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Daily Archives: August 6, 2013

Aviary Escapees, Bears and Plaited Shallots

1    Today’s first thing is both beautiful and sad. We found two tiny and very pretty birds in our garden this morning and they turned out to be Zebra Finches. We could also hear other unusual bird song and then saw two bright yellow cockatiels in next door’s tree. Realising that all these little beauties had escaped from an aviary, I went door to door asking, leaving the lovely Mr S bird-sitting to prevent the very interested magpies making off with a feathered breakfast. On my way around the neighbourhood I spotted another escapee, a lovely pink bird.

Zebra Finch

Zebra Finch

Is this a baby Zebra Finch?

Is this a baby Zebra Finch?

Yellow Cockatiel

Yellow Cockatiel

Is this a Galah?

Is this a Galah?

I eventually found the owner of the birds who came round to try to catch the Zebra Finches, which seemed quite happy in our garden, but with no success. Sadly, he says that none of his escaped birds are likely to survive. If they are not predated, they may well die of stress but if a wind gets up, they may drop to the floor, being unable to fly in wind and then he may be able to get them.  They have given us a piquant pleasure all day and have only flown off late this afternoon. I so hope they survive……   Just as I’m finishing this off, I have heard them return.

2   Do have a look at this video of bears in a park in Alberta. We grinned from start to finish.

3   I watched a Youtube video on how to plait Shallots properly and did one bunch like that but it takes ages! I reverted to my old way of plaiting as I did my girls’ hair and, in fact, I like the finished effect better. What do you think?

Youtube way of braiding shallots to store

Using the Youtube way of braiding our Longor, French Banana Shallots to store

My way of braiding the shallots

My way of braiding our Mikor, Red Shallots

 

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