My Back Yard

Iggy saw our new two-bedroom apartment in Montreal today.

We’re subletting from two McGill students, both women. One of them is a distant relative.

We locked eyes, the squirrel and I.

He sat on a fir tree branch at about eye level. A chickadee house hung about six inches away on the same limb.

I walked toward the squirrel.

He didn’t flinch. He followed with keen interest my right hand, where I dangled a peanut by its stringy fiber.

Would he let me come give the nut directly to him?

He arose and moved toward the tree’s slender trunk. Then he scrambled onto the one branch that thrust outward between his original perch and me.

I extended my hand. He reached forward and set his teeth into the nut halfway down its length. Our transaction was complete.

That tree was a hotspot today. Later I saw a chickadee fly into the bird house. I wasn’t close enough to tell if it was carrying nest building materials.

Also saw a goldfinch at the nearby thistle feeder.

I might have the opportunity to live in Montreal with Iggy for the summer.

I need to think about how I’d keep my business going. I’d also need to find a writing class or group.

And what would happen to our beautiful squirrels and birds?

I enjoy reading Hartford Courant columns by Gina Barreca. Her recent column about a writing assignment she gave her students made me think I should try the assignment.

Unfortunately, I don’t think I could improve on the answers that her students gave.

My computer appears to be fully functioning again! Hurray!

I replaced the mouse, and then the keyboard, all within one week.

The Sony keyboard was only about three years old. Not only did it die, but some of the more commonly used letters — e, n, and m — were mostly rubbed off.

I spotted my garden’s vinca in bloom today. Tiny white flowers.

They made me smile.

When I went out to replenish the water supply this morning, I found only two or three stray pieces of carrot.

Where did they go?

They were still there around dusk. Perhaps the raccoon family that used to live in our maple tree hollow has returned.

Can I rant for a minute?

Now my blankety-blank keyboard isn’t working. (I’m blowing off steam on Iggy’s laptop, which I am fortunate to have).

You may recall that my mouse was acting up, even after reboots. So, I decided to try another mouse in its place. During my manipulations, the keyboard came unplugged.

Eventually I found the hole where I should plug in the keyboard. It’s even color-coded — purple blob next to hole where purple thingie fits.

I plugged it in.

Nothing happened.

I fiddled with it.

Nothing.

I climbed the obstacle course that is our attic stairs to find another keyboard, though Iggy warned me that it might not fit.

It did fit!

But no better reaction.

I would really prefer to be on my own PC. So much more efficient for me to work on that, WHEN both keyboard and mouse cooperate.

Squirrels like carrots. And carrots are good for them.

“Good” should have been the tip-off that the two carrots I cut up this morning would be rejected by my friends.

The first two squirrels sniffed each individual carrot piece. As if hopeful the tidbit would mutate into a nut. No such luck.

One bold squirrel bit into a carrot, then dropped it. Too healthy. Obviously.

Don’t I know that carrots are for rabbits?

Paper piles up on my floor,
Covering the gold synthetic carpet.
Can I get the receipts sorted in time,
Or will I need an extension?

Every year I say next year I’ll get more organized,
I’ll start earlier.
But I know I won’t succeed.