Hobbit

[Evelyn]

Anna -

Is Hobbit still there?

A friend gave me a double macaw cage (in pieces) and hubby put it together on the deck for me. Almost had enough pieces for a third section, which would have made in 12 feet long, but the dome top was missing.

Plato and Tamar love it out there. Betty is frightened. I stay with them in case a nosey cat tries to terrorize them. Today, some crows scared Tamar.

Looking for some greenery to put in and around the cage that is safe for birdies.

Very busy with our local club's Bird Fair. That will be on June 28th--then maybe can relax and concentrate on a new computer.

Evelyn

[too&me]

Wow what a set up for that outside time, our birds are jealous Evelyn. Good to see you posting again-missed your humor and insight. Poor little Tamar those crows can be scary they are also very smart birds.

[FoxersArtist]

We missed you Evelyn. You bet Hobbit is still here. She is just waiting for her perfect friend. She is such a dear. She fell in love with Bonnie's family, but they didn't have much bird experience and I promised Hobbit's owners that she would go to someone who really knew their stuff and had a heart for birds. We moved her out of quarentine and into the livingroom for a bit of scenery change, but we'll see how long that lasts before she wants to be moved again. I think it's good for them to experience change.

And speaking of change, sounds like you did an awesome job with your guys and their new setup! It's always nice to give them tons of room to just be birds. I hope you are still coming in July, we are all excited about meeting you. :) Glad to see you around!
-Anna

[Evelyn]

Anna

I'm still planning in coming if you are up to it. I am afraid you will over-extend yourself with all this company.

If possible, I would like to see Sunshine while I'm there. Would you ask Bentley? I know he belongs to her but I spent so much effort and time on getting him that I would like to see what all the fuss was about.

Evelyn

[FoxersArtist]

Hi Evelyn.
Don't worry about wearing me out. I feel GREAT now that i'm gluten free and am really enjoying as much activity as I can manage since i missed so much.

As far as seeing Sunshine, I can ask Bentley if she would be willing to bring Sunshine over, but I know for sure that she won't let you visit her house. A few years ago someone came to her house and then later threatened to kill all of her dogs. It scared her so badly that she is very careful about who she allows over and generally has to get to know someone for quite some time before letting them come over. I will ask about bringing sunshine out, though he is a horrible traveler.
-Anna
Anna

I'm still planning in coming if you are up to it. I am afraid you will over-extend yourself with all this company.

If possible, I would like to see Sunshine while I'm there. Would you ask Bentley? I know he belongs to her but I spent so much effort and time on getting him that I would like to see what all the fuss was about.

Evelyn

[Evelyn]

That's ridiculous, but don't tell her, because I want to see Sunshine. Looks like she would be appreciative enough that I stepped back.

If you can't vouch that I won't kill her dogs, or whatever else she is afraid of, then you don't know me very well.

Evelyn

[bonnie]

Some people are very phobic about things. I have phobias that no one on earth could make me change my mind about.

[FoxersArtist]

I could vouch for you until I turned blue. That wouldn't change a thing. Some people have boundaries that others may not have and I think it fair to respect those. For example, I have invited all of you into my home! Why? I love you dearly and trust you. Would some people not do something like this for the same reasons that Bentley is not comfortable having company over? Yup, many people do. I for one completely respect her request for people not to come over to her house or know where she lives. I respect being able to go over to her house after years of not being invited over for the exact same reasons you would not be invited over - and I was a dear friend!
-Anna
That's ridiculous, but don't tell her, because I want to see Sunshine. Looks like she would be appreciative enough that I stepped back.

If you can't vouch that I won't kill her dogs, or whatever else she is afraid of, then you don't know me very well.

Evelyn

[MoluccanZoey]

I'm kinda funny about letting people into my house, but for different reasons. (and different reasons for differnet people- my relatives for instance, I'm always afraid are "casing the joint"). But for most people I'm afraid they are going to make my ferrets sick (ferrets can catch the human flu). So last week I made an exception and let a friend of mine come over and help me clean, and then, (against better judgement) let her kids see the ferrets. Usually if my mom helps she wears a medical mask. But anyway it was just once so what's the harm. Well this week I have 14 sick ferrets. One got sick and I thought I caught it early and seperated him, but nope- he gave it to ALL the others. So I have to give meds and make special foods and do extra cleanings... NO MORE VISITORS! Or at least none that aren't going to change shoes and wear a mask. Now I'm waiting to get it....:rolleyes:
So even though everyone thinks I'm weird to make you go through all these things just to see the pets- I have my reasons! They don't have to wake up to do feedings and give meds to all the critters! So I guess some rules seem weird to some people, but to the creators they are based in logic lol!:D

[too&me]

Foot bath at the door a lab coat or biohazard suit and gloves for all visitors. I understand completely!

[Evelyn]

Foot bath at the door a lab coat or biohazard suit and gloves for all visitors. I understand completely!


My God!

There are phobias and then there is common sense.

I have a phobia about snakes. Just seeing one that isn't securely locked up terrifies me. Even non-poisonous ones. I have never been traumatied by a snake, and in college I even handled corn snakes and wanted one for a pet until I learned they only eat live animals. I understand it for what it is, but I'm not going to let in control my life, Especially when I live on 23 acres which we share with black snakes, garden snakes and the occasional copperheads. You take reasonable precautions, but that doesn't include not going outside. Sheesh!

I suppose everyone is entitled to his/her phobias, just as they are entitled to their opinions, but IMHO (which is supported by research--as scientific as one can research behavior), extremes in almost anything is not good for anybody--pet owners or birds. It makes for neurotic people and pets. Laid-back people tend to have laid-back pets, and nervous people tend to have nervous pets. I DON'T have scientific research to support the following statement, but I wonder if most instances of feather plucking are caused by people and not by health conditions.

Quite frankly, if I had known Bentley was fanatic about anything that could affect Sunshine, I would not have given up so easily. I thought it was what was best for Sunshine, given Anna's opinion that he should not stay at her house for very long.

Oh, well. There is nothing to be done about it now. If she doesn't let me see him, she doesn't let me see him. Reminds me of some custody cases I have handled.

Evelyn

[too&me]

A Damaged Psyche is a tricky thing indeed. Imagine how difficult it must be for her to have that deep seated fear to live with every day. We all have our issues and so do our birds you have a good point here Evelyn. Freds last person Vickie said he came to her in very bad shape with a poor diet as well. No telling how many homes and what he had seen and survived. He is a serious mutilator.

[Chrissy and Flock]

I am guessing that Sunshine will not get to see many people in his new home....

[Evelyn]

I am guessing that Sunshine will not get to see many people in his new home....

Probably, and that's a shame--especially if something happened that Bentley had to give him up. But I assume Anna gave some thought to that when she let Bentley have him.

And, as the guy said who wrote "7 Habits of Highly Successful People," or something like that: don't waste time worrying about something that is outside your sphere of influence.

Evelyn

[FoxersArtist]

How can one assume that a person who is cautious enough to not let strangers into their home will also have no friends? I think Bentley is enriched with many wonderful people in her life. The difference is that the people surrounding her are loyal enough to patiently earn her trust instead of being given it freely from the start. I do not view her as paranoid - and believe me, I have quite the experience with paranoid bird people! Bentley is one of the most well balanced, reasonable, self aware people I know. Her animals are well loved and not over protected. She even takes them to schools to do presentations - something that is good for both the birds and the kids they visit. Once Bentley gets to know her friends, her home is open to them. I can even count multiple times where she has offered a needly friend a place to stay for a while. I am confident in my ability to match birds with new owners so questioning my decision to place Sunshine with Bentley is not a bother to me. Both people and birds have unique quirks that make them special and that is part of the fun of doing the work that I do. What makes me sad is that someone would be so quick to judge a perfect stranger. Evelyn, I know how badly you wanted Sunshine and I think that it was commendable for you to decide that perhaps God was trying to tell you something else. Now it is time for you to find peace, if you have not already, about the decision you made to give up your chance.
-Anna

[Evelyn]

How can one assume that a person who is cautious enough to not let strangers into their home will also have no friends? I think Bentley is enriched with many wonderful people in her life. The difference is that the people surrounding her are loyal enough to patiently earn her trust instead of being given it freely from the start. I do not view her as paranoid - and believe me, I have quite the experience with paranoid bird people! Bentley is one of the most well balanced, reasonable, self aware people I know. Her animals are well loved and not over protected. She even takes them to schools to do presentations - something that is good for both the birds and the kids they visit. Once Bentley gets to know her friends, her home is open to them. I can even count multiple times where she has offered a needly friend a place to stay for a while. I am confident in my ability to match birds with new owners so questioning my decision to place Sunshine with Bentley is not a bother to me. Both people and birds have unique quirks that make them special and that is part of the fun of doing the work that I do. What makes me sad is that someone would be so quick to judge a perfect stranger. Evelyn, I know how badly you wanted Sunshine and I think that it was commendable for you to decide that perhaps God was trying to tell you something else. Now it is time for you to find peace, if you have not already, about the decision you made to give up your chance.
-Anna

Anna -

This doesn't compute with your earlier email about Bentley. I'm sorry, but anybody who is afraid to let people into her house until she has known them for years and they are trusted friends is neurotic. Also, you said Sunshine doesn't travel well, so why and how does she take him to schools for presentations?

You should not let your desire to find good in everybody interfere with your objectivity. She might be a very good person in all other ways, but she is still neurotic. Does that mean you shouldn't love her? No. Hell, we all have our own neuroses. As long as it doesn't affect me, I don't care if she's crazy as a loon.

I'm the one who decided to let Sunshine go. Read my post again. I don't waste time worrying about something outside my sphere of influence.

Evelyn