I'm in church right now with some downtime. During the service, All Stars registration agents don't have much to do; most of our work is before and after the services, making sure all the kids are counted for attendance and secure. MH has definitely stepped up to the plate in the safety department, and our new kiosk system has been working great!
Anyway, the purpose of this post has been a long-time coming. A couple weeks ago, I guess, more developments ensued over the pesty squirrels in the backyard. Since they've pretty much given up on the birdfeeder, they have decided to go for the hummingbird feeders. My dad caught one of them in the act of hanging upside-down on the feeder by the tree. Ah, geez! Those varments are definitely determined and smart! In efforts to prevent such a thing from happening again, my dad relocated the hummingbird feeder to hang right in front of our sliding glass doors. My mom, however, liked one of our other birdfeeders there better, so with protest my dad moved the hummingbird feeder to the clothes line with its sister feeder. Maybe now my parents can have some peace. While the hummingbird feeder was hanging by the sliding glass doors, the squirrels kept trying to jump from the steps' railing to the feeder or from the doors' partition, causing a racket against the glass.
Our neighbor has a rather large garden that he claims squirrels keep getting into. He says he's going to start shooting, which should help my dad pull off a victory in Man vs. Squirrel; however, these squirrels sure have been entertaining, and I'll miss them if they become extinct in the area! (Now my true feelings about them come out.)
Showing posts with label squirrel saga. Show all posts
Showing posts with label squirrel saga. Show all posts
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
New Developments in the Case Man vs. Squirrel
I thought the squirrel guard put an end to it, but I was wrong. Last weekend, I learned that the squirrels had chewed off part of the funnel's rim, and one of the furry creatures was basking in the sun on the perch of the birdfeeder, according to a first-hand, eye-witness account. My dad resolved to not give up but to "go to the mattresses." He put a shield of some sort over portions of the funnel. (Note that this action is perfectly legal as it was done in self-defense.) I cannot recall the material of this shield, but for now, his efforts have succeeded. The suspect, however, remains unapprehended. This was [supposedly] derived from an old police report:
WANTED
Current alias: Squirrely "The Unstoppable" Varment
Age: Unknown
Height: 7"
Weight: 1.5 lbs.
Description: "Squirrels are generally clever and persistent animals. In residential neighborhoods they are notorious for eating out of bird feeders, digging in potted plants either to bury or recover seeds, and for setting up house in sheltered areas including attics. While many companies sell bird feeders which are supposedly 'squirrel-proof,' very few of them really are" (Wikipedia).
Original photo derived from Digital Photography: http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0Je5qgyt1NG1hEBfkCjzbkF/SIG=12c7iqmps/EXP=1179977906/**http%3A//www.photozo.com/album/showphoto.php%3Fphoto=65859
WANTED
Current alias: Squirrely "The Unstoppable" VarmentAge: Unknown
Height: 7"
Weight: 1.5 lbs.
Description: "Squirrels are generally clever and persistent animals. In residential neighborhoods they are notorious for eating out of bird feeders, digging in potted plants either to bury or recover seeds, and for setting up house in sheltered areas including attics. While many companies sell bird feeders which are supposedly 'squirrel-proof,' very few of them really are" (Wikipedia).
Original photo derived from Digital Photography: http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0Je5qgyt1NG1hEBfkCjzbkF/SIG=12c7iqmps/EXP=1179977906/**http%3A//www.photozo.com/album/showphoto.php%3Fphoto=65859
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Recent Developments in Man vs. Squirrel
My dad may have finally defeated the squirrel(s). No, it was not the PVC pipe--though it may have worked if it was not removed for a more sophisticated tool. My mom kindly ordered a squirrel guard with which my dad is, so far, very pleased. It favors an upside-down funnel with a lip circumferencing (if that is a word) the bottom. When the squirrel tries to grab this lip in efforts to go above the guard and to the bird feeder, the lip collapses under the little creature's weight, and the creature falls to the ground. It has worked so far. After two or three attempts, the squirrel suddenly became content with feeding on the ground, at least for now. Recent developments may have unfolded without my knowledge. Unless I am informed of something different, think SUCCESS! The epic war may have finally ended with my father's victory at the Battle of Squirrel Guard!
Thursday, May 03, 2007
Speaking of Squirrels...
On further thought, it seems that squirrels have taunted not just my family and the Crowders but others as well. It's like an epidemic! I remember a friend called Drew having a terrifying encounter with a squirrel on his campus. Also, my boss knows someone who has had squirrel issues. The list goes on and on! Maybe squirrels really are evil...
Sorry, Audience.
No easy way to say this exists, so I am just going to say it bluntly: My promised picture of the bird feeder contraption (See "Amusing Events" and the end of "Ol' Sup" posts.) will never come. I am sure you're reaching for a tissue right now in pure agony. Believe me when I say, I am sorry.
This is what happened. I kept forgetting to take the picture, and then my dad decided to try some friends' advice to use a PVC pipe. In the process, he removed the contraption. The PVC pipe he had handy is not large enough in diameter, so it only hindered the squirrel(s) temporarily. He is wanting to buy a larger one. I will try to keep you posted (no pun intended).
This is what happened. I kept forgetting to take the picture, and then my dad decided to try some friends' advice to use a PVC pipe. In the process, he removed the contraption. The PVC pipe he had handy is not large enough in diameter, so it only hindered the squirrel(s) temporarily. He is wanting to buy a larger one. I will try to keep you posted (no pun intended).
Check This Out
This is great. I was watching some DC*B videos on YouTube the other night (when I should have been sleeping) and ran across this one. Today, I thought I'd catch up on Crowder's blog and saw that he had just posted the same video May 1 on his blog! Hilarity. I'll give you the link to his blog: http://www.xanga.com/emprise34. Once you're on YouTube, look to the left of the video to the related videos pane and click on the "Foreverandever Etc." animated music video. It's pretty good. The follow-up video to "Evil Squirrel by David Crowder" is also in the related videos pane. I believe there is also a part three in the series, but I have not watched it yet. Anyway, enjoy!
Monday, April 02, 2007
Amusing Events
I love my parents. Recent amusing events have plagued them. Let me elaborate...
Amusing Event #1
My parents had just parked in front of the Hallmark store in Farmington, MO. Since my dad wanted to help my arthritic mom out of the car, and my mom had a second set of keys for the car, my dad decided to leave the keys in the ignition. My mom didn't want to take her big boat of a purse into the store, so she left it in the car and locked the doors, naturally so no one would steal it. They then went on with their shopping. When my parents returned to the car, my dad wanted my mom's set of keys to unlock the car, and she, of course, did not have them because they were in her big boat of a purse, which was, of course, in the car. My parents had to call a locksmith and pay $35 to have the car unlocked.
Amusing Event #2
Some time ago, my dad went to Lowe's to return a defective Shop-Vac. The Lowe's employee gave him a Lowe's card worth $85 to use to buy a new Shop-Vac. My dad didn't know he was supposed to use the card to make the exchange, so he left the store with the $85 card--thinking it wasn't worth anything (i.e., a dead card)--and a new Shop-Vac. My mom recently persuaded him to have the card checked, and lo and behold, he found out that $85 was on the card. He knew it wasn't right to use the $85 (nor legal), but the woman servicing him insisted that he use the "free" money because, after all, it was Lowe's mistake. They should not have given him the card. My parents now have a new $100 Moen faucet in their kitchen.
Amusing Event #3
My dad was having some car trouble recently, so he was driving his '90 Chevy truck to work while the car was out of commission. While working on his car, he decided to leave the battery going to listen to music. After a snag or sure (I cannot remember how many), the project wound up taking a little longer than anticipated. As most of you know, if you leave a car battery pulling juice for too long, the car will not have enough battery power left to start. Needless to say, when my dad tried to start the car, it was 100 percent dead. He thought to himself, "It's okay. I'll just use the truck." When he turned the key in the ignition the truck wouldn't fire either! "What is going on around here?!" he wondered. He told my mom the situation, and my mom asked if he had left his lights on. My dad is very careful about things like that and thought the idea ridiculous but went ahead and checked it out. Sure enough, he had left his headlights on all day!... Hilarity.
Amusing Event #4
I've saved the best for last. My dad has been in a war against some squirrels in our backyard for a very long time. They like to climb the pole to the bird feeder and eat the bird seed. My dad has tried a funnel, a piece of wood I think, a strip of plastic, a strip of plastic with sides, and maybe even oiling up the pole. No matter what my dad has tried, the squirrel(s) end up on top (no pun intended). Recently, my dad has had to make revisions on his strip of plastic with sides and has formed it into a plastic box of sorts. For a week the squirrel was stumped (yes, the other squirrel gave up a while ago, so there is only one still fighting), then it finally happened. I was in the kitchen as my dad was walking into the dining room looking out the sliding glass doors. Suddenly he gasped. I looked out the window and saw the varment atop the plastic box, eating to his mischievous delight. For probably a good ten minutes, my dad, sister, and I stared outside the sliding glass doors, trying to figure out the seemingly genius animal's strategy. We laughed at the thought that my dad was being outsmarted by a squirrel. Make no doubt about it, we have seen these squirrels in action and know that they do actually think things through and study different angles--at least when it comes to getting on a bird feeder. For some added humor, know that the birds are particularly attracted to the squirrels' food when my dad puts it out on the ground. I will try to provide a picture of the bird feeder with its ridiculous contraption soon.
In case I do not write for a while, God bless your celebration of Jesus Christ's death and resurrection!
Amusing Event #1
My parents had just parked in front of the Hallmark store in Farmington, MO. Since my dad wanted to help my arthritic mom out of the car, and my mom had a second set of keys for the car, my dad decided to leave the keys in the ignition. My mom didn't want to take her big boat of a purse into the store, so she left it in the car and locked the doors, naturally so no one would steal it. They then went on with their shopping. When my parents returned to the car, my dad wanted my mom's set of keys to unlock the car, and she, of course, did not have them because they were in her big boat of a purse, which was, of course, in the car. My parents had to call a locksmith and pay $35 to have the car unlocked.
Amusing Event #2
Some time ago, my dad went to Lowe's to return a defective Shop-Vac. The Lowe's employee gave him a Lowe's card worth $85 to use to buy a new Shop-Vac. My dad didn't know he was supposed to use the card to make the exchange, so he left the store with the $85 card--thinking it wasn't worth anything (i.e., a dead card)--and a new Shop-Vac. My mom recently persuaded him to have the card checked, and lo and behold, he found out that $85 was on the card. He knew it wasn't right to use the $85 (nor legal), but the woman servicing him insisted that he use the "free" money because, after all, it was Lowe's mistake. They should not have given him the card. My parents now have a new $100 Moen faucet in their kitchen.
Amusing Event #3
My dad was having some car trouble recently, so he was driving his '90 Chevy truck to work while the car was out of commission. While working on his car, he decided to leave the battery going to listen to music. After a snag or sure (I cannot remember how many), the project wound up taking a little longer than anticipated. As most of you know, if you leave a car battery pulling juice for too long, the car will not have enough battery power left to start. Needless to say, when my dad tried to start the car, it was 100 percent dead. He thought to himself, "It's okay. I'll just use the truck." When he turned the key in the ignition the truck wouldn't fire either! "What is going on around here?!" he wondered. He told my mom the situation, and my mom asked if he had left his lights on. My dad is very careful about things like that and thought the idea ridiculous but went ahead and checked it out. Sure enough, he had left his headlights on all day!... Hilarity.
Amusing Event #4
I've saved the best for last. My dad has been in a war against some squirrels in our backyard for a very long time. They like to climb the pole to the bird feeder and eat the bird seed. My dad has tried a funnel, a piece of wood I think, a strip of plastic, a strip of plastic with sides, and maybe even oiling up the pole. No matter what my dad has tried, the squirrel(s) end up on top (no pun intended). Recently, my dad has had to make revisions on his strip of plastic with sides and has formed it into a plastic box of sorts. For a week the squirrel was stumped (yes, the other squirrel gave up a while ago, so there is only one still fighting), then it finally happened. I was in the kitchen as my dad was walking into the dining room looking out the sliding glass doors. Suddenly he gasped. I looked out the window and saw the varment atop the plastic box, eating to his mischievous delight. For probably a good ten minutes, my dad, sister, and I stared outside the sliding glass doors, trying to figure out the seemingly genius animal's strategy. We laughed at the thought that my dad was being outsmarted by a squirrel. Make no doubt about it, we have seen these squirrels in action and know that they do actually think things through and study different angles--at least when it comes to getting on a bird feeder. For some added humor, know that the birds are particularly attracted to the squirrels' food when my dad puts it out on the ground. I will try to provide a picture of the bird feeder with its ridiculous contraption soon.
In case I do not write for a while, God bless your celebration of Jesus Christ's death and resurrection!
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