You couldn't guess it but it SNOWED LAST NIGHT and I woke up to the horrifying sight of white overing everything outside, even my beloved tulip buds!
But that's beside the point. Around noon today I was able to sigh a breath of relief as there was nothing left on the ground save for a few lingering ice chunks. (pictured below)
But in general, today was cold, about 39 degrees outside. It was damp, and you could smell the water in the air. It actually made me think of fall, when you're hoping to see snow soon because of the drop in the temperatures. I could hear no wind, actually there was barely any wind. But it felt much colder outside because of the dampness in the air. It crept into your bones no matter how many layers you had on or how much tea you drank. The ground crunched under my feet because of the bits of ice that fell earlier today. It was about 6:00 pm and the sky was peeking through in patches of blue amid the dark blue grey. The sun was falling yet the sky was beginning to turn a bright pink and gold. Very beautiful, but unbearable to be outside.
This picture made me particularly excited. From a distance this plant was turning yellow from the bottom up as the buds were emerging. It made me really happy.
I was sitting outside, (obviously when I didn't have my camera, as it usually goes) and this squirrel runs by. I have to take a double take before I realize that this squirrel is carrying in its mouth a giant cookie chunk.
A couple of minutes later, I see another squirrel running around and munching on another cookie. It got me thinking about this week's post and made me really wish I had had my camera to document this hilarity and cuteness.
And then I found this...
Image from Here
But then I got to thinking.
When it comes to this Nature Lens blog post, we could relate one organism to six Life's Principles. And when it comes to the squirrel as an organism, there are a lot of ways in which it can relate through how it lives in its environment, eats and reproduces.
So,
#1 - Optimizing Rather than Maximizing -
Description: Although squirrels don't intentionally do this, their habits of burying food to save for later and frequently forgetting where it is located has benefitted the growth of numerous trees in various areas. This phenomenon occurs more in the spring and summer months due to the fact that is early fall, squirrels memories increase by 15% lending to their inherent need to put on weight for the impending winter.
Design Idea: As far as a human concept goes for something like this, it could be considered for people who eat fruits with seeds to save them and later plant them in order to grow fruit trees. This small act could produce more trees and reinforce an eco friendly planet.
#2 - Leveraging Interdependence
Description: This one could also relate to the topic above in which the squirrel's diet can help influence its environment. However, squirrels live in communities and families that cooperate with one another in different scenarios. Baby squirrels or "kittens" are blind for two months or more, so family bonding and the importance of the mother in a setting for her kittens in incredibly important. With the two months or more that the kittens are blind, they rely on their other sensory organs to communicate with their mother.
Design Idea: The importance of child-rearing! Children spending more time with their families in social activities function better in groups outside of their family. In school, for instance, communication is better if there has at least been a little bit more practice first.
#3 - Benign Manufacturing
Description: The only way in which I can relate this topic to squirrels is in the "using self-assembly" way (hopefully). Squirrels are organisms that function both in groups and on their own and biologically they are perfectly made for their lives in the tree. Squirrels have sharp claws in which they are able to literally hinge themselves onto the side of the tree. Their back legs are also double-jointed to help them be able to move about tree branches more efficiently. Their eyes can see front and to the side, but also completely backwards so they can pick up on danger.
Design Idea: This is just something I want to be made. Glasses that have rear-view mirrors. That would be so insanely useful for anyone with glasses or sunglasses. In sports like biking and running it would offer a sense of safety and awareness for the user.
Also, I don't know about double-jointed legs, but if it helped me climb up a tree, I'd be all for it.
#4 - Locally Attuned and Responsive
Description: As with the free energy processes, black squirrels absorb heat from the sun easiest seeing as their coats are, well, black. This offers warmth for them on cold days and energy to continue their scavenging.
Design Idea: More black clothes to keep you warm and not so cold you can't go on with your day.
#5 - Integrates Cyclic Processes
Description: Squirrels lives are very cyclical considering their short lifespan of only three to five years in the wild. In the winter, squirrels eat and eat and eat so they can bulk up and retain heat in their little bodies. They move into nests within the trees to keep warm. As spring approaches, they reduce their caloric intake and shed a few pounds for the warmer weather and reproducing. Squirrels usually mate twice a season and are able to tell about the approaching of different seasons by how long the days are. With summer, they spread back into the trees and nest up in the branches for the cooler weather. As fall approaches, their memory increase 15% and begin to find and store nuts for winter in hope of eventually finding them again for winter.
Design Idea: Utilizing the length of days as a form of a seasonal clock to be able to tell what time of year it is. I might need a little feedback on this one.
#6 - Resilient
Description: Squirrels are fierce little critters. They defend their territory, try to scare off predators, camouflage themselves to trees when there is a predator with wings nearby and mate often.
Design Idea: The tenacious quality of these animals is pretty amazing. Although they come to trust humans and often think they'll get food from us, they can be clever and resourceful little beasties. Going back up to the cookie thing.
Thanks
Mary N.
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