Hey! You Forgot One!

   On my meanderings at dawn, there is plenty to see about the hillside.  Oftentimes, it seems that things change overnight...other times, it is as if nothing ever changes here.  This morning's hike was met with some drizzly rain which muffled the footsteps.  This muffling makes it easy to slide around without being heard so my critter friends are often surprised by their visitor.  I can view their comings and goings without much ado.

  As I came around the back grape arbor, I stopped to check the progress of the vines.  Sadly, it seems as if those same critter friends are being rascals.  The grapes were getting a mite scarce.  It was then that I felt something harder than a raindrop hit my head.  What???  I looked to the ground to find several chewed up pine cones and one perfectly intact one.  Even though I was beneath a hickory tree, I got pelted by a pine cone!  Thankfully, I got hit by a gnawed one.  That other one would have hurt!

  The squirrels are already gnawing the pine cones even though there is plenty to eat.  They may be sorry about this come later this year.  According to the almanac, we are to get some pretty cold and slushy weather.  While this will suit me just fine, the critters might feel otherwise.  It might be wise for them to be stashing a bit of their treats away for those colder days.  I studied the squirrel a bit longer and realized that this was a male squirrel.  Makes sense.  The males do very little in preparation for the winter.  On the other hand, the females work themselves to a frazzle storing food and remarkably can find at least 80% of what they stow.  They are smart as most of them can overwinter in their snug nests with food stored nearby.

  Folks, in view of the world today, it might be a good idea for all of us to stow in a few supplies.  The price of groceries keeps skyrocketing with no hint at lessening any time soon.  Plant a garden, stock up on a few staple foods, learn to cook, take a proactive stance against what is to come.  Be like a sensible squirrel and store food for the hard times.  Better to be prepared than to whine about it later.