This morning I think that all the squirrels that live in the surrounding forest, especially the one I named Peanut, have come licky-de-split to my bedroom sliding door for breakfast. I hand-feed them peanuts. After I left my daily reporting job at a newspaper, a few years ago, it took a while to tame these wild little critters. But after one winter of being very patient and offering them peanuts, they got the idea that I was their friend for life. First, Peanut came to know me. He often came to my back patio door and then as more squirrels started visiting, he moved to the bedroom door to get away from his little too-playful friends and also the aggressive bums that pushed him out of line. So now Peanut has learned that when he gets chased off from one door, to he must high-tail it to the other.

While on our sea cruise to Mexico a young friend named Billy stayed at my house to dog-set for my best buddy Blacky.

I had forgotten to mention to Billy that Peanut comes regularly at mealtime and that if he doesn’t see a person coming toward him, he will scratch until he gets human attention. So, upon talking to Billy after returning from the cruise, Billy said quite sincerely, “When it was time to feed Blacky there was always a squirrel trying to get in… I waited for it to leave before I went out. I knew if it came in, I’d never get it out.”

“Oh, that’s Peanut,” I said. “He’s my pet squirrel.”

“Thanks for telling me,” he said.

On our sea voyage, the four in our group had a really awesome time. We sailed to Costa Maya, spend a wonderful fun-filled family day walking through the old section along the beach and then stopping under the palms and drinking Coronita beer and tequila shots. (We made it back to the ship on time!!!)

The next day we were in Cozumel and then back on board for another day of sunning, eating, walking and gambling at sea.

Of course, coming back into Tampa Bay was delightful though it was a bit cooler than the penetrating Mexican sunshine.

Regardless of the good vacation times with family, being back home is grand. Blacky barked at me for a while—telling me off and of everything that had gone on while I was gone. (He loves me so much.) Visited with my daughter already. Been to Yoga and have read most of my email.

Just fed Blacky… he gets special treats with his daily meal: chipped hotdog fried in sausage grease or chicken lives make him a happy dog.

Woops, Peanut is scratching at my door. I got ‘ta run……..