Alphonso’s Sweet Tooth

We recently hosted a visit to the Macramé Owl Sanctuary, so we put out some lovely sweets for our guests. There were lots of sweets to begin with, so I was certain they’d last. Well, even before the guests arrived, I turned my back for a few minutes, and there were only a few sweets left!

Viv kept finding empty wrappers everywhere. It was quite concerning.

Then, we spotted the culprit. Alfonso lay there, belly aching, with the evidence in this beak! Boy, was he embarrassed!

Our Macramé Owl Residents love sweets, and we regularly have sweets available for them to share in. Alfonso, however, took advantage of the situation. Without asking who the sweets were for, he made assumptions. He helped himself without asking. It left us all in an awkward situation.

Viv had to explain to Alfonso that this kind of inconsiderate behaviour was inappropriate, and that there was a certain etiquette around helping oneself to sweets. Alfonso swiftly apologized. He’s a cheeky chappie, so we’ll have to keep him under observation in future around edible goodies.

Sanctuary Anniversary Celebration

This month, the Macramé Owl Sanctuary celebrates its third year of operation. To mark the occasion, the MOST (Macramé Owl Sanctuary Team) and some of our Macramé Owl Residents had a delicious lunch extravaganza at Nando’s in Merthyr Tydfil. The food was awesome!

Macramé Owl Shopping Spree!

This past Sunday, Viv, Zoë and Annie took 3 of the Macramé Owls out for a good ol’ girlie shopping spree at White Stuff in Cardiff.

Madeleine was eager to try on a few clothes. She’s such a fashion fanatic!

But picky, too. Fortunately, White Stuff sales assistant, Louisa Cavell, was very patient and helpful. Thank goodness for that, because Zoë, quite frankly, was getting a little bit bored of Madeleine’s indecision. Such is the life of a Macramé Owl diva who looks good in everything!

Finally, Madeleine decided to go for the lush mulberry handle bag. Great choice! (But by then, even poor Priscilla had to take a nap! Madeleine is mortified by Priscilla’s rather cheeky behaviour, resting there on the counter!)

But then it was Priscilla’s turn. She’s got a bit of a thing for shoes, she does.

Priscilla likes all kinds of accessories. And she looks amazing in pink!

Priscilla decides to go with the multibird scarf. It’s so “her”!

Now, Lavinia is not quite so keen on shopping. Zoë tried to convince her that this yellow scarf really brought out her eyes. Or perhaps the pink one, or blue? But Lavinia was more interested in all the eclectic wonder around the White Stuff store. She felt quite at home hanging with some crazy retro pots and pans dangling from a light fixture!

She also took some time out to chill in the White Stuff Book Club area. When she noticed a handsome guy in the window, she boldly asked shop assistant Aaron Short to introduce her to him.

Eventually, with Viv and Louisa’s help, Lavinia decides on a much needed layered purse and the happy contrast xbody bag.

A “so glad and very” happy time was had by all on this shopping spree to Cardiff’s White Stuff!

Macramé Owlpreneurs

Supported and encouraged by Zoë Jones and Annie Zed, Macramé Owls Madeleine and Alfonso have teamed forces with entrepreneurial spirit and enthusiasm. They are doing their part to support the sustainability of their home at the Macramé Owl Sanctuary. We’re pleased to announce they have just opened a shop on Cafe Press and have chosen a few items to model on. Madeleine appears on a large blanket so that you can cuddle up with her of a night time!

You can also buy pajamas with her picture on the front. They are so pretty and feminine, just like Madeleine herself.

Alfonso, with his cheeky spirit, is a bit more adventurous. He’s appearing on this cheerful yellow messenger bag.

You can also wear Alfonso stating his identity “I’m a Whimsical Macramé Owl” on a yellow t-shirt!

Other Macramé Owls are hoping to join the scheme, but they may need some encouragement. If you have a favourite Macramé Owl among our residents, let us know what Cafe Press product you’d like to see them on, or any ideas you have for Madeleine and Alfonso’s successful Owlpreneurship.

Our First Ever Monetary Donation

Last week, we had a surprising telephone call from a Macramé Owl fan. At first, Viv wasn’t sure what the call was about, and was quite perplexed. Macramé Owl Madeleine was also mystified.

Someone at the end of the line wanted to make a monetary donation to the Macramé Owl Sanctuary. We had never had one of those before! We were all a bit befuddled.

Eventually, after an extensive inquiry and thorough discussion, it was assessed that the individual (who wishes to remain anonymous) wanted to make a pledge for a donation of 12 pence to our efforts. Well, we were absolutely thrilled! 12 pence buys approximately 5 inches (or 12.7 cm) of jute towards Macramé Owl sutures.

Viv was ecstatic! Ciaran was so chuffed, he was inspired to deposit 2 pence of his own pocket money towards a now growing owl-bank. Let’s hope the trend continues!

If you too would like to donate to the Macramé Owl Sanctuary, please click our PayPal donation button on our Macramé Owl Appeal page on our website. No amount is too small, even if it’s “chicken feed”!

Macramé Owling

By now, you’ve probably heard of ‘owling’. It’s that craze where people crouch in kind of an owl pose, and stare off into middle-distance with a blank expression. There are subtle variations to the pose.

When our Macramé Owl residents heard about this trend, they wanted to do their part. So they invented Macramé Owling.

What is Macramé Owling?

Macramé Owling is owling with Macramé Owls. The pose often tends to be somewhat more extended (to resemble a Macramé Owl), which is great for people who aren’t very flexible or supple. In other words, those who grew up with Macramé Owls in the 60′s and 70′s are more likely to have the fitness level required for Macramé Owling (rather than just plain owling).

Here’s a picture of Greg, our Macramé Owl Welfare Rescue Operations Nurse (MOWRON) doing some Macramé Owling at our Macramé Owl Sanctuary.

Below is Ciaran, our Apprentice MOWRON, practicing his Macramé Owling, too.

You don’t have to be a MOWRON to do Macramé Owling (though it helps!). If you have MOJO, like our Macramé Owl Jolly Organizer (MOJO) Zoë, you may be able to do Macramé Owling, too!

We’ll bring you more Macramé Owling stories and pictures soon.

Barney’s Back!

What with the lovely weather we had in Wales yesterday, Barney decided to head out for a stroll to enjoy the sun. It’s rare for a Macramé Owl to go out on his own, but Barney’s quite responsible, so we didn’t think much about it at the time. We all just went about our normal business here at the Macramé Owl Sanctuary office.

Suddenly, Ciaran spotted Barney at the window!

This was a real shock, as the Sanctuary is on the first floor of the building. I was very concerned for Barney’s safety and called for MORE help. (Viv is our “MORE”: Macramé Owl Rehabilitation Expert.)

Viv manages to safely coax Barney into a nest. Phew! When we asked Barney whatever possessed him to climb up to the first floor window, the silly sausage admitted he’d forgotten his keys!

 All in a day’s work at the Macramé Owl Sanctuary!

Rita’s Rescue

Variety
Brush-tailed Basketcase Macramé Owl

Admitted
31 August 2010

Initial Assessment and History
Rita was noticed sporadically over a period of almost two years, particularly around the springtime breeding season. She was quite timid and protective of what was thought to be her nest in a plant pot outside an old building in Cardiff. Over time, she appeared to grow weak. We maintained close observation, left food for her, and eventually she became more comfortable around people. Eventually, she realized she needed the support of our team, and decided to voluntarily enter the sanctuary. Her young had long since fledged. She later confessed she had been suffering from empty nest syndrome, and is now content to have found a new family among the other Macramé Owls.

Read more about Rita.

Macramé Owl Sabbatical in Canada

A group of 13 lucky Macramé Owls are presently enjoying an extended summer sabbatical at a riverside campgrounds in the interior Rocky Mountain region of British Columbia, Canada.

Their host, LW, is a high-powered executive of a company there. To maintain anonymity, LW is pixelated in the photograph above.

“It’s not that I’m ashamed or anything,” says LW. “It’s just that there is still such terrible discrimination against Macramé Owls and their carers. My friends and family are all very understanding. But the shareholders and Board of Directors would surely raise an eyebrow if they knew. I could seriously damage my reputation in their eyes. I’m really sad for them, though. They’ll never know the joy and laughter that these crazy creatures bring to a person’s life.”

LW has been a secret MO-BFF (Macramé Owl – Best Friend Forever) ever since the scheme was revealed on the Macramé Owl website’s Volunteer Recruitment page. The MOST (Macramé Owl Sanctuary Team) are committed to raising awareness and fostering endearment towards Macramé Owls everywhere, so that people like LW no longer have to hide.