To be perfectly honest with you – I just looooove squirrels! 🙂
Near to where I´m living is a huge park where I can watch these sweet little climbing artists running up and down the trees, trying to catch one another.
As I´m sure you know, now´s the time that squirrels are really busy collecting enough nuts and seeds that will help them getting through the winter. Actually they already started doing this around here since late September but now they are quite desperate before the first plummet of temperatures below the freezing point.
This is why I never leave the house without a couple of walnuts, hazelnuts and sunflower seeds in my pockets whenever I go to the park 😉
I´ve done this for quite a long time now (a couple of years), and am happy to tell you that over the years I´ve made friends with some of the squirrels that are now trusting enough to come and take the nuts right from my hand.
I´m sure you can imagine how exciting it was, the first time it happened!
And because it felt so special, I didn´t even dare to take my camera with me, out of fear they would not like being scrutinely watched over by that big black lense…
But with time, I couldn´t resist the temptation, and to my astonishment found that the squirrels didn´t mind being photographed as long as I kept providing them with delicious walnuts (their absolute favourites 😉 ).
This summer I was even allowed to gently stroke for a short time one of the nursing mother-Squirrels as it was feasting on the heavenly walnuts! That was a very, very special moment for me!
The fur was just as soft as I always imagined it to be and I could feel the tiny heart inside beating rapidly, but the squirrel remained quite calm and seated.
There´s no picture of that occassion I´m afraid, since I really was to busy absorbing the moment 😉 But I hope the pictures I´m sharing with you here, give you a hint of the lovely friendship I´ve developed with these animals.
A rare visitor, quickly picking one of the peanuts I left for the squirrels…
Let me close this post with one of my favourite poems by W.B. Yeats:
To a Squirrel at Kyle-na-no
Come play with me;
Why should you run
Through the shaking tree
As though I´d a gun
To strike you dead?
When all I would do
Is to scratch your head
And let you go.
Wish you all a very beautiful weekend!
If only WB Yeats had had your foresight and armed himself with wal and hazelnuts his squirrels might not have run from him. Lovely post, Miss Gentileschi 🙂
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Haha! 😄 Right, if only he had 😉 But then he wouldn’t have written this lovely poem. Thank you for your wonderful comment, Phil! Wish you a great weekend! 😄
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Ah but he could have added a second verse…
What is this a squirrel return
With grinning lips and no concern
Scampering across the lawn
A glorious beauty is born.
Perhaps not. Apologies. Have a great weekend too (if my butchery of Yeats hasn’t ruined it)
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That’s a wonderful 2nd verse! Now you actually saved my weekend 😄
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on occasion I have been known to have a conversation with squirrels.
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Oh, really? Can’t imagine they are good at it, forgetful as they are 😉
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Well I am quite forgetful as well so the conversation can be interesting
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In that case I’d love to listen to one or read the script 😉
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I will try to write it down next time
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I’ll look forward to it!
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Great shots! Your red squirrels are beautiful as are you for making friends with them. We have a feeder with a lid and the squirrels leaned to open it and get the food. Nice to share our part of the world.
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Thank you soooo much for your very lovely comment!! 🙂 Oh, and how I wished I could watch the squirrels at your place! What a wonderful idea to install a feeder for them! It´s wonderful to know that people like you care so much for them too! Have a wonderful autumn weekend! 🙂 xxx
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Such sweet creatures and I loved the closeness you are developing with them, Sarah! The one who is so young looking was extra close to the camera and I liked the one you have by your hand. I am glad you were able to stroke the nursing mama squirrel! Hugs to you, Sarah. Hoping your eye gets fully healed, dear.
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Thank you so much, Robin!! 🙂 It´s always so unbelievably wonderful when you get close to wild animals, and I really would never have even dreamed of stroking it, but somehow I felt at that moment that it wouldn´t just run away and my “courage” was rewarded 😀
Sometimes we are able to bond that way with animals, don´t you think?
My eye is somewhat better now, at least the wound didn´t open again for a bit over a week now, which is record time for me! Also makes me want to celebrate each day that it doesn´t 😉 I try to be cautiously optimistic about the whole issue and I appreciate your concerns for me very, very much, my dear friend! 🙂
Wish you a magnificent week! Hugs&Kisses! xoxo
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You are special and I do worry about your eye and your whole being. 🙂 This gift of being close to nature is wonderful, Sarah. I have felt angels can inhabit creatures, may seem strange but it is spiritual to me. I wrote about when my grandpa died, I lay on my bed and cried. A red cardinal came to my window and pecked on it and then sand his lovely song. When I put it on my blog,i was happy to share it. When it didn’t get published in Guideposts magazine,they said there are people who especially believe that birds are “winged messengers” like Angels. It made me happy to know I wasn’t the only one! 🙂 xo
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You are definitely not alone in thinking of birds as special winged messengers, Robin! And that lovely cardinal that came to your window and tried to comfort you with his/hers beautiful song is definitely proof of your believe! What a wonderful thing in all that sadness it was! My mom shares this believe when it comes to butterflies 🙂
There are so many things we cannot define or grasp with scientific methods and yet our feelings say they are true… There´s a whole world between the sheets of our so called reality I believe. It´s wonderful to know that I´m not the only one thinking like that! 😀 Wish you a very happy and lovely weekend, dear friend! Hugs&Kisses! 🙂
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Cute creatures, Sarah. You were so lucky to take the pictures.
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Thank you, Inese!! 🙂 Yes, I know I was 😉 Wishing you a very beautiful week! xxxxxxxx
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Have a beautiful week you too, Sarah! I know you are very busy, but I hope you find a moment to do something enjoyable 🙂 ❤
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Thank you, Inese! 🙂 I always enjoy a big cup of coffee around midday, does that count? 😉 xxxxxxxxx
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Everything that you love counts 🙂
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Also – had to share the song my sister sang as a child
I’m a little nut you see
The squirrels are always after me
Every time
They pass me.by
I laugh so hard
I could almost cry
I’m a nut
(Click click)
I’m a nut
Click)
Nut
Nut
Nut!
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Aww – that´s so sweet!! Thank you so much for sharing, Yvette! 🙂 Hugs&Kisses!
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Hi – you are the squirrel whisperer
And do you ever wonder about germs?
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Hehe! Yes, I guess I am 😀
And no, I don´t wonder about germs or parasites or anything – I´ve been feeding them now in such a long time now, and nothing ever happened 🙂
Have a great sunday, Yvette and thank you for dropping by! 🙂 xxxxx
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😊✌🏼️
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I love squirrels too. They are such lovely little creatures. 😀
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Thank you, Bun! 🙂 I couldn´t agree more 😀
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Wow, what a great experience and lovely pics 🙂
Enjoy the new week, big hug, XxX
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Thank you so much, Patty!! 🙂
How was your catching-up with your cousin? I´m always so excited when I meet someone whom I haven´t seen in a long while!
Have a very lovely week, too, dear Patty! 🙂 xxxxx
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Hi Sarah 🙂
We discovered it was even longer then we thought, we hadn’t see each other: about 30 years! And funny thing, it was as if we saw each other just last week 🙂
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Wow! That is a lot of time! But I know exactly what you mean with feeling it´s just been a week ago, I always feel the same too when it´s family or a very good friend. Hope it doesn´t take another 30 years until you see each other again! 😉 xxxxxx
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Those are some red squirrels!! Ours Fox Squirrels are nowhere near that red – much browner. And our Gray Squirrels are pretty gray (though some are more brown).
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Hehe! Yes, they are! 🙂 Red, I mean 😉
They are pretty common here in Europe, but we also have some that are much darker than red, kind of mud-brown, and I once saw one that was nearly black, although I think he or she is very likely a single case.
I bet Choppy loves to run after them? 😉 Have a great week! xxx
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She loves to chase squirrels – they are probably her second favorite to chase, after bunnies. We didn’t have any bunnies at our old house for whatever reason, so she had to make do with the squirrels.
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Lucky bunnies then 😉 I guess the squirrels are too fast for her? At least I hope they are! 😀
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Everything is too fast for her! She’s not exactly fleet of foot.
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What a gift that the squirrels trusted you enough to let you pet them! And thanks for the pictures!
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Thank you, Ann! 🙂
I feel very privileged everytime they come, especially since they´re still wild animals!
Wish you a very wonderful autumn week! xxxxx
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So fun! I have never enticed a squirrel quite like this, but appreciated that you carry “squirrel snacks”. Just today I saw a bird out my back porch so I left some sunflower seeds after he had flown away to see if I can attract him. I will keep you updated.
As always, I love your stories. Cheers, Sarah!
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Thank you so much, Melissa! I´m always so happy to see you around here 😀
Some might think I´m a bit weird carrying this stuff around all the time;) But I don´t mind, as long as it keeps the squirrels happy! 🙂
Oh, I´m sure the bird appreciated your offering very much – they are usually so very clever in finding every bit that could be yummy 😉 Keep doing it, and I´m sure it will come back and you´ll make friends! It´s an awesome feeling when a little bird hops onto your hand, they seem to weigh nothing at all, but their feet are quite real when you know what I mean 😉
Wish you a very lovely wee, dear Melissa and hope everything is fine with you!
Hugs&Kisses! xxxxx
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Lovely photos Sarah, and such a special experience to get so close to them. Hope you’re having a good weekend. xxx
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Awesome! Thanks for sharing 🙂
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Thank you so much, David! 🙂 Have a great week! xxx
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You too!! Hugs 😊
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Thanx! 🙂 xxx
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Nice post, Sarah. I love squirrels, too. We get gray ones, not red ones, in New England. They are delightful to watch.
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Thank you, Jennie! 🙂
Normally we only have red ones here in Europe, but I have seen some gray ones in England, though they´re not very welcome there, because they displace the red ones. They are so much bigger than the reds, I´m not sure if I would dare feeding them! 😉
Have a lovely week! xxxxx
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You, too, Sarah! 🌻
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Thanks, Jennie! 🙂 xxx
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You are welcome!
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I can completely understand your feeling when you are allowed to get this close and have a contact with the squirrels. I would be delighted just the same. Only once that I experienced this with a squirrel when he/she came close to get one of my peanut M&M candy. However, he/she did not take it from my hand.
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It really does take time for them to get used to you, although I bet that M&M candy must have been pretty alluring for the squirrel 😉 sugary chocolate coated peanut? It can´t get any better than that, can it? 😉
Hope you´ll have more luck next time!
Wish you a very beautiful week, dear friend! 🙂 xxxxx
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Please have a great week ahead too.
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Thank you! 🙂 xxx
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Wonderful pics!
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Thank you so much, Nadia!! 🙂 Have a great week ahead! Sarah 🙂
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Thank you Sarah!
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🙂
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Very nice post Sarah – squirrels are very interesting and I like them also. I see them here in our new location and they are very different from the ones in Texas. They seem a little nicer here! Have a great weekend, I hope all is well with you. 🙂
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Thank you sooo much for your wonderful comment, Terry!!! I´m always so glad to see you visiting me 😀
That´s interesting, never would have thought that there are regional differences between squirrels regarding their friendliness 😉 Maybe you can try feed the ones in your new area, too? It really is the most wonderful fun watching them slowly crawling nearer and nearer to get the nut 😉
Everything is quite allright here, thank you. Though my eye´s still making a bit of trouble… I started wearing sunglasses during sleep to prevent me from rubbing my eye at night! (Because that causes it also to rip open the corneal layer.) It was a bit difficult to get used to it, but now it´s quite ok 😉
Wish you a very happy and wonderful week ahead, dear friend! 🙂 xxxxx
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I will have to give it a try feeding the squirrels here, though they always seem to be in a hurry. I am sorry to hear about your eye, I certainly hope it gets better real soon. 🙂
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Oh, yes, they´re aaalways in a hurry! 😉 Best try to lay some nuts in a place where you´ve seen them coming along often. This should definitely attract them! They´re always searching 😀 Can´t wait to hear how it works out for you and the squirrels! 🙂
And thank you for the healing wishes, Terry! 🙂
Have a very lovely and happy day, dear friend! xxxxx
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It is nice to be able to hand feed them. I’ve never been able to pat one though. That is very special. Cheers to you, Sarah.
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Thank you, Chris! 🙂 It´s really been a wonderful moment (it lasted about 5 seconds 😉 ). Wish you a very beautiful week ahead, my friend! 🙂 Cheers!
P.S. So sorry for not writing you an email, I haven´t forgotten you, it´s just difficult with my eye to handle too much time on the pc… but I´ll try to write you this week! Promise! 🙂 Hope everything is fine with you!
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Things are good…a bit busy with school and such but good overall. Cheers!
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