AN UNEXPECTED OVERNIGHT FURRY LITTLE GUEST

With temps barely above freezing and an icy wind blowing under a cold gray sky it was an effort to get myself outside.  But, step outside Pheebs and I did.  We fired up the Jeep and took a short drive down to the end of Bayfield River Road, made a U-turn, and headed straight back home.  Shortly before 11 a.m. we had traces of snow in the air.  So far, it has been a slow Spring to warm up.

 COLD FRESH COUNTRY AIR THIS MORNING

Knowing today could be a cold gray day I took a few extra photos Friday afternoon when Pheebs and I were out for a walk.  It is those photos you first see in today's post until mid-afternoon when something happened that made me fire up my camera. 

ONE OF OUR ACTIVE FRONT YARD CHIPMUNKS WHO I SUSPECT HAVE THEIR BURROWS IN THE ROCKS THAT SURROUND OUR FROG POND

 CHIPPY'S CLOSE-UP

PAINTED TURTLE IN THE PARK'S POND

HYACINTH FLOWERS

THERE ARE TWO FROGS IN THE PHOTO AT THE EDGE OF OUR FRONT YARD FROG POND

 LOOK CLOSELY AND YOU CAN SEE THE EYE OF THE SECOND FROG

 SAME FROG COUPLE FROM A DIFFERENT ANGLE

It was about 2:45 this afternoon when I noticed something in our front yard that didn't quite look right.  Something small and black and hardly moving under the bird station.  It looked kinda like a squirrel but was too small and inactive for a squirrel....or was it.  Out the door I went and slowly approached expecting whatever it was to scamper off.  It didn't.  Approaching closer I saw it was a very young squirrel and it sat there looking up at me.  Slowly I extended my hand and it reached up to me with its front paws.  Moving slowly so as not to alarm it I carefully reached under and picked the little fellow up.  It made no attempt to bite me.  The little guy felt cold and being a cold windy day I quickly tucked it under my outer flannel shirt and held it in my hand there.  I petted it gently and I could tell it was content as it seemed to snuggle into the warmth of my shirt.  I did not feel at any time that this young squirrel was sick.  Just lost.  Carrying the little fellow with me I slipped around to one of our two sheds and picked out a cardboard box.  Next, I found an old car wash mitt in our carport and then headed inside.  The little guy appeared to be asleep in my hand under my shirt.  Once inside and not wanting to wake him up I slowly sat down in my sunroom recliner and tipped back a bit.  The little monkey woke up, shuffled around a bit and went back to sleep.  So there we sat for the next half hour, me reading my book and the little squirrel sound asleep on my chest while I softly petted it.  Kelly walked by and I pointed out the tiny black bundle of fur sleeping on my shirt.  She quickly grabbed my camera and took a few pictures.  After a bit, I put him into the box with the soft fur-like wash mitt and dropped in some birdseed which he readily began eating.  A good sign.  It also drank from a capful of water too.  After supper when he became more active I picked him up and put him in a larger plastic container.  With another near freezing cold night approaching, I decided to keep the little chap inside where it's safe and warm.  I plan to let 'Little Spike' go late tomorrow morning after a good breakfast when the sun will be shining and other squirrels will be in the yard.  Hopefully it's mama squirrel will be out there and by then he will be bulked up with enough birdseed to take on the world.  

 PEEKING OUT FROM UNDER MY SHIRT

 I THINK IT WAS THE WARMTH OF MY BODY THAT BROUGHT HIM AROUND

 I MOVED THE LITTLE FELLER TO A CARDBOARD BOX

 WHILE AT THE COMPUTER I HAD HIM ON THE COMPUTER DESK IN FRONT OF ME

 AFTER A WHILE WHEN THE LITTLE FELLA BECAME MORE ACTIVE I KNEW I HAD TO MOVE HIM TO LARGER MORE SECURE QUARTERS WHERE HE COULDN'T JUST 'POP' OUT OF THE BOX

 PLACING HIM IN A LARGER PLASTIC CONTAINER I GOT HIM SOME SUPPER

 JUST BEFORE SETTLING DOWN FOR THE NIGHT LITTLE SPIKE WAS BEGINNING TO ACT LIKE A REGULAR RAMBUNCTIOU RASCALLY LITTLE SQUIRREL WHICH OF COURSE WAS A GOOD SIGN

 AS TWILIGHT SET IN AND THE DAY'S LIGHT BEGAN TO DIM, THE LITTLE FELLA  TUCKED HIMSELF IN UNDERNEATH THE TOWEL AND WAS SOON FAST ASLEEP

Al's Music Box:)) Steel Rail Blues by Gordon Lightfoot.  I couldn't find any info on this song so here are the lyrics instead so now y'all can sing along...................Um, I can't hear you:))

Well I got my mail late last night
A letter from a girl who found the time to write
To her lonesome boy somewheres in the night
She sent me a railroad ticket too
To take me to her lovin' arms
And the big steel rail gonna carry me home to the one I love

Well I been out here many long days
I haven't found a place that I could call my own
Not a two bit bed to lay my body on
I been stood up I been shook down
I been dragged into the sand
And the big steel rail gonna carry me home to the one I love

Well I been uptight most еvery night
Walkin' along the streets of this old town
Not a friend around to tеll my troubles to
My good old car she done broke down
'Cause I drove it into the ground
And the big steel rail gonna carry me home to the one I love

Well I look over yonder across the plain
The big drive wheels are poundin' along the ground
Gonna get on board and I'll be homeward bound
Now I ain't had a home cooked meal
And Lord I need one now
And the big steel rail gonna carry me home to the one I love

Now here I am with my hat in my hand
Standin' on the broad highway will you give a ride
To a lonesome boy who missed the train last night
I went in town for one last round
And I gambled my ticket away
And the big steel rail won't carry me home to the one I love

GROANER'S CORNER:((  An important and very well-publicized murder trial was soon to begin. In preparation for the trial, the tiresome jury selection process took place, each side hotly contesting and dismissing potential jurors.  One prospective juror, Dan O'Keefe, was called for his question session.  He was asked, "Property holder?"  Dan replied, "Yes, I am, Your Honor."  Then he was asked, "Married or single?"  Dan responded, "Married for twenty years, Your Honor."  Then the judge asked, "Formed or expressed an opinion?"  Dan stated with certainty, "Not in twenty years, Your Honor."

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Teacher: "Kids, what does the chicken give you?"
Student: "Meat!"
Teacher: "Very good! Now what does the pig give you?"
Student: "Bacon!"
Teacher: "Great! And what does the fat cow give you?"
Student: "Homework!"

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Two men were in the process of inventing a new brand of gum. They were arguing over the fact that their new gum was too hard and brittle and didn't have the right consistency. One of the inventors kept arguing that they simply had to add more liquid to their primary secret ingredient, code-named "Yewin".  The other man argued adamantly. "No, No, No! It's not wetter Yewin that counts... it's how you ply the gum!"
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