Foraging and Critter Updates

When we were up at the cottage last month, so many creatures were preparing for the upcoming winter by foraging, storing and filling up on munchies in order to weather the cold. We've been leaving bird seed for our feathered friends and whomever else might want to indulge.

One by one, chipmunks have been gathering to take part it their cheek-filling. We counted seven of them in one gathering.

This little guy was chowing down on a grasshopper.

Cute little critter, isn't he?

This little red squirrel was busy biting off cedar fronds, heavy with seeds.

He kept at it for hours over the course of a few days and nearly emptied the tree before our very eyes. He was really quick too.

We kept hearing the thump, thump, thump of seed clusters hitting the canvas canopy of the camper trailer below. Every now and then he'd take a break and either munch on a few seeds, or scamper down the tree, select one seed-laden frond and run off with it in his mouth. Eventually he'd return to his work and the thump, thump, thumping would continue.

Updates:

• Speaking red squirrels, Roxy (introduced here) has been released near Theresa's home and is doing well. She returns regularly for feedings and cuddles.

• And you might also remember Bubbles and Binky, the two raccoons who shared the summer with us up at the cottage. Binky was also released near Theresa's home last winter and she returns for meals and occasional cuddles and belly rubs.

• Bubbles was released up at the cottage last summer. We continued feeding her until the cottage was closed up for the winter when she was left to fend for herself. She's been around a few times this year. I was looking out the living room window, one evening. The sliding glass is just about a foot above deck level, and looking right back at me was a beautiful, young raccoon with a healthy, full coat. We were nose to nose with just a screen between us and she stayed right there, looking quite intently into my eyes. I talked to her for a bit and then she moved on. We're not supposed to be feeding the raccoons this year because of a bear which was spotted in the area, so I refrained. But I was pretty sure it was Bubbles. A week or so later, Theresa confirmed that it was her. She visited again, one night and Theresa coaxed her over. She was shy at first but before too long, she was up on her lap accepting cuddles - a full year after her release. What a relief to know she was doing well - a bit thin, but quite strong and with a beautiful coat, and every bit as sweet and gentle as ever.

And as has been the case for all of the cottage posts, so far, I'll end with a sunset.

This beautiful light show changed colours before our very eyes. I love the window of red in this one.

Another view of the gorgeous, purple sky.

To Win the Sky

"The tree is more than first a seed, then a stem, then a living trunk, and then dead timber. The tree is a slow, enduring force straining to win the sky." ~ Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

"Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings when the dawn is still dark.” ~ Rabindranath Tagore




"A squirrel is just a rat with a cuter outfit." ~ Sarah Jessica Parker




"I don't ask for the meaning of the song of a bird or the rising of the sun on a misty morning. There they are, and they are beautiful."
~ Pete Hamill




"No bird soars too high, if he soars with his own wings."
~ William Blake




“Be as a bird perched on a frail branch that she feels bending beneath her, still she sings away all the same, knowing she has wings.” ~ Victor Hugo




“Criticism, like rain, should be gentle enough to nourish a man's growth without destroying his roots.” ~ Frank A. Clark




"Even a blind squirrel finds an acorn sometimes." ~ Proverb




"I once had a sparrow alight upon my shoulder for a moment, while I was hoeing in a village garden, and I felt that I was more distinguished by that circumstance that I should have been by any epaulet I could have worn."
~Henry David Thoreau




"The sky broke like an egg into full sunset and the water caught fire."
~ Pamela Hansford Johnson

The Colour Purple

"I think it pisses God off if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don't notice it."
~ Alice Walker

As a bit of a break from winter images, I've decided to revisit the spectrum and select another colour. This time it's purple. Please remember to click on each of the images to enlarge them.



Grape Hyacinths grow along the fence by the pathway to the park.





A collection of small tea candle holders which sit on a low chest in my living room - some of which are purple.



Tiny, purple summertime flowers which grow in Frank's back yard.





Tiny springtime raccoon kits which grew in my attic the year before last. They were placed in this purple tub upon rescue. This is not to be confused with the little ones who were born under my deck last year. If you've never read the story of my "home invasion" it can be found here.




Lovely thistles look so beautiful in summer.




Clematis during a rain storm.





A partly purple tea cup which sits on my kitchen shelf.




Irises bloom for a few weeks during early summer.




Lilacs have an even shorter stay in May.





And shorter still are the majestic colours of a sunset.

More photos coming up soon.