Summer Solstice and Raccoons

A gift from the Mother tonight. Happy Summer Solstice!

I sat out back with a glass of wine tonight. Of course, I ignored the voice in my head saying, grab the camera. And guess who should show up but FOUR new baby raccoons! Practicing climbing in the tree. Looks like Cracker is a mama! She climbed down and chirrp'd at them. It sounded to me like, Stay put. Sploch & I watched as one baby painstakingly made his way down the tree to the patio, then around the tree and down the yard to follow. So cute! I've missed little baby raccoon sounds. He purred for her the whole time.

That's when I went inside for the camera. Three more babies climbed to the crook of the tree. One at a time. They chirruped for a bit, looking for their family. We heard a squeek from Cracker, and the babies climbed back up to bed.

Baby raccoon one:

Two,

And three.

Elle reminded me to leave out milk for the faeries, so I did. :)

Critters!

Ok. I have to tell you what happened tonight.

I went out the hammock with Sploches at about 10:30pm. Nice, warm night. So we're sitting comfortably and along comes a skunk. I don't say "Mr. Skunk", as this one didn't feel familiar to me.

The skunk strolled towards us. Then he noticed we were there and turned to face us, tail slightly raised. Sploch purred in my lap.
I was still and quiet, though my heart was beating faster. I said softly, "Oh! Welcome Skunk. It's ok. It's only us. Go on, you're welcome."

He sniffed at us, lowered his head, and resumed his sniffing around. We could hear him behind us in the corner. I prayed Smooch wouldn't show up. I asked the Skunk mentally to refrain from spraying on my property. Well, it's a chance you take. Ever neat!

Then about thirty minutes later a possum showed up!!! Not the same one as last year (we missed him); This one seems younger. He strolled up to us and I said, "Hello Possum! Welcome." He ran up the west garden.

And the 'coons are out carousing.