...... is what is living in my chimney.
Yep. Kind of brings back memories ...... if you've been around long enough to remember the bat (which was not in my chimney) ..... or the squirrel (which ran amok in my house when the "wildlife guy" let him out of the chimney via way of the top of his head).
What is it with wildlife and me?
Or wildlife and my chimney?
I wasn't blogging when we had a mallard duck stuck up there.
He looked exactly like this:
Only by the time we were able to get him out, he was a wee bit dead.
But still beautiful.
He kind of looked like a wooden one that Jim had.
If it hadn't been for the smell I would've tried to trade them out and see if he noticed.
Not really.
?
In our previous home we had a bird in our chimney.
And she made a nest.
Then laid her eggs in said nest.
Those eggs hatched.
And out came lots of constantly peeping baby birds.
The wildlife guy was very careful in removing the nest.
Full of ugly featherless birds.
The kids were enthralled.
Thankfully, the wildlife guy didn't tell the kids, or me, exactly what he was going to do with them.
But I bet it wasn't feeding them with an eye dropper and raising them.
Just my opinion.
So yes, we have a raccoon.
I think he's using our chimney as his very own condo.
He seems to hang out there during the day and goes out at night.
Which I wouldn't have a problem with, if he was a quieter tenant.
And if the two dogs hadn't noticed his existence.
They are going nuts over this.
I'm starting to go nuts over their going nuts.
But I have to say ...... I was glad to know that it wasn't just my imagination.
Because I was starting to wonder.
Can raccoons have squatter's rights?
In other news ......
...... my baby turned 18 today.
The cake isn't from is 12th birthday, it's from the first day of 12th grade.
Yep, I bake a cake every year on the first day of school and put candles in it to represent each child's year of school.
Or I used to.
That was my last "first day of school cake".
Unless he fails 12th grade.
Don't go there.
Anyway, now he's "legal".
To vote.
And that's about it.
It's hard to believe that he used to look like this:
But then he looked like this:
He's pretty much all grown up.
Kind of.
Mostly.
Here's what he looked like tonight ....... with his birthday cake:
It has candles in the shape of a 1 ...... and an 8, representing 18. But I'm sure that all of you understood that.
There are several candles in the shape of Legos.
All three sons loved Legos. And playing with them.
We still have a huge tub of Legos, and they are still played with ...... every once in a while.
And I love that.
So there you go. Son #3 with his birthday cake ..... and his special candles.
He liked them.
And that's what counts.
:)
I'll catch you all up tomorrow with the raccoon adventure.
It's oh-so-thrilling ...... maybe.
Or maybe not.
I know that many of you live vicariously through me.
You have GOT to get a life.
Really.
Happy Monday/Tuesday, Peeps.
And Happy Birthday to Son #3.
:)
Ohhh Janine... I also had several racoons this summer.. Well, not in the chimney but on my back porch at night looking in the door at me. They look cute but They tend to make a mess of the flower beds and pot plants. My neighbor trapped them and hauled em back into the woods... Well, thats his story anyway, lol.
ReplyDeleteGreat pics of your son. Thanks for sharing and good luck with your new resident.
Could you have someone put some kind of screen over the top of the chimney, Janine,,,to keep them from getting down in there? Happy Birthday to son #3!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteJacquelyn
Jacquelyn,
ReplyDeleteTHere was a screen over the chimney.
He took it off.
Raccoons are smarter than the chimney guys.
What a handsome fella! I mean your son! Sorry, couldn't resist. Happy Birthday to your "baby". My "baby" will be 18 in a few short months. Ugh, it has gone by fast and slow, if you know what I mean. :? Congratulations to you for getting him through! You are a great mom and it shows by the closeness with your children.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the pesky racoon -- eeewww! They are smart and mean creatures. I remember at our old house hearing some noises outside, the cats were freaking, I was freaking, George was sleeping -- hmmmm. I got him up and made him look outside -- was afraid it was some "creep" outside. When George turned on the floodlights, there were three racoons, one in the garbage can, that "had been" tightly covered and two on the ground having their "meal" -- not one bit of fear in them. They just stared at us as if, "what's your problem. It was late and we just let them go on doing what they were doing. Didn't want to take any chances them attacking us, uh, George.
Hope all gets resolved!
Much love!
You need a flue shot. For real.
ReplyDeleteAnd from one Lego mom to another, Happy Birthday to your baby.
My wildlife guy bolted a very heavy duty screen onto my chimney cap after a squirrel got in. That' screen isn't budging, unless a squirrel has a screwdriver and opposable thumbs! ;)
ReplyDeleteMollie
Wendie .... I got my flu shot last several weeks ago. I am nothing if not prepared. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd Mollie .... our screen is now securely bolted to the chimney. Though I have no doubt that our raccoon is in possession of a raccoon-sized drill, and could make quick work of that screen. We shall see. :)
Apparently my chimney humor was lost on you! <3
ReplyDeleteWendie ....
ReplyDeleteYes, it was lost on me ...... at first. But then it found me, or I found it ...... and it made me groan out loud. A huge groan.
Sorry that I didn't give you a shout out, but I couldn't form words with all of the groaning going on.
Sigh .....
Love you and your sense of humor.
:)