Just Another Notch on the Porch

Today began with some great news!  The trail cam captured video of Peg the deer, with her companion Cinco the 5 pt buck!  We hadn’t seen Peg in months and were concerned about what may have happened to her.  Animals are so resilient, thankfully.

So as I am rejoicing at seeing Peg, I also see Shadow running across the yard, with another baby bunny in his mouth.  In my nightgown and bare foot, I went tearing out of the house to intercept Shadow and reclaim baby bunny.  Putting it into a cardboard box (still sitting here from last night), I took up a post with a direct line of sight to the thicket … sure enough, here comes Shadow with another bunny, and there I go for another intercept.  Unfortunately, this bunny was limp and cold ~ I think it is the one Shadow “found” last night.  A half hour of holding it in my hands, and I was certain there was nothing I could do.  Sometimes, I am annoyed that the cats are such good hunters, but that is the way of Nature and tears shed for a dead bunny can’t change anything.  While hoping against hope that I could revive the critter, I also keep an eye on Shadow and the thicket.  Apparently there are no more baby bunnies there, as he comes back home empty-paw’d.  Occupied with their Fancy Feast, I slip outside and release the boxed bunny in a different location, stopping to take a quick photo and ask Mother Earth to protect this little one. The day has begun…

Smokey and Shadow are both very soft-mouthed, and before long, I hear another chirp but not a bunny this time. No, a chipmunk!  Alive, dropped in the living room, the chippy promptly ran into the slant fin radiator.  Three hours later, it is apparently still there, as Shadow has taken up residence in front of it.  I can only wait along with him ~ no way to get that guy out unless he wants to come out.  Yesterday I had hoped for a bit more excitement today.  Man, be careful what you wish for … and the morning wasn’t over yet.  Now, there’s a bear at the Hard Rock Diner.

Grabbing cameras and hazelnuts, I head outside to say hello.  Could it be Buddy?  As I walk down, talking and singing, the bear is un-phased and continues happily eating.  Hmmm, about the size of Buddy but no, it’s Notch!  I think she’s a female, but not sure.

It’s beginning to get warm and the bugs are as hungry as the bear, so I move back in the air conditioned house to view the photos.  And do a bit of cleaning.  But wait, what’s that noise outside the front door??  A quick glance out the window, a yell, and an attempt at a quick picture and I am out the door in a flash chasing Notch from the porch and the suet feeder.

I guess she didn't like my singing♥

But she doesn't seem to mind me being in close proximity ... boy she is pretty.  And in this weather, probably HOT!

Yep, probably a girl. Spunky and persistent.  But as soon as I opened that door, she was off the porch and running across the yard into the woods.

Guess it’s time to put the suet feeders away for the summer☺ And, time to get some work done in this house. Maybe running the vacuum will convince Chippy to re-locate.♥

PS: 5 PM ... finally figured out how to take apart the baseboard slant-fin radiator, and Chippy emerged, chased through the house by two cats followed by one hot and annoyed human...through the office down the hallway into the bedroom then into the bathroom and finally into the shower stall, where I successfully grabbed the critter with one of those "I can't reach that high" grabby thingys ...run outside with it dangling at the end of the 3' pole, and release it only to be pounced upon by the cat that had followed me out, which I smacked with the grabby thingy, who let go of the now wet and tired chipmunk. Of course, I picked it up, held it til it revived sufficiently and put it in the box (by which time the cats had slinked off in search of other toys ..), carried it out into the woods and released it on its merry way.  Now I just have to clean behind all the furniture I moved in the chase...

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Indian BlessingLet us walk softly on the Earthwith all living beings great and smallremembering as we go, that one Godkind and wise created all.