December Dump of an Update

Busy goes it, busy does it...life never allows time for everything and in this busy house usually it's the things I want to get done that go to the wayside.

Viggo has been great since our last update. That I am happy to report but change has been a big part....

 We've been keeping the big green busy as well! He's getting very good at puzzles, and very quick I might add as well. Every second I get he's out flying or as seen above checking everything out. On the day I snapped that picture he was playing with toy food for a little kitchen I have. It was hilarious to watch him move food around, carry cups, toss the bread, try to pick up larger round fruit. Unsuccessful he decided to roll/push it instead.

Food has been constantly changing for Viggo. We've tried an abundance of new foods that he hasn't tried before and I am happy to report no toe tapping or wing flipping. His new favorites are Prickly Pear & Dragon Fruit. He seems to savor these two fruits instead of devour them like he does with pom seeds. As it's winter and he cannot get outside, I've added Harrison's lifetime pellets back into his diet a few times a week. We started with the fine (comparable to seed) it's less messy and there is less waste than the course. However that said I'm headed tonight to grab a small 1lb bag of the course to add variation for him. He loves holding the course and it's a great idea to sub into his puzzles instead of his food dish. Diet changes have had no impact on his hormones....or behavior I am pleased to share.

 

I've learned very recently that Vig loves Punjabi music! Seriously!! He will dance and "ooh ohh" to it for hours! If Punjabi is playing you'll never hear a scream or any loud vocals, thus far at least. So odd, I wonder what it is about that music that has him so intrigued. Animals are funny. We learned this one evening when my oldest daughter and I set out our yoga mats and went to select music to do our nightly yoga. As we flipped through the selections Viggo instantly piped up and appeared enthusiastic when Punjabi came on. Since then we've played it daily for him with the same response. I have even recorded a sound clip of him and the music which I will one day figure out how to load to the blog and share.

It's been a wonderfully balanced past few months I have to admit and part of that has been that I am not coaching ringette which normally consumes at least 6-7 months of evenings and weekends. I miss it but have learned that being off ice and supporting my oldest is a pretty amazing place to be and really allows for over all life balance. So very true!! So much has been accomplished, it's fantastic and stress levels have fallen. Time is manageable or more so at least and this change has been very benificial to all. Much needed that's for sure. We do what needs to be done, what makes us all happy and focus on the center out. By that I mean our family and our personal health & happiness (sports, crafts, family time) and that of our pets (walks, attention, fun) and work out from there with things like work and school that need to be done, organizing which helps us to better manage our lives by balancing simple daily tasks versus everything in one day, and then all the other stuff outside such as groceries, fitting in things on our to do list that are not a must but a want and so forth.

 

I have made a point of not increasing attention or out of the cage time more than normal as I do not want Viggo to become accustom to the freedom only to have it disappear again for a time when things pile up as I know they will. He gets about the same daily time, perhaps a little more extended though. So life goes on with changes for everyone and it's been great. No real complaints just an abundance of amazing. For anyone who knows us, the hustle and bustle of our lives and the general level of stress and guilt I feel at this time of year, this has been a real change. I think we all feel the impact.

 

Just a few short months ago my green brat was being exactly that...I was looking to new avenues for ideas to modify things one of which was to add a female. Hormones have seemed to simmer right down and I hope with all the changes that they do not return as they had been. Hopefully they lessen and if they return in the spring or summer do not return to be as crazy as they were. That's a real test for stress and patience. I have to wonder though if this new found balance hasn't been part of the change though. Eclectus are superb at tuning into our emotions and go off of them, if we feel stress they seem to as well and perhaps our calm balance has connected with him and plays a key role in his own life balance. Time will tell and I will report.

 

More changes are around the corner as the Christmas tree goes up this month and the house becomes Merry with the holiday season.

 

Merry Christmas to All & a Happy New Year! I'm pretty positive that I won't be posting again before then so enjoy every moment with your fids, fur kids, kids, family & friends for these moments will pass before we know it. Treasure time with loved ones and be safe over the holiday season.