animals · blogging · bunnies · cats · Humor · Iris · Nature · Nature photography · Red fox · Skunks · spring · squirrels

Disney Princess Unlocked

Happy Saturday morning from these parts of the woods! This day is also known as Caturday, but the only cat I have right now is the one who visits my backyard naïvely thinking I won’t capture him and force him to go to the vet and live inside the house forever and ever. Oh, silly, silly boy.

Tom Cat stopping by for water and a meal – he was unsuccessful and the birds told everyone who would listen that he was there 

In other news, Foxy Red is back. He thought he might have a little snack, but I caught him. Fox look like a combination of a dog and a cat in the same body. And their behavior is much the same. I heard from a neighbor there are two fox, so I deduce there are many more. I also heard from a neighbor there is a deer nearby and that a small group of them live up in some small woods behind a few houses at the front of the neighborhood. This makes me sad. I hate that their homes have been demolished for human greed. I have not seen this deer, but others have seen it walk through the yard of my neighbor directly next to me. I did see one deer walking down the middle of the road early one summer morning about three years ago. I thought it was hallucinating, because I’ve never seen a deer in this neighborhood, and I have lived here a long time. It walked so quietly it didn’t make a sound. And it didn’t notice me. It was a peaceful moment.

But I’m not here to talk about peace. I’m here to talk about a compact, pudgy, fluffy, black-and-white striped, armed with stinky solution in the rear ball of fluff. Yes, that’s right. I’ve got a skunk. And if you think he is not the cutest thing in the world, you are wrong. I’ve seen him on at least two occasions now and I have squealed both times. I got nervous because he crossed the street and did some weird investigating in my neighbor’s front yard. And it wasn’t even dark. But this skunk appears to be very well fed,  so I suppose he needs to get an early start on the grub.

Squee!! 😍
…I’m gonna dieee!!!“

I also have a bunny, but I’m not sure how long I will have a bunny, due to fox plural. And a stray cat.

🐇💨 + unhelpful 🐧 + 🐿️

Oh yeah, and a bunch of squirrel moms dropped off their crazy babies in my backyard and took off. Two of my favorite squirrels have taken off and left crazy babies in their wake. I don’t think that’s an equal transaction, but who am I to say? I just live here. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Good morning. I was waiting for you to open the blind and see me here. I have left you my children and I am going off to greener pastures. But before I go, do you have a moment to talk about your car’s extended warranty?

I also have plenty of flowers in bloom, and although one of the three late frosts that we had killed off the leaves on the weeping cherry tree, everything else seems to have come through okay. Everything is very slow to bloom, however. But don’t worry, we’re getting three or four 90°+ days coming up this week before returning to somewhat reasonable weather. I can’t wait because I don’t have any air-conditioning at the moment. I guess I’ll have that dewy glow, au natural. 

Iris
Close-up of the iris 
The first penny bloom on one of five peony plants 
My favorite: black petunias! 🖤
Black and white Petunias 🖤🤍
Are you sensing a theme here?
I plant pink petunias around my mom’s tree every year because those were her favorite. 💞

I better go. I hear the birds in the tree outside the window and they know I’m late. I expect there to be a crowd on the porch when I open the door. And sometimes, the sparrows bang on the door for birdseed if I’m too late.

Enjoy your day/afternoon/evening wherever you are in the world.

And always remember: the Disney Princess life isn’t chosen, it is given. ✨💫✨

©️2026, itsamyisaid.com

animals · birds · bunnies · daily prompt · Humor · Nature · squirrels · Summer

Again?

Describe one habit that brings you joy.

OK, WordPress, but I have answered this 5711 times.

I feed the birds and the squirrels. And one bunny. I enjoy their personalities. You would think the squirrels would be the most problematic, but this is not true. The male cardinal chirps at me through the window if he misses the morning or evening feeding. He does not relent. He is quite the character. Sometimes he brings his wife – she has better manners. I haven’t seen a single hummingbird this summer, which makes me sad. I wanted the hummingbird from last year to rebuild her nest in the clematis on my porch, but it’s not to be this year.

Here’s a video I took a month or so ago of Ma’am. She’s the most tame and is missing part of her tail. I sat next to her while she munched on peanuts. I could see the brown iris of her eye as the sun hit it. She has gentle eyes.

Let’s convene here again in two months when WordPress asks us the same question once more, shall we?

Ma’am has breakfast