Zip surprises me every single day of his life. Instead of being locked up in our house, staring out a window day and night, he seems to be racking up an adventure a day – time for an agent soon – and making yet another friend. This time, he’s hooked up with a lucky possum.
He’s already charmed and befriended every farm animal on Bedlam Farm; we now have strong evidence that he is spending the night palling around with a possum. The possum has his tracks, and Zap has his. They are getting along. (Above, Zinnia, Fate, And Maria start tracking. Fate was enthusiastic but confused. Zinnia, a hunting dog, was right on it.)
We didn’t know a possum was living in or around the barn until Maria was in the barn and looked into an empty metal garbage pale and saw a possum, obviously a victim of falling into the can without an exit strategy. Maria set him free, and we wondered where he lived.
While living on Bedlam Farm, Maria, who developed a Marjory Stone Douglas Streak, quickly learned to track a possum in mud or snow (we’ve had both lately). And she already knows how to track Zip. She spotted the possum’s tracks in the pasture this morning, and he lives in the barn or a tree here.
To her surprise, she also found Zip’s tracks along the possums all over the barn, through the pasture up near the house, by the apple tree, and alongside the barn. At times, the Zipper was with him every step of the way; he’s made another pal, and the two share the farm—only Zip. I love the image of them walking around the farm together at night. (Possoms are well known for making friends with cats, some dogs, and humans.)
I followed along with my camera. Maria was right on the trail.
Zip joined Zinnia and Maria’s tracking to the apple tree.
I wonder if the possum is eating Zip’s food.
I sure dought it…NOBODY eats Zip’s food
Rita Mae Brown is a Mystery Writer who often gives animals a voice in her tales. Simon is an opossum who lives in the barn, along with an Owl and a snake. Now, for me, all opossums are named Simon, and they are cherished nightly visitors to my back yard, along with Fluffy (all skunks), and the Little Rascals (all raccoons).
Sometimes they all arrive around the same time and my community cat Shelly, sits on top of the shed and watches the ongoing show. Opossums are amazing animals, and they consume vast amounts of ticks! You are blessed to have one as a part of your farm life. Unfortunately, they only live a short time, 3 years is about it. Yet they do so much good.
Maybe Maria could do a drawing of them walking side by side
❤️
I love possums! They are very sweet and gentle by nature. They eat peacefully on my back porch with both raccoons and the occasional stray cat. It’s so sad that they inherently have a very short lifespan 2-4 years or so.
I keep seeing the children’s book. With Maria’s illustrations.
Thanks, but not from me. People no longer buy children’s books; they read them online. My children’s books are on the blog almost daily, and I appreciate your message.