he stretched his wings and flew. . .

Good morning all,

It has been a crazy week. Our bird, Yacky, flew the coop. Something to do with spring and freedom and probably just sheer butt-headedness (it was one of his charms. . .) Couldn't believe we were so close and yet so far from getting him back. He left on thursday, we saw him friday (a short ladder reach away until wings took to the wind) and again saturday morning when he thumbed his nose from the top of a 40' palm tree, resisting even potato chips. . .The neighborhood really pulled together, close neighbors, dog walkers, joggers, everyone kept an eye out for him. Jonathan put signs up and walked several times a day and kayaked in hopes of catching a glimpse or a meoooooow.

Saturday night was a hard rain and little did we know he had found shelter and a soul mate in a young man, son of some neighbors across the pond in east shores (we didn't look there, thinking he would stay on our island), but he found their oak trees and walked onto their porch) yet another family to love him. Yacky traveled around on his shoulders, took a tub bath (he would never do that for me), peeled bananas on their kitchen table and made himself at home. The next day while the young man was building a cage for him (until they located his owners), since he didnt like staying in the bathroom by himself, he had yet another opportunity to spread those wings and headed for the trees. Unfortunately, sunday night it got down into the 40's and the family found him the next morning in a permanent sleep. They were heartbroken, as were many of the people who came into contact with him and tried to will him back alive, but no luck. We are grateful for their giving him a great last weekend, but in truth, Yacky had a strong will and made choices that came from his bird nature, he just didn't explain them to us. We probably would have understood.


He touched lives more deeply than I had imagined. Jonathan is really missing him, it is so quiet. Others, family and strangers have called and expressed sorrow and sadness mixed with great stories of his influence.

From Maryanne, my great friend said. . . " that bird stole my heart...instantly. remember the first time i met him? after it got through to me that i didn't need to be fussy* or afraid of him ... i sat by his cage for hours talking with him...touching his sternum through his cage. and finally - when i had to get up and stretch he was SO annoyed with me. how DARE i entertain the thought of being anywhere but adoring him. he is a lifetime model of self possession and personal esteem".

I think spring probably did have something to do with it. . .Annie, the dog walker, lost hers 2 weeks before ours and Pat and Herb lost theirs a year ago at this time (they were lucky and got theirs back the next day), mating seasons affect even ones that aren't around others. . .Quite a community of animal/bird lovers. John, the mailman, even carried potato chips in the mail truck. Thanks to all who helped and supported. Yacky would have just considered it his due. . .being the center of the universe and all. May you blow your siren at the boats going by from your resting place near the sea wall where you can keep tabs on the world. . .. .we miss you.

Good morning

Weather has been really windy. Not able to get out on the deck, much less the dock. Has brought the water levels to the highest I've seen. Veggie garden in pots has taken a beating. Time to trim the bushes and trees in the yard.


Back to the computer. Have been transitioning to a laptop and still haven't quite gotten the hang of it. I'm taking "one to one" classes every week at the mac store thanks to Sandra and have been learning to do without a mouse, change camera videos to ones I can edit in my movie program, set up a website, and the more I learn, the less I know. . .

Yacky, our african gray, has made an escape. He left thursday night, but we saw him yesterday and last night (he didn't end up in the bay!) and almost got him to come for a potato chip, but not quite. Hopefully he will still be around today and be hungrier! Keep your fingers crossed!

Violets have been going crazy. They are so spectacular right now. Hard to resist taking pictures.


Have been painting again. It has triggered a push for a real website, have been playing with domain names. The whole website thing is new territory, thankfully Jonathan has been a wealth of information and patience! Will keep you posted with news!!! Screamer keeps my feet warm while I work.

Empty nest, again!

Click here to create your own painting. This was a fun thing that LeeAnna sent to me, try your own personality painting. . .

Sandra was here for a great week. Gasparilla Art Show, dock time, Momix at the Performing Arts Center, dolphin visits, but mostly just quiet time. Martha and I left Sandra and Jonathan to go to a Angela's bridal shower in Bradenton while they went to the aquarium. Their new best friend is the puffer fish!

Went to retirement party for Judy and the ESE Department from Monroe. Of the dozen of us there, only 2 still at Monroe. Good to see everyone, glad to be retired!!!!!


Click here to create your own painting.

Halloween in february!!!

LeeAnna, my longtime friend and part of our "bitchery" group, made a halloween quilt (10?) years ago and I expressed an interest in one for me. Gave her fabrics and drove her crazy. Lo, these many years later, what should appear on my doorstep but. . . a manifestation. My totally unreasonable request for a king-size quilt produced an incredible work of art!!!! I am so excited. The kitty face with green button eyes, candy corn and the skeleton are amazing.

First pic shows process and the next the finished front. Will send to Kyra in Austin to do the quilting. Wheeeee. So much fun.
THANK YOU, SISTER LEEANNA!!! I LOVE YOU. The pic appears right-side up in my view. . .guess the spirits are having their fun!

2/25/08

This is not my photo, but was trying out the new mac.
I am at the Apple store getting my new laptop set up. The new operating system is going to make working on the blog easier because it will give me easier access to my photos. The new keyboard however will take some getting used to!!! Computer still has 2+ hours to finish the transfer so I can't access it yet, but since I was here, I will try to catch up with written stuff and add photos later. Jonathan has been in denver for a workshop and I have been home sick. I have a bit of a voice today, last night none and the day before. . . ifffy. So things have basically been pretty quiet.

Cindy came friday night for girls night in and went out saturday looking for houses. Nothing is ever easy. Snag on selling their house and she is missing Mike.

Dock getting cleaned and sealed tomorrow and wednesday. Life is good.

Wind finally settled down and water is smooth for a change.

3 weeks away from the computer. . .

janet, miss you already, left your coffee cup on the table until way past dinner. . .in case you might come back for more. . .your gladiolas were beautiful, thanks. . .


exciting 3 weeks. jannie has been here and we have been exploring. (in no particular order of events) went to see the "full monty" at hudson dinner theater with rock and bren, better than the movie, easier to understand the dialog and lots of cute butts. food was good as was the company



tried out waverunners, jannie and I went by ourselves one day and just puttered around the canals. . .water was pretty choppy and it was my first time to drive one in the last 20 yrs! Rock and Bren came down and we had a picture perfect day, water was glassy, not too hot or cold, so we scooted out from pass-a-grille pass out along the beaches, past ft. desoto park all the way to egmont key then the skyway was looming in the distance so we actually went under and around the bridge.



went to see the "jersey boys" at the performing arts center. was the story of frankie valli and the 4 seasons. music was delightful and had side balcony seats that were chairs instead of theater seats, much more flexible arrangement.

superbowl party (with superbowl sundaes!), Got some great dolphin videos that weekend (thanks jake, yours were terrific). party was great fun and lots of food, jannie set up a board and we all picked squares, jake and lindsay were the big winners. got to see long missed friends!


the floating dock went in, have been looking at them since Christmas time, Quite a procedure to get them from truck to water and it was a windy day. Cliff and helper used a water jet to dig hole to sink 4-21'steel poles to anchor it. Now we can sit and stick our feet in the water or swim without having to get in on the channel side. Easy to launch kayaks or sit with a book!








but the biggest news is probably that the tampa house is sold!!!!!


new owner excited about moving in. may put in french doors to replace the awful sliders!




started my 1 on 1 apple training, learning lots, go once a week. . .finally figured out how to get the video from the new camera past iphoto (it's an mpeg and had to change to dv with downloaded software called VLC player) to work on my movie software.

apple store