Internet prolonged saga

  I sit and wait for Suresh (BSNL) at the junction box in the forest 783m away from the house.
  Of course, he is not on time.  It is called Indian stretchable time (IST) :)  As i have the computer with me i can write this little note while i wait under the eucalyptus tree.
  What a decision to go forward laying a cable to the house.  We have seen great sides to it.  A good 18 days out of 90 days!  When it did work it worked just fine.  What is the problem?  Where is the problem?
  "Did you call them?  When are they coming?  what does that mean?" i heard many times from Catherine. "usually!…."  i understand where she comes from.  She depends on it for her work.  I wish the internet cable in india specifically Auroville would be
  "hmmmm…" i would respond.  She has taken matters in her hand.  The usual way ;)
  They have taken the modem.  They have checked it.  They are bringing it now.  We will test it at one junction box 783m away from the house.  If that works we move on to the house. 
  So far the issue has always been somewhere between one of the junction boxes to the main box near the exchange.  Phew at least laying the cable was not all waste.  Gotta get the freakin' internet data working!
  So here i wait..
  It is lovely as it has rained quite a bit for several days!  it still smells fresh! :)
  (they have arrived…gotta go)

"twitter" hops her way

  Oh "twitter"!  She sure has healed well.  Her foot is kind alike all wonky now.
  At the time, i was so worried i would be hurting her as i cleaned her wounds and made sure it would not get infected.  I did notice that it was somehow crunched and that she could not move her paws..
  She has adapted sensationally well.  She hops and walks.  She is again normal.  Slowed down sadly when speed is of the essence in the forest with the wild hungry lurking mongoose and civet cat.  The dogs normally do the job to protect 'em.  But you never know at times i would think even the dogs would be interested :)
   She has started to make adult sounds..how can i explain?  maybe i will record the sound one day :)  Expecting her to start laying eggs!
  So, i wished to have put in place her paws so that at least she could place her foot flat on the ground!

Owl have a great journey

  She has been shitting well.  Conclusion the mother is coming and taking care of her baby!
  5 days ago, in the morning, i went to do my regular check-in and felt the owl. 
  "A little cold, shaking is normal.  Why is she a little weaker today?" i asked myself.  Was last nights attempt to fly away tired her so much.
  Convincing myself that the mother is in charge..i continued my day.
  Sadly, on my return that evening.  It had taken another journey other then being a bird! :(
  Sad i was, why did i not pay more attention to my gut feeling and judgement that something was wrong.  I felt responsible! :(
  Monica sweetly put it.  It is the mother's responsability.  I preferred that..
  I buried her under the chickoo tree hoping maybe the fruits will be round as the owl! :')

Owl grows..

  Which day are we at?  i believe it is the 4th night, tonight (i prefer nights as they are nocturnal)

  Last night, well better say yester-evening, again the same song different chord and another tone..the baby owl made it up a few steps and hopped onto the mini wall along the balcony and spoke to her mom.
  Her mom kept calling her and responding to her baby.  Slowly getting darker and darker the mom becomes more courageous and approaches her baby.

  I sat on the balcony for easily half an hour silently and motionless.  So sweet and beautiful to watch the song.
  I was afraid the baby would fly off and not make it far enough into a tree.  There are cats and dogs down there!  i trusted and went back inside.
  After an hour or so, for some reason i went downstairs and started to look as i did not hear the song anymore.  The cat had found the owl exactly below where she sat up on the balcony; not so promising for someone who can fly :)
  This time the owl stayed on the balcony.  I trusted that she would stay.  I went to sleep.  But will she behave? i worried.
  The next morning that is today, Thursday, she was still there.
  Has she been fed all these nights?  Is she getting stronger?
  Monica, the bird lover, will go this afternoon to make an analysis! :)

Owl hops and spreads wings

  "I had the same experience 8 years ago. The nest was in a tree in the middle of the garden. Waking up to go to the lycée, our 4 cats and 1 dog were around it. He had spread out his wings to impress them, but it wasn't going to keep them far for long... I took him (with garden gloves, because yes, the claws are impressive) and put him in my clothes cupboard (wire mesh door). Off to school, and when I came back I took him again under the tree. And hooray he flew to mommy who "showered" him and they went back to the nest!!! Good luck cousin!" - Divya.
  Hmmm. Nice to hear that.
  It was pretty yesterday evening when the sun was setting. A lovely wind.  A serene calm and the sound of birds going home.  Except for the parents of the baby owl.
  A song a dance.  The mama owl hoots her sound with intervals of 'tac tac' then the baby responds with a purr-ish sound.  When the baby makes the sound you have no idea where it is, it is projecting the sound from its ears and forehead; get my point - it resonates all over!  Hops around so the mama can see her.
 I witnessed all this on the balcony sitting quietly.  I thought they were the size of a coconut but actually much smaller.
  The baby has more energy and spreads its wings to scare.  She has even grabbed my finger as if i were a prey.  Makes me smile to see this beautiful lump of feathers with big eyes that wink at you! :)
  This continued for a long, very long time into the dark.  I am assuming that the mama is feeding her!
  I am keeping a watch out as  Aurosylle mentioned that if it does not go all naturally then we might have to feed it.  
  "yeah yeah, feed it some meet and put hair on it; even arm pit hair or something," Monica straightforwardly shared.
  Not reached that stage as yet.  So far so good.  I want to help it with some flying practice; going to pick it up and throw it in the air! :)

Beautiful baby owl

  "Oh what's that?" looking down on the floor in the kitchen.
  I turned away to look right back, what could it be a bird, really?
  It was dark, all i wanted is to feed the dogs and go to sleep.  Of course, i noticed some how the fluffy feathery grey lump right by the door.
  A baby grey owl on the ground with ants starting to get to it :(  i picked it up.  So sweet.  Wow, does it have claws.  It is hardly the size of my fist.  Beautiful big eyes!  Little feather horns above its eyes.  So sweet.  They have a nest in the "keet" where it meets the cement roof.
  How did it get there?
  Will the parents come back for it.  Who do i call?  I tried Aurosylle, Mirabelle and Monica to no avail.
  Hmmm..What do i feed it?  if only i had a syringe i could nourish it with water or some vitamins.  is it sick why is it not flying away?
  Getting all the little ants off its beautiful feathers and going through a thorough check up..nothing seems to be the problem apart from some feathers missing on its neck!
   I call back Monica, yes she picked it up and gave me super instructions on what to do.
  I have put it in a basket with plenty of cloth.  I marked around it with chalk so no ants get to it.  Placing it on the verandah, right below their nest, hoping its parents will show up tonight..
  I wish it will survive and return to the wild healthy, strong and safely!
  Good night :)

Hopping "Twitter"

  An evening we came just before dark.  We spot "twitter" sitting on the stool outside the kitchen door.  Unusual.
   She has been used to staying in the kitchen as she grew up in there.  Otherwise, we had started to put her in the chicken pen with the other adult hens.
  I wondered why would she be there.  She got off the stool and started to limp!
  She had a cut on her paw.  Ouch.
  The next morning i wanted the vets opinion, "Hi.  You got a problem with your cock again?!"  the vet joked seriously.  "is it your hen or the cock that needs attention?" and so i explained the story.  As per her orders i went to get ointments and medecine for "twitter"
  I still could not put the pieces together as how the chick was hurt and not put in her place.  According to the watchman, he says Saedi was after it; and she hurt "twitter" Do i beleive that?
   And then that he could not catch her to put her with the others. hmmmmm..
  Well damage is done.  After dressing he for several days and giving medecine she continues to hop.  She is unable to place her foot down :(
  Truly wish her foot gets better, after all she grew up in my pocket!