Next!

But When There Are No Squirrels ...

...and ya gotta chase something, the end of a yard stick will do.

Weekend Guests

These guests announced their arrival after dark one night by a good bit of splashing and thrashing and grunting in and around the pond. We turned off all of the house lights to get a good look but, as they were on the other side of the pond we couldn't make out just who or what was there. Suddenly the moose twins dashed across the lawn on the house side of the pond. Mom was trudging behind. I think, because I have seen it before in daylight, the mother was teaching the young to get into the pond.
These three stayed on one part of the property or another for about two days.
The picture that I failed to get was a baby moose, who is not quite window height, checking out Teacake who was in the window. They were separated by the window screen but probably no more than a few inches apart.
All of the animals who come around are not as welcome as the moose. The county licensed trapper carried off 9 raccoons earlier this summer and I imagine we still have a few. The raccoons were eating the duck eggs so, sadly, we have no ducks this year.
We have also just spotted our first muskrat since spring. These guys dig tunnels off of the pond and were responsible for major damage to the terrace. Wasn't there a Carpenter's song Muskrat Love? No love lost on them at all here!

You Can't Chase Squirrels All The Time

Unsolicited Comment on Squirrels

After being relentlessly pestered by a squirrel myself while trying to read the times on the porch of the cabin, after assuming that I had won that rather fiercely fought battle ( using a water hose, sticks, rock and finally wielding a "blunt object") and after finding the next day that the squirrel had systematically pulled up every plant in the cabin planters, even knocking a planter off the porch, I have decided to post this unsolicited comment from my friend, Gitta.

I HATE squirrels! They have eaten every piece of fruit that has grown this year( except for the peaches that I photographed - picked them while they were still hard and let them ripen): first cherries, then plums, apricots, peaches, apples and just now pears. If they eat my figs I am going to sit in my room here ( that has a view of the tree and an open window ) and use a sling shot on them!

If you don't like the news...

...just sit on it a while.

The Taunting Squirrel

We have been in this house for nine years and for nine years we have had a dynasty of squirrels who love to taunt the cats. This morning this guy was perched on the outer edge of one of the windows by the front door just waiting.
When Jenny saw him and charged, the squirrel dashed over to the other window where, in short order, paw to paw combat ensued. See the second photo and look closely for the squirrel on the other side of the window. It might be hard to make out but perhaps you can see that the feisty little fighter is up on his hind legs as he take on the glass enshrined Goliath(a).

Post No. 100

It is fitting, I suppose, that on post no. 100 I have hit the proverial and, in this case, pictorial wall. Instead of wondering just where to point my camera, I was supposed to be in Tokyo at this moment visiting, exploring and playing with Jolie and Owain prior to an exciting shooting event in the Fuji area. Along with the best laid plans of mice and other mammals, things just didnt work out and I did not go.
I remember reading that photographer Edward Weston spent the years of WWII at his home in Big Sur photographing, mostly, his cats. For the moment, having pretty much exhausted the flowers in the yard as subject and following Weston's lead, I am now inspired to turn to cats.

Now this might seem like a rather idle task and, of course, I can't speak for the Weston's kitties but these addicts to Pounce Cat Treats take all attention as junk food time. One or the other will leave the adorable composition to come over and check out the pouncey possibilities. That or, totally true to their classification, they turn and stroll away.
It has been cool lately - 34 when I got up this morning- and I am forced to use this temperature change to my advantage. ( see above and probably a few more pics cat in sun to follow!) It's this or get a kitten.

Soon..

...as reported earlier, these will be gone. Already the temps are in the 30s at night and the furnace kicks in. In celebration then of these days that can still, nevertheless, be called summer, are some flowers.

And on the home front..

It is the time of year in Jackson where everything that is going to bloom is blooming. Our growing season is probably less than a full 8 weeks. While glorious days can persist into early October, by the end of August we have had enough frost to bring a quick end to bouquets like these.
In our first couple of years here we dutifully covered the planters on cold nights while puzzling that our neighbors, so diligent with their garden all summer, did nothing. The fact is that once the killing frosts start, that's it. It never gets warm enough for flowers again.
So, these warm days and their flowers are relished and, in my enthusiasm for them, you may expect more flowery posts.