Well, Tim will not have Fred’s paws be empty for long!
Are you still having the deer come to feed near your front porch? Are has Fred made his territory clear?
Fred now has his own drawer full of nuts in the kitchen, right where Tim can grab them easily. Yup, Fred owns our yard, at least as far a the squirrels are concerned. The deer come by every couple of days, and one in particular waits for an apple from Tim. She’s so pretty.
Ha! Fred has his own drawer and Tim’s flirting with apples too.
Our home seems to be getting more and more zoocentric…
And that is a wonderful thing! I’m so glad that you found this place to live, Barbara.
Today, we woke to another icky dreary looking morning, but the sun came out and brightened the day. I opened the doors and cross windows to freshen up my home. Did some floor cleaning and major decluttering while I cleaned the kitchen. A cardinal visited the front and my squirrel Junior gathered more acorns to take to his den. One more nice day tomorrow, then back to the winter drabs for another month.
Sounds like a lovely spring day (in January!), complete with open windows and a good dose of spring cleaning. What a refreshing change of pace for you, and a break from winter’s monotony and cabin fever. 🙂 And the wildlife mirrored your mood. I love those kind of days and am so happy you got a chance to enjoy one!
Hello, Fred, with the pretty bushy tail!
I’ve got a caption for ya, seen one similar recently:
“Excuse me, Mr. Tim, but the birdies wanted me to let you know the feeders are empty again.” 🙂
Oh Barbara, what a great picture Tim has taken … what a cutie Fred is and so photogenic. So Tim, is this photo of Fred in honor of “Squirrel Appreciation Day” celebrated every January 21st?
We had no idea, Linda! Maybe next year we will post something for “Squirrel Appreciation Day” on purpose! 😉 Interestingly, the day’s creator, Christy Hargrove, is a wildlife rehabilitator from North Carolina. And the gray squirrel is NC’s state mammal.
Yes, it’s a perpetual day so yes, you have to post something on Fred’s behalf. 🙂 That is interesting that the day’s creator hails from your state – did you know the gray squirrel is NC’s state mammal before reading about this fun “day”? That will be a fun tidbit for your post next year!
I did know about the squirrel being the state mammal from last fall when I was doing research for one of my first squirrel posts. Squirrels sure seem to have taken the place of gulls in my daily life. 🙂 It’s getting warmer now, today it will be in the 60s, above normal. Maybe 70s by Friday.
I am envious for your weather Barbara – another soggy, foggy day and there are tons of accidents from icy patches from the recent brutal cold – I am going to try and catch up here in Reader this morning before I start work. Our state animal used to be the wolverine, but they are scarce now, so it is now the white-tailed deer. The American Robin is our state bird. I think you’re right … Fred is a good subject, plus you see the gray squirrels in your woodsy walks.
It was was 63°F when I woke up this morning, but the humidity is creeping up, too, with a dew point of 61°F. And it’s supposed to rain off and on all day, so it’s soggy and foggy here, too. But there is a Carolina wren singing sweetly in the early dawn light out there as I write this. So pretty and cheerful! The northern cardinal is our NC state bird, as it is for six other states, too. Connecticut shares the American robin with you.
How cheerful to brighten your morning with soggy and foggy weather. We have another day of soggy and foggy weather. I went out and tried to move some ice in the driveway this morning but resorted to more ice melt which, when I looked outside just before sundown may have finally done the trick. We have fog Saturday morning and snow Sunday, so I have a very small window of opportunity to get to the Park.
Last night on the news they said that 63°F was a record high low temperature for that day. Wow! We should be in the 70s this afternoon but returning to more normal January highs in the 50s next week. And an abnormal cold snap is predicted for late February. Each day is a surprise and an adjustment in expectations. I don’t envy you dealing with that ice, but I hope you find a way to get to the park as soon as possible.
The weather is so full of twists and turns, ups and downs like a roller coaster these days. Well I used a whole jug of Driveway Heat Thursday on the driveway alone and the ice is gone, but so is everyone else’s, likely the result of the rain – we got at least one inch of rain and it has rained today. Many flooded basements reported in our City’s Facebook forum and they are saying a lot of flooding in streets near Council Point Park neighborhoods, so I’ll walk and turn back if necessary – hopefully I can get there though. Things never used to require heavy thoughts beforehand.
It’s so true, Linda. It seems like you have to carefully consider so many different factors, before you dare to venture out your front door.
Yes, for sure … the massive flooding that occurred in the nearby blocks near Council Point Park had me go on foot this morning. I figured I would just go down the first street that got me there without going thru water. Turns out, the streets were not flooded – three drains broke and sewage water came up thru the basement drains. How awful! I got to the Park thank goodness – we are having a wintry mix tonight so tomorrow would not have worked. There was some ice on the trail, but it was soft. I think every squirrel at the Park came to visit me. I took a bag of whole walnuts. I had bought three bags at Amazon in the Fall, used one for the Christmas shoot. I thought we might have another rough weather spell, so I will keep the last bag. A few of them buried the walnuts or the peanuts … probably figured I might not make it back for weeks again.
Thank you for sending me that article Barbara – it was very interesting and yes, like article says, I sure can remember my first polar vortex because that was the Winter I lost my entire butterfly garden, even the three butterfly bushes which were supposed to be fine to plant in this hardiness zone. And, I lost every perennial as well. I have to figure there will be some flowers/bushes lost over this prolonged cold spell we had, although we were told in Spring 2014 by various experts that some of the problems stemmed from drought-like conditions so the roots were not moist enough to get through the Winter and got dried out/freezer burn. We’ve had a lot of rain (5 inches in January) so should be okay this Winter.
The squirrels were happy – it made me feel better when they came over, but when I got to the Park, no squirrels were in the pavilion area – guess they gave up on me, but a few minutes later, one “walnut roll” to one squirrel and the rest showed up. 🙂 They do love those walnuts as you know from Fred. Today we had a wintry mix most of the day – it was slippery when I went out to run the car and no walk.
I remember you describing how devastating those planting losses were to you because of that polar vortex. With climate change it makes it impossible to know just what to plant. Are there any plants that can withstand extreme heat AND extreme cold??? I’m so happy to hear you reconnected with your squirrel friends! 🙂 It feels good to give them the walnuts which are so nutritious for them. Hang in there, this winter will pass and hopefully you will have a nice spring to enjoy soon. We’ll see what the groundhogs have to say about that!
Yes, that is always in the back of my mind Barbara. My roses rallied back after being brown and lifeless after the polar vortex. I cut them almost to the ground, same as the holly to make it easier for the handyman – both came back. I am torn between the suggestion of the arbor vitae and just annuals in baskets around the yard versus perennials, but then worrying about their outcome after severe weather, not to mention all the work involved. The squirrels were as happy to see me as I was to see them. With the snow and wintry mix coming in early Tuesday, it will mean another day, maybe two without a walk. We are having sun on Friday, Groundhog Day, so he will likely see his shadow – six more weeks of Winter.
Aww, sweet Fred. He’s becoming quite a part of the family it seems. <3
Thank you, Robin! We think he stores some of his nuts in the soil under the front porch. And he thinks he owns us because he chases other squirrels away from our doors. 🙂
Now there’s a cute little guy! Good catch, Barbara … and fitting for Silent Sunday.
Thank you, Frank! Tim is getting very good at catching this guy on camera. 🙂
He likes to pose!
Yes, he loves all the attention! 🙂
Well-fed Fred! 😉
Well said, Eliza! 😉
He’s posing for his portrait, isn’t he?! I hope you rewarded him with a treat — Monk says the model always should be paid by the photographer!
Tell Monk not to worry, Fred’s job pays very well and comes with an enviable employee benefits package. 😉
Fred looks like he is praying for walnuts!
He’s letting us know his little paws are empty! 🙂
Well, Tim will not have Fred’s paws be empty for long!
Are you still having the deer come to feed near your front porch? Are has Fred made his territory clear?
Fred now has his own drawer full of nuts in the kitchen, right where Tim can grab them easily. Yup, Fred owns our yard, at least as far a the squirrels are concerned. The deer come by every couple of days, and one in particular waits for an apple from Tim. She’s so pretty.
Ha! Fred has his own drawer and Tim’s flirting with apples too.
Our home seems to be getting more and more zoocentric…
And that is a wonderful thing! I’m so glad that you found this place to live, Barbara.
Today, we woke to another icky dreary looking morning, but the sun came out and brightened the day. I opened the doors and cross windows to freshen up my home. Did some floor cleaning and major decluttering while I cleaned the kitchen. A cardinal visited the front and my squirrel Junior gathered more acorns to take to his den. One more nice day tomorrow, then back to the winter drabs for another month.
Sounds like a lovely spring day (in January!), complete with open windows and a good dose of spring cleaning. What a refreshing change of pace for you, and a break from winter’s monotony and cabin fever. 🙂 And the wildlife mirrored your mood. I love those kind of days and am so happy you got a chance to enjoy one!
Hello, Fred, with the pretty bushy tail!
I’ve got a caption for ya, seen one similar recently:
“Excuse me, Mr. Tim, but the birdies wanted me to let you know the feeders are empty again.” 🙂
Thanks, Donna! I love it!!! 🙃 🐿️ ❤️ 🤣
Oh Barbara, what a great picture Tim has taken … what a cutie Fred is and so photogenic. So Tim, is this photo of Fred in honor of “Squirrel Appreciation Day” celebrated every January 21st?
We had no idea, Linda! Maybe next year we will post something for “Squirrel Appreciation Day” on purpose! 😉 Interestingly, the day’s creator, Christy Hargrove, is a wildlife rehabilitator from North Carolina. And the gray squirrel is NC’s state mammal.
Yes, it’s a perpetual day so yes, you have to post something on Fred’s behalf. 🙂 That is interesting that the day’s creator hails from your state – did you know the gray squirrel is NC’s state mammal before reading about this fun “day”? That will be a fun tidbit for your post next year!
I did know about the squirrel being the state mammal from last fall when I was doing research for one of my first squirrel posts. Squirrels sure seem to have taken the place of gulls in my daily life. 🙂 It’s getting warmer now, today it will be in the 60s, above normal. Maybe 70s by Friday.
I am envious for your weather Barbara – another soggy, foggy day and there are tons of accidents from icy patches from the recent brutal cold – I am going to try and catch up here in Reader this morning before I start work. Our state animal used to be the wolverine, but they are scarce now, so it is now the white-tailed deer. The American Robin is our state bird. I think you’re right … Fred is a good subject, plus you see the gray squirrels in your woodsy walks.
It was was 63°F when I woke up this morning, but the humidity is creeping up, too, with a dew point of 61°F. And it’s supposed to rain off and on all day, so it’s soggy and foggy here, too. But there is a Carolina wren singing sweetly in the early dawn light out there as I write this. So pretty and cheerful! The northern cardinal is our NC state bird, as it is for six other states, too. Connecticut shares the American robin with you.
How cheerful to brighten your morning with soggy and foggy weather. We have another day of soggy and foggy weather. I went out and tried to move some ice in the driveway this morning but resorted to more ice melt which, when I looked outside just before sundown may have finally done the trick. We have fog Saturday morning and snow Sunday, so I have a very small window of opportunity to get to the Park.
Last night on the news they said that 63°F was a record high low temperature for that day. Wow! We should be in the 70s this afternoon but returning to more normal January highs in the 50s next week. And an abnormal cold snap is predicted for late February. Each day is a surprise and an adjustment in expectations. I don’t envy you dealing with that ice, but I hope you find a way to get to the park as soon as possible.
The weather is so full of twists and turns, ups and downs like a roller coaster these days. Well I used a whole jug of Driveway Heat Thursday on the driveway alone and the ice is gone, but so is everyone else’s, likely the result of the rain – we got at least one inch of rain and it has rained today. Many flooded basements reported in our City’s Facebook forum and they are saying a lot of flooding in streets near Council Point Park neighborhoods, so I’ll walk and turn back if necessary – hopefully I can get there though. Things never used to require heavy thoughts beforehand.
It’s so true, Linda. It seems like you have to carefully consider so many different factors, before you dare to venture out your front door.
Yes, for sure … the massive flooding that occurred in the nearby blocks near Council Point Park had me go on foot this morning. I figured I would just go down the first street that got me there without going thru water. Turns out, the streets were not flooded – three drains broke and sewage water came up thru the basement drains. How awful! I got to the Park thank goodness – we are having a wintry mix tonight so tomorrow would not have worked. There was some ice on the trail, but it was soft. I think every squirrel at the Park came to visit me. I took a bag of whole walnuts. I had bought three bags at Amazon in the Fall, used one for the Christmas shoot. I thought we might have another rough weather spell, so I will keep the last bag. A few of them buried the walnuts or the peanuts … probably figured I might not make it back for weeks again.
Have you ever heard of the winter severity index, Linda? (I hadn’t.) I found an article you might find interesting here: https://www.mlive.com/weather/2022/09/detroits-worst-winters-ranked-and-why.html
I can imagine how thrilled the squirrels were when you finally showed up with a bag of whole walnuts! 🙂
Thank you for sending me that article Barbara – it was very interesting and yes, like article says, I sure can remember my first polar vortex because that was the Winter I lost my entire butterfly garden, even the three butterfly bushes which were supposed to be fine to plant in this hardiness zone. And, I lost every perennial as well. I have to figure there will be some flowers/bushes lost over this prolonged cold spell we had, although we were told in Spring 2014 by various experts that some of the problems stemmed from drought-like conditions so the roots were not moist enough to get through the Winter and got dried out/freezer burn. We’ve had a lot of rain (5 inches in January) so should be okay this Winter.
The squirrels were happy – it made me feel better when they came over, but when I got to the Park, no squirrels were in the pavilion area – guess they gave up on me, but a few minutes later, one “walnut roll” to one squirrel and the rest showed up. 🙂 They do love those walnuts as you know from Fred. Today we had a wintry mix most of the day – it was slippery when I went out to run the car and no walk.
I remember you describing how devastating those planting losses were to you because of that polar vortex. With climate change it makes it impossible to know just what to plant. Are there any plants that can withstand extreme heat AND extreme cold??? I’m so happy to hear you reconnected with your squirrel friends! 🙂 It feels good to give them the walnuts which are so nutritious for them. Hang in there, this winter will pass and hopefully you will have a nice spring to enjoy soon. We’ll see what the groundhogs have to say about that!
Yes, that is always in the back of my mind Barbara. My roses rallied back after being brown and lifeless after the polar vortex. I cut them almost to the ground, same as the holly to make it easier for the handyman – both came back. I am torn between the suggestion of the arbor vitae and just annuals in baskets around the yard versus perennials, but then worrying about their outcome after severe weather, not to mention all the work involved. The squirrels were as happy to see me as I was to see them. With the snow and wintry mix coming in early Tuesday, it will mean another day, maybe two without a walk. We are having sun on Friday, Groundhog Day, so he will likely see his shadow – six more weeks of Winter.
Aww, sweet Fred. He’s becoming quite a part of the family it seems. <3
Definitely part of the family. The grandchildren look for him when they come over and feed him walnuts and hazelnuts, too. ❤️
Hello, Fred! That’s a wonderful portrait. He doesn’t look like winter has been too hard on him. He must have a good stash of food somewhere. 🙂
Thank you, Robin! We think he stores some of his nuts in the soil under the front porch. And he thinks he owns us because he chases other squirrels away from our doors. 🙂
That is a perfect squirrel photo. None better.
Thank you much, Ally!
Aw, an adorable catch!
Thank you, Karma!