=A View Through the Window=

from chichi's point of view

Hiya peeples ... just me Cheeeeecheeee! Peeking in on momma to see what's she's doin' in that there inside place. She sits at summthin' called a drafting table. My house is just outside the big window next to it where I can see her. She snuck a picture of me hangin out on my treehouse ramp to shows yooz guys.

I'm always up here watching her she says. Says everytime she looks up, there I am! Hey ... She's always inside she is ::sighhhh:: and not out here with MEeeeee. CheeeeeCheeee! I is out here in my treeeeeees!

::Ahem:: I HAVE A GIRLFRIEND here in my tree! I do! Her name is Cathy ... Human momma person named her that ... I think it's short for summthin', I forget ... Hard to think around here sometimes lately. Just a sec ... Shhhh! Cathy, be quiet! I'm talkin' to the peeples here ... Sorry 'bout that. She's talkin' at me about needing twigs or grass or ... Oh, yeah. That's why momma named her Cathy. That's it! My girls name is CHATTY Cathy! And ... ummm ... she is ... Ya know. Chatty. Talk talk talk. Sheeeesh. Gurrrrrlz.

I love my Cathy, I do. (Dang ... don't tell her I said that, K? She'll get all kissy-face on me and well ... She might let me catch her. I haven't figured out what to do yet ... You know, if I ever actually catched her. I justs likes ta chase her. Dunno why. When I asks human mommy person, she just winks and tells me to keep chasing. That I'll figure it out. Dunno.)

Gotta go peeples. Cathy wants me to find more twigs and leaves for the house she's building. Now whataya suppose we need a nesthouse for in this beautiful weather? Its beaUimous outside under the stars. I tell ya ... Gurlz are soooo weird!

-^..^- who loves ya? Chichi does!
(hi auntie carol ... lookie me auntie margarita!)

one of a circle of hearts ... nature is where the art is: Delila Jemaiel

The phenomenon that has the potential to quickly become known as the event of the season, has gotten off to a roaring start this year. Having more than doubled in size from last year, OneWorld-OneHeart has artists all over the world visiting each other to say hello. With more joining in every hour, seriously I'm having trouble keeping track.

The brain child of Lisa Oceandreamer [Heart of the Nest] was a little idea that caught on big. What if a few bloggers each gave away a little gift, just to entice and thank each other for visiting? Word was sent out by invitation and a master list was created of participants. And it grew and it grew. Like the Grinches heart, it got too big to be contained. Watching this idea bouncing about from blog to blog one can't help smiling at what has happened. A huge circle of new acquaintances are being made.

With so many incredible artists and their blogs out there to visit, one can easily become overwhelmed by gorgeous ... I personally haven't made it through the list of blogs to visit yet. Not even close! But I have already noted some incredible work out there. So I thought I would begin to share with you, ones I can not imagine having missed.

I'll start half way around the world from where I sit typing.

One of the most delightful blogs (and even more so is the blogs owner) is a little studio called, Sepia Art. Run by Delila Jemaiel, Sepia-Art Studio is a beautiful hidden gem of a nest in Finland. This blog features the works of an artist with a wonderfully unique vision. When you visit, you are immediately swept into her realm of faerytales and soft music, transparent colors and sheer magic. Her writing is precious and has the eloquence of a great piece of art.

Delila is as charming as the beautiful pieces of paper art she creates. Visit her in her tiny studio where she dreams of the woods and be taken into another time, somewhere between now and then. Where tea is an art and you can see the past peeking through the windows.

If you haven't yet stopped by Sepia-Art Studio, don't miss this one. Say hello.

Alas be prepared ... make tea.
You may find it difficult to leave.

=^..^= love, zU
.:: list of OWOH particapants to visit ::.

enchanted by izzie

I had the most delightful afternoon this past week. I was awash in spitty kisses and a soft wet nose pressed to my cheek ...

I walked through the bottom garden carrying a borrowed small bundle in my arms and watched for butterflies. Everything was worth a close look and held in awe and wonder. Each & every moment encountered was accepted as a gift given to delight by this one small girl. A good lesson.

I gave a short lecture or two about the fat buzzing creatures going from blossom to blossom not being at all delightful if captured by mouth, and I pointed out bullfrogs in the pond that startled and hid under lily pads when discovered by my small charge of unbounded energy.

This is happiness bursting at the seams.

This is Izzie.

Princess Izabelle to be proper, but to her friends (and to me, her Auntie) she is just Izzie. Izzie the faerie corgi princess.

She is ticklish. She is a cuddlebug. She is a ticklish cuddlebug ... And if you turn away for even a moment to laugh, she grows an inch.

She will steal your heart in a beat.

This sweet thing has acquired my friend, Kate and now lives only doors down from the cottage. Izzie arrived just a couple of weeks ago to reign over her new kingdom of hearts, and I count myself to be one of her humble servants of the court. I could not be more delighted of her arrival.

I tell you ... I am living in the dream hamlet, Corgiville.
How lucky am I?

Alas, I must now take leave of you.
The Princess awaits her Kong filled with cheese & biscuit.
... And then she must be carried to the nearest sunbeam to lay stretched in it's glow, and nap for a period of time.

One needs to keep up on one's beauty sleep she claims ... But after an afternoon with, Izzie ... My theory is that she is absorbing the suns energy and storing it disguised in a suit of cute for use on each unsuspecting hooman that happens to pass by her regal self.

Be careful. She will make you want a puppy.
She will make you forget she pees on the floor.
Do not look directly into her eyes ...

You too will risk being ... Enchanted by Izzie.

=^..^=zU

Chichi goes to college

As it seems ...
Miss. Art Tea Life was correct when she teased me about not seeing a certain someone enough that, by the time she did he would be on his way to college.

Well ... Guess what?

Chichi is moving away from home. To boarding school. Somewhat like squirrel college-prep school. Not that he is going all that far (just to his own little mansion off the back porch of a very safe garden) but it is time for one little boy -- that I fear isn't sure what species he is half the time -- to begin the process of learning to be a squirrel. Chichi is moving into the dorms.

Now no one panic. Firstly, Chichi LOVES the idea. And secondly, he is having a blast in his new digs and is even decorating his room to suit himself.

All teenage boys love having their own space. Chichi is no exception. And not having mom around all the time to pester him about whatever, but still paying the bills (and sending care packages to him) is a young mans fantasy. That and hopefully come spring, meeting a sweet little girl squirrel that takes him home to show off her nesting skills.

I know. That makes me sound like a super-cool progressive mom here. Truth-be-told I would prefer he stay home in this garden to raise a family. Come home for dinner every Sunday. Not just visit on holidays. But ... In the squirrel world of boy meets girl ... The girl-squirrel builds a nest and then goes outside of her territory to find her choice of boy to take home. He moves in with her and leaves his home behind. Girls often stay close to where they were born, boys wander to distant lands. All for the sake of .::ahhhh::. ... Love.

So everyone out there think good thoughts about Mister Chichi's new adventure. I had the easy part ... All of those hourly feedings & praying he was comfortable, warm enough, and happy until now. Getting him from teensy pinkie to full-fur-checkout the gorgeous amazing squirrel he is so far ... was nothing. Nothing that is compared to what he has to do now. Chichi has the hard part ahead of him. He has to go out and learn to make a living and get along with others in a crowded world of mass competition.

And as he prepares to enter the rat race this spring ... Like all moms out there (bear with me here), I can only hope that I have taught him that it's okay not to have everything the Jones's have and that if someone needs a hand (errrr paw?), give them what you can & don't fight about it if they take it without asking. Above all else, it's just not necessary to be one of the rats to succeed in life.

"No amount of ability is of the slightest avail without honor."
--thomas carlyle

But how do you teach that to a squirrel?
You trust the universe to help.
... To somehow let him know, that it really isn't a race at all.

Chichi seems (so far at least) to "get it" ... Going about his days working only enough to survive, storing what he needs for an emergency that he doesn't seem all that worried about ever happening, but thinking ahead enough to be safe. And the rest of the time he plays hard & sleeps hard. He is curious about everything and accepts everyone as a friend unless they prove otherwise, and then he is the one to back off & easily forgets that his feelings were hurt. It's not important enough to waste time over, so off he goes headlong into his next adventure.

Maybe we should all listen more closely to unseen things. Slow down. Be in the moment. Share. Play. Enjoy everything around us. Take long naps. Don't let worrying about what might not even happen, ruin the day.

It could be the universe has been trying to get a message to us. And it was through Chichi the message has been sent.

"Every man is my superior in that I may learn from him."
-- thomas carlyle

So, here's to one very smart tiny squirrel that has taught me more than I can ever repay him for. Lucky for me his idea of commerce involves tree bark & hazelnuts.

I'll keep you posted.

=^..^= zU

the most enchanting tale of all

I know I have been missing ... And the faeries are anxious I continue telling their story ...

(although I have left you hanging do not despair ... it is with good reason), but I must briefly take pause before I continue, to tell you such exciting news as this:

I have been ::dancing:: in anticipation ever since I heard the news ...

Grab your imaginations and head out the door to the theater this January 5th ... You really MUST! If you haven't been blessed with pure & wild imagination, never fear. You will find it here. Miss Beatrix Potter had enough to share with us all.

And she has continued sharing her gifts long after her lifetime ... Delighting us with not just stories but the ability to take the reader with her into her kingdom ... all at the mere expense of opening a book. Chances are you have not only read her cherished narration's as a child, but that you have one of these tiny bound tales in your home this very day. Perhaps you read her stories to your own children? But how well do you know Miss Potter? Do you know of the botanist? Of the conservationist? Do you know only of the story teller ... the illustrator? How did she arrive to do what she did in a time when a woman's place was to marry & certainly not make a career landing one in fame. Was she ahead of her time? Do you know her story? You should.

It is one of pure magic.

Enter the world of ... Miss Potter. Enjoy your visit.

I expect I shall never want to leave.
=^..^=zU

Chichi da Oink

Hey There - Hi There peeples!
It's Me! CheeeeeeCheeeeee!

Awwww .... you knew that, huh?
Told you I was a growing boy!

I'm growing like a weed in a summer garden (so says human momma person) getting SOoooo big it's a good thing I don't wear clothes! I'd have grown outta all of them this past couple of weeks ::GRIN:: and I am getting cuter by the minute too. Okay, I added that last part ... but in my own defense ... I hear it a LOT when you human peeples visit me. It must be true! Yep! Must!

I discovered recently that my basket was not all that secure and that Momma person ::grin:: cannot watch me every minute so the moment she wasn't looking I would go EXPLORING on my own. Man-o-man is this place fun. So many things to see, so many things to get into ... Things to climb and chew on .... Really ... There are weird things to play with everywhere. Now I am not really allowed to do this (you should hear momma when she finds me doing something she calls a NO-NO! ::sheesh:: Hey! It's MY bed ... if I wants ta chew it up I should be allowed, right? That means ALL baskets are to chew on ... Yes?

Uh, no. Apparently not.
I found out that baby Chichi's get away with a lot ... But not eating vintage wicker chairs & hampers. Not even a nibble is allowed! Believe me, I tested this every chance I got! Every single time I was told the same thing ...
"Nope, not gonna happen YOUNG MAN."

Momma person quickly got smart and ::Deep::Sigh:: put me into a ::GASP:: a ... C-A-G-E! I promise you -- I think she'd been planning it! Call the squirrel cops wouldja? It's not Faiiiiirrrr! Alrighty ... I did do some naughty things (baseboards taste yummy and really I didn't mind the paint one bit, don't know what all the fuss was about) and it was mentioned several times, something about not being safe to chew on wires ... Which she was afraid I would do as soon as I found some. But I hadn't done it yet! So why jail?

Wellll .... It's big jail-cage and I sorta like it cuz there is a lot inside to do (I have this really kwool swing and a bed to sleep in the air) ... but outside of the cage-jail is SOooo much better. I just wait for momma to open the door. Then STAND BACK! I pop out & race around in circles, then jump and down with all fours in the air at once and hop about like a bunny. I'm kinda silly. Another new thing I like is ... I try to climb up momma like a tree to get to her shoulder, but like some of the other stuff ... she says NO! and removes me. And I get my feelings hurt ... then I sulk ... until two minutes later when I notice something to play with that is new. Ooooo yesterday an entire roll of TOILET PAPER has been left out for me! AwwwSommmme! Kick Fight!! Hey -- Shred & Demolish are my middle names! Mr. Vet person, calls me ... Chichi the "bad-ass baby squirrel."
Nope! Nope! Nope! That's not me! I'm a good boy ...
I just like to try new things is all.

Be glad you don't haffta clean up after my playtime. Messy messy messy! Totally fun playtimes though & I noted that even the toilet paper thing caused momma person to smile for a long time ... even while mumbling to herself about being so stupid to let me get to a roll of paper ... Course that smile could be cause I fall asleep after I play hard and I sleep a long time cuz I'ma tired! Babs's puts everything into their playtime folks! Heart and soul!

Oh. Why was I talkin to ya? Oh! Yeah. I remember now ...

Momma person says I should let people see me before that special thing that happens tomorrow and wish you alls a happy Thanksgiving. She says I am going to be as big as a house after tomorrow! Or at least as wide as one. She says we are having a big feast with all the trimmings & I for one intend to take advantage! I saw the stuff coming in from the garden and I saw grocery bags too! O-My! Total Yummers I'm tellin' ya!

I'm getting to be such a big boy, I can eat REAL foodies a little bit now and my favorite thing so far? When momma person cracks HAZELNUTS for me! Okay, well ... DUH! Nuts. I'ma squirrel yaknow ::GUFFAW::snort::heehaw:: Pretty soon I will be able to get those nuts open all by myself too! You just watch!

Now I'm not totally sure what exactly a Thanksgiving is yet ... But I know it means we eat, so I likes the sound of it.

Have a wonderful day tomorrow!
Don't eat all the pumpkin pie, 'kay?

(maybe i'll see ya after the feast ::wink::)

-^.^- love, ChiChi ... da oink

Peek-A-Boo ... I see you

Peek-a-boo!

It's ME! Chichi!
I'm back to show you how big I am getting.

Remember me here?

Boy-O-boy this was ages ago, huh?!

So much is happening here in my world. It has been a big week for me. Not only can I hear now but I discovered something Oh So Wonderful ...

MUSIC!! Oh I ::LOVE:: music!!! Momma plays Yo-Yo Ma to help me sleep ... But my favorite is the song Uncle Franz gave to us. I bounce up and down & even talk back to Squeaky-Deakey! I beg for it over and over when momma plays it!

Besides dancing ... I have discovered that the world is bigger than my basket! Oh and I can see you if you come up to visit me! My eyes have opened ... but not so good in the sunlight. I squint & squish them tight closed. I do not like the sun in my face! Human mommy person says I need little sunglasses ::snort::

It's raining outside really hard and it facinates me. I press my face up to the window and try to get the drops of water as they run down the pane. I keep trying even though I smack my nose on the glass every time. You wanna see don't cha? Well, momma person says she is giving up trying today to get me to hold still long enough for her to get a picture of my face. I see her with that thing and start to try to get to her as fast-est as-ist I can-est ... and I be weally wobbowly. It makes for a gray blurr with whiskers when the camera clicks. She promises to keep trying. 'Cuz I'm realllly cute catchin' raindrops.

That's a BIG bottle syringe thingie next to me, holding 3 times as much food as the first one did! Do you remember ... I only ate 3/10ths of the tiny bottle at a time when I was first born!

Nope nope nope. Not the tiny syringe bottle I started with for me any more ... Now momma person has to fill this big one full THREE TIMES every meal! And I eat it all gone too! Momma person gives me clear, fresh room temperature water between my feedings and really like that too. I grab the bottle just like when it's filled with milk and cereal.

I only eat every three-four hours now ...
Mostly 'cuz that's all human momma will give me food.

I am a total little oinker.
Lookie at my belly wouldya?!?

Mister Vet Person says that it's normal, but human momma person says she's only ever had one other squirrel baby that was as wide as me! She is starting to call me ButterBall and warning me about something called, Thanksgiving?

::Hrump::

I likes my foodies!
Momma person is a good cook.

Okays. I gotsta go play now.
There are raindrops to catch dontchaknow!

-^.^- see you soon
love, ChiChi ... da oink

How cute am I?

Surprise!
It's ME! ChiChi!!

Yep Yep YEP! Me!
Can you believe it?

I am more than three weeks old now!
And I hardly have to remind folks I am a squirrel ...
Almost everyone can tell the moment they see me now!
I am a little wonder & everyday brings something new.

My eyes will open around four weeks.
That means next time you see me ...
I could see you back ... if you were here!

See my tiny hand-like paws?
I grab my bottle with them and hold it now!
I am not very coordinated yet, & get my food everywhere
... but I try.

See my long toenails? Like little needles they are!
Someday I will climb trees! That's what momma human person says they are for ... as she carefully takes them out of her sweater where I have caught them. She tells me about trees & gardens where big squirrels build baskets of twigs & live in them up top, high in the branches. Where someday I too will live & play. But that is a long time away she says hopefully ... and hugs me close.

I have tiny white things coming in top & bottom in my mouth ... My gums are sore. They are the beginnings of teeth & hurt me! When I bump them, it makes me cry.

See my tiny ears starting to unfold from against my head?
I am beginning to hear sounds now!
My favorite sounds come from the kitchen.

When I hear momma person start my foodies ...
I try to walk to find her. I push myself up and like a little drunken monkey because I think the faster I find her, the faster I will get my dinner. So I take great effort to be sure she knows I am in a hurry. I try very hard & call to her the entire time to tell her of my progress. She calls back to me that she IS hurrying and to waaaaaittttt.

But I cannot wait.
I must try. And I am mostly like Bambi & fall on my nose. Momma person picks me up and tells me I am getting SOooo big. And she holds me as she fixes my dinner. Soon there is a syringe of yummy stuff in front of my mouth and I lunge. Gobble gobble slurp. Drip. Burp. Please more? More please! I squirm because it is very hard to wait for her to refill that thing the food comes in & she does not do it as fast as I think she should ... I eat nearly a tablespoon of food at a serving now!

I am NOT a little bean any longer!
Nope Nope Nope!

Can you see me standing? The sun won't come out and let momma person capture a gooder picture of me today & I am a wobbly wiggle worm so it's blurred ::sigh:: But trust me.
I'm CUTE.

I'm not a fuzzy wuzzy anymore either.
I gots FUR now! Soft and silver.
And whiskers to tickle you with!

Okay you human peoples ...
I gotta take a nap.
I'm a growing boy!

See you in a week!
-^.^- love, Chi Chi ... da oink

My name is ChiChi

Well it is about time that people got to see me again!

Do you remember me?

Oh! First I must tell you of the mostest excitingest thing ...
My Auntie Margarita has named me!

My name is ChiChi ...
Oh I am indeed!

But ... Mommy human calls me her little Oink!

I don't think that's a bad thing. I have been working hard at earning the title. I am growing into a big boy squirrel ... and doing very well at it if I do say so myself. I even eat a bit of rice cereal with my milk now! Man-O-man is it Gooood! Human Momma squirrel has to slow me down when I eat or I blow bubbles outta my nose, I eat my bottle so fast! But the cereal makes me so content I can hardly wait to fill my tummy. (Human Momma person is happy that I sleep more now between meals too.)

I am changing so fast. I have a sweet personality starting to surface BIG time. I like to nuzzle mommas hand when she reaches into my basket (which delights me.) The reaction i get is wonderful ... so I go out of my way to get to her hand whenever I know it is there. I crawl bestest I can, fast as I can ... She swoops me up and nuzzles my fat belly with little puffs of warm breath. It makes me wiggle and coo aloud. I like it when she blows on my face too. I Squeal, open my mouth wide and beg her to do it again.

I am a DARLING -- mama person says so! I have to take her word for it as my eyes will not open yet for another week or so ... however, anyday now my ears will open & I will be able to hear her voice! Until then I practice my squeaky-cute voice and call to her from my basket bed ... I know she can hear me because she comes to check on me and if I am very lonely, she lets me snuggle next to her heart. I think maybe I can feel her heartbeat. I always stop crying when I am there.

You have missed out on so much of my progress. Let me catch you all up to date!

I found a little fur buddy to hug ...

I felt much better about being left alone with my buddy to hug & snuggle with while I slept. And I sleep a lot! I have a hot water bottle that mama person keeps at just the best temperature ever. If it gets too warm though ... I can crawl off the edge of the blankets to cool myself. I am now able to even get back on my own & crawl UNDER the soft blanket if I want to ...
ALL BY MYSELF!

I have been busy turning from pink to gray ...
Oh but this was me last week.
I am such a ham though so ... LOOKIE lookie!
I discovered I can hold my head up!!

I just keep looking more and more like a little gray squirrel every day. Really ... You have NO idea ::heehee::

Oh I betcha you are Impressed?
Nah. Wait until you see me now!

Better visit back soon ... 'Cause tomorrow morning ...
Human Mama person will post my latest photos.

And ... You will never believe it is me!

-^.^- see you mañana
love, ChiChi ... da oink

Because you asked of me

Firstly ...
::ding::ding::ding::
Miss Sandy gets the silver dollar!

I am a baby boy California Gray Squirrel!

I am working day and night to grow bigger and stronger ...
And I am a little piglet, says human mommy squirrel.
That funny thing next to me is how she feeds me my milk ... It holds 1.0 cc (that's 1/4 teaspoon total) and I can hold about 0.3 in my tummy.

Three tenths of a quarter teaspoon!

No wonder I am hungry all of the time!
When I first arrived, I was about 1-2 days old and ate every 45 minutes.

That's AROUND THE CLOCK PEOPLES ...
I am not a baby bird that sleeps at night. HA!

Nope Nope NOPE! I wake up and scream for my foodies! And do not dawdle. My tummy does not hold enough at one time so I get empty quickly ... Think of me as a little mini Hummer Truck. Fillerup! Gulp Gulp Gulp. More soon please ...

Now as I am nearing one week old ... I sleep a whole hour at a time!

I was born waaaaay up there ...

If you look close you can see ...

HERE! This is where I was born ... In the pecan tree!

I was just a tiny bean when I arrived ...

My teensy toenails were white, I was bright pink all over with my umbilical cord still attached. I had teensy little teeth marks on my head and shoulder where my mama held me as tightly as she dared as she tried to move me to a new nest.

But I fell ...
I was screaming as loudly as I could for her (and that is pretty loud for something so weensy bitsy) ... But a big furry creature called a CAT was near by and I guess it scared her and she ran back to protect my bothers and sisters. And then perhaps she could not find me.

But a human lady person did!
It was her creature, JennaBelle (that thing mama had called a CAT) that found me ...
And it sat next to me and cried out for the lady to come outside and find me.
The furry JennaBelle CAT creature would not let the other CAT creatures near me!

I think Miss JennaBelle must be a Faerie!

And then human lady person came outside ...
To find me that is.

The Faeries had guided my landing she said, because I was not hurt. Just very cold, frightened and hungry. But I was fine.

She wrapped me into a soft cloth to lay me onto a bottle of warm water ...
(It was so wonderful that I almost fell asleep ... Almost.)

Then the lady person gave me icky water that I did NOT like one bit ... It was salty ... But I was hungry and it was warm and made me sleepy. For the first several hours, that is all she would give to me. But it filled my tummy so I ate it without complaint. Then when I was really past famished ... The lady somehow knew & put some milk into the water. And it wasn't salty either! I scarfed it down and begged for more ... but she made me wait a whole 45 minutes! By morning ... I was having more milk each time & then finally the next day without the water. It was SOoooo yummy good that I almost forgot that it was not mommy squirrel milk. I think I heard the lady say it was puppy milk! Eewwww. (OK. Good stuff -- What's a puppy?)

So now I am growing a fat little tummy, my umbilical cord has fallen off ... and my little toenails look like I am wearing polish of black! I am SOooo cute!
Just ask anyone that has seen me!
Ask my human mommy person!

But better not do that just now ... 'Cause I need more milk soon and she's grumpy.
(She caught a cold staying outside until long after dark in the chilly weather ... listening & looking everywhere for my brothers and sisters. In case my mama had dropped any of them too.)

Human mommy squirrel says it's hard being a squirrel mama.
That she needs a nap ...

And that I need a name.
You might want to help her ... =^..^=

PS. Human mama says to tell Little Miss Dew Drops ...
That her comment about me made her ::sniffle::

Gator later ... forever.