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"Fall Squirrels"
Fall squirrels are the best! Yesterday I had a flash of fall candles wafting through the air with the cooling weather. Those are cool times! I was also looking at older squirrel pictures, and I’ve been meaning to share these:
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The combination of aromatic candles and fall squirrels takes me back when we had the house. The squirrels would come and go, helping themselves to seeds and leaves. Seasons are truly ephemeral and enjoyable! It will be interesting to see how I feel about squirrels this summer – with my summer candles.
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I’ve been seeing many squirrels lately! The warmer weather is exactly about that, bringing me joy at the same time. It has mostly been black squirrels! Sometimes, I see them fighting for a piece; other times, they are scurrying. I saw a red squirrel, too - not long ago! All this attests to spring approaching, although, as we know, squirrels are here all-year-round.
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I’ve also been meaning to come across baby squirrels. I know; they are pretty isolated in trees and nests. But a guy can wish! Flying squirrels are also on my wishlist, but I don’t think they’re very common where I live!
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My deep connection with squirrels speaks to the happenstance quality of these little creatures. Because they are virtually everywhere, it makes sense to seem to be following them around and vice versa. I trust the ecosystem allows for such an alliance: I think it does. In fact, there is a playful quality attached to bumping in to squirrels. Wherever I turn, chances are that we’ll cross paths.
With the warmer weather approaching, I saw a handful of squirrels outside today. It was peaceful to bump in to them; the last days have been cold with a lot of snow. Often, I wonder about squirrels and their perception of snow. Is it fun to play in? Does it signal something temporary? Squirrels know, just like humans!
Squirrels are fun. I’ve once seen a squirrel eat a mushroom; I thought it was a leaf! Over time, when I look at my pictures, I grow fonder and fonder of the art process, photography. Squirrels can be startled easily, and they are generally afraid-curious around humans. I’ve got to be quick if I want to record a scene or capture a moment to revisit later. Photography is good this way.
Without pictures, I think the mind would have a hard time remembering vivid images and instances of these ephemeral creatures. The positive element is that I record moments of squirrels – those that are beautiful. Looking back through these moments reminds us of the importance of celebrating what squirrels yield. They give me joy by being simultaneously everywhere and anywhere. Squirrels give rise to equanimity, sometimes, along with other elements in the ecosystem. At times, all it takes is a squirrel eating a mushroom to generate mental pictures of calm – and producing this very state!
"Squirrels Redux"
When I wrote my last piece on squirrels, I didn’t know I would be rewarded by seeing a beautiful, beautiful, black squirrel observing the scene in a tree. I was walking toward the park when I saw this cute creature being curious about me. I stopped to take a picture of the squirrel and it went up the tree! I find it lovely that I wrote about the ephemeral quality of squirrels in the winter, and that, the following day, a sweet squirrel greets me at Dow’s Lake. Sometimes, luck is in your hand! I’m happy the squirrel didn’t run away and gently remained curious. I guess there is something whimsical about squirrels in the winter. Winter is full of surprises!
"Squirrels"
I haven’t seen a squirrel in some time. The other day, my eyes glanced outside and I saw a black squirrel scurrying by trees. It is winter, so, squirrels typically look for warmer places. I often see squirrels when it is a bit warm out for a winter day. They can be seen as a group under a big tree, as I saw in December. Definitely, there is something unusual about squirrels in wintertime.
When I look and spot a squirrel, I like to examine it and see if it looks rough. Winter, and, by extension, all seasons, can be hard for animals in Canada. How many times have I come across a squirrel with patchy hair, a short tail, or even injuries? Squirrels can look rough around the edges owing to their environment. I do notice how, during cooler, colder months, squirrels look a bit chunky. Whatever season it is, squirrels catch my eye.
Warm places are those that offer squirrels comfort. I can think of trees and squirrels’ nests where they hibernate and find peace amidst the sheer cold. The interesting thing about this is that, I think, squirrels figure it out on their own. I feel they know when to retreat and get ready for what is next. Seasons change, much as squirrels do. Squirrels look a bit different all the time because of those changes.
At the same time, I wonder about squirrels’ role in the natural landscape. I notice their weakness and their fortitude, as well as their other qualities. The lighter side has squirrels as amusing creatures. They are like acrobats, jumping, twisting, and turning across branches. I like their movement, because it embodies freedom. My perception of squirrels definitely derives from notions of captivity and survival.
Warmer months often see squirrels coming out of their winter habitats. So much joy fills my heart when we sense spring and summer approaching. Much as humans are able to adapt and change according to their environment, squirrels can live peaceful lives doing what they know best. Seasons are in squirrels’ orbits, but we know squirrels do a lot to survive as well.
I’m so thankful to bear witness to their comings and goings. I don’t have to understand their every move or whereabouts in order to co-exist with them. Taking part on the planet means being a participant in squirrels’ world, much as they are a participant in mine.
