“Here lies Jan, the craziest cat lady of them all.” Ahh yes, there was a time when that would have likely been etched on my headstone had I met an early and untimely demise. Throughout my twenties and early thirties I was focused on my job and school. I also seemed to be especially gifted at finding, dating, and subsequently breaking it off with a few Mr. Wrongs. I began to become accepting and then gradually comfortable with the idea of growing into an old spinster with cats at the ripe old age of 34.

Then I met Russ, and about 10-11 years later we have a dog (Sandy) and two cats (Juli & Hops). I no longer qualified for spinster, and somehow the whole “cat lady” thing didn’t really seem to fit. I’ve always loved animals, but living in the city where there are ordinances, one must be content with what is “allowed”… or must she?

It all started off by my feeding some birds with a simple feeder. I put it outside our living room window for Hops to watch during the day. It then graduated to me noticing some cardinals in the tree outside of my home office window. I of course then put a small handful off seeds on the sill every morning for them, too.

A few weeks later I walked into my office to find Hops sitting on the window sill watching something intently and quietly meow/chirping at it. When I slowly walked closer, I saw that there was a little chipmunk sitting there, eating the seeds I had put out. Over time, the little chipmunk got used to both of us watching her, and Chippy would come every morning. If she came and there were no seeds out yet or they had already been eaten, she would chirp loudly until Hops would find me and run back to my office like, “Mom, she’s hungry.” It was actually kind of comical, and I found myself now invested in the birds and a little chipmunk.

It wasn’t long after that, when I decided to add a small picnic table in the back for Chippy and the birds. It quickly became a gathering place for squirrels as well. I started to recognize certain ones by their markings, tails, and times of day that they came. What started off as a small bin of bird seed turned into two large bins of seed and mixed seeds/peanuts along with a medium size container for peanuts in shells.

Chippy, Betty, and Papa cardinal

We soon had cardinals, blue jays, yellow finches, chickadees, purple finches, sparrows, robins, doves, and the occasional woodpecker in our yard in addition to Chippy, and my new growing brood of squirrel pals. I was so excited when I was able to get some of the squirrels to eat out of my hand.

Some of my friends thought I was nuts (pun intended). “They will cause damage” or “they will make messes” were what they said, but I didn’t care. For the record (and over a year later), they have not damaged a single thing, nor have they ever pooped on our deck or chairs (can’t say the same about the birds). I don’t care that they sometimes bury a peanut or two. At night I bring in any uneaten seeds because I don’t want to attract critters that will cause damage. While I think trash pandas (raccoons) are cute, I do not want them in our attic again.

I should probably mention that technically it’s against our city ordinance to put out ground feeders for animals. I have put out bird feeders, and the squirrels just happen to stop by for snacks. That’s my story and I am sticking to it. Hey, if folks in our city can have chickens, then I will continue to put out my bird tables. (Please don’t turn me in.)

Bubbers and Little Mama (who grew to be quite big before she gave birth).

Chippy, Sweet Pea, & Newbie

I have been asked if I am afraid they will bite. I am not. They are not aggressive with me at all. Occasionally they will chase each other away if I have just put out the seeds and nuts, but they have never once nipped or scratched at me. I have been patient and earned their trust. This year I even have Chippy eating out of my hand, too!

My husband likes to joke that I have turned our back yard into a nature preserve of sorts. I suppose in a way I have. It’s very relaxing to go out there and sit on the deck, watching and listening to the little friends that God has sent to me. It brings my soul peace and joy to know that I am caring for His creation and I am humbled by the trust that some of these little creatures have in me.

This crazy lady has a whole lotta squirrelly going on. And she couldn’t be more happy about it.