George Washington Carver was an African-American botanist born into slavery somewhere around 1864 (the exact date of his birth is unknown). He went on to receive many honours for his work, which ultimately helped teach poor, farming families how to sustain themselves with alternative crops to cotton.
Here, he describes his thoughts about nature ~
“As a very small boy exploring the almost virgin woods of the old Carver place, I had the impression someone had just been there ahead of me. Things were so orderly, so clean, so harmoniously beautiful. A few years later in these same woods…I was practically overwhelmed with the sense of some great presence. Not only had someone been there, someone was there…”
I am no great botanist, but his words struck a deep resonance in my heart, for this is how I have always felt when walking in the woods; it is while surrounded by that very presence, experienced in all of nature’s grand design, that I feel most at peace.
It also never ceases to amaze me how the greatest of blessings so often appear when we least expect them, yet at such times, we are left marvelling at their perfect timing ~
At first, bedazzled by these gorgeous Goldfinches, Chaffinches and Blue Tits feeding right outside my window on a campsite in the beautiful Devon countryside earlier this week, I was unaware that an unexpected visitor would soon arrive ~
A thriving, lush meadow next to the river by which I walked, boasted a bountiful display of wildflowers and plants, insects and butterflies.
One plant, not particularly pretty in its leggy profusion but common enough in the British countryside, evoked warm memories of my childhood ~
On lazy, summer days spent riding my bike, running through fields and making up games with my brother, my imagination ran wild.
This odd-looking plant, all the better once dried up and brown and finished with its summer glory, made for wonderful provision as I ran my hands along its stems, causing hundreds of tiny, brown seeds to slide off like tiny peppercorns into my palm.
I carefully placed the seeds in one of Dad’s old pipe tobacco tins which I kept in our den, a hollowed out hedge by the side of the lane.
And there, in the secret, safe cool, alone with nothing but summer’s breeze whispering of its plans before autumn arrived, I made soup in acorn shells, tiny bowls for fairies.
Back from my walk, a cheeky squirrel, up to mischief, was enjoying the bird food as much as the birds themselves.
Not the Squirrel Nutkin of my childhood woodlands, he of Beatrix Potter’s world with the glossy, red coat and fluffy tips to its ears, but he and his kin will surely make room for his cousins who, rumour has it, are making a come back to our shores.
It looks as if this little fellow already has a fine, yellow hat in
readiness for the celebrations of their arrival ~
But later on, after Squirrel left and I continued to marvel at the feathery antics of my bird friends, I happened to glance down at the grass below. And there, in such perfect presence and closeness was a visitor of such profound happenstance, that for a moment I could only marvel in stunned silence.
Once upon a time, such a creature was a more common sight, albeit curled up tight for protection upon hearing children’s footsteps approaching.
When those same children stopped still, and hushed for a moment or two, and blessed with the gift of childlike wonderment that we hope never to lose, they watched in perfect quiet as it unfurled its little self and wobbled away into woodland deep.
There she was, quietly waiting for her moment ~ Can you see one tiny ear and hands and feet, curled up beneath her prickly fur coat? ~
To think I almost missed her as she stopped by to say hello ~
Mrs Tiggy- Winkle herself. Oh what a glorious gift indeed ~
Hedgehog sightings are worryingly too rare these days. This was my first sighting since my childhood walks in the woods, since reading stories of Mrs Tiggy-Winkle and her woodland friends, lost as I was in magical imagination.
On this day filled with nature-blessed encounters, one more surprise of a more human kind awaited. Walking back from the river, I had turned back to run my hand one more time along the stem of my childhood plant. Just to feel those seeds glide off into my palm once again.
And then, as I stopped and bent down to adjust my shoelace, there at my feet and glinting in the late afternoon sun on top of the shimmering, damp grass, lay a pound coin.
Some days nothing goes right. On others, blessings abound. George Washington Carver was right: In those woods, by the river, on a sweet, summer’s day in Devon, “Not only had someone been there, someone was there…”
Have a beautiful weekend.
A View From My Summerhouse 
What a lovely final post to read before turning off for the night Sherri. Quite magical, quite special! The words of Mr Carver resound so strongly to me also! I have the same relationship with that leggy wild grass and can’t remember the name of it right now I gathered the seeds in the same manner and was fascinated by the amount of them. I don’t recall if I did anything a wonderful as you did with them however. We don’t have squirrels here, but we do have hedgehogs. As an introduced species there is a conservation movement currently trying to convince us they are verminous interlopers responsible for the lowering of our native insect population. I cannot accept this villianisation – they have wombled around here for nigh on two hundred years – they are wonderful little creatures and as you note, not as many now as once there was. I made a corner in my tiny garden to try and attract a family in – but have had no luck yet. I think my geography and location is not particularly hedgie friendly – but I keep trying!
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I’m so glad you enjoyed reading this Pauline. I can’t remember the name of that plant either, I tried to identify it for this post. My mother would know, I’m sure, I didn’t have time to ask her ahead of time. If I find out, I’ll let you know! I love that you gathered the seeds in the same way 🙂 I had no idea you didn’t have squirrels in your neck of the woods, and to think that hedgehogs are villified so, now that is a shocker. In the UK, we are worried about the rapid decline of these fascinating creatures, complaining of the overwhelming amount of slugs in our gardens, which hedgehogs eat. But they can’t get into our gardens thanks to fencing and urban development and pesticides playing their part too. Here is a link to a site I found for ways to attract hedgehogs to your garden which might help: http://www.wyevalegardencentres.co.uk/gardening-advice/tips-for-attracting-hedgehogs-to-your-garden#.VciC-PmlHfY You never know, you might just get a lovely hegie surprise one of these days! Thanks so much for educating me with your great comment, as you so often do! It seems we are both huge fans of these wonderfully wobbly Tiggy-Winkles 🙂
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Yes we are! I bookmarked that link to read later Sherri – thank you for thinking of me xoxo
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🙂 xoxo
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That was a lovely post and the photos beautiful. You did indeed have a magical day filled with many lovely surprises. I have only seen grey squirrels around here so it was lovely to see your photo of a red and grey one. The pic of the hedgehog was so sweet too. Thanks so much for sharing 🙂
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Thank you so much Edwina, I’m thrilled you enjoyed it! I hope we get to see more red squirrels. I used to see them all the time in the woods as a girl, along with the hedgehogs 🙂
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Yes, it would be so lovely. They are so shy though 🙂
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They certainly are 🙂
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Enjoyed your beautiful presentation, sherri, of the fascinating world that your window unfailingly opens to, as this is not the first time I am reading about your visually feasting window views. The goldfinches, chaffinches, squirrels and hedgehogs make for a greatly engaging walk out there. Certainly there is an unseen presence orchestrating it all. It is not for anything that Spinoza held the belief, that resonates very strongly with me, of Almighty existing, if at all, in the orderly manifestation of Nature…warm regards and best wishes your way… Raj.
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As I am thrilled to share the view with you dear Raj, nothing moves me more than the glories of nature and heavenly creation. Thank you so much for your eloquent and beautifully narrated comment, the read of which fills me with great warmth. I send the very same best wishes back to you for a lovely week ahead 🙂
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Just lovely. I was lazily back with you, running through fields of corn, brushing through the long grasses of my childhood so similar to yours. A den? Fairy soup? Sherri, we would have been best buds if we’d known each other back then! And a hedgehog – how special … a rare sight indeed. I’m hopeful there is one in our garden but so far I haven’t seen her or him: evidence has been left on the flagstones though.
A very evocative summery post, thanks for the memories!
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Oh Jenny, those were the days weren’t they? I can see us now, making our fairy soup in our den 🙂 I do hope you get to see your hedgehog, that would be wonderful. I just couldn’t believe it, there she was, right under my nose, and I could even hear her snuffling about in the grass. So unusual to see her in broad daylight too! Summer in England is beautiful isn’t it? Thanks for your lovely comment, wonderful sharing these memories with you 🙂
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What a lovely evocative post, Sherri…. 🙂
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Thank you so much Sue, so glad you enjoyed it 🙂
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Wonderful post, Sherri! When we slow down and take the time to notice our surroundings, we realize what we’re missing. Being the beautiful person you are, it’s not surprising that beauty surrounds you. I love the hedgehog! ❤ ❤
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Aww Jill…you are so sweet! For years I longed to see a hedgehog in the wild again and couldn’t believe when I saw her there, right under my nose! I almost dropped my camera! I’m thrilled you enjoyed Mrs Tiggy-Winkle’s visit too, thank you so much 😀 ❤ ❤ xo
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Beautifully written Sherri. I too feel that special presence whenever I am in nature.
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Thank you so much Bev. It is a wonderful presence to experience isn’t it? The perfect escape 🙂
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What a great post, Sherri, I love pictures of nature and yours were great. They made me want to go for a walk in the woods.
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Thank you so much Donna. I hope you get your walk in the woods soon! Let me know, and I’ll join you… 🙂
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A perfect post; I haven’t seen a hedgehog for yonks so I’m glad to hear of any that are sill alive and kicking.
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Yes, I couldn’t believe it. And in broad daylight too! Thanks so much Geoff, glad you enjoyed it 🙂
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Oh my, what a beautiful post. Great pictures and worded so perfectly. It sounds like a wonderful day and great walk.
Have a happy weekend!
Sunni
http://sunni-survivinglife.blogspot.com/
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Thank you so much Sunni! I’m thrilled to share this little outing on an English summer’s day with you 🙂 A lovely weekend thank you, hope for you too and a great week ahead!
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This is an excellent post, Sherri, with vivid pictures. George Washington Carver for awhile lived in my home town of Ft. Scott, KS, which I thought was pretty cool. Then in high school I researched him for a project and realized that it was in Fort Scott that he witnessed his first black man being tarred and feathered, which was a horrible thing. It was not the town’s finest moment.
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That is just so awful, and knowing that such things went on and so horrific. I’m sorry you had to find that out Marylin. I can imagine how sad that made you. I didn’t know much about George Washington Carver (and how wonderful that he lived in your home town!), but I came across this little snippet about him recently and his quote about nature and was instantly fascinated. I wanted to know more! How we found hundreds of uses for peanuts for one thing 🙂 I was immediately struck at how, as a slave, he ‘escaped’ into the woods, finding peace and beauty in that ‘presence’ that is with us now, all around, but especially deep within the woods. I’m so glad you enjoyed this post, thank you so much Marylin. His words took root in my heart 🙂
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What a great read, Sherri! I love the array of critters you have on hand to enjoy. I dare say, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a hedgehog up close. Delightful! 🙂
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Thrilled you enjoyed it Lilka, thank you so much! I’m especially delighted to share Mrs Tiggy-Winkle with you…I was amazed, it was hubby who urged me to film her, I could barely move! 🙂
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I love hedgehogs too but haven’t seen any since moving here. I presume they can be found all the way up here too?
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I’m sure they are all over the UK Rachel. If there is a little hole in one of your hedges, it makes it easier for them to come into your garden. They like to eat slugs 🙂 I hope you get to see one, they are the cutest!
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Are the native red squirrels making a comeback?!?! Oh, I can only hope so! Such beautiful little squirrels they are. I agree though, Sherri: hedgehogs are very worryingly absent from our countryside these days. As a child, I used to see hedgehogs in my back garden ALL the time, and I used to watch, rapt, through the patio doors (because they were strangely always on our patio!) In fact, as a child, I was walking through on the streets of my local neighbourhood and saw a hedgehog sat on the pavement by a grass verge! Alas, I have not seen a hedgehog for many years 😦 This saddens me deeply. I also find that frogs are harder to spot these days, don’t you? We really should support the RSPB in the country as best we can to save our native wildlife.
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So I’ve heard Jenny Jen Jen, so I’ve heard! There have been more sightings, particularly up in Scotland, but I believe at Brownsea Island near Poole too. Oh we can but hope indeed! They are just gorgeous aren’t they? Yes, I agree. Locally, I support the Dorset Wildlife Trust, but yes, nationally we need to do our ‘bit’ to help as much as we can. And yes, same with frogs. We had our tadpoles in our tiny pond (actually, the base of a non-functioning fountain!) which my mother gave us from her pond, and we had several tiny froglets, who left once grown, but no sign of them since. I hope they made it to the little creek at the end of the street. How wonderful that you used to see so many hedgehogs! They truly are delightful and it would be a tragedy for them to disappear. Bring back native wildlife! Let’s start a protest and shout it from the rooftops!!
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Where I live, there is a public garden just around the corner, and there are always so many (grey) squirrels there. I saw one only yesterday that was of course a grey, but it was more red in colour than grey! Hardly any grey on it at all, in fact, bar the tail. There must be a lot of old cross-breeding genes in the little fellow somewhere. As lovely as grey squirrels are, there cannot compare to our native reds. I am very lucky to live where I do, because since I am on Exmoor’s doorstep I see much wildlife around. I saw a tawny owl sat on a tree by the road once! There is an established pond in my garden with fish and frogs, but a couple of weeks ago now I saw three dragonflies who had obviously hatched there, and also a little newt!! Very lucky ❤ I see many dragonflies here.
I will join you in shouting from the rooftops! SAVE OUR NATIVE WILDLIFE!!
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Oh how wonderful, Exmoor is indeed a most beautiful part of the world. I need to visit it more. What a beautiful place and such inspiration for your writing ❤ Yes, these squirrels definitely do have a mix, as the one in these photos, but I long to see a real red squirrel again, as I know you do also 🙂 Dragonflies are beautiful, they like the water. Ponds are so wonderful, we had one in the States, I designed it from scratch and we had froggies and lily pads and iris's growing by the side. I long to have a garden with a pond again, one of these days. And so you and I could go on with our tales of the glories of the British countryside Jenny Jen Jen 🙂
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This is a gorgeous post, Sherri. I thought the birds were beautiful enough. Then the squirrel! I loved seeing the squirrels in London last year. We don’t have them here. And then the hedgehog! I really wanted to see a hedgehog but didn’t get to do so. I hadn’t realised they were so rare. I can just imagine your excitement at seeing it. Actually I don’t have to imagine it. It was great that you took the video. I loved hearing the excitement in your voice. Your post reminds me of the children’s song (what else!) “If you go down to the woods today you’re in for a big surprise!”
Thank you for sharing your surprises. 🙂
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I am amazed to find out that you don’t have squirrels in OZ or NZ as Pauline mentioned in her comment. I honestly had no idea! I just assumed that they are everywhere! Just goes to show. Oh the wonderful things we learn from blogging 😀 Haha…yes, well, I was a bit over-exhuberant, I admit! I get that way, and I was actually trying to not to say anything, forgetting I was videoing! I’m put off videos ever since I saw myself on Hugh’s Bloggers Bash post. Yikes…never again!! I wasn’t actually feeling too well that day. Well, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it, ha 😉 😮 😀
But now I’m going to be singing that song all day…Teddy Bear’s Picnic. And how perfect! Thank you for your great comment Norah, love that I got to share a surprising English summer’s day with you and then sing about it afterwards 🙂 🙂 🙂
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I loved listening to you on your squirrel video! And I loved seeing and listening to you on Hugh’s video! Please don’t say “Never”. I’m sorry you weren’t feeling very well that day. Funny you say that though. I have been listening to Carol Dweck’s book on mindset and she says that people with fixed mindsets come up with excuses for doing poorly. Now I’m not saying you did poorly and I’m not accusing you of having a fixed mindset. In fact I’m sure you have a growth mindset. It’s just interesting. i will notice those excuses even more now! 🙂
How about a video of you singing the teddy bears’ picnic? “Not yet!” you say? One day! 🙂
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Ahh, well you are very kind, as always Norah! I won’t say ‘Never’. Actually, I ‘always’ say: ‘Never say Never’ 🙂 So I was being a big dramatic, I admit, ha! A fixed mindset is a surefire way to stay, well, fixed, and something I definitely don’t subscribe to, very glad that you see through me 🙂 But, and this is a big but…so far as singing Teddy Bear’s Picnic on video, well, my first response was a resounding ‘NO WAY!’ but, in light of our conversation, I am inclinced to reply thus: “You never know, you might get a surprise, just like those teddy bears!” 😀 *…as she skips away merrily humming a little tune…* 🙂
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This is beautifully written, Sherri. Is a hedgehog a porcupine?
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So glad you enjoyed it Elizabeth, thank you so much 🙂 A hedgehog, as you can tell, is much smaller than a porcupine and has short, non-poisionous spines but they don’t shoot out like the long quills of a porcupine. I think hedgehogs are in the same family as moles and shrews but porcupines are rodents. I think!
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I loved sharing this ramble through the woods with you Sherri and experiencing all of the beautiful natural surprises you experienced. There’s something very magical about hedgehogs – such strange gentle creatures. And I’m not surprised to hear about you making soup for the fairies 🙂
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And I loved talking this ramble with you Andrea, thank you so much for joining me 🙂 Yes, I agree, very magical indeed and quite strange. That’s why I was stunned when I looked down and saw Mrs Tiggy-Winkle right there, snuffling away in the grass! And you won’t be surprised that I thought of you when I wrote about the fairy soup 🙂
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What a delightful tale Sherri,worthy of Ms Potter herself. And now I come to think of it I haven’t seen a hedgehog for many years. I do remember my mother warning us kids not to pick one up as they are full of fleas so I hope you didn’t get tooo close 🙂
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You are too kind Jude! Oh to write like Ms Potter, how I adored her stories! I well remember that about hedehogs and the fleas too, same warnings and everything 😉 I was filming through an open window of a camper van so no worry for fleas this time. But what a thrill to be that close, right there!
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I enjoyed this post, Sherri, and it was a delight to feel that I was right there with you, seeing that hedgehog in person. We don’t have them here, to the best of my knowledge. The name “Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle” seems so fitting!
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Delighted to share this with you Marlene, thank you so much for watching with me 🙂 Mrs Tiggy-Winkle used to love to do ironing and washing in the Beatrix Potter stories and so reminded me of my dear grandmother who loved to do both – starch, trouser-press and everything ! 🙂
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So often I’ve felt I was tipping about in someone’s home.
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I know just what you mean Beth…thanks so much for reading… 🙂
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What a wonderful day you had Sherri with so many lovely encounters with nature! Thank you for sharing so that we could enjoy with you 🙂 Sometimes you really do have to slow down in order to appreciate such things. I love the pictures of the squirrel- it looks as if you were right in front of him (or her perhaps). I chuckled at your reference to Beatrix Potter, as I loved those books as a child. Hope the rest of your weekend was just as enchanting and Happy Monday to you!
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I’m thrilled to share this summer’s day in the English countryside with you too Heather, so glad you enjoyed it 🙂 The squirrel was pretty close. I zoomed in slightly to edit for this post and it was then that I thought that he looked as if he was wearing a yellow hat! Ahh…I would love to show you my Beatrix Potter china figurines and also Brambly Hedge china tea cups and seasonal plates. We could have tea while eating your delicious Key Lime Pie 🙂 Thank you so much Heather, it was indeed a lovely weekend, I hope also for you and a very Happy Monday to you too!
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Now that is a wonderful post, Sherri, and a truly blessed day that produces so many gems of nature, plus a coin. You are ever so good with your camera, too. I can’t wait to see some red squirrels and will be avidly scouting my local woods for them in the hope they’ll return to Sussex, too. Feeling contented and smiling, having read your lovely words and seen those beautiful animals and birds 🙂 xxxx
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I knew you would enjoy this post Sarah, countryside lover that you are 🙂 You are very kind, but I would like to do better with my camera. In fact, I do have a lovely new one thanks to my lovely mum, but I haven’t figured out how to use it yet! Won’t it be wonderful to see more red squirrels again? I was always fascinated by them, even when they were a more common sight all those years ago. Oh that makes me so happy knowing this post made you feel contented and smiling…job done! Thank you so much Sarah 🙂 xxxx
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What a lovely post! We don’t get hedgehogs, which is a shame as they are so cute! And our squirrels are much fatter than yours, haha!
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Thank you so much Letizia! I’m so glad you got to see a hedgehog here! Haha…I wonder if that means your squirrels eat larger nuts 🙂
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Everything seems bigger in America I’ve noticed. Bigger cars, wider streets, bigger kitchens. So I suppose they have bigger squirrels too!
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Makes perfect sense!
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Oh Sherri that blog evoked so many happy memories. Thank you so much for the delightful tale of all your blessing and the fabulous pictures. I had also read the Carver words this week and was very touched by them. Your love of all things natural comes over loud and clear. You are a star. keep going girl!! Lots of love xxx
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His words inspired me to write this post in this way as they captured just what I felt in my heart. I am so glad this post brought back all those happy memories for you, as I know how much you love all things natural also. Thank you so much MP, and lots of love and blessings to you too 🙂 ❤ xxx
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Such a wonderful story, Sherri. I really felt that I was there with you. I love the cute hedgehog video and those feeding birds. Your squirrel is so adorable too. I was watching my Cyril this morning, scampering around here. I hope you kept your lucky pound coin. 🙂 xx
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Thank you so much Sylvia, It was a pleasure to share this walk in the heart of Devon with you, and so glad you enjoyed the video 🙂 Yes, I thought of your Cyril when I did this post, good to hear he is keeping busy. And yes, I certainly did, that pound coin was a special find indeed 🙂 xx
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Oh, I love the presence in the woods. Yes. So much that. ❤
Ah! I talk to my hubbie all the time about how our yard is like Beatrix Potter’s stories. We have tons of birds, bunnies, chipmunks, and squirrels… No hedgehogs, though. So. You had a little fairy with you as you walked, did you? That's lovely.
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And how well you know of that presence Sarah ❤ And yes, I do believe that little fairy was right there, watching, flitting, keeping watch 😉 And oh how I adore chipmunks! We could swap a hedgehog for a chipmunk maybe, just for a day? How wonderful to have a 'Beatrix Potter' yard, my heart melts at the thought of it 🙂
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How blessed you were to see something so sweet. Most of us are so busy with so much noise in our lives that we miss all the wonder that is life. What a delightful day you had. Thank you for sharing it.
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I am delighted to share this special day with you Marlene, it was a quick getaway, one night, two days, in the heart of the countryside and a well needed respite. Too short though, hope we can get back there soon. A very great blessing indeed and thank you so much for sharing it with me 🙂
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I was quite enthralled with the seed heads and the squirrel, Sherri, but I had just an inkling that Mrs. Tiggy was about. A little bird on Facebook told me 🙂 A gently beautiful piece of writing, which I loved. Thank you!
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Ahh yes, you knew who was coming Jo 🙂 Haha…you had a heads-up, albeit a rather prickly one 😀 How lovely of you to say, thank you so much, I’m thrilled you enjoyed this so much! 🙂
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What lovely photos and what a lovely capture of Mrs Tiggy-Winkle, Sherri. I can’t remember the last time I saw a Hedgehog. There were so common place when I was a child. We are more likely to see foxes these days.
It is so wonderful to sit in the garden and watch nature at work. I especially love to see the family of Robins who are a common sight in our garden.
Now I’m wondering what you did with that one-pound coin? Maybe a lucky lottery ticket?
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Thank you so much Hugh, I’m delighted that you enjoyed it. And yes indeed, how we lament the beautiful hedgehog. Where have they all gone? You can well imagine my shock and then delight at seeing Mrs Tiggy-Winkle right there, on the grass, so close to me! I still can’t get over it!
Oh Hugh, I adore Robins. I have an entire category dedicated to my garden Robin, Sweet Robin is his name. He turns up every autumn, around October time, and stays all through until spring. I got some pics of him in the snow a couple of years ago. My heart sings with joy every time I see him at the feeder or perching on the bench or birdbath. How lovely for you to have a whole family 🙂
I kept the pound coin Hugh in a special place in our motorhome. It has to be a sign doesn’t it? 🙂
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Oh exactly, yes. I’m sure it is a sign. But will you spend it or keep it until a day that it may be needed? When I worked in Central London I was able to walk to and from work most days. I remember collecting any coins I saw on the floor and ended up with a hundred pounds worth of coins over the years. That went towards some champagne for Christmas a few years ago. I’m sure the money could have come in handy for something else, but nobody seemed to complain what I had spent it on 😉
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Wow…that’s a lot of loose change floating around and I think you spent it more than wisely Hugh! Some very special champagne methinks 🙂 I will keep the pound coin, but let’s see what happens. Hmmm…who knows, maybe a story or two brewing for the future. You know how it is 😉 🙂
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I had a hedgehog living in my garden for 5 years. His name was Cactus. 🙂 It was lovely to meet you at the Bloggers’ Bash!
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Hi Conny! Oh how wonderful to have your very own resident hedgehog for so long and what a perfect name 🙂 It was lovely to meet you too, just so sorry we didn’t get a chance to chat properly. Next time for sure I hope!
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I have never seen a hedgehog in the flesh. I always thought they looked like our echidnas until I saw one that Raewyn had photographed in New Zealand just the other day which sadly died shortly afterwards. To see your movie was just fantastic and it was nice hearing your voice as well. I loved this post with a fantastic quote and then and now reminiscinces. Your photos of the birds are as always lovely to see. 🙂
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I’ve never heard of an echidna so I googled it. Yes, I thought it similar to our hedgehogs but has a longer nose, like a small ant eater, from what I could tell. I have also been very surprised to learn that you don’t have squirrels in Australia or New Zealand. I honestly had no idea! Oh I’m so glad you enjoyed the video ( I do get a bit over-enthusiastic, lol 😀 ) and I’m thrilled you enjoyed this post as much as you did, thank you so much Irene. It’s my pleasure to share these lovely sights and snuffling hedgehog sounds with you 🙂 ❤ 🙂
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I loved it all Sherri.Although we have so much in common it is these little critters and some other odds and ends that make our worlds so different at the same time. I love seeing those differences and marvel at our sameness — no matter where in the world we come from.
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It’s wonderful isn’t it? I love it too Irene 🙂 ❤
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Walking in the woods is one of my favourite pastimes and some woods certainly have that feeling of someone being there while others feel as if no one has ever been there. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a hedgehog too, at least a live one. Sadly I see a few corpses on the road and that, I think, is why they’re getting to be so rare.
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I get so sad at all the badgers and foxes I see on the road but I haven’t seen any hedgehogs, dead or alive, for many years. They can’t get into our back gardens like they used to thanks so the increasing urbanisation, so apparantely we need to make holes in our fences to help give them passage through their territory. And yes, I know how much you love your walks in the woods Marie, thanks to your lovely posts 🙂
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