It is a new month, so we’re flipping over to April’s nature calendar page. The venue is Phang Nga Bay, Thailand. What a great spot to sit and watch the world go by and I like the sentiment as well.
I think I am a keen observer, whether watching people or critters. The key is to look up, down and all around – I guarantee you will never be bored.
Most of the walks I blog about are filled with details and images seen along the paved path or trail. For today and tomorrow’s post, I did not have to drive many miles, nor take an extended trek because, like last week’s seagull mania, this blog fodder just fell into my lap.
Burying your peanuts is just so yesterday!
In 2022 we had a few cool Summer days which prompted the squirrels at the Park to begin anew their nut-gathering-and-burying ritual for the Winter months. The ratio was: eat a peanut, then bury a peanut.
Do you remember this commercial? I thought it was darn clever advertising.
But I digress ….
Since it is a near-everyday jaunt for me, barring inclement weather, I notice the goings-on, not only in the Park, but also in the ‘hood. Because the mechanic encouraged me to drive more, on clear Winter days I made that one-mile journey to and from the Park, then tootled along River Drive before I parked the buggy back in the garage. While Council Point Park’s parking lot is large, it is often strewn with broken glass, so I have been parking on a nearby side street. The first day I did so, a black squirrel peered at me warily from its perch in the tree on the opposite side of the street. Was it just curious about this stranger, or did I have the words “The Peanut Lady” emblazoned across my forehead? At the time, I reasoned that perhaps this squirrel used to live in the Park and was a recipient of a few peanuts, walnuts, Nutter Butters or endearments through the years.
Well, on that cold Winter’s day, that squirrel’s intense look prompted me to stop at the base of that tree. I left a few peanuts, then announced that “breakfast was served.” Since I couldn’t coax my furry friend down, I headed toward the Park and when I returned to my car, the peanuts were gone. I decided the peanuts were the toll I needed to park in this spot, a small price to pay to avoid glass in my tires (or later, seagull splats).
We had pretty good weather until late February when we were plagued with snow, ice storms, freezing rain and endless windy days. When I didn’t drive, I ensured I deposited peanuts at the tree, then called up to my pal (of course risking my credibility with the nearby homeowners). After a few days, I was greeted every morning by my furry friend, that I named “Licorice” waiting at the base of the tree. By the way, if you didn’t know, a squirrel’s brain is the size of a walnut … “feed me once and I’ll never forget your face.”
But sometimes, impatient that I had grabbed the camera before doling out peanuts, Licorice would scramble up the tree in disdain.
Winter wore on and sometimes, if I had peanuts left over, before driving home, I’d drop a couple more down. My heart melts at the thought of any and all of my furry and feathered friends cold AND hungry. And this little guy had mange on top of it, so he was missing patches of fur. Occasionally, another black squirrel showed up, but quickly left. Have they been warned “look Buster, those are MY peanuts – paws off?!”
Sometimes this silly squirrel parked itself in the middle of the street if I arrived later than usual. Note the begging stance and subtle glancing toward the tree. I suggested to Licorice that waiting in the street was foolhardy and “yes, I get that you’re only a foot tall, but I DO see you.”
Actually, I suspected it was a ploy, i.e. “if I stand in the middle of the street, Linda will run to the tree and leave nuts more quickly – she sure is pokey sometimes!”
One time, as I neared my car, I saw a black furry face peering out of a tall tree’s knot hole near the curb where I parked. I didn’t get that shot, but decided this was one savvy squirrel who scoped me out in the event of a “second drop” and yes, I was impressed.
However, the very next morning, as I made my usual “pause for the cause” I saw something new, indeed it was fodder for this story that begged to be told.
Hmm – was this squirrel squirrelly, or merely had a unique way of squirrelling away nuts?
As I glanced up at the knothole, camera in hand, I did not see a furry face, but instead saw a flash of red material. I kept zooming in …
… where I saw a puffy red cloth stuffed in the knothole. Was the Missus or kits (baby squirrels) tucked inside, or was this merely the cover to a receptacle used to store peanuts? You know no human climbed up there to stuff that knothole.
The next morning I noticed the red object was not stuffed in the knothole …
… but instead was neatly tucked away in a garden, behind a retaining wall.
Smart thinking my friend – it won’t blow away with those stiff March winds we have endured for weeks and now persist in April. The cloth remains there to this day and I have decided although my furry friend “squirrels away” its peanuts, the word “squirrelly” is definitely a misnomer.
P.S. – I originally intended to include three more “animal stories” in this post, but it would have been just too long. So this whimsical post stands alone and I’ll have a post tomorrow. I will continue to stick with my usual two posts a week, this week being an exception, especially due to an upcoming Easter Sunday post.
Linda Schaub
WALKIN', WRITIN', WIT & WHIMSY 
Quite a tale you spun about your new squirrel friend Licorice. You captured some veru nice photos. Perhaps you should write a Children’s story book abot Licorice. Children would love it.
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Thanks Peggy – I like treating the squirrels in the neighborhood and have one I see when I come out of the house every morning. I don’t want a hawk to see me feeding it, so I put the peanuts near a bush. That happened before to the group of squirrels I fed at the house and I felt horrible about them disappearing due to a hawk. Licorice is cute and pretty animated about his treats, so when I saw this peephole stuffed, then unstuffed, I knew it would be a fun story. I wish I could write a children’s book – it would be fun to write about Licorice and Parker. 🙂
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So beautiful nature April Month calendar.
“Live the life you’ve Dreamed”!
So lovely thought! I believe in thought.
All photography is excellent!
“if I stand in the middle of the street, Linda will run to the tree and leave nuts more quickly – she sure is pokey sometimes!”
Very nice written this. I like, Linda!
yes, I get that you’re only a foot tall, but I DO see you.
So interesting sharing three animals story. Iam so happy!
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This little squirrel is pretty cute Raj – it sees me drive up and sits there waiting for its treats. I had been watching these antics of Licorice, then saw the red fabric tucked in and knew I had a fun story to tell. I hope you like the three animal stories tomorrow – they are different than today’s story.
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Yes, I can enjoyed read it’s story. I like. Thanks, Linda!
I like much that’s lines …
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What a clever name, Licorice! Your roving reporter eyes find such interesting things. Can you imagine seeing the squirrel carry that red thing up the tree and then stuff it in the hole? Wow, that must’ve been quite the show. Weird that they would even do that. Animals can be quite quirky, that’s for sure. I love the quote and hope April is the month for you to do more sharing of how you’re living the life you dreamed of! 🥰🤗😁 (PS…I do remember that commercial too!!! 😂)
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Thank you Shelley – he is jet black so I thought it was a good name to call him. all black that is, except for the mange patches on his back and like your squirrel (and Parker) has a personality and after a few times feeding him, it became an assertive personality (“oh, you’re late and I was waiting patiently here for you”). That commercial was before 2011 because I’ve not watched TV since 2009 so it was awhile back – so cut and clever!
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You’re welcome. That’s a perfect name for Licorice. I noticed the mange patches too.
Yes – they can be quite assertive. Our little red squirrel seems to think he owns the deck now, he taunts the cats and me when I open the door to scare him. He’s like, “Are you sure you’re not just joking…the food is more important than you scaring me off and waiting to return when you go back inside.” I’m clearly not as clever as you are with putting words to squirrels thoughts! 🤣🤣🤣🤣
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That’s funny with your squirrel – they are pretty headstrong once they have a regular “feeding source” going on. I think I told you about Sammy who made the rounds to the neighbor across the street, Marge’s house and my house in search of food as he knew it arrived every morning from all of us. He would run in front of the guy’s ledge in front of his living room window and peek in like he was insulted if Jerry decided to stay inside that day. He was very assertive but we still fed him.
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Yes, they are! I do remember Sammy tales. Was that about the time we first started being blogging friends?
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No, I must have told you about Sammy over the years … this was quite a while ago as my mom and Marge were still alive and I was still working at the law firm before Robb/I left on our own. I remember as I took the bus, so had to fill the feeders, top off the birdbaths, before I left and Sammy was always “looming around” going to each of our three houses. I assume Sammy is long gone and probably his offspring are similarly begging around the ‘hood … I am the only one left now. I have a little black squirrel that I think is left from the group I fed that the hawk got (according to my neighbor).
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Oh, thanks for the reminders of when Sammy was part of your life. You’ve been blessed with so many squirrel adventure stories! 🥰🤗
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I hope no one gets sick of hearing about them. 🙂
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Keep on telling the tales – each one you tell is unique and clever!
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Thank you Shelley! Where there is a critter involved, there always seems to be a tail, er … tale. 🙂
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😁😎😉
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It was a very squirrelly story!
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I like to tell it like it is! 🙂
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You are definitely a keen observer, Linda. You (and your blog) remind me of one of my favorite Mary Oliver quotes – “Instructions for living a life: / Pay attention. / Be astonished. / Tell about it.” You do that so well.
Thanks for introducing us to Licorice. He is a cutie, even with mange.
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Thank you for the nice compliment Laurie. I like that quote a lot – I think in life we should always be curious and explore a little. Licorice is a cutie and went from shy and retreating to his tree until I left, then suddenly I had an assertive personality I was dealing with. I am sure a rumbling tummy has a lot to do with it too.
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at first I thought It might be a stray Hacky Sak the squirrel tried to get into its burrow? Good eye Linda!
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I had to Google Hacky Sak Wayne – ha ha. That would fill the knothole even better I am not sure what this red material is. I thought at first it was one of those potholders you buy just for the pot handle, but it is puffy. I got as close as I could to the front garden without trespassing when I spotted it in the garden, then a few days later I was talking to a woman who lives there, telling her the story. She was sitting on the porch with a little boy when I returned from walking. Stuffing the knothole with that material was really smart of that squirrel.
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I think that term is a trade mark name. Like saying Kleenex.
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I went and Googled it – that would be perfect to stuff in the hole … it appeared some fur or something soft was in that hole under the fabric. That made me think babies were in there.
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I would attach a 2X4 onto the tree with a trail camera and record the activity!
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Yes, that’s a good idea. He told me that he knows the cat is eating the food in the wooden shelter and storm drain because the bowl was not moved (and I saw that when I took the second set of photos). He said had it been a raccoon, the bowl would be tipped over or upside down.
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this post was not about a cat Linda,It was about the tree with the nest in it
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Well I forgot that Wayne – it was a rough day yesterday worrying about the tornado threat. Anyway, the trees for the squirrel were on two different homeowner’s lawns. One is on the City property and one is on their actual lawn, so I couldn’t trespass. Even when I put the suet holder onto the memorial tree, someone took the metal chain and threw the dish down.
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I can appreciate that Linda. Tornados do tend to ruin a otherwise great day!
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Yes, now we are having picture-perfect weather for days – go figure.
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That commercial is a hoot! I don’t think I ever saw it before. It’s nice to meet your new friend. I wonder what he was up to with that toy.
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I laughed every time it was on TV Ruth. It had to be a long time ago – the video says 2011, but I’ve not watched television since I cancelled my cable in 2010. I watch some programs online, but that’s it. That was very clever. Licorice is savvy and went from being timid and downright scared of me, to the bold little guy he is today. I wonder too – it’s hard to tell what it is. At first I thought it was one of those pot handle potholders, but it was too puffy. Maybe a dog or kitty toy that he has taken over?
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What an awesome commercial, someone sure had an imagination! Licorice is very cute and lucky to have you give him some treats. I too always worry about the wildlife when it’s very cold and I feel like it’s so difficult to find something to eat.
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I really liked that commercial when it was on TV – it aired a long time ago. The video says 2011, but I’ve not watched television since 2010 and it was before then. Glad you liked it. Licorice went from being shy and running up the tree until I left to parking himself boldly in the street or by the tree across the street. That house recently sold, so I hope the new owner is fine with me putting peanuts there – it is on City property, so I assume it is okay.
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You certainly have a way of growing my curiosity, Linda, about that “red thing”! I don’t know how protective squirrels are about their “stuff”, but I can tell you that Yorkie is very protective!! If I move one of her critters to do the cleaning or straightening, she reminds me that “stuff” is hers! Her critters all have names and she knows them by their given name. Sometimes she throws “rubber duck”out of her sleeping quarters. And sometimes she drags her mini pillows from the bedroom to the living room. Why? I have no idea…
Best to respect that “red thing” as owned by the black licorice squirrel.
I’m also curious about the owner or people who live in the house. It sounds like you have never seen or met them. Might they wonder what you are doing with delivery of peanuts on their property? Perhaps the people are playing games with you? My silly mind goes everywhere!!
Fun story and looking forward for tomorrow’s story lines. TD
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You’re right about animals are so eccentric with their toys sometimes TD. Years ago my aunt had a dog and it had a dishpan filled with toys. People would come to visit her and bring Patche a toy, usually a squeaky toy. He got to keep the squeaky toy for on day, then she took it out as the squeaking drove her crazy. So she would tell him what toy to get out of the dishpan and bring it to her and he’d pick through that pile and do just that. I had three dogs growing up and were not trained well and one never did get housebroken. This is one clever and cute squirrel.
The tree across from where I park and where I put peanuts was empty all Winter – the owner(s) moved out and I know the house sold but I don’t think they have moved in. The tree is on City property, but if I see the owner I’ll ask if it’s okay to feed him. At the tree with the knothole and red material, I was talking to the woman in the house last week and told her what I noticed. She had a little boy with her, but he might have been too young to notice my furry friend’s antics. Tomorrow’s three short stories are totally different from this one today … I’d have loved to include them but the post was already too long. I don’t often make short posts. 🙂
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Licorice has got your number dialed in!
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That’s for sure Eilene – he knows a sucker when he sees one!
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What lovely black squirrels. We don’t have those around here. They do seem to remember and appreciate your treats.
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They are very pretty Rebecca, sleek and shiny, but of the three types of squirrels we have (Fox, gray and black), they are the most timid of all of them. This guy warmed up to me (and the peanuts) and is really cute.
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Cute story and I like his name! What was the red cloth – a dish cloth? It was a good idea and good insulation whatever it was – for keeping the March winds out of his house hole! I do not remember the commercial but it was cute too.
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Glad you liked it Joni – I think this squirrel was/is pretty smart. I noticed something fuzzy under the red material in the picture that I zoomed in the most and that’s why I thought maybe babies were up there. I am not sure what this red cloth is, but it appears to be puffy so maybe a dog or cat toy that got out of the house, or part of a kid’s toy. There is a little boy lives there. I was talking to the homeowner who was sitting on the porch with her little boy a few days after I took my last shots last Monday or Tuesday. I pointed to the red cloth and she did not notice it or recognize it. That commercial was from a long time ago – the person who posted it said it was from 2011 but I know I saw it long before 2011 as I’ve not seen the TV since January 2010.
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This post is as busy as this cute squirrel, Linda! Fun pics, but… a black squirrel?? I’ve never seen the like. He sure has your number waiting for those peanuts! We will have to wait years for squirrels to nest in our newly planted trees. Probably better since Brodie the dog loves to chase them. Enjoy your spring walks!
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We are now overrun with black squirrels Terri – when I moved here in 1966, we only had Fox squirrels. The black squirrels are the same size as the gray squirrels and yes they are really cute! You will have to “import” some squirrels to your neighborhood when the trees are grown more and Brodie decides that is “puppy stuff”. 🙂
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You and Licorice seem to have developed a rapport. And the cost is just peanuts.
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Yes, I am a sucker for those dark eyes … it didn’t take him long to go from timid to assertive!
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Love the name, Licorice (and the candy). I’m always reminded of a clever name for a local record store where I grew up – Licorice Pizza. Brains the size of walnuts – of course you would know that bit of trivia. Smart little creatures. And I’d never seen the Post-It commercial but it’s a clever one. Makes me realize just how long we’ve been using CGI technology.
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Dave, that black squirrel reminded me of those black licorice Scottie dogs I used to get as a kid. My parents didn’t allow candy except special occasions and we’d go into town and stop at an old-fashioned candy store and I got some of those real licorice Scottie dogs (kind of bitter and brown inside). Licorice Pizza – a very cool name. I found that bit of trivia about the walnut-sized brains interesting as I don’t think their heads are that much bigger than the walnut? The video said the commercial was in 2011, but it aired earlier than that – I cancelled my cable TV in 2010 and have not watched television (except online) since then and I remember watching the ad on the TV screen. So CGI technology was already in use. I thought it was a great commercial. Hope it won some ad award.
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This is a great story. I applaud your observant and curious nature. Licorice is a character who makes me smile. I’ve never seen the commercial before, but darned clever. Like all squirrels in their own nutty ways.
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Glad you liked the story Ally. Up until the mysterious red object stuffed in the knothole, it was another hungry mouth to feed and an every-morning welcome from my furry friend. There was some bizarre behavior going on those few days between this squirrel, the raccoon and the ever-present 80-100 seagulls.
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What a cute commercial! I don’t remember this one. Prior to retirement, I was the Queen of Post-It Notes; I had them in a multitude of sizes and colors.
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Yes, as a squirrel lover and also a user of Post-It Notes, it made a hit with me Linda. The video says it was from 2011 but it is much earlier than that as I cut my cable in 2010 and saw it many years before. Imagine if this really happened! 🙂
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Wow! You really do pay attention to details! It was a pleasure meeting Licorice (what an apt name) and reading about his antics. He’s very photogenic but it’s too bad he has to suffer with the mange. Will it get worse? Is there any cure for it? I hope your adorable friend will be okay and that you will continue seeing him for a long time to come. I don’t remember the commercial but it’s priceless. 🙂
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Licorice is a real cutie pie Barbara and it didn’t take him long to warm up for me (and the peanuts) and scoping me out after feeding him just a once or twice. He has mange all over his back but nowhere else that I can see. They do recover if they are otherwise healthy. I’ve been giving him some sunflower seeds as well to help him stay healthy and nourished. I had a squirrel at the house a few years ago and that poor squirrel had no hair on it the entire Winter. I gave him a little food for just him which I put into the same area so the bigger squirrels would not see it. I felt so badly for him. That was such a clever commercial back in the day. 🙂
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