One with Nature

It's has been an exciting month with exposure to all types of animals. We went to the Butterfly exhibit in Norwich with Papi. Emerson loved watching them up close. She was very happy to have Mommy hold them, but wouldn't try herself... although pretended to interested by constantly dipping her finger in the nectar. Just couldn't bring herself to touch them. We also went to the Roger William Zoo with Daddy and had a blast.
On the entrance to our road, we have been watching a swam family. This family was here last year, but never successfully had babies. It has been well over a month and they are still waiting for their eggs to hatch. We stopped down last week to take pictures and to get a closer look. While we were there a neighbor told us that the father was the one who actually sat on the eggs all of the time. We had thought it was the mommy all along, but I guess that's not the case. Mommy has been up and down the river waiting patiently while Daddy is the egg protector. We're praying to see babies soon. What dedicated parents!Adding to a our excitement, we saw a fox run through the yard a couple of times. After a week we noticed a mommy and daddy fox hanging around. One morning when Daddy came into Emerson's room in the morning he noticed baby foxes playing near our shed. We counted four that morning and in two days the total count was up to six babies. They are the cutest and love playing. They pounce on each other like puppies and play tag. We woke one morning to find that a baby was carrying a dead squirrel, almost as big as itself. I was so worried that Emerson would be upset, but she wasn't and talked about how they needed to eat rather than worrying so much about the squirrel. I was happy about that. From there forward we did warn the squirrels and scare them up the trees. After calling the DEP, we did decide to try to get the foxes to move their home for the dogs and Emerson's safety. After playing a radio in the shed they have been gone for a week or two. It appears that the neighborhood has several dens and unfortunately a bunny and cat have been prey close by. Dan was lucky to save our neighbors (Frank and Susan's) cat the other night, as he heard an aweful sound coming from their yard when he got home from work. He found the fox corning their cat, Sassy, who has four teeth and no nails. He was a cat hero that day. Emerson was so proud of him and had to check on Sassy many days afterwards to make sure that she was okay. What excitement.... we wonder what will be next.