Sunday, July 14, 2013

Chipmunkey Business

THE CHIPMUNK

My friends all know that I am shy,
But the chipmunk is twice as shy as I.
He moves with flickering indecision
Like stripes across the television.
He's like the shadow of a cloud,
Or Emily Dickinson read aloud.
Yet his ultimate purpose is obvious, very:
To get back to his chipmonastery.

Ogden Nash

Birds, squirrels and chipmunks never go hungry around Frank's place. The chippers are especially bold and all of them make their way onto the deck for munchies. One of them hops right onto the table to help him or herself to the peanuts that we bring out out in a cup to toss around the yard. They're such quick and clever little critters. I'll let this one talk for him or herself.

chipper please
Hey! Where can a guy find some peanuts around here?




Chipper nom
Hmmm, some evidence of their existence.




chipper competition jay
That darn blue jay always finds them before I do.




chipper dukes
Hey you! Get away from my stash!





Chipper OMG
OMG! I have hit the jackpot!





chipper nom nom nom
Oh joy. Oh bliss! Oh nom nom nom.




chipper stuff3
I'll bet you think this is much too big for my little mouth, don't you? Just watch me.




chipper stuff2
A little tuck here.





chipper stuff
A little tuck there.





chipper tuck3
Here a tuck.




chipper tuck
There a tuck.




chipper tuck4
Efmmmpphrymmhere a chumpk murphk.





chipper balanced
What? I'm just enjoying a balanced diet

Chipmunks are among the cutest creatures on the planet. You couldn't deny that, could you?

Here's a quick video showing some of that peanut-tucking. I'm sorry for the shaky image. I found it difficult to keep the little cutie in focus. It was only about a foot in front of me.


Chipper video


More photos coming up sometime soon.

57 comments:

Sueann said...

Love these pics!
Hugs
SueAnn

joeh said...

My Favorites!

Was that Chip or Dale?

ADRIAN said...

Brilliant shots and story line.

Frank Baron said...

The greedy little beggars have actually been kind of quiet this week. I suspect there's some birthin' going on. :)

A Cuban In London said...

These are probably some of my favourite photos by you. I loved them all. They all convey candour and love. Many thanks.

Greetings from London.

Kerri Farley said...

WOW....these are Magnificent!

The Furry Gnome said...

They're cute until they get inside your house!

Brian Miller said...

ha. so cute...wow how big do those cheeks get...fun..i love to watch them...so cute...love you dialogue as well...

DJan said...

Now I know the origin of the term "chipmunk cheeks." They really are adorable! Thanks for the video and the commentary. Such fun! :-)

TexWisGirl said...

OMG, i enjoyed this so much! one critter we don't see here! LOVED the video of him stuffing those cheeks!!! adorable!!!

Red said...

Great story and photos. Chipmunks are pretty interesting critters as they are such performers. You caught the performing part of this guy.

Lisa Gordon said...

Hilary, hie is just adorable!
I so love the photos of him on the cup. Too sweet.
Happy Sunday to you!

Anvilcloud said...

Three nuts in that tiny mouth? Holy cow!

Anonymous said...

LOVE the video. What a handsome little piggie stuffing all of that in his mouth at once. HA!

Tabor said...

Why is I have a softness in my heart for chipmunks (had one as a pet as a child) but not so much the squirrels? That fellow in the movie needs to be careful or he may need a Heimlich maneuver.

Phyllis E said...

OMG, Cuzzie. I'm on "cute overload" with that video. What a greedy little chipper! Now 'fess up. I'll bet you were having trouble focussing on your visitor because you were laughing at his/her antics.

June said...

What a cutie! ...and he isn't greedy, he's efficient.

Linda at To Behold The Beauty said...

The photographs are excellent, as always; and the video is just too cute. I can't believe how they can stuff so much into their mouths. It's a good thing God didn't give me stretchy cheeks like that. I'd overeat more than I already do.

stephen Hayes said...

Such cute animals, and your close-ups are remarkable. I also enjoyed the poem, not having heard it before.

yaya said...

That was really a sweet video! We don't get many chipmunks around here do the cat..but you're right, they are adorable and I'm guessing that's why Disney made them into stars! Cool, crisp shots!

messymimi said...

Well, i hope whoever buys Frank's place when you both move will feed them too -- they've gotten used to it!

Mimi said...

Love the Nom, nom nom!!
Fabulous images Hilary, your love for these little creatures comes through in your pics.
Thanks for the video, I can't believe how quickly he munched those nuts, which we wouldn't have seen with the photos.

Jackie said...

We don't have chipmunks here...and looking at these photos just made me smile and smile.
You are an excellent photographer...and I love each of these photos (chipmunk and bird.)
You bring life to "life" through your art...and you have a gift with that camera.
Hugs,
Jackie

Hilary said...

That is amazing...that little pig.

Rita said...

Yes! I absolutely adore chipmunks!!! Thanks for the video! I haven't seen a little muncher pack its pouches full for years. I would have been giggling as I was filming, for sure. They always make me laugh! :)

Nancy said...

This was so much fun to read....love those cheeks all full....

ellen abbott said...

I loved this! two in the pouch, one in the mouth. that's the only downside to living in south central Texas...no chipmunks.

Kerry said...

Oh how funny!! Such a cute little rascal. I can't believe how much he can stuff in that mouth. It would be like us stuffing a big butternut squash in our mouth.

sharon said...

haha little cutie!!..I wish I had one

Joanna Jenkins said...

I found myself humming the Alvin and the Chipmunks song while I read this post :-)
xo jj

Anonymous said...

Oh goodness -these photos are just adorable!

Glad you got your blog back!

Shammickite said...

Chippies are certainly appealing little creatures. There were quite a few of them in my back yard last summer and they got quite bold, but I haven`t seen any of them this year. Moved on to bug the people next door I expect! Great pictures, and loved the video.... never mind the shakes!

Sandi McBride said...

We feed everything here at Hissy Fit Acres, too...I even take the outer cabbage leaves out to the wood edge to feed the rabbits...we put out pecans for the Ravens and luckily the oak trees feed the squirrels and Ravens, too...great shots!
hugs
Sandi

Bone said...

This is one of the cutest things I've ever seen! Amazing. Thank you for capturing this and sharing it.

Daryl said...

that little guy with the BIG mouth is hilarious .. well captured ...

Leah J. Utas said...

Wow. Go Chippers!

Indrani said...

So cute to see it stuffing its mouth. Great captures.

Slamdunk said...

Fun stuff Hilary. There is an ice cream shop near us with big windows that overlook a wooded area. In this area, they put various feeders and then attract all sorts of wildlife. The kids are amazed at how much they enjoy this entertainment even though it does not involve tv or the Internet.

I hope your summer is going well.

Hena Tayeb said...

omg he is the cutest thing.

Anonymous said...

He is adorable!!!!! We don't have those here, so thank you so much for sharing its cuteness with us!

Crabby McSlacker said...

Totally adorable! Can't believe how crisp and close the shots are. You could specialize in chipmunk portraiture! Though I'm not sure there's a lot of $$ in that unless they have a LOT of nuts stashed somewhere...

Deanna said...

Oh you made my day...what great photos and that video is priceless!!

OmaLindasOldeBaggsandStuftShirts said...

We don't get to see chipmunks very often here.....this was so cute and fun. Thanks for sharing joy and a smile this morning. Oma Linda

photowannabe said...

Absolutely love that video of the stuffing peanuts.
I didn't think he could do that.
Love the close up on the coffee mug too.

Anita said...

Great pictures! I love looking at the tiniest of detail.

Fascinating, too; especially the video.

The whole post made me smile and laugh.

Dan said...

Chippy is a charming little rascal with ample storage room.

Thanks for sharing the experience!

Suldog said...

As always, magnificent detail. Cute little buggers, aren't they?

Bob Bushell said...

you have found the most friendly Chipmunk ever. And also, photo friendly. Well done Hilary.

Kat said...

Oh my! Those cute little stinkers!
When we were up north this past weekend I snapped a pic of a small red squirrel in the tree. It screamed at us all throughout our bonfire. It was so sassy!

Great shots!

Elizabeth Grimes said...

LOL!!! I love these pictures! They really made me smile. :)

Along These Lines ... said...

So cute, until that get in your attic.

Tammie Lee said...

your photos are wonderful Hilary. such fun little critters to watch. amazing how much food they can tuck in their little cheeks ;-)

Kelly H-Y said...

Oh my goodness ... the process of him shoving that peanut in his mouth is priceless! You captured it all so perfectly! I also love the shots of him holding the peanut, while sitting on the cup ... it's like he's having a little peanut with a cup of coffee. Precious photos!

Betty Manousos said...

oh my! hilary wow!!

terrific shots of the squirrel!
sharp, beautiful, simply amazing!!
i always enjoy watching squirrels... they always make me laugh.

happy weekend my dearest!



missed you!

Leave It To Davis said...

How did I miss this post? I have never seen an actual chipmunk before. He is just the cutest thing on the face of the earth! And he can stuff more food into his mouth than I can! Amazing!

Pauline said...

Cute little beggar! Loved the captions.

Linda said...

So so cute! And the video shows how greedy he is.