One cool and sunny fall morning I stepped out on the porch to do my usual business. Now I have to go outside to do such business as my parents would frown on such tidy leavings on the floor.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1PodFoK9ylFdbAmtSvntOqfERI4GZuS6DbYTtrGwuTGGJdb-clZk73Kb4ejCzJU_8_B8YIM-p9dbNGzuXs5qUllT9Jf1K6ICceJ5nQeCl7WlOx7fKLkHXqadmZfv33i8EpDSeTQipzKDt/s320/P1010022x2.JPG)
As I mosey over to the lawn I pick up a strange and foreign scent.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiEJUWy5XCONhAXRneQwkzMcPo-gXAXWul0X9ABqE2kxv2ImulFl_QxPKFKFjTpiieZM5AB2gWkb-w8lAH67y7jV-Ox8q4lQq7_QDrtMD4RU3TndJp9T7rRveSDi4E1xOS6wS8vvtNuVws/s320/P1010023d3.JPG)
All of a sudden I forgot about having to tend to my business. I was distracted by a noise and an unfamiliar smell. I recognized the smell, however it wasn't a smell that my radar nose usually detects in the yard. Suddenly it dawned on me - I remember that smell from when I walked in the woods. So my search began to find the stranger in my yard - MY yard!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhMaI29KX8cWIqyVfaOVpqv8G8SNPX4fjVjtEdIe6q1ltwAoXtl3CVs_TM_HwYc3YBXVOWWf5REMjvZo__AuneUWnVT0trfWbTHNGT1ruKBCHBa0uYBwXBPkfofEsyVnHdIV4o-zY8ng6A/s320/P1010025j2.JPG)
Oh, I am so easily distracted...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWvNvmdQ13XDTcfjUDO_hHUWR9zmqlYMXcYF4YteYF6Er7YeCZvYeC1fetugce_icRGPZw8XsH-XGCpuNQw_ObCdHBdDb8qAs7erc3GVK1GbE0lGEdHRj7hPu53qs8B43MMlTR0ZwcxOzn/s320/P1010026f2.JPG)
look at that hot number running down the street with her master!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQRYoQIpQnzzq-kWcW1h7EYEl2Ev02TDviQKXxeMYKAuPNAt2CP7mmcPDPxGMw0Yr1aQAUPAv1VBxPHwxcNXTWUQn_pv-FxL6221lLK40txkWHr9Ml8GlvqsyL3E4IoxQQSBCeboF_DBTR/s320/P1010024r2.JPG)
Ok, back to figuring out this mystery. "Hmm..," I say, "I do believe the chap was here before - I can smell him!"
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaiZfQ8OH6usFca8CKDOlr_uQblXpFoF9hDKjQsEX8MjYobyz_Sh4Wnbu_iaJ3tcqUYieWCUMWPHdK-TTtldkz9N2I4wK0sfz3mzt2buAY1EMWVzUBPZKaadV7TmWWuJblo-MRaRGhKkmQ/s320/P1010005d3.JPG)
Could he be down there? I don't see any clues of digging a hole in my dad's yard.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgktjoy-gjLoBOaQBk6HLwO60P-GkXnxHbmtULiD52pUf7_AMXozpoaNUnCMfaWeTEJvlL-WssQk1fLGBpuoSPW3WBHlyexqqzxwzSJ55VylbZm7do9ykSGa8fjkDDjCLp9w1PKP7JfEhuq/s320/P1010006r3.JPG)
What would Sherlock do? Let me think a moment. Wait! I think a scent just wafted from over there!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ3SAzKF3xMvOiYdUXCUFs4dCmfya-1uhDGWAvfBwt_N4wTNuOuhBwNkeP2bZv0GF908k9kzFUc7QUSLKRYUW7SeEC8wwUNzP-J2DSzIpK5rggVg-ZDIMHGML1FecQpcUfRc2i4BlKICVX/s320/P1010011o3.JPG)
Could it be? No, it was just a worm.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuYAzh_Bc7fxHK_9uoYpAVssDeN2S8hi54FY74SkaDdxrsUtwItawZogfmyO2UzON2pt1mAfc4h9R0MznndT4VM8lEUuH4_U-llyEA3w0eVotKZtvERXnpNtCU0NqbT78p1es23mn-YvNd/s320/P1010009q3.JPG)
Ahhh HA! There you are!!!!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQbwDagEYbdY0NXL0lxa15OX65R6D0gZoixw-dInxeRtVy64-uEk59zxtxCtiagqRaBUM68wvlIPHscGgqNGAeyM4n4rNNxREIH7GZ5NceSKzzAwaUEHMSg3RqTx-iBY1WVrm2a4g97fbF/s320/P1010018l3.JPG)
Don't you know you that I have teeth like a shark and am trained to attack furry creatures like
you? Now don't make me hurt you, just run along and be with your family. Afterall, I am a
nice guy, dontchaknow!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5x6ADAreFX94qGuxYBPhfMWF-3N9_tPP92j18O9oOvPDn7AAgaXZM4oaCx4fJiZcNyf7PiHNEDFS59ssXZunENymZtB0Xp1ymOK396NDK3QVrhuejIlEUJUzLNF-d6jlvG5O9EA2atCHH/s320/P1010017p3.JPG)
The squirrel told me that he is so grateful that I am a Scotsman with a loving heart. He was just gathering some berries to take back to his little family.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif46I3_LKNnueKvGoJzcxlHanwFqUzJnT9xNqzfFY9VJ0zYei7-L6hPA5ke-E4QjX3vrOH_HYJ1sNxHD3tNbip6JMsBVENH4fPYpruJ0GhH9ds0IoyhtSB8OEj-caq0itxuTbVfHulujmu/s320/P1010013h3.JPG)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG4bKDfj1wEkHtGFD8_nxaDec6v12fcNvH6e_Zwo5IrOKc3mJkrBiAG9Pajey4gBnptg5TSW9Etq3S8o_6UdnrLbGP_4mOnncajyXPf6mI6ZWdHnSdDkgPIBIjn7X15UqoxJf6RRNbpdRN/s320/P1010014n3.JPG)
So I tell the squirrel, "Hey, ya know that I have to save face with the other dogs on the street, so I will just turn my head and you run away, ok?"
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWG12FnOAt5zkl8BllrzYzq9p5EYJewoVUj1rgAbHII4pjjM-B_DcRWXOSEdlya5XC6CL2vUI_z1GGbcdYYaYJzYe5lrBzmV3SB6wrjtdvJfTyJb6X_AsQnJzxegfSWCi1PP8ctPlONUlt/s320/P1010015i3.JPG)
The ol' guy thanked me for sparing him and we did the old head nod thing and parted ways. I just hope he made it home safely to his family and in time for dinner.
Yeh, life's tough sometimes, but I do think that we all need to share a little kindness and understanding. So off I go to tend to my business and then go and dream of chasing those mountain squirrels up the tree.