Goodbye, my sweet friend...

I snapped these photos about 3 weeks ago. Chip was visiting up on the deck and thought the top of the fountain would be a good place to hang out until I tossed him some peanuts.

Chip, you brightened my summer days with your funny antics and your peanut-stuffed cheeks.

My sweet little friend met his end this afternoon at the claws and fangs of the well fed house cat who lives next door, and who has taken to laying in wait in our backyard. He has also caught and killed at least a half dozen birds that I know of in the short time that he has lived next door.

My little Chip, you will be missed more than you can imagine.

Donna

Wild thing, you make my heart sing...

You make everything... 

  Groovy!! 

(talk about dating myself!!!)

You've all heard the phrase "you can't teach an old dog new tricks," 

but apparently you can teach a young squirrel some new ones!

At least with the help of my fearless Chip

(who has a bit of an alien "Take me to your leader" look going on in this photo!)

Chip is delighted to come and visit me (it's actually the peanut basket he enjoys visiting, but I pretend it's me). The birds and the squirrels? Not so much. They typically hold back a bit and wait for something to be tossed in their direction.

Needless to say, Chip gets a lot more peanuts than the other critters since he's not one bit shy about helping himself.

One evening a few weeks ago, I watched while Sammy Squirrel, over on the chair, studied Chip's comings and goings in and out of the peanut basket.

 He was clearly in awe of Chip's front row seat at the self-serve buffet.

The aroma of roasted peanuts was clearly seducing him.

And before long, Chip and I had company on the settee.

First one paw on the basket...

...and then the other. Sammy was a happy camper as he grabbed a couple of peanuts for the road.

Not wanting to miss out on this action, Mr. Blue Jay also swooped in for a peanut or two.

All in all, a great way to unwind after a hectic day, 

spending time with all the little critters who grace our backyard with their presence.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

For more posts about our sweet backyard Chip(s)
Click Here

This week I'm joining Claudia, Mockingbird Hill Cottage for A Favorite Thing Saturday,
and Cindy, My Romantic Home for Show & Tell Friday

COMMENT UPDATE:
No, the photos weren't take through a window. I was enjoying the backyard, sitting on the wicker settee right next to the peanut basket. That's the only way I could possibly get decent close-ups with my little point & shoot Canon Power Shot!

Donna

the Mermaid, the Lily, and the Photobomb

At the base of our deck stairs, right next to our swing set sitting area is a small garden.

A mermaid, perched on the bottom step, seems to enjoy this location.

I know this because she is always in the same relaxed position, soaking up the summer sun, with a most blissful look on her face.

 I planted several lilies in this spot a few years ago, but like many other things I've planted in 'groupings,' only one plant seems to have survived.

I think it rather enjoys being the main attraction in this little garden setting.

We have finally purchased some much needed bark mulch and hopefully we'll have this little area looking oh-so-much tidier in the not too distant future.

When I was snapping these photos yesterday, I didn't realize I'd captured a photobomb until I saw the pictures on my computer screen (look closely and you'll see it, too!).

 There, in all his little glory, was Chip with a peanut in each cheek and one in his mouth.  Chip, you made this photo all the better, you funny little guy!!!

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

Donna

Hello, old friend....

There are certain relationships that, no matter how much time has passed since you've seen each other, you pick up right where you left off...

And so it is for Chip and I.

 After all, when you work from home you tend to take your breaks and lunches with the backyard critters

(at least during the spring and summer months!)...

... so Chip and I go way back.

But today was the first time this season that we've actually had the time to sit down and chat.

As we do every year, Chip and I looked out over the back yard and I shared some of my upcoming "garden-in-the-making" plans with him. 

And as always, Chip is very supportive of my vision and plans...

(So long as peanuts regularly appear on the lunch menu!)

Our lunch break flew by and then it was time for me to get back to work. Chip took one last peanut for the road and we made plans to get together again in a few days.

Wishing all of you warm spring breezes and good times with old friends....

I'm linking to A Favorite Thing at Claudia's Mockingbird Hill Cottage and

 Cindy's Show & Tell Friday at My Romantic Home this week.

Donna

Feeding Time at the Zoo...

A couple of weeks ago I paid bills on the table outside. It was a gorgeous, sunny afternoon, much too nice to be stuck inside. It wasn't long before I had some friends join me. (The peanut basket I brought out with me is like a beacon.)

(click on any photos to enlarge them)

This is one of the many bluejays who visit our yard. But this particular little guy is the only one brave enough to come right up to me to get his peanuts.

It's taken a while for him to feel comfortable enough to come this close. I doubt he'll ever trust me enough to eat out of my hand like my chipmunk friends, but I feel honored that he trusts me enough to come this close.

I was almost out of peanuts on this particular day, so he had to hop down into the basket to retrieve his treats, with me sitting right there. Another act of great bravery on his part.

I know bluejays can be mean birds, but I still have a soft spot for them.

Now Ms. Titmouse isn't nearly so shy. She always makes sure I see her when she comes to visit, hopping from chair to table and from side to side to catch my attention. I think she likes to be admired and told how cute she is.

Of course my little Chips are ever present. Today I made Chip get his own peanuts out of the basket instead of hand feeding him since I was busy paying bills (and taking pictures!).

Here he is with his cheeks full, on his way out of the basket while Sammy Squirrel decides whether or not to join him.

My little Chips are fearless creatures, always eager to become friends with the peanut lady (me). 

Another picture of Sammy deciding whether to join us while Mr. Blue Jay watches over the peanut basket from the top of our wrought iron planter holder.

It really was a perfect afternoon. I even had a visit from shy Mrs. Mourning Dove, who braved the feeding frenzy in order to get a drink from the fountain. Having all these little creatures around sure took a bit of the sting out of paying bills!!

Have a beautiful week... Donna

Our Pet Chipmunk

Sometimes I feel as though we really do have an enchanted garden, and the other afternoon was a perfect example. While it's not very big or fancy, our little backyard is filled with a variety of birds and little critters scampering about. And we've made some "enchanting" friends back there.

One day last week hubby and I sat back there and spent quite a bit of time with one of our "Chips," seen here taking peanuts from me.

Not wanting to play favorites, Chip divided his time equally between hubby and me.

We all hung out, just chit-chatting, admiring the garden, and enjoying a glorious summer day.

After a while, Chip decided he'd like to choose his own peanuts.

He may be small, but he's got a mighty big appetite!

A bit later, while tossing peanuts on the patio for Chip and some of his friends, one peanut ended up in the waterfall fountain.

Our little Chip wasn't about to let a bit of water stop him from retrieving that tasty tidbit, as evidenced by this short video:

I've made a set of "steps" by placing rocks, from small to large, along the inside edge of the lower level as it's a bit deep for small animals and birds and I want to make sure they're able to get out if they ever fall in. Chip was smart enough to climb down those rocks in order to reach his peanut. That's my boy!

Wishing you all enchanted gardens filled with magical little creatures!

I'm linking to Tracie's Cottage Garden Party at the lovely Fishtail Cottage
and Cindy's Show & Tell Friday at the lovely My Romantic Home this week.

Donna

A Roswell update, and my sweet pet chipmunks

Little by little the backyard is coming along...

Mulch is being spread and garden paths are being staked out (photo from 2 weeks ago)...

A few years back when we took down our old above ground pool, we were left with a crater that I nicknamed Roswell because it looked like a flying saucer had landed in our yard.

Here's the yard several years later, slowly but surely looking less like a crater and more like a garden-in-the-making (Photo from last night, after the gravel was put down in the pathways.)

Another photo from a few weeks ago, showing the paths without gravel. We held off working on this section of the garden until Mr. & Mrs. Wren and their babies moved out of the house pictured above (which has now happened).

There are still so many plants I want to add between the gravel paths...

.. but all in good time.

One of the highlights of working in the garden is being surrounded by the sweet little critters and birds who bless us with their presence. I always carry peanuts in my pocket when I'm watering and such, and that means that my Chips and the Bluejays (HUGE peanut fans) scurry around and/or watch from the trees for me to toss them some treats. Here are several 15 second clips taken over the past week or two of my garden friends.

Chip eating out of my hand.

Check out Chip's cute little tongue while he positions 

the peanut in his cheek! haha

Chip literally leaping into my lap!

My smart little Chip!

A visit from Mr. Bluejay

Another Day, Another Chip...

I just can't get enough of my little Chips! 

Hopefully I'll someday have the camera handy when there are 2 or 3 Chips visiting at the same time. It gets CRAZY as they chase each other around!

Please stop by to visit Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show & Tell Friday!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend :)

Donna