My boss was at a meeting this morning, so it provided the perfect opportunity to meander a little more than usual, like I do on weekends. The wind was blowing like crazy, the prelude to what will be another rainy weekend … and beyond. At least it won’t be a total soaker – just a few thunderstorms and intermittent rain over the weekend, but all the way through Tuesday.
I decided to bring treats for my furry friends at the Park since I may not show up at the regular “feeding time” for a few days – this morning’s treat was “Nutter Butter” cookies. You may know the full-sized sandwich cookies by their peanut shape and the smooth peanut butter which holds them together. Well, the last time I went grocery shopping, Meijer had a huge display of all types of bite-sized treats in plastic to-go cups, so I decided to get “Nutter Butter Bites” for the squirrels.
My long-time followers will remember last year when I introduced peanut M&Ms to Parker, my favorite squirrel at Council Point Park. Sure, he was dubious as to whether those candy-coated morsels were edible, or something just to push around with the tip of his nose. You can see his impressions and my photos in last year’s post: https://lindaschaubblog.net/2017/07/20/just-for-kicks/
I do aim to please my furry pals, as well as see if I can eke out a photo opportunity, however, I took back-up peanuts just in case these peanut butter cookies didn’t hold any appeal.
I tossed out a few Nutter Butter Bites to Parker who pounced on them immediately.
How about a few more treats?
He sat holding each one in his front paws, nibbling with dainty bites, much like a small child would eat a cookie.
Parker enjoyed one cookie by prying it apart and licking out the peanut butter (sometimes the preferred way to enjoy an Oreo.)
My furry friend finished both of them, then came begging for more.
I tossed out a few more, then some of his friends, no doubt detecting the scent of peanut butter in the wind, showed up and surrounded me as well.
I was happy to accommodate.
I went along on my walk with a cup of cookies in each pocket, tossing them to my furry pals along the way. I took my time on my trek, returning a second and third time on the same loop, to make sure I had everyone covered. No need to pull out a single peanut from my Ziploc package. I used up all my cookies so I decided it was time to head home.
I left Council Point Park with a warm-and-fuzzy feeling, and arrived home with 5 ½ miles walked, but, while having coffee and a snack afterward, I turned on the radio and heard the news … it quickly put a tarnish on my sunny disposition.
Linda Schaub
WALKIN', WRITIN', WIT & WHIMSY 
So very cute! You are the Pied Piper of Squirrels! Parker on your shoe is spectacular! 🙂
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I like that one too Tom. I had a similar picture in the Winter of him climbing on my boot and put it in my photo gallery, but I think I’ll swap it for this one. He has such a sad look, like “pay attention – I need some more treats!” When he opened up that cookie and licked the inside, I was laughing. My mom and I put out bread spread with peanut butter for our backyard squirrels in the Winter years ago. It was bitter cold and we thought they’d like a treat. We had this mental picture of them enjoying their sandwiches, until I went out the next day and they had licked the peanut butter off, and threw the bread in the garden. But the cookies I believe are oatmeal, so the whole treat was appealing. 🙂
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Once i told our two parrots that i was giving the outdoor birds some of their leftover food. One of them said, “That’s good!” 🙂
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That’s funny – they are very smart! I share these stories you tell me with my friend Ann Marie who has the African Grey. When I had my canary, Buddy, he was not very big on treat seeds. The canary before loved his five-part mixture we’d make up – five different types of treat seeds mixed together and got a small dish daily. I was always trying different treats for Buddy, grasses and alfalfa that I ordered from a woman who raised Gouldian Finches in California – he wouldn’t touch them. Fresh fruits and veggies – nope. I used to tell him that the poor birds outside would not turn their noses up at those fine treats. I gave them to Marge to feed the Goldfinches – they loved them. Buddy … well, he loved bagels and we’d split one every day for lunch. Toasted and I had to cover it with my hand for 10-15 minutes til it cooled down, otherwise he’d attack it as he loved bagels or toast so much. Still miss my little guy.
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How funny are they ! You have them under A peanut better spell
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I think I do! I was tempted to grab a few myself as they smelled so good. 🙂
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These school shootings have to end. The NRA are like cold Nazis.
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It is indeed a sad day, and as I listened to first account, they didn’t know the amount of dead or injured, and I struggled to recall how many died in Parkland, Florida (later I heard 17 but sadly, already those stats are “old news”), but did you know this is the 22nd school shooting this year – that’s terrible.
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Parker is so cute! I love the picture of him on your shoe… cheeky little fellow. The news this morning shocked all of us. Senseless and far too common.
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He does have a lot of personality Janis and he is bold and brazen as you say. It was a terrible thing to hear, so soon after the Parkland tragedy.
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Miss Linda………………………………..I enjoyed knowing that your squirrels liked licking the peanut butter from the cookies…………………….and I enjoyed remembering last summer when you put out those M&M candies and how cute that squirrel looked discovering his new treats
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I am glad you liked that story and pictures … I know that some people eat their Oreos like that – do you? I just eat them the regular way … unless they fall apart. Yes, that was fun and it was fun last year when I did the M&Ms … they were not as excited about the M&Ms as they were these little cookies. That will be their treat once a month to give them some variety. Variety is the spice of life for critters too I think. 🙂
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Oh my! I think I would freak a bit if a squirrel was on my shoe!
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That’s about as far as I let him go AJ, just on the toe of my shoe or boot … others feed them by hand, but I don’t like doing that … he won’t jump up as long as you feed him, or if you move on.
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That’s good you have limits!
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Oh yes – they are cutie pies sometimes but still a wild animal and I worry about rabies. Sometimes they get impatient when I am taking a photo or talking to someone – it is all about them sometimes, kind of like with kids. I say that statement even though I’ve never had kids. 🙂
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Everyone has experienced that kid though!
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I want some Nutter Butters 😦
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They sure are lip smackin’ aren’t they?
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So cute!! Squirrels here just don’t go up to people. Were you able to give all of the cookies away without eating any for yourself?
5 1/2 miles, that’s quite impressive! 🙂
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Thanks! That one squirrel in particular, Parker, is a real cutie. He will beg incessantly, even running to the parking lot, which I have to walk through to get to the start of the trail, just for a peanut. I was able to give all those Nutter Butter Bites away and not eat any, but they smelled delicious. Thanks Michelle – I have to make up for lost time as I’ve lost many walking days due to all the rain, including today. Today we had a soaking, storm-filled day … at least four torrential rains and four thunderstorms. Unbelievable weather but it seems it is like that in so many places. My friend Evelyn returned to Richmond, VA after a few days’ vacation in North Carolina – they had flooding as bad as you had last week. The Preakness had a horribly sloppy race again. I hope this is not the tone we’ll set for Summer.
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The rain has been unbelievable, but I think I’d rather have all this rain than have a drought. I also prefer it to winter weather and lots of snow. 🙂
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I agree Michelle – I have never been a fan of Winter weather, and since I began working from home eight years ago, I am less inclined to go out in bad weather except to shovel the snow. I walked less in the Winter this year as we had more snow than usual and a lot of ice … a blogger I follow lives in Northern Michigan and fell on some black ice walking to her mailbox in January.
She had surgery and multiple pins put in her hand and was in physical therapy for months, and still not back to normal, all from a little tumble.
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That’s a shame!
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I’m surprised Parker hasn’t followed you home, yet. 😉
How do you get away? Or, does he only venture so far from his nest?
I’m inclined to watch the daily news, too,
but, for sure, it’s a love/hate relationship.
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Uncle Tree – in late Fall, before you started following this blog, for a time, Parker actually lived on a street I walk down every day to get to Council Point Park. He would wait for me every day, then I’d feed him, and often he’d follow me to the Park and walk at my heels.
Sometimes, when I drove to the Park, he’d wait in the parking lot by my car after my walk. I think he lives at the Park full time now (thankfully as I don’t want him to get hurt or killed hanging around the parking lot.)
I cannot believe that it was raining earlier this morning. We had several rounds of torrential rain and storms all day Saturday. The Park will be soaking wet and I think I’ll just walk on the main street and go to our city’s Memorial Day parade … I sure hope this spate of rain is over soon. We have two more rainy days to get through yet – Monday and Tuesday.
I sometimes hate to turn on the news – another horrific daily event … if it is not a natural disaster, it is more deaths lost from senseless killing sprees or some other type of violence.
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True that. Sometimes, I swear, I’m a glutton
for punishment, as much as I am an optimist,
who has high hopes for humanity in the long run.
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Sometimes I get fed up with humanity and try to be a glass half-full person … often I come up short Uncle Tree. I spent the afternoon at the Memorial Day parade. Much noise and merriment during the parade which didn’t get to my viewing area until almost 2:00 p.m. Went to the memorial service – many there and a respectful crowd listened to “Taps” (always a tearjerker in my opinion), gun salute and prayers … sad.
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That pic of him on your sneaker? A prize-winner!!
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Thanks Ellie – I really liked that photo too. I had one from the Winter with him on the top of my boot begging for peanuts, but this photo he has the most-plaintive look on his face … “Please?!”
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now your going to need to take him to the Dentist
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I think that is true Wayne – he gobbled them up, and, as you saw, he came running over for some more. Our weather is incredible hot today – yesterday was rainy and stormy, today is like a August day.
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