When you carve a lot of pumpkins, you end up with lots of pulp. It smells divine!
We grow carving pumpkins, not known for their tasty flesh, so we usually scoop out the pulp, set aside some seeds, and compost the rest. That’s how we got this season’s crop: via the composting bin.
On my way to the compost pile earlier this week with the pumpkin innards, I made a detour. We have a nice clearing under the fruit tree, the perfect spot for snacking (if you’re a squirrel). I dumped a big pile of pulp and seeds under the tree, figuring I could always move it elsewhere if there were no takers. Ha!
It’s been a busy week, so I temporarily forgot about it. From the kitchen window on Thursday, a squirrel posed for me on the deck, but didn’t bother to wait for me to fetch my camera. Not above a small bribe, I gathered a handful of raw almonds and headed out, camera in tow. He performed some acrobatics in the tree, seen below diving to the lower branches before heading over the fence and away from view.
“Flying” squirrel antics
I came back inside feeling a bit dejected, looked directly out the back door and did a mental head slap. While I was busy chasing a squirrel around the front yard, one of his friends was out back enjoying a feast.
Wow…this is good.
I know, I know…my diet starts tomorrow
I tiptoed outside, sat down in a chair, and snapped away. The visiting squirrel and I enjoyed the feast together and bonded over our mutual love of gardening. When he had his fill, he planted a couple of seeds on my behalf.
.I’ll plant this one over here…
…and I’ll plant another one over here.
Was that my phone or yours???
Sorry…I need to take this call.
Gotta run. Thanks for the feast.
Cue the music: the circle of life.
Gardening Nirvana 
I just sat down to read my emails and there you came with this fabulous post – Just wonderful! I am amazed that you could get these shots of the furry fellow and isn’t he just enjoying the feast. You must put a marker in the ground where he planted his seeds and see if they come up – or will he come back later for them? Well done Alys, this has made my afternoon!
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Thank you so much. Aren’t they the cutest? I love his little belly, those cute ‘hands’ and the bushy tail. He’s definitely ready for winter.
Great idea marking the spots. I’ve read that they eat there fill, then bury the rest. Given the number of peanuts I dig up every year, my guess is many of the nuts and seeds are forgotten. The viable ones grow into plants or trees. We can’t sustain peanuts in our climate, but if this was Georgia, we could start a small peanut farm.
So glad I could put a smile on your face.
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I love the pictures! No squirrels in our neighborhood. You are so lucky ;0}
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We are indeed. They’ve been a fixture for as long as we’ve lived here.
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Such a fun post! I loved your story / picture show!
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Thanks, LB. How are you feeling today? I’ve been thinking about you a lot since your accident.
Are they able to manage your pain?
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To be honest, I had a bit of an emotional falling out last evening, the first without family around to limit the number of visitors 🙂
I figure it was either the reality of the seriousness of the wreck after reading the accident report (oh my!), or the energy involved in staying positive and saying “I’m so lucky”, or just exhaustion. Either way, today has been a bed day! I locked the doors, turned off the phone, slept a bit and visited my favorite bloggers.
Thanks so much for your thoughts and for asking, Alys!!
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I’m happy to read that you are taking care of yourself. That will serve you well in the long run. I think it makes sense that the enormity of what happened to you would take time to sink in. When that first wave of “wow…I’m alive” passes, you’ll still have the healing work ahead and that is never easy. You’ll have good days, bad days and probably a few awful days. Hopefully friends will understand. Sometimes when accidents happen, others want to be the center of attention. Look at what a good friend I am…then they’re hurt if you don’t’ respond in the way they want, forgetting all along that it isn’t about them. I’m glad you’re getting lots of rest and I’m glad, too, that you have a blogging community to reach out too.
Do you have a cat, dog or rabbit to snuggle with?
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Oh yes! My cat Abby has been so glad to have me home these past 2 weeks!!
Thanks for your words … I’ll remember them during these next couple weeks of oral surgery and the return to work occur.
The blogging community is … simply amazing!
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Hurray for Abby. I know she’s having the time of her life!
As for work, can you ease back into it?
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I’m happy to read that you are taking care of yourself. That will serve you well in the long run. I think it makes sense that the enormity of what happened to you would take time to sink in. When that first wave of “wow…I’m alive” passes, you’ll still have the healing work ahead and that is never easy. You’ll have good days, bad days and probably a few awful days. Hopefully friends will understand. Sometimes when accidents happen, others want to be the center of attention. Look at what a good friend I am…then they’re hurt if you don’t’ respond in the way they want, forgetting all along that it isn’t about them. I’m glad you’re getting lots of rest and I’m glad, too, that you have a blogging community to reach out too.
Do you have a cat, dog or rabbit to snuggle with?
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How charming! Never seen a squirrel in my garden.
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They are plentiful around here and always entertaining. Thanks for stopping by.
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I bet they are!
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I love your perspective on the squirrels. We had them in the AZ mountains and the dog would watch them for hours. I loved watching too until they ate the patio furniture. Maybe, if I’d given them some pumpkins, they would have left the furniture alone. 🙂 Lesson learned. I’ve had my smile for today. Thank you for taking the time to take such wonderful pictures.
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They ate your patio furniture!!! Oh my goodness, that’s no good.
One year they shredded a cushion and a flocked table cloth so I know how destructive they can be. I’ve been putting out laundry lint ever since, hoping they and the birds would use that instead. I’ve never actually seen them take it away, but I keep trying.
I’m so glad you enjoyed the photos. I sure had fun watching the antics.
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I’ve tried to click like and comment here earlier and wasn’t able to and then I took a nap, LOL
Your captions sure made me laugh, “is that my phone or yours”, adorable. It’s funny when they notice you and look your way. They have the cutest tummy’s and look so soft and white. I saw Sharon’s note about note being around her place ? That’s really odd. I wonder why? We sure had a number of them at the lake, I just loved watching them. I think the one picture you took he has pumpkin crumbs on his cute little hand 😀
Your post will give me sweet dreams, I know it sure made me smile. I bet it made LB feel better too. Good words of compassion and wisdom you’ve passed along too hon. It’s too scary to think about not being healthy enough to do all the things you love. Feeling very lucky for you and every good thing in my life today. Hugs
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WordPress can be so fickle at times. Thanks for persevering!
I’m so glad you laughed. It’s a good day when we can laugh, don’t you think?
They do have cute tummies and the most amazing tails. I’ll bet they are super soft to the touch, too. I loved watching him pull little pieces of pumpkin and seeds to his mouth. He was quite mesmerizing. Later in the day I noticed two squirrels, but I didn’t have a chance to get back outside at the time. They sure made quick work of it. There are just small traces of orange rind…nothing more.
Poor LB. She’s got an amazing spirit, but the pain she must be in and the emotional toll of such an accident must be tough.
I feel lucky too and ditto all you’ve said: very luck to have you in my life.
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Absolutely, it’s a good day when you can laugh or garden or in the best possible climate, both. According to Comedian/writer Dave Barry:
Your first job is to prepare the soil. The best tool for this is your neighbor’s motorized garden tiller. If your neighbor does not own a garden tiller, suggest that he buy one.
He’s one of my favourite comedians 😀 xo
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LOL! That is so funny.
‘suggest that he buy one.’ [snicker]
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Happy to hear about someone else with the same feelings towards the squirrels ~ I love watching them munch away on our pumpkins (as does my dog from the window). Hope you’re feeling better and better everyday!! Take care!
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I know not everyone is a fan, but I think they’re pretty cute, and entertaining. Thanks for stopping by and for taking the time to comment.
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Hi Alys. That was such a cute post. We don’t have squirrels here!
Cheers Sarah : o )
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Hi Sarah,
Squirrels are so prevalent here, it is hard to imagine that they haven’t over run the planet! They are cute and clever. People love them or hate them. I love all animals and can’t imagine my garden life without them, even when they are out there snacking on my tender pumpkin shoots or digging up bulbs. 😉
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Uh oh! YOu’ve made a friend!!
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Hee! Thanks for taking the time to read and comment on so many posts. I really appreciate you.
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