In spite of being pregnant, probably with triplets or quadruplets, Della still likes to explore the forest around the woodshed. She has a long pole that she runs out on. She checks for danger, and then launches herself to the nearest fir tree.
Usually … that’s what she does.
Today, getting ready to take the leap, she hesitates.
Concentrate! Get ready to leap.
Ahh! Yawwwwwn! The sun is shining here and it’s so lovely after so much snow and rain. I’m just going to enjoy a few rays of warmth before I launch myself into the trees.
Now for that jump to the fir tree. Hmm … was it always this scary?
Hhhhh! Oh dear … what if I fall? My poor babies!
Such a long way down….
Know what? I think I’m going to play it safe today.
I’m going to check out the sunflower seeds in my jar and have a little snack … and then we’ll see.
As a young and playful squirrel,
Nothing could deter this girl,
Now I’m older, more mature,
Chances that I take are fewer.
Flying through the air with ease,
Grasping branches of the trees,
Up a hundred feet, I’d run,
I’d get high this way for fun.
But for now I take it slow,
I’m more careful where I go,
Babies soon will be with me,
And we’ll all go tree to tree.
March 4, 2022 at 12:24 am
A lovely story with a great photos! Soon you will see the tiny squirrels, they are cute with their tails looking like a woollen yarn.
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March 4, 2022 at 7:01 am
They really are so cute. Last year one of the babies nearly feel from a tree. He was hanging by one leg, but managed to pull himself up.
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March 4, 2022 at 12:58 am
Werdende Mütter sind vorsichtig, hoffentlich auch Della.
Schöne Bilder mit sehr aussagekräftigen Texten 😅😊
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March 4, 2022 at 7:01 am
Thanks, Mathilda. I hope she’ll stay safe.
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March 4, 2022 at 7:46 am
I hope and wish for her too 😍
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March 4, 2022 at 2:15 am
Your photos and story about her are adorable, and she has such pretty colours! You must be looking forward to watching the little ones grow up.
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March 4, 2022 at 7:02 am
I really am. It was such a thrill to see them last year.
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March 4, 2022 at 4:11 am
A heartwarming post that has me smiling away – clever Della for being careful. I love the interior monologue and the photos are superb – one can see her worried concerned expression. Wise decision to return to the safer sunflower seeds and wait for th birth!
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March 4, 2022 at 7:03 am
I’m always glad to see them being careful. Thanks, Annika.
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March 4, 2022 at 4:53 am
Those are such lovely pictures! And your text is going so well with them. Love it!
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March 4, 2022 at 7:03 am
Tnx, Ursula. I love my squirrels.
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March 4, 2022 at 6:19 am
Such a fun poem and photos, Anneli! I love how your words match the photos. ❤️☺️
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March 4, 2022 at 7:04 am
Sometimes they really seem to be saying something. I wonder if they are really thinking what they look like they’re thinking.
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March 4, 2022 at 8:18 am
Isn’t that so weird and fun? I wish we hoomans could tap in to their little brains! They are sooo cute! 😂❤️
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March 4, 2022 at 9:27 am
Yeah, they really are cute.
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March 4, 2022 at 7:19 am
She has to be extra cautious right now. A good thing she has a safe food source nearby. Sweet post, Anneli.
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March 4, 2022 at 1:39 pm
I keep her well fed, but she still finds plenty of food on her own so that’s good too. Thanks for your thoughtful comment, Belinda.
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March 4, 2022 at 7:35 am
How precious. I love the pictures and the poetry. Mothers of all species are the same, aren’t we?
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March 4, 2022 at 1:39 pm
Yup! Most important job in the world.
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March 15, 2022 at 12:40 pm
🙂
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March 4, 2022 at 7:43 am
Love this. And you could tell she’s pregnant!
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March 4, 2022 at 1:40 pm
Yes, she has quite the fat middle.
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March 4, 2022 at 5:33 pm
Lovely photo essay and a great poem about your squirrel friend, Anneli
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March 4, 2022 at 5:53 pm
Thank you so much, Peter. In these awful times the squirrels keep me cheered up at least a little bit.
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March 5, 2022 at 9:34 am
Adorable!! Hopefully you will get some baby pictures soon.
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March 5, 2022 at 9:42 am
Once the babies are born they stay in the nest for quite a while. I think I read 42 days or so??? Anyway, they take a while to get their fur and be all ready for climbing and scampering around before they venture out of a hidden nest.
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March 5, 2022 at 3:28 pm
Thank you for telling me, Anneli. I know you will be keeping an eye out!
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March 5, 2022 at 3:30 pm
I will be, and I really hope I’ll get some videos of them scampering around.
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March 6, 2022 at 5:44 am
🙂
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March 5, 2022 at 4:02 pm
Such a fun post, Anneli. I love the photo story and your sweet poem. ❤ Brought a bit of joy to my heart this evening.
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March 5, 2022 at 5:37 pm
Aww … that’s so good to hear, Carol. That is my goal – to share a bit of fun I have at the expense of my animal visitors.
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March 6, 2022 at 12:24 pm
So this brings up the question: does she realize she’s pregnant? Or does she feel out of balance? How much does an animal know when she’s pregnant?
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March 6, 2022 at 1:19 pm
I’ll ask her next time I see her. I bet they know that something is happening, and that mothering instinct will kick in – if not now, then for sure once the little critters are born.
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March 6, 2022 at 5:44 pm
They must have some idea. If anybody can find it out from her, it will be you!
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March 6, 2022 at 7:26 pm
They do build a nest, so they plan ahead. I accidentally came across the nest she had built in between the stacks of firewood. I set the soft nest of dried leaves and chewed rope (which I had seen her chewing off the end of a float we have hanging out there), up on top of the firewood in case the squirrels wanted to retrieve it. After a couple of days the nest disappeared, so I think the mother squirrel moved it to a better location.
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March 7, 2022 at 6:35 am
Oh that is a wonderful observation. Yes, they instinctively create a nest. Hmm.
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March 8, 2022 at 10:23 am
You take such great photos, Anneli. It’s that time of year, isn’t it? I need to head out and toss some squirrel snacks around. 🙂
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March 8, 2022 at 11:07 am
They’ll appreciate that. Probably the fall stashes are getting depleted. One thing I learned about feeding squirrels is that peanuts are not the ideal food for them. Seems odd since the makers of peanut butter used the Squirrel name. Anyway, peanuts are not particularly nutritious for squirrels and fill them up with empty calories (so I’ve heard anyway). But I’m sure they’ll love having extra food put out for them.
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March 8, 2022 at 11:09 am
We throw a combination of seed and nuts – mostly walnuts. The birds join in the feast. 🙂
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March 8, 2022 at 11:11 am
They will love that. I think our little friends need all the help they can get these days.
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March 10, 2022 at 5:05 pm
Such an amazing image and great poem that you shared Anneli.
Thanks Anita
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March 10, 2022 at 11:24 pm
Thank you, Anita.
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March 14, 2022 at 3:24 am
Ich liebe diese entzückende, kleine Geschichte! Anneli, du hast hier wirklich so putzige Fotos mit passenden Texten zusammengestellt, dass sie mir ein Lächeln in das Gesicht zaubern. Da wir direkt am Waldrand wohnen, haben wir auch jeden Tag Eichhörnchen zu Besuch, die sich gerne die Nüsse holen, die ich auf die Fensterbank und auf die Terrasse lege.
Vielen Dank für diese schöne Story!
Einen schönen Tag wünscht dir Rosie
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March 14, 2022 at 8:29 am
Aren’t they just the sweetest little creatures?! I’m so glad you are also leaving “goodies” for the squirrels.
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March 15, 2022 at 9:52 am
Ich habe festgestellt, dass sie am liebsten Haselnüsse und Walnüsse mögen. Aber sie holen sich auch gern Sonnenblumenkerne aus dem Vogelhäuschen.
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March 15, 2022 at 10:41 am
Das stimmt ganz genau!
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March 15, 2022 at 12:37 pm
🥰
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March 27, 2022 at 5:34 am
I love the photos and the poem. Such a complement, Anneli. 💙
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March 27, 2022 at 9:08 am
Thank you, Niel. I’m glad you enjoyed the post. My squirrels are so much fun for me.
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