I looked out the window the other day and saw something that terrified me.

Don’t laugh.

It was momma red squirrel and she looked…..

Fat.
And since red squirrels don’t get fat?
There can only be one explanation…..

She’s pregnant again.

I looked out the window the other day and saw something that terrified me.

Don’t laugh.

It was momma red squirrel and she looked…..

Fat.
And since red squirrels don’t get fat?
There can only be one explanation…..

She’s pregnant again.

It’s happening.

Red squirrel.

And woodchuck.

A common goal.

A shared food source.

An alliance.

Partners….

Synchronizing positions.
I’m doomed.

Still stealing deer food.

And when it’s too big to finish in one sitting?

They’re still planting.

And I’m still cleaning up scattered dirt.

And squirrel poo.

Help me out with this…
Aren’t teenagers supposed to grow up and move out?
It’s a conspiracy.
I know it.
Those damn red squirrels have been plotting and now they’ve got corporate behind them.
How do I know this?
Because yesterday I got this box from Amazon:

Race cars….
For squirrels!
I’m doomed.
Ever since we installed the new deck railings we’ve needed to re-stain the deck. And by we, I mean me… because while he’ll constantly remark it needs to be done? The husband never does it. Not once in 18 years.

Problem is, we needed to buy a new pressure washer to clean the siding and I didn’t want to stain until that happened.
So I waited. And waited….. and waited some more.
( Never nagging. No. Not me.)

But after the husband saw the prices of a new Honda pressure washer?
I feel confident saying it’s not happening anytime soon.
So I moved things to the lawn, grabbed my brush and went to work.

Many holy hell why is it surface of the sun hot hours later…

I was done.

And pretty pleased with the results.

Dirty siding aside, it looks nice.

Clean, fresh and ready for the red squirrel family’s onslaught of poo.

Next morning fog shot just because.
Okay, I admit it.

The little rat bastards fellows are cute.

Sitting on the railing….

With vibrant day lilies blooming in the background…..

Voguing for the camera like some fur covered super model.

Though I highly doubt Naomi Campbell ever pooped on her runway.

Cute, yes…

But you’re still a giant pain in my ass!
Woodchucks are still being tormented by starlings.

And are sometimes drastically outnumbered.

Deer and fox happily dine together.

Squirrel keeps an eye on deer.

But calls in back up.

Until another fox shows up.

Who is so chill he lays down and eats like a Roman.

How chill?
He even smiles for the camera.

Deer, fox and squirrels depart, woodchucks return.

It’s the circle of life.
Otherwise known as an average afternoon in our backyard.
*note – these pictures were taken before the drought turned our lawn a lovely shade of brown*

This little female Baltimore Oriole for example.

She sat there for 15 minutes or so…..

Waiting in vane for dinner to be served.

Then there’s my sworn enemy little rat bastard red squirrel.

We may have evicted them from their corner post home…..

But it hasn’t stopped their daily visits.

And raids on the deer bound apple slices.
Turn your back if you want you pesky varmint…. we both know what you’re up to.
As any gardener can tell you, things happen.
Flowers don’t bloom, leaves turn brown and sometimes…. things pop up without you having any idea how they got there.
Case in point?
The pots on our back deck.

I swear …..

I didn’t plant that.

But it’s thriving all the same.
I was finally able to grab a few pictures of our resident buck.

Which is getting harder to do as the summer wears on.

But this father son shot was pretty sweet.

Junior’s antlers are growing.

And it always makes me wonder what the felt feels like.

Naturally there are woodchuck photos.

And some close ups.

We have one lone chipmunk this year.

And yes, those pesky red squirrel babies are still here.

Using our deck railing as a cafeteria.

As well as a toilet.

Yes, I’m talking to you.
Clearly your mother didn’t tell you not to shit where you eat.
Bad form. Very bad…..