Geron Kees

Now, THAT is a fiercely-edited comment!

Thanks for sharing that memory. It means a lot!

Dog? Um...maybe you'd better ask ReaderPaul! And thank you for coming to sit by the fire, and the Christmas tree.

'Browbeat is one of my favorite 30 or 40 characters in your Charlie Boone stories...' Is that all? Elves have an ability to share thoughts, but I'd have to go back to my notes to see what it's called. I am not going to say it's quite like telepathy, though, as I don't remember it being that straightforward. Browbeat's skwish abilities are enhanced through the body that the Madracorn supplied for him. I kind of view that idea as a treasure chest of possibilities. Browbeat's kind are not native telepaths, as they have a language that is as developed as English, and even shares many homophones of a different meaning. A spoken language seems a wasted development for a species that can communicate non-verbally. It was the exposure to the new squirrel-skwish that seems to have awakened this new talent among Charlie and some of his friends. Stands to reason that continued exposure to the wildlife around Twombly, and especially the squirrels, will similarly do the job for other members of his circle.

Thank you! I believe that's the first 'heart' you've ever given me!

It's kind of nice to be anticipated!

It's Christmas. The least I could do for friends.

If Pixel and Hex get together with Auggie, Casper, and Browbeat, the world as we know it may cease to exist! If Frit and Pip are included, the universe just may go ,too!

Like a really cheap Lionel locomotive!

Didn't I see you in an Encyclopedia Brown mystery? I can't answer these questions just yet!

Spock: "Logic is a little tweeting bird chirping in a meadow. Logic is a wreath of pretty flowers which smell *bad*. Are you sure your circuits are registering correctly? Your ears are green." From 'I, Mudd', Star trek, TOS

Mayor Snorkum had been looking amazed, but now his features held a certain joy that was mirrored in Cawra's face as well. "I can scarcely believe it!" He smiled at Charlie and Kip. "Once again, you have given us a wonderful gift!" "An amazing gift!" Cawra agreed, smiling at the squirrels. They had secured a small card table from Miss Mili and set it up in the room, so that the squirrels could be more at an eye-level with the humans as they sat around in the chairs Mili has also provid

You got a little bit of the warm and furry thing going on, yourself!

Nope. The dead are fed, Darwin said, by the twirl of a girl feeding talking squirrels!

We does what we does best!

Darwin was a beagle. These are squirrels!

OUT THERE is what we do best!

If my dachshund had skwish, we'd have to padlock the refrigerator!

Kinda gets ya right here, doesn't it?

After feeding and enjoying the company of my own little neighbors this winter, I was inspired to include them in the Christmas tale.

Yes, those are classics, too! Scrooge is my favorite version of the Dickens tale. The look and feel of it are genuine, but it's Alastair Sim that makes the magic happen.

Sounds like you're doing a good job of heading in the right direction!

Squirrels are opportunists, like many of Nature's critters. Houses need to be tight and well-maintained to keep Nature outside. No trees close to the house that allow climbing critters access to the roof or upper floors. A visual inspection of the foundation needs to be done periodically, and any possible entry spots repaired. Older homes are much more susceptible to intrusion by animals than homes built in more modern times. What can I say? I have lived at the edge of a wilderness area for 28 years and never had a squirrel problem, save for not having enough nuts to feed them on a snowy day. If they can't get inside, they won't get inside. Your opinion of squirrels is yours to own. I just think the squirrels of Twombly should not be judged like the ones you are referring to!

We have tons of squirrels on our property. Gray, black, gray with red, black with red -- but I have yet to see a white one. At a guess that would be an albino? Maybe Nicholaas has some white squirrels at his place!

Hmm. Apparently, the term 'skwish squirrels' cam right to mind for several people. Browbeat will be upset that people guessed his favorite line!