old magic

Posted on February 17, 2016 by Shanda

Today was dentist day for two of my children.

I wrote a list of things to do and I only have one more to cross off.

There is homemade chicken soup simmering on the stove.

The house is quiet…..

“Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds, your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the ocean depths. You care for people and animals alike, O Lord. How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings.” Psalm 36:5-6

One of the joys of life for me personally is when I manage to get outside for a walk through the woods and the field up by our house. I never know what I might see, but always with a hopeful heart, the sign of my hope is the ever-present camera around my neck.

Sometimes it’s simply the way the sun shines through the trees, or the beauty of a pattern in the bark of a tree. Other times it might be a butterfly or a moth, an interesting insect, or bubbles in the stream. Once I saw a porcupine way up in a tree top.

Today I saw a flock of bluebirds. Seeing them brought me right out of my thoughts and into the challenge of trying to get a decent picture.

I tried to send as much of a “I’m your friend” vibe as I possibly could but they were still suspicious.

I also saw a woodpecker, a cardinal, and a flock of juncos. I’m thankful to live near a place where there is running water and plenty of wild seed and berries for the birds.

I collected this lovely little nest out of the bushes and briars. I love the way paper birch bark is used and wrapped round and round the nest. And after a season of fall and winter, all the old nests have filled with berries and seeds.

I left this one in the briars. But see how it’s all filled up? Nature’s own bird feeder.

I sat under a tree for a little while to listen to the water and pray.

And then I walked back home to feed the hens and gather (3) eggs.

I put the nest in a vase of baby pink carnations.

Grace surprised me by coming home after school because she’s feeling under the weather. I gave her pain meds, hot tea, a warmed up corn bag, and a blanket. She put her robe on and snuggled up with a book, and is now currently sleeping peacefully.

I stopped by the library today to return books. I discovered three LM Montgomery books in the discard/withdrawn pile, free for the taking. Since I already have copies of these I would like to offer them to one of my blog readers….I only ask that whoever wants them doesn’t already have them and also has not read them. You are in for a treat!

~~email me at goodtobe.home@yahoo.com. I’ll need your address and will mail them to you book rate ASAP. If there is more than one request, the first person to contact me will receive them.~~

The books have been claimed! I’ll post more free books if and when I come across them.

*****

“Oh, the old magic had not gone. The world was still full of it.” Anne of Ingleside

as much as it is possible

Posted on January 29, 2016 by Shanda

“Just to be tender, just to be true
Just to be glad the whole day through,

Just to be merciful, just to be mild,
Just to be trustful as a child;

Just to be gentle and kind and sweet,
Just to be helpful with willing feet,

Just to be cheery when things go wrong,

Just to drive sadness away with song,

Whether the hour is dark or bright,

Just to be loyal to God and right,

Just to believe that God knows best,

Just in his promises ever to rest

Just to let love be our daily key,

That is God’s will for you and for me.”
~ Heart Throbs

As much as it is possible, live in peace with everyone.
Romans 12:18

hodge-podge

Posted on January 26, 2016 by Shanda

I think the noisiest school gym is the one hosting an all day wrestling tournament. There is nonstop yelling, crying, whistling, thumping of mats, cheering, and so on. By the end of the day my head feels like it’s vibrating from all the sensory overload. HOWEVER, I have come to enjoy the sport. It’s fun to watch and there is so much pride when your kid (my kid=my own boys plus any boy from our town) wins.

This is Seth getting a pep talk after a loss. He made the strangest faces as he tried not to cry. It was adorable.

Seth after a win.

He had four matches and only lost one of them, so he achieved a second place medal.

Running off the mat after his win, starting to take his head gear off.

I watched all of Seth’s matches and then Rich arrived (after church) and I left to take Sarah home for Ethan to babysit. When I returned, Caleb had already lost his first match but I was just in time to see him win the second one. (he got second place)

High fives from a team mate.

This is a really nice picture of David. Unfortunately he didn’t have a really nice day and was beaten in all three of his matches.

There are so many emotions in this sport! But he recovered quickly. He’s improving all the time, it’s just that currently he is at a rough stage because his body is growing so fast he can’t keep up with it.

*******

Yesterday I made Seth fold clothes. We received a box of gifts from Hannah and he couldn’t open his until the job was done.

He opened up…..a moose money bank! He was so happy.

Sarah got animals, toy animals from Alaska! And she took a bath with them, which is one of her most favorite pastimes.

Caleb received a sling shot, which David taught him how to use.

Each member of the family had a present to open and we were all very thankful for the thoughtful gifts from our dear Alaska~Hannah.

At the end of the day Sarah, Caleb, and David went outside to play.

David was target practicing. He put an apple on a box and I watched him shoot all of his arrows and……

Soooooooo funny.

He did eventually hit it, however, and then he ate the apple.

Caleb went down the hill on a snowboard.

I am very happy to say that his school still sends the kids outside to play even if there is snow on the ground. It’s so important for them to get fresh air. Today Caleb got on the bus with two big bags full of his snow gear, his backpack, and his percussion music set. But he’s strong and tough so he did just fine.

Isn’t he so handsome? Oh how I love this boy of mine. His cheeks are so kissable.

And Sarah…ugh….she is something else. I’ve doted on her so much that now as soon as she sees me she immedietly thinks of all kinds of problems for me to solve. At this point she was slightly uncomfortable about the sled Caleb found for her to use and wanted me to do something about it so I did. I went back in the house. I looked out the window and she was absolutely fine and happily sledding again. (Now that she is almost 100% back to health after her surgery I am going to have to stop being so over the top motherly with her or she will be impossible to live with.)

*******

This morning after the kids got on the bus, Hallelujah,….I took down all the fiesta greens (evergreen, juniper, sage, shamrock, seamist, light green, dark green)…..

AND ADDED ROSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Scarlet got to stay put for another month).

I always keep the cobalt on the very top, it is The Honored Color in my house because it’s the very first color I started collecting 18 years ago.

Samantha Cat wants me to tell you to have a wonderful day.

7 degree morning

Posted on January 5, 2016 by Shanda

After an unseasonably warm start to winter, the temperature dropped to five degrees last night.

As the children prepared for school, my thoughts went to the chickens and I knew their water would be frozen and I would soon be stepping outside to carry some down. Sometimes I dread it. Most times I send one of the kids. Today I couldn’t wait to go myself.

I put on a dark purple down coat, a neon orange stretch hat, gloves and boots. I was smiling. A New Englander through and through, I loved the sound of my quick stepping boots crunching and squeaking lightly over the frozen grass. My the tip of my nose was numb and my cheeks burned in the icy wind.

I thought about the essay I read by Rose Wilder Lane about her frustration that in her opinion, her mother Laura was a “slave to hens”.

Laura must have been smiling at times on her way to the coop, too. I poured hot water over the the feed, making a sort of “oatmeal”. She did the same, on a much grander scale. She loved caring for her flock and took pride in the fact that in their community, she was the only one who kept them producing eggs even in the dead of winter. They were happy, nurtured, cared for. One of the several definitions for the word “slave” is “a person who is strongly influenced and controlled by something.”

I suppose we are a slave (albeit willingly) when we serve someone or something in such a sacrificial way, from our God, our husbands and children, to our community, to our animals, our careers…….it’s not a bad thing. It’s beautiful, especially when it is done with love.

Do everything in love 1 Corinthians 16:14

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends John 15:13

Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly. Psalm 5:3

With one hand holding my camera and the other holding my coat sleeve over my frozen nose, I took these pictures for you, this morning.

an old house….covered in vines

Posted on November 6, 2015 by Shanda

Grace and Ethan are home sick today and Jacob doesn’t have school.

I woke up feeling optimistic and cheerful for the first time in a long time, praise the Lord!

We watched a little bit of the movie “Newsies” and a little bit of a Harry Potter movie.

I love seeing all the books within the Harry Potter movies….today it made me want to go to the library.

So I did! After I made my three oldest (who are now 16, 17, and 18 years old) a batch of pancakes and fried eggs, that is.

I paid a typical five dollar fine at the library and left with a nice heavy bag of books.

Then I hopped in my car and drove to the thrifty thrift shop downtown.

It’s gorgeous weather this week, by the way. Today is balmy.

(Ethan just told me he wanted meat. Jacob is starting a hamburger for him. Grace is sleeping.)

I found a dollhouse!

Take a look:

This was where it was discovered. I took a picture so I could text Mom and ask her if I should buy it.

“Yes” was her reply.

The best part of all is that it’s a Madeline house. “In an old house in Paris, covered in vines…..”

weekend reading.

I’ve been getting walnuts in the shell for the family, I pour them into a big fiesta bowl, so when I saw this giant walnut dish while out thrifting, I snatched it up. It opens. The kids will love it.

Isn’t it marvelous?

*******

random photos

***

I’ve been amused by a couple of Kingfishers. They’ve been so noisy that I wonder if they’re battling over territory?

***

And this tiny bird’s nest.

There is typically a sense of expectation during every walk outdoors. But the other evening it was almost completely dark so I wasn’t too expectant about seeing anything (at all). I went outside to shut in the chickens and the night was so warm and soothing that I took a short walk around. I stood down by the stream to listen to it and happened to look UP….right at this bird’s nest, which I could barely make out. I turned on my flashlight to see it and the next day I took my camera down. So small and sweet that I laughed. Even in the dark God can show us things.

(It’s quite high up, I’m hoping one of my climbers will be able to collect it for me)

***

This is where I sit when it’s time for the afternoon bus to come with my young ones.

Happy Friday!

bible study with a chicken!

Posted on October 8, 2015 by Shanda

As soon as the children left for school yesterday, and I had a good start on the household chores, I looked outside and thought, “What a gorgeous fall morning.”

I decided to go out in it and sit with the hens to have my Bible study time. As soon as I opened my Bible, my favorite chicken hopped up on my knee to join me. You might notice that I thought it was October 6th at first. “This all seems familiar,” I thought, and then realized it was now the 7th. Already!

Hi Chicken!

I had a notebook with me and a pencil stuck in my ponytail. The pencil didn’t stay there long, because very soon there were good things to scribble down to save and think about. The air was fresh and cool, the sounds of contented hens charming.

I want and long to read the Bible every day. I have found that for me, the best way to do this is to use a “One Year Bible”. (click here to see the one I use) In this Bible, there is a reading for each day of the year. I’ve used it for several years now. There are times when I miss a few days, maybe even a week or more, but I have found that if I try to catch up I get overwhelmed. So, I always skip those days because very soon (next year) I WILL get to those verses again. There is a portion of Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs. Even though it is a structured, assigned portion of reading, there are ALWAYS words and truths that my heart and soul needed to hear again and again–never boring or dry. I usually keep paper nearby so that I can write down the verses that spoke to me that day. You see, the Bible is ALIVE for those who believe and love it. The words within it are useful in so many ways, and for Christians, it is like medicine for the soul. It’s like a food-craving you might get for, say, chocolate. You find yourself thinking about the Word during the day and wanting it. And when you get it, you are filled and satisfied.

Yesterday, I wrote these things down in my notebook (verses in quotes, my thoughts *not* in quotes)

~”An honest answer is like a kiss of friendship.”

Always be honest in your questions and answers. Don’t “play games”, don’t pretend. Be sincere. It’s a beautiful way to live–so beautiful that your honest, truthful ways are just like friendship’s kisses.

~”This is what the Lord says: Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom, or the powerful boast in their power, or the rich boast in their riches. But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord who demonstrates unfailing love and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth and that I delight in these things. I, the Lord, have spoken.”

~”Your real life is hidden with Christ in God.”

~”Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshipping the things of this world.”

Teach the children about greed.

Greed-intense and selfish desire for something, especially wealth, power, or food. A selfish and excessive desire for more of something than is needed.

~”Christ is all that matters and He lives in all of us.”
~”Since God chose you to be the holy people He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Let the message about Christ, in all richness, fill your lives.”

This is a wonderful set of verses to apply to my FAMILY.

~”Despite God’s wonders, they refused to trust Him.” —The next time you have some difficulty trusting God, think of as many of His wonders as you possibly can.

*****

I had no idea there was an app on my iPhone that shows all the steps I take in one day. I make sure I have it in my pocket now when I take my walks….it’s fun to see just how much I walk in a day as I go about my business. My mom does the same thing with her phone, and she is the one who taught me about the app. It came already installed on my phone and dummy me never knew it until last weekend.

I had it in my pocket when I went for a walk yesterday all alone because my children all go to school now (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

I find myself MAKING REMARKS TO MYSELF OUT LOUD. I really need to stop because it’s starting to happen at the grocery store, too.

The birds are quite active at this time of year. This morning when I let out the dog I saw a cardinal and a blue jay right outside my house in the bushes. They were busy eating berries in the early morning sunshine. A blue jay scolded me yesterday from the treetops and I got this fun picture of it stretching to reach some food.

The colors of autumn dazzle the eye.

Adorable mushroom. I want to draw it. I like to imagine them slowly growing up through the sweet smelling leaves and eventually poking their heads up to the day.

Dappled sunlight in the woods.

Hickory nuts are dropping off the trees and oh how I wish I could get to them!! I want to climb and gather! But the tree is so very tall. I have an old schoolbook primer that has a story in it about a nutting party. (this blog post is similar) The neighborhood people would go gather nuts together. Why did that stop happening?? My mom and her family used to get nuts in the fall on their farm land. I need to ask her to tell me the stories again. I know of two hickory trees nearby. One is by the stream and one is up the road just a little ways on the right and it’s nuts drop on the edge of the street.

I walked toward the stream…..a golfball caught my eye so I went to pick it up and saw this sight-

“What in the world are they doing?”, I asked myself (out loud) and when I realized what was happening, I blushed deeply and hid my eyes.

A worm saw them and wriggled away fast.

Or was it me he was squirming from? Regardless, I once again spoke out loud, “That was a BIG worm!” I said.

I think I miss my children. I’m not used to having no one near.

It didn’t help that there were signs of them down by the stream.

I also found a sock.

This is not the sky, but a reflection of it in a still pool of water in the stream.

*****

Well, eventually the children DID come back home. I went for another little walk with David and Sarah. We collected acorns and more hickory nuts (just a couple). I wanted them all (greedy again?) David told me that HE could climb the tree. Humph.

I did all the talking I wanted to without feeling weird.

Soon it was time for Caleb and Seth to go to football practice. Grace had a variety show at the High School so we made an outing of it. Ethan, David, and Sarah came along as I dropped off the boys at the field. We had extra time so Ethan suggested the coffee shop downtown. Sarah had an apple juice and a bag of chips that she didn’t like (they had pepper on them.) David had a diet soda, Ethan and I had coffee. Ethan snap-chatted his friend who is a girl. (um)

We looked out the window and saw that in the park across the street a band was setting up. The concert was to start in 15 minutes and we still had time so Sarah and I went over to enjoy some great jazz music…

Is this quaint or what?? I loved every moment…there were people all around us, and more gathered in as time went on. I would love to go again with Rich. People had their lawn chairs, picnic foods, sweaters and blankets to keep warm, and a musical spirit…toe tapping, a little dancing, smiles on the faces…it was great.

The boys played down by the water and railroad tracks and could still hear all the songs.

We may not have nutting parties but we do have outdoor concerts!

After a quick trip to the library we headed to the HS. Grace was in the color guard Flag routine (she’s on the far left on the floor). She’s been twirling the flag for just a few months and did very well. It was fun to see all the kids do their various routines…dance, music, and what have you. Sarah ate two chocolate candy bars while she watched and we didn’t get home until 9:00pm.

It was a wonderful night being filled up with my children again after a lonesome-like afternoon.

Tonight Rich comes home. He’s been gone since Monday. It’s a long weekend for the kids–no school tomorrow or Monday!

they shall be filled

Posted on September 30, 2015 by Shanda

Blueberry Coffee Cake

~very, very good family recipe~

1/2 cup shortening
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
2 cups flour
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup milk
2 cups blueberries (can use fresh or frozen)

Preheat oven to 350. In a mixing bowl, cream shortening and sugar together, add egg and beat until fluffy. Mix in the dry ingredients alternating with the milk. Spread in a greased and floured 11 by 7 inch pan or two 9 inch pans. Sprinkle the top with 2 cups blueberries

Crumb topping

1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup butter
1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Mix together with a pastry blender or a fork until crumbly and sprinkle on top of the berries. Bake for 30-45 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.

This morning has filled me up spiritually.

The verse “blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled” is in my mind, I’m meditating on it over and over and I think to myself that Righteousness is God, I hunger and thirst for Him, for Jesus, and He fills me up to overflowing with this lovely life of mine. Yes there are dry, exhausting, and difficult days but then another sort of day comes along like this one and the tears of gratitude are ever ready because I feel His restoring care in such a real and deep way.

It’s raining on and off outside which is just lovely, a visual for what is happening inside of me as well.

I’ve been watching Netflix’s Chef’s Table series and today was episode three (watched this morning as I matched socks and folded laundry) it was sooooooooooooo good! It did it’s part to fill me up, too. Wow. (episode one was the same way, #2 wasn’t as good IMO) People are so unique and there is so much to learn from another’s life.

The rabbit hopped around the living room and ate a pear under the coffee table. I put down newspapers because she loves to chew and shred them.

Small Gentleman Gray napped in the midst of my clothes piles, I would stop and pet him now and then.

I went outside to take the leftover breakfast milk and cereal, eggshells and crusts of bread to my hens. I spent some time cleaning the coop and peeked around the corner to slyly take a picture of a VERY skittish hen. She lays VERY small eggs. Really nothing to make such a fuss about.

I picked a small bunny salad to bring back in to Rabbit; mostly clover

The stream has filled up again, and I did a little wading in the cold water.

I came back inside and made a cup of coffee in my new sage fiesta mug. I took a picture of it but the colors of Fiesta can be hard to photograph, it looked much truer to color when I edited the photo to black and white. I dumped my coffee on the couch, and they were right….leather is MUCH easier to clean.

I’m sitting here blogging and also scratching like a maniac at a bee sting on my ankle which is still bothering me and I’m making it worse but it feels so good to scratch…..ahhhhh!!!…..so I better go make some more baking soda paste to rub into it.

Happy Wednesday, friends! You are loved.

“The Sovereign Lord will show his justice to the nations of the world. Everyone will praise Him! His righteousness will be like a garden in early spring, with plants springing up everywhere.” Isaiah 61:11

how was the moon?

Posted on September 28, 2015 by Shanda

“It’s not what you look at that matters, but what you see.” Thoreau

My family, along with five friends, sat under the light of the moon last night to watch it turn from a light so bright it dazzled the eyes, into an orange-red shadow.

We had a fire and chairs pulled up all around it. One of the boys roasted a potato in the coals around the fire. I roasted a hot dog. We all had apple cider.

My little ones wriggled and adjusted themselves over and over next to me, sometimes exchanging “words” for “taking my spot!”

The first thing sleepy eyed daughter said to me this morning was “How was the moon?” because she had to go to bed at 9:30.

Toward the end of the night, the endless noise of talking, laughing, and music stopped, and we could hear coyotes and other sounds of the woods and the night, our faces upraised to the clear sky, eyes open wide, trying to take it all in.

As the moon became darker, the stars seemed brighter. The sky was gloriously full of them.

We thought about the people of the past, ancient Bible men and women, populations from other countries, our own Native Americans, even the heavenly beings, and the wonder of the connection we felt to them all as we sat under the very same moon they also observed and knew so well.

We praised the God who made it.

Ephesians 4:1-6

Posted on September 26, 2015 by Shanda

I beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.

Always be humble and gentle.

Be patient with each other, making allowances for each other’s faults because of your love.

Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.

For there is one body and one Spirit, just has you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.

There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all.

Ephesians 4:1-6

Milkweed pods are crispy dry and opening, spilling their soft warm seeds into the air, waiting for a breeze to carry them away.

Ferns are turning yellow and brown.

There are many variety of wild berries and it’s a good time of year to be a bird-watcher.

There are raccoon tracks in the mud by the solitary beaver pond.

A late blooming wild cardinal flower, found in a hidden spot. It’s hard to hide completely when you’re such a red.

acorn-triplets

Praise the Lord; praise God our Savior! For each day he carries us in his arms. Psalm 68:19

teeth the color of cheese doodles

Posted on September 1, 2015 by Shanda

The most fascinating thing happened to me today.

I spent the entire morning in the house after Jacob left, cleaning and what-not, all alone. Aunt Phyllis called and I talked to her for 40 minutes with no interruptions. I wrote someone a card and mailed it and glued some of Joanna’s pictures into my scrapbook. The house was so quiet. I was in my own little world.

I ate lunch on the porch and read a chapter in my book.

Well then, I decided to go check on the chickens and I took my camera with me.

With all seven of the children gone away at school I was in awe and wonder at how much I could see, hear, and smell while I was enjoying the walk. My senses were in tune with nature like they haven’t been in years. While the children were home, even when I did go off for a walk alone, there was always that instinct to keep listening toward the house…to be ready to go back at any moment. To not be gone too long. A little guilt for not taking anyone along.

I went past the coop and stood under the trees on the edge of the yard. It was a hot and buzzing time of day, approaching high noon. The air was sweetly scented like grapes, ripe bunches of concord grapes were hanging from the trees. I sat down and then stretched out flat on my back to close my eyes and listen, to relax, to let the sun bake into my face. I was under some dappled shade, even with my eyes shut I could see movements of warm light as the wind blew through the leaves.

After a while I got up to continue walking……I admired some yellow wildflowers and smelled deeply of them. I saw a grasshopper in the mowed yard, it had a hard time jumping off the clipped grass so I gave it a hand. It used me as a springboard to jump amazingly far.

I was noticing everything I possibly could.

Then, as I walked up the dam trail, I thought to myself, “There are no animals. All these trees and bushes and I can’t see any sign of life anywhere.” I felt disappointed. I wondered what walking through the woods was like long ago, did people see wild animals more often? I’m sure they did.

I came to the top of the trail and stepped carefully over the mole tunnel which is always there. Then, Jesus prompted me to look up.

And what do you think I saw?

I saw a black animal up in the top of a tree which was approximately 40 feet high. It was slowly reaching out it’s little hand to pull some food to it’s mouth. It was amazing, I had never seen such a thing before. I usually see birds in trees and an occasional chipmunk. My first thought was “raccoon” but a half a second later I knew I was mistaken, but what was it? I kept watching, with my head tilted way back and my hand shading my eyes, then I realized that it was a porcupine. My very first porcupine sighting but I had heard rumors of one about.

I say it is Ethan’s porcupine because just the other day he was on his way home from soccer practice and he saw one cross the road in front of the car and go down the bank by the stream. He tried to get a picture of it but it looked like nothing but a dark dark shadow in it.

I’m sure the one I saw today was the same one. I love it! It appears full grown, healthy and strong. My only hope is that 1. It does not like chickens, and 2. it stays away from our lawn, our children, and our dog.

I stood and watched it for a long time. It did nothing but very slowly eat little bits of tree and then, after it noticed I was there, stare at me. It stared at me in silence but when I broke the silence by talking conversationally he was so uncomfortable he looked away into the woods. It never made a peep and didn’t move up or down the tree the entire time I was looking at it.

I took about 100 photos but because of the bright sun I wasn’t able to really see how they were turning out.

After a while I thought I better go home. I didn’t have my iPhone with me and wondered what time it was.

I crossed the stream but didn’t see any crayfish. My chickens saw me and clucked.

I walked by the pond and noticed some stuff under the playset and gathered a pair of socks, a water bottle and a plastic horse.

I walked up the hill to my house with my hands full of the stuff. Parker the dog walked over to the front steps to greet me.

“I saw a Porcupine,” I told him, out loud as clear as day as I walked up the steps.

Then I noticed two men sitting at my little porch table and screamed bloody murder. I’ll never forget the looks on their poor faces. As they heard me talk to the dog, believing I was speaking to THEM, they looked at me in friendliness, and then as I screamed, I caused looks of surprise and shock to replace that kind friendliness. “I was talking to the dog,” I explained.

They quickly told me that they were the granite guys coming to fix our countertop. They had made an appointment before our vacation to come out on September 1 at noon. It was one o’clock. And I had completely forgotten. One of them mentioned they were glad I didn’t have a gun or I probably would have shot them in my terror. Thankfully, I only shoot photos.

Nicest guys though. They just finished up. I showed one of them the pictures I took of the porcupine, since he had overheard my conversation with the dog and all. I’m not sure if he was as impressed with it as I was but he was very polite.

This was the first picture I took of it, before I knew what it was.

It was very high up in a tree. Thank goodness I had a 55-200mm lens on my camera.

It was thrilling to see these pictures inside the house. While I was outside I never was able to see the eyes of this creature. As you can see, he kept them on me at all times (except when I spoke and he looked away).

It looks quite like a rodent, doesn’t it? That’s because it is from the rodent family. It’s the second largest rodent in North American, behind the beaver.

I got this information from wikipedia, “The porcupine is the only native North American mammal with antibiotics in its skin. Those antibiotics prevent infection when a porcupine falls out of a tree and is stuck with its own quills upon hitting the ground. Porcupines fall out of trees fairly often because they are highly tempted by the tender buds and twigs at the ends of the branches.”

It had teeth as orange as cheese doodles. As I have always been interested in teeth and dentistry this was quite fascinating to me. Imagine having orange teeth. Looks to me like it has a slight underbite, as well.