Now Rosemary is Back Too

Rosemary, an acquaintance of George's, has come back to visit us now also. She came the other night--her trick is to sit on the deck just outside the sliding glass door and stare in at us until one of us realizes she's there.

It's pretty hard to tell a male from a female raccoon unless they lie on their backs with their legs outstretched (which George sometimes does.) But Rosemary Cooney has all the characteristics of a female. She's dainty when she eats (George is a slob.) She's smaller than he is, and a little skittier. She doesn't sprawl on the deck for a rest, but lies quietly either on the deck in the shadow or on the deck rail next to the holly for a fast escape.

Neither of them moves anymore when I go onto the deck for a smoke.