Summary

Erika Burkhalter shares her delightful encounters with a family of squirrels that visit her yard daily, engaging in playful interactions and enjoying the peanuts she provides.

Abstract

Erika Burkhalter captures the charming antics of Mrs. and Mr. Squirrel in her yard through a series of photographs and anecdotes. She describes the squirrels' daily visits to their "peanut ring" feeder, their acrobatic skills, and their amusing behaviors, such as playing peek-a-boo and dangling from tree branches. Burkhalter's feline companions, Mr. Bisou and Freyja, also partake in the squirrels' daily buffet, conversing and climbing trees alongside them. The squirrels' enjoyment of their feast and their cute mannerisms bring joy to Burkhalter, who reflects on her role as a harmless observer and caretaker, promising to continue providing for her little squirrel family.

Opinions

Burkhalter finds Mrs. Squirrel's belief in her stealthiness amusing, as she sneaks down from the pines to collect peanuts.
The author enjoys the squirrels' acrobatics, particularly Mrs. Squirrel's skill at dangling from her back legs to grab a peanut.
Burkhalter is entertained by the squirrels' interactions with her cats, Mr. Bisou and Freyja, and their territorial conversations.
She admires the squirrels' bravery as they become more comfortable around her, even playing peek-a-boo.
The author is initially fooled by the squirrels' appearances, mistaking Mr. Squirrel for Mrs. Squirrel due to their similarities.
Burkhalter is captivated by the squirrels' cuteness, from their little hands to their expressive faces, which she captures in her photographs.
She considers herself a harmless participant in the squirrels' lives, emphasizing her role as a poet, photographer, and nature lover who respects and cares for the earth's creatures.

Photography, Nature

Mrs. Squirrel Comes for Lunch

The daily buffet

She thinks she’s sneaky. She’s only just beginning to realize that the peanuts are put out just for her.

Mrs. Squirrel spends most of the day barking at the kitties and me from the treetops, telling us all about how this is her yard and that we better beware. Mr. Bisou, my little puff of orange fluff, has whole conversations with her from the ground. And Freyja can climb a tree almost as well as Mrs. Squirrel.

She’ll slip down from the pines, as stealthy as can be, then skedaddle up the Australian Tree Fern, where her “peanut ring” has been hung. I can always hear her little claws on the bark. And I’ve learned to turn very slowly to spy on her, or else she’ll skitter away.

She’s getting braver though. She now plays peek-a-boo with me.

I love watching her acrobatics. She loves to dangle from her back legs and reach into the ring to procure a peanut.

She’ll then either eat her peanut right then and there, or she’ll run off with it to her favorite spot in the eucalyptus tree just overhead.

“My Favorite Perch.” Photo ©Erika Burkhalter.

“Oooh, that was yummy!” Photo ©Erika Burkhalter. Wait — that’s not Mrs. Squirrel! It’s Mr. Squirrel, another frequent visitor to the feeder.

She always looks like she enjoys her feast so much. Aren’t her little hands just the cutest? And that face — she just makes me smile. But wait — is that a mustache???

That’s not Mrs. Squirrel. I just looked a little more closely at the last few photos. That is clearly Mr. Squirrel!

They’re both frequent visitors to the feeder. And I suspect there are baby squirrels too, somewhere up there in the treetops.

“Thank you for the Peanut.” Photo ©Erika Burkhalter.

Well, before your know it, the game begins again. Both Mr. and Mrs. Squirrel are on the lookout for kitties, and they are both watching me, trying to decide if I am really as harmless as I look.

“The Game Begins Again.” Photo ©Erika Burkhalter

Yes, little squirrel family. I’m just a harmless poet/photographer with a soft spot for the creatures of the earth. And I promise I’ll put another handful of peanuts in your feeder again in the morning.

Do you feed the creatures in your yard? They’re so fun to watch, aren’t they? They provide me endless hours of amusement.

Erika Burkhalter is a yogi, neurophilosopher, cat-mom, photographer, and lover of travel and nature, spreading her love and amazement for Mother Earth’s glories, one photo, poem or story at a time. (MS Neuropsychology, MA Yoga Studies).

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