Pets and Animals
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Before the Aviary
Before the aviary, Jake and Joey spent three years happily ruling the house — including Graeme’s dining table, dinner and occasionally his glass of water. 😂
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The Balcony Inspectors
We woke up to find three unexpected visitors lined up on the balcony, quietly inspecting the new occupants. Whether they were curious or simply hoping for breakfast, they certainly looked as though we were the ones intruding.
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The Guinea Pig I Didn’t Mean to Buy
The Guinea Pig I Didn’t Mean to Buy Meet Jess. She was only five weeks old when I saw her, and she was noticeably smaller than the other guinea pigs around her. I hadn’t gone there intending to bring another guinea pig home. That was the plan, anyway. 😂 But then I saw this tiny…
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The Great Guinea Pig Evacuation
When the wet season made the guinea pig village too soggy to live in, there was only one option: evacuate the residents, relocate their houses to the front balcony, and wait for better weather.
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Goodbye, Zivey
She may have been one tiny resident of our guinea pig village, but Ziva occupied a much bigger place in my heart. Sometimes knowing goodbye is the kindest thing doesn’t make it hurt any less.
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Meggie: The Little Bird Between Two Worlds
He began as a sick little chick we hand-fed and kept warm inside my shirt, and over two years Meggie became both our baby and a bird of the wild. He lived between two worlds for as long as he could—until one day, perhaps, he finally chose his flock.
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Bub: The Little Bird I Taught to Fly
Graeme brought Bub home hoping another little bird might ease the ache of losing Meggie. Instead, Bub made his own place in my heart. I taught him to fly outside and return home—until one terrible day when the freedom I had given him ended in a way I could never have imagined.
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The Five Marias
Ziva, Ebony, Lexie, Flick and Trick each found themselves in the arms of a different Maria, and somehow an ordinary afternoon at the House on the Hill turned into a photo collection called “The Five Marias.”
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You Have Pets?
When your neighbour asks, “You have pets?” despite living above what is basically a small animal kingdom.
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Clean for Five Minutes
There is a special kind of peace in a freshly cleaned space—especially during the five minutes before the children, or chickens, wake up.
Stories Along the Way 