I’ve known for quite some time that squirrels are accomplished acrobats. They are also cute, lively, industrious and destructive. But, I didn’t know until this week that they like to eat paint. My newly painted storage room developed bare spots just under the eaves. What on earth caused them? The building had been beautifully painted just a few days before. My paint expert came, took a look, and said, “Squirrels.” They hang by their toes from the eaves and nibble on the paint covering the building. Who knew? How to stop them?
My street is home to rabbits and birds as well as squirrels. It has lots of shady trees, perfect squirrel homes. I love the trees so I guess I’ll have to just take the bad with the good. 
Would it be wrong to wish the paint gave the squirrels a bad case of gastritis?
The street I live on is also home to some pretty neat people. Yesterday, as I watered the front flower bed, my new neighbor across the street came over to talk for a minute. Peg and Shirley were going out to supper so we waved and said a few words, and Paula’s dog meandered over. The dog had climbed the fence again! So, I took her home. I have great neighbors.
Our critique group today may be rather small; in fact, just Helen and me. 
Health issues and vacations have intruded upon our schedule. But, that’s OK. Helen will bring a few stories to critique. I will ask her opinion of the current direction of Fright of the Silvery Moon as well as the edit-in-progress for Grave Heritage. It’ll be a good day. A warm, summer day but any time spent with friends is a good day.
You know, I’m just glad those squirrels aren’t any bigger. They could be worse than termites!
I enjoyed this post, Blanche. It sounds like you have a wonderful neighborhood. We also have a lot of animals, many squirrels, rabbits, and chipmunks.
I was in a large writing group when I began writing, then three of us broke away, and now it is also just two of us, but we help each other and it is enough. 🙂 I feel blessed.
I hope you have a lovely summer!
Thank you for writing, Susan. Good neighbors are priceless. I agree, no matter how small the group, they are really essential to writers. Your neighborhood sounds wonderful. I don’t have chipmunks but I’d like to. They are so cute!
cayenne pepper seems to work fairly good to keep the squirrels from eating my plants, etc. Don’t know how you would get it on the paint though.
I’d thought about that and wondered the same thing. I’m hoping the paint doesn’t sit well on their tummies and they learn it makes them sick.
Helen, do you think double sided tape, with one sticky side sprinkled liberally with pepper, and the other side stuck to the woodwork, might help? Devilishly clever those little squirrels….
Squirrels, Blanche, I feel your pain. It’s like the 100 year war in my garden. I thought armadillos were my #1 enemy, until a neighbor stopped by to say there were cars lined up across the road watching a black bear trot up our driveway. I was seriously considering taking a course on bee-keeping….now I’m not too sure.
Oh ! I forgot to mention the 5 foot long black snake that slithered under my feet while stepping out of my workroom door.
Well, Josephine, at least you can’t say that nothing ever happens around your house. It sounds exciting.