Oh boy, I know what you’re thinking … “Linda made a spelling boo-boo because she was sipping spiked eggnog before sitting down to write this post.” Nope, I purposely spelled the title of this post incorrectly.
Do you care to take a guess why?
No worries – the real reason will be revealed as you read on.
The original idea for today’s post was borne last Winter when I went to the Park on a cold and snowy day, laden with mixed nuts in the shell as a special treat for my furry friends since I’d been absent almost a week due to bad weather.
As they munched and crunched away, I instantly knew the title and narrative and what photos I would need to make this holiday post happen.
I knew I would tell you that although I’ve never seen The Nutcracker Ballet, I did visit a Moscow Ballet Company show in 1983. Moscow and Leningrad were on the itinerary for a three-week trip taken to four Scandinavian countries with a week’s stay in Russia. Our group members were given a choice of seeing the Moscow Circus or the Moscow Ballet. With either choice we would be escorted by a Russian-English-speaking guide, so there would be no language barrier issues. At that time the Moscow Circus was world-renowned, particularly for its dancing-and-bicycle-riding bears and death-defying tricks on the trapeze. Everyone in our tour group opted for the Circus, but a last-minute problem with a broken bridge to get to and from our hotel, made it necessary to see the Moscow Ballet instead.
Also, in conjunction with this ballet-themed post, I intended to tell you that later that same year, perhaps inspired by those Russian ballerinas, I took ballet lessons for a year or so. Every Wednesday night I’d pull my long hair into a bun, don a black leotard and tights and step into my pointe shoes to do barre work at Bertha Ray’s studio.
Hmm – I was adventurous in a different way in those days.
In the end I included the recap about my ballet encounters forty years ago, but then a walk at Council Point Park last Thursday caused my original idea to veer off-course.
I mentioned earlier this year that 2023 marked a decade of walking at Council Point Park. It was serendipity that on April 26, 2013 I wandered over to this small nature nook along the Ecorse Creek located smack dab in the middle of our City.
Thus began a decade of visiting this venue, instead of pounding the pavement in the ‘hood, the roots of my walking regiment. I believe it would have been difficult to sustain my blog based on neighborhood walks alone.
Along the beaten path, there was holiday joy.
At the Park last week, a festive Christmas wreath at one of the memorial trees caught my eye. You may remember I did a post showing this same tree was decorated with an Easter wreath and colorful plastic eggs hung from every branch.
So I stepped off the path to take a closer look at the wreath and soon pulled the camera out of its case and began clicking away.
I especially liked the Nutcracker ornament which I decided would be fun to use as this post’s header image instead of a stock photo from Pixabay. How cute are these old-fashioned toys, snowman and Christmas village ornaments embedded into the greenery?
Instantly this wreath infused some much-needed Christmas spirit into my morning.
Now will the REAL NUTCRACKER please stand up and take a bow?
You all know my affinity for squirrels and, if you’ve followed my blog for a while, you know that one squirrel in particular, Parker, has my heart.
Parker, my favorite nut-noshing pal, first became a part of my morning meanderings about seven or eight years ago when I tossed this cute Fox squirrel a few peanuts on the walking path – he lingered, seemingly content to munch the nuts in my presence instead of scampering away to eat them. Later that morning when I was ready to leave the Park, a Fox squirrel was sitting next to the car on the driver’s side. Well, I had a dilemma as I had no more peanuts left to give him and the little bugger refused to budge. I was afraid to back up to pull away in case I ran over him, so I had to wait until someone came to the Park to ask them to distract him so I could leave. As a result of that episode, I vowed to never run out of peanuts after the last leg of my walk and hold some aside. I named this little fellow “Parker” (likely not the most original or cutest name, but he was a “Park” squirrel, “parked” next to my car in a “parking lot”). He does respond to his name, probably because he figures “if she thinks I am attentive when she calls my name, I’ll get more treats.” Of course he is spot-on about that. I do patronize this precocious little squirrel who has provided much whimsy and blog fodder through the years.
As I wend my way along the perimeter path, no matter the season …
… Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall, all I have to do is show up and Parker is always there to greet me and beg for peanuts.
It’s such a small gesture on my part to reward him with a treat, much like you do with a pet. For me, who has no pets, I have essentially adopted him and the other squirrels (plus the birds) and they all are an important part of my walking regimen.
Now as “The Peanut Lady” (not “Santa Paws”), I take a lot of photos of my favorite munchkin – here are some through the years. While I would have liked to dispense mixed nuts in the snow for some ambiance for this holiday post, we had no snow, so I dug into my photo archives and rounded up some photos in various slideshows of Parker from all the seasons at the Park.
Let’s start with a short slideshow of our current season, Winter.
Whether I’m wearing boots or shoes, Parker circles around me, then sniffs or stomps my footwear to indicate he is ready for treats. :)
Parker likes to pose in the leaves in the Fall, popping up to ensure I see he is there as it is “nut-burying time”.
Even with his chunky physique in the colder weather, he scales a tree at the speed of sound when he spies or smells peanuts.
Without a shadow of a doubt he is a special munchkin.
Season’s Eatings!
I passed out mixed nuts to my furry pals last weekend. And yes, I painstakingly shelled a few walnuts just for Parker.
They were happily received by Parker and his pals.
Terri has no Blog Challenges this week, so I am concluding this post with best wishes from me with a Christmas card, which is the real deal … Tchaikovsky’s The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy from The Nutcracker Suite. Just click here for the card – Merry Christmas!
Linda Schaub
WALKIN', WRITIN', WIT & WHIMSY 
Parker has parked his butt in your heart Linda! What a beautifully coloured tail he has!
The last shot of him in the first show is the best because of the lighting!
I hope he’s chubby and happy!
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He sure has Wayne – furry tail and all! And yes, the fur is beautifully colored on the long tail. I had to include the picture with the heart-shaped cookie. It’s a toss-up whether that is my favorite photo or the last photo of him and I on the trail and our shadows. I went back to look at the photo you referenced – yes, that was some beautiful lighting, with the snow in the background and the sun highlighting Parker. I almost didn’t include the photo in the snow as it’s darkish. They are all chubby now – more so than my recent “rounded” post. 🙂
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they get anymore chubby ,they’ll need to roll to get around. Maybe they’ll expect you to do delivery’s to their door?
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Yes, they are so spoiled Wayne, that will be a request from them in the future! I expect they are happy for our El Niño-type weather so far since we’re at least 20 degrees above normal, but one retired weather guy I follow on Twitter says we will get slammed the second half of January and in February too. I need a pneumatic tube or snowshoes then to keep them fueled up.
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or a drone peanut drop?
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That would be a great idea Wayne, so does it come with claws to release/drop? It is not right around the corner. We had heavy fog this morning – burned off and I went to the Park where they nearly bowled me over. I took the rest of the bag of whole mixed nuts (walnuts, hazelnuts, pecans and almonds) and some peanuts. If I laid down nuts, but no walnuts, they looked up at me as if to say “peanuts please if there are no walnuts.” I still have a couple of bags of walnuts to use when it is colder and there is snow (snow will be here – I guarantee it).
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I think sweet suits your post better than suite Linda! However, I did noticed a mistake in your post, Christmas Eve is on Sunday. 🥰
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Thank you Diane – yes “sweet” works better. Thanks for noticing the mistake – I intended to publish this post tomorrow, but figured people would be busy and I wanted them to have the card. I will fix it now.
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Thanks again Diane – I fixed it to “holiday”.
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You’re welcome Linda. I posted my Merry Christmas post today for the same reason.
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Parker is lucky to have you for a friend. I enjoyed all the photos of him. Merry Christmas, Linda!
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Thank you Rebecca. Parker does really brighten my day. Merry Christmas to you and your family!
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Parker is a cutie! Merry Christmas!
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Yes he is Linda and he has monopolized many a blog post through the years. Merry Christmas to you as well!
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Lovely photos. I enjoyed your post. Parker has parked his in your heart Linda!
Happy Christmas to you,Linda ⛄🧑🎄!
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Thank you Raj – yes, Parker is my #1 favorite critter in this park and he knows it!
Happy Christmas to you and your family as well Raj. – Linda
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Most welcome,Linda 😌! Iam so happy!
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You really should see the Nutcracker someday. One of my favorites was with the Denver, I think, ballet when I lived in Wyoming. Their music cut out in the middle of the show and the dancers ended up sitting around the stage talking to the audience for about 15 minutes. Imperfect is sometimes exactly right.
Love to Parker. He remains adorable.
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I have two musical performances I’d like to see, the Nutcracker and the Rockettes. A full Russian ballet troupe does the Nutcracker on YouTube and there is a Christmas 2023 Rockettes video on there as well, so that’s nice to watch to get the flavor of the season. Well, that was an unusual and enjoyable encounter with the dancers for that ballet event – a fun techno glitch of the best kind. Zazzy, this little squirrel is adorable and is quite happy to be doted on and reaping the benefits. 🙂
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What a delightful post!
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Thank you Anne – glad you enjoyed it!
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What do Squirrels eat naturally? Can you get those for that ever so cute Parker. Do they hibernate in Winter usually?
You don’t want to be Santa Paws, Santa only comes ones a year
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Brian, our squirrels do not hibernate, no matter how cold it gets. They will stay up in their nests (dreys) and sleep huddled together and often won’t come down to ground level in the really cold temps in the dead of Winter. Dreys are just twigs and leaves resting in the branches or “forks” of a tree and look like a big wind will take them to the ground. But the squirrels grow heavier fur in the Winter and fatten up so they can go without food if necessary. I try to get there as much as possible in Winter, stomp out several snowy areas to put down nuts and seeds … the City rarely clears the walking trail and it is often icy (despite this photo showing it was shoveled). The squirrels here in this Park live here all the time – there is enough food to sustain them as there are some fruit-bearing bushes (wild mulberries and raspberries) and apple trees. There are mostly Maple trees, but there are Black Walnut and Oak trees, so that gives them natural nuts. They also eat fungi and pine cones (when the cones are still soft and green). You’re right – they need more than one visit a year! Only a couple of other people give out peanuts and in good weather only. I take sunflower seeds, suet balls and suet for the birds but the squirrels often eat those goodies. I also take dried corncobs and cracked corn for the squirrels when it’s cold.
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Thank you 🙂
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Parker is so cute, and I love the way you write about him.
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Parker does seem like he is a pet sometimes Anne. He is pretty smart too and is attentive, ever since our first encounter. I guess you could say he knows which side his bread is buttered on as that expression goes.
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Your cute little buddy is the best kind of nutcracker! Would he have been able to crack the walnut on his own or were you just being extra kind this Holiday season by shelling them for him?
When one of my boys was a toddler he was very afraid of nutcrackers. We couldn’t put them out at Christmas. They do look kind of creepy sometimes!
Merry Christmas, Linda!
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You’re right Laurie – Parker is much cuter than a real nutcracker and I can see why one of your boys would be afraid of a nutcracker decoration – they do look a bit creepy with the mouth going up and down in an exaggerated movement. The squirrels all do a great job cracking walnuts – as big as a walnut is, even the gray and black squirrels, which are much smaller than Fox squirrels, will take the walnut in their paws, move it around to find where to crack it open and crunch down. I had a tough time cracking those walnuts with the nutcracker to make a little bag of walnuts, so it’s amazing how effortlessly they do that. (A good reason to be careful when feeding them using my fingers instead of laying nuts on the ground!)
Merry Christmas to you and Bill and your extended family Lauri!
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Thank you so much for the pretty e-card! The wreath ornaments are so festive, what a day brightener. How fun to learn how you came up with Parker’s name! I enjoyed seeing all the photos of him and how they capture his charming personality. Wishing you and Parker a very Happy Christmas, my friend! 🎄 💂
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Glad you liked this card Barbara – there were several with “The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” but the music was the best in this e-card. I really liked the wreath with its assortment of holiday ornaments and old-fashioned toys. I guess I could have come up with a cuter name for Parker, but yes, that’s the origin of his name and it appears he likes it. 🙂 I must have 100 photos of him in my blog, but I went thru to pick my favorite ones that I hoped captured his personality – glad you agree after seeing those pics. Same back at you Barbara and best in the new year too.
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I enjoyed reading this post, Linda.
I especially like the 4 square of the 4 seasons in the same exact location!
While I loved seeing all the slide shows of Parker, my favorite is the photo of Parker stomping on your tennis shoe!!
Of course Parker is the sweetest nutcracker of all!!
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I’m glad you enjoyed this post TD – I had fun creating it and, even though I don’t want snow, it would have made the post a little more Christmassy if I had some for the pics. I did the four seasons in the exact same location a few years ago as I thought it would be a fun pic for the change of seasons and I had to go thru my blog to search for this pic when I decided to show Parker thru the years/seasons. They did plow the walking path in this Winter photo, but that is rare and most of the time it stays unplowed and I end up going in tall boots and walking on the grass as it gets icy. I have some photos on past posts where it is quite icy where it melts, then refreezes again. People ask how I know it is Parker – well he dos this stomping on my shoe routine quite often, or he has another trick which I do discourage … I was taking a photo and turned the other way and he saw the bag I carry that has peanuts and he wanted peanuts right then and there, so he tried climbing up my sweatpants to reach them. He’s done that twice and so I’ve got to be watching carefully for him – he is a sweet nutcracker, but very bold!
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He’s so cute ! And I love how you named him lol. Merry Christmas Linda and all the best for the New Year !
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He is very cute Susan and he knows it too – he loves all the attention I lavish on him. I could have picked a more unique name I guess but yes, that is how he got to be named “Parker” – his first act of boldness! Merry Christmas and best in 2024 to you too!
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Parker is adorable, Linda. I find them so appreciative of the peanuts we give them, and so darn cute about begging for more, I just can’t resist. We have one that will sit and eat. Most of the others head off into the yard of up a tree. The one that greets me at the park also sits and eats, but he’s on the other side of a fence. Merry Christmas!
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Dan, I know that you, a fellow squirrel admirer, would find Parker adorable. He has a lot of personality and is shameless when it comes to begging, but most of the regulars along the trail are like that. Even the gray and black squirrels are less timid now that it’s colder and they will grab a peanut and not stay back until I leave. Merry Christmas to you as well
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Aw, such a sweet and heart-warming post. I love the tale of how Parker got his name. I enjoyed the photo galleries and how you wove them together like a beautiful ballet! Well done. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you! 🥰🥳
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Thank you Shelley – glad you enjoyed the lookback at Parker thru the years and the Christmas wreath which was cheery in the Park in what has seemed like endless gray days (yesterday was the exception).
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You’re welcome. I love how you choose photos that give Parker such a charming personality. 😉🧐 At least the endless gray days haven’t been bitterly cold!
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Parker is pretty lucky to be featured in a blog post again … I had a ton of Parker pics and winnowed them down to grouping them by season to make them more manageable. We had another foggy and rainy day today too and it was mild. Can you imagine if all this rain had been snow?
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Yes, Parker is one lucky squirrel.
We’ve had rain/sleet/snow and yes, imagine what it would be like if it were all snow!! 🧐❄😲
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It would be horrible wouldn’t it? We have some mix-and-match weather today. I took a long drive to Lake Erie Metropark yesterday to give the car a run – never took out the camera as it was gray and gloomy. I stopped at Council Point Park on the way home as they had said we’d have rain/snow this morning, followed by fog and a sleet mix tonight.
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Yes, indeed! That’s the same weather we’ve been having. We took a drive to visit my dad up north and the roads were sketchy! I’m glad you’re home safe and not venturing out until this passes!
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Not the greatest weather conditions and here all the weather folks are saying we’re on the cusp of roads icing over as the evening wears on. Glad you made it back home safely. I’m glad to be home too and not venturing out.
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Yes, me too. I’m glad you were home safe and sound too.
I guess that there were a lot of accidents in our town (according to the reliable resource of Facebook). I think the roads were clear for those who stayed out late to ring in the new year. I thought of you in the middle of the night when the fireworks were going off for those happy to ring in the year with a boom!
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We had firecrackers going off from around 11:45 p.m. to 12:45 a.m. And I slept in a little later as I got to bed at 1:00 and they were calling for a sleety/snow mix overnight and warning of slick roads, so I figured I may not be walking. So I set the alarm later – nothing bad weatherwise. I still got out, but it was later.
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You didn’t go to bed until 1:00 am??? Did you watch the ball drop?
Glad the weather threats were duds and that you still got out for a walk!
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That’s correct and midnight on Monday night for the same reason. I was glad too – but I couldn’t believe how much colder it was this morning. Winter is back!
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I hope you get caught up on your sleep! Like we keep saying, the weather is wonky!
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I did – I was in bed early and had I known I wasn’t walking this morning due to the freezing rain, I would have slept in!
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I bet your thinking that the weather forecast is not the best alarm clock, even if it is ‘free’. 😆🤔🤗
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Ha ha – one said 7-10 inches of snow on Tuesday night thru Wednesday and the 7:00 p.m. news said we will have snow but the rain will wash it away – go figure! It was nippy out this morning – 23 degrees, snow on the grass and roof but not the roads, but ice on the path – ugh.
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Our forecast doesn’t even indicate the inches of snow predicted, guess they don’t want to be wrong. They’re just putting the little snowflake icon on it.
Sounds like you’re getting mixtures a lot, that does make for messy roads and messy paths to walk on. Stay safe!
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I keep listening to the news/weather – Accuweather is calling for mostly rain, but the retired meteorologist I follow on Twitter says 2-3 inches of very heavy snow Monday into Tuesday, then rain all Tuesday afternoon and a flash freeze. None of it sounds great to be honest. I’d say skip shoveling the 2-3 inches of snow Tuesday morning if it’s going to rain, but that much snow won’t get washed away by the rain. I was hoping to just morph into Spring. 🙂
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Yeah, our forecast keeps changing. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see who predicted correctly or not! 😅
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It’s not looking good for us tomorrow, 1-3 inches of slushy snow and rain from late morning through early Wednesday morning and this next snowstorm Friday into Saturday. I’m glad I got all my errands done today. The squirrels may not see the whites of the Peanut Lady’s eyes for a while. 🙂
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Oh, dear. We’ve been watching the storm too and we’re in the iffy if we get any zone. But we’ll have high winds I guess.
Way to be prepared and I’m sure the squirrels will be hiding and staying warm as they wait to see you again when the storm passes.
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Well, we were SUPPOSED to get this one to three inches of snow this morning, morphing into rain the rest of the day. We never got the snow at all, but it has rained the entire day and it will rain til overnight when it turns to snow (a few inches). Weatherman said it was too warm to snow. Hope you had the same forecast as us. It’s not looking good for my little buddies unless I can get down there Friday morning as we have a snowstorm Friday they say – next week Arctic blast. Well I did not whine for the “real Winter” and I’m sure you didn’t either. 🙂
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We got 1.5 inches of snow and it was melting on the driveway by 4 pm. The birds were excited about the snow and were at the bird feeders all day.
South of us they got more snow which brightened some spirits as the drab colors of winter without snow make for low spirits.
We’re supposedly going to get more snow before the Artic blast. We’ll see!
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Yes, I just saw the forecast on two different stations … 1-3 inches of snow Friday into Saturday and 3 inches of snow during the day Saturday and high wind warning so they are calling it a blizzard. I wish it would fizzle out like Tuesday’s storm did, but no chance of that they say. Ugh. Then the Arctic blast all next week. Double ugh.
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Oh, dear…yuck… 🤔😲😣
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That sums it up pretty well – and Arctic air for the next ten days.
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Yep, and our snow hasn’t arrived yet, but the cold temps have. 🥶🧊🥶🧊🥶🧊
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It was such a clear and perfect morning … I knew when I put the car back in the garage that it would be a while ’til we pull out again, though this Arctic blast next week it would be better if I drive it a little.
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The calm before the storm! I think your car will be okay. You’ve driven yours more than I drive mine and knock on wood mine still starts! 😆
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You should have your car on a trickle charger Shelley. I’m sure Mr. could set it up for you – I had to go to the mechanic for mine, but I have it plugged in year-round and have done this since 2016. It’s important now as my driveway is a sheet of ice, as are the streets, so I likely won’t get out for weeks, or until we have a thaw. I still start it every day – today was interesting trying to walk on the ice with the wind to get to the garage.
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That was a fun post and yes Parker is a real nutcracker. 🙂 We have started seeing more squirrels around our place. Black squirrels at the farm which we have not seen before and a grey squirrel here at the house that took down one of my suet cakes. I think he dug a peanut out of the suet then left the rest. My husband left some peanuts out for him earlier but since it was raining all afternoon I didn’t see him return. I bet they will be all gone tomorrow.
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Glad you liked it Ruth. Parker and his pals have no problem chomping down on those walnuts – they position them to find the line in the shell to crack them open and pretty quickly I might add. I was going to wait til it got colder to treat them, but I’ve not walked there every day due to the fog and rain we’ve been having so I just gave them to them now. The squirrels have probably been scavenging for food at the farm and your house since it feels like Spring to them – at least they can dig up the peanuts they hide, not have to dig them out of the snow. Your husband will have gained a new pal – one time gifting peanuts = a furry pal for life. 🙂
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I am surprised we haven’t had more squirrels at the farm since we have so many oak and hickory trees. Perhaps having the dogs around so much is a bit of a deterrent.
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You’re probably right about the dogs Ruth. Council Point Park has an ordinance posted about dogs not being allowed. People walk them anyway and even if there are peanuts put out, the squirrels disappear while a dog walks by.
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Now I finally know why Parker is named Parker. Love your little stories
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I’m not sure it is the most-original name, but it came to my mind that day and he likes it as he comes running if I call him. 🙂 (It can’t just be the peanuts/treats, right?) Glad you like the little stories Jeanine … I love telling them.
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Every time I see squirrels in my neighborhood, I think of you!
Parker is a special and lucky squirrel. I wonder what he says about you to his other squirrel pals.
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I will forever be the “Peanut Lady” or the “Squirrel Lady” and that is not all bad. 🙂 I saw my furry pals yesterday after my trip to Lake Erie Metropark, but it was later in the day … I never go midday and you’d have thought I was away for weeks when I was just there on Friday. Even mid-day, when they usually are not out foraging, they came scampering over to greet me thinking “whew, we thought she forgot us!”
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Thank goodness for the “Peanut Lady” or the “Squirrel Lady.” I’m sure they are happy because of you and you have saved many of them from the scary hawk.
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I am happy to give them sustenance and their cute antics make my morning complete. I listen to the news when I get up in the morning – the sometimes sordid, often horrific news, that happened overnight while I was sleeping. And, I am glad to escape those headlines to go to the peacefulness that I find in the Park. I hate to let them down, like I did this morning … freezing rain kept me from going today … I picture those expectant faces waiting. Where is the “Peanut Lady”?
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Parker has become friend of us all through your writing and photos. Please pass along my Christmas wishes. 🙂
I will confess that while I like the music from The Nutcracker, that classic soldier-style of nutcracker has always seemed a little creepy to me. At least I waited until January to be a holiday killjoy.
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I will do so sir. 🙂 I will have to listen to all the music to The Nutcracker one day, not just “The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” and I agree about the classic soldier-style nutcracker, especially the ones that open their mouths wide – they have an evil grin.
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