Tuesday, 5 August 2025

Food Sharing with the Squirrel(s)

Our resident squirrel(s) (there may be more than one) has taken to leaving apples in prominent places around the house, generally near the front and back door, including the porches and stairs. Sometimes he or she leaves them on the porch railing, sometimes just outside the door.

The apples are from our apple tree, on the front lawn. It is a spectacularly productive tree during some years, and quite a barren one during other years. Given that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, the appearance of these doorway apples must be the work of some life-form and the squirrel is the obvious candidate. Plus, I have actually seen the squirrel do this on a few occasions, so there is witness testimony as well as circumstantial evidence.

A former colleague, who grew up in China, said that her family refereed to this as food-sharing with the animals. We sometimes leave leftover food (if it is the right kind of food) on the deck for the birds – usually it is the magpies that take up the bulk of it, though the little birds also sometimes (carefully) go in for a quick snack. The squirrel sometimes takes its share as well. So, it is hard not to think that the squirrel is reciprocating, showing its willingness to share the apples.

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Given the above text, I can’t help but plug this short story by Helena Puumala (Ok, no squirrels but an apple tree does play a prominent role):

Where the Apple Falls

This short story (approx. 6500 words) focuses on the complex and somewhat troubled relations between children, parents, and grandparents. It also revolves around the mysterious forces of the universe, including the various notions of the divine held by the people in the story, which sometimes conflict, much as they do in the world in general. An Easter service and a freshly planted apple tree draw the parties together, over one fateful Easter weekend.

The story is just 99 cents U.S. (or equivalent in other currencies) and is also available on Kindle Unlimited. It is periodically on free promotion on Amazon as well.

Amazon:

U.S.: http://www.amazon.com/Where-Apple-Falls-Easter-Story-ebook/dp/B00JSDW6XY

UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Where-Apple-Falls-Easter-Story-ebook/dp/B00JSDW6XY

Canada: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00JSDW6XY

Australia: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00JSDW6XY

Germany: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00JSDW6XY

France: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00JSDW6XY

Spain: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00JSDW6XY

Italy: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00JSDW6XY

Netherlands: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00JSDW6XY

India: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00JSDW6XY

Japan: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00JSDW6XY