I’ve made a new friend over the past month or so and I wanted to make sure that I posted about him. (Or her.)

He’s very quiet and calm, and visits quite often. He never imposes, but I drop everything as soon as he arrives. When I shower him with compliments, he listens with detached curiosity. He isn’t terribly impressed with the excitement his presence causes. He simply settles in and observes. And while I’m sharing a number of different views of him below, mostly he just sleeps.

This is my friend.

Isn’t he great?

I think he knows that I think he’s wonderful. He never tenses up or gets nervous when I’m around – even when I’m standing right below him. (Of course I’m always respectful.) But then again, he doesn’t seem to get worked up about much of anything. Even the neighborhood squirrels are curious and approach him.

I can’t begin to describe how grateful I am that he feels safe and finds rest in my yard. He feels like such a gift.