There's something poking about beneath the pear tree...

looking for a fruity meal.

Nature photo of the day: hiding hedgehog.

well, hello, hedgehog
how do you do
on this beautifully sunny day
off to visit mole
or perhaps to scavenge for pears
i hear they are already quite ripe
tell me what did you see on your saunters
what sort of gossip and stories
did you catch
from the land and wind since we last talked
did you hear the rumor
that a gang of slugs ate all the beans in that garden
over yonder, the ones that are now eating your pears
 - yes, it was quite a headline
well, it was lovely to bump into you
good day, hedgehog

- Csermely

Hedgehogs hold a special place in our hearts.

It is said that when you see one, it is a sign from the Universe to review and set your boundaries, possibly even strengthen them. That’s been a recurring theme recently in our lives.

But the meaning I like more, coming from tales of folklore, is that hedgehogs are associated with good luck, wisdom and quite possibly, magic.

We could all use more of that in our lives!

So when we came across this hedgehog (caught on camera in the early evening light) on our daily trip around the gardens to collect slugs by hand, we felt it was indeed a sign - that we are providing a wonderful habitat for nature, and especially for a prickle of hedgehogs!

After all, this isn’t the first beauty we’ve seen this year, but it is the largest. They seem to love our yard - there is the woodpile and the piles of branches waiting to be broken up for our outdoor cob oven. They appreciate the holey fences that have been weathered by time and the fallen fruit over here and over there. And the many insects and crawly things that roam the land, they are in no shortage here this summer.

To say these hedgehogs are living their best life, may be an understatement.

As with all the creatures who traverse our yard, down to the creek and back again, we leave them be, turn around and head the other way.

We need our privacy and they deserve it too.

Goodness knows, life is hard enough at the moment anyway.

As for the journal prompt of the day:

What was my first experience with a hedgehog like? If I’ve ever seen one at all… If not, why would I like to encounter one?

The first time you see a hedgehog is an event you are unlikely to forget. Hopefully it is a pleasant one, not involving dogs, for the best possible memory and tale to tell.

Leave your favorite hedgehog encounter in the comments below!