Happy Late Thanksgiving! Everyone was fed at Buddy's Backyard, our chipmunk that I've been seeing has been coming out from the woodpile as I put sunflower seeds on the ground. So I add good heap of sunflowers down for him/her.

A lot of people often write about what they're thankful for and that really wasn't my thing, but as I wrote to Buddy last night. I wanted to write what I was thankful for from Buddy, I may be off a little but I'll share what I wrote to Buddy until I ran out of the one page.

To Buddy, I'm thankful for all these things you did when you were here with us.

• When you talk to us
• When we would take you on your walks
• When you slept with me, dad and even mom
• When you would let me carry you to bed with me when I was younger
• When we would play with you, whether it was pulling you across the room with the sleeping bag, or tossing your hoops, string or even your catnip toys
• When you hooked your tail around our legs
• When you purred 
• When you gave us your love and devotion to us
• When you let me carry you, even when you didn't want to be carried 
• When you have that spunky outburst and run around silly
• When you show us your belly for belly rubs
• When you greeted us on the dishwasher many years ago
• When you greeted us on the computer chair many years ago
• When you sit on your heated pad by the window waiting for us to come home
• When you sit on the green platform watching your yard and waiting for us
• When you wait for dad to go outside on walks or go out with dad

Most of all, I'm thankful for is for ALL the Memories and Years we had with you. 

I came across a quote I saw,

"If Love could have saved you . . , You would live forever." 

You are LOVED for Infinity, Love is what helped you cross the rainbow bridge at the comfort of your home and by us. There's not a day where I don't wish to have more time with you or a way to enter the heaven and spend the day with you, rubbing your big belly or taking you on your walks. Just to hear, feel and hug you once more.  

I'm thankful for you sending us Copper and Coal, I do truly think that you would have enjoyed them both in their own way. 

`

One year Anniversary

October 4th, 2017

Our biggest baby boy passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by all of us.

I can't believe that a year had gone by, there's still much I miss of Buddy. I miss his big furry belly, his unique meow, his purr, his belly fluff when he runs around and so much more. He was the baby of our lives, the light of our lives until old age became of him.

So to honor Buddy in the best way possible, we brought Copper and Coal into our lives and they give us a lot of joy and laugher throughout the day. But they can never replace Buddy, but they can enjoy the same thing Buddy loves the most. 

The most important thing to Buddy was his porch access to the outside world, believe it or not we didn't always have an enclosed porch. We still had an open porch that was getting old and showing it's age, so when my dad decided that we needed a new porch. We built it for the sole purpose for Buddy, and now Copper and Coal can enjoy the same thing although we will have to replace one side of the screen due to their claws. 

I'm going to share some pictures from Buddy's younger years, we brought him into our lives at some point in 2001. Maybe May? He was born in April and we got him fairly soon after checking out the Humane society Shelter, I would say between 10-14 weeks?

YEAR 2001- 2002

 

S

See that hairtie? There's a story about Buddy and hairties  

 

See that Vampire? There's a Buddy Tail about that.

See how eager this boy wanted to go outside on his porch?? 

Year 2002 - ????

Let me explore!! But there's a little story about Buddy Vs. the Pool, but that will be for another post sometimes later.

I can't believe that spot he's looking at that we called the JUNGLE was not a JUNGLE. Like everything tripled in size from when this picture was taken. 

Buddy not only got big and bigger, but we added a small platform for that corner in the next few years after this photo, until last year we added another expansion because he was a BIG cat. 

So remember that Funny Photo at the beginning? When we got photos developed, we discover that we couldn't tell which way was up or down. What do you think? Up/Down??
***Note I did edit this photo to get rid of the flash spots on Buddy's eyes, but then I decided to keep the original flash spots. 

Some Backyard visitors

Hello everyone!

Right now we are getting at least five turkeys, two males and at least three females but no younglings or Poults as they call it. I don't suspect we'll get any. As you know we used to have 24 hens and down we're down to three. Whatever happen to the rest? I'm not sure, mostly likely moved on when the winter hit us hard and never returned.

But I wouldn't be surprise if we do end up seeing more turkeys as we approach late summer into fall.

Next our orioles have had their babies; but right now we're having a hard time doing a head count because they come at different times and we seems to have a lot of female as well plus one that is clearly a baby.

Right now our wasps are a huge PEST to us and to our orioles, we are trying to find a way to ward them off better and not using stuff that can harm our birds.

Next we have now identified according to the MERLIN app that we have two Immature Grackles.

Our crows are still visiting as usual, they typically are there right away in the morning waiting for us to put the food out. The yummy treats.

Right now we have one of our crow with a sore of some kind on it's beak that got infected, so we will be keeping an eye on it hopefully it will heal on it's own. 

As for our woodchucks: Lately I've only been seeing one because one will sometimes be out there when I'm out trying to get the food out. Often time he/she been watching me but then walks back to where its sleep. But I've been at least three feet away from it, not that I'm trying to do human connection but it seems like it's not sure what to think or what to do when I'm right there with the food.

And last but not least, we had three different bucks in Buddy's Backyard at once!!!

Here's an earlier picture a few days before we had three at once at our house.

Buck #1

Deer #2

Deer #2 again

Deer #3

Deer #2 (Left) Deer #3 (Right)

Deer #1 again

That's it for Buddy's Backyard!

Copper & Coal turns ONE!!!

Birthday DUO

I can't believe that both of my boys are going to be One! Like how is that possible???

Copper turns one on July 11th and Coal turns one on July 14th, I am making July 13th as their combined birthday. Plus it's Friday the 13th and Coal is a black cat with good luck.

So let's look back . . . We brought Copper into our household October 21st, and Coal came into our household December 3rd. Little did we know we would have two opposite cats!

How to describe Copper in one word?

. . . . DOG . . . .

How to describe Coal in one word?

. . . . Devoted . . . .

I kid you not I think we're raising a CatDOG, Copper's personality and attributes are very much like a dog. He constantly love to eat, play aggressively, very talkative, makes all kind of sounds that I've never heard from a cat and he shows his love in his own way.

Coal is the laidback, but proceed with cautious and is conscious. He walks like he's walking on glass, he thinks before he jumps, and he loves to snuggle/cuddle with me. Coal only has a few favorite things that makes his world go round.

What are some of Copper's favorite things?

He loves to play with any balls with bells in them, but now he's obsessed with the Jackson Galaxy dice balls. We can't seem to find them half the time.

He will take whatever food you are eating, hence DOG. He wants to try whatever it is you're having.

He loves to wrestle Coal and goes for the neck area, even though I have to break it up from time to time because Copper plays aggressively.

He loves to play footies when you're in bed, No feet are safe from him!

He loves to drag open bags of cat treats and trots around with it in his mouth even though he's not supposed to.

What are some of Coal's favorite things?

He loves to play with water, especially when the water bowl has Ice Cubes in it.

He loves to climb on the computer chair to practicing his upper strengths and knead

He LOVE LOVE his sparkling green mouse that was lost in Early March and was found in late June. He starting loving the other big fluff green mouse, but nothing is compare to his little sparkling green mouse.

He loves to play with shoelaces, once he is drawn to it he won't stop playing with it.

Coal is obsessed with our Ice Machine, every time we use it he'll come running from the other room to the Ice Machine like he expects something to fall out.

~

I think if the two boys have a favorite color,
Copper would be Yellow because he's only really play with the yellow dice ball
Coal is clearly green, but I haven't been able to get him to play with the green dice ball.

Copper will find that anything can be and will be a toy, while Coal just loves his little green mouse.


While we still miss Buddy he still lives on in spirit; he's watching over Copper and Coal, giving them great insight about the house and trying to teach them the way of the house.

A trip to a National wildlife Refuge

So yesterday my dad and I took a trip a little down south from where we live. It was a day trip, nothing too fancy.

We went to Necedah, Wisconsin, they have a National Wildlife Refuge down there that's been around for probably 10,000 years? They are also home to butterflies, especially to an endangered specie called the Karner Blue Butterfly.

"700 species of birds, 220 species of mammals, 250 reptile and amphibian species, and more than 200 species of fish. Fifty-nine Refuges have been established with a primary purpose of conserving threatened or endangered species."

We went there in hope to see many birds that we wouldn't typically see, and I did! Although the trails or roadways that we could drive on were not meant for my car. Don't worry it's managed and survived. But a truck or even a Buggy ATV with a screen (yes we actually saw one),  I think if we had the buggy that would have made our travels much more easier.

Also don't go there on days that it's going to rain or has rain because the road are dirt roads.

  I know it's so far way but I believe it is an trumptered Swan

 A little tree frog staying shaded from the sun

 Red- headed Woodpecker!!! I am so glad to have got this photo!!! Plus a couple more.

Both of these photo above are Eastern Towhee, I think they are male and female pair. I tried to focus on one before it disappear into the foliage and then I could see movement in a different

Again really hard to tell, but these guys are Great While Pelican!!! Even Merlin ID says so!!

And I saw some red-winged Blackbirds as well.

New Returnees + Old friends

Hello All! What do you think of the picture above? A pair of Red-Bellied Woodpecker (Both Male and Female) Female have a little gray crown, while the Male has an All Red head.

It's been awhile (I know), life been busy. We survived the major storm and all the snow melted before May. We're getting some nice temps and Buddy's porch has been open all day/night for the kids. However they haven't learn about napping on the porch yet, we haven't gotten them ready to venture out to Buddy's Backyard only because I'm still debating on the type of harness I want to buy them.

So first we got a few old friends back . . .

Our Donald and Daisy, they finally appeared shortly after our snow storm and I had went to put corn out realizing that they were here.

But I bet you're wondering how do I know that this is Donald and Daisy? Recap Donald and Daisy been coming to Buddy's Backyard for the past few years. Although we have had the occasional guest ducks, Donald and Daisy are residents to Buddy's Backyard.

The day I saw that they were here, I went to put corn out for them knowing that they were looking for food and our pond was frozen. I kept saying Hi Donald and Daisy over and over, I walked around them while I put corn in different spots across Buddy's Backyard. Not once did they take off, merely just watching me and then going to the two main location they like to feed. 

Now we needed to bring out Daisy and Donald favorite water bowl, the orange water bowl is convenience for them because it's on the ground. I swear they know about the bird bath, but they like to be on the ground and wander and take drinks from the ground level.


Next is Wilbur!! He's starting to come out again from hibernation.

Wilbur got his Carrots!!! 

OUR RETURNEES

The Robins, Red-Winged Blackbird, Grackles, and Starlings, were the first bird count for us.

NOW One ORIOLE HAS ARRIVED. 

NEXT THE COWBIRD

That's all who we have for right now, I hope that Our white-throated Sparrows visits and our Yellow-Rumped Warbler, maybe even the bluebirds and maybe hummingbirds!