I've been blessed with "MOJO"

Hiya friends! I know I've been gone awhile so I'll do a quick re-cap. I've had walking pneumonia...blech! I've been sleeping a lot from exhaustion. I am still trying to set up house. This week we finally got our shipment of household goods from Korea, so once again I have been up to my armpits in packing paper. I'm still renovating. I've had family in to visit....and by God's gracious miracle, I have been blessed with Mojo.
...No not that certain personal magical magnetism...but rather a precious little Caique Parrot...you guessed it...named Mojo.

You can see his cheeky personality shining through this photo.

...and here he is enjoying a walnut.

Mojo has been with us for one week now...and I couldn't have asked for an easier transition for a new pet.

This was an unexpected blessing...but I really believe this is a miracle from God the way it all transpired.

So do you want to hear the story??? Well I'm gonna tell it anyway..so if you want to skip this part you better stop reading right now. But I'm telling ya...it's a pretty cool story!

I have wanted a Caique for over four years..since the very first time I read about the funny little "clown" of the parrot world. I looked around and contacted breeders but just had no luck, plus the price of this type of parrot was prohibitive to my budget...but that didn't stop me from dreaming.

Fast forward four years to last week...oh wait!....let's go back a little further than that.

I was setting up my aquarium, (one can never have too many pets can they? ...LOL) since I was in need of some fishy supplies I went to my local pet store.

Lo and behold they had a beautiful Caique parrot named Spike. I had never seen one in real life before but I knew practically everything about him.

Of course I fell in love with him instantly but there was no way I could ever afford him. Even so, I started to visit him every time I drove by the store. He was always funny and I could tell he liked me...well...all birds like me...LOL... I AM the quintessential bird person after all.

Anyways, I had family in town and they kept me even busier than I already had been. It was evening and everyone was winding down...except for me.... I needed to swing by the Home Depot yet again for more renovation supplies.

So out I go for some much needed personal space. And wouldn't you know it?...the Home Depot just happens to be right by the Pet Store! Sooooo of course I HAD to make a pit stop to visit my new friend, ....ahem,... totally unplanned of course.

It was 20 minutes before closing time. I went right in to see Spike and on my way I spotted two store employees playing with another Caique. Of course I gasped, went right over and blurted out "another one?!?!?."

I preceded to share how much I loved Caiques and how long I have wanted one. The couple (I soon learned these store employees are married to one another) let me play with the bird...it was so cute and cuddly and of course it took to me right away! LOL! But I was soon disappointed to learn that this parrot was their very own Caique and they had just brought her in to play with her best friend Spike.

So the conversation turned back to Spike and I told them how many times I had come in to see him. They said, "Well you know he is leaving the store tomorrow right?" I said, "Oh No! Where is he going?" They told me since he hadn't sold for so long they were shipping him to a different store.

They also said, he was on sale for 1/2 price! WHAT?!?!?!!?

My eyes got big and I said, "but I didn't see a sale sign". They said that was because they were very picky about who he would end up with since his price was low.

They could tell how excited I was getting and they proceeded to talk me into buying him. Of course this was a HUGE decision, I mean, I have a husband that needed to be part of the decision making process, I also have a cat...and a bird DOG no less. Furthermore, these parrots can live up to 40 years...so with all these factors, this was NOT a decision to be made lightly.
I told them I would go home, talk to the hubby, and give them a call the next day.
I did just that. Hubby and I talked about it all that night, and even though DH had his doubts he gave his blessing.
I woke up the next day resigned to the thought that I could not take him...I just didn't need the extra burden.
I dropped by the store anyway to tell them my decision in person. Of course they were disappointed but they encouraged me to handle him for awhile anyway. Up to this point I had only talked to Spike through plexi-glass. They took him out, and I spent some one on one time with him, and that's all it took, I was hopelessly enamoured with him! I would not let him go to some random person who clearly could not love him as much as I could. He was scheduled to leave the store that afternoon. I asked the manager if he would PLEASE keep Spike one more day so that my husband could come by and handle him. They were happy to oblige. I brought my husband in that evening and he handled Spike. They walked around the store together, whistling all the while. DH came back to me and said, "He is coming home with us!" Spike had captured my hubby's heart too! YAY!!!

So that's it! I went home and set up his cage and toys (all of which I already owned) and we brought him home the next day....which just so happened to be his......WAIT FOR IT.....one year birthday!
Since we already have a Spike in the family we decided to name him Mojo...because he is a magical little dude.

We have had him just one week now, but it feels like he has always been with us. He fits in soooo nicely and is no extra trouble at all. He gets along with both the cat and the dog..and he is just the most curious loving little guy ever!

He has already learned two words this week, "Step up" and "Uh Oh!", He does the wolf whistle every time you walk in and he wants to eat anything he sees you eating.

Oh...what a spot of sunshine! Now you can see why I think he is a blessing from God! Only God knew how much and how long I desired a bird like this and He made the way for Mojo to come into our lives so unexpectedly!

I feel a Mojo colored Hand Dyed Thread on the horizon...... LOL!

Sorry this isn't tatting related...but everything I am doing with tatting right now is TOP SECRET!!!

Stay Tuned...

I made a new friend at the bead store...

I went to the bead store yesterday and bought some pink seed beads to add to my tatting. Then I tatted up Jeanne Lugert's 3-D Rose Pattern, and added beads to it. The ironic thing is that everyone who knows me knows that I personally do not care for the color pink. (Did I just hear a gasp of horror?) Seriously, I have always been kind of a tomboy and I have a deep seeded dislike for the "girly" colors. But I believe that we are never too old to change. Do I like pink now? It's in debate. But anyway, this new project I am working on is very special and I hope to finish it before an upcoming special event.
So we'll just have to wait and see what it becomes...


Anyway, on to the best part of the story....So I walk into the bead store (which is really crowded with people and commotion) and I hear this really loud "HELLO BABY" yelled out. In the middle of the shop was a large bird cage with a yellow-naped amazon parrot sitting on top. The minute it saw me it started going through it's repertoire of phrases and whistles. Apparently this bird was very happy to see me.
I do happen to be a "bird person" so of course I walk over to the cage to give it some attention. Cecil (the bird's name) came right down and climbed on my shoulder.
The shop owner said she has never seen anything like it. Apparently this bird does not normally take to people the way it took to me, and oddly enough it "knew" me the second I stepped foot in the shop. Everyone in the store stopped to watch and laugh as this bird was giving me some serious love'n. I even got a discount when I checked out because I made the bird's day. When I left the shop I hollered "Goodbye Cecil" and Cecil said "Goodbye".
Well, I have to say that the bird made my day. What a sweetheart. I have a new friend that I will have to go and visit often.