HEADING SOUTH

It is Sunday morning, and after a dull and rainy Saturday, we are blest with a beautiful Austin, Texas day. How lucky to be living in Austin.

Next week is the beginning of a month at the beach. I really like to see July roll around, as we have so much fun down in the hot sun! Usually there are so many things to do to make the house look better, painting, cleaning, refinishing the deck, being sure our weather station is correct. There is always maintenance at a beach house...never get a front row home..they are the worst! Been there, done that!

And

There are usually two trips to Louisiana to do a little slot pulling. I don't do the tables, as I don't know enough about the games to make good decisions. Actually, you don't have to think to do the slots, so, that is where I go. My sister-in-law is the one that got me started...do I thank her or what? We usually take 50 dollars (25 each) and pull away on the 5 dollar machine. One trip, I was running very short of money, and decided I would spend the last on a $5 machine. I pulled and it locked. I asked someone..what is wrong? "Nothing, you are on a $25 machine". Yikes, from then on, I really watch WHICH machine I am on!!! They have them all mixed in with $5 and a $10 might be right next to it, then the $25 and even up to $100. Now I ask you, how much fun would it be to play the $100 slot? I would be very nervous, and probably would not enjoy the loss! I would rather lose it slowly.. HA!

Well, summer will be gone before we know it. We are on a committee to plan the University of Texas X Student's golf tournament. It was held in November the first year, pretty cold.. then October last year..the first cold day we had for the winter, and this year it will be in September. The tournament will be the Monday after the Ohio State game. Should be HOT!!!! September is hot in Austin.

My Grandson, who is in the Army, will be in San Antonio, for about four months starting the end of July. NICE! We don't see that much of each other, but it will be nice to have Holly and Greg in Texas.

Wonder if they would want to go to a Football game? I will have to ask. Perhaps the first one. We will see if an Ole Miss fan would put up his horns.

Next post will be from the Beach House, unless I get something to write about before.

I will have some news about my other Grandson by then, I hope! He is going to change his life completely...I am 100% behind what he will be doing. More later. God Bless them all! Brittany, that means you, too!

LOVEBIRDS FOREVER!!!!

Well, really good news. After my little Blue Masked Lovebird died, the other one was so lonesome. He (don't know for sure, but for writings, HE will do) just sat on his swing..hardly churped at all. So... I have been looking through the weekend, and today, for a new friend for Blue.

I called about 5 stores, and went to about 5 more. Today was the day...there, at Petsmart, was a beautiful blue masked lovebird. So much like the other one, that the only way, right now, to tell them apart is by their tails. Blue has a wider tail, and the new bird has narrow and pointed tail. So, with that, let us just say, we have twins!!!

They looked at each other for about 15 minutes. Finally, Blue was nervy enough to nibble on Lovey's head. Then she (don't know for sure..you the rest) nibbled on his head. I had not seen the nibbling with the first two. Then, they broke out in the loudest chatter. She makes sounds different from those that Blue makes, so, we can tell them apart that way, too.

They are so happy to be together. It was LOVE at first sight. Whew. Sometimes they don't like each other, and there is a terrible war that goes on until you separate them. Luckily we won't have to do that. She is probably 2 months old, Blue will be a 1 year old in November. We will wait until April or so to put a nest and nesting material with them. Until then, they can be buds, and churp sing, with the Finches and the Lory.

The Lory can sing and whistle many sounds..The Eyes of Texas being the best!!!! I hope they are with him long enough to learn that, too.

I felt so bad when the first Lovebird died. But there is a happy ending/beginning now.

LOVEBIRDS FROM ELDORADO TO AUSTIN

We drove to Burnet yesterday to pick up our new little birds. Our friend, Susan, gave us two of her lovebirds that she had hatched and raised! (well, actually, the mother and father bird did hatch them and raise them..but you understand what I mean)

What a fun trip. We arrived in Burnet early, so we ate a hamburger, fries, and waited for Susan to show. She did, driving her cute PT Cruiser, looking like a real city gal. She lives in Eldorado on her ranch, and needed to be in Burnet yesterday, so, we just met with her, exchanged the empty cage for the cage with the birds in it, covered them and hooked it back to Austin.

On our way home, we stopped at the pet shop .. the one where I bought my finches. They told me for sure they were Black Masked Lovebirds. They are a beautiful teal color with white collar and breast. Black head with the ring eyes..that is why they are called black masked. Actually, the blue ones are often called Blue Masked Lovebirds, but we can call them what ever we want.

Now, we hope we have a male and female. I am going to try to raise some, in about 3 months. I am going to get them comfortable with their new home, and get them comfortable with me sticking my hand in the cage to change the water, or put some fruits and vegetables in the cage. They are already singing, churping, if you will..and that is a good sign. I am so happy to have them.

I think their names are Sinclair (for the female) and either Teal, Zorro, Bandit or some other interesting name. I will try to post a picture on this blog for you to see their color and size. They are little parrots. Pocket Parrots. The ladies at the pet store said "NO, they are Lovebirds" ..but the book..the book..it said they are often called Pocket Parrots. So, I will call them something ....

Meanwhile, the finches, Whitey and PeeWee are not going to have any more baby attempts. Not until November or later.. I think the mother and father are too young. We will see how this hatching goes. Hope they make it. They are really cute birds, too. And of course, the Lory, JoJo...what a clown. He sings and whistles The Eyes of Texas and whistles that and a bunch of other tunes. He pretends he is a turkey, a mourning dove, and squirrel. He is going to teach the Lovebirds to make some kind of sound, I am sure.

Sad news. One of the Blue Masks is dead. I found him/her this morning (June 10th) boo hoo. I have to call Susan, and tell her. She will be so sad, since she raised these beauties. Well, we put the bird next to our cats. They will have plenty to talk about! Our yard looks like a bird, cat, etc. cemetary. Well, we have to put them somewhere when they leave us. I can see the spot when I walk down the stairs in the mornings...

More on the birds, later.