Tag: squirrel

The last of 2016

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Reindeer lying in snow

A tiny maple tree growing out of the base of a birch tree

^ A tiny maple tree grows out of the base of the birch tree in our front yard. [Oct. 31, 2016]

As 2016 ticks and dribbles and fades away, here are some photos I had lurking: pets, plants and more.

Three purple vases with flowers against a purple wall

 

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Usually on Goodwill visits I’m after clothes, but I often end up scanning the pots and vases. This trio of narrow purple vases had to come home with me. The flowers are portions of a bouquet from Kroger. [Oct. 24, 2016]

View out a sliding glass door onto a balcony

^ Unseasonably warm temperatures meant I had the office door open on Nov. 1.

View of woods in fog

^ Opening day of firearm deer season in Michigan may be the closest thing we have to an unofficial state holiday. This is at 8:57 a.m., nearly two hours after the start of shooting light, but the fog still made sighting whitetails a challenge. This is the view directly in front of me. [Nov. 15, 2016]

Moss

^ Hours between deer sightings mean plenty of time to look around … or down. This moss with trumpet-shaped protrusions was inside where my ground blind sat. [Nov. 15, 2016]

Sunset in the woods

^ Light in the woods dies early. The view to my right at 4:12 p.m. [Nov. 15, 2016]

Sunset silhouette in the woods

^ The view to my left at 4:14 p.m. The silhouette in the bottom center is my ground blind with open windows. [Nov. 15, 2016]

Squirrel drinking water from a red glass bowl

^ Our definition of pets broadly includes what we call “yard pets,” animals we provide for without trying to domesticate. The balcony includes one or more dishes of fresh water year round. When it is freezing out, I keep two spares just inside the door and rotate as needed, which can be every hour. [Nov. 16, 2016]

Maggie and Abbey lying in a doorway

^ Can’t find the dogs? They’re probably lying in a doorway. [Nov. 29, 2016]

Sticky note reading "Oh hello there"

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Once our children got older and their Christmas presents more expensive and fewer, I started sending them on hunts with clues to find the final gifts. They’re 22 and 23 and I still do it. When I went looking for sticky notes to write the clues and puzzle words on, I found that my son had left a note on the pad. I stuck it to the mirror because it makes me happy. [Dec. 24, 2016]

Reindeer lying in snow

^ My favorite thing about Christmas here in Bay City, Michigan, is the reindeer at the Nate and Mary Ida Doan Santa House. Other places have reindeer for short visits, but ours have their own barn and can be visited during the hours the Santa House is closed. [Dec. 21, 2016]

A reindeer with one antler

^ This reindeer is smaller than a whitetail deer and has only one antler, with the darker portion curving forward. [Dec.21, 2016]

Pet Pic, 042116 edition

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Pecking order in squirrel world. One sits on the balcony rail, eating and guarding the food below, while another waits in a tree for its turn. [April 10]

Outdoor photos today, although more than half of them were taken through windows.

Yes, I spoil the squirrels. This one knows life is good, and is watching me watching her. Yes, that is snow. [April 10]
Yes, I spoil the squirrels. This one knows life is good, and is watching me watching her. Yes, that is snow. [April 10]
Pecking order in squirrel world. One sits on the balcony rail, eating and guarding the food below, while another waits in a tree for its turn. [April 10]
Pecking order in squirrel world. One sits on the balcony rail, eating and guarding the food below, while another waits in a tree for its turn. [April 10]
Birthday girl Abbey was happy for weather approaching the 70s, FINALLY. She celebrated turning 2 by expanding her favorite hole under the front bushes. [April 17]
Birthday girl Abbey was happy for weather approaching the 70s, FINALLY. She celebrated turning 2 by expanding her favorite hole under the front bushes. [April 17]
I hope to get a better shot of these mourning doves, sometimes, but they’re a skittish pair. I don’t usually see them until early evening, when the other birds and squirrels have pretty well cleared out. [April 17]
I hope to get a better shot of these mourning doves, sometimes, but they’re a skittish pair. I don’t usually see them until early evening, when the other birds and squirrels have pretty well cleared out. [April 17]
041816DarylBalcony
Daryl crept outside while I was refilling the suet cage so I allowed him about a minute to prowl the site he spends so much time studying from the other side of the sliding glass door. A rescue who spent the first 10 months of his life outside, he has ventured out only a handful of times in the year-plus we have had him. [April 18]
One of my favorite signs of warm weather: our bee friends! Clover is about all they have for now, but they will be very busy on our raspberry patch this summer. [April 19]
One of my favorite signs of warm weather: our bee friends! Clover is about all they have for now, but they will be very busy on our raspberry patch this summer. [April 19]
There were only a few kernels left on this cob, but this squirrel was determined to get every one. [April 21]
There were only a few kernels left on this cob, but this squirrel was determined to get every one. [April 21]

Pet Pics, 040316 edition

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Maggie, at left, had some of her fur shaved off for recent surgery to remove a 1.5-pound fatty tumor. She weighs 95 pounds to Abbey’s 55, so sometimes the blonde gets dragged across the floor.

The dogs didn’t understand this tug toy at first. It took considerable coaching to get them to grasp that they should be on opposite ends.

The dogs didn’t understand this tug toy at first. It took considerable coaching to get them to grasp that they should be on opposite ends. [April 1]

Maggie, at left, had some of her fur shaved off for recent surgery to remove a 1.5-pound fatty tumor. She weighs 95 pounds to Abbey’s 55, so sometimes the blonde gets dragged across the floor.

Maggie, at left, had some of her fur shaved off for recent surgery to remove a 1.5-pound fatty tumor. She weighs 95 pounds to Abbey’s 55, so sometimes the blonde gets dragged across the floor. [April 1]

This poor little squirrel is one of the reasons I keep water and food on the balcony. It has mites, so quite a bit of its fur is missing.

This poor little squirrel is one of the reasons I keep water and food on the balcony. It has mites, so quite a bit of its fur is missing. [March 31]

Guess who likes watching the squirrels? Abbey has to be reminded not to charge at them. [March 21] Sometimes she gets tired of waiting for them to return. [March 13]

Guess who likes watching the squirrels? Abbey has to be reminded not to charge at them. [March 21] Sometimes she gets tired of waiting for them to return. [March 13]

Another big squirrel fan is Daryl, who sometimes stalks them, then settles into pounce position. Today is his 2nd birthday. [April 3]

Another big squirrel fan is Daryl, who sometimes stalks them, then settles into pounce position. Today is his 2nd birthday. [April 3]