I was sitting at my computer working when I looked out the window and realized I had company.
This little girl had hopped onto the back of my lounge chair, about two feet from where I was sitting. She sat there looking at me while I looked back at her.
I slowly picked up my phone to take her picture, fully expecting her to take off.
She didn’t even move.
She stayed there, ate an acorn, and kept an eye on me before eventually hopping down and going on her way.
Normally, the Lollipop Guild would have been all over this situation, alerting the entire household that a squirrel had breached the perimeter. Fortunately for my visitor, all three members of security were napping on the job.
I love little encounters like this. There’s something special about being that close to a wild animal and having her decide, for a few minutes, that it was okay to share the space with me.
And if I hadn’t looked up from my screen at just the right moment, I would have missed her completely.
So my reminder this week is to look up from the screen once in a while.
Nature doesn’t send a calendar invite. It just shows up outside your window, eats an acorn, and waits for you to notice.
Anyway—Off We Go.™ The dogs are waiting for their walk, and I need to get caffeinated.
Happy Monday, friends. Have a great week. 
© 2026 Erica Shoemaker. All rights reserved.
