Tag Archives: friendship

Day 25. Happy Holidays, and a big thank you to all the Bird World community

25 December 2025

Good Morning Everyone,

I had to write to thank you for all the letters and notes you have sent me, wishing me well for the holidays, for the short notes each day, and for the good wishes that the new medications for Don will work. You have no idea how much I appreciate each one. I am overwhelmed by the warmth and love of our Bird World community. What struck me most is the warmth and caring from so many who are also experiencing very challenging days – parents who have gone into care with dementia, others having chemo and radiation therapy or facing surgeries, and some who will have insurmountable financial obstacles in the new year. I am so very, very touched by your kindness and, yes, your love. I can feel it, and it truly helps me get through these terrible days.

Dementia or Alzheimer’s (they are different) seems to have touched all of our lives. Either a parent or sibling has died or has this terrible disease, or you have known someone with it. Memory centres are full, hospital beds are full, and the holidays seem to be a prime time when mental illness doesn’t go to sleep but starts boiling over for many.

I am happy to say that the additional medication cocktail has kept Don more or less sedated. He went back to bed at noon on Wednesday and didn’t wake up till 1900, when he ate, brushed Toby, talked, and held me, and then was back in bed by 2130. Was he just overly tired? To so suddenly become agitated and violent is very strange, and his doctor certainly thinks that he could have an infection or something. He has been drinking a lot of water, and I wondered if he was dehydrated. We will never know.

I could not go to sleep tonight without reaching out to you to thank you again for your wonderful kindness and to wish you, your family, and your friends and all our pets and raptors a happy holiday.

One of our very talented Bird World community menbers sent this from Japan. Isn’t it marvellous?! Thank you ‘A’.

Happiest of Holidays to each of you

We live in what is defined as ‘downtown’ and yet, my garden is full of life. Four households have created a bit of a corridor for all the birds and animals so that they can wander from garden to garden. As a result, we support more than 350 birds daily along with the various squirrels that live on each of our individual lots. There is the occasional racoon that wanders over from the river and once a peacock fleeing from the zoo found its way to the top of my neighbour’s roof. I am grateful every day to have these fabulous creatures in my life and I feel privileged to be able to care for them in some small way. I am also grateful to each one of you for the love and joy you have shared with all of the birds this year, for the nights when we should have been asleep but were up watching a nest with anticipation or worry, or for the times when we all collectively grieved.

There was soft gentle snow dancing around Little Red. He is anxiously awaiting his Christmas Eve bowl of mixed nuts. This tradition began many years ago when my dear neighbours brought over a container of non-salted cashews for him. I don’t imagine Little Red has any idea that those nuts are a small reward for all the joy and laughter he has brought us through the year.

Dyson & Co have been out finding seeds buried under 10 cm (4 inches) of snow. We can always count on Dyson to clean up everything. No worry about seed sitting too long with our squirrel-vacuum.

Sharpie came to visit early. It is always a relief to see him.

Junior was also here early but we have not seen Mr and Mrs Blue Jay for some weeks and we are imagining that they migrated and Junior decided to stay and keep their home safe.

From all of us on the Canadian Prairies we wish you all of the blessings of this holiday season – good health, friendship, family, and the joy of the birds.

We are on pip watch for Harriet and M15. I am hoping for a Christmas hatch! Take care and thank you for joining me.

Mary Ann & the Gang