Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Small Circus

My imagination can be wild. I lost my mind on a recent afternoon and since debated about withholding this post to save myself from embarrassment and storing it as a draft to remember how I laughed. I take the risk. Here it is. After all, I’m in my fifties – a time to blow caution to the wind. If feathery and furry critters could talk…

A circus came to town on a wet, gray day.

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Two clowns arrived and the birds found seats in the stands with a good view, not far away.


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The Doves were amused but Mrs. Cardinal seemed bored. Perhaps she was PMSing, feeling out of sorts.


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Feeding stopped while they all watched


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the brave one soar seven feet through space, with the greatest of ease, to land on the tube feeder full of seeds.

It swung high, back and forth, for what seemed like a full minute. The brave one hung by a fingernail then lost its squirrelly grip.

Meanwhile,

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the timid one found the nuts


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but didn’t quite know what to do next. I have the nuts! What shall I do? Where’s the safety net?

I moved closer to interview the brave one.

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Hello, brave one. You’re quite a clown.

Dang. I’m busted and I fell down.

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I can still see you, ya know. Come out. Don't be shy.


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May I visit?

I’d like to stay here and enjoy just a few of your delicious sunflower seeds. I promise to clean up before I leave.

Oh, aren’t you so brave!

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Life is good in your yard, lady.

But your timid friend is waiting and calling you from down the hill…

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Come with me, please? She might eat you!

I say GO! SCRAM, you circus clown!

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You talkin’ to me? Are you sure you’re talkin’ to me? You must be kidding.

No, I’m not kidding. You are arrogant. Farewell. The show is over. It’s raining.
My camera is getting wet.

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Whatever. I’ll be baaaaack! You bet!


See? I’m so ready for a Christmas break, meds, or twelve straight hours of sleep. :o)

38 comments:

Lisa at Greenbow said...

It sounds like you need all the above. Funny post Mary.

Dawn Fine said...

ha...cute...you need some rest now..tee hee..

NCmountainwoman said...

I just love your imagination, Mary. Remember, you are blogging for a group of us who name our birds and talk with them on a regular basis. Great photographs of the birds watching the squirrels, and I'm sure the dialog is pretty accurate. So glad you shared this one. I loved it!

Ruth said...

lol! I am glad you pulled this out of the draft folder. I get no end of amusement watching the activity outdoors at our house.

Susan Gets Native said...

Oh, MARY.
Just.....go lay down, dear.

Mary said...

Susan, I will! LOLing into dreamland...

KGMom said...

You know, this answers a burning question I have had. You keep posting about birds at your feeders, complete with lovely photos--and nary a squirrel in sight.
So today the truth comes out--MARY HAS SQUIRRELS TOO!
Ha. Love it.
I think all squirrels go to the same training place. And the pose, one paw up--that's part of the training.

Anonymous said...

Great Story Line :) Looks like, overall, you had some satisfied visitors.

Happy winter birding and squirreling around.

Unknown said...

Mary if we didn't have our back yards to amuse us we would be lost.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Another great Mary post!!! LOVED it... These kind of stories are right up my alley!!! Remember---I'm the NUT who names her Red-bellied woodpeckers, Pete and Petunia!!!! SURE---I'll join the circus right along with you and your critters!!!!

Great pictures!!! Thanks!
Hugs,
Betsy

JeanMac said...

All 3 would be great, Mary. Merry Christmas.

beckie said...

Wonderful images and dialouge! We all need to let the silly out once in a while and I'm sure the birds didn't think you too odd!
Thanks for the smiles Mary. Enjoy your time off!

Kim said...

HA!! Great pictures and dialogue. I especially like the picture of the squirrel w/ his eyes closed. So cute!

Relax Mary, vacation is here. You need some rest dear. HA!! Kidding of course, just kidding. We love you for your zaniness and funny posts. xoxo

Jayne said...

The funnier thing is that I know you had this conversation with them, which makes it even more endearing Mary! I do it all the time. Great story of the circus clowns!

Q said...

Dear Mary,
The squirrels will win.
My husband is now trying to relocate them....
I just figure, "Oh well, everyone has to eat."
Enjoy your Christmas vacation!
Sherry

Anonymous said...

I loved this post, Mary! It brightened my otherwise bleary day here in Delaware. Hope you have a wonderful break. Merry Christmas!

Beth said...

Glad you decided to post this anyway. It made me laugh. Now get some rest!

Beth

RuthieJ said...

Oh Mary, I think that's one of your best posts ever! I just love seeing the squirrels up close.
Enjoy your time off!

Richard said...

Your imagination runs about the same as mine. Everyone is welcome in my yard. Squirrels just make it fun.

jason said...

How delightful and fun, Mary! I'm tickled, and your photos are marvelous as always.

Kerri Farley said...

Oh so funny Mary! I LOVE LOVE LOVE your posts like this! Get some sleep....but please don't stop posting these!

dguzman said...

Those were such great pics, especially the one with the squirrel's closed eyes. Sweet!

Kathleen said...

Mary, you are so much fun I wish you were my neighbor. I love your brave squirrel. He is a cutie!

Anonymous said...

I have to admit that I befriended a squirrel once, myself. It was a smaller female that was having a rough time getting bullied by the larger squirrels below my feeders. She learned fairly quickly that the other squirrels were afraid of me and I was sticking up for her.

Tina said...

Mary,
Good to see someone else talks to the animals and for the animals. I'm sure you could use all three but not because you need them you deserve them, esp the tylenol pm and the sleep!!

Heidi said...

OMG, you and the squirrels are hilarious! I especially love the shot of the squirrel wrapped around his precious peanuts. Thanks for sharing and enhancing what must have been a quick show :) I think Mrs. Cardinal was just being a bit bitchy because she couldn't get to her seeds with THOSE clowns around.

Now you can spend every day in your own yard following the Licker Sisters around and spotting crazy squirrels and birdies and telling us their stories. Yay for vacation! I think I'll be working until at least noon on Christmas Eve since I don't want to give up my regular Monday off to get my extra work done before then. Sadly, I have to be back Friday... maybe I'll go in about noon.

Mary C said...

Thanks for the belly laughs, Mary! That was great. Great pix of the squirrels and birds. Now, go rest! Merry Christmas. I have to get my Christmas cards done yet. How 'bout you?

Wendy said...

Oh those squirrels! They'll do anything to raid the bird feeders! Loved your animal antics. Poor Mrs. Cardinal with PMS - made me chuckle!
Cute post!

Corey said...

Droll Yankees FTW!!!

Vickie said...

I love that photo..."life is good in your yard lady!" I expect these guys and more (racoons) when I finally get feeders up. We are SO sogged down with rain right now and its expected to continue through Sunday. Wishing you lots of relaxation and zzz's.

jane augenstein said...

Oh, Mary, great story and pictures of the squirrels! Love your story telling, always something funny and interesting. I can tell you are loving your new camera too!
Great, great story thanks for sharing!

Rose said...

Loved the circus, Mary, and I didn't even have to buy a ticket:)
Get some rest and enjoy your Christmas break!

Sherry at the Zoo said...

How fun! I lvoe your sense of humor!

Merry Christmas,
Sherry

Cheryl said...

Sooooo funny Mary thank you.....that really cheered me up.......

jalynn01 said...

How entertaining and funny your post is Mary! I love it!Your squirrel expressions are priceless.. Cutest little fellas. I make up stories and talk to the birds and squirrels too.. even name them. I have one going right now on my blog about brother squirrels. Hey! 50's eh? wait until the 60's. It gets worse, but you don't seem to care as much what people think. ha ha ha

jalynn01 said...

How entertaining and funny your post is Mary! I love it!Your squirrel expressions are priceless.. Cutest little fellas. I make up stories and talk to the birds and squirrels too.. even name them. I have one going right now on my blog about brother squirrels. Hey! 50's eh? wait until the 60's. It gets worse, but you don't seem to care as much what people think. ha ha ha

Balisha said...

Hi Mary,
I loved your squirreley story. The one shot with his eyes closed was great.

Larry said...

The you talking to me?- photo is classic! Now I know where Joe Pesci went-He turned into a squirrel!