How animals uplift me

[Mischief]

The nonhumans with whom I live constantly amaze, humble, and amuse me.

Just a few examples:

I have a surfeit of roosters, whom I've had to keep separated so they don't injure each other. I finally decided to get some more hens so that I can (hopefully) establish separate flocks so that they can all (hopefully) free range relatively peacefully during the day. (My "main" flock of one rooster and five hens free ranges.)

Anyway, I ended up getting six hens (now I suspect one of them is a rooster!) in the late fall and putting them in with my two young roosters who get along with each other. The new chickens were much younger than I had expected - in fact, they were still making chick, rather than chicken, sounds.

My two boys, bless them, started tucking all of the youngsters under their bodies and wings at night, and are still doing it, even though the youngsters are pretty well full grown.

 

[Mischief]

One of my sister's cats is blind and deaf. Every once in a while, he gets confused about where he is, and stands and cries. Then one of the other boys comes over and licks him and comforts him.

 

[Mischief]

Clarification: I intended this thread or the sharing of stories - I meant "me" as in each of us with a story.

 

[KLS52]

Clarification: I intended this thread or the sharing of stories - I meant "me" as in each of us with a story.

I knew that. And when I saw this thread my reaction was, I love this! My four cats uplift me on a daily basis, I was just having a hard time coming up with specific instances. But I realize that they don't have to do anything specifically extraordinary. Their being is enough.

I think their ability to love me is probably the most outstanding, at the moment. They have become a bit of a burden because, Bratt and Joon, especially, are so darned bossy and persistent for attention that it's becoming a problem. But so as not to turn this into a gripe, haha, even when they have to be (gently) scolded, they always come back for some lovin. I can't even get mad when they do bad things. I end up laughing because I'm more amazed than upset at how crazy they are.

 

[KLS52]

I was very lucky when I started fostering a few years ago. The current crew seemed to accept each and every newcomer that joined the ranks. I never had a problem with fighting and/or rejection. That made it easy to do the foster thing.

 

[Mischief]

I was very lucky when I started fostering a few years ago. The current crew seemed to accept each and every newcomer that joined the ranks. I never had a problem with fighting and/or rejection. That made it easy to do the foster thing.

It's amazing how accepting cats can be of newcomers, isn't it?!

 

[KLS52]

I forgot to get birdseed on Friday. We are snow covered and it's been cold. So I googled to see what I could give the birds until I could get to the store. Birds and Blooms said cereal and peanut butter. So I put some bran flakes, cheerios and rice krispues on the deck railing and smeared a little peanut butter. The cheerios were gone first, then the bran, which is interesting because the article said rice krispies were preferred.

Then a squirrel came, and it was so cute. He scooped up a blob of peanut butter and it was so funny watching him try to eat it from his little front feet. At one point, he kind of gagged... I got so scared...but he was fine. It was fun watching him. I love squirrels. I miss the one who used to knock on my window everyday, asking for peanuts. I picked up a big bag of unsalted with the birdseed. We're nicely stocked for awhile. Expecting more bad weather today.

 

[shyvas]

I forgot to get birdseed on Friday. We are snow covered andbits been cold. So I googled to see what I could give the birds until I could get to the store. Birds and Blooms said cereal and peanut butter. So I put some bran flakes, cheerios and rice krispues on the deck railing and smeared a little peanut butter. The cheerios were gone first, then the bran, which is interesting because the article said rice krispies were preferred.

Then a squirrel came, and it was so cute. He scooped up a blob of peanut butter and it was so funny watching him try to eat it from his little front feet. At one point, he kind of gagged... I got so scared...but he was fine. It was fun watching him. I love squirrels. I miss the one who used to knock on my window everyday, asking for peanuts. I picked up a big bag of unsalted with the birdseed. We're nicely stocked for awhile. Expecting more bad weather today.

I absolutely love, love squirrels. Could sit and watch them all day long.

I used to get so much joy feeding all the birds but since we had rats/field mice, I have had to stop. It's all very quiet and sad on the balcony. One bird occasionally pops over just to check whether there is any food. They seem to have a very good memory.

 

[Mischief]

I absolutely love, love squirrels. Could sit and watch them all day long.

Yes, they are so joyful.

For a couple of years when I was a student, I lived in a room that had an oak tree right outside my window. There was a squirrel who would hang out on a branch right alongside the window, and I'd hang out on the other side of the glass. It was my favorite place to live ever, because of that.