New Friends

It's Walkin' and Reading Wednesday!

A few pics of new 'hood friends, spied while on my neighborhood walk:

We've had sunny days, with cooler temperatures, and I've learned to wear a hoodie to cover my ears while I'm heading into the wind.

Am NOT ready to put on a winter beanie yet!

It's a good thing that I've got lots of audiobooks to entertain me whilst out trudging 'round the neighborhood.

Recent listens that I recommend:

Jay Kristoff's Empire of the Vampire trilogy

War, magic, vampires, and betrayal, and adult.

Fantastic characters, and unputdownable.

Ken Follett's Circle of Days

A story of the peoples who built and lived where Stonehenge is today.

Farmers, Herders, Riverfolk, and Miners coming together, but also are at war with each other.

Richard Osman's The Impossible Fortune

Book 5 in the very popular Thursday Murder Club series, for a good reason.

Can these pensioners find the uncrackable password?

Kelley Armstrong's The Haunting of Paynes Hollow

Excellent creepy whodunnit on the shores of Lake Erie.

A favorite author of mine.

Karin Smirnoff's The Girl with Ice in Her Veins

Book 8 in the Millennium/Lisbeth Sander series, of which the first one was The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, so you know it's gritty and fast-paced.

 

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Antics

 January 21 is Squirrel Appreciation Day!

Squirrels are so cute.

Some of us are quite used to having squirrels look in our windows!

This is a chipmunk who visited us during a nature trail walk.
Chipmunks are squirrels, and make a 'chip chip chip' noise when they feel danger is near.

Squirrels invade birdfeeders in every garden, no?

Whew

Today, I am thankful that this lump of fur that I spied while walking...

...only turned out to be a lost mitten!

It's heartbreaking to see squirrels or other critters who've been bested by motor vehicles, but this time was a false alarm.

Here's a cheeky very-much-alive squirrel image, also taken while in the 'hood. 

We have nine squirrel species in Michigan, but the three that we see the most in our yard are the Eastern Fox Squirrels, Eastern Gray Squirrels that are gray with a white tummy, and Eastern Gray black morphs like my friend above.

Let's Hop!

On Foot

A few animal sightings while out on my walks:

King Sly

Sneakers

Eastern Grey Squirrel, Black Morph

A scaredy cat!

And when back home, there is a young groundhog eating the neighbor's plant, and providing entertaining for Da Boyz.

Postcards from NYC: Central Park

While I was away, Julie earned her angels wings.
Too sad.
Please leave a kind word at Mickey's Musings.

😿

We walked and rambled through Central Park every day last week; it was always a delight, being a feast for the eyes.

We walked miles along the paths, enjoyed the dog walkers with their pups, and my sister and I had really great conversations while making our way around.

Although it was brisk, our exercise kept us warm.

And at no time did we feel unsafe while there.

🍁😽🍂

Squirrel Appreciation Day

 Or, should we say, "Skwerl"!

Those rascally varmints, who tease our cats and dogs so!

However, they have their charms, no?

The way they leap, their floofy tails, and they'll beg for food.

Hey...maybe they should be called tree cats instead!

Below are a few images that I've snapped over the years, and I am thankful for the little critters.

On the hood of my car

Enjoying acorns

At the park, hanging out on the railing

Let's Hop!

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Squirrel On The Door

 A squirrely squirrel, caught on video!

Jigsaw Puzzle

108"Bring Me A Squirrel!"

Photo Fails!

That Sly!

Um, Sweetie...what are you doing?

Harlequin, a neighbor cat, just keeps on rollin'...

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Let's Hop!

Join the hop by clicking HERE!

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P.S.  On my drive into the office this morning, I witnessed a poor squirrel get run over by the car in the lane next to me.  I slowed when I saw the creature dart out across three lanes, so he made it across the fourth (my lane), but not the fifth.  The only other time that I've watched an animal get run over, was about 15 years ago, and I cried for 15 minutes.  Yes, we can discuss the horrible number of animal/car strikes that happen daily, and what can be done.  My main concern: what if the animal is only hurt, but still alive?  The ensuing suffering that I envision, makes me sad.  Telling me that "It's God's Will," or "Death is a part of life", is all well and good, but I'm in a funk today, hoping that the squirrel died instantly.

Where squirrels hide stuff

Squirrels are hiding black walnut husks around

Eastside Cats!

Front porch corner

Gutter downspout at driveway

In the corner of The Cat Hotel's wind break
(commonly called an old window...)

In the corner of Sweetie's cardboard box

The PO'M: "Are you two hiding any walnuts in there?"
Manny and Chili Bruce: "What's a walnut?  Want to come in and play?"
The PO'M: "Sorry, boyz, but I'm a big, bad outdoor cat!"

Even Angel gets into the squirrels and their nuts action!

Or watch it here: https://youtu.be/_PUwI1ilQ6E

Foggy Squirrel Appreciation

Okay, okay...Squirrel Appreciation Day was 1/21/17, which I knew nothing about until I read it on Cat Chat With Caren and Cody!

However, I just happened to have snapped photos of a black squirrel in our backyard, chomping down on something. I enjoy watching squirrels; they are so industrious, even a bit cheeky, and I ALWAYS brake for them when they are near the edge of the road.  We have grey, brown, and black-furred squirrels around us.  They tease the cats, and have thrown things at the humans!

We experienced heavy fog most of the day on Saturday, and ALL DAY on Sunday!  It was quite spectacular, but I know there were auto accidents because of the limited visibility, so that isn't good.

Here are some photos taken in downtown Detroit, through that crazy fog.

The Hubby and I attended the North American Auto Show (website here).  You all know that Detroit and Michigan are home to some pretty large automotive companies, so we go all out for car shows!