I love the weekend. Not just because I don’t have to get up before the sun, force myself to face the shower and go to work, but because of all the wonderful opportunities these 48 hours afford me.
I usually start my weekend with coffee on the back porch, phone and camera at the ready, just in case something miraculous comes along. As usual there was no shortage of such miracles today and perhaps I will share more of them later.
The other great thing about weekends is that I have the chance to work on my creative projects. Since I work out of our dining area which faces the back porch, I can still watch for little surprises now and then.
This afternoon brought one such unexpected delight. We usually see Zippy, our resident chipmunk, or one of his relatives and descendents darting across the yard or hanging near the edge of the porch just daydreaming; but by the time I grab my camera the visitors have disappeared. Today I was stealthier than my little friend, or perhaps he was just distracted by hunger and determination. Either way I managed to photograph his little adventure.
Man, I’m hungry!I know just where to go!I’ll just dash in here for a bit of grub..Upsie daisy!Just..one..more..push..Those leaves were jiggling, folks.Ahhh…just the grub I was looking for.
Literally. 🙊
In a flash he was off into the bushes again. And we have solved the mystery of the smashed leaves on our plant from time to time.
I just can’t get past the cuteness, even though he looks like a fancy rat. 😉💕
I hope you find whatever thrills you and fills you this weekend.
When I edited these photos of Zippy’s young one on the porch and saw the orbs in several of the photos, I was delighted. I just had to play with it some more.
I wonder what chipmunks would want from a fairy godmother. Couldn’t be cashews or tomatoes…they have had their fill of those!
We heard he may be going into a witness protection program. Or maybe a home for destructive, tomato eating rodents. Maybe he’s going to visit relatives in Connecticut.
One of the things about the modern mindset that infuriates puzzles me is the concept that nature is cruel and animals that eat other animals is awful. They have been called killers, brutes, a menace, etc. Now, I am no extremist and understand the need to keep the wild things at bay with regard to the general populace; however, from my personal point of view, anyone who isn’t a dedicated practicing vegan has no room to throw stones at the carnivores who inhabit this planet along with we humans but simply happen to place lower on the food chain.
Question in point? What do you think when you see this photo?
Zippy is adorable. Right? Of course he is. He also procreates faster than a rabbit. He and his family have the potential to leave droppings and other highly undesirable things under my porch, in my attic and within our walls. He digs up my potted plants daily. I love him. I give him walnuts from my precious stash.
Now, what do you think when you see these images?
CkP Photos
All hawk photos copyright CkP
This is a juvenile Broad Winged Hawk. We spotted it 2 days ago while on an outing. These birds are magnificent. I am in awe of hawks and have a great respect for their fierce hunting skills. I love to capture photos of them looking down at me, their expressions both curious and frightening. Do I look like a possible snack? In many places they are considered to be a menace, as well as eagles, due to their ability to hunt fairly large small game and, at times, that has included small pets. While I feel that is tragic, I don’t think they warrant being called killer birds. For, if that were true, we should surely be called “killer humans”.
Often I show these kind of images to people who cringe and say, “Oh my God that’s horrible.” These are also the people who love slasher movies and Dexter.
Not only do we hunt voraciously and often for pure sport, but we also raise animals for the slaughter, plan the preparations for eating it and then brag about the results.
These birds are efficient, not leaving anything behind and even clean themselves afterwards. See his “beak pick” in the second to last photo? There is no eating for snacks or overeating leading to obesity. They are surviving. We could take a lesson or two.
Cute huh? Adorable I say.
Still cute? Tasty looking I’d say.
No, I am not vegan. Most of the time I can take or leave meat. Sometimes I crave a good burger or pork chop. And who doesn’t love bacon? My point is that I wish humans would stop being so ridiculous, ignoring the truth of who and what we are in the food chain. If we could accept one small part of the truth of life and its process, then perhaps we could learn to accept other fears about life processes that are ridiculous when taken down to the their core. We are all the same in this living, breathing, cellularly connected Existence.
Now, go out and grill some dead animals if you must. Just remember to appreciate and not waste what they gave for you.
❤️🥂
This post brought to you by Linda Hill and #1LinerWeds
Wow! Today’s Stream of Consciousness Saturday prompt rather has me stumped. Perhaps it is because the first impressions that pop into my head are negative when it comes to empty/hollow.
This is a subject my blogging friend Jill Dennison writes about most succinctly. But I’ll leave these nuances of empty promises and hollow words to her. She has the most well researched information I have found.
I guess I would have to say my own world is the antithesis of these things. My heart is so full of hope and vision for what this existence could be that the only moments finding me with a hollow place are when I see and hear about the slow decline of such hope, about the rise of negativity and anger that is building within this creation. There is so much talk, talk, talk; but the action seems to be coming too heavily from the depths of the Great Hollow where Love does not live. So, if you imagine you cannot make a difference because you don’t go out and protest or fight in an army, you are in error in that thought. Any change that occurs globally begins within, for creation is in the heart of every living thing, every thing that exists. I just picked up this book to read again and am finding new and exciting inspiration from it. To my surprise I have indeed grown a lot since the first time I read it. If you want to be engaged, both spiritually and scientfically, this is a great contribution. Mr. Braden has several wonderful books out.
Anyone who knows me knows I am enthralled with the tiny things that work together to make such a huge universe and beyond. If we all immerse ourselves in the understanding of the connectedness of the All That Is rather than viewing ourselves as apart from anything within it, we can effectively create more of what is required to heal it. As I sat reading last evening, a fly kept lighting on my arm, my hand, my leg. My normal instinct would have been to shoo it away in horror. Why? Germs! I know humans who carry worse.
So, I left it alone instead. It stayed awhile and then left. I connected with this part of Creation in a way I never had before. It brought a real sense of peace, allowing it to be where it was even for a moment or two.
Every little thing has its place (except wasps…please tell me what they do good! 😱) Lol.
Here are a few more of the small things that caught my eye yesterday. I hope your #Free48 is filled with a sense of connectedness, with no empty cup or hollow place in your hearts.
The smallest members of our flower bed. Don’t they look happy?Zippy saying Good morning in his ‘dashing’ way!The world in a drop of rain. Even the leaves know a treasure and try to hold itYeah…well…I haven’t had coffee all week. This is my little treasure. Doctor’s orders! 😉
If you guys get thirsty, hop on over to The bar at Dan’s blog for a cold one. Who knows? We might meet up there! 😉
So, you’ve all heard of Pavlov’s dog, right? No? Well, read about it here. It’s all about conditioning. The more I observe nature, the more I become aware of the patterns within it.
This is our little buddy Zippy. I used to call him Chip, but hubby has dubbed him Zippy for the way he appears and disappears, Ninja style, all over the yard. He and his new little family live under our porch.
We first started noticing him during the Winter and were concerned during the continuing late freezes. But we made sure to leave treats on the porch to help with their survival.
As soon as Spring got over her bipolar attitude, they both began to reappear in the yard, and when seen we left more treats. It soon became evident the favorite was walnuts. Hubby loves to spoil his friends and family, so walnuts became the main event. They snubbed the peanuts, tolerated the pumpkin seeds and nibbled at almonds. Sooooooo….
We noticed something else. Zippy was showing a pattern. He would appear when we were in the kitchen by the back door and just sit on the edge of the step, kind of looking adorable. I might squeeze off a photo or two if I was lucky, but all too soon he scurried away. Hubby would then put out the golden walnuts. And we waited. No Zippy. But the minute our backs were turned, the nuts would disappear.
Now and then, however, he forgets himself and sits indulgently enjoying his treats, oblivious to the watchers behind the glass; and if I am stealthy enough I can get some really good photos. Of course, sometimes it is Chip that shows up. And lately we have seen the new little one zipping across the yard-just like its pop. I have begun calling it Nippy.
How do I know this is Pennington’s Chipmunk? Anytime they are hungry, the ritual begins. A trip to the edge of the porch, a disappearance. Who knows what goes on in the tiny minds of these critters? Are we the Walnut gods? Will they ever trust us enough to eat in our presence? Will a true friendship form? So far, I think they have us trained pretty well….Stay tuned for the adventures of Zip and Dale!
They really are too cute for their fur! 🙊💕
I love this sweetie too. Have a marvelous week everyone. I have had some rough days recently, but it’s hard to be out of sorts with so much beauty around me. 😊
I have had my share of pleasure and pain in all types of love and have come to one sure conclusion. Love should always lift you up. If you find yourself face down in the dirt too many times, your love is broken, sick or completely misplaced. It needs some work.
Funny, I never cared a lot for this song although it is beautiful. I loved the movie it themed for. I guess maybe too much hype for both of them kind of ruined it for me for a time. But it is in my head today so I am sharing the love. May it lift you up, even for a moment.
Just look at young Mr. Gere….
How about this adorable guy?
What? No, Chip. As I recall, I believe that was a gerbil….🙈🙊
TGIF everybody! I have to say the moon really outdid herself this time around-such beauty, brilliance, magic and shine. A triple event month! And she also had her effect on the wee humans down here on Earth. Sometimes they behave as though she has a golden finger stuck right up their b….brain stem. Many nights I come home feeling as though I have been gunslinging all day, avoiding verbal bullets, arrows and hand grenades.
It is no surprise to me that it is still Mother Nature who is the heroine in my life’s saga. She, with all her children, move through life without fanfare, fame or often even acknowledgment. Yet it is through such acknowledgment that redemption comes…on tiny feet and winging its way across the pink landscape of sunset. It shimmers on the rushing river and whispers through the forest canopy, drowning out the din of daily life and replacing it with the music of the universe.
In this way my life seems enchanted. I am blessed, humbled and rejuvenated. How can I feel sorrow over a rough week when most wild things must keep moving, keep foraging-without choice-just to stay alive. When we share with them, they show their appreciation by bringing beauty and positive energy to our living space.
Now, what isn’t enchanting about these little angels? And, speaking of Enchanted, I’d love to introduce you to our little under the deck resident, Pip. Pip is a chipmunk! Before moving here I had never seen a chipmunk excpet in photos or nature shows on TV. I have to admit I squeal when this fellow shows up on the porch; but he shows up for hubby more than me. He is very tentative and timid, but we give him berries and cashews hoping he will come to realize we are friends. It’s a process and lesson in tenacity.
I just think he is adorable! And he so reminds me of the animated chipmunk in one of my favorite movies, the Disney film that made millions of wanna be princesses’ hearts go pitty pat over Mr. McDreamy. (Yeah, mine still skips a beat when I see him. 🙊)
Excuse me…do you have some cashews?If you just leave them here I’ll take them and scurry along.
And that is how Mr Pip got his name.
So, you view the clip and tell me if my new friend isn’t star quality. And lucky for him, we have a couple of film connections. 😉 Hmmm…I wonder if he could be Chippy’s Southern cousin. I’ll have to ask Dan next time I’m bartending. They have Chippy nearly housebroken! 😉
And now for the gratuitous Happy Ending-‘cuz, ladies I don’t know about you all, but I could use one this week!
Dream on…..
And on to the weekend. May yours be enchanted. Oh…and don’t take any apples from haggy old ladies. Or Susan Sarandon. 😉
"I have enough time to rest, but I don't have a minute to waste". Come and catch me with your wise words and we will have some fun with our words of wisdom.
Dreaming Reality 
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