I’ve been asked a few times now about the rationale behind having so many birds when life is already complicated enough with Anthony’s Parkinson’s Disease, the nursing lodge transition traumas, Ming’s back surgery and subsequent life adjustments. So here is an explanation:
Last year, when Anthony was still living here at home and the idea of a nursing lodge had not even been contemplated, and I was already on an extended leave arrangement from my job as a lecturer at the local university, I decided to do everything possible to make our lives brighter. It began with the guinnea fowl because Anthony has always loved them; then poultry; then the peafowl (that was my idea). We had chookyards built, began to reap the delight of fresh eggs and the guinnea fowl (a dozen) made a very interestingly noisy addition to what had become an overly quiet life.
I befriended all of the birds and, to some extent, tamed them but it wasn’t until that first dusk when I watched, amazed, as all of the guinneas and peafowl flew up into the trees to sleep, that I realized I was hooked. Why? Because for the first time in years I was looking up.
jmgoyder 
And it gives you something else to think about. Birds are so entertaining.
Yes and now that Spring is here I am noticing all of the wild birds so much more!
i love your explanation, in times such as we live with PD, it is easy to look down, so thank you for this beautiful story
It’s only today that I figured out why those birds mean so much!
Your white peacock is beautiful! Keep looking up! 🙂
Sweet. Looking up is a good way to put it. Resilience is born out of finding the light in the midst of the darkness.
Yes – and that isn’t easy but at least it’s possible!
You are awesome.. of course.. we are looking up! have a lovely day!! c
I have learned a lot about looking up from your own blog, cecilia!
A great explanation and I can definitely see the draw.
Yes – those birds are champions – thank you Diana!
What a lovely reason to look up.
Very much so!
Oh wow. I love that play on words. What a beautiful metaphor!
Everyone needs a reason to look up and your birds are so adorable.
Yes, those birds have wisdom
That’s beautiful! Keeping looking up! BIG love from…me
I don’t have any brilliant answers for the five stray cats I feed or the bird feeders I constantly fill. I just enjoy them. And for me, that’s enough. But your reasons sound much more noble and reasonable. So hooray for you! If they make you happy, that’s enough.
Not noble – ha!
I think that is the perfect explanation. I love it. We all need ways to keep looking up.
Beautiful Jules. Never stop looking up my friend
thank you! ~ BB
You too BB!
Aww – now that is an inspirational post if I ever saw one Julie — you are the best… and, know how to ‘make the best’ of every joyful corner of your world!! xxoo
The peas and guinneas can leave at any time but they don’t and this is a thrill!
Yes I bet you can’t imagine not having them now…………
Very sweet, but no explanation needed. Even if they are a lot of work, they are part of your life now, and we can tell how much they take you out of yourself. I found your blog in the first place because of your lovely birds!
oh!
Birds can be very therapeutic, they are always fun to watch, and now they have you looking up… The rooster has you running so they must be good for exercise as well…lol…
I love the explanation and reasoning behind your feathered family members.
Thanks Eva!
Oh, Sweetie, I love this post. I can’t tell you how many times I catch myself looking down. What a great nudge to look up. I’ll never know what I’ll see, huh?
Here’s a hug.
Lovely thoughts and pics, White peacocks are so beautiful. 🙂
They sometimes don’t even seem real, they are so beautiful!
What a beautiful way to put it – looking up – lovely play on words.
You are wonderful 🙂
Thanks Dianne – has been a rough week.
I’m so sorry to hear that. It’s hard to stay strong sometimes 😦
My thoughts and hugs are with you xoxoxo
The trickiness of life sometimes trips us up – oh well – thx
Wonderful post – beautiful … we should all look up a bit more then we do .. most of the time we walk with our eyes on the ground and it’s not good for us – there is so much more to see and take part of when we look up and that we so easily miss with our heads down. I’m exactly the same – but after my friends funeral this week .. I have decided to look up all the time, but I also have to keep an eye on where I put my feet. Keep on looking up, Julie …
best reason I can think of
Wonderful things to see up there
Yes.
A great metaphor for life.
I have always felt the birds are good for you, despite the work. Like with our dogs, they allow you to just enjoy them.
Very true. Animals of any kind are so wonderfully wonderful!
Yes, it is in the darkness that we see the stars.
Great that the birds enable you to feel positive.
What a lovely comment – thank you!
That’s a great thing to realize. Do you find the birds therapeutic even with all their antics?
I told my hubby the other day that I think we have the most spoiled birds in the neighborhood (or beyond) because of the variety of food we put out for them. Even though they are wild, and come and go as they please, I find them therapeutic.
Oh yes, they always make me smile even if I am not smiling!
How insightful you are!
Ha!
Love it…just be careful not to get bird poop in your eyes. Okay? And looking up is always a good idea Jules…always! Make a habit of it.
xo
U
I’ve had birds poop on my head but not in my eye yet – ha!
I have nothing to add to the above statements. How could I? Except to say I am thinking about you, my friend. ~ Lynda
Love it! Woderful reason, but I did not think you needed to explain. I already knew from the pics and the “conversations” they have, that these birds were loved and brought alot to your life.
Barb
Thanks Barb!
How incredibly powerful! Wow!
And I love the photos too. As a reader, they always make me smile and feel gratitude for your sharing.