Followers

About

My photo
I'm a children's author. Animals are a constant source of writing material for me. They are also my heart!

Not a Clue or Lucky Chipmunk!

>> Saturday, June 27, 2009

I have rocks that surround three big trees in my backyard. Inpatients flourish there...until the chipmunks that tunnel in and out get hungry. Then they nibble on the delicate flowers until I open the door and let out the dogs. Maddie's more interested in birds. I suppose that's the spaniel in her. Not Annabelle. It's the chipmunks she's after.

Poor girl. Annabelle's clueless. She thinks she's a mighty chipmunk hunter while she lays in wait. What Annabelle doesn't understand is that chipmunks have some sense of danger

because they can hear her little dog snorts every second or third breath she takes.
Annabelle had been laying in the position you see in the photo for about two hours. I had Maddie on my lap and was alternating between reading a book and watching the rock pile just in case a chipmunk decided to brave it and run out.
I know chipmunks are detrimental to lots of things, but my plan was to run interference nonetheless. After all, chipmunks are pretty darn cute and it's not like I'm growing crops or anything!
Okay. Back to my story. Annabelle continued to stay in the position in the photo even after Maddie jumped down from my lap and I got up to move the sprinkler.
I sat back down and noticed...are you ready?....a plump chipmunk dart from the flowers back into the rocks.
"That's a pretty brave (or stupid) chipmunk," I thought to myself.
Of course my second thought was, "Is there something wrong with Annabelle?"
She was still in the same position, barely moving. My creative mind has a tendency to concoct things that border on the side of impossible, but I can't help myself.
Somehow, I got it in my head that Annabelle had suffocated from lack of oxygen in the rock formation, giving the chipmunks free rein to the flowers. "After all," I told myself, "Annabelle should have been up and chasing!"
At that point, I wished that my husband were home. I would have had him go touch Annabelle. But, as luck would have it, I was home alone.
I called Annabelle's name. Nothing. I moved closer to her (shuffling the loose gravel along the way). Nothing. I cleared my throat. Still nothing.
Can you tell how brave I am in the face of adversity?
When I reached Annabelle, I took a deep breath, bent over and laid my hand on her little back, not knowing what to expect.
You can probably guess what happened next. Annabelle bolted straight up knocking several rocks out of position on her way. She'd been sound asleep. Guess waiting for a chipmunk to come out had been more boring than she'd expected.
Clueless Annabelle. Lucky chipmunk!
Just so you know, my youngest son has the same imagination as me. Whenever he calls and doesn't get an answer in a timely fashion he's sure Chuck and I have been kidnapped or worse. It's genetic!

14 comments:

Anonymous June 27, 2009 at 11:51 AM  

Ha ha ... you catastrophize, like I do too.
(is that even a word?)

Jan Mader June 27, 2009 at 11:59 AM  

If it isn't it should be!!! I like that word!!

Rae June 27, 2009 at 12:59 PM  

Oh that is so funny! With an overactive imagination, I would have imagined the worst also.

Good thing she isn't your guard dog on post duty, your house would be robbed while she slept. What a girl.

Ziggy Stardust June 27, 2009 at 3:46 PM  

Annabelle, I do understand how hard chipmunk hunting can be. You need to rest in between but for the love of God, you have to be ready when they do come out! Oh well rest my friend and dream of the chipmunks that you have caught and don't know what to do with. I chase them and thank goodness never catch them because then what? Do I play with them?

licks and sniffs, Sasha

Vicki June 27, 2009 at 4:11 PM  

I completely understand what you mean. My little poodle sleeps so soundly and so noiselessly that I often fear she has left this world. She responds only to touch and just like your sweet Annabelle, she jumps and looks up like, What? What did I miss? When she realizes it is only my crazy paranoia, she shakes her little head and goes right back to sleep!

Tweedles -- that's me June 27, 2009 at 7:56 PM  

Hi Annabelle
I think you got yourself hipmotized. You were under the spell of the chipmunks powers! He could have gathered every little nut for a mile around and you would have missed out!
I think you should watch out for their powers so it does not happen again!
(my moms freak out over every little thing too)
love
tweedles

2cats June 28, 2009 at 12:24 AM  

Isn't it amazing how far our minds can take us in just a couple of seconds?
She stood her post brave and loyal soldier dog.

Sandy June 28, 2009 at 10:15 AM  

Such a cute cute picture. Somewhere I have a great photo of a chipmunk on the Rose of Sharon with a neighbors cat standing guard. Hum...where it is. Must look.

The dog next door likes to chase the squirrels. He's a good hunter too, cause he's managed to get 2 or maybe 3 this year. I need him to come run after the rabbits that eat my flowers. Dang fence is in the way.

Sometimes it seems like my backyard is Wild Kingdom, we're the only ones without a fence so the animals all feel safe and in our yard more than the neighbors...that and we're without 4 legged friends to give chase.

Sandy

Sandy June 28, 2009 at 12:10 PM  

Please excuse my commenting here unrelated to your above post (will pop back for that).

Overhauled (sweeting bullets cause I'm tech savy), blog and really need some feedback.

Could you take a look see.
Thanks bunches
Sandy

Sandy June 28, 2009 at 12:10 PM  

oophs sweating

SquirrelQueen June 28, 2009 at 5:16 PM  

Our imagination will cause us to think the worst sometimes, that is way too funny. Maybe it was the chipmunks casting a spell.

I read the raining squirrels post and that is so neat. Your dedication to save the babies was wonderful, mom squirrel was having a real problem. Good thing daddy squirrel came to the rescue.

I "rescued" a little robin from the neighborhood cats recently, I will be posting his photo sometime soon.

Great blog you have here, I will be following. Hope you will join one of mine as well.
SQ

SquirrelQueen June 28, 2009 at 5:17 PM  

Oh, I almost forgot. You were asking about prints, it's something I'm working on for the near future. I have had quite a few request and I just need to work out some details.

SQ

Girl Tornado June 29, 2009 at 9:39 AM  

What a cute story! And yes, my imagination has caused me to think the worst many a time...

I've startled our cat Fluff lately, both times as she was approaching a snake. I was talking to her, trying to get her to abort her mission, and when I finally decided just to pick her up, she shot straight up in the air and ran as fast as she could in the opposite direction! Hubby said she probably thought the snake had grabbed her! :) The 2nd time she managed to claw my hand pretty darn good, so I think I'll change my tactics the next time. Broom maybe?

T June 29, 2009 at 11:04 AM  

Aw, what a cute story, and I love the photo you captured also!!

We'd Love to See Who You Are - We Know You're Adorable for Sure!

Blogger templates made by AllBlogTools.com

Back to TOP