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Comanche’s Edge

Unpacked from our camping trip, and taking a break between setting up the new closet shelf system, we were sitting outside for dinner- a rare treat between the projects and everything else. “Is that a ground squirrel?” We don’t have ground squirrels where we live, so I turned to look. There, at the bottom of the stairs, curled up like a cinnamon roll, was a tinny squirrel that fit easily in the palm of my hand. Taking a closer look at it, I called up to Doug- “Quick, call Sara! It’s a baby squirrel.” Doug joined me on the lawn while I talked to Sara, who is learning about wildlife rescue. He located two other squirrels, one was scrambling around with his eyes still closed. Doug chuckled because it looked drunk. Sara told us to put them all in a card board box with some rags inside and sit the box on a heat pad, and to leave it until sunset in hopes that the mom would be back for them. She didn’t come and get them, and they made it through the night in the box with a lid in the kitchen on a heat pad, and I took them Monday morning to Greenwood- a rescue place for wild critters. She said that they don’t usually make it if their eyes aren’t open. One of the three had its eyes when we found him, and another must have heard us saying he wasn’t going to make it if his eyes are closed. He must really want to live- he got his eyes open by the time I got him to Greenwood.

The new shelves we purchased we finished putting in last night- shinny new Elfa closet system. The master bedroom’s walk in closet is now complete, and the people at the store in Creek where we got it from said it is a bigger closet than what they normally sell. When we go to sell the house, I want the potential buyer to know that there is new carpet, new doors and handles, new lighting, two full bathrooms although not a master bath, and there is a walk in closet to die for. I want the woman to go bezerk over the closet.

Camping with David and Sara was a blast. They brought Summer, their dog, who is usually shy and nervous. Except apparently when she is out in the wilderness and then she is right at home. She got wet muddy loam from the bog near the spring all over her legs when we got there. Sara loves throwing marshmallows into the flame to watch them expand to three times their size. David hauled a huge rock from the hillside to have next to the fire to sit on. We walked a short distance into the Comanche Peak wilderness area beyond the rancher’s fence. It is gorgeous up there and really peaceful and quiet. We found the perfect way to keep Summer from yanking our arms off in her excitement- attach her to the hip belt on my backpack, and then she can pull my hips along. I think I am going to go back up sometime soon and take a shovel and do a bit of husbandry- the spot we like has been infested this year with tall thistles from some pack horses who had been eating feed that is not weed-free.