… and American Heart Month too.
I figured it was the perfect opportunity for another installment of “A Girl and Her Squirrel” – oh, I know I have inundated you with more posts than usual lately, and some were really long, with lots of words and pictures. So, since brevity is the soul of wit, it’s time to let the photos (and Parker) do the talking.
These pictures were taken on February 3rd after my walk. Parker was a real sweetie and I was lucky that he seized the opportunity to grab one of these big, heart-shaped cookies I took to the Park, hoping to get a cute shot or two of him or the others.
I placed some cookies on the picnic table near the inspirational graffiti, then sweetened the pot by scattering a few peanuts around as well. There was a large dog running around the Park that morning and all the squirrels had scurried up the trees, so I left a big pile of peanuts on the picnic table where they could access them after I was gone.
Parker was fearless and the only squirrel to discover the cache of treats, as you’ll see below:
Wow are they big!”
‘cuz all these goodies are just for me, me, me!”
so I’ll be especially photogenic.”
Linda’s a pushover when it comes to me.”
so I’m not telling the other squirrels because ya snooze, ya lose!”
I buried the rest of my cookie and went back for peanuts.”
Not everyone is a cookie monster. I left a few heart-shaped cookies for the “house squirrels” and they were not interested in the least (while I was there anyway, because the next morning they were all gone).
Happy Valentine’s Day to you and those who make you smile!
Linda Schaub
WALKIN', WRITIN', WIT & WHIMSY 
A perfect photo with Parker holding the cookie. How sweet he is, 🙂 I love how they bury everything, I watch them do that all summer. I find corn cobs and walnuts everywhere. I picked the black walnuts off the ground at a park and brought them home, the plan was to bury them to see if they would grow. The squirrels buried them for me. But of coarse nothing grew from them.
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He is a cutie isn’t he Sandra? I have about 20 pictures of him and the house squirrels checking out the cookies. I never know how lucky I’ll get as to getting a picture of him up close eating something festive … sometimes they just ignore apples or pumpkins or even Nutter Butters in favor of peanuts, but this time it worked out … I had to smile when I saw the header picture on the screen (and what are the chances he would have the red sugar side toward me?) Glad to give you a smile.
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I know, that is the perfect photo for Valentines day. And the cookie is right side up. That should have been a cover on a magazine.
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Thank you Sandra – Parker would be a star then. 🙂
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Parker is a darling. Loved the photos! The ones of Parker are precious, and I liked the cookies in the fence, too. Great going!
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Thanks Anne – happy to provide a little smile on Valentine’s Day and he wasn’t even eating chocolate. I probably won’t see any squirrels this morning as it is just 4 degrees. They are likely tucked in their nests to keep warm.
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Did you walk when it was 4 degrees? We’ve walked at zero, but temps don’t go that low very often.
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Well, I heard the weather report while getting dressed to go out and he said it was then 5 degrees and the wind chill was in double digits below zero! It was very cold, but the sun was out and didn’t seem that bad as I was really layered up. But the walking was not so great. They’ve been clearing the perimeter path well, but did not yesterday as we only had one inch of snow (supposed to be 3-6 inches, but not complaining). That snow and a little freezing precip messed things up on the path, even the parking lot. I walked just one loop and that was on the snowy grass … only two walkers. Hit up the squirrels and took the car for a little ride instead.
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Parker is a delight, isn’t he? Those little paws holding that cookie are cute. Wonder how much more energetic he was after eating all that sugar.
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He sure is a delight Ally. I was lucky to get this shot where he posed before taking off to eat it. I’ll bet he had a sugar high all day. He tried to bury the last 1/3 of it, but the ground was too frozen. We have 4 degrees right now – I’m going to try and walk, but I may be the only one walking or begging for peanuts at the Park.
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Parker is a very funny squirrel 🐿. 😂😂😂 He’s so adorable 😍. And I love the captions you gave his pictures, I felt Parker was really making a conversation with me😅
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Yes he is, full of personality. I often feature him in my posts. Hereis a post from last year for Sweetest Day. They do not have Sweetest Day in all states in the U.S., nor in other countries. It is kind of like Valentine’s Day. Have another smile Vincent:
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😃I will check it out now
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In my ‘hood, the cookies would get snatched by the raccoons or possums before the squirrels. That may be because the squirrels have so much other food.
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I was not happy to find out we had a big rat raccoon hanging around in the backyard, I’ll tell you that. I feed the “house squirrels” before I leave on my walk, and the peanuts are often gone by the time I take the car out of the garage and unhook the trickle charger, etc. – it goes fast. Then I get pleading looks if I don’t get away fast enough or when I come home … they do make me smile. This morning I had the pair of cardinals swoop down for peanuts – wish I had the camera handy but it was 5 above and double digits below zero wind chill. I had the camera, but decided to leave it inside my zippered pocket, but they were so pretty.
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A very obliging squirrel!
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Yes, he usually poses for peanuts nicely, but how lucky was this Margy?
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Always cute! 🙂 HaPPy VaLeNTiNeS DaY! ❤
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Thanks Keith – oh to be that little and cute again. Glad it gave you a smile! ♥
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Great photos and great captions! Parker is so willing to try anything, I think he should host his own food show on the food network!
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Thanks Joni – I thought I’d make this a fun post since he did such a cute pose that I was lucky enough to capture. Yes, they could kick their show up a notch by featuring Chef Parker. 🙂
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HA! Yes, Chef Parker – you should blog about his new gig!
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He probably would cook better than me!
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These are the best pictures ever- the sugar cookies turned just right, the orange grey fur all brushed and sprite, and the eyes so shiny and bright, what more could one want for a great photo?
Parker is a pro at this now.The cuter he looks and the more he cooperates the more oohs and aahs he gets.
Happy Valentine’s day, Linda and Parker,
Susie
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Hi Susie –
(Sorry your comment went to SPAM and I didn’t see it last night before I left WP).
Glad to give you a smile. I was happy with Parker’s pose here … in fact, I thought it was great that he posed on the table with the cookie since most of the squirrels, including Parker, have grabbed a cookie from the table and just run off with it to eat it right away. They usually do that with other treats and peanuts too. In the Winter, they are more apt to just sit and eat it as no other food can be foraged from the frozen ground, so they stay put and eat their fill. I got my shot just before he jumped down to eat in peace. Notice how chubby he still is with his fat layer and thicker fur, courtesy of Mother Nature … give him a few months and more running around and they’ll be skinny again (and it’s not from giving up treats for Lent). 🙂
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What an adorable picture Linda!!!!!
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He is a cutie pie for sure Diane (I think he knows that too). 🙂
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Those pictures of Parker with his heart cookie are perfect! So cute!!! No wonder he has captured your heart.
Happy Valentine’s Day, Linda!
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Thanks Laurie – he is a sweetie isn’t he and that cookie held in his paws was the cutest shot I think I have gotten of him to date. I was looking forward to sharing it on my Valentine’s Day post.
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Happy Valentines Day Parker and Linda – y’all are the best! xo kim
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Thanks Kim and I was inspired by you to give the cookies to the squirrels after you remarked one of the treats a few weeks ago looked like it was heart-shaped. You put the bug in my ear, so glad you enjoyed it. ♥
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Miss Linda………………………..Happy be-lated Valentines Day to you!………………………..I love Mr Parker eating the valentine heart cookies!
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Thank you again for your Valentine’s Day card Ann Marie and I gave all the cookies to Parker and his pals and my “house squirrels” … I did not touch a bite of them. Wasn’t that nice of me? He sure was a cutie with that big heart-shaped cookie.
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Love these photos! I had no idea squirrels would eat cookies!
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Thanks Rebecca – they have a sweet tooth, but they will always finish off the peanuts first! I was lucky that he held the cookie with the red sugar on the side facing me.
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Aw – such a sweet post, Linda. Parker’s posed perfectly too! Happy belated Valentine’s day – your kindness always warms my heart!
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Thank you Shelley – back at you. I felt lucky to get this shot. I do think he posed just for me with a cookie which was about half his size. 🙂
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He’s smitten with you, that’s for sure ;-)!
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Oh what a lovely post on the girl and her squirrel. ❤❤ what better way to fill your heart with love than spending time with these beauties ❤
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Glad you enjoyed it Zena – I really felt lucky to get that top picture with the cookie up close and in his paws. You are right – filling my heart with Parker is always a little joy in my life when I am at the Park,
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Aww, Parker! You have to be the sweetest squirrel ever. I would have loved to have had you as my Valentines! 🙂 xxx
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I knew you would think he was sweet Heather … that little face. 🙂
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Oh that is so delightful Linida, and so good to see Parker enjoying the biscuits. I am thinking he is going to be very disappointed when he goes to dig up his biscuit. Poor Parker.
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He is a real cutie Tazzie. I am glad his mom taught him right and he didn’t just drop it there and run and grab another one! He finished it off pretty quickly considering it was so big. The squirrels have been trying to bury peanuts even though the ground was still frozen and they could not dig, but now the ground is snow-covered. We have had wacky weather – beautiful last Sunday and now snowing like crazy and this weekend very warm again! Glad to give you a smile.
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If you take away the snow and replace it with wind it is sounding quite like our crazy weather here in Tasmania.
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Does the wind worry you Tazzie? I worry when we have high winds due to all the old and big trees in the neighborhood. My neighbor’s pear tree split in two in 30 mph (62 kph) winds. Very scary.
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I actually quite like the wind. I have been concerned twice in the time I have lived here. My big dog Busby is very frightened of the wind. Climbing up on my lap. 41kgs. Poor baby. Oh how sad to have lost their pear tree good no one injured. I like you live with lots of trees about on all roads and my property.
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I have a friend who has a large dog (red tickhound) and it is scared to death of the wind especially when it comes down the chimney as it makes a whistling noise. He will cower in the corner every time there is high wind. The pear tree split in half and the shed in my backyard just fell apart and tumbled across the yard. I was happy it was not more severe damage – it was an old shed and I had nothing in that metal shed as there were spiders in there and I never stored anything in there, but it matched the house and I had just just repainted it and shored it up a year or two before. But, Tazzie – I am mindful it could have been much worse.
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Oh how sad to loose your shed regardless. And all the effort and love to paint it.
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I hope that does not happen again Tazzie – many years ago we had a derecho … not common to this area. The sky turned green and the wind was so strong, that the grass in every yard was blown straight back. It was just incredible to see.
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oh I have never heard the term derecho . Oh jingeys. I just googled that so terrifying. I can imagine how incredible it would have been to watch, not so to be in it I imagine.
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I was at work Tazzie and it was in downtown Detroit in a high-rise building. Luckily our office was just on the 11th floor, but the senior partner in our law firm had a corner office and it overlooked the Detroit River. The office had just been newly carpeted in ivory-colored carpeting. The attorney was on his boat sailing around (he took 6 weeks every year to sail around the Great Lakes). Lucky he was out. But he was a world traveler and had collected mementos from around the world through the years (he was about 70 years old). Anyway, he had these items on different multi-level glass bookcases on display. The derecho blew the windows out of the corner office – the mementos blew out the window and dirt, debris and glass soaked the carpet and made a horrible mess. His was the only office that was affected. In our City, the City had just planted a lot of saplings in the median between the two streets and the wind blew them all over – not uprooting them as they had been staked, but they were all leaning over. My mom said the sky was green. I was at my desk and didn’t see the sky … the accounts were terrible and I found this online which shows some pics of the “Green Storm” … very scary.
http://www.downriverthings.com/derecho-green-storm-of-1980.html
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oh wow. Storm damage so scary and this sound and looks horrendous.
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Tazzie – I am scared to death of having a tornado … in the last few years, we have had them as close as five miles away. They are not serious tornados, but tornadoes nonetheless. I hope we never have a derecho again either. Mother Nature is not being kind to us earthlings lately – there seem to be more natural disasters than usual.
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Oh gracious Linda I could never live anywhere there were Tornado’s. Just watching them on News and Youtube frightens me. I will be keeping you in my thoughts
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Thank you Tazzie – our tornado season is from late April/May through August. I’m no fan of those volatile thunderstorms either. It seems that growing up, we just had rain, maybe a thunderstorm, but not the volatile storms you find these days. I would like to revert to the weather of my youth – more predictable.
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I am not sure that I would like to go back to my youth..lol but I understand I could not live in areas of Australia with cyclones. BUt tornados I imagine most homes have cellars? I may just watch to much American TV
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No, tornadoes are bad, but they are on a scale as to how bad they can be … just like earthquakes on the Richter Scale. There were tornadoes about ten days ago and the tornado was very wide and just took down the town – the church had its roof blown off and the congregation gathered there anyway last Sunday to worship. I do not recall hearing much about cyclones, but was worries me Tazzie is that everything about our weather seems so volatile anymore … nothing is just ordinary, it has to be super-sized! P.S. – what you see on American TV is “the real deal”.
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I agree the weather is seemingly extreme. I feel that I am in a fairly safe area. We don’t have cyclones or tornadoes, earthquakes or in my location bad flooding. Even though I do live quite close to a river. So it is no where near as concerning for me as it is for You where you live, and I can promise you if it were me I would be equally scared. How sad about your town. I do hope there was no damage at your home and that no one lost his or her life. My philosophy is if is going to happen I can do as directed and hope I come out of it unscathed.
Can you get insurance against Torndoes for your home and contents? At least we can not blame USA for the weathers supersize!. Keep safe Linda.
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That is a good question about the tornado insurance Tazzie – I hate to sound dumb, but we (my parents/I) moved here, into this house, in 1966.
They picked the insurance and they are both gone now, but I live here still all these years, but I’ve never adjusted anything as to the insurance … so I don’t know. I am going to ask my insurance adjuster … he/Allstate Insurance just wrote me about the Coronavirus. I was gone from 9:00 a.m. until almost 4:00 p.m. in a few different parks and walking and an alpaca farm for upcoming posts today. I checked my e-mail and had about 15 e-mails from different entities that I follow and get e-mails from and that even includes the dentist, eye doctor, insurance company, even the dealership where I got my car – honestly … it is on the news all day long and very scary to be honest, so I am happy for working at home and not needing to mingle anymore than necessary. I hope you stay safe Tazzie.
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Here in Australia we are advised to check up on our insurances all the time to make sure that it meets the cost of full replacement and removal of all rubbish. Plus cost that go with doing all that such as legal fees plans, council. Infrustructure that we may own. (ie I own a power powel and had my power line from it to my home dug underground. As I am fully responsible for it if it came down in a storm or a tree. Where as the other side of my power pole is council and that electricity company and they are responsible.
I also assume that my 30 year house would need to have upgrades if it had to be rebuilt to meet current council and state and federal laws such as fire and insulation standards. Things I only found out about when a friend of a friend lost their home in the fires we had here in Jan1019. I did not mean to scare you. It is always great to be able to get away from all the stuff that we have to deal with. I look forward to seeing your post regarding your trip to the Aplpaca farm.
I am pretty isolated where I live my nearest neighbour is 50 meters away, and the others over 100. I was a nurse so have the hand washing down pat.
Wow that is a lot of emails
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No, I am grateful that you told me to do that … I feel dumb to have never thought of it before. I’ll wait a little bit to ask as everyone is abuzz over the Coronavirus and I don’t know if he is working from home, or would have access to my information – I would assume so. I have been working from home since 2011 but I have access to all computer files, there are files pertaining to client matters which that info is hard copy only, and not scanned into the client files. My boss has an attorney friend who is a totally paperless office. (Great, but you have a big natural disaster like we’re talking about and you’re in big trouble.) I’m a bit of a germaphobe anyway, so I am careful with the handwashing and not touching my face. We have had a Hepatitis A outbreak here in Michigan for about ten years now – not needle use, but from food handlers not washing their hands … unbelievable isn’t it, but it is so and we’ve had 32 deaths from that in recent years. You can get a two-part shot and that is $125.00 for each stage of the Hep A shot … so $250.00 altogether. I don’t go out to eat nor buy prepared food because of it and yes, I could get the shot, but just have not (‘cuz I’m cheap). 🙂 Just eat at home.
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wow that is pretty severe the hep A out break. I was a nurse and think most people are fairly ignorant about the diseases that are in our communities that can cause potentially far more issues/impacts than Covid-19. I say that in no derogatory way. It is a horrible situation I feel for all the families of people who have died or are critically ill. Starvation and war still kill more people everyday.
Malaria kills more people every year and it is growing than this virus probably will and their will be a vaccine for it potentially next year.
28 June 2019
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Every 2 minutes, a child dies of malaria. And each year, more than 200 million new cases of the disease are reported. Although countries have dramatically reduced the total number of malaria cases and deaths since 2000, progress in recent years has stalled. Worryingly, in some countries, malaria is on the rise. WHO https://www.who.int/news-room/facts-in-pictures/detail/malaria
Yet Malaria does not have the economic impact that Covid-19 will have. Impact that will go on well after the virus has moved on.
Chlyamidia for example which is rampant in Australia. Can cause infertility along with other issues. But there is no seemingly huge concern over this.
If there was no real financial impact mainly bought about by most western countries having manufacturing move off shore and big businesses with shareholders it would perhaps not be the crisis it has become.
Perhaps I am being cynical… sigh
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That is pretty scary – my boss went on a trip to South Africa and worried about getting malaria, although he did have pills. The Hep A I figured I could easily avoid, but I don’t buy anything liked baked goods or deli meats from a deli counter – nothing anyone handles and bread made outside of Michigan. I’m being so careful with Hep A, and always diligent re: germs for the flu and colds so this Coronavirus seems like a stepped-up set of germs to avoid … but the scary thing is you don’t know what to touch. I am grateful I work from home and don’t have anyone coming to the house – I live alone and no family. I hope not to venture out again for another 3-4 weeks when I get my monthly allergy shots again (hayfever, dust, pollen, mold). Stay safe Tazzie all the way across the world from me. 🙂
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I am not really too concerned about the virus living where I do. So far Tasmania only has 7 cases, and from Friday night the government is only allowing essential travel between us and the mainland. I too am on my own, and my mental health issues have stopped me having people come to my home. Oh I feel for you with the allergies. I have noticed my wattle trees which cause a little hayfever for me are flowering which is really crazy as they usually only flower in August-sept. It is full flowering not just the odd branch and all my trees. Your plans are sound for your well being. Yes important to minimise risks. It is going to be along flu season down here I feel. Keep well.
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Along with the shots I use an OTC allergy relief pill called “Alavert” – no side effects at all and it comes in 12-hour pills or 24-hour pills. It helps out as the shots don’t combat the sneezing 100 percent, especially once everything leafs out. You take care too Tazzi. Stay safe.
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great you have some thing that works for you. You too Linda.
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Thanks Tazzie – take good care.
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You too Linda
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❤
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Oh Linda, these are pure gold! You should make a happy calender or coffee table book or something 😉 Are you on Instagram at all? There is a photographer named Geert Weggen who takes squirrel photos to an insane level!
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Thanks Jeanine – glad you liked these photos. I felt really lucky that I got a good photo of Parker up close enjoying that cookie. 🙂 I do follow Geert Weggen on Facebook. I cannot believe how many photos he takes – a new one every day and yes on an insane level! I am on Instagram but I never post anything, but I di pop on there every so often as I follow “This Girl is a Squirrel” and the adventures of Jill the Squirrel. https://www.instagram.com/this_girl_is_a_squirrel/
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Thanks for the tip!
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You’re welcome!
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How cute. I love it. Thank you.
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You’re welcome – must have silly fun sometimes to get through this life. I am partial to this little squirrel. In my post this Friday, I mention that there are no more picnic tables – they have taken them somewhere – hopefully they come back. I like to leave food for the squirrels and birds on the picnic tables when I know I won’t be able to get there and feed them. I can’t do that now – I don’t want to leave it on the floor as the cement floor is wet, even though it’s under a roof. We have hawks in the Park who are on the prowl for the squirrels and songbirds.
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Your squirrels are so lucky!! The heart sugar cookies are too cute.
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I figured you’d like that, maybe the kids too. More than one way to a squirrel’s stomach and it is not always peanuts! Someone in the Park has been leaving sugary cereal for the birds and squirrels. I took some photos of some it with one squirrel feasting on it and will use it in an upcoming blog post. Two or three people asked me if it was safe to feed the squirrels sweets. If they saw Parker’s heart-shaped cookie, they’d think I was terrible. 🙂
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