I've been unpacking and spent the morning organizing things in my house. It's
the after-christmas straightening. So I was going through a box of presents,
it's sort of like Christmas all over again as I now remembered the gifts I
got. Socks from a family sock business, bowl/dish set my uncle made, a book
from my dad, the famous magic wallet from my mom (think of the cascading tile
toy made into a wallet, it's very cool), etc. 

But it's funny. I was at the pet store the week before Christmas. And I had
been looking at the birds. The photography instructor had a couple of small
birds at his house where we had been taking a class. Growing up I had Jake, a
cockatiel, who lived in my room, or more correctly I lived in his. It was
always "the bird's room", not mine, to which I tease my parents endlessly. My
godparents actually had an entire room just for all their birds. My godmother
is a bit ... uh... eccentric, in a good way. And so I was thinking of whether
I should get a bird. I considered the mess and cleanup I would be taking on.
Then I envisioned Garth, eyes bright and wild, thinking about a snack, I
laughed and thought perhaps this wasn't really a good time for a bird. I
wasn't even sure where I would put one anyway. Then I unpacked my Grannie's
present. She has been slowly giving away various things from her house over
the years. Little pins and jewelry, heirlooms, lace doilies, silver spoons,
etc. This year she gave me a parrot. It's a carved, wooden, painted parrot
with a hanging metal perch. It was a gift to my grandfather, passed away some
years now, from his staff many years ago. It has been hanging in the edition
living room for some time. (It's called the edition, because it's actually a
second living room which is part of the edition to the house.) So I got my
parrot afterall! 

I also have my little Italian bistro all set to go! I have the table in a
corner for now with the 2 chairs on either side. My fav sculpture of the
archangel Gabriel hangs over the table. Now I just need to get my espresso
maker out to where it's in a more useable spot and I will be able to sip
espressos by the window. Mmmm.