They have their reasons.
Visitors have their own agenda. In truth, they don’t come to see us.
Oddly, some do rave about the food, though. (Friends, knowing us well, snort, “It must have been catered”.)
They move in and quickly make themselves at home, the accommodations sight unseen.
We might as well be ghosts among them. Certainly not “in” keepers travel agencies rave about.
Still, they must be telling their friends.
Maybe it’s management’s efforts to provide a gentle rain-like shower upon request.
If they treat us like staff – occasionally requesting a hand out of the pool – it may simply be the way they were raised.
Since they don’t make a fuss – or seem to mind the occasional mosquito – we oblige them.
Would be awkward if we tried to turn them away.
How would you feel if you only wanted to see your ancestral home? So many do travel long for that.
Besides, they have never poisoned the air with unreasonable demands for perfection.
In truth, we are pleased they stop by.
Thrilled when some look around, say, “I like what you’ve done to the old place” and decide to sit and stay awhile.
Always room for one more.
Just, please, stay out from underfoot and pick up after yourself, OK?
No reservations,
Phil, the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge
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43 Comments
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I don’t think I’d be quite so welcoming to any creatures without fur. Too high on the slime factor for me. 😉
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You just don’t have enough mosquitoes in your area…We could ship you some of those and some really annoying tiny black bugs. The frogs, toads, and cameleons/anoles might be willing to share with the less fortunate.
Now the legless ones, a little less welcoming to those. Thanks for hopping by with a comment.
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Ah, good point. Lots of mosquitoes where I grew up in North Dakota. Icky.
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I agree, there is always room for one more and we use some water to get more soup for all :o)
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Everyone laps up a little thinned chicken broth. Thanks for bouncing by with a comment
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Wow. We are both having fun with nature this a.m. I really like this!
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Sometimes snuff outdoors just makes you want to hoppy along. Thanks for clipping a comment to leave
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You always make me happy!.
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I love living with nature visitors. Sometimes they mistake me for the “wait staff” squawking when the feeders are low on seed or the bath is empty. Mostly their needs are simple. They are notoriously bad tippers though.
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Don’t make the mistake of offering to babysit for mockingbirds…they are such helicopter parents. Thanks for filling up the comment tray
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Yesterday morning I was greeted by a tree frog as I approached the barn door. It looked at me from the metal siding of the barn, unmoving, as I greeted it with, “Good Morning”. This morning, I had to duck as a bat swooped for insects as I stepped out of the house on my way to the barn. Another clicked and squeaked, unseen, from the back of the garage as I stood and enjoyed the morning acrobatics.
Yes, I greet them all.
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Here all of them would be saying “Yes, you, hello – and get that dog back.” Always a circus. Thanks for welcoming the guests and for tossing over a comment
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I’ve tried convincing my wife not to drive our visitors away; they keep more unwelcome guests from invading. So far, it’s only worked for frogs.
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It takes a lot of frogs to find a prince – or so says the cat…if you choose to listen. (We think she is really out for fresh ready to hop entertainers.) Thanks for leaving a leggy comment
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I welcome any critters that eat bugs. And most critters in general – as long as they don’t attack me, I’m cool with them. I lived in a semi-detached for some years and our neighbor could not abide any living thing he didn’t approve of. He warred with squirrels and ground hogs and birds and any other critters that came into his perfectly manicured yard. Ha! Our yard was much more welcoming to passing creatures. Mind you we had two cats that patrolled the visitors to maintain order. 😀
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Don’t squirrels and ground hogs, having something of a sense of humor, enjoy tormenting neighbors like that one of yours? Make them mad and the squirrels will make it their life’s mission to load your flower bed with all sorts of acorns and seed to grow just where you don’t want them? A cat of the Realm. That’s a good solution to moderation in yard guests.Molly sends a thanks for that rain we got last night – and the brief early morning cool! She knew you had to have wished it just for her. Oh, she insists on another paw wave.
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I like those kind of visitors. And have to agree with you about them getting underfoot. The last thing I want to do is smash a guest. 🙂
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Slugs seem especially arrogant about not cooperating with that request. Icky. Thanks for arriving with an entertaining comment
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These are the kinds of visitors I like, no sheets and howls to wash after they leave 🙂
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And they don’t shed! Perfect company. Thanks for the welcoming comment
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Love your green guys! I’m host to more lizards than frogs, just because we’re a little heavier on concrete and rock over here, but they’re all fun to have. The anoles are particularly cute, but I’ve discovered that the black and brown ones have the same beautiful red throats to use in attracting the ladies.
I presume you have August 31 marked on your calendar. It ought to be quite a scene at the grocery, when Blue Bell comes back to town.
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There’s rumors of lining up to cheer the transport trucks that day….no, no serious plans to hijack the load…What do you bet the shelves are stocked earlier with a quiet unveiling? Even Molly and RC are ready – they say nothing matches Blue Bell’s Homemade Vanilla.
No question what Labor Day cookouts will have for dessert!
Even the unusual visitors may be getting a taste. Thanks for the chilling news!.
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My blonde tabby, Hobbes, used to bring me chameleons. He’d run to me, excitedly meowing as loudly as he could with a green tail hanging out of his mouth. He never hurt them. But it was so distressing, worrying that he would before I could convince him to set the poor thing free. These days, the Three Black Cats bring me faux fur mice. That I can handle.
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Molly has become a lizard hunter this summer out of boredom.(she hasn’t figured out the tail is giving her away) She’ll carry them over and put them on the grass to look at them and of course off they go. We do worry about that giant paw trying to stop them. So far they manage to stay ahead of her and scale the wall to the gutter. They tried the little citrus tree, but she started climbing that.
RC is a big fan of smugly watching through the windows – offering misleading advice probably while chortling with glee.
Thanks for chasing over a comment!
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With all the visitors, I suspect RC ignores them, yet Mollie is a combination of obvious and proclaiming their presence.
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Molly thinks she is the activities director…she’s big on aerobic exercise for all. Greatly amuses RC who keeps an eye on the Outer Realm from the window seat. (Although she was musing about the spotted frog looked rather princely…)
Thanks for hopping by with a comment
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Oh yes – the Richard Simmons type Activities Director vs the calm queen from the throne.
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HAd to chuckle. You’ve got character analysis down.(And thus should be in high demand for the selection of presidential candidates. *giggles* )
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Once upon a time we lived in a house that was a favorite with frogs. Loved them. Fewer mosquitos around the deck and the little creatures were so tidy– unlike rabbits and deer who insist on leaving “gifts’ around the yard.
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An assortment of frogs can create quite a chorus on a summer’s night. They work hard and play hard. Thanks for leaping in with a comment
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My favorite summer sound is that chorus of “peepers” in New England. I always gasp in elation (no, really, I’m not being purely literary) when they begin their first tentative warm-ups in the spring. And I sit on the porch nightly toward fall, straining my ear to hear the last of them reminisce in the green room out there as the last full performance ends, down to the sole lingerer who turns back one last time before dimming the lights until next year’s performances resume.
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Early evening symphonies are definitely worth finding a seat for!
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Charming guests – as long as they stay out of the house.
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Sometimes we do mouth checks on Molly to make sure everyone stays in their assigned places. Not willing to share the shower indoors with guests – even if RC keeps saying “That one has reservations.” Thanks for the roomy comment
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I miss seeing these critters. Thank you!
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RC insists the frog with the spots is pretty elegant for a commoner frog. Wouldn’t want to risk turning an enchanted prince away. Thanks for hopping by with a comment
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Possibly tasty, too!
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I’m still enjoying my vacation in Florida and, in addition to the large flock of ibises that gather on the back “lawn” (golf course) each day, I’m very attached to my lizard friends in the lanais.
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Ibises flocks tend to invite themselves for afternoon appetizers once they’ve identified a lovely happy hour watering hole. They are fun to watch. Enjoy the crowds. Thanks for settling in with a comment
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I would also love something that would eat the obnoxious gnats we’ve been dealing with all summer!
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Tiny little black one that sneak in somehow? Driving us nuts indoors – even the dog and cat. We’re ready for a bit of cool so we can open the windows, only then I’ll need to really check all the screens first. I hear fresh paint runs them, but not sure if we’re that energetic and desperate, yet . HA HA Thanks for adding a flighty comment
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That’s them. We’re getting a bit of a work out killing them whenever we can!
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Anyone who didn’t know about those gnats would think we’re all having some sort of fits…lots of slapping counters, dogs leaping and snapping, cat whacking in irritation of being disturbed….still not wising for an early freeze yet. Good luck and happy hunting
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