The truth is I find the idea of making living creatures in to pets a rather barbaric action. I would never want to be caged, LIKE AN ANIMAL. I therefore do not believe that it is a nice thing to do. How would you like it if someone or some BIG ANIMAL held you hostage? I think they call Humans who do that terrorists.

I am not totally sure just where that line is drawn.

I do however have several friends in the Animal Kingdom who have been known to enjoy hanging out around the Human Clan. I know a small bird who flies from far away each year just to visit the old fellow at the edge of the woods. He keeps a special feeder out for her.

They call her a Hummer.

She is very tiny but a very sturdy little bird indeed. She spends her winters in the mountains of New Mexico but returns to this area to visit the old fellas Giant, Plastic, Strawberry he keeps hanging out his window just for her. Not truly a pet but an acquaintance, if you will.

Seems to me that men really enjoy a good Hummer on occasion. I noticed last summer that the early morning Hummer really made the old guy smile.

Men sure can be an interesting group,

wouldn't you agree?

This pup was running wild in my neck of the woods for about a week. Cute little lady she was. Problem was she had very rude manners and would not keep her nose in her own affairs. Sure did not take too many times for her jumping and barking at the trunk of my tree until she woke me from my sleep. I came down to investigate the racket and low and behold she jumped me from behind.

Now I am not one to get excited but I am a grouchy cuss when i am trying to get my beauty rest and it is rudely interrupted.

I swatted my tail at her to throw her off guard and when she lurched to get away I quickly spun on my short hairy legs, rolled across the forest floor on my round belly and jumped up and pounced right on the middle of her snout.

Take that to the house and cry to your owner, I hollered as she ran away yelping.

Her owner called the police on me but what do I care? You can't arrest a porcupine, Can You?

I found this mug shot of the bewildered pup about a week afterward. Twas diving in their trash can searching for summertime food. I like barbecued vegetables real good you see. Those humans grow a wonderful garden, I smelled the grill going and headed down there after dark to see what I could pilfer.

That is when I found this picture. I would have thrown it away too.

This dog looks pitiful, don't you think? I had to carry it back to the house and tack it up on the trunk of my tree. I figured it might remind that crazy pup that I was a porcupine to be respected.

The old fella likes to go to Florida in the winter. He is always coming back and bragging to his next door neighbor about his wonderful vacations. I snatched this photo from his patio one night when he went in the house to get a cold beer.

I do not think he noticed it was gone cause I think he had had a few beers too many if you get my drift.

He was telling the neighbor all about these ugly creatures. He said they wait by the docks and beg for food from the boat people. I have no idea who the boat people are. I do know that those giant birds sure are ugly and sorta scary looking. Sure glad to know they live in Florida and not in my neck of the woods. They look sorta pushy too.

I am not one for first impressions though, it could just be the lighting!

All in all, I have a good life. This land has many trees and much vegetation around. I spend summers near the old fella's place. No, I do not stay real close but, this is what a part of his property looks like.

I love these tasty flowers. I am on the lazy side so I move in close to make my night time foraging a little easier on my short hairy legs. The trees are full and I can live uninterrupted except for the occasional RUDE DOG. 

I intend to write an entire hub about my living conditions, mostly it will be all about Housing, Tree-housing that is. Until then, I do bid you a good day and hope this hub has satisfied some of your curiosity.

An old saying worth noting.

If you love something, set it FREE. If it comes back to you, it is yours. I like that.

Don't you?