If I were a child this afternoon, I would gather my bicycling neighborhood friends and sell them tickets to my squirrel circus. I filled up all the feeders that were empty and topped off those that were down a few inches. Three little squirrels sat on the side of the old oak, about three feet from me, watching me fill up their favorite bird feeder, licking their lips, flicking their tails. When I got through, I took a can of cooking oil spray and sprayed the pole thickly from top to bottom. Those little tree rats could not wait for me to leave so they could enjoy eating the fresh sunflower seeds. I sat down in the swing and just watched America’s Ninja Warriors with squirrels competing. I pictured them dressed in red, white, and blue athletic shorts and tank tops, the biggest squirrel wearing a tiny rhinestone headband. “A squirrel is just a rat with a cuter outfit!” says Sarah Jessica Parker.

The smallest squirrel competed first, hopped right over and reached up to grab the pole. His hands slid off every time he tried to climb. Took him three tries before he gave up. He didn’t even get up an inch off the ground. Frustrated, he ran across the street to hide and pout in the old magnolia. The second squirrel ran and leaped halfway up, grabbed on and quickly slid back down, all four paws holding on, like he was riding a fireman’s pole. He, too, tried several times. He finally gave up and started feeding on the seeds on the ground under the feeder. Squirrel three was shaking his tail, chattering to the other squirrels, telling them he was going to show them how to climb the pole. I could here him saying, “Watch me, Watch me!”

He acrobatically leaped from the oak tree trunk, sailed spread-eagle through the air, landed high on the pole, held on and quickly corkscrewed around the pole like a dancer on a night club pole, circling all the way down. He hit the ground hard, making a little dust cloud fly up. He didn’t try again, probably drunk from circling around so fast. He stood up, straightened his headband and tank top straps, pulled his shorts from his crotch, and joined the other squirrel eating under the feeder. I laughed watching them competing and showing off. They’ve learned the oil only lasts a day or two so they’ll be back climbing up the poles. I suddenly remember Will Smith’s quote, “Even a blind squirrel finds an acorn now and again.”

Squirrels are fun to watch. Industrious little critters. They can teach us to be resourceful and teach us the importance of preparation for the future. The squirrels work hard but take time to play. Love this. “Advice from a squirrel — Plan ahead. Stay active. Look both ways when you cross the road. Eat plenty of fiber. Spend time in the woods. Go out on a limb. It’s okay to be a little nuts.” Good advice for all of us.

I sat on the porch swing most of the day watching all the birds and squirrels enjoying this glorious Sunday. Every now and then a breeze would play hymns on the organ wind chimes making my swing a church pew. We had two glorious sunshowers this afternoon, the small raindrops glistening in the sunshine like tiny diamonds, cooling the air, tickling my arm resting on the back of the swing. A beautiful yellow sulfur butterfly came and danced across the lemon yellow petunias, her gossamer dancing skirt so thin I could see her body through her wings. The big neighborhood hoot owl, a large barred owl, soared across the street at dusk, flying low into the mysterious twilight just as the sun rolled down behind the horizon. The hoot owl is a handsome bird feathered in browns and grays, his dark eyes resting above a yellow bill.

Closing with a beautiful Irish Blessing that speaks of everything I love. “May flowers always line your path and sunshine light your day. May songbirds serenade you every step along the way. May a rainbow run beside you in a sky that’s always blue. And may happiness fill your heart each day your whole life through.” Happy Monday, everyone!

“We’re all kissed by angels, but some of us never think to pucker up.” — Josh Billings