More about the Peacocks

While Morgan is on the sun porch writing, Peter and Penny peck on the sun porch glass door to let Morgan know that they're around...or maybe they're knocking to come in.

Morgan is absolutely positive about NOT having indoor peacocks so Peter and Penny will have to be outside livestock.

Morgan, although he's buying large bags of cat food for outdoor cats and peacocks, is thrilled to have the new arrivals.

A Special Day...

... and not just because it's Friday - although that's sometimes enough to celebrate.


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My first book, a novella from an e-publishing house, comes out today. I should be celebrating, but I'm exhausted. I've been at a work conference since Wednesday, trying to absorb new information and recharge those batteries while also fielding work-issues. There's never really a "down" time these days. So many changes and I'm trying to keep up with them all when all I want to do is...

Spend my days with Morgan and write my little stories. He has made a writing space for me next to his on his sun porch. Now all I need is an orange writing hat - like his - and I'll be ready!

The Old Cowboy and the Naughty Lady.
A bonded pair.

Morgan and the Peacocks - Part 4: Peacock Stew?

I'm sure there was a brief moment that Morgan must have thought about it when he saw Peter sitting on the hood of his van, leaving peacock scratches. He's now trying to think of things to put over the van to allow the birds to roost on it without leaving their signature. So no peacock stew. But would they taste like pheasant...or turkey?

Morgan said they looked like turkeys flying off in a huff, squawking loudly and ending up on the top roof of his two story farmhouse. He thought something had spooked them and immediately went out with a gun to see what it was. You see, the peacocks are "under the protection of the guns of the fort" - i.e: Morgan's fort...his property. And van hood scratches notwithstanding, nothing will harm those peacocks as long as they're under his protection.

You know, I feel the same way when I'm with him - cared for and protected...
Nice, very nice.

Morgan and the Peacocks - Part 3

Our nightly phone calls now begin with news from Peacock Central.

For years Morgan has been caring for cats who were dumped on his property. Allergies have prevented him from taking them in, but he's cared for them as outside cats, even getting them spayed. He has a feeder at the door to his sun porch and keeps it full for them. This weekend he bought a second feeder for the small porch area- for the peacocks. Yesterday he found the cats eating at their feeder and the peacocks eating at their feeder - a real peaceable kingdom.

In the morning he'd heard two thumps outside his bedroom. First one and then the other had landed on the sun proch roof and were busy looking into the second floor windows. Morgan now imitates their honking for me - lovely. Nosy and noisy birds.

Morgan and the Peacocks - Part 2

After the movie and dinner Sunday evening we went to Morgan's to check on the peacocks. He'd bought a large automatic cat feeder and wanted to look for the right spot to set it - the right spot for the peacocks. Unfortunately we couldn't see them. I went home without seeing Peter and Penny.

However, Monday morning, both were at Morgan's door honking to be fed. They'd found where Morgan feeds his three cats (all dumped on his property and all fixed by their adopted human)and were quite vocal that they'd finished all the cat food and wanted more.

Saturday I'd met one of Morgan's friends, Jimmy Crater, who has a recycling company and a peacock, Mr. Peabody. Mr. Peabody had wandered onto Jimmy's property one day and stayed. Jimmy tried to convince Morgan that there was a reason for Peter and Penny to arrive. Jimmy, an "aging hippie" with mystical ideas, felt it was because the peacock is the sign of the alchemist - Morgan.

But I think about it being a bonded pair - two peacocks arrived at Morgan's one day. The Alchemist and the Witch - a bonded pair. A sign.

Makes sense - more than anything in a long time.

Morgan and the Peacocks

The pair of peacocks - male and female - arrived at Morgan's about a week ago. They seem to be a bonded pair and very young. This morning Morgan called to tell me he heard a honking noise at his bedroom (second floor) window. He opened the blinds and looked out to find the male peacock (named Peter) peering at him. It was time for breakfast. It seems that the peacocks are training their human to feed them.

Ted Andrews' wonderful book, Animal-Speak, mentions peacocks: "The eyes within the feathering have often been associated with greater vision and wisdom...Of all birds, the peacock resembles the traditional descriptions of the phoenix...even in Christianity it was the symbol of death an resurrection...it has also been associated with immortality."

The Speedwell Wolf Preserve

Near Lititz, PA this is a wonderful place to see wolves and wolf-dog hybrids up close and to learn about the life of these beautiful and much-maligned predator.





I'm revising The Last Prophecy which retells the werewolf legend. The werewolves of Ireland were actually guardians of religious pilgrims. Wolves mate for life, are protective of their pack and help to keep the balance of nature. We can learn a lot from them.

Wine Suggestions

I've been trying different wines - usually reds because they're healthier (in moderation) and because I've developed a taste for semi-dry to sweeter reds.

Here are two of my new-found favorites:

1.Rigatoni Red -an Italian import that, as it's name says, is great with pasta with red "gravy"






2. Love my Goat - from Bully Hill Vineyards in New York - a lovely sweeter red that I drink while eating sugar-free shortbread cookies. Well, red wine is supposed to help stabilize blood sugars and I've noticed no difference in my morning blood sugars with or without drinking a glass of red wine the night before.

Enjoy!

Philadelphia Flower Show

It's only 60 miles away and I've never been. So when Morgan suggested we go, I of course said yes. Here are some pictures that reminded me that no matter how deep the snow, spring does return.