Frank

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Frank and the Squirrels Who Loved Him

That sounds like a dime-store romance doesn’t it?

In this story we have no tragic heroine, just a sad pumpkin named Frank unable to live up to his potential after a careless gardener tossed him willy-nilly on to the walkway.  Poor, poor, Frank.

There are no villains either, simply opportunistic squirrels passionate about (eating) pumpkins.

After Frank went splitsville, even a hardy set of staples couldn’t keep him together for long.  The elements took their toll.  Frank flat-lined. It was time to remove the staples.

pumpkin with staples

Frank’s demise

After counting to three, I reached down and scooped up a mass of soggy pumpkin pulp and a handful of white seeds.  The rest was up to the squirrels.  They came and went for two days, but I never had my camera ready.  The stars finally aligned and I took a handful of photos, below.

squirrel eating pumpkin pulp

Passionate about pumpkin

squirrel jumping

Flying squirrel

dark squirrel eating pumpkin

Table manners

grey squirrel eating pumpkin

Plenty to go around

 

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Frank’s Makeover: Too Little, Too Late

Shelley's Makeover

Shelley’s Makeover

Pauline, at The Contented Crafter suggested earlier this week that  “Frank [the pumpkin] may feel a little left out” after seeing Shelley’s fashion makeover.  She opined “Could you not knit him a scarf or maybe come up with a hat for your cooler nights?”

I knew Frank wasn’t long for this world, being a split pumpkin full of staples and all, so I did the next best thing: I put him on a pedestal (always good for improving ones sense of stature) and floated a festive Hydrangea for stylish panache.

Frank and Shelley

Frank spews seeds

Then poor Frank ‘tossed his cookies’ while cousin Shelley looked on in horror.

∏ – ∏ – ∏

Today it was every critter for themselves: houseflies, pincer bugs, squash bugs, you name it. Opportunists came and went, including something with very sharp teeth.  I’m glad I missed that transaction.  Soon I will don some gloves and rescue a few seeds so that Frank’s legacy lives on.

pumpkin collage

Frank’s Tale

stapled pumpkin

What do you suppose is beyond the dark abyss?

frank the pumpkin

Oh Frank! I miss you already.