Share Your World 15th August

Thank you, Di, for keeping this going! I’m hoping we find out how Melanie is doing soon, too.

Hard to believe it’s the middle of August. Summer has slipped by in a haze of broiling hot weather and a frightening absence of rain. I think we get little minutes of rain during the night and I only can say this because the weeds in the backyard aren’t completely brown yet. That Owen won’t mow the lawn until we get rain probably helps, but we also keep it shaggy to make it friendlier to our non-human neighbors.

This morning I looked out the window and a deer was roaming around the backyard eating whatever she could find. I didn’t have a camera and I knew if I went to get one, she (he?) would be gone by the time I got back. I don’t know how nutritious what remains green is for the deer. It’s mostly wild grape vines and the wilted leaves of the forsythia hedges. The big trees with deep roots look okay, but everything else is wilted.

The deer ate for a while then disappeared through the hedge into the woods. They are amazingly good at vanishing before your eyes. I wasn’t wearing my glasses, so first I thought it was a big dog, but then I realized it definitely wasn’t a dog. When I finally managed to focus, I was surprised. I know there are lots of deer in our woods, but we almost never see them — only what is left after they eat the garden. No garden this year, so I guess they will have to eat other stuff.

We have a new group of red squirrels. They are still very small — almost as small as their flying cousins and they are eating enough for a whole platoon. I don’t chase them away until suddenly we are all squirrels and all the birds are in the trees yelling at them to “Hey, make a little room for your feathered buddies!”

At which point I will let the Duke out on the deck to remind them that ferocious old Duke is still on the prowl. Honestly, I’m not sure what the Duke would do if he caught one, but I consider the chances of him catching one very negligible. Squirrels are fast, the Duke is lazy. Also, if a squirrel hissed at him, the Duke would run away crying with fear.

Questions

1. Do you prefer to live in a single story property like a bungalow, a high rise apartment, or a house?

I’m not sure what the difference is between a bungalow and a small house. As far as I know, they are the same thing in slightly different formats. Regardless, we have a house. I can’t imagine moving back to an apartment. Mind you I have lived in apartments, but we have grown very used to having our own place. I’m not even remotely ready to change back.

The answer seems to be HOUSE.

2. If you won a large amount of money on the lottery, would you want publicity or keep things quiet and low key?

Quiet and low key! I’m sure I’d discover I have a LOT more relatives with that publicity. I would be happy to give almost all of the money away, but I’d prefer to choose how to do that myself.

3. How do you like your eggs? (No, this is not a trick question.)

I don’t love eggs, but frittatas and other baked eggs are good. We made a frittata last week that was downright scrumptious.

4. If cars were no longer available, what would be your choice of transport?

I’d opt for a horse and buggy, though we couldn’t keep the horse ourselves. We’d have to board him nearby.

6. This made me smile. Maybe it will do the same for you.

Categories: #gallery, #Photography, #Squirrel, #SYW, Anecdote, Share My World

Tags: #gallery, #Humor, #Photography, #Squirrels, #SYW, humor, Marilyn Armstrong