Late Evening Snack

It turns out that the birds and I aren't the only ones who are relishing the fruit from the persimmon tree.  Around 10:30 last evening I opened the back door to take the Christmas tree stand out to the garage. I heard some wrestling around noises in the persimmon tree just above the garage. The weather was overcast, which meant that the city lights were reflecting off of the clouds making it lighter than normal.  As I looked up I discovered a raccoon in the tree navigating through the leafless branches to get the juicy fruit at its peak ripeness.  I stood by my door to watch and realized that this raccoon was not alone up in the tree.  Two other family members were also feasting on the delightful treat.  The branches are already heavy and drooping from the weight of the remaining fruits.  It was a challenge for the raccoons to decipher which branches would support their weight and allow them to reach for the bounty.  Several fruits ended up tumbling to the ground before getting eaten.  It was lovely to be able to see them so clearly.  I grabbed my camera hopping that I could catch the scene, but I wasn't close enough for the flash to make a difference.  So, I had to simply enjoy the joyous moment standing there on the porch.