10-10-13 Leo the Squirrel
news summary
2:18 pm: As I came into the back yard a small squirrel scampered down the hemlock tree (not the poison hemlock) near the porch. He sat on the base of the tree and looked me over.
The girls did nothing remarkable today. They got about 45 minutes grazing time. They still run me ragged getting them back into the coop.
Got 5 eggs… again.
featured story – Leo
The squirrel was very wary. After about 15 minutes of scampering back and forth, his curiosity got the better of him and he came right up to me.
“How do you like that camera you got there. Nikon right?” he spoke so fast I could barely keep up.
“Yea, I like it,” I said trying not to look and act dumbfounded. “I’ve got a lot to learn.”
“Oh, I know what you mean. I got a button cam sewed right into my coat here.” he chattered in his staccato rhythm. “Take a look. Take a look.” And he pulled back the fur on his belly.
“Yup, there it is,” I said. “It looks an awful lot like a bellybutton.”
“Exactly! Isn’t that wild. Oh, excuse my manners.” The squirrel made a slight bow,, “I’m Leopold. Call me Leo. I’m a reporter for the Treetop Gazette™. I’m doing an undercover feature on the Bainbridge Island chickens. There’s really something going on here. I’ve been working this group since last May.”
I introduced myself. Then, from somewhere he pulled out a camera memory card.
“You wanna see some of my pictures? Here pop this in your camera” he said eagerly as he handed me the card.
I slipped the card into my camera a flipped through the pictures as he commented on them.
“This is Lt. Laura, chief of security. Boy she really gave me the third degree.
She’s got NO sense of humor, but she’s all right.”
“Oh and here’s some of my most favorite trees – not easy shots with a bellybutton cam.”
“Here’s a shot from my observation post”
“My camera went of by accident on this one.”
“Hey, you wouldn’t believe. You know how Lefty can be a little…. aloof? I thought she hated me. But it turns out she’s just shy. Well, anyway she painted this picture of me. Take a look!”
“Oh, I just got a call,” Leo said “There’s a meeting over at Rolling Bay I gotta get to.
Nice meetin’ ya. See ya ’round.”
And he was gone.
He left in such a rush that I still had his card in my camera.
Maybe I’ll see him tomorrow.
~ David