Sleeping Perches for Cockatiels

September 2006, Brooklyn New York.

Mithril sleeps on a swing hung from the top of her cage.

Sleep is important for all animals. Whether we have scales, fur, or feathers, getting enough sleep is essential for our health. So much so that every year furniture stores insist that only the most expensive mattresses, foundations, and bedding will make sure we sleep well. As people who live with and love animals, we appreciate that finding the best and most comfortable sleeping spaces for them can be a bit of a challenge. Making this more complicated, this changes as our birds age.

In 2005 when I first bought the main cage where Mithril and Arwen still sleep most nights, Mithril and Aragorn were happy to sleep on a swing placed in the center of the top dome of their cage (see above photo). It was triangular and made of three pine dowels. That was fine for a while – before they decided that pine was too hard on their feet. At which point I replaced the original swing with one made of the same kind of rope that you see towards the bottom of that photo.

Two parallel rope perches at the highest point in the cage help reduce conflicts between my two cockatiels.

By 2011 that sleeping space was no longer acceptable (see a trend here) and I installed regular rope perches about 12-16″ long and about half to a full inch thick. For a while, one was fine – until I observed too much fighting over where on that perch who would sleep where. Then I installed a second rope perch to reduce conflicts.

Mithril relaxes on a sundeck perch in 2020.

Meanwhile Mithril was taking her daytime naps on one of the many “sundecks” arranged around the cage.

In 2023 Mithril’s sight declined further. I removed all the wood perches from the feeding areas in favor of sundecks. At this point Mithril decided that the clam mineral block perch I installed several months before to mostly be a source of calcium for them was more stable and more secure than sitting on the rope sleeping perches, no doubt a conclusion that came after several falls from the rope perches. Every afternoon when she tells me she wants to go to bed I put her up on the lower of the rope perches (above left). From there she carefully climbs to the clam perch and settles down to relax and sleep (above right). It’s become her favorite spot now where she feels safest and where her arthritic toes can expand onto a flat surface.

Adapting to your bird(s) changing needs is very important, especially as your bird(s) gets older. Sleeping perches and perches in general are vital to sustaining your birds health. In this we have to pay careful attention to what each individual bird tells us she wants. As individuals we can be picky about where and on what/with what we sleep. Expect nothing different from you bird.

In figuring out what your bird wants and needs, pay careful attention to her behavior. Is she avoiding certain areas? Certain perches? When you offer a swing, how does she respond? Does she avoid swings or spend lots of time enjoying them throughout the day? Which perch materials does she favor during the day? Generally the type of perch she favors during the day is likely to be one she wants to sleep on.

Remember that safety is always foremost for your bird. She needs a sleeping space that is safe from potential danger (including other flock members), but also easy for her to reach and depart from as she wants. Most of the time this involves getting as high up as she can.

Wherever your bird decides to sleep, your careful attention to her needs will yield a happy and hopefully well-rested feathered friend ready to take on whatever each day brings.

For more information about cages and perches for cockatiels (and related medium sized parrots), please consult “Preparing for My First Cockatiel.” For more information about the changing needs of cockatiels over the age of ten years, please consult “Preparing for My Senior Cockatiel.”

Learn more about the Life with Cockatiels series on this blog.

Last lines: Novels by Laurel A. Rockefeller

Good morning! I hope you are have a great day so far. Earlier this spring a twitter discussion about the final lines and paragraphs in books inspired me to post the final lines for the thirteen biographies in “The Legendary Women of World History” series plus the award-winning “His Red Eminence, Armand-Jean du Plessis de Richelieu.” Today would like to post the final lines for my fiction work. Most of these are from the Peers of Beinan series, but not all of them. I start with the books not in the Peers of Beinan. Except for the flash fiction, all of these are available in both digital and paperback editions. Please note that there are two versions of The Poisoned Ground. The regular book by that title is shorter and appropriate for audiences age 10+. The extended “The Poisoned Ground and the Healer Consort” is much darker and more violent for mature audiences ages 17+.

A New Start in the Niobrara for Mr. and Mrs. O’Malley

Audio edition available.

“Anything for an Irish lad and lass!” winked Father Fitzpatrick. “So…would you like a fine bit of bread and ale before we find you a place to stay?”

“What’s the vintage?” asked Brigit.

“1884…a good year for Nebraska ale!” laughed Father Fitzpatrick.

“I’ll drink to that!” chuckled Brigit. Together the trio found a nice table in the café and dined with the luck of the Irish. Brigit and Darcy knew that life in this new place, Nebraska, would certainly not be easy, but with the help of Father Fitzpatrick, at least they just might have a fighting chance at making a home of their own. What more could they want?

The Arban and the Saman

Audio edition available. Music performed by Laurel A. Rockefeller.

Everything that Mongke Gal prophesied came true. In February 1559 a baby was born among the Jianzhou nűzhen. Aisin-gurun Nurgaci was his name. Nurgaci was a great warrior, a great leader who united the fractured tribes and re-ordered the nűzhen society, setting the stage for his son to take back the city built on Zhongdu’s ashes, a city now known as Beijing. In 1654 Biya’s spirit was reborn as Nurgaci’s great grandson Xuanye, a boy no one expected to become emperor. But prophesy has a way of coming true in the ways no one ever expects.  And so, it was that on the 5^th of February 1661 the little boy Xuanye ascended the dragon throne as the Kangxi Emperor, the greatest and wisest emperor the world has ever known.

As for their eternal promises to each other, these too have come true. And so it is to this day. For true love never dies, even if it takes many lives to come together once more. True love is the eternal fire, the Mongke Gal, that brings rebirth to the world and conquers all sorrow, all evil, all pain.

So Mote It Be. Amen.

The First King

Audio edition available

“Over the past twenty eight beinors we have debated.  We have chosen to create an executive for our people, a king elected by this Council who may, with the permission of this august body, transfer power to his best qualified offspring should he rule well until death.  You, Lord Malvyn, are childless, but your wife, our high priestess, is strong and wise, a credit to House Miyoo.  We therefore confer upon you the title of King and ask you serve as our chosen executive to guide us into the stars and into the great migration that is so key to our survival.”

“Wise counselors, I am humbled by your choice.  As this is your will, I shall most conscientiously obey,” bowed king-elect Malvyn.

“So mote it be.” smiled Lady Kendra, pleased at their choice.

Good-bye A672E92 Quintus

Audio edition available

In all, 80% of all manner of life was able to evacuate, including hundreds of thousands of species of flora and fauna.  On the bridge of the Gilráne, Brigid listened as Horatio expertly commanded his star craft as skillfully as his reputation, King Malvyn ever watchful of his conduct. 

Looking back one last time, Brigid bowed in deference to the world that was their home and the goddess who gave birth to all.  With a tear in her eye, Brigid put her hand upon the bulkhead near the window next to her, “Goodbye!”

The Poisoned Ground/The Poisoned Ground and the Healer Consort

Audio edition available

Liam knelt before her, still holding her hand, “Well then there is a question I must ask you.  Do you choose me with your heart?  Will you be with me?”

“Mind, body, and soul!” smiled Cara.  “Let our fates forever be entwined.  You, my perfect knight and I, your princess!”

“Princess you are; there is a royalty to your soul, my dear!  May I always honour you, all that you are!”

Cara and Liam defied King Gareth, staying in Nan-li and continuing to work at the healing center.  Together they invented the eye drops and contact lenses used for generations after to prevent brown eye syndrome.  Their inventions protected their eyes and prevented them from losing their sight to brown eye syndrome – in themselves and in their daughter Gwawr born on BE 5547, beinor 124.  Though the king continued his cruel ways, the love between Cara and Liam offered the abbess the strength to endure and continue her work.  In the yen-ars that followed, “Cara” became the most popular name given by Ten-Arian healers to their daughters in memory of her extraordinary life.  Other abbesses of Ten-Ar would bear the name “Cara.”  But few would ever achieve so much under such tribulations as she who dared defy the tyrant king.

The Great Succession Crisis

Epilogue

“For all appearances, the Great Succession Crisis was, indeed, resolved on BE 6328, beinor 129.  But appearances can be deceiving.  Lord Knight Corann and Princess Anlei’s son, Prince Lyr ascended to the throne on BE 6400, beinor 2 as all in House Gurun hoped — but at a terrible price for all of Beinan.  High Priestess Wehe, Princess Anlei, Lord Knight Corann they all hoped in BE 6328 that the future King Lyr would be able to put the tumult of the crisis behind all of them.  But their hopes failed.  As Corann long suspected, Lord Janus would have his revenge, even from the grave.  Hate filled Janus’ descendants, triggering the violence that was to come, violence that would grow until it consumed Beinan.  What began with a few terrorist bombings grew to civil war with countless innocents murdered.  For my own protection my parents sent me to D425E25 Tertius, as most of you know so well.  But that, dear friends, is another story that I will tell in my next transmission.  The shir-or is late right now.  Time for some rest.  Watch for my next transmission for in it I will tell you how the violence began and grew, how the ghosts of the past came to haunt us all….” finished Queen Anyu.

The Ghosts of the Past

In my mother’s body, a child was quickened by Yelu’s persistence in those last beinors of the Beinarian era.  Across Beinan, the fires emanating from the Ten-Arian monastery, from the temple of Abka Biya, and from the palace spread widely, destroying many familiar and sacred places.  As I set course in my star craft for D425E25 Tertius, my star craft detected a strange anomaly coming out of the temple where I found so much peace.  A small shockwave hit my star craft two xiao-shirs later.  In my mind I heard Lady Laela’s voice and knew that somehow she was behind whatever it was my star craft detected, working unseen and unnoticed though for what purpose I would not understand until I returned to Beinan.

The Beinan I knew was gone.  But deep inside me I knew something else:  that out of the darkness and cold comes a new spring, a new hope.  If I ever doubted it, all I needed to do was listen to the messages left for me on board the Liltaél.  The story of my exile on D425E25 Tertius and of my return to Beinan, planet B345A15 Quartus in Beinarian nomenclature, took me down many unexpected roads.  Many I loved perished in that Great War whose lives I honour across this history of the last yen-ars of the Beinarian Era.  Many hidden things revealed themselves at last.  I am not proud of what I said and did along the way.  But this I affirm forever:  in the darkest night, in the deepest snow, in the bitterest sorrow, there is love, there is light, and there is a new life waiting for you if you simply find the courage within yourself to believe.

Princess Anyu Returns

Epilogue

On NE 1, beinor 3 Queen Anyu sent the first of three transmissions to D425E25 Tertius, a world she never knew the natives called “Earth.”  Four beinors later on NE 1, beinor 7 she sent her second transmission concerning the fall of Beinan to the ghosts of the past. Finally on NE 1, beinor 9 she sent her final transmission regarding her exile on Earth and how she came to be queen.  Under Queen Anyu a new golden age was born, the queen herself living to the age of four hundred thirty four yen-ars and dying on NE 393, beinor 50.  Her twins by Anwell, conceived out of so much sorrow and pain during their captivity at the hands of Morlong and Laela, succeeded Queen Anyu after her.  On NE 375, beinor 1 Queen Anyu crown her son King Rhisiart and her daughter Queen Brigid, the twins ruling as co-sovereigns for over six thousand yen-ars thanks to Laela’s genetic modifications.

Meanwhile in Olos-Mir thrived the half Beinarian-half Amur Lord Daniel, Lord Bevin, Lord Malvyn, Lady Debora, Lady Lorraine, and Lady Anlei, the pain and sorrow of their making transformed by the wise and steady guidance of their guardians, Princess Leonora and her husband Andrew Wu, the same Andrew Wu once forced to serve Lord Yelu as his body guard. 

But that is another story….

First lines: Biographies by Laurel A. Rockefeller

If you still use twitter, you may have noticed discussions among the writing community regarding how best to start your latest work in progress. Lots of theories prevail, but often the best way to get ideas on how to “break the ice” on a story is simply to read the opening lines of existing books.

For me, I tend to use two or three strategies, depending on the book. Most of my biographies employ Prologues as introductions. These are usually set after the death of the biography subject (the exception being “Empress Matilda of England” which opens with Thomas Becket arriving at the White Tower to visit his pal, King Henry II Plantagenet). The biography subject is introduced in these prologues through discussion between historical persons, many of them part of another biography I’ve written – but not always! When I do not use a prologue, I open with an original poem. When you realize my first publications were poetry, this makes complete sense.

Here then are the first lines for each of my biographies. All of these books are available in both digital and paperback editions at a retailer near you. Many also available in English language audio edition. See applicable audio links with each book.

Boudicca: Britain’s Queen of the Iceni.

Audio edition available.

“Tell me a story, Mother?” asked an eight-year-old girl with curly dark hair and dark eyes.

“What story would you have me tell, Moira?” asked Keita as she heated milk over the hearth fire, the sleeves of her green woolen tunic dress rolled up neatly and out of the way as she stirred.

Watching her mother, Moira handed her the rennet from a lamb slaughtered the day before, “Tell me about our people.”

Catherine de Valois: French Princess, Tudor Matriarch.

Audio edition available.

“I Margaret take thee Edmund to be my lawfully wedded husband,” vowed Margaret Beaufort in front of the door of the small chapel in Bletsoe Castle in Bedfordshire where she was born and raised as the daughter of the duke of Somerset, John Beaufort and his wife, Margaret Beauchamp .  At just twelve years old, Margaret’s tiny frame complimented that of her Welsh bridegroom, the twenty-three year old Edmund Tudor whose bloodline as a descendant of the Welsh prince Gruffydd ap Rhys radiated in his dark hair and blue eyes.  The wedding vows taken, their priest opened the big red door into the chapel for the wedding mass.

Mary Queen of the Scots: the Forgotten Reign.

Audio edition available.

Woe to Thee, Oh Scotland

Woe to thee, oh Scotland

Our Pictish mothers’ tears like highland rain

For the queens of old are forgotten

Their valour now seen as depraved.

Where is your love for your queens

For Picts and Scots, Gaels and Brigantes?

For fair Mary your queen — cast aside

And praised instead the Puritan’s hateful hand.

You drove the fairest queen far away

To die disgraced on an English axe

Spilling the fairest and most Scottish blood of all.

And with her died the Scottish heart: brave and free.

Queen Elizabeth Tudor: Journey to Gloriana.

Audio edition available.

The white sails of the Abigail shined brightly from its three tallest masts.  As the crew readied the ship to depart Plymouth and as the ship’s final passengers boarded, Edward Drinker, a lad of thirteen years from Sussex looked at the water with a mix of excitement and fear.  What would life in the New World be like?  Were things really so bad in England so as to be worth risking so many lives on a four month voyage to Massachusetts Bay Colony?  What would the other passengers think of his family’s Quaker values and beliefs?  Would they be accepted for choosing to worship without a priest or formal clergy, praying together in silence as they waited for inspiration and wisdom from the Holy Spirit?

Empress Wu Zetian.

Audio edition available.

“Miss?  Miss, where do you think you are going?” asked the British soldier gruffly, grabbing the arm of the well-dressed teenaged girl walking down Dongjiaomin Lane, her dark brown hair contrasting against her ruby-encrusted hair pin.

“Hands off me, barbarian!” snarled Hua-Lin with fire in her green eyes.  “I am no coolie, no slave!  Who do you think you are grabbing me as if I were some animal?”

Three soldiers joined the first soldier, surrounding Hua-Lin menacingly. Closing in close to her body, they fondled the silk of her finely embroidered Manchu gown, its design marking her as a great-granddaughter of the Qianlong Emperor.  Laughing, the youngest of the soldiers unbuttoned two of the buttons over her chest securing her gown together while the others pinned her arms behind her back, his intent only too clear to the noble Hua-Lin, “May the ravens and falcons of Abka Hehe devour your heart!”

Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd: the Warrior Princess of Deheubarth.

Gwenllian’s Tears

Cry out for me, my people.

Where my blood was spilt, let your voices be heard forever more.

Cymru in all your glory: 

Deheubarth, Gwynedd, Ceredigion, Powys, Dyfed

Ynys Môn where I was born!

Let not these conquerors go unanswered

Swear to me you shall never forget.

We are Cymraeg.

We are forever.

Empress Matilda of England.

Audio edition available.

Thomas Becket glided up the Thames to the White Tower, the polished white stones of the castle shining in the light rain. As the boat docked he carefully strode up the path to the heavy gate. Instantly recognized by the guards he walked through confidently, navigating the palace expertly.  Princess Matilda greeted him playfully, “Thomas!  You are back!”

“I am. How are you and your brothers?”

“Father is cross with Richard again.”

Becket laughed, “I’m not surprised.  How old is he now?”

“Four.”

“And you are five now, Matilda?”

“I’m almost six.  I’m a big girl,” proclaimed Matilda proudly.

Becket laughed, “And so you are, Matilda.  And so you are!”

Hypatia of Alexandria.

Audio edition available.

“Magistra, the books you wished to borrow have arrived!” knelt the young novice as her prioress tended a patient at Disibodenberg in Naheland in west-central Germany.

Prioress Hildegard rose and wiped her hands on a towel, “Excellent. Did the brother specify how long I may borrow them?”

“No, Magistra.”

Hildegard headed towards the priory library, “Well then I will have to ask him myself before he departs.”

“May I ask—what is so important about these particular books?”

“They are the writings of ancient Greek mathematicians and astronomers.  Wisdom of the ancient world, a world that was very different from the one we live in today,” answered Hildegard.

Cleopatra VII: Egypt’s Last Pharaoh.

Synesius of Cyrene meandered casually through the library at the Serapeum, its massive domed roof a reminder that this was a Greek, not Egyptian, architectural masterpiece.  Every few yards he stopped and looked at the shelf labels near him. Finally, after about twenty minutes he saw the small figure of his mistress standing next to a distant shelf as she organized the scrolls upon it. Smiling, Synesius approached her with a reverent bow, “Salve, August Mistress!”

Hypatia turned to him and motioned for him to rise, “What brings you to the library so early in the morning, Synesius? I thought you had reading to complete before our class this afternoon.”

Margaret of Wessex: Mother, Saint, and Queen of Scots.

Audio edition available.

The White Tower of London rose up against the foggy Thames River, its glistening white limestone walls concealing its true purpose as a symbol of conquest and dominion over the Saxons and its ruling House Wessex. A royal barge glided up to the Tower from the Thames. Four royal guards marched from the Tower to meet the docking barge as two more guards on the boat rose expectantly. Soberly the princess royal, Matilda, Kaiserin of the Empire of the Romans, stepped onto English soil for the first time in fifteen years. Ceremoniously the guards marched the unwilling princess from the Thames to King Henry’s throne room.

Bowing, Kaiserin Matilda found herself face to face at last with the father she barely knew as a child, “Salve Henrice rege Angliae et Normaniae.”

“Salve Matilde, imperatrix romanorum!” saluted King Henry in return. “Welcome home, Matilda. How was your journey?” asked King Henry.

Hildegard von Bingen.

Audio edition available.

Katharina von Bora rose from her bed wearily to the sound of church bells tolling matins, the cloudy sky outside concealed in the early morning darkness as snow flurried across Nimbschen monastery near Grimma in Saxony.  Easing herself into greater wakefulness, she changed into her simple undyed wool tunic dress that was the foundation of her nun’s habit. Combing her short hair gently and without the benefit of a mirror to guide her hand, Katharina poured herself a cup of water from a stoneware pitcher and quenched her thirst before covering her hair with her veil, slipping on her plain leather shoes, and navigating her way through the cloister.

Reaching the church sanctuary she found herself late, the hall already filled with Gregorian chant, “Ave Maria, O auctrix vite, reedificando salutem, que mortem conturbasti et serpentem contrivisti, ad quem se Eva erexit erecta cervice cum sufflatu superbie.”

Katharina von Bora: First Lady of the Reformation.

Audio edition available.

“C’est un rempart que notre Dieu, Une invincible armure, Notre délivrance en tout lieu, Notre défense sûre,“ sang Anne Rochefeuille as she played on the harpsichord at the Château in Avignon. Next to her were scattered open books gleaned from the château’s massive library.

Drawn to the music, Bishop Armand-Jean du Plessis, brother to the Seigneur de Richelieu, sat down near her to listen.  Though the song was heretical in any language, or, more exactly, by a heretic, he loved his Anne’s singing dearly. Putting an arm around Anne, he kissed the back of her neck affectionately, “Bon matins, ma chérie.”

Anne stopped the music to turn and kiss him properly, “Bon matins, Armand.”

Eleanor of Aquitaine.

Eleanor, Fairest Eleanor

Tell me tales of romance and chivalry!

Beautiful ladies in elegant castles

Wooed by knights filled with courtesy and poetry!

Robin Hood fighting for justice!

For her, the troubadours did first sing!

Eleanor, fairest Eleanor!

Forever shall we sing of thee!

Tell me about the real Eleanor!

The daughter who inherited her father’s wealth and lands

More than enough to make her queen of France.

Falconer. Dancer, Singer

Crusader. Lover. Queen. Mother

Ah Eleanor, we do love thee!

More than Matilda’s daughter-in-law.

More than Henry II’s estranged wife

More than mother to kings of England

Eleanor, fairest Eleanor!

Forever shall we sing of thee!

His Red Eminence, Armand-Jean du Plessis de Richelieu.

A Good Man?

Dreams of red fill my heart

Where once the dry bones of history lay.

The dazzling red velvet cappa magna.

The zucchetto covering his crown.

The sly words spoken in secret.

The blood spilled by his word.

Long ago there lived a cardinal made villainous by a book

An adventurous novel made of cloaks and corsets, swords and pistols.

A Scot whose voice echoes with the ages as he plays the cardinal on screen.

Black leather to make a good man seem villainous.

Who was the real man behind these veils?

The First Minister of France?

A dutiful son?

A man of peace who led armies to victory on the battlefield?

Was he simply the French version of David Beaton or Thomas Wolsey,

Rightfully hated and despised as Dumas teaches us to regard him?

Or was he something more?

A reluctant priest.

His majesty’s servant.

A diplomat.

A good man.

Fourteen biographies with fourteen beginnings! Are you excited to read more? Find links to the Legendary Women of World History series and to His Red Eminence on this blog.

All of these books are available in multiple languages including your choice of French, Spanish, German, Portuguese, and Italian. Both Boudicca and Gwenllian are also available in Welsh, part of my commitment to preserving the Welsh language for centuries to come.

Packing at Capacity: Packing Cubes and Suitcase Volume

Packing cubes are nothing new. For over twenty years (probably more) I’ve used packing cubes purchased at http://www.ebags.com for all my travel and most of my home organization needs.

The convenience of packing cubes is obvious – but just exactly how many can you fit into your suitcase? Several months ago I took out my stash of packing cubes, filled them, and put them to the test in my TravelPro4 luggage set: a 29″ bag, standard 25″ bag, and 21″ carryon.

To start with, let’s establish the sizes of each of my bags – yours may be slightly smaller or larger, including the wheels, depending on the brand and model. For the TravelPro4 series the measurements (including wheels, but excluding expansion) are:

29″ bag = 31 x 20 x 12″

25″ bag = 27.5 x 18.5 x 10″

22″ carry-on bag = 22 x 13 x 9″

Now for the packing cubes. I started collecting ebags packing cubes over 20 years ago; my collection is quite the assortment of standard large, medium, small, and slim cube (small, medium, and standard). Stores change their selection regularly; what I have may not be available to purchase right now.

Here are the dimensions for the cubes I have:

Ebags cubes – photo from http://www.ebags.com. From top to bottom: 14″ slim, 11″ small, 13.75″ medium, and 17.5″ large cubes.

Large cube: 17.5″ x 12.75″ x 3.25″

Medium cube: 13.75″ x 9.75″ x 3″

Small cube: 11″ x 6.75″ x 3″

Slim standard cube: 14″ x 5″ x 2.75″

Medium slim cube: 11” x 5” x 2.75”

Small slim cube: 7” x 5” x 2.75”

Now you know the sizes of each luggage piece and each packing cube, it’s time to layer them into your suitcase, putting the most breakable items into the middle of the bag if possible.

29” bag – 1 layer equals:

• 2 large cubes or
• 1 large + 2 medium or
• 2 medium + 1 slim + 1 to 2 small (depending on how you pack)

On average, a 29″ bag holds three layers.

25” bag – 1 layer equals:

• 1 large + 1 medium + 1 slim medium or
• 2 medium (+ 1 slim) 

Pack It Flat toiletry bag from Ebags fits slim and easy.

Two layers will fit in a 25″ bag, with the possibility of a third, depending on thickness. If you are packing a third layer, a slim toiletry bag or some shoes fits well, as will one or two throw blankets you might want to bring along for comfortable sleeping.

22″ carry-on bag holds:

• 1 large (fills entire bag bottom to top) or
• 1 medium + 1 small or
• 1 medium + 2 slim

Although I do plan on bringing a tote bag of some sort for those little comfort items I need during my flights, I am not making a plan for it using all packing cubes. If I use any, it will probably be to hold socks, headphones, power cables, my luggage scale, and maybe some snacks. All that depends on the trip.

Thankfully packing cubes allow me to maximize my space – especially in my checked bags and standard carry on – so that I don’t need to rigorously plan out what I’m bringing in my tote bag on any given trip. And while these are very convenient, it needs reminding that everything you pack adds weight and counts towards each airline’s weight rules. Completely empty, each of my bags weigh from 7 to 10 lbs, depending on size. Yours may be more or less.

Also remember when packing that if you want to bring any blankets and/or pillows that these must fit inside your suitcases – or be counted by the airlines as your one “personal item.” The only exception (check with your airline on this) is a neck pillow. This spring (2024) airlines are much more aggressively enforcing their rules about blankets, so be aware of that when planning your next trip. One tip: Walmart’s Mainstays throw blankets are not only properly sized for carry-on bags, but they are less bulky than most blankets marked as “travel blankets” and are usually less than $10. If you don’t care about color and pattern, you can pick one up for as low as $3 at walmart.com or in store. I bought two last time – one for me and one for my birds’ travel cage to cover them up at night when taking them out on overnight stays.

However you pack and wherever you are going, I hope this information helps you plan your next trip better. Bon voyage!

Last lines: Biographies by Laurel A. Rockefeller

If you still use twitter, you may have noticed a recent discussion among the writing community regarding how best to end your latest book. After all, you have spent weeks or months, sometimes years writing your book, but how then do you best end it?

I like to end my books on a high note – which is odd when you realize that biographies necessarily end with the death of the biography subject. But death doesn’t have to be sad; every one of the people whose stories I am telling have a legacy, an impact on both the lives of those who knew them and on us today.

Here then are the final lines for each of my biographies. All of these books are available in both digital and paperback editions at a retailer near you.

Boudicca: Britain’s Queen of the Iceni.

Audio edition available.

Moira sat and looked intently at her mother, letting her eyes un-focus and letting herself go into the trance that marked the Sight, “You were my mother before.”

“I was.”

“Are we finally together again?  Have I finally found you?”

“Yes, Alys, you have.”

Catherine de Valois: French Princess, Tudor Matriarch.

Audio edition available.

“In time, Jasper and I were allowed to enter King Henry’s service where we all became the best of friends – just as she wanted us to be from the beginning.”

Henry hugged Edmund affectionately, “And so we are.  No brothers can be closer than we are.  Mum would be proud.”

Mary Queen of the Scots: the Forgotten Reign.

Audio edition available.

Nineteen years of imprisonment in England followed.  Nineteen years of sorrow and pain.  Until at last she fell victim to her own envy for Elizabeth’s crown, falling into a trap made for her by English spymaster William Cecil.  In October fifteen eighty-six the nobles of England tried Queen Mary for treason against Queen Elizabeth, the verdict and sentence decided before the trial began.  For weeks Queen Elizabeth debated, delaying the sentence of death.  Until at last on the eighth of February fifteen eighty-seven Queen Mary stood proudly to face her death as the queen she was.  Words of compassion she spoke that morning.  Gifts she gave to all those who were kind to her.  Beneath her black velvet gown she wore crimson, the colour of Catholic martyrs.  She died that day with grace and charm. “In my end is my beginning,” was her life-long motto.  All those who hated her in life came to love her in death with memory warm and glowing. 

And so with love conclude we this tale of love, of courage, of Scotland.

Queen Elizabeth Tudor: Journey to Gloriana.

Audio edition available.

“The final years of Elizabeth’s reign became known as the ‘Golden Age’ with the queen now called ‘Gloriana’ in honour of her triumph.  Theatre and arts expanded, England grew rich, and the Spanish Empire waned. On the twenty-fourth of March sixteen hundred and three Queen Elizabeth died in her palace in Richmond.  News immediately spread to King James of Scotland, Queen Mary’s beloved son, who was quickly proclaimed King James the First of England, the first king to rule over England, Scotland, and Wales.  The first King of Great Britain.”

“Do you think the divide between England and Scotland will ever heal?” asked Elizabeth.

“Only time will tell, my friend. We may never know.  But think of this:  we will be one of the first from England to live in the new world.  To that I say, let the adventure begin!”

Empress Wu Zetian.

Audio edition available.

“There are people who are smarter, more educated, perhaps wiser in China and around the world.  But this no one can deny:  the world is a better place because she dared defy traditional ideas of womanhood. She dared do what is right, not just for herself, but for all people.”

Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd: the Warrior Princess of Deheubarth.

Years passed in constant warfare with the English.  In time Gwenllian’s brother Owain Gwynedd became king after their father.  In Deheubarth younger son Rhys ap Gruffydd became Gwenllian’s greatest legacy.  For from his bloodline flowed the great hope for Wales when Owain ap Maredudd ap Tudur was born in Ynys Môn. And though the castle where Princess Gwenllian was born did not survive to Owain’s time her life was still remembered in Gwynedd, in Deheubarth, and across all of Wales.  As Owain helped King Henry the Fifth win against French at the Battle of Agincourt and as he secretly wed the dowager queen Catherine de Valois years later, the story of his foremother Princess Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd stayed ever dear to his heart. Did his grandson, Henry Tudor remember the valour of Princess Gwenllian as he killed King Richard III in fourteen eighty five at the Battle of Bosworth Field?  Who is to say?

The world is a strange place and history has a funny way of making right the evil deeds done against the innocent.  And so one must think that surely in some place beyond this physical world, Princess Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd, the warrior princess of Deheubarth watched the coronation of Queen Elizabeth Tudor, a woman born of her blood and legacy, and smiled.

Empress Matilda of England.

Audio edition available.

“Eleanor is right,” added Matilda. “Sooner or later Thomas would have to choose between his duties to the pope and his duties to England. Maybe not now, or this year, or even this decade, but eventually the subject will come up. Right now Becket is your man, your servant, and no one else’s.”

“My mind is made up on this matter,” declared King Henry. “You will be ordained as a priest and elevated as my archbishop of Canterbury.”

Thomas Becket paced before meeting the king’s eyes, “Very well then. Your wish is my command.  But do not say you were not warned by the wisest women in all of England!”

Hypatia of Alexandria.

Audio edition available.

“Hypatia’s murder had a chilling effect on intellectual life in Alexandria. Though it did not immediately end advanced learning in the city, Cyril’s increase in power and authority sent a clear message that anyone who challenged the teachings of the Church, no matter how unintentionally, could expect the same fate.

“What about Bede? Does this mean his books are worthless?”

“Bede was first and foremost a monk,” explained Prioress Hildegard.  “His loyalties were first to mother Church. For all must submit to the rulings of our church leaders and profess agreement with them, no matter if they are right or wrong. To fail to do so is to risk being burned as a heretic. Who will risk that when it is far easier to obey the Holy Father in Rome? And yet … I cannot obey.  The visions God gives me supersedes everything. Popes, bishops, archbishops are all men!  I do not know yet what the answer is to the problem, but this I do know:  I will find the answer!”

Cleopatra VII: Egypt’s Last Pharaoh.

Hypatia shook her head, “More tragic is that these books here in Alexandria are the only records that contradict Octavian and those who sought his favour like Plutarch, books no doubt the Patriarch of Alexandria will see burned at the soonest opportunity.

“Remember that tyranny always comes at the expense of the Truth.  Never forget that. And above all else, never stop resisting those who offer the most convenient explanations for why things are as they are. Be kind and patient with others, civil in your disagreements. Question everything you see and hear. Verify every story. Seek the Truth and the Truth will find you—if you are wise and if your heart is kind.”

Margaret of Wessex: Mother, Saint, and Queen of Scots.

Audio edition available.

“It was my mother who commissioned a proper biography of her, you know. She made sure that everyone who knew and remembered my mother told their story to be recorded. She was such a pious woman, even though in her piety she took away long cherished customs and traditions. And if this new clan system that is rising up in opposition to royal authority endures, then we must count that too as part of Margaret’s legacy.  For it was out of love for her that Malcolm took away so much cherished heritage.  The Picts never wrote things down, you see, unlike the Welsh.  What was lost because of Malcolm’s love for Margaret will never be restored. Alba may endure, but it is a changed land forever,” remembered Matilda.

“We can only go forward, Your Highness. Never back. And though you grieve, rightly, for the loss of your beloved husband Heinrich, surely you must understand:  you too will heal. For you are the hope of many queens and kings. You are the blood unbroken of Princess Bethoc of House Dunkeld of Alba. You are the blood unbroken of Æfgifu of York of House Wessex. And you are the heiress of the Angevin dynasty through your father. Whatever the future holds for you, milady, your legacy, and therefore your grandmother’s, will endure forever.”

Hildegard von Bingen.

Audio edition available.

“But it was not simply the number of books that remains impressive, Katharina. She challenged the severe restrictions put on women, especially by the Church, and won most of the time.  She revolutionized the role of women and won improvements in the lives of women that even today are difficult to catalogue thanks to her wisdom and hard-earned respect from secular rulers. Few people in history have made greater contributions to our society and culture. She did it all through peaceful means. Her sword was her pen, her well-earned reputation as a wise woman, and her willingness to serve God by serving others,” finished Abbess Johanna.

“A true role model for all of us –women and men, religious and secular,” concluded Katharina.

“Do not forget Hildegard, Sister Katharina.  For her example will serve you well if you join Martin Luther’s reformation of the Church.”

“I will not forget and shall apply these lessons for all of my life.  God asks nothing less. Her legacy shall live in my heart. Now and always. A-men.”

Katharina von Bora: First Lady of the Reformation.

Audio edition available.

“Disease broke out in Saxony. In December 1552 Katharina fled to nearby Torgau, hoping to escape the Black Death.  Falling, she broke her hip and died. She was buried in St. Mary’s Church in Torgau where she is remembered and honoured as few women are.

“Without seeking power or glory for herself, without high birth or wealth, Katharina von Bora changed our world through the power of love and the power of living her Faith instead of talking about it. Conscious of the attention she received as Martin Luther’s wife, she strove to be the model pastor’s wife, the virtuous woman of Proverbs 31.  She succeeded beyond all imagination.”

Eleanor of Aquitaine.

Youngest son John Lackland ascended the English throne, taking a new wife, also named Isabella, after Isabella of Gloucester secured her annulment from him. Together John and Isabella of Angoulême had five children, despite John’s continued infidelities and persistent agitations. In 1215 John’s agitations towards his clergy and nobility culminated in the Great Charter – the Magna Carta – John’s most enduring legacy.

For Eleanor’s part she spent the remaining years of her life in retirement in Anjou, cared for by the nuns at Fonteyrault Abbey near Chinon. In 1204 she died and was buried there at the abbey.  She was eighty-two years old.

His Red Eminence, Armand-Jean du Plessis de Richelieu.

The world was readying itself for Armand’s exit from the stage of life. Without Anne’s steady hand, Armand found it harder to fight off his illnesses. Often, despite the happiness of his bird’s company, he dreamed of her and remembered the vision of her spirit he saw as she died. The Phoenix, glorious phoenix—and the angel she said was what his spirit looked like. As the usual lethal plots raged and old enemies died off, Armand prepared to die, remembering his Anne and pondering many of the things she said.

Tuberculosis set in, making it hard to breathe. The final illness, these final pains. He was ready. For heaven? For another life as a human being? The Hour of Becomings? A wedding among the standing stones in France? Wales? England? Scotland? He did not know. But he hoped with all his heart that everything that Anne sensed and told him was true—that he would see her soon somehow, somewhere, by some divine plan his humanity could not comprehend. To serve together in government. To teach. To learn. To wed. But most of all to love. 

Fourteen biographies with fourteen endings! Are you excited to read more? Find links to the Legendary Women of World History series and to His Red Eminence on this blog.

All of these books are available in multiple languages including your choice of French, Spanish, German, Portuguese, and Italian. Both Boudicca and Gwenllian are also available in Welsh, part of my commitment to preserving the Welsh language for centuries to come.

Vetting the avian vet: questions to ask your next veterinarian for your bird

Aragorn at the vet in New York City.

The bond between humans and birds is one of the most special and magical of any relationship I have ever seen or experienced. There is something truly wonderful about winning the trust of such a strong yet fragile creature. In nature few lifeforms equal the beauty and majesty of birds. Since childhood it has been my honor to share nearly every single day with budgerigars, zebra finches, and finally cockatiel cockatoos. Along the way I’ve experienced the good, the bad, the scary, the ugly, the beautiful, and the magical.

I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I’ve also faced harsh criticism from those who fail to see what I see in birds and been mocked for the great care I take to keep my home as safe as possible and my birds as healthy as possible. In particular, I will never forget the Brooklyn SCAdian who said I know nothing about birds and am not qualified to teach others about birds. His rational: I am not a veterinarian.

But a license in veterinarian medicine does not make someone an expert in birds. Indeed, successful treatment of an illness or injury almost entirely depends on careful observations from the avian’s caregivers. It’s not enough to study and possess head-knowledge about birds nor possess an intellectual understanding of avian injuries and illnesses and how to treat them. Because “pet” bird species are only domesticated on the skin/feather level, they are essentially wild animals, no matter how you socialize them. As such the birds in our lives hide their health challenges. Observation is critical in keeping your bird healthy. Someone who has spent little time with birds lacks that observation experience.

Here are some key questions to ask when deciding if a veterinarian is the right fit for your birds’ healthcare needs.

1. Is avian medicine this veterinarian’s primary focus? If not, what animals does the veterinarian possess the most experience with?
2. Does the veterinarian currently keep a bird in her or his home? Which species?
3. What is the veterinarian’s history with birds?
4. What aspects of bird health does the veterinarian have the most experience and education in?
5. What experience does the veterinarian have with young birds? Middle age birds? Senior birds?
6. How does this veterinarian plan on addressing the specific health challenges your birds have?

In addition, you want to think about your birds’ medical history and ask questions specific to your birds’ life experiences to see if this specific vet is a good fit for your specific birds.

These questions are all important even if the veterinarian you visit is the only one treating birds that you can access. Know where you stand with this person and practice so you can make informed decisions about your birds’ healthcare – before there is a health issue.

Learn more about cockatiels with the Life with Cockatiels Series.

Preparing for My First Cockatiel

Available at your favorite retailer including Amazon, Apple, Smashwords, and Barnes/Noble. Audio edition available at Apple and Audible.

Preparing for My Senior Cockatiel

Available at your favorite retailer including Amazon, Apple, Smashwords, and Barnes/Noble. Audio edition available at Apple and Audible.

Mithril and Me: a Love Story

Available at your favorite retailer including Amazon, Apple, Smashwords, and Barnes/Noble. Audio edition available at Apple and Audible.

International Travel with Birds

I love my birds. Any time I am separated from my birds I feel depressed. My cockatiels are family.

At the same time, I’m a historian and for me, history research involves travel. As much travel as I can manage. It’s the former SCAdian in me that likes to experience history hands-on instead of just reading books. This is the primary reason why for the last several years I have made moving to Scotland a primary personal and professional goal.

When the time comes for my relocation to Scotland, I will be using a company called Airborne Animals. Airborne Animals are bird moving specialists, especially for moves to UK and EU countries. For years they have been helping me plan this major move for my life. The following comes from the Airborne Animals website and from conversations I’ve had with them towards planning my eventual relocation to Scotland.

CITES PERMITS

Bringing birds from the United States to UK/EU countries involves a lot of time (six months or more) and planning. Helping me in my quest: my feathered friends are cockatiels, a species listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as “least concern,” meaning cockatiels are not at risk of becoming extinct. Both budgerigars (“parakeets”) and cockatiels are abundant enough that they do not require special permits from the US Fish and Wildlife (USFW) to export them from the USA. On the receiving side, current law for UK countries does not require a special permit to bring budgerigars or cockatiels into the country. Laws change all the time, which is another reason to use Airborne Animals’ services as they are always up-to-date in the export-import laws for pet birds for your destination country.

If you have a bird species other than budgies or cockatiels, assume that your move will involve Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) permits for both export from
the USA and import into your destination country. This is the default for moving pet birds.  Getting approved for CITES is not a quick process.  Almost as soon as you know about your move, it is smart to contact Airborne Animals and get started on your CITES applications since the paperwork often takes from 4 – 6 months. Even if your bird does not need a CITES permit, it helps to provide Airborne Animals with all the information they need to file your paperwork long before they need to submit anything.  Start the process expecting it to take several months to accomplish.

Bands and Microchips

One item your paperwork needs for each bird you are moving from USA to UK and EU countries is her identification number — either in the form of a microchip ID (same as for cats and dogs) or a leg band.  In my case, Mithril was microchipped by her avian vet, largely because I was taking her out in her travel cage to public events.  the vet said at the time that it is very unusual to microchip a cockatiel. But Arwen I bought through a National Cockatiel Society breeder who banded her when she was about two or three weeks old.  As such, the band is treated the same as the microchip and tells anyone looking up the number that Arwen was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; the first group of numbers is registered to the breeder.  That said, Mithril’s microchip means someone can find an address for me to return her to if she gets lost.  That’s not possible for Arwen.  Something to consider as you plan your own move.

Flying As Manifest Cargo

Regardless of your birds’ species, all pet birds travelling into UK countries must travel as manifest cargo.  With United Airlines and Delta no longer offering this option, this means that in most if not all cases, your birds will be flying to London Heathrow Airport on a British Airways flight. 

 

Animals arriving at the Heathrow Animal Reception Center are removed from their carriers and put in a suitable cage away from other animals. Birds go to a special bird area properly equipped to provide food, water, and space to fly while paperwork is checked, including confirming that the band and/or microchip information provided on the paperwork is accurate. If your bird is a picky eater, sometimes a small bag (up to one quart size) of seeds/nuts/pellets can be taped to the top of the cage for use at LHR.

The inside and outside of a cage built by Airborne Animals. Courtesy of their website.

Cargo cages need to meet very specific requirements. I strongly suggest using a professional company like Airborne Animals to build your cage and make sure it is absolutely compliant with current regulations (re-assessed annually by airlines). In most cases, Airborne Animals takes a properly sized cat or dog crate and modifies it for birds, adding a perch, wire or wire-mesh coverings over the ventilation holes, and sometimes fabric curtains to control the lighting so that the birds inside will sleep during most of the journey. Non-perishable food and water is added to bowls attached to the door.  Spray millet is sometimes added as well to give them a tasty treat in flight.

At present, expect to pay around $175 to $200 plus UPS shipping ($80 – $100) for your cargo cage. Fortunately since birds do not need several weeks to adjust to the cage, this cage can be bought and built closer to the departure date than one would need for a dog or cat.

Travelling international with birds is both a time consuming and expensive process. But with time, a bit of money, and a lot of advance planning, it is absolutely doable. For more information about traveling with your birds and to receive an estimate please go to the Airborne Animals website. You can also email them at info @ airborneanimals dot com.

Catfishing College Students: Romance Scam Avoidance

Laurel A. Rockefeller sits on Broyhill Fountain. University of Nebraska at Lincoln campus.

When I was a student at the University of Nebraska I was catfished — in the 20th century! Before facebook or instagram or twitter. Before most people knew the internet existed, in fact. Though I ended up in several abusive relationships in my twenties that began online via Bulletin Board Systems (BBSs) and chat rooms like ICQ, the biggest blows to my physical and financial health came from men I met in person on the University of Nebraska campus.

Being the victim of a catfish scam is not something a woman normally wants to tell the world about. It feels horrible, even decades later, to admit that someone played you and destroyed your financial health, especially so early in life. But I’m hoping that by sharing my story I can help you – I assume you weren’t even alive when any of this happened – learn from my mistakes and better safeguard yourself than I did.

The first catfish scam began in an English class at the University. A guy named Chad from a small town in western Nebraska took notice of me. He pretended to date me; I don’t remember if we ever went out on regular dates or not. But we spent a lot of time on campus together. I remember playing pool with him at his dorm common areas and getting some meals with him at an on campus food court (called The Reunion, best known to RPG enthusiasts as site of a regional gaming convention). Stuff like that. He wooed me into trusting him. Even allowing him to live in my mother’s basement for a time. Little did I know at the time he was sexually involved with both other women and men while securing my trust.

One day, at the end of the school year and when I was only twenty he gave me wine and through that gained my “consent” to have sex for the first time in my life. I didn’t know until a couple years ago that this was actually rape and coming from an Evangelical Christian background, the incident broke me on a psychological level, if anything can break me. I was caught in his web and now completely isolated accordingly from my family. Then he made his move: conning me into getting an apartment with him. Yet curiously not having the money for food, rent, electric, etc. As time went on he had me paying for more and more even as he engaged in other relationships.

Chad, and then the next scammer, a blind student I met on public transit shortly after getting rid of Chad, took advantage of my borrowing of more student loan money than I needed. I did that as a “rainy day fund” and to make sure I had money in the bank to pay my bills with during the period between graduation and getting a good paying job. Both men, knowing I had this savings account, took advantage, convincing me to give them all my money. They emotionally manipulated and blackmailed me. Classic catfish stuff. Three months before I graduated, the blind boyfriend demanded I take out a $3000 cash advance on my credit card and give it to him. Without any family to warn me that he would never pay it back, I complied. I have no idea why and this was still in the 20th century – a long time ago.

The cash advance destroyed me financially and I still have not recovered. I owe close to $10,000 more than I needed to on my student loans because Chad and this other guy conned me out of my emergency fund and convinced me to borrow more student loans than I needed at the time and of course that huge credit card bill. The reason I could not finish my graduate studies at University of Iowa is because by then I had hit my borrowing ceiling. These two guys took the money I needed for tuition for those final classes.

No doubt reading this you feel some sympathy – but how does this help you?

What lessons can you apply to your life from what happened to me? To be blunt:

1. Don’t assume that your peers are trustworthy and honest with you. People will lie to gain your trust and once they have your trust, will manipulate you into financially unwise decisions that benefit them.
2. Catfishing scams are not limited to online relationships. You can meet scammers in person too.
3. Never take a cash advance on a credit card – no matter what.
4. Set up multiple savings accounts including:
   • traditional savings you can access immediately
   • certificates of deposits
   • ROTH IRAs
5. Borrow extra from your student loans for infrequent expenses and emergencies – but put at least 75% of that money into certificates of deposits to lock the money away from others.
6. “No” is a complete sentence. Say no to covering other people’s requests for money, regardless of the form the request takes.
7. When someone asks to “borrow” money, assume s/he will not repay you. “Borrow” means “give” in these requests.
8. Never borrow money to “help” someone else.
9. If you do date someone you meet online, do not take that person at face value.
   • Always meet in person.
   • Never lend or gift that person money.

I don’t know if anything here is helpful to you. All I can say is that I made some horrible mistakes I am still paying for now, more than 25 years later. Please don’t repeat my mistakes. Lock away your money in CDs and retirement savings. Remember that money you cannot access at a moment’s notice is much less likely to get spent at a moment’s notice.

Ironically I knew about CDs back when this happened. But these men took advantage of my vulnerabilities and sadly I did not apply my own financial literacy to my own money management. That is probably my biggest regret of my life.

Learn more about my time at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln as it relates to my relationship with birds.

Domestic Travel with Pet Birds

I love my cockatiels. Since childhood I have rarely been away from my birds, a story explored in Mithril and Me: A Love Story. In 2000 I moved from the American Midwest to New Jersey, flying on United Airlines. The process was simpler and much easier back then. Specifically, my birds were screened IN CAGE at the TSA checkpoint.

Hard side cockatiel travel cage with java perch bolted into it.

The cage (see above) was hard side with a top grate and door and ventilation holes all around it into which I fastened a perch. Very positive experience flying with Galadriel and Cleo. United provided excellent service to keep both birds comfortable and fed across our two long flights.

TSA Changes Domestic Bird Travel

Then 9-11 happened and all our worlds were turned upside down, especially when flying. TSA changed the rules so that pets are no longer allowed to be screened inside travel cages or kennels. Instead, all animals must be removed from the kennel/cage so the cage can be screened separately. Birds can be screened in a separate room to make escaping harder.

Specifically TSA states, “If you believe that the removal of your pet could result in escape, a checkpoint supervisor can authorize an alternative screening measure. If you’re allowed to carry your pet through the metal detector in the carrier, you, your pet and the carrier must all undergo additional screening. Additional screening of the animal may still require its removal from the carrier. You may request to go to a private screening area to help maintain control of the pet.”

Okay, fine, good, but since I have cockatiels, I’m not comfortable with the escape risks, even when screening in a small room. Given that the bird counts as the carry on, you really are not granted the in flight baggage allowance that it takes to recapture your bird and put her/them into the travel cage after screening. It’s hard enough at the veterinarian office – where there ARE towels and other items at hand to help return birds to cages. TSA screening rooms do not offer any of these essential supplies. You must bring your own items to restore your birds to cage.

Leashing your parrot becomes an option for TSA screening – if you can get your bird to accept a flight harness. But if she’s not, ground travel becomes your best bet if possible.

With fewer and fewer airlines allowing birds for even domestic travel in cabin, these changes may eventually become obsolete. As of this date (August 2023) Delta allows birds to travel in cabin. United and American airlines do not. With policies changing annually, this of course may change in coming months.

Travel cages

Not for flying in, my Flying South backpack travel cage is a traditional small wire cage that fits into a canvas backpack harness. It works exceptionally well when taking public transportation, especially the New York City subway where I used it constantly for Brooklyn – Manhattan trips.

Everyone has a preferred travel cage for trips to the vet, picnics, etc. Mine is no longer available. Made by Flying South, it’s a conventional small cage with a large door such as used to be made for budgerigars. A removable harness holds the cage and allows you to carry on your back. You can use the harness or take it off to both travel and to allow your birds to enjoy some outdoor time.

Though mine with the harness is no longer made, Chewy does offer a small cage you can use for travel by automobile and for outdoor events.

At present, Amtrak does not allow birds on board. Most regional train systems like New Jersey Transit and NYC’s MTA trains and buses do. Any number of travel cage styles work with these shorter-range trips and really is a matter of what your birds feel most comfortable.

Outside of regional options in usually major metropolitan areas, private car travel is really the main method most people use with birds. Find a great car-friendly travel cage (like mine) and enjoy adventures with your cockatiels or other small birds.

How to make cotton napkins from a “fat quarter”

Earlier this month I showed you the cotton napkins I made this spring to match my Easter themed kitchen linens. The pink and green specifically match my Easter dish towels. After making those, I decided I needed something for American patriotic holidays: Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day specifically. Finished size: around 17 x 17″.

These were all made using Waverly Fat Quarters from the craft section at Walmart. Nice photos, but they begged the question of how to make them. Not everyone has a sewing background (my late mother taught Home Ec before I was born). Therefore, it seems to me that seeing photos of napkins in progress along with some instructions would be helpful to you. Maybe you want to help the environment – and your budget – by making some of your own!

The first step in making these napkins is to lay them out and cut them to size. In this, it helps greatly to invest in a half-yard or half – meter measuring stick. I found a metal half yard stick on Amazon for about $3. Pretty much any craft, fabric, hardware, or home improvement store should have them. Half yard/meter sticks are better than yard and full meter measuring sticks because they are closer to the final dimensions you want and are less unwieldy to use.

After opening up the fabric (you might want to iron and/or wash in cold water in advance), measure out 18″ in both directions. Mark cutting line with tailor’s chalk and cut across. In your measurement, you may or may not include the salvage (that side edge that is already finished by the weaving process). Completely up to you where to start your 18″ along that side. Once you have your cutting line, cut across it to form a square. Remember this doesn’t have to be perfect: these are napkins for home use.

The salvage (right side in this photo) is created by the weaving process. It’s the side edge of the fabric terminating the bolt’s width. As such, it doesn’t unravel and is a good place to start your napkin hem.

With your square(s) ready, it’s time to pin. I personally like to start my pinning and sewing along the salvage. With a measuring gauge fold your fabric towards the center with the unfinished edge 1/2 inches from the fold. Pin in place.

Using a sewing gauge to measure and pin 1/2″. This is the first of two folds you will make.

If you are using metric system, 0.5″ equals 12.7 mm, so adjust accordingly to your preference. Do not go narrower than 12.7mm because when you roll the hem it becomes too narrow for most people’s fingers to manage. When making these by sewing machine, the standard “seam allowance” is 5/8″ which is 15.88 mm. Let that help you if you are using metric system instead of Imperial.

What happens next depends on your process and how many napkins you are making at once. For June I’m making two crocus, two lapis, and probably two black. My crocus and lapis blue are cut out, all at once. I personally find it helpful to pin the 1/2″ along all four sides for two napkins at once and then let them sit on my table for a couple days. This sets the measured folds without ironing so you can more easily make the second fold that you stitch down.

Once you have your first, measured fold, it’s time to roll the unfinished edge into it. That is to say you are taking that 1/2″ and tucking half of that width into the fold you created earlier. The result is a double fold that is 1/4″ wide.

Napkin in progress: left – completed side. Top: stitching has rounded the corner and is progressing from left to right where it is pinned, but not stitched.

Repin your 1/2″ to the 1/4″ “rolled” hem. Hand stitch down with needle and thread, cutting the corners off slightly to reduce bulk.

Outside and inside view of a completed napkin.

When you are finished, your napkin should look like mine. If it’s not perfect, don’t worry. As long as the cut edges are tucked into the fold and the stitching blocks the threads from unraveling, you are fine. Use and launder as you would any store bought fabric napkin.

Making cotton napkins is a fun craft project that saves you money over both disposable paper products and machine made options from stores. They are reusable and last a long time. Using cotton is environmentally friendly. A small way you can help our planet in your every day life.

Five Lessons About Eye Care and Shopping for Glasses.

Last week I blogged about my recent experience at VisionWorks, a popular optical retail chain competing with America’s Best, Pearl Vision, Lenscrafters, and so forth. I ended up buying my updated glasses at EyeBuyDirect.com. Those glasses arrived on Saturday. As expected, I am very happy with them; it’s where I bought my 2020 round of glasses – for much less money than the in-store optical retailers.

Laurel A. Rockefeller in 2020 with the Godiva Award for best self-published book of 2019. These particular glasses are actually reading glasses (12″ from face) purchased at the doctor’s office and fully covered by insurance. No UV filter.

Here are five lessons from my overall experience:

1. When health insurance is accepted at an eye doctor’s office, it may not cover every test the eye doctor wants to run.
   • This is especially true with new technologies. On this office visit there was a new test where the computer makes an extremely detailed photo of the eye, documenting the current health of your eye so that doctors can go back and make detailed analysis after you have left the office. So far very few insurance plans cover this test which, naturally, the doctor office strongly wants you to take. They argue health reasons (may or may not be valid), but given the test can easily run well over $100 out of your pocket, there is likely a profit motive as well. This test is offered instead of the conventional tests run through dilation. Standard tests like inter-ocular pressure and dilation-based exams are included in the standard exam fee.
2. Optical stores charge more than online-only optical stores.
   • Like any retailer, optical stores like VisionWorks have rent to pay that the customer ultimately pays through higher prices. The minimum price for frames at VisionWorks is $80 – without any lenses. Except for Lenscrafters, most retail optical stores have to send your glasses to an off-site lab that may or may not be owned by that chain.
   • Online stores have cheaper rent and usually an in-house lab. This means they have lower costs overall and can pass that savings to you.
3. Shop around for eyeglasses.
   • If shopping in person is your preferred way to buy eyeglasses, then check out the selection at as many different optical stores as possible. As long as you have a written out prescription from your doctor, you can use it anywhere you like to find the best deal and the most pleasing look for you.
   • When shopping online, look at at least three different websites selling prescription glasses, including those that may allow you to recycle your existing frames with updated prescription lenses. This is especially a good idea if your frames are less than 3 years old and in good shape or if you have barely worn that particular pair of glasses.
4. Never buy glasses without some sort of protection from UV and/or computer screen light.
   • As a GenX, sunglasses were always promoted as a fashion item. No one told me that UV can cause cataracts! Skin cancer – yes – but not eye diseases. Those specks of cataracts found when the doctor dilated my eyes is a frightening wake up call about UV light and eye health.
   • While some retailers automatically add UV protection (distance, reading glasses) or blue light protection (computer glasses), not all do. Notably VisionWorks does NOT provide UV protection by default: you have to pay extra for it if you want a standard lens or upgrade to a premium lens. Premium being the key word. You have to pay quite a lot for this basic feature.
   • When shopping around, ask about UV protection specifically and how much it costs to include UV on your glasses.
   • If you are purchasing middle-distance glasses for use while working at a computer, invest in getting a blue-light filtering coating on your glasses. This is instead of UV filter and is specific to eye health when looking at screens. While normally computer glasses are used by people over thirty as an alternative to bifocals, if you look at screens for more than 4 hours per day, it actually is worth the investment to get a separate pair of glasses just for your screen time. Not only does the middle distance (about 20 inches for laptop or desktop computer use) reduce eye strain, but replacing the UV filter (or no filter) with one specifically calibrated to protect your eyes from the blue-light emitted by screens helps keep your eyes healthy and strong.
5. Eye vitamins are essential for your health.
   • Your eyes need vitamins A, C, and E along with Lutein, Zeaxanthin, and Omega 3 and 6 to stay healthy. While not covered by most insurance, over the counter supplements containing these essentials protect your eyes from disease, especially as you age. Fortunately the market for these supplements is competitive and deals are to be found by shopping around. Likewise, your local pharmacist can guide you to the best options for your eye health.

In considering glasses, keep in mind that most windows allow substantial amounts of UV light to penetrate into your home. Home improvement stores do offer treatments for your windows to reduce indoor UV exposure if you own your home. If you rent, it’s worth asking your landlord about.

All in all, I hope these tips will help you shop better and smarter for eye glasses, one of the most important investments you can make for your health.

SEE you next time!

April 5th, 2024 followup

Yesterday Visionworks phoned me to confirm my appointment with them – except I never contacted them to schedule an appointment with them. Instead, they automatically scheduled one for me – without asking me if I was okay with them doing so. Naturally I told them to cancel the appointment, but it speaks to the quality (or shall we say lack thereof) of care with them. It’s one thing to send a patient a reminder to schedule the next doctor visit. It’s another to schedule it without consulting the patient on the matter.

The core reason of course for this is not patient convenience, but profit. Visionworks wants those dollars from my insurance company so badly they are willing to trick me into either coming into the office or charging my insurance for not coming in to an appointment I did not make in the first place.

The Kosher for Passover Project: Breads and Crackers

Good morning and welcome to the next installment in my Kosher for Passover Project. With Passover starting next week, it’s time to explore the most important food subject for Passover: bread and crackers.

Simply put, the rule for Passover is that you cannot consume anything with yeast in it (called “chametz”) nor have anything containing yeast in your home until the eight days are completed. As I’ve discussed with Davidia and other Jewish friends, the ruling on whether or not foodstuffs with other leavening agents are allowed or not can be variable. Only yeast is universally forbidden for Passover, but some congregations and individuals extend that to include foodstuffs using baking powder and baking soda as well.

To get to the heart of the matter, I naturally reference history. Passover is commemorating the events described in Exodus in the Torah where the descendants of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob departed Egypt abruptly. The Passover sedar takes us through different aspects of life under the Egyptians. Parsley dipped in salt water to represent the tears cried. Horseradish for the bitterness slavery. Charoset for the mortar and bricks. Lamb reminds us of the lambs killed so their blood could be brush along the top and sides of doors as a signal to the Angel of Death that the family inside was Hebrew. All through this is wine and most of all, matzo.

Matzo is, for those of you who have never eaten it, the bread made of just flour and water that was made for the Exodus because 1) it is many times quicker to make than breads with yeast or even baking powder and 2) it travels better. Consider it way bread of a sort. It’s not prone to go moldy and lasts a long time if need be. If someone needs to travel quickly and secretly, matzo is the bread of choice – in ancient Egypt and perhaps today as well. It is the core of the Passover meal, both during the religious sedar observance and for the two weeks that Passover is celebrated.

Fortunately matzo is abundant at this time of year and found in many forms. The traditional sheets (roughly 7″ square) are probably easiest to find, but you can also buy matzo ball soup mixes, and matzo flours, depending on the shop and how much money you are willing to pay. Major cities have bakeries that make matzo in the same style brick ovens used in the Middle East for thousands of years; I’ve tasted a bit of matzo made at one such bakery in Brooklyn. If you are willing to shop online and pay for the shipping, there are many choices now that were not available when I attended my first cedar circa 2002 (I honestly don’t remember the exact year).

But what about other bread products? For Passover, that can get tricky and requires more careful label reading. Simply being Kosher is not enough when it comes to breads, bread products, and bread coated products. Instead, read the label and look for any mention of yeast. If it has yeast, you cannot eat it at Passover.

Be aware that yeast is added into foodstuffs where you normally would not expect. Great Value saltine crackers have yeast in them. But they also have the U symbol on the box. That is to say, they are generally kosher – but not kosher for Passover! Same for many crackers. Just because something looks like there’s no yeast in it doesn’t mean that yeast is absent. Unless the box explicitly says “Kosher for Passover” you have to read every line of the ingredient list to be absolutely certain.

For my purposes for this project, my plan is to stick to meats without added breading to them, eat lots of matzo ball soup, and eat only matzo – no crackers, no regular breads, none of that. I want to experience Passover as observant Jews experience it. I can go without yeast for a few days!

Chag Pesach Sameach!

Read more of the Kosher for Passover Project:

Kosher Coffee

Kosher Beverages

Kosher Meat