Fahruck, the Mousecat
Acrylic on Canvas, 2024
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Gardening with Squirrels
Summer had come just in time for Fahruck. The winter was long that year and stretched out to April with an unexpected snowstorm. May was still chilly and it was not until June that the ground was warm enough for Fahruck to spend more than a few minutes outside.
Fahruck was excited to see the different animals come out during summer and he enjoyed watching the environment change around him. He was especially excited to see if the seeds he planted last fall would grow.
That previous October, Fahruck observed squirrels burying various fruits, nuts, vegetables, and seeds in the ground. He asked the squirrels about it and they explained to him that that was how they saved their food. Whatever they didn’t eat would sprout in the spring. Fahruck wanted to see if he could do what the squirrels did so he foraged for things to plant. He found carrots, apples, and acorns. Fahruck liked to look at flowers, but many of them were toxic to him so he left them alone. He dug a few holes near his favorite lounging spot under a bush and buried his treasures for the spring.
During May, Fahruck eagerly checked the ground each day by his favorite lounging spot only to be disappointed. However, now that it was June and warmer, Fahruck started seeing other plants sprout in the area and was optimistic that his seeds would grow.
Today, Fahruck trotted to his lounging spot under the bush, sniffing the air as he walked, both overwhelmed by all the different smells and appreciative of the wonderful scents of various flowers, plants, and creatures. As he got closer, he could see that there was something growing where he had planted.
Over the next few weeks, the sprouts grew bigger and bigger until they grew taller than the grass around them. Fahruck told the squirrels about his success and they congratulated him by dancing circles around him.