The Face of Winter

I complain every year about squirrels eating planted bulbs but every living creature has to eat. There's enough fruit, grains, nuts, vegetables, and herbs for all. Never thought they'd like ornamental kale but it is an edible. A fresh meal in the mist of a frosty snow covered fall day. It is actually still fall although we've had our first snow.This afternoon having hot chocolate and sitting on the stool looking out the kitchen window, I caught one eating my kale leaf by leaf. Morsel by morsel it tore off each piece and threatened any other squirrels sitting on the fence to join in the feast. By the time I wrote this post several squirrels have devoured the kale and only a nub is sticking up from the soil. Two leaves have dropped to the ground. I'm sure they'll find them later. Tomorrow I'll trek through the mushy wet soil and snow and put some of the pumpkins and corn from fall displays  in the planter. Can't wait to see them eat. Do I want to encourage them? They'll be tearing up the yard soon enough when the first hint of spring arrives. I ordered a seed wreath for the birds and probably for them also. They loved the bird feeder filled with black oil sunflower seeds I had in the yard as much as the cardinals and sparrows.