No, I am not disgruntled about a human neighbor. I mean a real skunk. Hehehe. We have a family of skunk that live beside the creek at the back of the property. This year they are feeling quite comfortable with us and the cats - either that or the food is just too good to let a few two and four-legged critters slow 'em down.

The family casually ruts around the yard in the late afternoon and returns again about lights out to see if the cats left anything in their bowls. Needless to say, we have learned to look out the door before opening it after the cats are fed just to be sure we do not startle any of them. Startling a skunk is a very bad idea! Well, apparently no one explained that to Neighbor Opposum, because we caught a wiff about bedtime a few nights ago. Fearing that our normally layed back cats had caused an unwelcome rucous, we looked out the front window to discover the skunk finishing of the last sticky corners of cat food in one of the cat's bowls and the oppossum a foot away taking a long drink from one of their water bowls. Off on the other side of the porch (about 15 feet away) was mama cat with a sleepy, but annoyed expression about the smell the two panhandlers kicked up. Fortunately for all involved, the skunk gave only a wanring mist because it soon cleared away with no unwelcome residue.

Last night we FINALLY got rain. John went out to listen to it patter on the carport roof. He sat there in the dark on the proch steps just drinking in the welcoming cool, wet sound. He sensed something coming up beside him and assumed it was Lucky our affection-loving cat who thinks he is a dog. Fortunately for John, he glanced over before starting to send an arm out for a petting. It was our old friend skunk coming up the steps right beside John. John softly spoke a welcome and turned on the flashlight to warn the fellow that the porch was occupied. Our neighbor decided not to stick around to chat, but at least he didn't leave in a huff.

I guess I should stock up on tomato sauce for any potential future emergencies.

Here is a picture that John got of our skunk visitor. Yes, he is getting used to us snapping flash pictures of him and his family.