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"Peep!" said the fluffy little alarm clock. My eyes slowly opened. It was pitch black. I closed my eyes and pretended I didn't hear anything.

The feathery timekeeper would not be ignored. Twenty seconds later: "Cheep!" I groaned inwardly and reached an arm out to grab my clock on the nightstand, flailing about until my fingers touched the familiar rectangular shape. Holding it up to my face I pressed the illumination button and was horrified at what I saw. "Oh brother…it's only 6:30am, Pumpkin…" I fumbled the clock back in place and pulled the covers over my head.

"Peep-peep!" Pumpkin knew I had stirred and would not be denied. I peeped a contact call back at her in desperation, begging for just a few more minutes of sleep. "Burble-burble-burble!" she chortled softly in the gloom.

I whimpered, "Pumpkin, it's too early sweetheart…let Mama Bird sleep for just a few more minutes."

Instead of settling down after my quiet cooing, she turned it up a notch. "PEEP-PEEP!" she answered with enthusiasm. Woah is me. I sighed deeply. Poor, tired Mama Bird. "Cheep?" said the timekeeper insistently.

Laying there in the dark, it suddenly occurred to me…I could cuddle with her for a few moments before I got up, wouldn't that be nice? So I got out of bed and lifted the towel from the front of her cage and opened the door. Though it was almost completely dark, I could see that Pumpkin was cuddled down in her Happy Hut, a tiny triangular-pup-tent hanging from the top of her cage. She burbled a joyful "cheebie-cheebie-cheebie-cheebie" at me and stepped out onto my offered finger. I climbed back into bed, laid on my side and made a little cave for her to climb into. Pumpkin crawled right in and chortled with delight. Oh my! Such a happy little girl she was! I could feel her moving around under the covers next to my body and she whistled a nonstop stream of cheerful notes. I couldn't help but giggle at her enthusiasm. What a cutie pie. My fingers found her fluffy little body and I itched the spot between her shoulder blades. Pumpkin fairly purred and I beamed joyfully. What a nice way to wake up, even if it was too darned early! :)

After ten minutes of cuddling, we got up and went into the bathroom. As usual, Pumpkin supervised my routine from her perch in the shower with lots of delighted whistling and chortles. When I was about to step out of the shower, I thought Pumpkin might like some water to drink. I raised an arm and let the water trickle down to my fingers which I then offered to Pumpkin. She touched the droplets with her beak and drank the water with the cutest little whistling sounds. When she'd had enough she fluffed up all of her feathers and then shook her whole body with a blissful twitter. Covering her with kisses as we stepped out, I thought to myself, "How lucky we are to have this darling little bird! What a DOLL!" :)

Today's picture is for Happy Fence Friday! It was taken when Steve and I went on a 5-day motorcycle trip a couple of years ago with a photographer friend of ours. We made a loop from our home to the coast of Oregon, far south into California, then to eastern California, dipping a toe into Nevada and then back again, and finally north and back to our home in southern Oregon. About 100 miles south of Oregon on the first day of our trip, our friend Andy led us to the charming little town of Trinidad. I had never heard of this place but it's now on my list of most beautiful coastal towns in California! When I was looking through my pictures, I found this one of Trinidad Bay, which also has a fence in it! HFF, HUZZAH! I have also included a picture of the lighthouse which I thought was really neat. :)

Pam, I hope that things are going well for you today. It's rainy and cold here but I hope you're warm and snuggly in your home right now! I'm thinking of you, wishing I could give you a cup of hot chocolate! Virtual *hugssssssssss* are on their way! :)

Explored on 12/15/18, highest placement, #4.