Zany Ears

Springtime in our neck of the woods is unpredictable and wild. Yesterday, we had a little bit of sunshine, teasing us before the current storm.

Because I've been a bit more subdued on our hikes since the migraine-induced haze hit, Shyla has been making fun for herself, zooming in circles around me carrying all sorts of objects.

When we returned home, a visitor came to our clearing who had zany ears! First, he peeked in the window just feet away from me - a Peeping Tom. Then, I went out to capture his handsome visage.

He was a dark-colored Abert's Squirrel.

He wasn't certain that he trusted me and stayed up high for a while.

Soon, he became curious and peered at me from his perch in a Ponderosa Pine. These squirrels live only in habitat that includes Ponderosa Pines, which limits their range substantially.

Since I hoped that he'd visit again, I went inside at that point to avoid scaring him off and to give him space to forage.

And, because it's wild and crazy almost-spring here, we woke up to this today!

Shyla wore my hat briefly, and then we hiked out into the snowy world. I've learned to welcome these wet snows that hit from March through May because they are nature's way of nurturing the wildflowers, the first of which should poke out of the ground in a month or so!