The Truth About Birds & Link Up On the Edge #193
I dedicate this post to my friend Debbie of Fashion Fairy Dust…
I suppose a more adequate title would be “My Truth About Birds” because what I am about to say is merely my own opinion and my own irrational musings and not at all based on any type of actual scientific facts. The stories below, however, are based on actual real personal experiences in my life.
Birds are freaking creepy creatures. (See, not at all a scientific hypothesis.) I don’t like them. I never really have. And I have tried so hard to give birds a shot at winning my affection. But to no avail.
When I was very young, my mom had this bird ornament that she would put on our Christmas tree every year. I am sure you have seen these…they are covered with real feathers and look like taxidermied birds. I was so freaked out by the fact that my mother would decorate our Christmas tree with a dead bird. I was terrified of this thing.
It was Christmas Eve 1979, I was 5 years old, and my older sisters got me so excited for the super special gift they had gotten for me. Per our regular holiday tradition, we exchanged our gifts on Christmas Eve when I was presented with the most beautifully ornate present I had ever seen. Lo and behold, inside the box was that damn dead bird ornament that horrified me. I screamed, my sisters laughed and laughed, and a lifetime bird war of sorts began…we have been exchanging dead bird ornaments every Christmas since 1979. Maybe not every single year, but we have been rather consistent for the past 40 years to the point that I own more feathered tree ornaments than any other type of ornament. Gah.
A few laters, when I was 7 or 8, my sister got a pet parakeet. He was green and his name was Nipper. He lived in a cage in our bedroom. I was definitely less afraid of this bird, mostly because he was alive and not some creepy weird dead bird. One day, I walked into our bedroom and saw Nipper lying on his back in his cage. I thought he was sleeping and went to get my mom to show her how cute this bird was sleeping on his back in the cage. As you can imagine, my vision of cuteness quickly turned to petrified doom as I realized I was staring at yet another dead bird, but a freshly dead bird this time. Ugh.
But still I tried to like birds even as they continued to haunt my childhood. When I was 16, I spotted the coolest antique bird cage at a flea market. I wanted that cage so badly but I felt it was necessary to have an actual bird in order to justify the purchase of an antique cage. I know now I could have just bought the cage and used it for something else. But my teenage mind was set on having a parakeet which my mother got for me for Christmas that year. She got me a blue one and I honestly can’t even remember his name (see how special that bird was to me).
I had him for a few years because I took him to college with me. He wasn’t a bad bird. He was rather affectionate and would nestle into my shoulder and hang there for hours on end. But sometime during my sophomore year, I decided he needed a friend. So I got a green parakeet and put them in the cage together. That was a really bad move. Because the new parakeet was not nice and he turned my nice parakeet into an evil biting, snipping, antisocial winged demon. I couldn’t feed these creatures or clean their cage without suffering some sort of physical bird assault. I eventually rehomed them at a private bird sanctuary and I never missed them for a second.
As you can see, my fear and dislike of birds comes from a series of semi-traumatic bird events in my life. But I can appreciate their role in the ecosystem. I do enjoy their beautiful songs on a warm spring morning. I find the colorful plumage of some to be quite breathtaking. Their ability to navigate the world through the sky impresses me immensely. But yet, I cannot feel affection towards our winged friends. So as long as they stay far away from me and are heard without being seen, then I am okay with birds. But when it comes to a bird print on clothing, I am weak and I cannot resist. As strong as my distaste for birds may, I love a good bird print (see my bird leggings)! It’s kind of weird, but it is my truth about birds.
Do you have a particular animal that freaks you out?
And now your featured favorites from last week.
Reader Favorite (Most Clicked)
Dee of Grammy’s Grid shared her post, Who Are You Blogging For? Part 1. She offers some great tips for all of us bloggers whether we blog for our own personal creative outlet or as a source of income. Whatever the reason for your blog, I highly recommend checking out Dee’s 5 part series for lots of helpful tips.
My Favorite Fashion Post
Mireille of Chez Mireille shared her post, Pascha Outfit: Modcloth Skirt for the Win, featuring the perfect skirt for spring and summer. As Mireille has previously illustrated, not only is this skirt so darn pretty, but it is incredibly versatile. I love how she mixes other patterns with this bold floral print!
My Favorite Non-Fashion Post
Jennifer of Effortlessly Sophisticated shared a really great eco-friendly brand in her blog review, Earth Day with Plaine Products. This company, which offers a variety of beauty and hygiene products, has found a brilliant way to cut down on single use plastics for their products. Do check out this post. It really has a lot of great information along with a wonderful eco-conscious product line!
Before I sign off, I want to wish my sweet Archer James a very Happy 9th Birthday today! I will share details of his birthday celebration tomorrow so please stop by then!
Keeping it on the edge,
Shelbee
Linking up with these Fabulous Link Parties.
Shop my look…
Outfit Details: Leggings-LulaRoe / Sweater and Jacket-Old Navy / Tunic-TJ Maxx / Boots-Carlos Santana (Famous Footwear) / Gloves-Army / Earrings-Old / Sunglass Necklace-La Loop
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
I am a midlife woman, wife, and stay-at-home mother of 2 boys and 2 cats. I have a passion for helping other women feel fabulous in the midst of this crazy, beautiful life.
47 Comments
Nancy
Oh what a bad story! Haha. But I am glad you love bird prints as they are so lovely! Happy Birthday Archie!! Have a fabulous day!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Nancy! I am traumatized by birds, but I can still laugh about it and have a good time wearing bird prints! Stay tuned for more about Archie’s zombie apocalypse birthday!
xoxo
Shelbee
Kathrine Eldridge
Well my friend, they call me the bird lady around here. Lol! I love our green checked conure Alan but he does only like me and my son so I get why some people are not into them. Love these fun leggings and thanks for sharing all your adventures with birds. Have a wonderful weekend!
https://www.kathrineeldridge.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Kathrine, thanks so much! I love that you are the bird lady and can connect with them in a way that I apparently cannot! My son connects really well with our bunny who seems to hate everyone else in the house. And my husband is the cat guy! I think I might just be a people person. Have a great weekend, my friend.
xoxo
Shelbee
Laurie
have a great weekend Shelbee xx
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Laurie! You as well!
xoxo
Shelbee
Jennifer
That is such a funny tradition!
Jennifer
Effortlessly Sophisticated
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Jennifer, it is so ridiculous, isn’t it?! But it is our tradition and it makes us laugh and keeps us on our toes! Have a great weekend, my friend.
xoxo
Shelbee
Tamar A Strauss-Benjamin
Super cute leggings!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Tamar! Have a wonderful weekend.
xoxo
Shelbee
Kellyann Rohr
Awwwww, a big happy birthday to Archie! The last year in the single digits!
Okay, bless your heart Shelbee, I cannot imagine unwrapping a beautiful present and being horrified by that bird ornament! I’ve never wanted a bird as a pet but I don’t mind them. I think keeping them on your leggings is the best place for them for you my friend!!
xo,
Kellyann
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Kellyann! My track record with birds is not so good. I agree that the best place in my life for birds is on my leggings! Stay tuned for more about Archie’s zombie apocalypse birthday party!
xoxo
Shelbee
Jill
I can see why you’re not a fan of birds! So many traumatic dealings with them! Your leggings are adorable though! Love your styling! Have a wonderful weekend!
Jill – Doused in Pink
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Jill! Those are some crazy stories, aren’t they?! LOL Have a great weekend!
xoxo
Shelbee
Ellibelle
I used to have a co-worker that was afraid of birds and I never understood why, I don’t think she knew either. Reading your story there must have been something in her life as well that made her afraid of them too. Personally I love them, just not in cages. But I do freak out if they ever come into the house. My cats have been bringing them in occasionally. I then (after I scream LOL) have to either lock the door of the room they are in or lock myself in if it happens to be in an open area of the house until my husband is home.
Fun outfit today. Love the bird print on the leggings and great jacket!
Happy Birthday to Archie!
Ellibelle’s Corner
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Ellie, thanks so much! Seriously, bird attacks can totally traumatize a person. And they are really freaky when they get indoors and start flipping out. The same with bats or any other flying thing that comes in my house. Flying things are most unwelcome here! And yes, they definitely do not belong in cages! I hope you have a wonderful weekend, my friend!
xoxo
Shelbee
Michelle
I always thought those dead bird ornaments were disgusting. LOL! Fortunately, no one in my family were into them. I can’t even remember where I saw the dead bird ornaments when I was a kid. But your memory brought back that feeling of disgust. I think at the time, I thought it was a genuine dead bird.
I’ve never had a bird as a pet. Cats and dogs are more my style.
I noticed your leggings right away. As a woman who loves her wild leggings, I can honestly say those are fabulous! (Although, I was kind of hoping they were bats. LOL!) Fantastic outfit!
Michelle
https://mybijoulifeonline.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Michelle! I am definitely more of a cat person than anything else, but I could honestly do without any animals in my life at this point! Here is another silly story about dead bird ornaments…years ago my mom and I visited one of her aunts around Christmas time. As soon as we walked in the front door, I gasped when I saw her Christmas tree which was literally covered in dead bird ornaments. All the same ones…white doves…covered in feathers…perfectly spaced all over the tree with lights and garland and no other ornaments! I looked at my mom, my eyes wide with horror, and whispered, “OMG. Look at all the dead birds.” To be clear, I was probably around 30 years old at the time and my mom pinched my arm and told me to shut up! Hahahaha
Bats are pretty cool creatures…except they are winged and that freaks me out just as much as birds! I hope you have a great weekend!
xoxo
Shelbee
jess jannenga
Happy Birthday Archie!! He is the same age as my niece. 🙂 Aw,, bad bird stories.. I think people once they saw Hitchcock’s The Birds, probably didn’t like birds much after! Funny about your sis and you exchanging bird ornaments. We collect rustic animal ornaments, which started in Asheville, and I do have a red cardinal for my tree. 🙂
How apprapo are your tights! Looks fun with your black boots and sweater. It is funny that you bring up birds. I have been watching You Tube videos on Cockatoos lately, they are smart and funny!
have a good weekend!
jess xx
http://www.elegantlydressedandstylish.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Jess, thanks so much! I just shared a little story about Hitchcock’s The Birds in my response to Lucy…seriously creepy stuff! I do love the sound of birds singing and find them interesting if I were to watch a show about them. But I would prefer they don’t come too near me! I have a lot of rustic animal style ornaments, too. Those are so cute!
xoxo
Shelbee
Lucy Bertoldi
Omg how creepy!! I can totally relate- one of my daughters is petrified of birds too. And for me it was that Hitchcock movie!! Haunting to say the least. I’m not really creeped out by any animal…except when i was pregnant with my second daughter for some reason I became scared of cats lol!! Always afraid they’d jump and attack my stomach…go figure!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Lucy, thanks so much for sharing your story! Birds are creepy things, for sure. And cats can be equally so! Hitchcock’s The Birds totally freaked me out, too. I took a Hitchcock class in college and learned that he put bird seed in Tippi Hendren’s hair and then tied fishing line to the birds’ ankles which he then attached to her clothing with safety pins. So when the birds were attacking her in certain scenes, they were really attacking her! I would seriously die!
xoxo
Shelbee
mireille
First of all, thanks for the feature! Second, oh my, those are some interesting bird stories, lol! My hubby has a thing about bluebirds (who like to do their business on our cars) and hummingbird who used to dive bomb him growing up when he mowed the yard! I do enjoy seeing all of the birds at the birdfeeders at our house and hearing them.
http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Mireille! If a hummingbird dive bombed me, I might have a heart attack and die! I can understand why your husband is not a fan! I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
xoxo
Shelbee
Lizzie
Oh my goodness, the bird ornament! That would be so traumatic! Well, at least with bird prints, they can’t hurt you lol! I don’t think I have any crazy bird stories but there was one making a nest in my plants last week lol!
Lizzie
http://www.lizzieinlace.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Lizzie, thanks so much for stopping by! That is some serious bird trauma, isn’t it?! As long as they stay in their nests (or in your plants, for that matter), then I can peacefully exist in the world with them!
xoxo
Shelbee
Ada Furxhi
Happy birthday to that handsome blue-haired boy of yours! QUARANTINE BIRTHDAYS FOR ALL OF YOU THIS YEAR, BUT HEY AS LONG AS WE ARE HOME+SAFE!!
Loved the bird story too and of course the fun leggings and necklace.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Ada! It is the year of quarantine celebrations!
xoxo
Shelbee
Deborah Stinedurf
LOLOLOLOL! And you know that I LOL with the fondest affection because…I get you girl! I too enjoy the sound of them and agree that many of them are extraordinarily beautiful, however they are all avian terrorists! I also get your weird love of them on clothing because the tattoo near my bellybutton is a bird…go figure? Much like I have an overwhelming fear of gargoyles (ya, that’s logical) and yet there are gargoyles all around my yard and there’s actually a pair of them sitting next to my desk as I type this…you and I are complicated creatures…lol
Debbie
http://www.fashionfairydust.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
I am so glad that you got a good chuckle out of this! I have so many more stories that involve terroristic flying creatures, too, but I will save those for another time! We are definitely complicated creatures, for sure. Although, I find gargoyles kind of cool as well as many other mythical type creatures. It is the real life ones that freak me out! Haha. Have a great weekend! See you on Monday’s video call!
xoxo
Shelbee
Cheryl Shops
I think the way you feel about birds is similar to how I feel about snakes. They creep me the eff out! 😉 Happy Friday, Shelbee!
Cheryl Shops | http://www.cherylshops.net
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Gah, Cheryl! Snakes are so creepy! Yet so many of us have embraced the snakeskin trend on our clothing and accessories! Isn’t that funny how that works? I hate birds, but I love bird prints. You hate snakes, do you love snake prints?!
xoxo
Shelbee
Melody Jacob
The leggings is very nice.
https://www.melodyjacob.com/2020/05/femmeluxefinery-red-belted-bodycon-midi.html
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Melody!
xoxo
Shelbee
Shannon April
I love birds-, especially for home decor. Loving the colors you put together today Shelbee!! I rebranded. My Gamine & Stripes is now April Styling in case you get confused. Have a great weekend!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Hi Shannon! Thanks for stopping by and thanks for the lovely comment. I will check out your new branding, for sure! I hope you have a great weekend.
xoxo
Shelbee
Lauren Renee Sparks
I don’t blame you. I don’t think I hate birds, but they scare me.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Ha, thanks, Lauren! They are a little scary especially if they fly too close!
xoxo
Shelbee
Dee | Grammy's Grid
I’m not linking up anything today but thanks so much for hosting and for featuring my WHO ARE YOU BLOGGING FOR – PART 1 OF 5 post!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thank you, Dee! I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
xoxo
Shelbee
Laura Bambrick
Haha! I have a friend who hates birds too! I can’t say I’m creeped out by any animals I can think of. Unless worms count? It’s after the rain when they are all over the sidewalk. YUCK!!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks for reading, Laura! My kids love to pick up the worms and bring them in the house. They have even on occasion carefully placed them on my desk for me to find! Ugh. Boys!
xoxo
Shelbee
Patrick Weseman
I like watching birds to there thing at the park and in nature but could never have one as a pet. Just me.
Looking very nice and hope that you and your family are safe and healthy.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thank you, Patrick! Yeah, I definitely never want a bird as a pet again! I do like to listen to them singing in the early morning hours while drinking my coffee and even get excited when I see birds like bluejays and cardinals and woodpeckers in my yard…as long as they don’t get too near me!
xoxo
Shelbee
Emma Peach
My mum doesn’t like anything fluttery or flappy around her. She freaks out at moths, hates bats and once had a hissy fit when a fledgling bird made an emergency landing in her hair…it was the 80s and she had big hair! I love birds and get to look after all kinds, big and small, at the wildlife hospital where I volunteer. I especially love the birds of prey…the bigger the better! Those leggings are fabulous!
Emma xxx
http://www.style-splash.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Aw, Emma, thank you so much for sharing that story! I can relate to your mum! If a bird landed in my hair, I might die. But I also love and appreciate your fondness and affection for birds. And I am glad that there are people like you and the sanctuary that adopted my birds. I wish no harm to the creatures. I would just like them to not fly in my hair!
xoxo
Shelbee
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