  Macey Grace "Our Story" Macey came to me on August 11, 2007. I feel we were meant to find one another, and everything from our initial meeting to our ever growing bond seems to confirm my feelings. I have been trying to discover a whole new way of living after many, many years of very self-destructive behavior. A parrot was to be a "gift" to myself for continuing to fight what seemed, at times, to be a hopeless battle. Kind of therapy I guess, a new friend I thought would help my mood and keep me occupied. So, after doing a lot of reading and research on different types of birds, I decided I really wanted a Green Cheek Conure. However, due to my situation, my funds were limited and I could not find one that was within my budget or within reasonable driving distance. So, I decided to get a Cockatiel. We'd had one as a family pet when I was a kid, and I thought it would be a nice addition to my family now. I looked through countless ads in the paper, trying to find a good deal on a nice used cage, but no luck. One morning my mom called me and read me an email that I'd normally blow off, and probably did, but it said something to the effect that God had good things planned for me that day and "something" good was going to happen around 11:00am. I didn't really think much of it. As a matter of fact, I probably rolled my eyes. Good things for me? Why? I'd done such a great job making a mess out of everything! I didn't think about it again. While driving to have lunch with my mom, I had the sudden thought to check in at a petstore that I haven't been in for probably 5 years because it was such a dump. It broke my heart to go in there, so I just stopped visiting the place several years ago. I literally hadn't even thought about it for years. So, I called and asked if they had any used cages, which they did. After lunch I drove over there to see if I could find a good deal. I wouldn't settle for anything less than excellent condition, but I was hoping I'd luck out. As it turns out, I did--but not with a cage. Of course, once I was there I had to look at their birds. When I walked into the filthy room I saw cages stacked upon cages. As I rounded the corner of birds piled on top of one another, I saw a sad looking little Green Cheek. My heart literally started to race. I went to her cage and just watched for a minute. Her lovely gray head was down and she was quite depressed looking. She was in a small cage with one dowel-like perch, no toys, and bowls filled with seeds, and filthy, slimy water. But as soon as I started to talk to her she perked up. As I stood there I noticed her price tag, which included her small crusty cage. It was quite ridiculous compared to what I had seen for her breed on the web. I walked a couple of feet to where the employees of the store took their neverending smoking break and asked for help. They got her out for me and I think it truly was instant love. She was so very interested in everything I said to her and rained kisses on my face. I knew in that moment I'd pay whatever they wanted. There was no way I was leaving her there. She was coming home with me. After questioning them about her past I was told that the she was owned by the store owner who had bought her to be used as a breeder. She got her when she was 2 years old and had kept her for 2 years, so she was approximately 4. They said they had tried multiple times to pair her with another Green Cheek but had never found a male that wasn't too aggressive. So, they finally decided to sell her, and I was actually the first person to look at her as she had just been put up for sale! I chewed them down $50.00 on the price, plunked my cash down and out the door we went. It felt so right to be leaving there with her! I put her in the front seat and buckled the cage in tightly. Once home, she didn't want to stay in her cage, she only wanted to be with me. As long as we were together she was happy, and I know she made me a lot happier too! She's so smart. She steps up, says "what", gives kisses when asked and is potty trained. Now I KNOW the people at the store didn't do that. I really wonder what happened to her first owner; I think they must have loved her very much. Besides those things that she does, she just has these knowing eyes--I can feel her intelligence. Her cage was cleaned, and shortly after I was able to order her a nice, big, new one. She went to the vet and got a course of antibiotics which ended up being more or less precautionary because everything came back normal. She also got a new name! They called her something like "Meetzshi", but I felt that she deserved a whole new start and she became Macey. Macey Grace. She has been the most wonderful thing that's happened to me in a long time. She has a way of knowing how I'm feeling and doing just the right thing to make me feel a little better. I don't feel alone when she's with me. I love her dearly and thank God that we were brought together. Exactly eight days after Macey came home the store where she had been sitting for 2 years closed down for good. I thank God I stopped at that dump just one more time. I shudder to think what would have happened to my girl if I had not decided to look for a used cage in a place I detested. Well, as they say, things happen for a reason. And you know what I realized later on? According to the record on my cell phone the day I brought macey home, I thought of and called the pet store that I hadn't been in for years at about 11:23a.m. that morning. To inquire about a used cage..... Our futures were dismal and uncertain for a long time....  8-11-2007 
This is the first picture I ever took of Macey. I hadn't even handled her at that point.She looks surprised that someone is talking to her!
Macey at the store where I bought her. Look at the sunlight shining down on her. I took this picture with my cell phone to show my mom. She's perched on a female employee's hand. The woman seemed to be relieved that I was taking her home. I got the feeling that this woman may have tried to do what she could for Macey when she was working, as Macey seemed fairly comfortable with her. I am greatful for any comforts she had while being kept by the owner of that store for two years. 
Macey's sitting on the trunk of my car while I get the keys from my purse to go HOME!Ahhh, fresh air! Do ya'smell it Macey??? WE'RE OUT"A HERE!!!!!! 
Dark skies clear and second chances are ripe with the promise of a better future. Things are looking up babe!  9-15-2007Wow, she's gained weight and her feathers look so shiny!She's still not too sure about the camera, though!Aww, don't be so suspicious, pretty girl!! 
Macey's dad made her a play gym!She was so excited when she first saw it.I'm pretty sure I heard her say "Is that really for ME?!" 
"Hey, this is fun!" "Come on mom give it a try!" "You know you wanna....." Macey's an absolute joy. Always loving and sweet. She's never happier than she is when we're just together. Doing laundry or playing, it seems to make no difference to her. She's not one to be nippy, but there are times when her dad or human brother or sister try to take her from her momma, when she may get a bit testy. However, they ask her to step up from anywhere else and she's always happy to go.  Hey, this is so much nicer than bathing in a slimey water dish!  Hehehehehee...Macey's all wet & looks really funny! But, don't tell her that! She'd be devestated to find out that I posted this picture!  Well, now that you've learned a little about me, and know that I'm a  my mom want's to tell you about my little brother.... 
Meet the newest member of our family...... Kiiro Peep Kirro came to live with us on 9-11-2007. He's a Peachfaced Lovebird. His color mutation is called creamino which is very pretty. This color mutation causes red eyes. They are very pretty and not something I can think of seeing in many birds. Besides having unique eye coloring, he is a very unique bird! He is definately a lot of parrot in a tiny package! He has no idea that he's a very small parrot though. He has a BIG attitude! All soft and cuddly one minute, then fearless and cocky the next. Here are a couple of pictures of him with more to come soon.... 
He's a very funny boy and likes to sit on my head and feels pretty proud of himself when I let him do it!  
See how he's laughing at me in the upper left picture?!?! Behind my back no less!!! Isn't he handsome, though? He has the pretties blue tint in the right light. Kiiro is like a toddler. Busy and demanding most of the time. He would live on our shoulder, the front of our shirts, or top of our head if we'd let him. Don't get me wrong, he's with us most of the time but no matter how long, it's NEVER enough!  Here's a rare picture of Kiiro IN his house!!! The hanging coconut in the back is one of his favorite places to be and he sleeps in his blue, fuzzy tent every night.   more to come...late...tired!
Just a quick peek at our newest baby!! Welcome Isabelle Sky!!! Better pics forthcoming....This is all I have right now. 
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