Hi, I’m Crispin. Remember me from a few weeks ago in the maple tree?

I wasn’t much bigger than a Coffee Crisp bar then, and I’m not a lot bigger now, but it isn’t for want of eating enough.

I tried this wood but it wasn’t that tasty. Think I’ll try the walnuts instead.

My older brother Jasper is also hanging around today, but I want to avoid him. He gets annoyed if I try to eat from what he calls HIS plate.

Oh, I think I hear him up there gnawing on the old moose antlers.

Maybe I’ll sneak over to the walnut stash while he’s busy.

I just hope that Steller’s jay isn’t hanging around. He has a sharp beak, like a spear. Maybe when I grow up I’ll take him on, but for now, it’s better to play it safe.

See that beak? This was him last week with the sunflower seeds, but maybe he won’t try stealing the walnuts today…. Fat chance.

I was just about to head for the jar of walnuts when I saw that huge tool behind me. Is that a pick axe? Yikes! Made me lose my footing!

Okay, I’m all recovered now. My mother, Della, told me always to say grace before eating, so here goes. (I don’t think the god of squirrels will mind if I don’t close my eyes. Not a safe thing to do.)

And with that out of the way, I can dive in!

Yummy walnuts from the ornamental black walnut tree.

Many dangers, all I see,

Many dangers threaten me,

Tiptoe lightly as a breeze,

Tiptoe quickly, and then freeze.

Look around from left to right,

Look around, stay out of sight,

Hurry to the walnut stash,

Hurry, careful, do not crash.

Grab some nutmeat and abscond,

Grab the food of which I’m fond,

Nibble some and hide the rest,

Nibble fast and save the best.

Winter chill is coming soon,

Winter winds, perhaps typhoon,

Be prepared for hungry days,

Be prepared, these are my ways.

“To be, or not to be, that is the question”

By William Shakespeare, otherwise known as Willy Wiggle-sword.

(from Hamlet, spoken by Hamlet)

To be, or not to be, that is the question:

Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer

The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,

Or to take arms against a sea of troubles

And by opposing end them.

Della’s Version

Spoken from Lincoln’s Woodshed

by his girlfriend, Della:

To share, or not to share, it’s out of the question:

Whether ’tis nobler for the stomach to suffer

The stings and pangs of outrageous starvation,

Or to take in my arms the tines of moose

And by chewing, end the ends of them.

I’ve got my nose right on this tine and it smells so-o-o go-o-o-od!

Oh yeah! I’ve found the mother lode!

But what if Lincoln finds me and sees that I didn’t call him in on the smorgasbord … should I tell him what I found?

M-m-m…. O-h-h-h! This is so-o-o-o good.

It’s nice to share, but … no-no-no-no-no, I have to get my fill first. Call me greedy, but I’m not sure Lincoln would share if he were the one who found it first … would he?

What’s that? You say I have a dribble on my chin? That’s okay. I can wipe it off later. No time right now.

To share or not to share…. Oh piffle! I’m gonna go for it.

I’ll just point out that I’ve left him lots of other tines.

Still, I’d hate to be caught being greedy. I’d better make a run for it.

I can always go back to my feeding station on the other post. There’s still some good nibbling left on those tines.

Amazing how much flavour is still in there after 17 years.

Wanna watch me nibble with my sharp teeth? I warn you that Anneli is not a good photographer. She wiggled as I nibbled. Also, try to ignore the neighbours’ power washer. I did. Click on the video link if you feel brave and later, why not check out Anneli’s website if you’ve never seen it. www.anneli-purchase.com

This is the ghost of Nibbles Past.

Don’t touch me, Della.

You’d better run fast.