Sunday, June 24, 2007

Squirrel Wars


I know there are a lot of animal lovers out there, so this is for all of you who are interested in the Hewlett squirrel saga. The original plaster squirrel came from my garden in Windsor, Ontario. When the previous owners left, they took their array of garden ornaments with them but left this rather chewed-up looking squirrel behind. Well, I thought he was rather pathetic. He was unwanted and abandoned by his owners and left all alone in the garden, so I didn't have the heart to throw him away. Then David came to stay and started to move the squirrel around as a joke--so the squirrel woud be peering at me from various unexpected locations. When David left, he instructed all visiting family members to move the squirrel around to tease me. Now he, the squirrel, not David, is quite sinister up close, as you may have seen from photos...so to have him peering out from the shower or through the kitchen window at you can give you quite a fright...thus began the squirrel wars. When I moved from Windsor to Lucca I really couldn't bring him with me, so I did the kind thing.....I took him to live with David and Jane. Big mistake! Every time I visit, I find the squirrel hidden somewhere in my room--usually in my bed...yes horrid! At least I thought I was safe in Lucca, but guess what present David and Jane brought me when they came to stay? Ok, not the original squirrel but a bolder, brighter Italian cousin....

38 comments:

Becky L said...

Ah! So that's where David got the whole 'squirrel' thing from! So we who post on his website are sneaky little things, are we? Hm...yeah, probably. If it helps any, I think we surprise him a bit at times and I know we amuse him. At least your new squirrel is a nice looking peice of art. And you can control it's movements. May I suggest hiding it whenever David comes to visit and surprising him with it?

Ivana said...

Ohoho, David isn't a "good boy".. :D
I always wondered where he got this "squirrel" thing from!? Now we know...
Oh yup, becky s is right.. hide it whenever he comes to visit you.. =)

Have a nice Sunday

Francy said...

Yup, now we know the true story behind squirrels! :-) Becky... yes, I believe we are snaky little things! :-)
I think the only way to get back at him is playing his own game. LOL!

Diana said...

That is a hilarious story. Thanks for sharing it. :)

Kathy said...

Hee hee I love the back story of 'squirrels' and 'Horrid!' was the Horrid your name for him too?
I quite like that squirrel. Its quite tasteful.

I'm sure you have many resources available to get your own back! I look forward to hearing how. He doesn't seem like the sort of person who gets very phased by anything. He didn't seem very shocked by the cyberman at the conference in January anyway.

NZ_Jackie said...

OMG!! lol that is so mean and kewl at the same time!
Revenge is a dish best surved cold!

dead-blog said...

That's so funny! But why am I not surprised? It certainly sounds like something he would do...

That new squirrel though is way too adorable!

Cindee said...

Ah, so that's where it all started from. What a sneaky one that David is! In my family it is a Knight in Armor that just shows up at different relative's porch every year. Hmmm, paybacks can be fun.

Victoria said...

Ahaha! Thank you for sharing that story with us! That's so evil of David to put the squirrel in your bed! But I have to say, very lovely inside joke.

I agree with Francy - get him back by playing his own game. Is he afraid of any animals?

fumblesmcstupid said...

oh my dear, that silly boy of yours never stops making me laugh.
you are quiet the lucky momma.

best of wishes
Lizzy B

criz said...

thanks for sharing this little story with us :)
would you grant me permission to include it at the Squee4D! site ?

Teknikal said...

That is one sophistamacated looking squirrel!!!!

le the war continue!!!!
VIVA LA REVOLUTION!!!

Hope you are well!!!

Paula said...

I think I'm going to have to send my friend over here. She is working on her disseration in history, but spent her time in Geneva in their archives. (I imagine that the Swiss archivists have different quirks than the Italians.) I think you two would get along wonderfully!

Surely we can help you plot your comeback to David. Let's wait for him to go back to shooting when he's too distracted! ::evil grin::

Welcome to the blogosphere! We look forward to more history lessons. Embarassing children stories are an added benefit. And we'd love to hear about your non-actor children, as well.

Ciao!

Fran said...

I always wondered about the Squirrel thing and now I know. David is sneaky.

That reminds me of something. My grandma used to do Ceramics and she used to do animals and she'd send us these ceramic animals and my mom thought they were creepy and spooky that my sisters and I would bring them out of storage and plant them everywhere in the house even when we set the table for dinner we would put one facing her at her place.

We were naughty children too but lovable all the same.

When Hiatus is over and David is busy with the show again we can all plot a revenge. We can help you plot something. Is he afraid of anything? :=)

abharding said...

LOL. Thanks for sharing that story (or stories) with us.

It sounds like you and your family have a great deal of fun making fun of each other. Which is really how family should be...

Maybe your new friend should find some way to greet David the next time he comes to visit.

MushyPup said...

That is priceless! I have a feeling there are many 'squirrel surprises' in your son's future.

Thank you for sharing that - it gave me quite a laugh!

Space Oddity said...

That is hilarious.

We have two ceramic squirrels in our yard, but I doubt my gran would notice if they moved... Unless they showed up in her bathroom or some such thing.

It sounds like it's never a dull moment with your kids around.

KaziWren said...

Momma Hewlett,

I wanted to ask, as a historian, what are some of the significant times in history that you are most interested in? Do you fancy yourself more of a ancients/classic type, or modern history?

Warmest regards,
Trish in Texas

Anonymous said...

Thank-you for sharing this, Ms. Hewlett. Hilarious. It sounds similar to the antics my family can get up to. We have an ugly old salt shaker that was inherited from my PapPap. It's always fun to see who ends up finding it in their luggage after the yearly reunion.

catslyn said...

Oh my goodness!

That explains so much. I always wondered why David was obsessed with squirrels. I never expected it to be anything that funny though. At least he doesn't sound like a dull son. ;-)

And I must tell you, I so envy your being able to live in Italy. I went there about five years ago, and I absolutely fell in love with the country. Someday, I hope to honeymoon there, specifically in Florence. Have you been there?

catslyn said...

[url=http://www.fodey.com/generators/animated/talking_squirrel.asp][img]http://r2.fodey.com/1c3a37e24bb9240b39fbf3accb079743d.1.gif[/img][/url]

Try this in your blog for a squirrely surprise. :-)

Flubber said...

There are worse things you can find in you bed with you!!! :-)

I take it that the picture is of your new squirrel! Quite a handsome looking chap!

You difinitely sound like you have a fun family!

out at my mum and dads its concrete moles. My mum even has one in her kitchen!

I do think the squirrels are cute though!!

Hope you have a good day whatever you are doing!!

TTFN

flubber (aka Sally from Scotland!)

Anonymous said...

OMG! That is funny. My husband says the squirrels will take over the world and we've seen many examples of this. Such as the time at the park when this rather large squirrel was standing on the garbage bin staring at my children and me menacingly. So obviously these squirrel statuettes are really the little God icons of Squirrel world. They are invading our home and soon we will be squirrel slaves. Or I could have just a major imagination...LOL!

Twolls said...
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Twolls said...

Hey Mama Hewlett!

Do you ever pop on over to David's site to see what his minions are chattering on about? I wouldn't blame you if you didn't.

Anyway, I've got this place bookmarked. Hopefully you'll blog a bit more than Kate ;) and I hope to read more from you in the future.

Katheen said...

My friend Grace and I have a similar tradition with a weird little plushy Grinch. She professed to be afraid of it many moons ago while staying with me, so of course it began to appear with great regularity in her bed, her briefcase, her coat pocket - anywhere that was likely to make her scream. Now the Grinch has to travel trans-continentally to torment Grace - it's worth it!

You should torment your children and other visitors by hiding embarrassing photos of them in their beds. Of course in my family that would just cause escalation...

WolfenM said...

Hah! The mystery revealed! What a stinker your son is .... (Well, I guess I shouldn't be surprised!) Thanks for sharing that cute story! :)

Jennifer Oberth said...

That is too funny! Thank you for sharing. And I notice the word 'horrid' in the 'squirrel' story - is this where your son is getting these things from?

Your family sounds just like mine - we love having fun. Especially when it means messing with people or freaking them out.

Anonymous said...

I have a picture of my Great Aunt Meg that was taken a little too close to her face. It' a scary picture. My husband HATES that picture and tries to hit it on me every chance he gets. I'll find it out in the shed or some other place and I'll put it right back up on the wall. The last time I did that I heard him scream. Such fun!

Beaugarcon said...

AWW! That is so cute!

Anonymous said...

Hi,
I enjoyed your blog! It's nice to know where the squirrel thing came from! lol

I went on vacation and did my own thing with the squirrel...took lot's of pics with the "Squirrel King" as we, his squirrel minions, call David. Not with David, of course, but with a substitute:

http://www.adogsbreakfastmovie.com/index.php?option=com_joomlaboard&Itemid=26&func=view&catid=2&id=37583

Just copy that and paste it as a web address and it takes you to David's website where I posted them. Very silly, I know. But, I had my kids laughing at me the whole vacation! Laughter is good and you never know where that squirrel will show up!

Take care,
Kimberly

Anonymous said...
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crazymom said...

Congratulations on the newest grandchild! How many granchildren do you have now?

Ivana said...

CONGRATULATIONS on the birth of your new grandson Mrs Hewlett!! The best wishes!

The Mater said...

Congratulations on the newest Hewlett addition! Hope you return to blogging soon.

Sarah said...

Hi Mary!
Not sure if you're still around, it's been a while. I've kept an eye out because I'm heading to Lucca for a work conference at the end of May (all the way from New Zealand!). It's my first trip to Europe, so I'm hugely excited! Right now I'm struggling with how best to "see" Italy without spending a fortune or being trapped in a tour bus with 50 retired Americans (being neither American nor retired that just doesn't appeal).
Looking forward to seeing the stone walls of Lucca! Sarah

Momo said...

Hi, Mary!
Like this site - hope to see lot's of interesting detail about Lucca! I'm sure you hear/read this every day - you got a great son and a wonderful daughter! Thank you for sharing stories!

Pam said...

This is so funny about the squirrel. The same thing has been happening at my house only with a stuffed sheep dog toy. I find that sheep outside my bedroom door, or walking up the stairs--it's looking at me from the top step..then it disappears awhile and surprise! It's back. Gets a little creepy :0
Being a historian is as cool as David and Kate's careers. I somehow happened upon your site while checking on the donation I made to MSF for David's birthday.
Italy is so beautiful! I visited the Isla of La Maddelena awhile back and it was breathtaking!
Well, have a good time at the wedding in June and be sure to give little Baz alot of hugs and kisses---he is just too cute! Bye.