Sunday's Sequel (Re my 7-8-2020 Blog Post)

Squirrel Visiting My Rooftop Garden
(which is the setting for my book series)

Squirrel Visiting My Rooftop Garden
(which is the setting for my book series)

As I mentioned in a recent entry, A Day in the Life of my Pyracantha coccinea (7-8-2020), here on blogger, I've had a new visitor to my rooftop garden and he/she can be seen in the images atop this entry.

During all the many years that I've had my garden, I've never seen a squirrel here, nor have I seen one in the trees within my courtyard. Upon my seeing this quirky character, I did some research to see what poets as well as scholars have said about squirrels, and I was thrilled to come upon the following words of Saint Francis of Assisi:

Popcorn Can Be Offered to Squirrels & Birds (Thursday's Testimony)

THIS SQUIRREL IS FEATURED IN MANY BLOG POSTS

THIS SQUIRREL IS FEATURED IN MANY BLOG POSTS

THIS SQUIRREL IS FEATURED IN MANY BLOG POSTS

I recently read, "squirrels eat popcorn and they enjoy it too. Popcorn contains vitamins and minerals such as copper, manganese, vitamin B1 vitamin B3, zinc and others. Popcorn is also a good source of fibre. Leave a bowl of popcorn out in squirrel populated areas and allow squirrels to freely come and eat as they please."

Upon my reading this information I did an experiment to see if the squirrel who has been visiting my garden since July 8th (I know he/she is the same one because of the broken skin on his/her forehead) would nibble on popcorn if I shared mine with him/her; and as you can see from the photographs atop this entry of a squirrel enjoying this taste treat, I apparently did not come across fake news in terms of squirrels liking popcorn.

Attn! Peanuts may not be good for squirrels!?! Let them eat corn? (Wednesday's Wisdom)

THIS SQUIRREL IS FEATURED IN MANY BLOG POSTS

THIS SQUIRREL IS FEATURED IN MANY BLOG POSTS

THIS SQUIRREL IS FEATURED IN MANY BLOG POSTS

As those of you who follow this blog probably know, a alone squirrel, has been visiting my rooftop garden since July 8th 2020. He/she can be seen in the photo-ops atop this entry where he/she is spending his/her time at one of my bird feeders that I have to accommodate the needs of various birds who visit my place.

Squirrel Appreciation Day was 1/21/2019 (Throwback Thursday)

It is has been one month since the official date for 2019's Squirrel Appreciation Day occurred but it's not necessary to wait for such a holiday or for it to be Squirrel Awareness Month, which occurs in October) to appreciate this animal! These creatures are fascinating to observe at any time of the year.

Monday Musings: Emerson and Squirrels ETC

Twelve days ago, on Wednesday, October 3rd, I published an entry here on Blogger in honor of Squirrel Awareness Month, which always occurs in October. 

The photograph of a lone Eastern Gray squirrel that is atop this entry is one I took when I went for a walk in Central Park  this past Friday and the following images of a "cinnamon" squirrel are ones I took last Saturday.

I was awestruck by this creature's coloring as it was the first time I'd ever seen a squirrel who appeared to be a "red head." I thought I was seeing a Fox Squirrel, but not wanting to report '"fake news" here on Blogger, I posted my ID question, which is something I mentioned in my blog post for that evening.

As I stated in the aforementioned entry, I'm grateful to have heard back (via a tweet) from the man in charge of the Squirrel Census currently taking place in Central Park, for he informed me that the squirrel I'd seen was "probably a cinnamon highlighted eastern gray squirrel that is molting."

"The squirrel that you kill in jest, dies in earnest." (Friday's Fact — Actually Everyday's Fact)

MY GARDEN IS THE SETTING FOR BOOK SERIES

MY GARDEN IS THE SETTING FOR BOOK SERIES

MY GARDEN IS THE SETTING FOR BOOK SERIES

MY GARDEN IS THE SETTING FOR BOOK SERIES

Nearly a couple of weeks ago on the day of July 12th 2020, it slipped my mind to write a post in honor of Henry David Thoreau who as born on that day in 1817.

As followers of this blog undoubtedly know, I have written about him a number of times here on Blogger, and if you'd like to refer to those posts, please click here.

In the past (on a number of occasions including on an anniversary of his birthday that took place in 2017), I have confessed that "I think of the wisdom shown in Thoreau's writings on many times, but even more so when I encounter a house sparrow, which happens on countless occasions, given the number of this bird type that are living in NYC."

However, for the past few weeks, it is the presence of a squirrel in my rooftop garden which is the setting for my three volume book series, Words In Our Beak.

MY BOOK SERIES

In any event, this squirrel (who is not included in my books as he/she came here long after their publication) has been causing me to ponder the writings of Thoreau; and from the pensive look on the face of the creature seen in the photos atop this entry, it seems I'm not the only one pondering.

Central Park Squirrel Census Ends in 1 WK!

IMAGE CREDIT

I've just been reminded that the Central Park Squirrel Census will be ending a week from today on October 20th 2018.

Because it is Squirrel Awareness Month, I knew the census was taking place, but my mind, as you may have guessed, dear reader, has been preoccupied with the delays in the release of the third volume of my book series, Words In Our Beak...

SEE PRESS RELEASE

... but as I've mentioned here on Blogger in recent posts, I'm making it a point to not get discouraged re my circumstances and to (among other things) focus more than usual on squirrels during their month for awareness (which is always October). 

Squirrel Appreciation Day 2021

Today, January 21st, is the annual day to celebrate Squirrel Apppreciation Day. I've written about this holiday within a number of venues including entires on this blog.

These animals can provide a lot of entertainment when you observe them as I've done in both Central Park and Riverside Park over the years when I've encountered various types including Cinnamon Variant squirrels, Black squirrels and Eastern gray squirrels.

On July 8th 2020, shortly after NYC started to begin easing up on lockdown restrictions (many of which were subsequently put back in place) which had been in effect since March due  to the devastating consequences of the coronavirus pandemic, I had the chance to watch squirrels from my window for they began to visit the Ailanthus Trees in my buildings courtyard and as you might surmise from the photo-ops atop this entry, their antics gave me many reaons to smile during those isolating times.

It's Squirrel Awareness Month — Learn about these creatures! (Wednesday's Wisdom)

I took a long walk after I published my entry for Tuesday's Truths yesterday. I needed to get the disappointment of what happened to volume three of my book series (Words In Our Beak) off my mind, so I took a long walk in Central Park to pay homage to squirrels since this is Squirrel Awareness Month.

"A Walk in the Park"

Cambridge Press defines the idiom, "a walk in the park," as "something that is very easy to do, and usually pleasant." And indeed, my walk in Central Park yesterday was pleasant. I went there to check out the squirrels since this is Squirrel Awareness Month (as I initially mentioned in my October third entry here on Blogger) and I did not come across the "cinnamon variant" which was the type I encountered last week, but I did meet up with a Black Squirrel who can be seen in the photo atop this entry. In by gone years I've only seen this type in the winter so it was a nice surprise to see this creature frolicking amongst the pigeons...

PIGEONS ARE FEATURED IN MY BOOKS

PIGEONS ARE FEATURED IN MY BOOKS

.... and having some quality time alone.

According to Wiki, "The black squirrel occurs as a melanistic subgroup of both the eastern gray squirrel and the fox squirrel. Their habitat extends throughout the Midwestern United States, in some areas of the Northeastern United States, eastern Canada, and also in the United Kingdom. The overall population of black squirrels is small when compared to that of the gray squirrel. The black fur color can occur naturally as a mutation in populations of gray squirrels, but it is rare. The rarity of the black squirrel has caused many people to admire them, and the black squirrels enjoy great affection in some places as mascots."

Friday's Follow Up to my 7-24-2020's Post

MY GARDEN IS THE SETTING FOR MY BOOK SERIES

Last Friday, I published a post here on Blogger which discussed Henry David Thoreau's well known quote, "The squirrel that you kill in jest, dies in earnest." 

In this follow-up post, I'd like to share with you what Thoreau had to say about this animal type in his essay, Walden 175.

I am prompted to do this upon seeing the squirrel (who has been visiting my rooftop garden since early July) enjoying peanuts from one of my bird feeders. He/she can be seen munching away while atop my ring-style feeder.

The reason I thought of Thoreau upon seeing this is I recently learned he was evidently known for leaving out ears of unripened sweet corn for these creatures during the winter.

I've never left out unripened corn in the winter (or any time for that matter) but during winter months, I have made sure my feeders (including my ring-style peanut feeder) are replenished during that season in order to provide my visiting birds with physical nourishment.

Squirrel Appreciation Day 2018

The squirrel featured in the photograph atop this entry is one I encountered in Central Park the other day when I was on a mission to catch another glimpse of a Great Blue Heron.

This squirrel seemed to be giving me a special look, as I took his/her picture; perhaps it's because he/she knew I would be writing about the holiday known as Squirrel Appreciation Day, which is today, January the twenty-first.

Who-dun-it?

MY GARDEN IS THE SETTING FOR MY BOOK SERIES

This past Monday (8-10-2020) when I arrived home after my follow-up appointment with the surgeon (re the procedure I had on 8-4 -2020), I discovered a portion of the string lights which provide a canopy over my garden, had come down and I knew it wasn't storm related....so my question was Who-dun-it?

The Anemones, the Onion flowers and the Crepe myrtle, are all in bloom again! (Tuesday's Truths WK 193)

ANEMONES ARE FEATURED IN A FEW POSTS ON THIS BLOG 

ANEMONES ARE FEATURED IN A FEW POSTS ON THIS BLOG 

For this week's episode (which is #193) of my Tuesday's Truths series, I'd like to tell you that a sign indicating the fall season is well on its way to NYC —albeit not officially until over one month from now on September 22 2020 — is appearing in my rooftop garden: My autumn Anemones are starting to bloom again, as evidenced by the photo-ops atop this entry which I took this past Saturday morning, August 15 2020.

As you may know, dear reader, this garden is the setting for my book series, Words In Our Beak and numerous varieties of flora are discussed within them...

MY BOOK SERIES

... however, at the time of these books were published, I was not growing Anemones but during those years I did admire this flower variety whenever I was it flourishing within gardens in my 'hood and nearby parks.

Finally in late 2018 and throughout 2019, I began to grow my own and continue to be awestruck by their appearance in my place. I'm hardly alone in my feelings about this flower type.

Sunday's Sentiment: National Black Cat Day (An Excuse to Celebrate Black Squirrels Too?)

Today is National Black Cat Day. According to many sources, including holidayscalendar.com, this occasion is "celebrated on October 27th, just four days before Halloween... National Black Cat Day is a holiday which celebrates an animal (who) has an image problem. Black cats are not only considered bad luck in the United States but they are also one of the cats that is the least likely to be adopted...

While no one is exactly sure when National Black Cat Day was founded, what is known is that the attitudes about these particular felines are different during different parts of history and in different parts of the world. For example, in Great Britain and Japan, a black cat is considered good luck. However, in the United States, it has come to symbolize bad luck or evil forces. In some parts of the world, if a black cat crosses your path, then it’s considered to be a bad omen. In folklore, black cats are often depicted as agents of evil or even evil itself. In some parts of Europe, they were considered so evil that they were burned alive by superstitious villagers in giant midsummer bonfires..."

I don't have a black cat (or any cat for that matter), but I do have a figurine of someone dressed as a black cat for Halloween.

He/she can be modeling his/her costume in the pictures atop this entry.

The Ninth Day of Christmas and other Stuff

IMAGE CREDIT

Happy Ninth Day of Christmas, dear reader! This is the day when someones's true love gave to them (according to a song) nine drummers drumming; as well as eight maids a milking, seven swans a swimming, six geese a laying, five golden rings, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree. In honor of the day, I've posted a picture (by the illustrator Roberta Baird) of a bird known as a drummer atop this entry.

According to a web-page (12 Birds of Christmas), "with this verse, the order of the gifts we sing is changed from the original. Instead of ladies dancing, in the earliest known version, on this day drummers were drumming. In England and mainland Europe, the most common drumming bird was the Snipe. Where and when snipes do their drumming is important. Snipes drum in the spring soon after fields have been plowed and are most fertile, and until the mid-18th Century when the new year began. The number nine represents harmony and eternity. Fertility coupled with both harmony and eternity creates the most powerful force we can know."

By the way since this Ninth Day of Christmas is falling on a Wednesday, the day designated in social media as Wednesday's Wisdom I have a bit to offer but it has nothing to do with drummers drumming or any other bird for that matter.

Monday's Second Memo re Observing Squirrels (It's from Bill Whitehead)

Twenty six days ago,  here on Blogger, I announced that October is Squirrel Awareness Month and ten days later on October 13th, I discussed the fact that a Squirrel Census was taking place in NYC's CentralPark. The census has now come and gone, but when I saw Bill Whitehead's 10-27-2018 cartoon (a copy of it is posted atop this entry), I thought about those involved in the squirrel counting event.

My Jumping Squirrel (Tuesday's Truths WK 189)

THIS SHRUB IS FEATURED IN VOL 1

In recent blog posts (including one published on 7-8-2020) and one published on 7-19-2020), I've been discussing my observations of a lone squirrel who has been spending a lot of his/her time in my rooftop garden.

One thing I've noticed is his/her's incredible ability to jump. She/he often enters my place by jumping from the trees in an adjacent courtyard on to one of the pole that supports my string lights and from there she jumps on to a stake in the container of my Japanese Larch (Larix Kaempferi) as seen in the photo atop this entry.

Saturday's Sequel (to 2-21's Blog Post)

This past Thursday, I published a post re it being a month after 2019's Squirrel Appreciation Day and in it one of the things I stated was this: "... A squirrel’s bushy tail actually serves a couple of purposes. For one, it helps them balance when they are walking along branches." 

Today I came upon the image that's posted above and indeed even though this squirrel is hanging on to a branch belonging to one of Central Park's trees by his/hers hind toes, it certainly seems like their tails assist in the balance! Pretty nifty...

In Honor of Squirrel Appreciation Day

Today marks another holiday known as Squirrel Appreciation Day. According to Holiday Insights (HI) this day "is an opportunity to enjoy and appreciate your tree climbing, nut gathering neighborhood squirrels. (And) It's held in mid-winter when food sources are scarce for squirrels and other wildlife."

HI admits that "Not everyone likes squirrels. While they are fun to watch skirting around the yard and trees, they are aggressive at bird feeders. Squirrels tip almost any bird feeder and spill the seeds in search of the particular seeds they want."

This is evidenced in the Mutts comic strip posted atop this blog entry.