There are not a lot of stores that sell bird cages around here, and I didn’t want to buy one online. I did find a feed store outside of Bennington, Vt. – its called Whitman’s and the staff is helpful and friendly. For some time now, the Mansion residents have been asking for a bigger parakeet cage for their two parakeets, who are much loved there.

The second I saw this one at Whitman’s, I knew it was the perfect one for the Mansion. It is about 40 per cent higher than the one now, and I found some great activity toys for the birds – mirrors, a ladder, swings and some other good stuff.

I think the residents will be pleased. Every time I visit the Mansion, I see someone singing to the birds or just watching them or listening to them sing. It is so important to have living things there, they represent life itself and are stimulating and soothing.

The residents deal with all of life’s lessons – caretaking, responsibility, death and comfort. They squabble over care, sometimes somebody opens the door and the birds get out (this one will be harder to open) and they give them names and talk to them.

I’ll bring the cage over in the morning, the  staff at Whitman’s helped me assemble all of the activity toys and tools, so we can just bring it in and set it up. The staff will move the birds, they know how to do it.  I love bringing life into the place, I’ll check on the Geranium garden as well.