Hi, Friends!
Welcoming July~ though I'm not sure where June disappeared to.
I hope this finds you well, staying strong and healthy~
Back on schedule after the sweetest little lady, we named her Cricket,
came into our life for fourteen days! I shared some photographs below.
I love the punch needle version of the wool hooked rugs~
Mini mats!
My rugs were originally translated from my walnut ink & watercolor illustrations.
We met this little love on June 10th~
Our Cricket
House sparrow nestling... four days old.
Alaina and I were walking at a shopping mall. From the corner of my eye
I saw something move. Alaina scooped up the wee little bird, not one feather on her.
It was 96 degrees and not all stores were open due to Covid restrictions.
We searched for a nest... we listened for other nestlings...
It appeared that little bird had taken a two story drop. She calmed in Alaina's hands.
We were off to our local farm & family store for advice to keep her healthy.
I began feeding Cricket as soon as we had an egg cooked, hard boiled.
We mashed the yolk only, added a bit of Pedialyte so it would go down and
with a blunt end toothpick began feeding her every hour.
Careful to watch her crop and not overfeed her.
The next day we added a little canned puppy food.
Day two with us we thought her tail feathers were getting a bit longer~
The third morning we uncovered her and pin feathers were popping out!
Her voice started getting stronger!
This is how Cricket slept. Full tummy and all tucked in.
She cuddled next to her woolen nest mates and a hot pad I set
outside of the yarn bowl.
All that I would hear from the corner of my desk was a tiny
chirp of happy dreams... cricket-like sounds.
I would set the wool rounds in and she would wiggle around
until she found the perfect spot~
She outgrew her yarn bowl so her woolen nest mates and flannel
bedding were tucked in a corner of the butterfly keep we kept her in.
We added a perch...
On day ten we brought Cricket to the backyard for her
'in the grass time'... helping her feel comfortable in her natural environment.
After a few minutes she flew away!
We had graduated her to mealworms, cracked corn, millet, suet...
She knew what to eat~
It was still hard to see her go!
The very next day, Father's Day, I heard a sparrow near my studio door.
I thought it was Cricket. We have so many sparrows in our yard.
Could it be?
It sure was!
She flew to a lilac tree and called to us! Flapping her wings and quivering!
We brought her back inside... we kept her for a few more days.
I couldn't get her to peck at seeds.
She loved to be fed mealworms!
I made a little paste from egg yolk and pediatlyte again... just enough
on the tip of my toothpick to hold a seed, a piece of cracked corn~
Cricket was with us for a total of 14 days.
She continued to grow stronger... escaped and flew through the house frequently!
For her safely and development we decided to bring Cricket to
a wildlife rehabilitation in our town.
She is safe in the care of a loving and gentle gal, in a much larger cage.
My heart is at peace.
The professionals will know when our sweet little gal is ready to fly.
Our winter is long and can be harsh here next to the lake.
It is important to us that Cricket learn to nest and prepare for the changing seasons.
Such a sweet journey~
"Nanny Goat's Flagpole Snack" copyright 2020 Michelle L. Palmer
This punch needle pattern has been published in the summer issue of
Punch Needle & Primitive Stitcher Magazine
Deb included my journal entry with the pattern... a sweet and sassy goat.
I still can hear the clang of the bell she wore to warn of her arrival!
I hope your summer days are filled with beauty, friends.
All the best to you~
Praying you stay safe, healthy and strong!