AN EMOTIONAL DAY

MY LITTLE PAL

Our furry little overnight house guest slept quietly all night beside my living room recliner where I slept all night quietly as well.  Of course, it is my living room recliner where I sleep every night.  Safely in his large plastic container, the little guy was awake about 7:30 and right at his birdseed breakfast I had fixed up for him.  Water included.  Figured I'd take Pheebs for a Jeep ride first and then upon our return I'd take the little squirrel out to our front yard where I found him yesterday and re-introduce him to his true environment and his squirrel family.

BEFORE LEAVING THE PARK THIS MORNING I SAW SOME NICE COLORS AT A RESIDENT'S HOUSE

 ONCE OUT OF OUR PARK, IT WAS GREAT TO SEE BLUE SKIES AND WHITE FLUFFY CLOUDS

 FOREST FLOORS ARE BEGINNING TO FILL IN WITH NEW GROWTH AND COLOR

WILD DAFFODILS AT THE FOREST'S EDGE

Back from our Jeep ride and with four adult black squirrels in the front yard I right away carried the little fellow out in his plastic container.  I slowly tipped it and leaned the container against our bird station pole.  From there I quickly retreated back inside our sunroom, and with Kelly, we frettingly watched over the little guy hoping one of those squirrels might take a motherly interest in him.  But, none did.  The other squirrels were curious of course but that was it.  I was glad to see the little fella venture out foraging for food.  Twice, other squirrels made a sudden movement towards him but the little guy stood his ground and in one case jumped back at the bigger squirrel, scaring it away.

 HE WAS A LITTLE BIT HESITANT ABOUT LEAVING HIS OVERNIGHT COZY HOUSE AT FIRST

 VENTURING FORTH

 I WAS GLAD TO SEE HE TOOK TO EATING RIGHT AWAY

SEVERAL ADULT SQUIRRELS APPROACHED AND HE RETREATED TO HIS SECURITY BLANKET

 BUT IT WASN'T LONG BEFORE HE SIZED THE ADULTS UP AND CAME OUT TO SAY HELLO

 THE ADULT SQUIRRELS WERE MORE AFRAID OF THE LITTLE SQUIRREL THAN HE WAS OF THEM

 HE PUT TWO OF THE ADULTS ON THE RUN

 IT WASN'T LONG BEFORE HE WAS VENTURING FURTHER AFIELD

 KELLY AND I WITH FINGERS CROSSED ANXIOUSLY WATCHED FROM OUR SUNROOM LIKE A COUPLE OF NERVOUS PARENTS 

At one point I ventured out to sprinkle more birdseed on the ground near where he was.  Upon seeing me coming he scampered up to me, over my shoe, and ran up the outside of my pantleg, over my shirt, and perched on my shoulder.  I had a hard time convincing him I was not his Mama.  Eventually, I gently got a hold of him and despite him hanging tenaciously to me, managed to set him on the ground again then quickly stepped away before he jumped on me to give me another big hug.  

THE LITTLE FELLA WAS CLINGING TO ME FOR ALL HE WAS WORTH

It was about this point where I began to become disheartened knowing the only friends this little fella had was Kelly and I.  We both kept checking on him throughout the afternoon and noticed as he moved around he was staying pretty close to our sunroom and front deck area.  I would take birdseed out for him and every time I did he would want to follow me back into the house.  I finally realized this was not a good thing to do because the little squirrel had bonded with me and of course as I always do, I had bonded with him.  And it was after this realization that my heart began breaking into a million pieces.  I have a genuine soft spot in my heart for little animals (I get this from my Mother) and to see this little squirrel rejected by its own kind brought tears to my eyes over and over today.  The little guy had no warm nest to go home to.  As long-time readers may remember, I get very emotional about animals.

 RESTING ON A STUMP SOAKING UP SOME WARM AFTERMPPM SUNSHINE IN FRONT OF OUR SUNROOM

 I MADE SURE HE HAD LOTS TO EAT

With the day's temperatures dropping and the sun well down in the west casting our front yard into cold shadows I decided to go back out into the front yard and thought if I see the little guy sitting there I would bring him back into the house for the night and then try again tomorrow.  But, he was nowhere to be found and I had very mixed feelings about that.  I was hoping I would see him and I was hoping I wouldn't.  If I didn't see him I had the option to think that maybe he had found shelter, maybe it's nest, maybe it's Mother.  We left the plastic container with the towel inside tipped on its side with birdseed and water near our sunroom and deck just in case the little fella needed a place to get into out of the night air.  I couldn't eat supper, I had no appetite.  I made a check of the yard at 7:30 and 8:30 but there was no sign of him.   In my mind here is what I'm hoping happens.  In the coming days and weeks when there is half a dozen or so squirrels in our yard, I walk outside and five of those squirrels run away from me, but one doesn't and it comes to me.  It is then that I will know my little buddy made it after all.  And, if that does happen, you can be sure I will let you all know:)))))))     

MY LITTLE PAL

Al's Music Box:)) Alleghaney Moon is a popular song written by Al Hoffman and Dick Manning and published in 1956.  The song is best known in a 1956 recording by Patti Page. This recording was released by Mercury Records with the flip side The Strangest Romance. 

GROANER'S CORNER:((  A man awoke one evening to discover prowlers in his storage shed.  He immediately called 911, gave his address, to report the prowlers and possible burglary.   The operator at the other end said, "Are they in your house?"  He said they were not, only in his storage shed in back of the house.  The operator said there were no cars available at that time.  He thanked the operator, hung up the phone and counted to 30 and called again.  "I just called you about prowlers in my storage shed. Well you do not have to worry, as I just shot them all dead!"  Within seconds, there were 3 police cars, an ambulance and fire engine at the scene.  After capturing the prowlers red-handed, the policeman asked the caller, "I thought you said you had shot them all!"  The man answered, "I thought you said there were no police available!"

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- My friend bought a bus pass to a nude beach.  It turned out to be a ticket to no wear.

Q. Why are married women heavier than single women?

A. Single women come home, see what's in the fridge, and go to bed. Married women come home, see what's in bed, and go to the fridge.

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- I really need to find hobbies that do not include my credit card!!

After the church service a little boy told the pastor, "When I grow up, I'm going to give you some money."  "Well, thank you," the pastor replied, "but why?"  "Because my daddy says you're one of the poorest preachers we've ever had."

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