Outsmarted and half crazy

Click the pics, so you can see what I'm up against. I took the coons for their very first tree climbing lesson. Until now, they have played in the dirt and a bird bath by the garage. They stay close and come over touching my shoes to make sure I'm there before they go back to playing.

They were nervous in a new part of the yard, but, water is irrisistable. People say Coons wash their food. They do not. They just love putting things in water and playing. Sticks, stones, anything they can play chase under water. They also learn to fish for minnows and crawdads this way. I does look like they're washing food, but, they actually don't.

Climb the tree, I said. GO! But the airshow a block away made them scared and they had to crawl up mommy's leg for a bit. The big old tree intimidated them too.

Low flying airplanes are scary! She felt safe in my lap though.

Finally! They had pissed around for an hour, I even tried putting them on the tree, but, they just cried. But, suddenly they got inspired and flew up that damn tree so fast, I had to yell at them to be careful. They don't climb safely yet. It's a learned skill.

They went very high up and had several close calls. I was frantically standing under them to catch them. But, then they got the hang of it and LOVED it. They played and fought and chased each other, in absolute joy. I sat in a lawn chair, in the shade and smoked cigs and let them have hours of fun. I didn't realize I was out there over 5 hours! Finally, evening was coming along with supper time, so I called them down. In English, they knew what I wanted, but, ignored me. So, I talked Coon to them. I gave them the calls I'd heard mother coons make. It worked, the little girl came right down to me and kissed and loved on me. I took her inside, put a fan on her and fed her all her fav goodies. Then I went back to get her brother. He was having no part of me. He was being a total asshole and pretending to ignore me. He got so far up, I couldn't see him. As you can see, they blend right in with the bark. I worked at it for an hour and then, sweating and frustrated, I gave up. I kept checking thru the kitchen window to see if he'd come down for the food and water I left, but, nope. I was near panicked for him. Jesus, he thinks he can go out on his own, but, he's far to young and little. Finally, I was standing out there at midnight (he'd been up there since 11 am) with a flashlight and a box a cheese crackers. I stuffed them in my mouth and chewed really noisy and smacked my lips, saying, 'yummmmm, nummies'. It finally worked. He came down, grabbed a cracker from me and I grabbed him. He went bananas and growled like a werewolf and bit the hell out of my hand, drawing blood. I held him close and he relaxed and nosed into my armpit where he feels safe. He was happy to see his sister and all the food. His sister, on the other hand, ignored him. She had been crying in the cage and I assumed she missed him. I even took her out to call him down, but, she wouldn't talk to him. Turns out she was crying for me and fuck him, I guess. Raccoons are so complicated. Anyway, I nearly died of heat stroke because that little fucker wont mind his mother and he's too big for his britches. I forgave the bite. After all, I did foil his escape plan. That would piss me off too. He's fine now.


Lissa is having a birthday bash in the backyard. I have to get busy decking it out. She's 12, you know. Not a baby, so no stupid baby stuff, I am told. Ordered, I guess. This drone will comply. I'll take pics. I will also take pics of me and the elusive crabster. \You will be surprised at how cute he is.

Oh, and I have a plan for Huffle Coon. I am going to hire someone to put a shelter in the tree and I am making feeding stations IN the tree. He can live in it, if he wants to that bad. Little girl will go inside with me, until she decides. The tree is perfect. I can hear if he's bothered by a grown Raccoon and he will never have to come down until he's bigger and ready to. It's a compromise. I told you, these two are different. I have never had one want to go out at this age. It's crazy. But, I'm going to let him.

Click that.I ordered white iron curly cues for the porch poles. I guess they're actually shelf supports, but, fuck that. They look perfect and I love them!

I might order some more for the sides. I just love iron work. I think I did pretty good. I put them up myself at 3 am in a terrible storm. I was bored and wouldn't wait for crabbie to get to it. My hands are too arthritic now to use a screw driver, so I nailed them on. They seem stable enough to me. What do you think? And what's up?