Squirrels in Autumn and the Art of Getting Cozy

As I watched a squirrel in my backyard the other day, something occurred to me.

In Fall, I am a squirrel too!

Further research backed me up on this weird thought.

For example:

Once fall arrives, squirrels start eating more. They enter a “hyperphagic” phase (which basically just means overeating).

So do I! Seriously, the weather starts turning cooler and I am suddenly drawn to heavier foods. I trade my light summer salads for soups and stews. And then baked goods come pouring out of my oven and of course they must be eaten with hot chocolate and decadent coffee drinks.

Every year I say to myself, “This year I am going to continue eating light foods even though Autumn has arrived.” And every year, I head straight for pot pies, casseroles, and potatoes. The squirrels have an excuse. They need those extra calories to survive the colder weather. But do I? Probably not, but somehow I still start carb-loading.

All those extra calories are stored as fat to carry squirrels through the lean months that follow.

That’s awesome (for the squirrels). Not so much for me. I have no lean months. I live in a nice warm house with access to all the food I need (and want). Still, just like the squirrels, I store those extra calories as fat. Yippee.

Squirrels cache what they don’t eat, hiding food for later.

You would think that this is where I differ from squirrels. I do not. I may or may not have a hidden chocolate drawer (is my husband reading this?). I also have little treats hidden in my nightstand, end tables, etc. And, yes, I forget where I put things. It’s always a pleasant surprise to find a goodie I have forgotten about.

Squirrels collect acorns.

I do too! I don’t know what it is about acorns, but I find them fascinating. They’re such odd little things. I am entranced by their shape. I have fancy bowls of them inside my home in the Fall. I paint them, glitter them, and pile them on tables. (I don’t eat them though).

Squirrels sleep more when the weather gets colder.

Me too! There is nothing like a cozy bed when the weather is cold. I keep my room cool and pile on the blankets. The darker days make me look forward to napping and going to bed earlier. So cozy!

They decrease their activity level to conserve energy.

I do the same thing. The beautiful thing about Fall is that when it is dark and rainy I feel no guilt for staying inside and reading, or sewing, or napping again!

During the summer months it feels like a waste not to be doing something active outside. Autumn holds no such feelings for me. I can laze a bit without feeling bad. Give me a blustery day, a good book and a pot of tea and I am a happy girl. Once the chilly weather hits, you can usually find me under a blanket in my favorite chair.

Squirrels grow thicker coats for the colder weather.

Okay, I can’t grow a winter coat, but I do the next best thing. I unpack my sweaters. I love sweaters! They’re like a hug for your body. I buy mine big and soft. Just putting one on makes me feel so happy.

Squirrels make “hibernaculum” dens (from the Latin for “tent for winter quarters”).

Oh, how I love to nest in the cold months! It’s one of my favorite things to do. I put out fuzzy blankets and soft pillows. I fill the house with candles and light fires in the fireplace. I stack books near chairs and put flannel sheets on my bed. I love my hibernaculum den!

During their hibernation times, squirrels slow their breathing, their heart rate and even their metabolic rate.

Fall and winter are my times of peace. My breathing naturally slows down and so do I, which calms my heart rate too. Sadly, my metabolic rate also seems to tank. I guess we can’t have everything.

So, there you have it. Proof that I am part squirrel. Fall is here and I couldn’t be happier.

As I looked into squirrels I found this cute little poem. Written long ago and much shared and illustrated, the author is unknown. Isn’t it cute?

Earl the Squirrel is a classic old book by the author of the Corduroy books. In it, Earl’s mom decides it is time for Earl to find his own acorns. He spends the night searching and meeting new friends along the way.