Guess who's coming for dinner?

I was in the middle of cooking some chicken breasts in a skillet, when the phone rang.  I was talking to E  when I heard the kids barge into the house from outside yelling, "Mama, Mama!" Their voices had a tone of excitement that meant I was either going to get very good news--or very bad news.

I turned with trepidation and was greeted by my 11-year-old son, Mr. A, holding a hedgehog in a net. My daughter E-Grrrl's words tumbled out as she told me how her brother had rescued the hedgehog from the road using his minnow net. It had been in imminent danger of being hit by a neighbor's car.

"Isn't he cute?"

And I must admit he was the cutest, most docile "wild" thing I'd seen. He even let the kids hold him, and we invited the neighborhood children over to see him. The highlight came when he walked across the patio and burrowed into one of E-Grrrl's clogs.

With all the excitement here at Chez V, I overcooked the chicken--but I got some decent photos. Enjoy--you can view them in my photo album in the navigation bar to your right.

September 28, 2006

Comments

[Shirl Grrrl]

Ah, this was well worth the wait! Yeah, the critter is cute and all but I love the clogs! Where can I get a pair?! :D
I'm sure the kids are in heaven! Good luck with your new family member!

[Eileen]

Just found you via Cit. of the Month. I was an expat in Beligum for a couple of years too. Oh the chocolate. The sucre waffles. mmmmmmmm

[Shirley]

What a cutie! Love all the pictures, but especially the clog picture. What a nice surprise for all--you will always remember Mr. Hedgehog's visit.

[Debbie]

OMG! How cute is that! I didn't know they were native there??? Are you going to keep him?

[Jessica]

Hey, V-Grrrl, I'm Jessica from Daughter of Opinion. Neil has paired us in his recent effort to blogmatch. Glad to meet you, will be adding you to my blogroll and strolling back over to get to know you better!

[Char]

Your hedge hog is cute. Is he going to be a permanent resident?

Have your kids seen the movie "Over the Hedge" yet? If not, it is a must. We have a racoon that likes to open the cat food bin and help himself - he doesn't care if we are out there or if the cats are right there.

[V-Grrrl]

The hedgehog isn't a permanent resident, though since we set it free in our yard, we hope to to see it from time to time.

[Mary]

The pictures were so cute. They could go on that cute overload website! I wish we could find something cute like a hedgehog around here. Let's see recent critter sightings have included only "no touch" animals: skunks (in my front yard,) raccoons (traveling in a pack down the next street,) and a coyote (in a front yard up the street early one morning.) I live in an Orange County suburb! If I see a mountain lion I am coming to live in your yard with the hedgehog.

[Lynn]

Chicken shmicken - I would have been playing with the hedgehog too! Too cool! We saw 3 red foxes in my parents neighborhood a few weeks ago, but couldn't bring them home to play!

[Flubberwinkle]

Yes, the hedgehog is definitely cute, but Mr. A's act of kindness is remarkable! Saving a hedgehog from turning into roadkill... wow! I've seen "honors students" kick dogs, I think I prefer the "dropout's" approach. You should be proud of this gift he has. The gift of caring. Way to go Mr.A!

[amber]

Oh my gosh! I would want to keep it!

:)

[Arabella]

The clog pic, in particular, is priceless.

[TB]

I want one! Also I want E-Grrl's clogs.

[Nance]

I am heartbroken! We're not keeping it? Not. Keeping. It? Are you serious? I hear they eat overdone chicken. Come on, pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease????????

[Tonya]

Ahh, yes, the hedge hog. We captured some one night in Iraq. It made the night shift fun that night! So cute.....

[Nancy]

I am a sucker for hedgehogs. I remember seeing them in Switzerland. So cute!