Hobo Jungle

[healey36]

Jon, that would be what they refer to as a dusting. January 25th and I've already had my fill of winter...barely a third of the way through. Can't wait to be sitting at that picnic table this summer with a bucket of cold ones...can't come soon enough.

[sarge]

I must be of a different culture. I truly enjoy watching the squirrels defeat the undefeatable feeders and quite enjoy them as much as I do the birds. They are handsome creatures (at least "mine" are) and I don't see how they can be any more a "varmint" than a cottontail rabbit, another denizen of Dungfield Manor whose presence and antics I enjoy immensely.

They are incredibly smart little buggers, and I respect the genius that can calculate the vectors and velocity required to leap from the fence, bounce neatly off the garage wall and perfectly land underneath the plastic dome of the feeder without falling victim to the wheel-bearing grease on the cable. Then, his mates will gather underneath while the victor shovels out some sunflower seeds to the congregation below, then feasts for himself. He earns and deserves everything he gets from that performance.

I'll read Tramps squirrel column in a minute, but wanted to throw this out there before my mind was further modified by the reading. I'll be right back...


Tramp:
Finished the column, and enjoyed every word, as usual. Since my wife doesn't grow veg, and I have absolutely no business around plant whatsoever (In the words of the Duke of Wellington, "If there is anything in this world of which I know absolutely nothing, it is agriculture."), we've never fallen victim to squirrels (or rabbits for that matter) beating us to the harvest. Hence, they remain our constant companions and we look forward to each performance with great anticipation. Perhaps they know they are safe here, as your's must, and use the place as their neighbourhood refuge.

BTW, I also notice a correlation between the size of the cat and the wimpiness. Our little ginger Manx is a tiny thing, but rules with an iron paw and is absolutely fearless. Hobbes, my son's American Shorthair, would be a Maine Coon if he was a longhaired cat; same size same build, and same structure. He is whacking huge at 21 pounds or so, twice the little ginger Manx. Biggest wuss on the planet...

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Tree rats..............

But several years ago I was able to have a good bit of fun with them by using cocoa bean hull mulch in my one garden.

Totally irresistible to them and got them high as a kite, too. Could watch them staggering around on top of the fence and falling off. Some were not even able to climb much of anything staggering around on the ground.

Oddly enough, I can't seem to find that mulch for sale anymore.....

[2railjon]

Rufus!!! LMAO!!!!
I had a colony of tree rats infest the attic in our condo in Houston.
Once inside, they'll chew wiring causing complete mayhem.
Skillet with gravy is the only answer.

[Mitch]

Squirrels can be fun to watch, and certainly good to eat too, but they are first and foremost, a rodent. That means they can be very destructive to the garden and to the house if they get in thru the attic 'cause they chew wiring and screw up the insulation; to vehicles parked in the driveway with exposed wiring underneath like O2 sensors and tail light wiring, etc. It sucks to have a vehicle than ran perfectly one day and the next the Check Engine Light is on with a misfire from a munched sparkplug wire or O2 wiring chewed off. Early this summer. the wife went out on Sunday morning to start the pool filter, and there was a large gray floatin' dead in the pool. She was not amused!
Rabbits are another rodent that can be pretty destructive. We used to keep a much larger garden than we do now, but we had 3 really good rows of green beans one year, and I remarked to the wife that the next day the picking would begin. Got up the next morning and about all we had left was the plants themselves with bare sticks where the leaves and crop used to be. I shot 2 rabbits that evening with my Remington 541S .22 rifle, and a third I shot through the back of the head with my bull barreled Ruger Mark 1 .22 when the ba$tard stood up on its hind feet to gain the last of my bean stalks. 20 yard shot right out the bathroom window, where the sill made a perfect rest. I even impressed myself with that shot. Proliferous breedin' little ba$stards, too.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Rabbits are another rodent that can be pretty destructive.

And very tasty as well! But I'm pretty sure that they are not rodents, technically speaking...

[rogruth]

Tramp,

Thanks for the link, I always enjoy your articles.

Keep them coming please.

[aterry11]

just do like my Indonesian neighbors down the street and use a rat trap. works well they eat regular after the first frost. We even have black squirrels as well as red they both taste the same though, no little furry tufts on there ears either..

[healey36]

just do like my Indonesian neighbors down the street and use a rat trap. works well they eat regular after the first frost. We even have black squirrels as well as red they both taste the same though, no little furry tufts on there ears either..

I trust there's a heavy dousing of curry in there...

[ChipR]

Squirrels ought to be good. My son's in-laws always serve rat curry when he visits their home.

ChipR

[The Dirt]

We interrupt this program for a special news bulletin...
________________

This will mean nothing to anyone, but feel like doing it anyway.
It's the redhead's birthday today, the strongest, toughest, fiercest, and most hilarious woman I've ever met...
________________

’Twas in another lifetime, one of toil and blood
When blackness was a virtue and the road was full of mud
I came in from the wilderness, a creature void of form
“Come in,” she said, “I’ll give you shelter from the storm”

And if I pass this way again, you can rest assured
I’ll always do my best for her, on that I give my word
In a world of steel-eyed death, and men who are fighting to be warm
“Come in,” she said, “I’ll give you shelter from the storm”

Not a word was spoke between us, there was little risk involved
Everything up to that point had been left unresolved
Try imagining a place where it’s always safe and warm
“Come in,” she said, “I’ll give you shelter from the storm”

I was burned out from exhaustion, buried in the hail
Poisoned in the bushes an’ blown out on the trail
Hunted like a crocodile, ravaged in the corn
“Come in,” she said, “I’ll give you shelter from the storm”

Suddenly I turned around and she was standin’ there
With silver bracelets on her wrists and flowers in her hair
She walked up to me so gracefully and took my crown of thorns
“Come in,” she said, “I’ll give you shelter from the storm”

B. Dylan
__________________

Thanks, baby, for taking me in.
I've now an embarrassment of riches.

__________________

We may now return to our regularly scheduled programming....

[AG]

Pete
Our greeting in her birthday from the Sunny FL!!
Andre.

[rogruth]

Happy birthday, Redhead.

I know about redheads. My wife was one but is now a white, not grey, head.

[E7]

Dirt,

Quite appropriate.

Please pass on many happy returns to the Mrs.

Rich

[webenda]

She walked up to me so gracefully and took my crown of thorns

The redhead must be a saint.
Happy birthday redhead (aka Mrs. Dirt.)