4 Feathers Farm

Mothering baby chipmunks

            Since I’d ruined a chipmunk nest and seen the mother run off, we kept checking on the two babies in their nest I relocated (not a good idea). The mother, as far as we could tell, never came back and our cats were hanging around the nest, attracted by squeaking babies. I couldn’t take it anymore after one cool night and brought both inside the camper, put them in a basket with a bottle of hot water and headed to town.

            Hayes and I got a small syringe and Pedialyte and, once home, got both babies to take in some liquid. One was a good eater, the other just made do. According to our Internet research, the babies were less than two weeks old. I told Hayes that despite our best efforts, the babies could die anyway.

            And they did.

            One died that evening. Hayes had accidently dropped it during an earlier feeding and cried, feeling responsible for its death. During the night, the other died. The next morning, Hayes cuddled them in her hand and cried and cried. I told her not much else was as good as a momma chipmunk for chipmunk babies and we had done our best.

            She was pretty despondent and didn’t want to feed the dogs, cats or horses or go to Columbia to see miniature trains as planned. We went anyway and she had a good time. Apparently, there are train clubs throughout the country who travel and set up their models for the public to ride for free. This one was hosted by the Mid-State Tennessee Train Club.

            Coming home, Hayes said she still felt sad for those baby chipmunks but less so after our train adventure.

            We decided to be brave and spent the night in the cabin for the first time two nights ago. I figure we better get used to it now before Alex leaves for Peoria, Ill., for job training next week. Last night a huge thunderstorm came through and you could hear it travel from the top of our ridge down into our valley. Even with a tin roof, we slept well because Alex has insulated the ceiling.

            Today he completed our bathroom and tomorrow we’ll side one side. He ran wiring for electricity today because the satellite man comes tomorrow! Hopefully, the next step is internet! We’re checking out running internet through our cell phones because the service we initially checked out costs $600 to install.

            I got on the scales at the health food store the other day and saw I had gained 10 pounds since the last time I was on the scales at my midwife’s. I confessed to my friend Bernadette that it may due to my eating practically an entire chocolate cake during a week’s time.

            Made my elderberry cough syrup a few days ago. Had enough for one small jelly jar. I guess this year will be an experiment anyway.

            We’re down to two guineas and they keep looking in their mirror in their pen (I read guineas like to admire themselves) probably noting that their days are numbered.