This morning while sitting outside in my backyard before the blankets of blistering heat hit I heard the rustling of what I guessed a fairly large animal. The noises came from some trees that line our yard. Much bigger than a bird, I guessed. Watching, and sipping my much needed cup of coffee, I saw a few baby squirrels emerge. I had seen them earlier in the spring, and had laughed at their tiny bodies but adult-size tails.
They were chasing each other. Amused I watched them not only chase each other, but leap from tree to tree, maybe twenty feet up, in impressive spider man fashion. I was amazed that even that young, they had the scaling, and jumping skills of adult squirrels.
And then I caught myself. These aren't just some cute baby squirrels playing together like little children might play tag. These are RODENTS. And they are my arch nemesis.
Ever since we have lived here I have bought every squirrel proof bird feeder, as well as tried out ever squirrel resistant contraption on said bird feeders, to absolutely no avail. Bitter? Maybe, a little. . .
This Mother's Day my family got me a Smart Bird Feeder. And (you better believe it) I've got that sucker secured tighter than Fort Knox. It's placed strategically on a pole far away from anything, it's enclosed in a pen of chicken wire, the bottom half of the pole is insulated in piping, and the top half of the pole is completely encased in bird spikes. The spikes make the pole impossible to scale- or so I naively thought.
I know exactly how Mr. McGregor felt.
But this morning as I watched them I think I found myself smiling? I guess it really is all in your perspective.
The humor on this piece and your creative imagery reminded me of my mother and her love of Erma Bombeck. Well done! I am grateful for these Slice of Live Tuesdays. My morning included sitting outside with a strong cup of Jo, listening to nature, and reading good, solid writing.
ReplyDeleteI consider this a BIG compliment. Thank-you!
DeleteSo beautifully written. A joy to read. I may be 3000 miles away, but I feel your heart in everything you write. 😘
ReplyDeleteThank-you!
DeleteMorna - I know squirrels can be quite the pests, stealing birdseed and other antics, but yesterday, I too, watched a baby squirrel on a tree branch lay down and rest twitch his glorious tail like a fan. During the colonial days of NYC, children kept squirrels as pets. My city students were always amazed at that fact!
ReplyDeleteWow! I did not know this!
DeleteIt truly is all in the perspective. You remind me of the morning we were about to leave our hotel in Amarillo to go see Cadillac Ranch. I'd spied some prairie dogs playing in their intricate underground tunnels in the side yard below and enjoyed watching them pop up in one spot and then another, and run around. Squirrels are rodents, and prairie dogs are probably rodents, too, or something of the sort, but I loved them more than the Cadillacs.
ReplyDeleteAgreed!
Delete