squirrel appreciation day is a thing, i guess?
Last Spring, I entered into a pact with the local squirrels: I would give them peanuts and treats from my kitchen, and they would leave my garden alone. As the year unfolded, though, the pact became more of a protection racket that the squirrel mafia abandoned as soon as my pumpkins started to grow. They murdered all five of the best ones — and the little fuckers did it just a few bites in each one, just enough to let the mold and bullshit get in there and ruin them — leaving me with only one (a really fantastic, 28 pounder I still can’t bring myself to carve). Then they ate all the leaves off my parsley and cilantro, before I made an arrangement with the local Cooper’s Hawk, who is the guy you call when the Squirrel Mafia is getting out of hand.
That’s a lot of background to set this up:
My sister texted me earlier today and asked me if I was celebrating squirrel appreciation day with extra peanuts.
“I am now,” I replied, and there was much rejoicing (up in the oak tree).
This was funny to me, because even earlier today, before I knew that squirrel appreciation day was not only a thing but was also upon us today, I shared this photo on Bluesky:

I’m not sure who that is but it could be Cruise Director Julie or Alex P Keaton based on their size (yes, we have named several squirrels in the neighborhood and that isn’t weird at all why are you looking at me that way) but I am sure that they are enjoying what’s left of a very small late season pumpkin that came up after the rest of the vine had died off.
I mean, I could have put it inside to finish ripening, and it would have been ADORABLE as a little jack-o-lantern (which we can make whenever we want to, don’t let Big Halloween tell you when and how you can enjoy the spooky season). I could have done that. But I knew I’d get more joy if I set it out and waited for a picture like this to happen.
Which I didn’t intend to post on a day I didn’t know existed, but sometimes a plan just comes together.
So, uh … a happy squirrel appreciation day to all who celebrate! Get out there an appreciate some squirrels!

My cat delivers offerings to the front door mat - birds, snakes, cotton rats, short tailed shrews, etc but he's NEVER gotten a squirrel or a mole. Ok, squirrels are fast little buggers so I'll give him a pass for them. But moles should be an easy target. When is mole appreciation day?