Oh no!

Summing up my emotions for today.  After feeling like I'd finally whipped this flu bug, I woke up this morning feeling worse!  Cough is back with a vengeance and Hubs gave me "the look" until I finally called my doctor.  I'm now on a six-day course of steroids to improve my outlook reduce the inflammation in my lungs.  YUCK.

However, in spite of feeling a lot like a pile of poo, I drug the hide out and spent about an hour in it, watching the activities in the garden.  And (shh, don't tell anyone) I also cleaned up the small pollinator garden next to the patio, hauling dried dead stalks out to the woods.  And was very happy to see bee balm and phlox poking their little green heads out of the soil!  Spring is coming.

Chipmunks are very tidy little rodents, frequently taking time out of their busy schedules to have impromptu bathing parties.  Which is what you see here.  Much like cats, they wet their hands with their own saliva and then fastidiously groom head, body, and tail.  Firing maximum frames per second, its possible to get some very funny shots when this is all going on. Another funny primping shot can be seen HERE on Flickr, wherein Zena fluffs her pouches.

Meanwhile, the Coronavirus continues to spread around the world.  We are quite concerned about family in Italy as Hubs' closest relative there is in his 80's, and has had health problems.  Just hoping he and his family stay healthy.  People are being reactionary, snatching all the toilet paper off store shelves, along with various and sundry other things.  All in the feeble hope that this will somehow protect them (although I'm not sure I see the relationship between toilet paper and Covid-19...)  It is a very unsettling time for just about everyone.  

Phoebe is showing signs of a return of her inner-ear infection so we called the vet who is going to start her on a 3-week run of antibiotics.  Fingers crossed it works.  Poor little girl.

Well, people, stay safe - wash your hands and don't touch your face!

xo
Debbi