My parents live in the woods. This is not to be confused with the sticks. Living in the sticks, is having to drive 2 hours to get your mail. What we have here is just the woods. And along with the woods, comes an array of wild and semi-wild, furry and feathery beasties that gambol around the house all the live long day.
This morning I woke up early, as usual, and noticed a gray squirrel bouncing along in the pine needles looking for trouble. Suddenly he froze in an odd stance that I had never really seen before. It was strange to see him there on the ground not moving a muscle, as usually they are continually twitching SOMETHING on their bodies all the time. I could not figure out what he was doing for a moment and then I realized the little rascal was taking a pee. Took his time about it too. It must have been driving him crazy to stay so still, but I suppose even squirrels don’t want to splash pee on their feet first thing in the morning.
As he suddenly bounded off, the male Bluebird that has a nest in one of the birdhouses nearby flitted up to a forsythia bush and began performing his morning ablutions. I’ll bet he slept like a log with feathers on it last night, because he spent all day yesterday guarding his territory against the imaginary male Bluebird, (that looks suspiciously like himself) that he thinks is living just on the other side of the bay windows in our living room. He may be beautiful, but he is none too bright. I am going to try and get a picture of him this morning.
I wish I could get it across to his tiny bird brain that the half wild cats who bum around my parents house waiting for cat food handouts, have discovered his window game and have taken to lurking at the edge of the front porch. They are biding their time, waiting for him to make one false move. I am sure they are good hunters too, and his life is in peril. But male ego being what it is, I don’t think I will be able to convince him to give up his obsessive search and destroy mission. I hope his children don’t have to grow up without the help of their father.
Soon the band tail pigeons and the deer will arrive, and the show will begin in ernest for the day. And what’s really great is, we have a front row seat all the time. Only thing is we have to make our own popcorn. . .
The Mother and I are heading out to go shopping today, so I am afraid the "Fur and Feather Follies" will have to go on with half an audience. Think they will notice?