It's Getting Squirrelly Over Here

This vacation week is getting more and more interesting.  I had planned to work at the farm and participate in several things that seem to have fizzled.  Because there has been just enough rain to screw up work at the farm, I have been spending a lot more time at the house that I had anticipated. 

Now this isn’t all bad.  I’ve spent a lot of time tending my flowers and doing projects around the house that I can still do even if it rains.  However, this morning I realized perhaps I’m spending a little too much time at home.

Today I had a conversation with a squirrel in a tree.

I found the little bushy-tailed beast eating my newly planted flowers.  Or so I thought. 

I asked the dog to chase it out of the flowers but when she looked at me in complete disbelief I realized someone must have forgotten to tell her she’s a dog.  So I went out to do the job myself. 

As I approached the tree with distinct purpose, the squirrel ran up the tree.  I realized it had not been eating my flowers but only something that it had found nearby.  Still, I watched as it zoomed up the tree and stopped on one of the tippy-top branches looking down at me quizzically. 

I realized I should be a little nicer so I simply said, “Please don’t eat my flowers or my vegetables.” 

It cocked its head listening.

I continued, “You can live in my yard but please don’t eat anything I’ve put a lot of work into.”

It blinked, chattered, and flicked its ear. 

Satisfied that we had come to an understanding, I headed back to the deck and my book. 

Looking over the yard, I found Kodie standing guard under the tree while the squirrel chattered its gripes.

Great, I thought.  Now she’s ready to protect my flowers.

“Never mind,” I said in disgust.  “I’ve already handled it.”