... and there went November! I tried to savor the colors of the leaves while still on the trees because it is such a show that I enjoy each year. And I love the crisp bite of fall with the tinge of smoke in the air bringing to mind sitting with a hot cup of tea by the fire feeling all cozy while it's frosty outside. Our November was not so frosty. It was kind of soggy, actually. But I'm not complaining. We need the rain! And I'm sure those frosty days are ahead of us.
Look at our red maple. It's on fire! I love this tree.
When the kids were younger they used to play in the fallen leaves. Now our youngest brings her bunny out to play in the fallen leaves. Spot enjoyed it for a moment and then felt like hawk bait and asked to be brought back inside. He is such a house bunny.
I also did my best to enjoy the large flock of turkeys that entertained us all these months. They flocked around the yard gobbling and barking at every sound and motion that passed through our back 40. So, it was loud.
We pardoned 4 turkeys, a tom and 3 hens. Michael, in keeping with his military theme (Colonel Sanders for our rooster) has named our tom, "Major Tom". Yes, he's punny. Anyhow, Major Tom has a harem of 3 darting around the yard with his fat self. We are wondering if he will ever learn the miracle of nature and get together with his girls to produce some spring turkey poults. We'll keep you updated.
Ah, speaking of turkeys, Thanksgiving was delicious. We had the usual suspects over for dinner plus a couple of bonus guests. There was no shortage of food. I spent the following few days in a tryptophan and wine induced sloth mode. We finally cracked open the bottle of red I brought home from Canberra in August. It went well with the turkey (topped out at 15 lbs, so we cooked up 1.5 turkeys). Thanksgiving has got to be my favorite holiday. It's a day to get together and share our gratitude and feast. There is no crazy gift giving or other ordeal. It just feels good. Also bonus that the turkey and pumpkins came from the yard.
Just after Thanksgiving Michael took off for Los Angeles and the rest of us resumed our work and school schedules. Monday morning I received an unexpected message from our Craigslist post about our missing blue parakeet - Ramon. It was an odd message but I was hopeful that another miraculous recovery had been made. So, I went out to the garage and put the cage all back together with the cleaned up bird dishes and bird toys in the hopes I would be picking up my little buddy while the kids were off at school. But, there was something odd about the communication I was having with the person on the other end of this. Turns out this person lives in Texas. And they sent a photo of someone else's blue parakeet.
Well, after getting my hopes up and dashed like that, I found it hard to get work done. So I took a theraputic break down to the local pet store (where they are very familiar with my lost and found stories ... they are the ones who originally brought Ramon and I together). Anyway, I thought some oogling at the budgies would some how make me feel better. I was no way going to get a new one.
Except that I had this cage all ready and set up. Taking it apart would seem like another loss. And, hey, are those baby budgies? They still have the barring on their heads. Oh, look at this little guy. He says he wants to come home with me!
Meet Wasabi ...
Wasabi is still in the "I'm terrified that I'm in a new place" space. But I figure within 6 months he will sitting on our shoulders and making a complete mess of the place. Yes, his wings are clipped. You cannot see from the photo here, but he has a teal-blue tail with black and yellow feathers that flare out to the sides. He might be part peacock! His songs are much nicer than those of a peacock (thank goodness). He is already chirping away to certain songs that Valerie plays on the piano.
It's the end of November and I am still feeling much gratitude for so many things. You know, raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens and all that.
October at Rancho Wilhelm was good month. We kicked it off with a visit from Scott & Dawn. What a treat to hang out with them for a few days.
The turkeys really miss Scott. He provided some excellent leadership to this confused and unruly bunch.
We ended October with Michael & Tiff traveling to Tokyo and Valerie traveling to Indianapolis while Rex & Amira held down the fort.
I have always wanted to visit Japan. I just love the culture there. It's so unique. So, Michael had said that when he got a job there, someday, he would take me along. Well, that day came along in October and off I went. Michael was working the Auto Show for Nissan. Here he is at the Nissan Crossing:
And here we are with Godzilla!
When I first arrived, Michael was busy at work for a few days. But he greeted me in the hotel lobby the night I arrived and took me out to dinner. I was still buzzing from the adrenaline of landing in a country where I didn't speak the language but was able to find my way from the airport to the train to the metro to the hotel all by myself. Real life puzzles!
Surprisingly, our first night was not sushi. But it was, perhaps, the most tender beef ever and attractively plated.
Our first hotel room had a view from the 12th floor that I very much enjoyed. But our second hotel had a view of a different part of the city from the 23rd floor.
Views, views, views! We stomped around the city for days ... visiting the fish market - Michael says of this photo taken here, Japanese version of "bobbing for apples".
Meet the fish, eat the fish!
We also visited a Samurai Museum, Shinto Shrine, Owl cafe and a hedgehog/bunny cafe. These are definitely not experiences I would get in Chico.
Next time I go back I would love to visit some rural parts of Japan.
Valerie had her own experiences stomping around Indiana and Kentucky with her FFA chapter upon their National Convention tour.
They visited a popcorn factory, a marshmallow factory and kissed the bricks at the Indianapolis Speedway. She also turned 16 while she was gone and was treated to some extra special attention from her friends.
Valerie arrived home an hour or so before Michael and I did on the 29th. Her grandma took her off to a piano recital that night while Michael and I collapsed into a deep sleep. The next night we were able to celebrate Valerie turning 16 and her grandpa, Alligator, turning, well, a bit more than 16.
On the 31st we had our annual pot-luck, costume party. It's great to have all the neighbors over and see friends that have managed to elude us since last year. Very few people got my costume (Frida Kahlo). I thought for sure the mono-brow would have been a hint.
Our friend, Casey, brought frogs' legs again. And for anyone who wanted to say that they tasted like chicken, well, he brought chicken as well. The whole thing was garnished with climbing roses from their garden. What an exotic treat.
Of course there was the, "Gee, we have all this left over dry ice ... what are we going to do?" We ended up with pumpkins blown to smithereens all over the back yard. As usual.
Just after Halloween Michael was back on a plane to Brooklyn for a week. How his body copes with the constant jet lag, I'll never know.
Although the weather has turned cooler and a bit more damp, the yard continues to produce some flowers. (Haven't had that first frost yet). So, I've made up some bouquets for the house.
And because I love to surround myself with color, I got a fresh paint job myself. Mermaid hair.
While Michael was gone we had a special guest, Josie, the neighbor's dog, stay with us while her family traveled. She was excellent company, as always. We love to have well behaved fur friends come visit. It was like having one more kid on the couch.
Mr. Whiskers took the couch sitting to a competitive level with the dog. I have to say, he looks super comfortable, if a bit annoyed.
On Monday, 6 November, Josie's person, Madelyn, came to pick her up and take her home. I was standing at the front door, with my ever-present bird on my head, talking to Madelyn and saying good-bye to Josie. Suddenly, without warning, Ramon flew off my head and right out the front door.
Now, he'd been known to fly out the door to land on my head. But he had never flown off my head into the great beyond before. It was as if he had the taste of freedom on his last adventure and maybe yearned for some more excitement in the wild. Sadly, we have not been able to find him. And I do not think I can count on a second miracle. This time we have to say good-bye to our little buddy, wherever he is. It is with heavy heart that I say good-bye to my little friend. He is greatly missed.
