How can you not. . . . . . . . .

LOVE them?

And, when you have a slew of nuts left from the holidays what do you do?  Despite two nutcrackers in the kitchen drawer I, like most people, find cracking iron-hard nuts a real pain/tough job, so what do you do but share with the Eastern Grey Squirrels - or whichever version you have in your area - who are eating your birdseed like there's no tomorrow! 

We watched from the kitchen windows, thinking that if a squirrel can gnaw through a hard hickory nut, as they do, it could manage an almond easily. I lined up four on the deck rail and before I was back in the house, this chubby, bushy tailed, sparkle in the eye guy showed up! Long story short, he/she picked up each one, tossed it around in it's little sharp claws, sniffed, licked, then jumped down and went and buried each one in the garden! It was quite funny to watch and at least I managed to get some photos through the window.

Of course once the nut burying was over, this cute rodent was back at the bird feeders. . . . . and, just like their busy acorn burying back in the Fall, it's said by people who know the ways of our wildlife friends, they never actually find them again, or dig them up and prepare them for a springtime luncheon or a summer night party!  

~~~ Almond trees do have lovely blossoms I believe ~~~