Happy birthday my beautiful girl.
Here is a video of Atilla eating dill from about 8 years ago:
Always in our thoughts.
xxx
Tag: dill
A Bathing Bezukhov
After the recent trauma, it was nice to see Bezukhov have a proper BATH! Yes, you heard me…. a BATH! A real bath, not a misting, a bath. I am pretty certain it was his first bath!
It was nice to see the Thomas bath being used properly – I like to think Thomas saw this & is proud that his name is connected with such a spirited activity.
Even nicer that I managed to film it. 
It was also nice that Phineas was so into the dill that he let Bezukhov have a bath without disturbing him.
This is mine, all mine!
Last week I posted how much Phineas loves dill (click here). He has never been great at sharing food but this video shows that he is in no doubt that his dill cannot be shared…. even with his beloved Cagney!
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Delicious dill
It has been some time since I have bought dill. In fact, after a little research, it looks like the last time we had dill was in November 2012 (see here) when I gave some to the Toyboys. Phineas was still in quarantine at the time & I do not have a record of having given him any or actually any remembrance of such an event.
Anyway, the other day, we had dill.
Oh gosh. Does Phineas like dill? Or does Phineas like dill?! Phineas loves dill!!!
I pegged it up in a few places & even put some in the Thomas bath (sadly unused as a bath since Thomas’s passing). Cagney & Bezukhov nibbled on some which let Phineas know it was edible. From the first bite he was hooked. He just could not get enough. Every time I looked at him his head was down, chewing away!
Here he is in action:
Pins & dill
The toyboys are moulting again. Bezukhov is looking particularly tatty. He has lots of pins on his head & some scattered about his body.
I gave them a dill misting. Cagney had a little rummage in the greenery but, as expected, Bezukhov was the one who really went to town getting wet. He was throwing himself across the dill & falling over in it, having a brief rest then going back for more.
(Click on pictures to enlarge)
Finally, a proper wash!
Their dill misting was long overdue. So much so, that they all got a little excited when I brought the spray bottle out. As usual, Atilla was the first to have a good roll in the dill. When she squelched to the Manor rooftop to dry off, the toyboys both attempted to emulate her bathing actions.
Cagney did really, really well! The best ever! He was the wettest I have ever seen him. He was flat out on the dill, crawling along on his belly, head buried in the dill, really getting himself thoroughly wet. I was very proud of him!
Here he is having a good preen afterwards:
One potato, two potato…
three potato, four…
If you know the rhyme it will give you some idea of Raspy’s tactic to get out of Mr Exotic Vet’s grasp!
Yes, there has been yet another visit from Mr EV. This time, his usual Lovely Assistant was not available, so he brought Lovely Assistant Numero Two (LAN2).
My main concerns this time were that:
- Atilla’s fatty lump appeared to have spawned another lump further down in her “undercarriage” area, &
- Raspy now weighs the same as her sister (she has always been less).
In preparation for the visit, I locked the Toyboys in the Ferplast when they had both gone in to nibble at the iodine block, even though there is a block in the Manor. This left the puddings alone in the Manor. I noticed that Raspy immediately went to Atilla’s perch to sit near her. She was bashing Atilla’s mirror but I suspect that was her way of being affectionate without losing face (see video below).
I gave them some dill soaked in camomile tea in the hope it would help to keep them calm. They were happy chomping away together. They were happy until Mr EV & LAN2 arrived….
Normally, if I put my hand in the cage, both girls are happy to jump on, if only to bite me, chew my sleeve or cadge a lift to another perch. With Mr EV there, they did not even entertain the idea of sitting on my finger. I even showed them their favourite toy, the camera, to tempt them but no, they were not going to be fooled. Unfortunately, that meant Mr EV went in with his cloth…..
Raspy came out first & was flying all around the room. We left her, to focus on Atilla, who also bombed out the Manor. She landed on the floor & LAN2 quickly bundled her up.
Atilla was vocal about the indignity of being held. Mr EV had a listen to her heart & breathing & gave her a prod & a poke.
His verdict on the lump situation is that the bottom lump is actually part of the initial chest lump that has slipped down as it is not attached to anything. He reckoned she was in better overall condition than last time. Her heart was strong & her breathing fine.
Though I am still concerned about her lump, I am well aware that he could have said a whole lot worse so I feel some relief.
Raspy was next. She managed to fly behind the curtain where Mr EV gathered her up in his cloth. Raspy was about 10 times more vocal than Atilla. I think Mr EV & LAN2 were a bit surprised at the ferocity of her protest. Raspy proceeded to squirm & that is when Mr EV started the one potato, two potato actions with his hands, as he tried to keep hold of her! She had her toenails trimmed but kept holding onto the clipper with the foot that was free. Mr EV gave her a prod & poke also.
He said he could not feel any lumps. Like Atilla, her heartbeat & breathing were good.
So, job done & Mr EV & LAN2 departed, leaving the puddings to recover in the Manor. When I saw they were both preening, I thought about letting the Toyboys back out.
I do not exaggerate when I say that within less than a minute of being let out, Cagney had his leg over Atilla! He loves that girl! Bezukhov was covering Raspy with kisses also. They had only been apart for 2 hours at most.
When they had got their “greetings” over with, I got out the rest of the camomile-tea-soaked dill & gave them a misting. All had a romp in the dill, apart from Raspy who watched, but she did give Bezukhov’s head a good preen afterwards (see video below).
Raspy & Atilla alone in the Manor:
Raspy preening Bezukhov (Atilla was “helping” me film, hence camera shake):
Dill misting
Puddings & Toyboys had a dill misting this weekend. The boys were not so enthusiastic & waited for me to stop spraying the water before tucking into the dill. Atilla opted out of the last misting I gave them, so I was pleased she was back on form & had a thorough wash & completely wore herself out!
This is left intentionally blank.
Roll over, roll over
Today, I put some dill out & filled the spray bottle with some nice warm water to give the Puddings & Toyboys a misting. Unfortunately, the water was probably a degree too cold for Atilla so she turned her back & retired to the ttmss swing. Raspy let some water go on her & got a little damp, but not much. However, dear little Bezukhov had a lovely roll in the wet dill whilst I sprayed him!
Bezukhov did have a good misting once during quarantine days so I know he is not averse to water but he has avoided it since, until today. This time he was all fluffed up & rolled in the dill so much he was on his back with the dill dragged over his belly! Twice! Funny boy.
As for Cagney, he who has NEVER got wet……. he actually opened his wings to get some of the water droplets! He really needed it as he is moulting & starting to look a bit tatty!
Daytime fun & games
They have all been quite busy today.
Atilla is still largely confined to her swing but still poops outside the cage when the door is open. On those occasions she has managed to give my sleeve a little chew too. I hung up a new swing from the landing platform. Atilla eyed it up from her swing. She is the boss so really she has to give the say-so if something new is acceptable. On one of her poop trips she decided to check out the swing & briefly gave it a peck & a pull. I do not think she was too impressed to be honest, but nevertheless, it got the Atilla seal-of-acceptance, if not quite approval.
Raspy has been flying back & forth between the Manor, the play gym, the plant pot stand & the two window seats (happy perches). She still likes a good chew on my jumper & seemed to appreciate that I was wearing something with slightly baggier sleeves so she could burrow a bit more effectively.
Bezukhov, in keeping with his need to put his feet in food, managed to dance across my buttered ryvita. 😀
Cagney was giving me the runaround when it was time to close up the cage. I pegged some dill inside in a way that none of it was sticking outside. All was closed apart from the landing platform. Only Cagney to go in…. He managed to pull the dill through to the outside so he did not have to go inside!
Puddings & Toyboys 