Day #197 Little Red Rat

Last Sunday, Monday & Tuesday, I stayed overnight at my cabin.
Never saw the Red Squirrel all day Sunday.
Sunday evening, sitting inside reading, I finally heard her toenails on the deck, running all over it, and then I heard her run up the door frame and over top nicking the clay thermometer, then down and around to the side.
If you have ever heard a red squirrel scolding, then you know how shrill and grating it can be. She didn't stop, so I hunted for sunflower seeds, went outside, and threw them on the grasses beside the deck.
The stars were out, it was calm and cool, and I went back in.
As I resumed my reading, I heard her jump from the side wall to the fireplace pipes, which incidently haven't been capped yet. She clambered inside the top pipe and then I heard the mewing of little ones.
Then I remembered the last time I was there, being unable to get the firelog to light.
In the morning, I went outside with my tea and saw her up on the eaves running across from the pipe and disappearing around the corner of the cabin, scolding me loudly.
When Des came by later, he pulled the pipes apart and found them stuffed full of straw, some with burnt edges...babies gone.
She came out from under the cedars later that evening, but I told her I would never throw out nuts for her again.
Of course, Luuc and Des still might.
Lovely sunset that evening for me, though.