The Chip Whisperer....

(A photo of "Back Yard Chip." All of our Chips are named for the locations of their little holes/dens. It is Backyard Chip that appears in the following video)

A sweet little video of Amanda, home from the city for a few days, feeding Back Yard Chip out on the deck this week...
I think it was my good friend, Claudia, who used the term Chip Whisperer in a comment she left in one of my previous "Chip" posts. Love it! haha Bless the beasts and the children... Donna

"C" is for cushions and Chips

The new cushions are now on the patio set.... (and let me preface this by saying please excuse the mess - the tables need a good scrubbing from winter storage and the patio is in desperate need of sweeping - yet again!)


My first choice was a nice green and white pattern, but the CTS I was at didn't have four in stock (I need 2 for the loveseat and 2 for the chairs), and since I didn't feel like running around to several stores to find 4 that matched...


... I just went with a very bright blue/green/lavender/white stripe. (At least they match the bright plastic tables I got at Wal Mart several years ago! The little waterfall fountain was also from Wal Mart several years ago. I love sitting down there, having the sound of running water in the background.)


The three tiered mosaic plant stand table was also purchased at Christmas Tree Shop several years ago.


This is the patio last year and the cushion set that I loved and was so sorry to have had to toss...


The cushions had green and white seashells on a blue background, and I wish they'd lasted forever!! Even though they were stored in the shed during the winter months, they still got stained and moldy from the occasions where they would get damp in the summer rains (even under the tent cover)... The weather resistant cushions are all $25 and up (at least the ones I've seen), but eventually I may have to break down and go that route so they'll last (rather than the less expensive ones from CTS).

Here's a favorite picture of mine... Hubby feeding one of our Chips out on the patio last year.

And this is me feeding one of our Chips a couple of weeks ago...

The Chips come running whenever they hear or see me working out in the garden because they know I keep peanut treats in my pockets... (excuse the dirty fingernails!)

I love to plant and dig in the dirt without garden gloves. I know I should wear them, and I occasionally do, but I really love the feel of planting and potting with my bare hands. And when I'm done, I set the hose on JET spray and boy, does that gets rid of all the dirt underneath my nails until I go into the house to actually wash my hands with soap and water!

Wishing you all a summer full of your favorite treats!!!!

Donna

Chip(s) - up close and personal...

Since we live on the vast wilderness that is 1/3 of an acre, nestled snuggly amidst hundreds of other houses on 1/3 of an acre, we get excited over even the smallest sightings of wildlife (yes, even when they are on our patio table hoarding peanuts from a bag I left outside by mistake!).


Meet Chip (he could be any one of about 6 Chips). Up until about 3 or 4 years ago, we never even had chipmunks, and we've lived in this same house for 27 years! I don't know how or why, but all that changed several years ago, and this year we have about six Chips scampering about our yard.


Chips are addicted to "no salt roasted peanuts." They are also very territorial, and when all six of them are competing for the nuts things get a little 'wild' around here! One Chip got flipped into the waterfall fountain during a wrestling match last week but, thankfully, all that was hurt was his ego....


Unlike the squirrels, who will haltingly come closer and closer for a peanut, Chips practically leap into your lap to get their daily dose of peanuts (being provided here by our sweet Courtney).


Once they trust you, they are truly fearless little creatures (Chip and hubby in this photo)... When these little guys see me or hear me calling them (yes, I'm certain the neighbors think I've gone batty), they run to greet me, knowing full well that I keep my pockets stuffed with peanuts. I feel a bit like Sleeping Beauty when she walked through the forest and all the little critters ran to meet her (of course I don't have her sweet singing voice... or her long blond hair... or her tiny little waist... but you get the idea!)


These little guys have been such a welcome addition to our yard (Court took this great photo!)... If they can survive the neighborhood kitties that stalk them (grrrrr), then we'll be in for an entertaining summer (as well as some hefty peanut bills!)...

Donna