn't, some-how miss that change in season, since he's pretty much stable as far as all that's concerned. It's almost as if he'd migrated... but with-out all the fuss and hassle. He still has his pool. And he can still bask on his little “beach”. Well, I suppose it's not really so bad after all.)
We had another entire day together, just the two of us. I had “work table” work to do and we stayed in his room where the sun came pouring in... only sporadically though. For the most part, it wasn't such a “grand” day, weather-wise. But every moment of brilliant light gave delightful warmth as it came in through the windows, and Yonah soaked-in all of it, to be sure! And when he wasn't basking, he'd come to the perch at his door and watch me, over my shoulder, as it were, as if he truly had an interest in what I was doing! Honestly, at those moments, it's obvious that he's very much aware of what goes on around him. And for me, it's the warmest, most wonderful part of any day, when I turn to see him there, staring at me. He's the very BEST company... He's the VERY BEST COMPANION!
He wasn't in much of a “playful” mood though, today. Seemed he preferred to just “stay at home”, in his house, and we listened to his “Play-list” of “bird-songs” through the day. He does seem to enjoy that, and will even respond to some of the different mourning dove recordings. Oh, if I only knew that he'd accept company, I'm still most-willing to find him a companion. But there's that “doubt” in my heart. That's HIS house, HIS room, HIS home and has been for a year now. I don't doubt that he'd like a bit of “his own” company, but the question is: Would he mind sharing it all... all of the time? We may never actually know. But, I DO make sure to give him “quality” time in a day, where we chat, or play, or “go for strolls”. He's never really “alone”, except at night, and even then, I'll spend a night there with him. So... I do my best. I know he doesn't like to “feel abandoned”. Mourning doves are “social”. And if I DO have to leave him for any length of time, for shopping or such, it's obvious, when I return, that he's noticed my absence from the house. Ah, no problem. I don't go away for very long, very often and the truth of the matter is: when I do go... I RUSH to get back. I DO miss him and, at the very least, being in the house, if not in his room, with him. Yes, he IS my “COMPANION”.
Tonight's forecast, and the foreseeable future holds no “negative” temperatures. Only lower single-digits, but no “negatives” so that's a relief. Sadly though, the week ahead threatens to be rainy. Luckily, Yonah's got his “NatSpec” light so, even THAT won't be of a bother to him. A nice light, a radiator for warmth... and his pool, should he want a bit of a dip. PLENTY of good food, fresh water. And I've a few things that I'll be doing at the work table. (I'm getting things together for the Winter months now... little “projects” that I can work on... while Yonah and I keep each-other company.)
And again, today, I think of last year... today... and how SO VERY DIFFERENT Yonah is, his room, his house. SO VERY different. For one thing, he and I are in MUCH better spirits this year. Last year I was so worried about his recovery and worried about being too “close” to and with him because I was looking forward to him returning to his flock. I kept a “distance” for the most part. And I had NO idea as to what to do for him, what to give him to eat, how to help him in any way. Yes, though, THIS year, THIS Winter, we have each-other... to talk to, to entertain, to play and just to be with. I know a bit more about him and what I can do for him. And although he never did and never will recover “perfectly” or “completely”, he doesn't have to worry about any-thing... and, neither do I. We're absolutely ready for what the world can throw at us now.
The day came and went... all too quickly, and “tuck-in” came at about 18.30 tonight. (When I think: in two weeks, when this “Day-light Savings” ends... 18.30 will be 17.30 and “night” will have come already. There'll be adjustments to make for “tuck-in”, for morning and evening “routines”. Last year it was just a matter of “sun went down, lights went out... sun came up, and that was that”. The only exception was early-on when Yonah came. I kept a light on for a while into the night so that I could “keep watch” over him. THIS year... well... we'll see how it works out for us.) Anyway, my Little Heart-beat is all “tucked-in”, his radiator is on “4” tonight, just to be sure his room doesn't take a chill. His blinds are closed, and all is calm for him.
I didn't sleep in his room last night because I was up a bit late and didn't want to disturb him. But I checked to make sure it was warm in there before I went to bed... and it was. So, he'll be just fine... just fine. And tomorrow, we'll take the rain as it comes... we have light, warmth, food, water... music and... we have “US”! Let the world fend for itself.
Monday 25 October:
Aside from all the grey skies and rain, and the chill in the air, Yonah had a good day. WE had a great day together, for most of it. And last night, I did get to spend a few hours with him, on his futon. Yes, his room DOES stay quite comfortable these nights, so I was comforted to know that he doesn't need to “fluff” against any chills over-night. We have a couple more weeks before the actual “COLD” comes settling-in, so all is quite well for now. When the nights and days get even cooler, there's still a few settings higher on his radiator so... now worry.
And this morning, MORE PRESENTS arrived! Another bag of the very special “Netherlands” seed mixture that really does look inviting and nutritious. And Yonah's been enjoying it in with his current “high protein” mixture (which, now that his moulting appears to be abating, we'll be using until it's done and then get on with a bit of a slightly higher “fat” mixture - sunflower seeds and Niger seeds to help keep him warmer) so he does like all the good stuff that's in there. And he now has a new mirror, that matches the other one he got a couple of weeks ago. I wasn't sure he'd like the first one. He rather enjoyed the tiny, typical “birdie-type” mirror but he could see only his face in that one. Then I got the larger one so that when he perches beside it, he has a “full-view” of himself. Well, he enjoyed that one so much, he now has TWO, and he's obviously quite enthralled with it. I replaced the little one and as I was working to put the little “clips” on it, he seemed quite “annoyed” when I have to take it away to adhere the clips! “Wing-snaps”! When I put it back, he flew right to it and pecked at the reflection and gave a little “woo-HOO-hoo-hoo”! “Approval”! Success!
And too, he has a new “back-up” pump for his “fountain” in his pool. The first one finally gave out and luckily, I had an extra (just in case). Well, we now have a “back-up” again. Good to be prepared.
So, as it is now, he's got LOTS of good food to last well through Winter. It's not that I couldn't order more as we go along, but, it's just comforting to know that no matter what, Yonah will always have enough food (and warmth).
Today, I tried to see how he'd react if I just open the blinds on his windows, instead of drawing them up, as I've done. Come the cold, I believe they'll help keep the warmth in his room a bit more (every little bit helps). Well, with his “NatSpec” light on, he seemed just as happy as if the sun had been shining in on him. It really IS noticeable, the difference between a dark day and sun-lit. He's in a much better mood, over-all, on brighter days, and that “NatSpec” light seems to substitute quite well for the sun. When I think back to last year (as I do, often), all he had was a tiny desk lamp with a low-watt bulb in it. The lamp was originally only for me, for working briefly at what used to be the “work table”. It was sufficient, I suppose, to provide a non-glaring sort of light, which is, as I think, what Yonah needed more than bright. After all, he was convalescing, healing, and doves seek darker places when they're injured. But it really wasn't sufficient for the long-term. So this Winter, no matter the weather out-side, yes, indeed, Yonah will have a lot of wonderful light through his days!
I had to step out of the house for about two hours today, to run some brief errands and before leaving, I told him I'd be right back. Of course, I NEVER close him in his house when I'm away. There's no reason to do that at all. So, a couple of “kisses” and I was off and running. Well, as I say, it took about two hours and... AND... when I got back, it was REALLY obvious that I was missed! Yonah was all “kisses and snuggles” when I returned to his house! And as I settled in his room, he hopped onto his “front door perch” to watch me for a few moments. Next thing I knew, he was AIR-BORNE! Up on his roof! On the shelf beside the work table (where he could watch me even closer). And “kisses and snuggles” were certainly welcomed! OH! It IS GRAND that he's “back” to his usual good-spirited self again!
And so, we enjoyed the rest of the day together, and I got his Journal pages up to date with the few photos I wanted to include. And when my “meal hour” came rolling around (SO SOON!), Yonah “reminded” me by going to his food dish for his “dinner” and I went to the kitchen to prepare and eat my own.
It truly is a bit sad, these days, when, by about 18.00, the sky is already dark. But, one thing I have to note: when the sky out-side darkens, Yonah “calls”! It's my “cue” to get to “evening routine” and get him “settled” for the night before “tuck-in”. And so, I'd no sooner done the washing-up when... the waters got changed, his house got tidied, blinds got closed and he was ready for “tuck-in”. I turned his “NatSpec” light off, left his desk lamp on, for a bit of a dimmer, softer lighting, for about an hour, to give him time for his “before bed nosh” and to settle. And, a check of the thermometer, 22°, all was well. And Yonah was ready for “Good night kisses” and to settle for the night.
Tomorrow? Nothing on MY agenda that would take me away for long. A quick trip to market is all. I do have more things to work on in Yonah's room so, we'll have another rainy, dreary day together... in the warmth of his room, under the light of his “NatSpec”, and, like we did today, we'll listen to his “play-list” of bird-songs. Another GLORIOUS day... which is EVERY and ANY day when it's got my Little Guy, my Heart-beat, my Heart-throb, my SOUL-mate, my MOST CHERISHED little COMPANION in it!
Tuesday 26 October:
Yonah and I had a wonderful night together, him “at home” and me on his futon. I had to check to make certain that his room stays warm enough through the night and indeed, so it does. What a wonderful relief to me. And there's precious little, if anything, that beats waking in the morning, seeing him and knowing he's safe, sound, comfortable and in good health and surroundings.
But, it was another quite rainy and “dark” day, today, and we got it started at about 8.00. Between the window blinds and the darkness out-side, it would have been an easy “sleep-through” day. Thankfully, we have the “NatSpec” light and that, apparently, is a perfect investment because it does make a difference in Yonah's general mood. It brightens the room and I imagine it helps him to see more of what he ought to be seeing, considering it helps with the “UV” that he sees in colours round the place.
I DID manage to spent the entire day in his company, working at his work table. And he was in and out of his house, and round and about his room through the day. We listened to his “bird-songs play-list” and in spite of him making it very well known that he did NOT want to be “cuddled”, in fact, he didn't really want much “play-time” either, he was in rather good spirits.
Several times, as I worked, he roosted on his door-way perch to watch what I was doing. But only “from a-far”. I got to slide my chair beside him and chat a bit, but if I got “too close”, he headed right back into his house. Oh well. Don't we all have those days? He's more than entitled (though it does get to me when he's like that and not his “other” self who used to come and sit on my head or on my shoulder as I'd work). Well, one of these days I expect he'll “take a deeper interest”. After all, last year, at this time, he and I had almost NO sort of “connection” at all. So, just the fact that he doesn't mind my presence in HIS room is a great “plus”.
This evening though, was rather amusing, and something he'd never done before: Evening routine, and the changing of the water in his pool... I bring fresh water into the room in containers, two at a time, and let the fresh water flush through the tubing for his fountain pump into a bucket. It really does work quite nicely, and even pulls any seeds or poop out with it. And I keep flushing until the water is completely changed and clean. Well, THIS evening, AS I was pouring the fresh water, Yonah came over to the edge of the dish and took a drink! OK, so maybe no SO amusing, BUT, my presence, my working about, my arms and hands there didn't phase him in the least! He's SO accustomed to me being around, and it's now more than perfectly obvious that he has every bit of trust in me, he knows I mean him absolutely no harm. And, there couldn't be a higher compliment to any person, any-where on Earth! Yes, he's my BEST COMPANION and I'm his... well... companion at best. And that's perfectly fine by me! To be sure.
Well then... sadly (for me) the day became night all too soon, and we exchanged the right “NatSpec” light for the little desk lamp... to bring the day softly to night. The blinds got closed against the street light and cooler temperatures of the night out-side. I left that little light on for about and hour or so, to give Yonah time to “settle” for the night. But 19.30... lights went out and the door to his room got closed against the lights and goings-on in the rest of the house.
Yonah and I didn't do much today, but what-ever we did, we did it together... and to me, that's all that matters in any given day.
Wednesday 27 October:
Another delightful night together, last night, and this morning, what a joy to wake to the gentle “woo-Hoo”... as if to say “Hello? It's morning, you there. Let's get something going. Shall we, then?”
The room was most-comfortably warm and today, we had a break! NO RAIN! And a few good moments of SUN-SHINE! And what makes the sun-shine all the better at this time of year is that it rises, stays and almost sets in Yonah's windows! And yes, during the course of the day, every time the sun would strike a convenient place in his house, he was right there, basking, soaking it all in. That's such a wonderful sight to see. He's so calm, so comfortable, so much “at home” in his own house. And he doesn't make much notice of me when I'm there as well. Yes, we did have some “conversation” today. He “woo-HOO-hoo-hoo'ed” and I replied in kind. So we're back to “conversing” at long last. Does my old heart a universe of good when Yonah's in the mood for “chat”. But, today, again... no “playing around” yet. It was mostly a matter of him taking different places in his house where he could “watch” me at the table. But again... I don't mind. At least he seems to enjoy knowing that I'm close by.
And I had to run a few errands during the day and whilst so-doing, managed to get new “emery boards” for him. There's now one on each of his new mirrors so that when he “pecks” at the mirror, he'll peck at the emery board and that'll help to keep his beak trim. THAT's a relief to me because I'm not comfortable with doing that my self and because it's almost a 2-hour drive away to get to the nearest veterinarian, well. It's cold out there these days and if there's no real reason for travel... just as well we do what we can at home, where Yonah can stay comfortably.
And so the rest of the day went along... peacefully (thankfully). I did my usual house-work and working some at this work table. Yonah “hung about” his house and enjoyed the warmth that the sun brought through his windows. It was a relaxed and restful day, for the most part... of course, the most restful and relaxed were the moments in Yonah's company.
After evening routine, we got a few minutes to sit on the futon, Yonah on my shoulder, with “snuggles”, and how he stared at me when I spoke to him! He's still “stand-off-ish”, but he pecked at my face, my ear, the side of my head. And when he'd had enough of the “close-kissie-kissie”, he was back to his house... to settle for the night. Looks like we're “OK”... not as close as we used to be, but... we're working on it... so it seems. I can only hope.
Well then, came “lights-out”. As I always do, I stuck my head in to give “kisses” and... TONIGHT I GOT KISSES! SO YES, TONIGHT... WE'RE GOOD AGAIN! And yes, again, tonight, I'll be on the futon. MY LITTLE BESTEST EVERYTHING!
 Thursday 28 October:
POOR YONAH! The new window blinds really are rather effective in keeping the light out of his room, not perfectly at night, though not too bad, but they keep the “dawn” out for entirely too long and these days, with the dawn coming even later, well... We DID have a wonderful night together, last night. Very comfy in his room, both the temperature and the darkness. But I didn't get to open blinds and such until about 7.45! It seems he was awake already when I got there. I woke at about 7.00 my-self and had coffee before disturbing him. But the little DIVINE BLESSING didn't appear to be too phased by my morning intrusion as I opened blinds and went about morning water changes. He TRULY IS A BLESSING AND A PERFECT TEACHER OF PATIENCE.
AND THIS MORNING... OH THE “soo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo's” ARE BACK! HE HAD QUITE A LOT TO SAY AFTER I'D DONE WITH MY NONSENSE! THAT, IN AND OF ITSELF IS SO ENCOURAGING TO ME!
By this after-noon, the skies had cleared wonderfully and the SUN POURED IN through his windows. I worked at his work table and Yonah BASKED SO BEAUTIFULLY! It truly does my heart, soul and mood SO MUCH GOOD to see him, relaxed, on his little loft, all a-glow in the warmth that radiates in through the window panes, and him, lounging there, so peaceful and calm, so safe, warm, protected. Plenty of fresh food and water, and the sounds of his “song-bird play-list” filling the rest of HIS room! AND, this morning, the temperature in his room was about 21,5°... this after-noon it was up to 22,3! VERY nice indeed! (My biggest regret of the day is that I had to step out to get to the skip and run errands. Other-wise, we'd have had the ENTIRE day together!)
But, the few hours of sun-light just added the “glimmer” to the day... in his company, and it does make quite a noticeable difference in his general mood. Life's few and often un-appreciated BLESSINGS! THAT'S MY BESTIE COMPANION!
Came the evening hour (16.00) and to OUR delight, the sun shone BEAUTIFULLY ALL THROUGH THE DAY! Yonah's room was wonderfully illuminated and he basked for most of it. And the temperature in his room? 23,5°! So WARM! So TOASTY! So COMFY! Out-side is a mere 9°, but the sun is still giving us warmth...
AND, for a while, Yonah came out of his house to roost on the little “extension perch” which is almost directly above my shoulder as I sit at the work table. And we got some “smooches” and “cuddles” today! Not “TOO” much or many though. But he didn't BOLT when I got near enough, so... I'm being heart-warmingly “tolerated” today and that's perfectly fine with me. (As I type, he's having a nosh... which is also heart-warming because I LOVE to see that he has such a good appetite. As long as he's eating... the world is good.)
But, as it is with all days these days, this day came to a close entirely too soon, the sun disappeared too early and, well, “evening routine” was done shortly after 18.30. The window blinds were closed, waters changed and fresh, fresh food, and the “boards” I put up nightly (Yonah seems to like the effect of being “protected” in his little “house” with a solid wall and roof around him. I left his desk lamp on until about 19.45 and when I went in to “tuck him in”, I got his good-hearted pecks on the face. It truly is so good to see him in good spirits and back to his “LOVING” little character.
The nights in the forecast are showing temperatures in the single digits for about two weeks and no “minuses”, and tonight it's a whole 5° and not expected to drop below 1° with no lower “chill”. We manage quite well with these temperatures, especially with his radiator, so, all should be well for the night. Tomorrow is expected to be quite sunny again, with a high of 11°! Yonah will have sun-shine and warmth again! (But sadly, with the warmth... comes... the rain... on the week-end. Well? At least there's no “freezing”, no snow or ice and that's perfectly fine.) We can handle that too.)
I always think of him being out in the wild, and how, now, I don't believe he'd actually manage fending against the cold nights. Though, with a good flock, I'm sure he'd be taken good care of. Still, with his limited flight, well... Here, he has a safe and warm house and home, his pool, fresh water and good food. He isn't “caged” or “confined” and the truth of the matter is, he appears to be quite comfortable so... He has nothing to worry about, nothing to be concerned about. No predators. No competition for nourishment. Plenty of space to explore around. And, with the way his “house” is, he's got “running water”, moss, sand, trees... He's my HEART, SOUL, my very BEING, and we're together for as long as we are and shall be.
One troubling note though: this evening, I went to the new “forum” I'd discovered a while back and had the pleasure of contributing to and sadly, it appears that I was “reported” for posting “spam”! Imagine? And when I tried to use the “contact” form on the site, it's incomplete. There's a “captcha” allegedly some-where on the page to verify a poster's validity, but there's no “captcha” offered. And when I looked the site up, I find that it's registred in the “Cayman Islands” but under some rather “cryptic” business and contact information is “redacted”. I find it most suspicious. Sadder is that there's a young lady who'd posted to a “thread”, looking for help with a wounded pigeon and I'm curious to know how she's faring. Well... www.pigeon.biz is now on my list of “suspicious” and advice is to avoid it. How awful, yet not unexpected, for some-one to present on the internet under false pretense, another “predator”. But, it's as I say to Yonah: never trust people, people aren't to be trusted until they prove other-wise. (I do my absolute best to “prove other-wise” and I do believe he knows that.)
And so, another WONDERFUL day with my VERY BEST COMPANION comes to a close, and in a little while, I'll take to his futon for another night together. Again, I want to be sure he's warm enough through the night and that nothing disturbs his sleep. (There's a “people” in residence next door and, well... there's that “trust”. She's prone to “inconsiderations” during the night and when she “engages”, it startles Yonah. I want to be with him... in case of. At least when he's startled, I can talk with him and it always seems to calm him. I guess I'm his “flock”... and I couldn't be more blessed and honoured.)
Friday 29 October:
So sad... it's only 18.35, the sun's completely gone, the night is here, and Yonah is just about “tucked-in”. The days are so short, the nights, so long. We get so little time together now, mostly because I try to keep his natural cycle in a day... with the exception of a couple of hours later, with his desk lamp on. And it's SO amazing: come the evening, Yonah eats when the mourning doves come to the yard to eat before they go to roost for the night. His schedule is STILL “Natural”. He's such an absolutely AWE-FULL little one!
As for our day? Well, I was up at about 6.00 this morning and, although Yonah's room wasn't exactly “cold”, it wasn't exactly “warm” either. The temperature dropped, last night, to 0° with a “chill” of... -1°! It was just chilly enough in his room for him to “fluff”... not much, nothing like the doves in the yard, but noticeably. I do my best to keep him warm enough so that he won't have to fend against a chill. I consider it part of SO MUCH of what I am SO in his debt for. I don't suppose a little “fluffing against a chill” isn't necessarily bad, it's more that I'd rather not see him “need” to. But, it is part of his natural being... I'll just make sure it doesn't happen often and it never gets so cold that he'll need to REALLY insulate himself against cold. I CAN and I WILL do that.
So, after “morning routine” of water, food and tidying his house, I put his radiator under his “front door” so that the heat would rise closer to where he could most benefit and, like the clever little champion that he is, he took his place on the perch I set there for him every day. Yes, indeed, he ENJOYED that warmth... obviously-so. So that's where the radiator remained through the day. He moved about, from the door to his loft and such, until the sun actually came POURING into his room... at about 11.00. Through the late Autumn until early Spring, the sun rises so low in the Southern sky that it takes that long until it clears the pines across the road. (And, of course, even though it stays mostly Southern, which is the direction Yonah's windows face... thankfully... it isn't in the sky for very long. “The North Country”.) But as soon as it got to the little “sand bed” in Yonah's house, he was right there to soak every moment, every bit of warmth and light it brought! And, having his house on shelving with wheels, as the sun moved along across the sky, I moved his house so that he got EVERY possible moment of it.
It's comforting, to me, that, when I move his house, he merely looks up at me, but doesn't really “stir” at all. He's so accustomed to it because I have to move him away from the windows in the morning to open his curtains and blinds, and again, in the evening to close them. He amazing, in that, all he really does to acknowledge the motion is “look up”. And when I move him a little farther to clean the space between his shelving and the windows, he'll sometimes fly to a perch and “watch his room move about”. No panic. Just more “curiosity”. (Between that and how he ignores the Hoover... well... WHAT a difference from my years of cats and dogs! The cats RUN and hide. The dogs bark and try to attack. Yonah? Couldn't be so bothered.)
As I worked at his work table again today, he “woo-HOO-hoo-hoo'd” quite a bit! He's back to being “vocal” and the sound is one of the most beautiful to hear, especially after a couple of months of almost absolute silence. And his voice is “clear” again. For a brief while, as his moulting was ending, he sounded a bit “weak”, “raspy”... I was really quite concerned, wondering if he'd grown too weak, or had contracted some sort of illness. Yes, I understand that the moulting is exhausting for birds, but it was un-nerving to hear. Ah, but today... as clear as it ever was, and repetitive! What an absolute JOY!
And his collection of “bird songs” played in the room through the day. No radio today. He really does, obviously, enjoy it when he hears other birds... and I often wonder if he doesn't notice that, for the most part, all of them repeat over the course of the day. I've read that doves hear “sounds”... and they hear the “qualities” like “pitch”, “timbre” and the sort. But I can't help but believe that there are particular “calls” not just for the “mating” but as greetings and warnings and the likes. I don't know what the birds on the recordings are calling, but I CAN see a marked change in Yonah's general demeanour when they're playing... he's much calmer, though more active, and he's much more comfortable around me. So? So... (I still need to get more recordings and different recordings for him. There's about 2 or 3 hours' worth on there now... a few more would be that much more variation for him.)
For the most part of the day today, he stayed in his house, in “his” sun-shine, and other-wise, “lounged”, but at about 16.15 as I was typing at the work table, SUDDENLY... HE CAME FLYING OUT, ACROSS HIS ROOM AND BACK TO ROOST ON HIS ROOF! He does that from time-to-time... just suddenly decides he needs to take a stretch and when he does, it's a joy to me to know that he's able to fly... albeit not far or fast. Now... I'm looking forward to the day when he comes to roost on my head or my shoulder again, as he used to. Oh... “time”... I suppose. One of these days... and with Winter coming, we'll have a LOT of those... together.
Alas, 19.30... the night settled-in fully and the house starts to take the “night coolness” so, I went in for “tuck-in” and as I was “closing house”, Yonah came over toward me and gave a bit of a “nod”... I brought my face closer to him (with my eyes shut as tightly as possible because he just LOVES to peck at eyes and I REALLY HAVE TO BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL... I've “slipped” a couple of times and, well, with his beak... I can't afford to lose and eye!) he gave his “kissing pecks”... It's as if we have “kisses good night”! So we did “smooches” and a “cuddle” (I put my hand in on the perch and lean the side of my face in and he “snuggles” against it). And his “fountain” got turned off for the night (so that the “splashing” doesn't continue on and on and on through and he has quiet to sleep), his door got closed, I said “I'll be in a little later.” (because I'll be in with him again tonight... again, to make SURE his room doesn't get cold... I'd been in there for the earlier part of the night last night but got up in the middle of the night and went to my bed... only to wake to find him “fluffed” so tonight I'll make sure THAT doesn't happen again). His lights are out, his radiator is by his house and the door to his room is almost shut to keep the warmth in there for him. The end of another day...
I'm grateful that tomorrow is Saturday and we'll be together. I've nothing on an agenda, and plenty of little “things” to do in his room so... I'm looking forward to waking with him and we'll deal with a day and what-ever it has to present.
Tonight's temperature is expected to be 3° with a “chill” of 0° by about 4.00 in the morning. Tomorrow's forecast is for a high of 9° but... rain. Hey! That's really OK because as long as it rains, it doesn't snow and it doesn't get horrifically cold. And besides... in this house, clouds and rain don't matter... Yonah's got his “NatSpec” light and a radiator! It'll be bright and warm... no matter what! So... here's to closing today... a good night's rest and a GLORIOUS day together tomorrow... with my LOVE! AND MY LIFE!
 Saturday 30 October:
Today was one of those “almost typical Autumnal” days, in the North Country: chilled, grey, wet. I woke about an hour before what would be “day-light” started and Yonah got to “sleep-in” until the birds in the yard began showing for their breakfast. I saw no sense in disturbing him before then. I lean toward learning from the flocks, what Yonah's “natural timing” is, and, since he still follows their routine, right down to when he eats (from his window, he doesn't see the “feeders” in the back yard, but, interestingly, he tends to go for a nosh or “meal” at the same time the birds come to eat), so, when the others appear, that's when I go in for “morning routine”. Besides, I've read that mourning doves require 10-14 hours of rest so, Yonah's more than entitled, especially on these grey, damp, chilly days.
We had the entire day together today. I kept busy at his work table, with various tasks and chores and the likes. The “NatSpec” light was on so it was rather nice and bright in his room. And I kept his radiator on, set not too high, because, thankfully, the day didn't get “cold”... it was more a “chilly damp”, but just enough to give a nice warmth to his room and to keep the dampness out. And Yonah made it all quite obvious that he appreciated it because, as I worked at the table or moved about his room, he “roosted” on the front perch at his “front door”, almost directly above, where the warmth rose and he could enjoy it. Ah... “Autumn”... and I'm learning what to expect, come the “Winter”! Yonah's got nothing to be concerned about, come actual Winter though. I'm “stock-piling” more than plenty of good foods for him and he's got a radiator to keep him warm, and plenty of light to keep his “world” as bright as can be. For me, nothing else really matters other than that. We made it through a “heavy” period, last year, as I fumbled about, trying and learning and watching him, as he recovered from his injuries and convalesced. This year, he's looking so wonderfully healthy, I'm better educated (though still FAR from even close to “perfect”... he's ALWAYS teaching me something new), and I'm better prepared. We're going to be just fine, no matter the circumstances.
My biggest regret is the shortness of the days now. It seems we no sooner get “morning routine” done, get to “settle” together and, well, day-light starts to fade. Oh, but October is ending, November is coming and as quickly as October passed, so too, will November. Come December, the days will be a mere “blink” until... the longest night and then... we get back to longer days... more time together. Though I hate the quick passing of time now, its comforting to know that each passing day now brings us closer to the longer days, the brighter days, the warmer days again.
So tonight, I'd no sooner finished my evening meal when... “evening routine” took place. Water and food freshened, Yonah's house made tidy. By 19.30 the “day-light” had gone... and it really is quite fascinating: when the world out-side his windows goes dark, Yonah actually DOES give a “call” as if saying “Hey there! The day's done. Time to close this up here.”
“Regular routine” is about what it was last year, this time (though surroundings are MUCH improved). We get the place tidy, the desk lamp goes on because it's a bit dimmer, softer than the NatSpec. Yonah gets about an hour of that so that he has time to “fill his crop” for the night. (I know I can't sleep well if I go to bed hungry and Yonah does tend to eat well before night.) And then, lights out in his room, but the door stays open for another 30-45 minutes so that he can find his “roosting place” for the night.
For the most part, I'm sleeping on his futon now that the night temperatures are dropping. I need to know that his room is warm enough for him. And too, it really is such a delight to wake in the morning, seeing him right away and knowing he's safe and well.
So we close the day... and tomorrow, I can't believe it, but we close another month! AND, we've just closed our first year together and we're well on our way into the next. And Yonah's looking GOOD, looking WELL and I'm still in AWE... we're still together... Me and my feath'ry little reason for being.
.jpg "20211031_141028(0)") Sunday 31 October:
Another rainy, dreary, cold and damp day... and I slept soundly, with Yonah, through the night, and most important, the room stayed ever-so comfortably warm and that's what matters most to me these days and nights. There are much colder nights coming in the week, but Yonah's radiator isn't set any-where near “maximum” so we have a lot more warmth in the waiting.
I woke at about 5.00 but there wasn't a sound in Yonah's house, so I got up, left the room and closed his door, to keep the house-light and noise out. His room was nicely darkened, in spite of the street-light still on, out-side. I let him get as much rest as he wanted as I went about my own business.
It wasn't until almost 8.00 when I heard him “stirring” and so, it was time for “morning routine”... blinds opened, waters changed, house tidied and his “NatSpec” light on, to keep the “drear” out-side. In Yonah's room, there was lovely light and warmth, while, out-side, the birds in the yard came, in the rain, for their breakfast which I'd put out much earlier... in the darkness of early morning.
I worked at the work table this morning, and Yonah roosted, again, at his “door perch”, over the radiator. I suspect there's a bit of “cold” that comes in through the glass of his window. Not very much, because the thermometer in his room registres an almost steady 22,5° and 23° during the day. It must be “just enough” for him to sense but, how BRILLIANT, that he knows where to find the warmth and there he stays during the day. (And I'm pleased that I had enough sense to put a length of tree-limb on two hooks at his door, so he has a comfortable place to stay. Other-wise, he'd be trying to balance on the “wire” of the “crate”... his house, with his little toes all curled so tightly. This way, he balances comfortably... as if in a tree. “Natural”... the way I try to make his “house”, so that it's more his “home”.)
And this morning, he was SO ACTIVE! I was in the kitchen and he was flying about his room. At one point, he came to his door, flying into the kitchen just enough to see that I was at the table and he headed back. He's done that before too. Seems he has “moments” when he just wants to make certain that I'm some-where around and when he sees me, he's comforted and heads back “home”. For me, I'm just SO relieved when he gets up and about. I often feel terrible thinking that he might feel “confined”, when he stays “at home”. On sunny days, I understand the joy he must get, basking in the light and warmth (and the sun-shine is good for him... as it is for people... “vitamin D” and such). But it's great to see him exercising his wings, and getting activity. Yes, he does seem comfortable and satisfied in his house. But... were he “with the flock” there would be SO MANY places he could go to in a day. At least here, he does have free run of the entire house, whether he chooses to take advantage or not. And even when he flies about his room, it's such a beautiful sound: the flapping wings. And it's just so beautiful to see him in flight. Once upon a time, I feared he'd never be able to fly at all! Oh... but over this past year... He's done wonderfully. My heart is at peace. I suppose I've done well... especially considering I relied on my own “instincts” for most. “Instincts”... some-thing Yonah and I share... I suppose.
AND... this morning, we got to take another “house stroll”! We were playing and he hopped onto my arm, and when I moved out of his house, he climbed up to my shoulder, so... we “strolled” through the rooms... kitchen, living-room, bed-room... all the while, I talked to him, about the house, his freedom to fly about, the weather out-side... As I talked, he “settled” on my shoulder and now and again would stare directly at me, head tilted to one side or the other. Sometimes I do feel that SOME of what I'm saying is getting to him, in a way. Just the fact that he “settles” on my should shows me that he does trust me. And there's nothing in Creation that could mean more, nothing is a higher compliment. As is usually the case though, as soon as we “strolled” back into his room and he saw “home”... he was back on his familiar perch. A couple of moments later... it was time for a “nosh”... and, actually, it was about “lunch-time” anyway. So we both re-settled into our respective places again. But for me, what A JOY, having him so close to me, as he is, when he's on my shoulder. WHAT AN ABSOLUTE JOY!
Now then... at about noon, I “settled” on his futon to grab a quick snooze. I had a collection of Stjepan Hauser playing on the lap-top when I laid down, along with Yonah's “bird-songs”... I dozed for about a half hour and when I woke, I couldn't see Yonah any-where. He wasn't in his house, nor was he at any of his usual places around the room. But when I sat up... THERE HE WAS, ON THE KEY-BOARD OF THE LAP-TOP, STARING AT THE SCREEN! HAUSER WAS PLAYING “BENEDICTUS” (Karl Jenkins) AND YONAH SEEMED MESMERIZED! So I add to his list of “favourites”, which, up to now was: “Song To The Moon - Rusalka” by Dvořak, being the first piece of music he ever actually responded to... almost a year ago; as it played, he coo'ed repeatedly and he does even to this day. Looks like I'll be making a new “play-list” for him soon... bid-songs and classical pieces. But it was AMAZING to see him, so close to the lap-top screen (thankfully, the WiFi was off! I don't even use it in his room unless on a phone, because I don't want “WiFi streaming” through him!), so attentive to the music! Oh, ANOTHER facet of what makes him SO MUCH ALL OF MY HEART AND SOUL! And he stayed there for quite the while as I got up (and managed to get a photo too... of course). Well, indeed!
And so, as I moved about, he headed back to his house, to his place above the radiator, back into the warmth... and our day continued... *together*... and THAT'S ALL that matters... to me.
19.38 Yonah is “tucked-in” for the night. The World is at Peace. And I can't believe we're done with another month. Another month of AWE, JUBILATION, such a MAGNIFICENT month... because... YONAH HAS BEEN IT... NOT JUST “IN” IT, NOT JUST A “PART” OF IT... ALL OF IT! Tomorrow, we head into our toughest season... but we do it TOGETHER, and as long as WE are “WE”... WE will make it through!
The sky started to clear a bit this evening, just as the sun was disappearing behind the Western mountains, of course. But the clouds have returned for the night. Thankfully, the rains have stopped though. And tonight's temperature is expected to be 7°, tomorrow's high, 10° BUT WITH SOME SUN! Yonah will get to bask again! Horrifyingly though, Wednesday night is expected to plummet to -2°, all the “highs” only single digits and the nights, well -1° and 0° through the foreseeable future. BUT... oil will come in two weeks and we have the radiators in the mean-while. And on the colder nights, I'll be with Yonah anyway... making certain that NO CHILL comes into his room. (Right now, he has 23° in his room so we're quite good... and tomorrow night will probably be the same or very similar. When Wednesday night comes... we'll attack that at the time.)
And so... we close October 2021... OUR ANNIVERSARY MONTH * A WHOLE YEAR TOGETHER !!! AND HERE'S TO THE NEXT YEAR AHEAD... TOGETHER... FOR ITS ENTIRETY !!! AND MAY YONAH ALWAYS BE IN EXCELLENT HEALTH THROUGH IT ALL !!! My LOVE, my HEART, my SOUL, my BEING... my EXISTENCE !!! My BEST COMPANION ! My *ALL* !!!
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