Thursday, January 30, 2014

Beatrix Potter winter



I don't get to the Catskills much in the winter.  I miss it. I long for the rolling hills, 
red barns, tiny villages, the slow way of life, my eclectic group of friends, 
our house in the woods, strange and interesting snippets of nature...


However we do have our own little suburban wildlife dramas. This red squirrel (just like Squirrel Nutkin), not much bigger than a chipmunk, is a regular, and he chases off the big grey squirrels. I now have several feeding stations, so you might see chickadees and nuthatches at one feeder, bluebirds at another, woodpeckers and cardinals at the suet feeders, doves competing with the squirrels for what's scattered on the deck. It's like a school cafeteria, where every table has a different group. The drama kids, the jocks, the band kids...

Rabbits come at dusk and hang out close to the house. Aji watches them for hours. It is all very Peter Rabbit. They are almost tame.

I hope the fox doesn't come back.








27 comments:

  1. How lovely to see your red squirrel! Much-loved little creatures. Ours are in decline, due to the predominance of the grey squirrel, and the squirrel pox.

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  2. How the Catkins sound so lovely Jen.
    Your little haven with all the animals that you feed. How sweet that they all have different places to come and feed.
    We have the red squirrel, up in the north of the country. I do like squirrels.. It looks pretty cold there at the moment.
    lovely photos Jen.
    Beware of the foxes.. They are around here all the time at night.

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    1. Hi Val--as you can tell, I am having fun feeding and watching them.

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  3. Your photomodel is beautiful and so sweet :)
    Greetings

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  4. Hello Jen, That ice photo is amazing--it looks just like antlers!

    The last time I was in Ohio, I saw a fox carrying off a squirrel. We like to see rare animals like foxes, but we also have to consider how they make a living.

    And speaking of animals, Happy Year of the Horse!
    --Jim

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    1. I saw a red fox very close to my you recently, and it was a wonder--I was thrilled. And when I had outdoor cats they sometimes killed the baby rabbits, which was awful. We're getting too fond of the rabbits, I'm afraid.

      Happy Year of the Horse to you! I hope you are celebrating.

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  5. The ice is mesmerizing, I'm always in awe of the forms, temporary sculpture. That is the most adorable squirrel, we don't get red ones and we get the occasional chipmunk in the Summer, his name is Alvin.

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    1. We get chipmunks too, though I haven't seen them in the winter. They are adorable.

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  6. How very well observed! You really made a story out of this! One can imagine the personality of the little creatures vividly! Lovely! CHrista

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  7. I thought bluebirds went south in the winter. Our Idaho mountain bluebirds do; your eastern bluebirds must hang out. Lucky you. And red squirrels - that's what we had in our back yard in Wyoming. Some up here in Idaho, too. I hope your menagerie is perking you up.

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    1. I was wondering about that--I feel like not as many birds are migrating.

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  8. Jen... You have your own little woodland right outside your house. Mr. Squirrel is quite the charmer..a very handsome fellow! My favorites here are the rabbits...I am always delighted to see one hopping across our yard! It won't be long before you are zipping off to your beloved Catskills... Until then enjoy the creatures that come to you! Smiles...Susan

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    1. The rabbits are adorable.
      Catskills next weekend, I hope!
      Hope the ice storm didn't affect you.

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  9. Ah, the Catskills. I do miss nature. Funny though, when I was reading I thought of all the seniors in this building I live in and they all, even in old age, still form cliques and you could easily assign and describe the groups by the birds you list here. Meanwhile, I'm the loner fox. :)

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  10. Your suburban wildlife looks beautiful Jen! Hope you will be able to visit your beloved Catskills soon!!

    Happy day!

    Madelief x

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  11. А very nice portrait and the story. It is so pleasant to be nearer to nature from time to time.

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  12. Sadly I only have a courtyard. My mother has feeders in her nice garden, which I enjoy visiting.

    Thank you. Love love, Andrew. Bye.

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  13. Gorgeous squirrel Jen and I envy you the wild rabbits.I love them but we only see them in the fields out in the countryside.

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  14. Your description of life in Catskill makes me feel like I was transported to that place!
    Surburban wildlife drama is also sweet. The red squirrel is adorable. It's a shame I am not living in such surroundings to see wildlife visiting me except some tiny birds. Enjoy your sweet winter, Jen!

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  15. what's wrong with the fox? lovely pics. especially the first one!!

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    1. Love the fox, but he will eat the rabbits...

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  16. Amazing ice formations and the most beautiful little squirrel ... red ones are so rare here now.

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