THE MUSIC OF THE SPHERES—AND RACCOONS AND JAYS AND HUMMINGBIRDS AND POSSUMS…

I'm outta here!

This past week has been a series of crazy-magic days, full of animals, deadening heat, confusion, and wonder. It began with a fledgling jay the neighbors brought me. He was a fat, sassy thing, ready to take on the world, but he had launched from a nest beneath which sat two equally fat and sassy cats, who were ready to take on a small bird buffet.

Vivian brought him to my door in a Kleenex box, saying, “He’ll never make it through the night with my two cats on guard. So far, the other big jays are dive-bombing the cats and kids, but I know the cats will win out. You can’t believe the racket in my yard right now.”

In the bottom of the shoe box a fluffy blue jay sat clutching a small twig in a death-grip. I brought the box in the house, and put my hand in. He never made a move when I lifted him into my hand, and no sound came out of that wide baby beak, but he hung onto the twig like a life preserver.

 

METAMORPHOSIS

Each evening around eight, I take the dogs outside for a last check before the dark closes in. Is the garden gate closed? Garage door shut? Is the pond pump still running? Check the mail today? Close the back gate so Mazel can’t go roaming the hollows in the wee hours. Is there food for the raccoons and possums in the tree feeder?

Often, the spirits that be offer me up one last gift for the day as I do my nightly rounds. Sometimes, the circling bats are closer or more abundant that usual, and I let my eyes follow their zig-zag aerobatics until I get dizzy or it gets too dark to see. Once, I discovered a tiny green frog in the crevice of the back gate as I moved to close it. Or maybe I’ll be outside at just the exact time the coyotes call from the hollows.

 

PEPPER 3: SPA DAY

Clean possum!

(This is the third post I’ve written about the adventures of Pepper the Possum. Read the older posts of you need to catch up!)

I don’t know about you, but I always feel better after a good bath. So I decided to give one to Pepper. I didn’t know if it would make her feel any better, but I realized it would make me feel better. It is hard to feel enthused when you are grubby, and when those you are putting your hands on are grubby.

So Thursday was spa day at my place. I placed a small face towel in the bottom of the shower for traction, lined up an assortment of shampoos and conditioners, along the floor, put some drops of lavender oil in the shower stall, and turned the hand-held shower spigot on lukewarm.

In my arms, Pepper was cradled like a baby, and I settled her onto the towel, and let the warm water run over her.

She was not thrilled, but I think I can honestly say she was not horrified either. She looked around and sniffed at the air while her butt end stayed squatted on the towel. She made a little, short sniffing sound—something she does when I pick her up—and tried once to lick the shampoo.