Sunday 1 January 2012

Christmas Eve

Penny has been happy during the holiday season. We had a fairly quiet time, just enjoying the rest and the special week.

On Christmas Eve, she was out in the garden scouting around for intruders and found this cheeky possum. It was right in the act of leaping from the agonis flexuosa - fine for possums, a nice home - to our apricot tree - NOT okay!!

Did it care about Penny woofing around the base of the tree? No.

Did it care about me standing close enough to touch it? No.

I shone a torch right on it to take this photo but it still wasn't bothered.



Though it wasn't very happy about a flash photo.



I didn't want to scare it so much that it fell to the ground, because a wildlife carer told me ringtail possums have such a delicate ribcage that they will die if grabbed by a dog. (I can't find anything about this on the Net, though.) So I left the adventurous marsupial to pinch our apricots. I hope it didn't take more than one. What an optimist.

By the way, Penny got bored with the whole thing and went inside without me. She does like to find possums and tell us about them, but isn't interested in actually hunting them, thank goodness.

8 comments:

curator said...

Oh! Cheeky possum! Aren't they ALL cheeky little monsters?
Happiest of New Years to you and Penny, Parlance!

Molly the Airedale said...

We hope Mr Possum didn't eat more than one of your apricots too! He's pretty bold, isn't he!
Happy New Year, Penny! We hope 2012 is a wonderful year for you!

Love ya lots
Maggie and Mitch

parlance said...

Curator, I count myself lucky to have these cute creatures living so close. Though I do find it annoying if they take more than what I think is a fair share.

parlance said...

Dear Maggie and Mitch, thanks for the good wishes. I hope every day is a good one for you in the coming weeks and months.

Unknown said...

Ooh! Ooh! Just LOVE that first possum picture! SOOOOO cute!!

parlance said...

Hsin-Yi, so-o-o-o cute, but I wonder who stole ALL our plums recently. (Well, we did save three, but that's not many from a whole tree.)

Lassiter Chase and Benjamin said...

He looks so cute butt, Mommy would never stand so close to that thing! She would probably grab me and Benji and take off running for the house!

parlance said...

Lassie and Benjie, tell your mum these little creatures are more afraid of us than we are of them. They're harmless.