So... We're just chillin' out with Dump this evening.

So... We're just chillin' out with Dump this evening. He's been running around the room for the last 10 minutes looking for a place to hide his pecan. Knocking my nail polish off the table, unrolling paper towels, emptying the trash bag... Literally being into every place he can think of. NOWHERE seemed to be safe enough.

Guess where his pecan ended up.  Go ahead.

It's in my bra, nestled safely between my boobs.  😛

You seriously do not fight a squirrel on a mission. Just let him do what he needs to. LOL

I got the full pat down after he wedged it in there and everything. He cracks me up!

Dumpy Learning a Lesson

Dumpy Learning a Lesson

I've hesitated to upload this for days. I didn't want to be accused of torturing my baybay. He got into my bass drum, and was not being smart about getting out. For the record, the clear drum head is made of plastic, not anything hard. He was not being hurt.

Personally, I find it important that animals and children alike learn how to do things for themselves. I feel like learning things is hindered when someone jumps in and solves the problem for you WITHOUT GIVING YOU A CHANCE. For that reason, I did not help him get out. Now, if he'd been in there for more than a couple of minutes, or had started to panic, I would have helped him. I feel like it would have been cruel to leave him for a long time, or if he was really freaking out. However, he was not, and he got out by himself, and he's ok. And hopefully if he goes in there again, he'll remember how to get out.

All that being said, I do find this video funny. I hope that y'all can all laugh at it, too, because you know I'd never do anything to hurt or stress that child. He is so spoiled - I have hung up ropes and baskets and bought him towers and all kinds of stuff. I just love him so much. But sometimes loving someone requires you to be able to step back and let them learn.

Video

And finally: One just for my trustworthy peeps. 🙂

And finally:  One just for my trustworthy peeps.  🙂

Did a LOT of re-arranging my house today.  To help minimize the stress on my lizard I moved Dumplin' out of my bedroom.  Honestly, when he gets all wound up and awake it's really hard to sleep with him in there.  So, it might be for the best.  He's now in the kitchen, which means that when it's time to let him out to play I don't have to walk him through a room with cats.  That has always made me very nervous, though it was a very short trip (less then 10 steps).  He's always been really good and stayed right on my shoulder when I was taking him from my bedroom to the game room, but it's always been in the back of my mind that he might just decide to explore one day and that would most likely be the end of him.  He's so fast that I don't think I could stop him.  🙁  I try to think safety first, so this new setup definitely eases my mind.  🙂

To make room for Dump in the kitchen I had to move my opossums.  To move my opossums I had to move my love seat.  There has been a LOT of moving things around today.  LOL  But, now I have the runt boy opossums in the living room with Nelly and the cats.  The cats don't bother Nelly, so I don't think they're going to bother these guys, either.  They haven't shown much interest.  I would really like for everyone to be able to hang out - supervised, of course.  I know that Nelly likes to come out and the cats leave her be, so maybe it will be the same with the boys.  I guess I will find out!  After they've had time to acclimate to the room and seeing the cats in there, though.

All in all it has been a busy day, but I'm pleased with the new house setup, and I hope that all of the animals are, too.  There is at least one who I know feels like a queen.  That would be Emma.  Home girl got the love seat and she's barely gotten off of it since Shaun put it in there.  😃  Spoiled doggie!  ❤

Well, I just experienced my first REAL squirrel bite.

Well, I just experienced my first REAL squirrel bite.  It's not so bad.  I mean, it is deep and it is bleeding, but it hurts less than I thought it would... for now.  LOL  He got me on the palm side of where my pointer finger connects to my hand, right on that vein.  It's been bleeding a lot off and on.  I'll give it until later today before I freak out.

In Dumplin's defense I stuck my hand in his cage after he gave me a warning chatter.  I know that sounds stupid (and I guess it was), but he chewed a hole in his new water bottle last night, (and a hole in his old one on Saturday), so I was giving him a dish of water until I could get a new (hopefully chew-proof) water bottle today.  He didn't understand that, though.  All he knew was that I was invading his space even though he told me not to.  I guess that seemed pretty rude and I don't hold that against him.  I should have listened to him, but instead I thought "I'll just give him this water real quick."  A lot of good that did - seeing as how he's knocked it over already.  I think he'll have to rough it today until I'm home after work with his new bottle.  Poor little spoiled indoor squirrel.  LOL

Well, that is a lesson learned.  It doesn't hurt much yet, but I'm sure my hand is gonna ache like whoa later.  And that is just what I get for not listening to what he said.  Bad Blu!  I will definitely pay attention next time, little buddy.  ❤

When I should be doing things I don't want to do...

When I should be doing things I don't want to do, letting my squirrel buddy out to exercise is always a good reason to neglect my chores.  Better to neglect my chores than him, right?

I've had a lovely evening with my Dumpy.  He played briefly, but I think he tired out pretty fast.  It IS kind of late.  Tired Dumpy = Lovey Dumpy.  Usually petting means it's wrestle time, but tonight I got in all kinds of lovvins.  Back scratches, neck scratches, lots of head and neck kisses.  He even laid down and rested on my leg for a moment.  Usually he's busy darting around at the speed of light, trying to peel my fingernails off and looking for things to chew and wrestle.  But tonight, he mellowed out after some wrestling and running, and it was just nice.  Reminded me of when he was a baby and always wanted to be right with me.  Before he could move so fast and I was all he knew.  Sometimes I miss that.  Hell, sometimes I miss that with Shadow, too.  Too bad they all grow up so fast.  😕

I just love my kids.  ALL of them.  ❤

Thank you, Dumplin'...

Thank you, Dumplin', for throwing pecan shells down my clothes. That's comfy.

(I'm just sitting here - minding my business - and he's eating a pecan behind me. Throwing the shells down the back of my pants. I can honestly say this is the first time I've had pecan shells in my crack.

I think squirrels are little jokers.)

Dump shredding a stick.

Dump shredding a stick.

Shredding sticks is normal for him. It's the way he's just lounging there at the beginning that's cracking me up. Too bad he usually stops whatever he's doing when you bust out the camera.

Video

Dump Enjoying some Icy Creams :)

Dump Enjoying some Icy Creams :)

And FYI - that cat tower box in the background? Yeah. Dumpy got his own private tower. 😃

Video

As a general rule I don't feed my animals people food...

As a general rule I don't feed my animals people food because it usually isn't very good for them.  Once in a while I will give them a treat, though.

HOWEVER, giving a squirrel a BITE of ice cream when he wants the whole thing just isn't that easy.  You switch your ice cream to the other hand and he simply runs down the other arm to steal a bite.  Not so easy to play keep-away with him, so I guess I can't be eating ice cream with him around.  LOL

I found out today that Dunk REALLY REALLY likes vanilla ice cream with the chocolate shell.  Added bonus for him is the popsicle stick is wood AND has some chocolate coating left on it.  He seems to take after his mama in that the chocolate shell is his favorite part.  😉

So Shaun took a little video of him enjoying some ice cream.  I'm waiting for it to finish uploading so I can share it with you.  He's a hoot.  😃  An adorable little hoot.  ❤

OMD - I could die happy right this minute.

OMD - I could die happy right this minute.

I'm sitting here at my computer and I just heard the tiniest squeak.  And then I heard it again.  And again.

The only creature in my room with me is Dump and he's sleeping.  I think I just heard a squirrel dream!

I just want to tear out my hair and eat him.  I don't even know what to do with myself - that's so awesome.  ❤😃

Dumplin' says:

Dumplin' says:  "Seriously woman?  I can't just lounge on the table looking fabulous without you going all PAPARAZZI on me?  Put the camera down and back away slowly."  What's funny is that after I took this he turned around to face me.  I guess to keep an eye on me.  😂😂😂

Well... since he's staying with me...

Well... since he's staying with me, I thought I might as well give him his own album.  I can't stop photographing his adorable little ass anyway.  😃

Chowing on a Cheerio

Taking a break from playing

Mr. Dunk looking all thoughtful

YOU WILL DIE.

Just kidding.

Escaping the Shaun.

Wrestling the Shaun

Still wrestling the Shaun

Wrestling the Shaun, but tiring out. Adorably. 😃

He was resting on my hand just a second before I snapped this. I love his little face, though, so here is a close-up of part of it. 😛

Hanging from the couch by his back feet

Standing up

Buddha Belly!

Laid out on the table

Even squirrels do the frog butt. 😃

BEST. HAT. EVER.

Note to self:

Note to self:  Textured polish is just too interesting to a squirrel.  Great way to get your nails ripped off.

No, Dump didn't rip my nails off, but man, he was pulling and biting, and fussing at ME when I scolded him.  Had to cut playtime short.  Might have to go and re-do my nails.  For safety purposes.  LOL

So I was cleaning and listening to Pandora...

So I was cleaning and listening to Pandora.  And I let Dumpy out, but he's a huge distraction and honestly, who can get ANYTHING done with a squirrel running up and down you and bouncing off your head?  Someone with more talent than me, that's who.

Ok, so I listen to that "crappy pop music" + comedy, and my original plan was to just turn the sound off of this video, but then I watched it and I JUST COULD NOT.  Let me just say that I did not edit this video at all.  First of all:  The first thing you hear when the video starts.  I know that was a sentence fragment, but WHAT?  I like that song, and if you don't know it, I suggest you Google Bo Burnham.  But that is a crazy lyric to start things on.  Just crazy.  And then at about the 2 minute mark - oh, the timings.  Just watch it.  😃  I didn't laugh out loud - I fucking cackled.  😃

Also, the very end is pretty epic, too.

Video

Two pretty good photos of my Dunky Butt.

Two pretty good photos of my Dunky Butt. You can't even tell, but I'd just made my bed and cleaned my room. He's been cracking and hiding pecans all over my bed, and I guess he tired himself out - for a moment, anyway. Long enough to snap a few cute shots of him. 😃

And no, he didn't do that to my curtains. Years ago when I had rats, they got ahold of my curtains through their cage. I don't change them because it doesn't bother me. Just memories of my sweethearts. I'd sacrifice those curtains a thousand times if it meant I could have my girls back. Possessions aren't more important than my friends. I don't understand that mentality. ❤

Here I thought it was time to relax and check out the Internet, but...

Here I thought it was time to relax and check out the Internet, but Dumpy says it's time to wrestle a squirrel.  Well ok, then.  LOL

Holy shit, y'all.  He just jumped off of me back to his cage to pee and poop.  What the hell?  That's AWESOME.  😃

And now he's stealing fruit from my superworms.  Niiice.  Like taking candy from a baby.  LOL

I WISH with every little piece of me...

I WISH with every little piece of me that the first photo hadn't been blurry.  He looks like he has such swagger.  LOL  "Hey baby, you come here often?"  😛

Unfortunately, he's still for about 10 seconds, tops, before he's off running at the speed of light again.  In the last photo, he was just about all rested up, but it was the least blurry of the bunch.

Pardon the messy room.  The crate was for a visiting tortoise, and let's face it - anywhere there's a squirrel, there's chaos.  It's like a non-stop stream of "RUNclimbRUNchewRUNwrestleRUNknockthingsoverRUNstealyourfoodRUNlookallcuteRUNrestRUN" then rinse and repeat.  LOL

Animal post for all of you special peeps:

Animal post for all of you special peeps:

Everyone probably knows by now that Win left on Friday.  I hear that he's doing really well in his new foster home so that's WONDERFUL news.  It really makes me happy to hear that.  I wasn't sure if all of the transporting and switching between new people would stress him out, but he was cool on Friday and is still going strong, making progress, so I'm feeling pretty good about him.  I'll keep everyone posted as I learn more details.

It's about time that I should be releasing Dumplin', but I haven't taken any real steps to do that.  I feel like I don't have a great place to do it.  It's a process.  He needs to be put outside in his cage for a few hours a day until he acclimates - probably for about two weeks and then I'm supposed to put his cage out full-time for a couple of more weeks after that.  I kind of feel like he's gonna be cat bait if I put him out in his cage because there are strays around here and I don't have time to sit and watch over him for that long every day.  I am not really sure what to do.  I have contacted another rehabber about releasing him for me, but I haven't heard back yet.  I know that everyone is so busy and overwhelmed that it's just crazy.  I hate to add to anyone's work, but at the same time I really care about the little dude so I want to make sure this happens the right way and that he's ok.

Another bit about Dumplin' - or really, more my stupidity.  I'd read that they needed bedding in the bottom of his cage to learn to hide things so I put some corn cob bedding down.  He threw it ALL OVER my bedroom.  I was stepping on it and tracking it everywhere so I just abandoned that idea today.  I could sweep my floor 10 times a day and there was always more.  He's got blankets now and he buries his food in there.  I think he gets the basic idea.  🙂

I've still got my orphaned opossums, but I couldn't tell you how many at this point.  I have my two runts in the house still, but I'd moved the other 9 to the garage.  They were getting big so I had to put them in a bigger cage.  The problem with that was that they were getting out of it.  Even though they look like they wouldn't fit they could squeeze through the bars.  🙁  Opossums are DEFINITELY little escape artists.  Finally I gave up on containing them and just decided to opossum-proof my garage.  So basically it's just a big opossum house right now.  There is a big gap under the door.  Big enough that they can leave when they feel ready, but no cats or dogs can get in.  I am still giving them food and water and I'll continue to do that until it stops disappearing.  I didn't know what else to do, but that feels like a pretty sound plan to me as they are about old enough to survive on their own, too.

So with Win gone, and most of my opossum babies out in the garage, and with Mona moved, and Dump off of that corn cob bedding, I'm feeling like, 1000% less stressed than I was.  I had so much going on that I was struggling to keep up.  And my house was all re-arranged and so out of order with me trying to fit everyone in that it was just driving me crazy, too.

I feel like I have learned a lot with it being my first spring rehabbing.  I can see now that I have some kinks to work out.  I have actually made contact with a group who's district I AM in so when they get things all lined up I might actually be able to have a valid permit again.  That thought is VERY exciting so PAWS CROSSED!  The lady also told me that if nursing babies was easier for me than releasing then that was ok.  She said that they have people who nurse, then turn them over to another volunteer for release, and I kind of LOVE that idea.  I feel like I would definitely be a good fit with that group.

Anyway, just wanted to give everyone an update.  ❤