I saw the Red Squirrel again today. He is back from his winters nap and looking for food. On the fence above him sits one of the pair of Cardinals. The male with his bright red feathers forming a perfect peak on his regal head is nervously surveying the deck for signs of danger as his mate, a taupe colored lady with an orange bill and black markings, comes in for a snack. Finally as if by rote the Robin appears who seems to be the dominant animal in my menagerie of pets.
The Robin and family have been cohabiting with us for over 15 years now. Jack & I have always taken care of them making sure that they have fresh water to bath in and food when needed. They have raised many generations in the shelter of our Ash & Cherry Trees and are always welcome. The Cardinals are a bit more aloof but never the less they are welcome as well as they add to the ambiance of our enchanted deck and make it all the more special.
As for the squirrel, he is rather new this last year but I think probably related to the very first squirrels that we befriended many years ago. When we moved in to our house we were fascinated by the wild life that came to visit. One of the most intriguing was the squirrel family. They came to visit and enchanted us with their friendly demeanor. They would line up to receive their treats and we would enjoy the show. We were soon however to discover that they were not the docile creatures that we had thought they where. One spring day when we had stopped the winter feeding of gourmet nuts and such, the lead squirrel decided that he wanted more and proceeded to eat his way through our screen door to get into the house. This was a definite signal that we needed to distance ourselves from the furry critters and we did for several years.
People have told me again and again that I should think about getting a dog, or a cat, or a bird, or something else. My answer is simply that I don't need the responsibility, nor do I have the time. But in fact the real answer is that I already have my pets and they require much less care if any at all. They are gifts from nature and more than satisfy my need for amusement. Can I hold them and pet them? No. But I don't enjoy petting animals anyway. I find it much more enjoyable to be able to watch them from my window while writing a manuscript or sipping a drink and on occasion I can still give them a treat.
So there you have it. I do have the best of all worlds I think. I love them all at a distance and you know what ? Actually the little Red Squirrel reminds me of Jack!
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