Wednesday, August 24, 2011

At the Veterinarian's Office

My mother is here for a few days for a little sewing festival--we designed a simple dress pattern for her to use again and again, and we're sewing up three dresses. She has had so many spine and hip problems since she last sewed for herself that she has literally lost three inches of torso height. That throws things off, but we're righting them in the pattern department.

Knowing that we would need a break from sewing, and that she shares my love for the Big Bird, I scheduled Frederick's wing-clipping trip to the vet for today.


He watches suspiciously from his travel caddy as we settle in to wait in the veterinarian's lobby. There is a loud (so loud) sound of large parrot.


It's this brilliant blue and gold macaw. I say "brilliant", referring only to his feather colors. He's a bit of a dim bulb.


Thinking that Bella is going to tickle his neck just because he puts his head down and looks at her winsomely. Not with that bill, fellow.


But this cat got it right. Clara got the message loud and clear.

Frederick's spirits were much depressed by the trim. In spite of much cooing and loving admiration and corn on the cob, he wasn't quite ready to forgive me until bedtime.
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7 comments:

  1. Hana - Marmota12:24 AM, August 25, 2011

    Ah, poor Frederick! The price of having a good home, I'd say...

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  2. Kate4:32 AM, August 25, 2011

    I had a monk parrot as a teenager and I would clip his wings, myself. Not sure I would want to do that with a full sized parrot! Those beaks! I miss having a bird. My monk parrot would preen the hairs at the hairline at the back of my head and it felt so good.

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  3. Polly5:48 AM, August 25, 2011

    Do you mind sharing what types of dresses you drafted? I have severe ( corrected, but still severe) scoliosis and am always on the prowl for dress styles and designs that will work. My own torso is a full 2-3 inches shorter than it should be ( with right hip and shoulder 2" too high!). Let's just say that I have the legs of someone who is 5'10"
    with a torso more like 5'6".

    Makes things interesting.

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  4. Anna6:21 AM, August 25, 2011

    Polly, just a simple, very loose-fitting bodice with no shaping, with enough ease to pull over the head, can be made with buttons down the front and facings, or a bias-bound scoop neck, short sleeves, and a slight A-line to the skirt. The simplest dress in the world, made up in fabrics with some drape, such as medium-weight linen or silky cotton.

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  5. Jackie8:41 AM, August 25, 2011

    Where's Dr. Doolittle? : )

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  6. Miss Mary12:53 PM, August 25, 2011

    birds hold grudges.....it is just their way. I am glad he is safe and sound at home....

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  7. Polly9:42 PM, August 29, 2011

    Excellent; thank you for your response. I need to come to terms with the fact that I will probably *never* be able to successfully wear the dresses I love best (stylistically). Like, shirtwaists. I adore them but they just don't work so well. But I just recently found one of my vintage patterns that has some promise--most vintage dress patterns seem to be fitted so particularly that they would never do for me. But this one has potential (http://blueprintsofalife.blogspot.com/2011/08/vogue-couturier-2103.html).

    My one go-to dress for years was a sleeveless, pull-over-the-head A-line sheath-type dress (rather Jackie O) that just seemed to look 'right' on me. I'm about two sizes too big for it now, but I'm hoping to shrink back into it. Thank you for the reminder that in my situation, simplicity is really the best.

    Best wishes to your mom and her back!

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