Friday, September 23, 2011

The Tale of Two Squirrels

When it comes to weather, I'm a junkie. Even the music on the weather channel is appealing. It's very soothing in between the segments on tornados and severe thunderstorms. Weather is a common topic of discussion down at the Diner, especially this time of year. People are edgy. It's hot and dry. The afternoon winds blow strongly as the seasons change from Summer to Fall. Our worst wildfires take place in August and September. We all hope to just make safely through these days until the first rains arrive, usually around Halloween. Winter sounds attractive, and discussions sometimes focus on the Farmer's Almanac and what we can expect.
The squirrels know something about the weather. I learned that last year. They had the uncanny ability to foretell a huge winter. Something unusual happened which I did not understand at the time. The gray tree squirrels absolutely shredded the pine cones on the large Ponderosa which borders our patio. Never happened before. The debris littered the ground and was so deep I had to use a snow shovel and my largest wheelbarrow to remove it. Then it came... the biggest snowfall in years. One measure of winter's fury is how long it takes for the park service to open the loop road through Lassen Park. Quite often it is open by Memorial Day. This year: not until after the 4th of July! Was it just coincidence, or do the squirrels somehow know what's coming in the weather department? I'll take the squirrels over the Farmer's Almanac. Not just any squirrels, mind you, just the gray ones with white bellies that fly through the trees with the greatest of ease.
Then there are the other squirrels in Manton, the dumb ones, called ground squirrels. Their highest perch is a rock. These daredevil fools invariably wait along the side of the road until the very last minute as you approach, then dart in front of your car at the last second when there isn't a chance in hell you can avoid hitting them. Squirrel carcasses litter the road from Dale's Corner to the Manton Post Office. What are they thinking? Maybe it's a sport. If so, it's CARS: 1,756, SQUIRRELS: 3. One thing you can be sure of when you see all those ground squirrels: there are rattlesnakes nearby. Nests of baby ground squirrels are the gourmet ghetto for rattlers. I'll pontificate on that topic in another blog. Suffice it to say, lightning's much more likely to get you.
It seems to me, judging by the pinecone shredding operation now underway, we are in for another big winter. But before it arrives, there is one big party in town about to take place. It's by far the biggest event of the year in our small community, the annual MANTON APPLE FESTIVAL. Always the first Saturday in October, this year it is October 1st. If you like homemade apple pie a la mode as much as I do, perhaps I'll see you there. Wonderful local crafts will be available for purchase and live music to entertain you. It's free admission and revenue generated from the event goes to pay for scholarships at the Manton School. Come join in the fun.
Tom Knight, Broker
MANTON REALTY

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