Gone Squirrely

Let me tell you a squirrely tale. Now before you grab a coffee and settle in for a heartwarming story telling, let me warn you, this is actually something that may leave you feeling a little unsettled. So grab a blanket for security.

It all began one day when I was headed out the door with a load of wet laundry at my hip. I was making my way towards the big red porch steps, that led to our second level porch where the clothesline was situated. On my way, a squirrel raced ahead of me and stopped about five steps up. He looked me in the eyes as if to claim his territory. Naturally, I starred him down in order to claim what was rightfully mine. As the contest wore on, my nerves began to tingle. This squirrel was no ordinary squirrel...let's just say the laundry hanging was postponed until the backyard was free of squirrels.

The next squirrely episode began, when one Spring day, I noticed a squirrel in a hanging flower pot. I notified the head of the household and he took care of business. He stormed outside, grabbed the thief by it's tail, and gave a sound yank-throw all in one swift motion. My dear, gentle husband had not only saved my flowers, he had ripped off the squirrel's tail! The squirrel darted towards the neighbor's fence and again a starring contest ensued. This time we won.

There is one sad note to this second episode that I hesitate to tell. You see, when the tail of the squirrel ended up in my husbands hand, he gingerly threw it in the garden, glared a the squirrel (as his wife yelped beside him 'See!!!!! I told you they stare!!! I'm not crazy!!!'), and walked back into the house. The next day, the girls were playing outside and what should they find but a long, black furry thing. The questioning began, and what can a mother do but tell the truth?

Not only do the squirrels in our neighborhood claim territory that is not theirs, they confuse toys with nuts. Now I'm being gracious in this judgement; I am giving them the benefit of the doubt. It really could be that they are nasty at heart and simply want to ruin children's fun but I will assume for now that they are merely confused.

You see, the thing that makes me doubtful, is that a round, neon- orange-colored-ball looks nothing like your typical harvest nut. I have pictures of this confused squirrel and you can take your pick as to whether or not the squirrels are confused or mean spirited.


(Cast your vote at the 'Squirrely Poll' on the top, right hand corner of my blog!)
**Squirrely Poll has ended-THANK YOU for participating!
Just the other day, I thought I heard a knocking at the door or a tapping on my window. I walked towards the door and there sat a squirrel on my window sill. He was taunting me, I'm sure. There were no nuts in his hands to crack so the noise could only have been meant to disturb my supper making process.

My oldest daughter instructs her sister well when she says "Sen, you can't go out there! See that squirrel-he will eat you!" Very wise Mia! Or is this fear mongering?

To say the least, we have all gone squirrely!