Tad Speaks – to a squirrel

We’re keeping our bird feeder regularly stocked with suet this winter, which the birdies have particularly appreciated during this cold, snowy season. But where there is bird food, there are squirrels. While the furry little monsters can’t get to the suet (it’s hanging from the eaves of our house, and the only way up for a squirrel would be to climb the drainpipe), they often hang around, hunting for bits that the birds have dropped. And a elderly neighbor of ours frequently leaves bags of peanuts out for the squirrels, so they feel like they have free license to bury them in our yard.

We have a lot of squirrels hanging around.

Yesterday, after Tad woke up from his nap, he spied one out of the front window, and immediately alerted me. “Mama! Mama! Dere’s a SKIRL!”

That’s exactly how he pronounces it, too.

“Yes, I know, Tad,” I said. Did I mention the fact that we have a lot of squirrels hanging around?

“Hi, skirl!” Tad greeted him cheerfully. Then, in a quieter, lower voice, I heard, “Hi, Tad.”

Not only does Tad speak to squirrels, he apparently speaks for them, too.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 28th, 2009 at 1:47 am and is filed under Children, Life in the Pacific Northwest.
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