The bird and the cat

So the bird escaped (esc-ap-e) from its cage. The Mr asked "Whats the bird doing out. With the cat?????"

I got up thinking it was his way of getting me off the PC... only to find this:







And this is how it got out:



All doors are now closed with bungees.

On another note, we have named the new addition. Tulsi - Sanskrit for Basil (a unisex name).

Adopted

We've adopted a new family member. It is a Grey-Green (or Olive we arent sure) Indian Ring Neck baby, about 2-3 months old. It's in the house being handled as often as possible. Once we have our own babies it will have cage mates, and go to the dream garden aviary when the time comes. We hope to have the dream garden aviary a sit in aviary with tame birds, unlike our breeding pair that are near wild. Except when it comes to my husband of course- they love him.

We have not given it a name... we wont know its sex until maturity,... or when I DNA sex it. I don't like the idea of making it bleed though- so we may find a unisex name.

The basics

We have recently decided to become as self sustaining as we can. We have 6 chicks who in 4-5 months will provide us & the neighbors with eggs. We have:

1 Ameraucana - Black-Brown-White (named by the boy) - lays green blue eggs
1 Black Sex-links - Snow White
1 Buff Orpington - Sunshine
1 Rhode Island Red - Ariel too (the first Ariel passed on) - large eggs
2 Blue Cochins - Bluis (also named by the boy) & Cinderella

We are also growing as much produce as possible. We have planted:

Fruit:

2 lemons
1 pink lemon
1 Orange
1 Concord Grape
2 Blueberries
1 Asian Pear
1 Fuji Apple
1 Wonderful Pomegranate
1 Stella Cherry

2 Olive trees

I still would like to get plums, white flesh nectarines, and a peach of our own. The neighbors also grow peaches, plums, and a few other fruits and generously share their bounty. I will be learning to can, and will also be making our own jams.

The veggie garden will have:

cilantro
basil (2 kinds)
green beans
lettuce
carrots
kale
onion
leeks
Brussels sprouts
watermelon radish
Jade & Italian white sunflowers
golden beets
eggplant
peas
parsley

Again, the neighbors have quite a harvest and share their squashes, zucchini, patty pans (My fav). The sunflowers will not only be for the wildlife, but for our two Blue Indian Ring Neck parrots. The Pomegranate is also for them. Imagine blue + red = purple birds

All waste will go to the chickens (sans onion and garlic - that would be some nasty eggs), and in turn they will grace our garden with a wealth of manure.

Due to the awful conditions commercial animals are raised treated etc... we are hoping to get our beef & pork via 4-H auction. At least then we know that the animal was loved, and the money goes to a good cause- a childs education. We hope to find a cow that is grass fed.

Outside of the practical, we have our indulgences, including:

2 Koi ponds
3 pygmy goats (show goats)
2 indian ring necks previously mentioned - breeding pair & currently nesting
a collection of Japanese Maples including 10 seedlings
4 or 5 different Magnolia trees
a hammock
and a growing Dahlia collection