Today, the girls are out picking pine bows from the forest near the barn. Dinky makes a path with her chubby little tail so that Miss Tilly can travel without being buried underneath the snow.

You may be wondering why on earth they want pine bows if we’ve already put our tree up inside the barn? Well, I must back things up a bit, to when Brutus and I flew to Pinion Valley several weeks ago, in order to visit with young Squagon.

I haven’t written about our visit until now, for several reasons. The main reason for holding back, quite frankly, is because of Me… and the second being that I have the morale of the babes to think about! It’s been very difficult to keep up a brave face for all the little ones, as well as for you, regarding the disappointing news that Squagon will NOT be celebrating Christmas with us!

I’d seriously hoped that my visit would produce a kingly approval for Squagon to come home for the holidays… at least that’s what I wanted to be writing about, once I got back to the barn.

Epic fail there, I’m afraid!

I spoke at length with Squagon’s Grandfather, the Pinion King, but he would not agree to the visit! The king kindly but firmly refused to allow the young prince’s absence during their valley’s own Holiday festivities.

You see, young Squagon has many duties during the Pinion Valley’s winter season, which are a vital part of his royal education.

It was explained that the young prince must be visibly active in service to the needy, sick, and injured folk living in their valley. Winter can be especially difficult for those in need…

There’s also a lengthy requirement of assisting the caregivers that run the valley’s orphanages, leading the little ones in a great many Pinion traditions, one of which is decorating a holiday tree. Surprisingly, they are very familiar with who Santa is… go figure!

Honestly, I’d no idea there was so much that went into being a royal squirrel! Though I’m quite sad about Squagon’s absence at our barn, I couldn’t help feeling terribly proud of the young squirrel. He behaved so grown up and respectful, it was like he was a totally different squirrel… yet not!

I mean, Squagon still looked like himself, but now he also looked and acted like his grandfather, carrying himself with such dignity and royal bearing. I know this sounds ridiculous to say, but it felt like my baby had somehow grown up without me realizing it, until that very moment!

At the same time, it was a sad acceptance of the reality that the young squirrel isn’t my actual child… he never was, really. I suppose it simply felt like he was mine, after all the sleepless nights, unending bottle feedings, and watching all the little guy’s firsts. You know, the first night of full sleep, first steps, and the first time he called my name. Those memories will always remain, and I would do it all again, even now, after I have to let him go.

I shall cherish the time that we had together and he’ll always have a place at the barn, there beneath my desk. But Squagon is a squirrel… and a prince, no less!

Besides, I didn’t say we’d never see him again… just not until after the holidays are over. This is just all part of growing up! I can assure you that he’ll be back, if only for visits.

Speaking of visits, before Brutus and I flew back to the barn, we spent a good hour with Squagon, just the three of us. It was truly a wonderful little visit, listening to the little prince share all about the things he’d been learning, and then filling him in on all the goings on at the barn. I had to recite all the messages from the babes and then write down his responses to each of them, in turn. By the end of the visit, I knew that Squagon was where he belonged, though I still saw the conflict within his eyes… that bittersweet feeling of wanting to come home, yet knowing he must stay.

I cried the whole flight home to the barn. I still get teary just writing about it, how silly is that?

But, back to this morning, I can now explain why Miss Tilly and Dinky are out in the woods, collecting pine bows. After getting my crying out of the way during the flight home, both Brutus and I put on brave faces for the babes before landing in the barnyard.

Once we’d handed out all the little notes I’d written down from Squagon, I gave the bad news about Christmas. After all the tears subsided from learning that he wouldn’t be coming home, Miss Tilly offered up a wonderful idea to brighten the mood. She suggested we all work together to put Christmas in a box, if you will, and then have Brutus fly it to Pinion Valley!

Now you know why a mouse and a baby dragon are pickin up sticks in the snow. While they’re doing that, I’ve got Lilly helping the boys bake peanut cookies, along with pistachio flavored homemade playdough…

Come on, everyone knows we end up putting some in our mouths… just to see what it really tastes like!