It’s been forever and a day since I devoted an entire blog post to my favorite Park munchkin, a/k/a Parker. A week ago Saturday, I drove to the Park, pulled into my usual spot and as soon as I opened the car door, Parker ran over to see me. I know he recognizes my car, plus I always park in the same spot, far away from the beginning of the trail to add more steps to that day’s trek.
For you newer followers, Parker has been in my world and the subject of many blog posts the past four years. I named this cute Fox squirrel Parker for a couple of reasons. He is fond of parking his furry butt on the toe tip of my walking shoes –not all the time, just when he is trying to get my attention if I am speaking to somebody, or he thinks I’m ignoring him. Parker is like a mischievous toddler who thinks the world revolves around them. I’m not complaining about Parker’s antics though because I indulge my furry friend every chance I get.
Parker’s moniker is also because I’ve returned from walking on the perimeter path only to find my peanut pal’s stubby body parked next to the driver’s side of the car to ensure I don’t miss him before I depart for good. Sometimes this is after I’ve given him peanuts on the path.
I was happy to see Parker and take these pictures to add to my “Just a Girl and her Squirrel” collection. While I often go to larger parks on a Saturday morning, a severe weather threat kept me close to home on that day. My new weather radio woke me out of a sound sleep at 4:00 a.m. because of a flood watch warning. The series of screechy tones, then a robo voice informed me that a flood watch would go into effect later in the day and torrential downpours were expected by early afternoon.
I already knew about the heavy rain and believed I could be home before it started, but, since I’m a weather worrier, I scratched my plans and Council Point Park became the destination instead. We did get two inches of rain in about 12 hours’ time.
I’ll just wait for you by the car door, okay?
Good thing Parker is so short, or I’d have swung open the car door and clipped the side of his head! I opened the door to get out and there he was, creeping under the door toward me! I said “hold that pose Parker!” and I grabbed the camera.
“Hi there sweetie” I crooned at him. “Come over and see what Linda has for you.”
While he waited patiently, I reached over and dug into my Ziploc bag of peanuts and scattered some at his feet – he was happy and I didn’t even get out of my seat to take these photos.
This little squirrel had better watch out – one day I’m going to scoop him up and carry him home. Penelope Squirrel, his main squeeze, (seen below when the pair went to bury some of the peanuts), may have something to say about that though. 🙂
Linda Schaub
WALKIN', WRITIN', WIT & WHIMSY 
Hello Parker
It has been so long since I’ve seen you…. it’s good to see you again.
Hope you have a great day and get to see Linda again soon.
E
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Hi Ellie – I’m glad you missed me. Linda told me you are taking lots of pictures of swans and geese but no squirrels. I am sorry you don’t have any squirrels near you – you don’t know what you are missing! Parker (and Penelope)
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At least I get to see you. Occasionally I see some grey relatives of yours but they are all so shy. As soon as I come near they dart away as fast as they possibly can. Although one cousin of yours once came really near! It was fun to talk to him.
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Ellie – I am sorry you don’t see Fox squirrels like me because those grey and black relatives of mine are small, skittish and usually scared of humans. Linda tries getting them to eat peanuts, but they wait until she leaves before taking them. I’m glad one squirrel came near you – were you carrying a peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich on you by chance, or just talking nice to it?
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I was talking nicely to it but my niece was scared of it so I had to leave squirry alone and take her to safety…
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There are adults on the path that are afraid of squirrels – afraid that squirrels will jump on them, so your niece is not alone in her worries. (You’re a night owl Ellie!)
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I know I am 😦
I need to get to sleep! Been rambling about nothing to people.
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I am wrong to talk about getting sleep … I packed it in much earlier last night and need to continue that because staying up to 11:00 or 12:00 midnight is just not for me and it’s not healthy either.
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I hope tonight you get sleep. Been thinking about you. Sending hugs. Early I know.
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I have been going to bed earlier this week – when I was 26 like you are Ellie, I could stay up late and get up the next morning and go to school or work, no problem. 🙂
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I can’t:(
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Maybe when things get back to normal with your job Ellie … this pandemic has thrown everything off … the “new normal” is disconcerting and scary and there is no one on this earth who will tell me they are not afraid for what lies down the road because I would say they are lying.
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Aww … Thanks Linda, you just made my day! Best regards to Parker 😉
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Glad to make your day Jeanine. I have not had as many squirrel posts this Summer as I usually do. I blamed this on Council Point Park being shut down the month of May. So I was happy to see my favorite furry friend (and his friend as well).
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We saw the fox on our way to school today; right in the middle of the city. Once again, a Kodak moment missed …
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I hate when that happens Jeanine. I’m trying to get a picture of this hummingbird at my house. I go outside and I’ve got keys in my hand or holding onto something and it on zips by. Now I could stand there with the camera handy and zero happens. We had a coyote running around our city a few years ago. I was walking in the neighborhood and I looked up to see a big coyote trotting by. It turned out there was a pair of coyotes and a pup living in the Park in the bushes and he was having a morning stroll.
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We live right in the middle of Berlin, yet the fox sometimes comes into our yard, there are squirrels & racoons and all sorts … As of this year we have a stunning little cuckoo. It is so pretty, it looks like out of a picture book. This city is an odd place.
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Oh that is odd and in a residential area on top of it. Here, when we have a wild animal, like we’ve had quite a few coyotes in the neighborhood and at Council Point Park, it is generally because they are tearing down their natural habitats and where can they go? Their homes and food sources are gone – so they stray to the neighborhoods. As to the cuckoo – how cute is that because I can’t say I’ve ever seen a picture of a cuckoo, just the bird that pops out of those famous Black Forest cuckoo clocks. My father was German – we had one years ago and it hung on the wall and in the middle of the night, either improper fastening to the wall, or cheap walls, caused that clock to slide down the wall and crash onto the floor. It had too much damage to be repaired.
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Ha ha, a cuckoo clock, it doesn’t get more kitsch than that! To be honest, I don’t know a single German person who actually has one. I only ever saw them overseas ;
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That is funny – I traveled to Germany in 1969 with my father – my mother stayed home and my grandmother spent the Summer with us as my grandfather had passed away … when we left my father asked if she or my grandmother wanted anything and my mother said a cuckoo clock and my grandmother wanted a beer stein. 🙂 We returned in 1979, this time with my mom, but did not bring back anything but a cow bell to hang on my car mirror that I got in Bavaria. Last year for the 50th anniversary of Woodstock I did a blog post … I really didn’t remember much about the original Woodstock as we were in Germany … I included a few pictures. I always liked this big cow in the Alps pic: https://lindaschaubblog.net/2019/08/16/reflecting-on-woodstock-50-years-later/
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So good to see him again. I love that he comes right up to you. I have never known a squirrel to do that. What a wonderful way to start a day at the park.
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It’s been ages since I’ve had enough photos for a post just about Parker and this was a first, not even waiting for me to get out of the car. He usually hits me up for peanuts more at the end of the walk, not before. It did make my day Sandra because I was still a little mad about the projected bad weather ruining my plans so I stayed local as I’m a weather worrier.
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Animals know weather also, he probably knew something was coming and wanted to get his snack first and head for home.
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Yes, I think they have a sixth sense about bad weather too. He is resourceful that little critter. 🙂
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A sweet squirrel couple!
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Yes, they are really cute together Kate. Penelope didn’t come over to the car – she’s a bit skittish. He took peanuts, gave her one and they went off to bury them a few minutes later.
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Adorable!
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Thank you Sarah – he sure is a cutie pie and knows it. 🙂 I admit that I do spoil him silly, especially for the holidays. This is Parker with a Valentine’s Day cookie: https://lindaschaubblog.net/2020/02/14/its-valentines-day/
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I love that Valentines photo! So cute!
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I thought you would like it Sarah … luck was with me that day that he held the red sugar part toward me and took his sweet time eating it.
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Oh aren’t they the cutest things!!!
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They sure are – those Park squirrels have appeared in more of my blog posts than any other critters there through the years. 🙂
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Miss Linda………………………….I enjoyed your little story on Mr. Parker tonight……………………………..I look forward to hearing about him…………………………….your photos of him are adorable!
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He sure is a cutie isn’t he Ann Marie? He surprised me by running over before I even got out of the car! I was lucky to just grab the camera from the pouch on my fanny pack and get some peanuts from the bag which was also handy … I think he and his pal/mate would have been content to stay there all morning!
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I enjoyed the Parker Post. He is really winsome, and you captured him in lovely shots.
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Thanks Anne – Parker came zipping right over to the car out of nowhere … I had not seen him as I pulled into the parking lot just one minute before, so that always makes me smile that he knows the car just as much as recognizing me.
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That is amazing.
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Yes – made me smile Anne.
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Nice to see Parker after a long absence……I thought he might be on vacation….with Penelope of course….maybe a honeymoon?
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Joni – I had not seen as many of my short furry peanut pals this Summer since the Park opened up again on June 2nd. One of the other walkers who feeds them suggested they are foraging for berries or nuts, even soft pinecones … I worried about hawks though as I see them flying around overhead. So, I was happy to see Parker and his main squeeze. Maybe they had a vacation to a new hood for a honeymoon or a break from the kids?
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I wonder if we will have an early fall, as I see my “digger” friend is back, digging up the flower bed. Last year I thought it was the mole/vole but now I don’t know?
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Hopefully it is just the squirrels putting their Winter stash in your garden and not the mole/vole – they’re a lot cuter anyway. They’ve never buried peanuts so early before, so given the wacky weather we’ve had the last few years, and being a weather worrier, I think the worst … look at last year. We had a light snowfall before the porch pumpkins were out in the trash!
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Parker is so darn smart. It’s crazy how he knows you! I bet it’s scary when you pull away. I would be so afraid he would run under the car.
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It is amazing how he runs over like that isn’t it Diane. Yes, I do worry and after one time a few years ago when I got to the car at the end of the walk and had no more peanuts and he showed up, I was worried how to get out of there without running him over. I decided I would have to walk home (one mile away) and get some peanuts as I figured he would not leave. Luckily, after about 20 minutes, another person came along so I asked them to distract Parker by chasing him from the car so I could pull out of the lot and go home and not run him over. I wish he wouldn’t do that, but after that incident I always have extra peanuts on me when I leave the Park so I can feed him but distract him away from the car. 🙂
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Parker looks like he was very glad to see you, Linda. No wonder Penelope is worried! Parker seems as though he is practically tame. He doesn’t look wary at all. What a smart little guy!
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Yes, he really surprised me Laurie. I never saw him when I pulled up and parked and he appeared out of nowhere. He is not wary in the least and I have wondered through the years if he lived in a neighborhood and had a homeowner that fed him and maybe they moved or stopped. He has always been friendlier than the other Fox squirrels.
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Parker knows you bring him yummy treats!! It’s amazing that he recognizes your car and spot. I wonder if his sense of smell guides him. Parker, sending you peanut hugs from the west coast!!
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This time I believe Parker recognized the car, maybe saw me driving, but in full disclosure I do park in the same spot every time. But he didn’t smell peanuts first as he usually does on the trail as they were still in the car – he arrived before I opened them – he is a character.
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A lovely tale for the Just a Girl and her Squirrel series. I’m positive your story would be of interest to scientists studying the Pavlovian conditioning in squirrels. With an exceptional emotional component of the kindness extended by a human who delivers takeout. 😉 Great photos too!
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I am smiling Shelley. Glad you liked the photos. Yes, for a while I had so many Parker visits, I could have sustained a blog just about Parker and me … he has a furry love interest now so I am left holding the peanut bag, but I am good for that anyway. 🙂 You are right – he is smart, recognizes the car and there’s no way he could have recognized just me through the windshield window, as neither were there when I pulled into the lot. Smart little guy. How easy to just sit and take pictures – little to no effort on that hot morning.
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Yay, I’m glad you’re smiling! Animals make for great blogworthy moments, keep ’em coming!
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Glad you liked this Shelley – yep, lots more animals down the pipeline. 🙂 P.S. – Parker is in a class all his own though.
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Hi Linda, Very sweet post! I’m glad you’re getting out and connecting with Parker
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Thank you Mary. In the past, I usually had many more Parker posts – he is really a personable little guy. The Park changed a little since it was closed down for the pandemic the entire month of May. I didn’t see him or the other squirrels for the longest time and part of my enjoyment of walking in this Park is the squirrels that beg nonstop on the walking path. It is slowly returning to normal again. I take the squirrels treat near the holidays and take pictures. I had some fun on Valentine’s Day this year and Parker enjoyed his heart-shaped cookie: https://lindaschaubblog.net/2020/02/14/its-valentines-day/
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Thanks for the link. He sounds like a sweet little guy!
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Glad you liked it Mary – yes, he is as sweet as that cookie he is munching on!
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I suspect you would have to take Penelope too. 🙂
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I suspect you are right Ruth – she made sure she didn’t stray far from him and eyeing me all the time (Tammy Wynette style). 🙂
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HaHa! Maybe Loretta Lynn – “You Ain’t Woman Enough” LOL!
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Ha ha – well that made me LOL Ruth. The look on Penelope’s face was funny!
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