Days with the Dorans

 I was incredibly shocked when on Wednesday I came down and was getting ready for school and looked in Blue's cage and he way lying on the bottom. I felt my heart sink and reached in and he was gone. I didn't know what to do. I remember saying that to Jeff over and over, "What do I do?" "What do I do?" When it finally sunk in what happened I cried. Why did this happen? What did I do? These pictures were taken just three days earlier. He seemed fine. I still can't stop thinking that I did something. His seed was completely gone (which is unlike him) though he had water. It wasn't that cold yet and I hadn't taken him to Room 119 since it got cooler (he had come with me every day when the weather was nice). I haven't told the kids of Room 119 because I just couldn't. They loved him so. When I got home, the Bigs came and gave me hugs and I just cried. I got a box for blue and put some blue shredded paper in it (the kind of pape...

After over a year I was thinking that Blue probably wouldn't speak (in English).  He comes with me to school every day (when the weather isn't too cold) and I do hear him gibbering (not chirping) but can never really make out what he's saying.  He doesn't really talk until the kids leave and then I'm so busy working that I don't have the time to listen closely~ plus he's not super loud.  The other day I had him out and he actually said, "Kiss Kiss" and then kissed my nose and then he said, "Who's a Pretty Bird" very clearly!  It was awesome.  I tried to get him on video but had little luck.  Then Marty came in so our show was over (I don't like having him out when Marty's out because Marty eats EVERYTHING and I don't want to add Blue to that list).  I can't wait to hear more though!  Way to go, Little Blue! Blue refused to talk once I got my phone out to tape him...

 A strange thing happened a few weeks ago.  My dad suggested we go to a 'real' fish store (not the pet store chain stores I had been going to).  We headed to a place with tropical fish and spent a lot of time looking them.  The man there was really knowledgable (my dad knows a ton about fish too which is why I take him everywhere) and I asked him a lot of questions.  On the other side of the store (they are attached) is Bird Haven.  We went and looked because Z was with us and he loves ALL animals. As we were checking out the birds, I asked if he ever got any Pocket Parrots (or parrotlets).  You may recall a few years ago we went on a trip to Parrot Mountain in Gatlinburg TN and I fell in love with the pocket parrots they had!  I seriously wanted one... researched them... but couldn't find anyone close at the time who had them.  I feel like the nearest place I was able to find that had them was a few states away.  I accepted the ...