A famous hog, a zany dog and dangling in the air.

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A media agency contacted the rescue recently looking for interesting animal stories and the manager thought that Herbie, my disabled hedgehog, may have the makings of a good story, so after a chat with the aforesaid agency, it was decided that a photographer would be sent out to capture some pictures.

It was not my idea of fun I can tell you….there I was like a brooding mother hen, endlessly harassing the photographer! These two hedgehogs are under my care and I was determined that they would suffer no stress so I insisted that flashes were a good distance away from them and utterly refused to have Howie, the spineless hog, in a little pullover.

I was forced to smile so often that in the end my mouth could only form a rather scary grimace….I’m not a natural obviously….unlike Howie who seemed to enjoy the limelight and wandered around quite happily. Herbie simply didn’t want to participate and refused to uncurl…maybe I should have taken a leaf out of his book!!!

Anyway, the story appeared in several national papers….there was me, grimacing rather horribly, Howie looking happily star struck and NO pics of my Herbie….not a ONE!!! And the story was supposed to be about him! Ah well, the rescue got a mention so good publicity for them…

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Talking of hogs, we’re finally ready to release the first batch next week, they’ve been outdoors for a month now and have hardened off so to speak….some of them are ridiculously fat, like this little chap. I’ll have to find some good sites to release them. 

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On the subject of fat, do you think Curly cat is carrying a little extra weight?

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Now, after a walk a few days ago, hubs and I indulged in a beer and as usual Sam stood on the table, but then he refused to get off it and eventually lay down on it. The pub garden was packed and everyone was pointing at the crazy beast and laughing….I cannot tell you how embarrassing it was! Seems the high ground is where he intends to stay, if only he was a little smaller…..sighs…

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 The dogs  were fascinated by this horse.

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I’ve been tidying the courtyard over the last few days and decided to plant my little peach tree in this stone circle, I do hope a few fruits set. It’s lovely in the garden at the moment, the pear and plum trees are overflowing with flowers and drifts of confetti are floating about from the cherry trees in the front.

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And I seem to have daises everywhere.

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Hubs had a birthday this week and surprisingly decided to celebrate at my favourite veggie cafe, the one where you bring your own wine, which was lovely for me, and he really enjoyed his veggie food too. We had a wonderful evening, very chilled it was!

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Unlike this thing…which was totally chilling! Hubs thought it would be fun to go on the Liverpool Eye, so I agreed as it was his birthday after all….BUT…..I have a thing about heights, they terrify me they do…..

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Liverpool docks and the River Mersey from the Eye.

The views were great, but dangling at the top for ages had me shuddering, and why is it that the car always has to blow to and fro when you’re at the top????? I couldn’t wait to get off to be honest, but at least I suppose I did it.

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And finally….

Can anyone tell me what the mystery seedling is? The one attached to the cane, it popped out amongst the sweet pea seedlings…..

 

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42 Comments

  1. Sooo lovely the little hedgehog!!
    Looks like a paradise corner at your house, Dina.
    A couple weeks ago we had put into earth the small seeds collected during our last summer trip to England – Wales and Scotland 😉 and now some small and fragile shoots are popping up!
    I’m curious to see what will be… but your garden is amazing!
    Please, give a kiss to Curly… he’s awesome!
    :-)claudine

    • Hedgehogs are wonderful aren’t they, such funny looking little things. I shall kiss Curly and also gives hugs and strokes!
      How lovely to hear about your seeds, I hope they grow well and delight you! Thanks Claudine.xxx

  2. Lol….he’s a one off for sure, he thinks he can do exactly as he likes! Thanks Debb.xxx

  3. I can’t stop laughing while looking at the pic of Sam on the table. He’s huge! I think I’d feel embarrass too, lol 😀

  4. Well done for putting up with the media and getting some recognition for the shelter. ITV wanted me on telly after the wallaby in our playground incident but I flatly refused and pointed them in the direction of a neighbour! I’m another that can’t bear having my photo taken but I don’t mind heights and have been on the London Eye – I thought the views were exhilarating! I couldn’t possibly force myself onto those fairground rides though, I hate being hurtled around at speed!
    I really hope your little fat hogs make it in the wild, they would make me feel very Mother Hen-ish as well. You do a great job, well done!

    • Thanks Caro……the media are so lightweight aren’t they, anything for a story! The papers are hard going, I imagine the tv are even worse, funny how many of us are camera shy!
      Oh nooooooooo….the London eye….makes me feel dizzy just thinking about it, that’s so much bigger than the Liverpool Eye. xxx

  5. Working with the media is always interesting – clearly Howie stole the show, but I’d be with Herbie! Maybe he just wanted to show off his full set of spikes…

  6. There is a giant ferris wheel at Navy Pier in Chicago and Judy made me ride on it with her. The views were nice, but heights really make me nervous. Glad that at least one of your hogs enjoyed his 15 minutes of fame. Love that picture of the tubby little hog.

  7. Good for you for protecting the little hogs. I wouldn’t be easy having my photo taken, either. It is incredible that they didn’t feature Herbie after all that – but great that they gave the rescue some publicity.
    Hmmm – Curly Cat does look a little chubby. I wonder why?
    I love the tree in the stone circle – what a fabulous idea! And Sam just looks so adorable flopped out on the table.
    I’m glad hubs had a great birthday meal – it sounds my kind of cafe, too!
    A wonderful post and I love the title you gave it!

    • It’s so hard trying to smile while pics are being taken, they must have taken hundreds! Thank goodness that’s over!!! Yes, it’s a shame about poor Herbie, but I don’t think it was his thing…..lol
      I think Curly has barely moved over the winter, He’s permanently hiding out in the shed out of the rain….hopefully he’ll get moving a little now. Thanks Wendy.xxx

  8. Poor Herbie being sidelined like that, but good for you not allowing them to put a jumper on Howie, what an indignity that would have been. Has Curly Cat found a boyfriend? That’s quite a wide girth. Happy belated birthday to your hubby. There’s no way I’d get on that wheel no matter who’s birthday it was. Eleanor went on the London Eye while she was on a school trip a while ago, she sent me a text showing the view from the top and my heart was in my mouth until she sent another text telling me she was off it.

    • I know…..poor Herbie was totally overlooked! Mind you, he wasn’t being very cooperative! Totally agree about an indignity, why do the media always have to think cute and superficial?
      Thankfully Curly cat is a tomcat so I don’t have to worry about kittens!
      I agree about the big wheel, they are terrifying! Your daughter is very brave giving it a go, I would have been anxious too. Thanks Jo.xxx

  9. I enjoyed your post. With so much going on in your life there doesn’t seem to be a dull moment and most of it all good, apart from the media experience (although it probably was worth it if you got publicity for a good cause) and the Eye. I’ve been on one of those big wheels and wouldn’t want to repeat the experience. Love the touches of blue paint around your garden. I want to paint some old cement pots, but so far haven’t found any masonry paint that appeals.

    • Thanks Linda, as you say, a little publicity is always good for the rescue. Lol, there doesn’t seem to be a dull moment recently!
      Oh….I’m with you on the Eye, I wouldn’t want another go!
      I hope you find some paint, maybe just mix some emulsion into a white masonry paint.xxx

  10. Lovely pictures, and a pleasure to get to peek in at what’s happening in your life. I doubt that anyone… even a loved one… could induce me to ride on that eye… and not because I’m afraid of heights. I enjoy a mountain peak. But am bothered by contraptions. Happy birthday to Hubby. That does sound like a very good restaurant that allows you to bring your own wine. Wine often seems to be over priced in restaurants. I’m sorry that we didn’t get to see your grimacing face. But that was a priceless photo of the hedgehog. Something to show his grandchildren… And special regards to your talented daughter.

    • Now that’s a good point, I’m quite happy on mountains too, when something solid is under my feet I’m fine, I don’t think I trust contraptions either, and that’s what creates the fear.
      Wine certainly is marked up at restaurants which is why I enjoy bringing my own, and the food there is absolutely gorgeous!
      Lol…..my grimacing face would keep you awake at night!!! Thanks Shimon.xxx

  11. There’s another thing we have in common….fear of heights:) Happy Birthday Hubs and so glad you all had such an enjoyable time.
    I LOVE the picture of Howie…and would love to see the newspaper article…BRAVO to you …….so many books could be written based on your garden and animals.
    Methinks that Curly has a little extra weight around the girth….pregnant by any chance??
    I love the dogs, and good for Sam for holding his ground, I mean table:)
    Thank you again, for a wonderful post. xxxx

    • Thanks Janet, how odd you dislike heights too! I’m too self conscious to add a link, but if you type in images Dina Nixon you will spot it. There’s never a dull moment is there….lol, I’m smiling at the thought of a book, maybe one on Sam, he’s always up to something.
      Curly is a tomcat so thankfully no kittens, that would be nightmarish! Thanks Janet.xxx

  12. Some fantastic pics, and a great story. Ah, I see a television channel showing some interest in the future. That dog know’s how to relax, eh?

  13. The media must know that animals do not perform to order, apart from chubby cheeky chappie. Think of all those wildlife programmes that look like they are smooth as pie to shoot, when, in fact, there’s much patience and impatience involved over long periods, to get the shots to put together to make a programme.

    Dawg is onle lifelong babe.

    Cat is interesting. Either she has a deceptive coat, or something else is afoot.

    Nice family celebration.

    Lively post 🙂 xxx

    • Yes, it was far more convoluted than I expected it to be, by the time the photographer was done I was ready to tear my hair out!!!
      Sam is a one isn’t he……sighs….
      Now, Curly cat is a tomcat….so thankfully no kittens, that would have been a problem. Thanks Menhir.xxx

  14. Delightful post! Bravo Herbie!!!! His own ‘man’…. 😉
    Table Top Manners….Excellent post title…
    Always a pleasure to ‘catch up’ with your ‘goings-on’…Hugs! :)xx

    • Lol, yes, Herbie was not in the slightest bit interested in the limelight, Howie hogged that!!!
      Thanks Bushka.xxx

  15. First, Happy Birthday toy our husband! Mine celebrated his on the 3rd by coming to school with me…he has a spring break and mine isn’t for a few weeks…the kids loved it! (I think he did, too. 🙂 )

    A media star…wow, Dina! great publicity for the rescue and what an adventure for you and Howie the Ham. 🙂 (I’m with Herbie.)

    Sam is too precious for words. I love that he wants to be at eye level with the rest of the folks.

    The gardens look gorgeous and lively…snow still melting here, but green is peeking through here and there. Might be above freezing all the coming week. Finally.

    Thank you for the wonderful post; if you are not whisked off to stardom and celebrity appearances, I’ll hope for more, soon. 🙂

    • How lovely to get your hubs into school….happy birthday to him.
      Hahahahaha….I’m done with media, once bitten and all that!!! I wish I could have curled up too!
      Sam is such an individual, I have NEVER known such a happy, single-minded dog. He is turning into a wonderful guy with a fantastic personality.
      It’s about time your snow melted, goodness, you have had a hard winter, let’s hope you have some good weather soon and get to enjoy a little colour.
      Lol….no danger of me being whisked anywhere….thanks Kitty.xxx

  16. Gill Kimber

    Another lively post – you always lift my spirits! Ho hum the media … they print whatever they like. But can we have a link so we can take a butchers at the pix …. ??? 😉 That looks a fab restaurant, and well done on being brave on the Eye – my Hub refused to go on one altogether, so you’re braver than him !!!!

    • Thanks Gilly, sighs….tell me about the media……now I didn’t put a link in deliberately, my grimacing face is not good for my ego, ….lol….but if you want to work to find it…type in Images for Dina Nixon, that should take you to the story and me in me red coat…grimacing!!! It appeared in several papers much to my horror, but Howie [He has another name in the papers] looks smashing!!!
      Oh your poor hubs, he has my sympathy, I had to laugh as they have a button in the cars that you can press if you want to get off, imagine how mad other folk would be if you pushed it, and by ‘eck I sure was tempted.xxx

  17. A most enjoyable post. I like that first picture, and that sure is a roly-poly hedgehog!
    Sam laying on the table like that made me smile.
    I don’t like heights so there’s no way I would have done up there! xx

    • What am I to do with that dog???? He is totally doolally!!! Quite a few of us seem to dislike the big wheel….I doubt I’d go up it again! Thanks Flighty.xxx

  18. Oo fame at last – I hope it doesn’t go to Howie’s head (or yours for that matter) ha. And as for Curly cat – that is quite a belly he is showing off there – too much cat food and not enough exercise methinks. I’m with you and heights – even as a kid the big wheel scared me to death. No idea what your mystery plant is but the sweet peas are coming along nicely.

    • Lol…..I think I’ve had enough of the limelight to last me a lifetime…Curly has gained a fair bit of weight over winter, here’s to some good weather which may get him moving….I’ve never known a cat who loves it’s food as much as him.
      Oh….I don’t like heights at all, I go all dizzy and fluttery…..I surprised myself by going on it. Thanks Elaine.xxx

  19. I hate having my picture taken so I’d been hiding from the camera, too. I wish I knew what the seedling was but it will just be your mystery plant. Sometimes those are the most fun. I love that fat little hog. He’s so darn cute. I agree completely with your table top dog. If all the action is up, why be down? 🙂

    • I dislike having my pic taken too, especially when I’m forced to smile, it all seems so phony. I am rather impressed with the mystery plant, it’s romping away and is three times the size of the sweet peas.
      You’d laugh if you saw some of the big hogs at the moment, they are twice the size they should be, the extra weight will give them a good start when released. Hahahaha….I think Sam agrees with you. Thanks Casa.xxx

  20. I’m with Herbie too. You also did the right thing by refusing the woolly jumper!!!! We have a dog that doesn’t believe she belongs on the floor. If we are sitting out at somewhere like that she insists on sitting on a knee and looking down her nose at other dogs!

    Can’t help with the plant at this stage I’m afraid

    • I couldn’t imagine why anyone would want to see a wild animal wearing a jumper….the things they come up with!
      Ahhhh….your dog sounds lovely, you’ll have to post a pic of her on your knee……the plant is an odd one, It looks a little like a wisteria….thanks Sue.xxx

  21. I’d have been with Herbie! Well done you.

  22. “Mother Hen” is a great description for your concern for those in your care. And I hope the mention in the paper will aid the rescue.

    Happy birthday to your husband! Looks like you are all enjoying that meal immensely. Glad you braved the Liverpool Eye to get that fantastic shot from on high. Now it’s checked off your list, you shouldn’t have to do it again 😉

    Cherry blossoms flitting through the air sounds positively dreamy. Hope spring brings more sunny days!

    • Thanks Anne, the whole garden is covered with blossom now,it’s lovely working out there with it swirling around. It’s a shame it doesn’t last longer though.
      The Eye did freak me out a little, I could cope with the river view but for some reason the city view was far more nerve racking. xxx

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