My basket is filling up with scratched memories
That was the week that was
(wasn't that a TV program way back?)
We walked Mavillette Beach in thick, thick fog.
Brother and one RP vanished from sight for quite a while
Then brother flew away across the ocean
just like the waves of honking geese that fly over every morning nowadays.
Next came a day of rest
followed by an interesting discovery on our early morning walk
two porcupines snoozing.
Mother just stuck her head in messy grass
and left her back exposed.
Most of us try to keep our back protected
but of course they have no need!
and alongside her junior tried to do the same.
Strange...I thought they climbed trees to snooze.
Had to keep RP's tightly reined in...
I couldn't remember how far those quills travel.
Saturday ...a strange day...sometimes they're like that...
and red scratchings on Sunday.
A very interesting post. I never saw a porcupine in real life and I would never imagine that you could get that close without disturbing them.
ReplyDeletexx, Carol
They are grumpy things who know the power of their defense system!
Deletethose quills only travel as far as your pup's nose, that is, they don't. porkys do shed some, but their tails, which get to swinging when needed, will whack into, say, a pup's nose, and let loose a bunch of quills into that soft flesh.
ReplyDeleteYes, we have had major quill extraction at the vets! About 40 all in her nose and mouth.
DeleteLove those honking geese. I have only seen them on tv, those long V shape formations, it must be amazing to lift your eyes to the sky to watch them.
ReplyDeleteJenny, you are right it is quite overwhelming to see wave after wave of 20 or so fly right overhead. Then we walk some more and another v formation honks along the Bain. It is quite something. But then anything in nature amazes me.
Deletebeautiful scrim scratchings in your embroidery. and yes that was a tv show way back...
ReplyDeleteHa! Good to know there are others as old as me about!
DeleteThat basket is really overflowing with stories now, isn't it!
ReplyDeleteThose scrathings really have become an integral part of my life!
DeleteAll your lovly scratchings.......porcupines don't really'shoot' their quills......they release so easily that you think they do because you don't even realize you've touched them .....
ReplyDeleteWe took our then 10 yr old rottweiler Morgan camping with us and let her sleep outside the tent.....big mistake... she found a porcupine at 3am woke us up whining and crying snuffling at the tent. Hubby got up to see what was the matter and we were horrified at the snoutful of quills she had. We thought a couple of us would have to hold her while hubby got the quills out.....
But that wonderfully smart , courageous dog just laid her head in his lap while he cut the barb off from one side and pulled the quill out......thank goodness that was her one and only porcupine. Hugs! deb
My goodness that's quite a story. What a dog...they are so trusting of us aren't they. When it happened to one of ours we ha an emergency run to the vets...not as courageous as your husband.
DeleteLovely scratchings. I've only seen one porcupine in the 'wild' -- needless to say we stayed quite far away. I've always imagines them as flying out like a bunch of arrows. Now I've learned they don't do that. Fascinating.
ReplyDeleteYes...I 'm just learning that too.
DeleteBeautiful work... love all the wonderful stitching! I love seeing porcupines... but not so much if I have a dog with me.
ReplyDeleteNot so nice with dogs! Skunks and porcupines are encounters I worry about!
Deletethis is becoming the most wonderful cloth of tales - a story cloth for the future
ReplyDeleteLove that 'cloth of tales'. And, yes it is for those who come behind me 'cos I'm useless at writing the story!
DeleteWonderful!! Your "scratchings" are becoming quite the history of your life! Future generations will be fondling this cloth for a very, very long time. It's quite the legacy!
ReplyDeleteI love the geese and the porcupines. I own a porcupine quill box that belonged to my grandmother. It's damaged and missing some of the quills, but it was an exciting find when we discovered it after my mother's passing.
Let's hope my boys marry women who might be interested!
ReplyDeleteLucky you having one of those boxes. How big would it be?
About the size of a medium, flat jewelry box. It's in my mother's old cedar chest, or I'd dig it out and take a photo. The smell of the cedar (or perhaps the old family clothes/etc. mades me gag, so I never open it unless my sister is here to do it for me. I really should just give it to her, but for some reason I cannot bear to part with it.
ReplyDelete