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Because I was waiting for my husband (to please stop talking and get back in the damn car!) the other day… I scrolled through my cell phone’s photo album all the way back to the beginning to find the very first pic I took.

(As of today, I have 16,999 photos there. I love technology!)

April of 2013.

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Meet Little Cheeper, a baby robin we found on our lawn after a storm. No nest or mother in sight so we adopted and raised him until he was old enough to release.

Did that little bugger poop? You betcha!

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We kept him in a cat carrier overnight, but let him fly around during the say to strengthen his wings.

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I didn’t want to hand train him as the goal was to set him free…

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But he was a sweetie who followed me all around the house.

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And helped me blog.

He was an adorable little guy, even if he did occasionally resemble a Starship Storm Trooper.

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We fed him canned dog food per the vet’s instructions, supplemented with live worms and fruit.

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Blueberries were his favorite.

All too soon (for me) it was time to let him go, and though I cried… it was the right thing to do.

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He was hesitant at first, but when he felt the gentle June breeze? He took off for the apple trees and never looked back. I kept my eye on him for a few hours as he explored our property.. but he took to the air like a pro and was gone to do what robins do soon after.

❤️

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