Scarlet’s Feathers Blog

Are your wings drooping from the heat?

Yeah, my parrot species may be from tropical places but I’m now acclimated to Northern NJ USA! 100 degrees is too much for me now! After all, I am the house princess.

My human caretakers made me my own special treat. They froze organic natural pineapple juice in small ice cubes. These are fun, cold, and great tasting treat that help me get through these very HOT days. It actually works for apple and orange too. My favorite is still pineapple.

They also freeze strawberries and banana into small bites. They never totatlly freeze (or thaw quickly) so it tastes more like ice cream to me. Let them eat their chocolate ice cream. I like mine better!

I also took a really long cool shower. That makes me look beautiful and cool.

Yeah…I’ve got it made (but don’t let my caretakers know that).

OK, a blog is a place where I can squawk a bit! This time I really need to squawk. I usually reserve this space to talk about happy things but I’m mad as heck and I’m not going to perch quiet anymore. Time to SCREAM!

My caretaker, Pat, just got her Pet Business Issue that contains the 2008 Pet Industry Almanac & Handbook . They had a picture of a parrot on the cover (with many other animals). Take a look at the index!

N O P A R R O T S

If you can’t read the image, let me clarify. On the index of advertisers:

• Cats
• Dogs
• Fish
• Grooming
• Herptiles
• Small Animals
• Cross Category

Notice anything missing?!?! NO PARROT not even birds are listed! Crickets get a one page article. Are they trying to say that no parrot things exist? That parrot-customers don’t exist?

The only pictures of a parrot is included (with other animals) on a PIJAC, Companion Habitats, and Petrotech magazine ads. (BTW, Petrotech was for oder control…if a parrot has an oder…see a vet immediately!)

The only reason I can imagine why no parrots is that the pet business has finally accepted that we parrots are more human than those other companions! Why else would parrots be eliminated from the industry almanac and handbook? Maybe they plan on adding us to the people business issue.

P A R R O T S   R U L E !

An article written by Abby Huegel in Party & Paper Trade Magazine identifies eight party trends. Think of these when planning you next fun get-together. How parrots play into the fun…just read on.

1. Theme Parties: one of the top themes mentioned was luau and another is pirate.

2. Balloons: I have seen a parrot shaped balloon. A little warning, I know Scarlet gets very scared when one pops. (BTW, if you are looking for a GREAT Balloon Decorations Guy…see Balloons by Robbie.)

3. Personalized Product: Candy Bars, Invitations, to Thank You’s are all things you can personalized for parties. Scarlet’s Feathers does offer a couple of invitations and some thank you’s. If you need something customized, just send us a feather-gram (eMail) and we’ll see what we can do.

4. Licenses: Using licensed items like cartoon characters. Don’t know of any licensed but we do LOVE Caribbean Soul Parrot Party stickers and T-Shirts.

5. Green Goodies: Ego-friendly products go hand-in-hand with the theme section. Throw a Recycle Party to help save the Rainforest!

6. Colors: Chocolate is the current trends paired with pink. We parrot-lovers like bright colors. That never goes out of style for us!

7. Halloween: Children love halloween almost as much as adults! Yes, parties are for the adults. It is also among the card designs we enjoy creating the most.

8. Milestone Birthdays: Yes, the usual, 21, 30, 40, 50, and 60 but don’t forget the Swee 16 and Quienceneras celebration as well.

Now, go out and plan a party. We all need a little extra cheer these days. Just have everyone bring something to share the expense. Getting together for a good time with friends…priceless!

I’m working on a new greeting card verse. The card may be for birthday or any ocassion. It needs some tweaking so you ideas would be helpful.

Outside verse: Senior moments are nothing more than…

Inside verse: …discarding the crap so our wisdom can flurish.

Closing verse:

(any ocassion) Now, don’t you feel better?

(birthday) Now go and have a Happy Birthday

I’m home from Birdie Camp. I played with 8 other campers (from cockatiel to Amazons…and one smaller ‘too).

I laid two eggs which broke at the bottom of my tent. I hope that doesn’t mean I’ll lay another one. The biggest cluch I ever laid was three. Usually I lay two. I only lay the third if I broke one of the others. Only time will tell … which would mean Saturday night.

don’t even think about it…no butt-rubbin’ allowed. Our camp councellor is VERY strick! Only healthy foods but we do get to watch some cartoons in the afternoon.

I had a pet-i-cure while I was there. I HATE THEM. It takes 2 camp councellors because I’m a wiggler.

Chat more later. I came up with another bird-day verse. I’ll peck it out later. It’s time for me to get even more attention while my caretakers still feel guilty not taking me with them to Big Sky country (MT).

Oh no. I’m being sent to Birdie Camp again. I’m told, for just a week.

My caretakers send me to Birdie Camp on a regular basis. They want me to see how other parrots live. As an only parrot, my caretakers want to make sure that I get to play and squawk with other feathered ones.

I’m very well cared for. I have plenty of activities. I get great food and an afternoon cookie. We watch Animal Planet or cartoons. The only thing I don’t like is my pedicure!

Most importantly, I get to squawk with other parrots. Others tell me the human words they learned. I teach them how to say “P U.”

Oh well…what is summer without camp for kids (even feathered kids). I’ll tell you all the stories when I get back July 1st.

This father’s day, it is important to remember all sorts of fathers. If your father is still alive, give him a hug. If he has passed, say a thankful prayer. If you have a friend that is a great father, let them know. Everyone needs to know they are doing a good job.

My father passed away five months before my wedding. I walked down the aisle but still felt his spirit. I think of him often with fond memories. He never met Scarlet, but I’m sure he is laughing at her antics from heaven.

I have a close friend who is a father of 4 great kids. He and his wife do a wonderful job. I was talking to him once when he was having doubts about his parenting skills (as many parents do from time to time). About a week later Tim Russert was in town for a book signing for his second book, “Wisdom of Our Fathers.” Mr. Russert left a blank page in the front for buyers to write a note to their dad. I wrote a note to my friend. Mr. Russert’s autographed the book and I had a picture taken of the two of us that I included as a gift to my friend. For the first time in his life, my friend was speechless.

My heart goes out to Luke Russert, the son of Tim Russert. My husband and I are huge Tim Russert fans and were deeply saddened with his sudden death. He should have lived for many more years…or at a minimum to see who the next President of the United States will be. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Tim Russert’s wife, son, sisters, Big Russ and his many friends, coworkers, colleagues, and fans.

A special hug goes to Luke. Like me, you will feel your father’s presence when you need or just want him there.

Not sure if anyone has seen Snowball on YouTube. An article was written about him in BirdTalk. He is a sulfer-crested cockatoo that has great rhythm! Here is a You Tube link to one of my favorite dance routines on YouTube: Anotherone Bites the Dust by Queen…

http://youtube.com/watch?v=cJOZp2ZftCw&feature=user

Now, if only I could get Scarlet to dance like this.

Enjoy the video.

I saw a card at the national stationery show that played on the got milk theme. It was just too perfect for parrot people….

What do you think?

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.

OK, here is a new design. Since the expression is a play on cockatoo where ‘too is the accepted appreviation, I put only 2 ‘toos on the card.

Do you like this one better?

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.