When I was a kid we lived for a bit in rural northern MN, and got Fargo TV (3 channels). The weather guy, Dewey (I didn’t make that up) used to show mutant veggies people sent. In honor of Dewey, my farmers’ market carrot collection. The first is Mr. Earthworm from James & the Giant Peach. Second is a dude with a topknot who dresses left. Third is the (apparently male) monster from the movie Creeping Terror. (Movie nerds will know what that is.)

The velociraptor is systematically testing the bars of her outdoor aviary for weaknesses. Clever girl.

Her Nibs and I are having brunch outside on the deck. She’s in her outside cage, which is really a cat kennel covered in cooling racks and window screen because the bars were too far apart, and held together with zip ties. In other words, it’s her MacGyver cage. She doesn’t seem to mind.

Returning home after a trip to MN for a funeral and an intervention on behalf of my mother (loooong story), both of which left me feeling like a wrung-out dishrag. But I got to babysit this little lady.

Her Nibs vs. the witch flashlight, round 732. #parrotsofmastodon #witch

As a bird owner who wants birds never to end up in shelters, here's my annual statement about holidays and birds: BIRDS ARE NOT GIFTS. BIRDS ARE NOT PETS. BIRDS ARE A LIFESTYLE. If you're considering gifting one, please don't. If you're considering getting one, please foster first to make sure you can handle up to 60 years of chewed woodwork from a ball of feathered hormones.

Happy belated Krampusnacht from Munich, peeps. I'm not there. This is from my sis, who lives there.

Her Nibs the Parrot is restless and bored tonight so I’m doing what exasperated parents do with their toddlers and plopping her down in front of an @Apolloandfrens video and she’s talking to Apollo like he’s here.

Khar will tell your future if you’ll cross his paw with freeze-dried minnows.

‘Tis the season