Every day, starting about when Goober started fading, I've cleaned out the Finsterium every evening with the big door wide open. Of course, I kept the door wide open back before the new batch of Finsters arrived. But since about May 2005, Earl Grey and the New Kids have had the questionable privilege of having me leaning right into their space.

We've had an almost perfect track record, until yesterday, when Cinnamon got flutterpated and flew out into the living room and into Bob, the ficus tree. Much chasing back and forth ensued, Cinnamon favoring Bob, but ignoring the wide-open door of the Fisnterium. Finally, we gave him a rest, and let him calm down in the tree. After a few minutes, he tried again, and this time flew right back inside! You can click here to see a close up of Cinnamon back home. It would have been nice to catch him to trim his toenails, but at least he got home safe and sound.

Part of yesterday, and certainly today, I was once again counting the proper number of Finsters in the Finsterium. So I guess Szechwan (Pepper) and Cassia have decided against having babies. At least for now.

But we have had some fun. Bruce cut an old sock into small strips and put a few of them into the Finsterium. At first, the strips were just a little bit evil. But soon, a few of the birds started to check them out. Szechwan (Pepper) and Cinnamon were the most interested, but Szechwan (Pepper), Cinnamon, Cassia and Ginger have all spent time sitting on the porch of a nest box, holding the cloth in their toes, and chewing on it. The strips periodically find their ways into nest boxes — Szechwan (Pepper)'s and Cinnamon's, next door — and then out again. Only to be picked up by another bird and played with.

Who knows what goes on the the Minds of the Finsters?

Well, I think Szechwan (Pepper) and Cassia are sitting on eggs!

I often count the Finsters several times a day, to make sure nobody has left the cage to explore my dusty apartment. I used to count them carefully and slowly, but lately it's a fast, instinctual activity. I glance inside and get a quick feel for the number of tiny creatures inside. Starting yesterday morning, I started thinking I might be missing one.

"Oh, not to worry," I'd think after a closer look. "Szechwan (Pepper) is inside his nest." And then later in the day, "Oh, never mind, Cassia is inside her nest." And so on. Even in the morning after I'd given them fresh snacks for the day — when all the Finsters usually fly to the floor (at the same time) for breakfast — it was one or the other, not both. And the same thing happened today. I'd see one of the two birds, but unless I saw them both inside or on the porch their nest box, I didn't see them at the same time.

Well, that means that Szechwan (Pepper) and Cassia just might be sitting on some eggs.

"IT'S ABOUT TIME," was Bruce's reaction. Because, of course, that means that the Finsterium is a happy, healthy place for birds to be. And we're known for spoiling small creatures in and around this place.

So, around March 7, we may just be hearing little peeps and wheezes coming from that box. We'll see. I'm not positive the birds are sitting on a clutch. I'll keep watching.

But if Szechwan (Pepper) and Cassia are sitting on eggs, then I can't change out nest boxes and clean the Finsterium until after the babies have hatched, fledged, and settled in. Lucky, lazy me.

My sister Kathie gave me a lovely hand-quilted pillow. The colors and the pattern inspired her to call it "Peanut in Flight." Very appropriate, I think.

Today, while sitting on my shoulder, Peanut decided he needed to sit on the pillow. And then he sat there for a good five minutes, a little puffy and very relaxed. It was the Peanut Seal of Approval.

But no poops!

To be honest, I haven't seen any mating going on — although that happens so quickly between Finsters I could easily have missed it. But let me tell you, Szechwan (Pepper) is ready! He's been busy, busy, busy building a nest!

This is a little difficult, of course, since I still haven't been giving him any nesting material. Although Bruce has. Apparently, the Finsters have picked up some Mind Control tricks from Peanut. Twice now I've found some bits and pieces of paper in the Finsterium, and Bruce chuckling in the office, trying to hide.

But Szechwan (Pepper) has been very clever at finding his own nesting materials. There's the occasional sprig of dill and leaf from the plastic vines — and of course, molted feathers. But he's doing better than that: he's tearing little strips off of the newspaper I put down to catch bird poop.

He's gotten more adept as the days go on, tearing bigger and bigger strips. He's a very clever and busy bird!

Szechwan (Pepper)'s girlfriend is Cassia. They hop in and out of the nest box, dragging feathers and strips of paper out with them (by mistake, I'm sure). They also spend quite a bit of time rearranging everything in the box. One or the other will stand on the porch of their box with a feather or stolen leaf in their beaks, rolling it around for a minute, then they pop back inside to place the item carefully back. This has been going on for a little while now.

We're well overdue for the yearly Finsterium cleaning, which includes cleaning and making new nest boxes. There have been two bad fights now that Szechwan (Pepper) is thinking about mating, but those both happened at bedtime, which can be a tricky time even when no bird has thoughts of love in their heads. If I can ever finish the new nest boxes, and clean out the Finsterium, I might just get some raffia and let the little fellow do it right. There's nothing like little peeps in the Spring time!

Of course, if I don't get moving soon, Szechwan (Pepper) and Cassia may just have a little family anyway, poop or no poop!