Squirrel Nutkin

 

My husband considers this little guy a real pest. I call him Squirrel Nutkin after Beatrix Potter's book with that title. 

Dear husband would like Nutkin and his large family to leave our property and quit eating the bird seed he puts out for his bird friends.

I think he's a cute little fella but I dare not tell dear husband that since he and Nutkin are at war.

My husband has sought to create an impenetrable bird feeder....a fortress guarded by an interesting display of squirrel defying thingys to "keep those pests away from the bird seed."

Nutkin and his small army of relatives have been at war with Dear One in earnest this whole year of lockdown. 

We have a little more time on our hands these days which has brought the seed stealing  Nutkin and his friends to Dear One's attention....thus the battle began.

He has devised an amazing assortment of booby traps to thwart Nutkin and friends from gaining access to his bird feeders. 

So far this intelligent little guy has overcome each obstacle placed in his way. And now the Battle of 2020 has heated up between Dear One and the troops of Nutkin. 

My husband finally invented his impenetrable bird feeder. 

"Praise the Lord", I thought to myself. Now he can relax and enjoy watching his birds in peace. 

The bird feeder no longer looks like a bird feeder, but it is now safe from pesky thieves.

It's a genius contraption really, but I'm a little embarrassed for the neighbors to see it. Luckily my neighbor loves me and has a Dear One of her own so she understands and doesn't laugh at me (at least not to my face...you know who I'm talking about Tammy)

This invention has a large sturdy pole of rebar bent over to hold the bird feeder. Under the bird feeder is a diesel truck mud flap attached like a flat plate and somehow held together in such a way that it can wiggle and move.

 If any approaching squirrels are somehow able to climb the greased rebar and grab hold of the mudflap (which is an almost impossible trick) they will find themselves in a little spin, then fall in a dizzy drop to the ground. 

Genius.

We've won the war!

Rest has returned to our home.

We've been enjoying the birds for a couple months free from pesky squirrels. Its been a joy.

I've been resting well lately. I was in a deep sleep recently when around midnight I heard Dear One's voice, "Babe...Babe...are you asleep?" (He always asks me that when I'm sleeping.)

When I awake I see him sitting in his bird watching chair with his flashlight looking out the window at our bird house/fortress at the midnight hour.

He informs me that a raccoon has gotten past the barricades and is in process of gobbling up all his birdseed.

He asks me to get up and see this.

I look and commiserate with him, reminding him that all little animals get hungry. I don't think it's what he wanted to hear, but I can't give him permission to take care of the situation in any manner that might awaken the neighbors.

The next day it is reported that Nutkin himself has also breeched the barricade. 

The war is renewed. 

Dear One has re-fortified the bird feeder/ fortress and moved it away from our fence which was used by Nutkin to take a flying leap onto the mudflap and dine to his heart's delight.

Yesterday, much to our delight, we were blessed with a visiting flock of Blue Jays and red cardinals who thoroughly enjoyed a full bird feeder.

It was a beautiful sight.

Dear One even ate lunch in his bird watching chair yesterday. He is so enjoying the fruit of his hard work.

The point of my story...if there is one....is to glean from what Nutkin is learning.

 The offer of free food comes at a price. There is danger in a free handout. God has provided for Nutkin. He just has to work at getting the food and appreciating what is provided by his Creator.

But Nutkin has discovered free food that tastes better than what God has provided. Think Manna.

He craves this tasty unnecessary tidbit. He's willing to face Dear One's wrath and obstacles to reach what he craves. But danger lies in this choice.

  Why can't Nutkin just be happy with the simple things provided? What makes him go through the pain of getting more than he really needs? Good questions.

Why did Israel want more than Manna? Why couldn't they be satisfied with God's presence and provision? Good questions. Worth thinking about.

Nutkin will never be happy with plain old acorns now that he knows there is "more".

1 Timothy 6:6-12💕

Nutkin below....he is burying his stolen goods in my flower pots on the front porch. He knows I'll never tell.