Squirrels

The red squirrel who has been at our bird feeder all winter has brought her three babies. We're having a great time watching their antics. At first the little ones were very careful about doing as they were told. We watched as two of them were absolutely still against the hydro pole but under the protection of the wires, when the crow came around, while Mom was frantically trying to get the third one under the rhubarb. Now they play and chase each other all around the garden, and all over the garage, even climbing the stucco garage walls. While they're on the garage walls they tend to stay close to the over hang from the eaves--more protection from the crow, I guess. BUT ( there's always a "but"), for the first time in years we've run into a problem with them eating the bedding plants. At first we thought it was the rabbit, but it started at the top of the "construction" (that pile of raised planters), and there's no way the rabbit can climb up there. Finally, yesterday, I saw one of them having lunch. We not going to fill the feeder quite as quickly for awhile, in hopes that they find other sources of food, but I know that eventually one of them will drive the others away. Those little buggers are so very, very territorial. We used to have big grey squirrels in the yard but for the last few years, nothing but reds.

Rain again today. Yesterday was pretty well spent inside, although I was off to the doctor in the morning. It's been great to spend time in the studio, but looking around I can see that it's getting toward time to do a little housework. We had talked about trying to paint the kitchen this summer, although there hasn't been a lot of talk of it lately. David hurt his wrist somehow, and has been wearing a wrist brace for the past little while. It's been years since he had a problem like this--even to the point of having trouble when riding his bike. I guess I should have seen it coming. For the past couple of months he's insisted on doing all of the heavy carrying around the house, because of my hand problems. Life always goes back to that old saying about "moderation in all things".