Have you heard of the book, "Der Struwwelpeter ("shock-headed Peter" or "Slovenly Peter") is an 1845 German children's book written and illustrated by Heinrich Hoffmann. It comprises ten illustrated and rhymed stories, mostly about children." It was a heavy-handed book about raising children to have proper manners.
Here we have an example of how not to properly dine at the dinner table!
I can't help myself, feeding them! One night a mom and three young'uns were here to eat...I think this is one that broke from the group, but he needs a bit of polishing yet!
@blightygal *Thank You*!! I was beginning to think no one else thought it was as funny as I did! I laugh every time I look at it! (Tonight's repast is chicken bones and cat chow!)
He certainly looks content and relaxed even if not the most elegant guest. Re-inviting them in: they can be very destructive. If you know anyone who has had them set up house in their attic or shed ask them. Not that they are evil but they are very determined and amazingly adept with those little paws. They have made feeding them illegal around here with fines if you get caught doing it.
@gardencat Oh, Joanne, I DO know all about their destructive ways! We have them here in Nova Scotia as well as in Southern California, and they'll get into garbage cans and dig up gardens looking for grubs. My take is that I enjoy photographing them, so, since they're obviously hungry, I feed them in exchange for photos. In 22 years, they have never disturbed the garbage or my plantings. If feeding them were made illegal, I'd abide by the law, of course. Everyone knows I do this, and most just laugh about it. My new neighbour is a hunter, and I couldn't do what he does, but we do the things we feel a need to do, Where is home for you that feeding them is illegal? Just curious. (100% agree that raccoons ...and monkeys...make for terrible house pets! THAT was never meant to be!)
@Weezilou I live in southern Ontario, just outside of Toronto. When we moved here we were on the edge of the developed area with fields and wooded areas to the north of us. As they have been developing those areas more and more wildlife is getting displaced and just looking for some way to keep existing. I think they have had a bit of a scare because just one suburb west of us they have had a couple of cases of rabies reported in racoons, so now, everyone is kind of freaking out about racoons on the loose. I get it that rabies is nothing to joke about but some of the measures seem extreme.
Cute shot, but he's quite a mischief maker. I know this book. I don't remember fairy tales anymore, but these beautiful drawings are always in my mind.
@pyrrhula Thanks, Ferry, yes! We have been SO BUSY packing boxes, and the moving company came today. We are now staying with a friend and I have time to look at email and the internet. Tomorrow we return to the house to pack our personal items, have an early dinner with friends and Wednesday morning, leave early to begin driving back to the states.
@gardenfolk Your note made me think about how you buy produce for the deer on Catalina! When my daughter-&-family went to stay at our house overnight before their flight to Maui, I already knew we had a mother and 3 baby raccoons so I asked her to buy a Pollo Loco chicken to leave out for them. She asked if I was serious, but I don't joke about things like feeding animals! She did it for me, but we say 2 cats enjoying it when we checked the camera in the yard! They still come around and I'll be back soon to look after them!
@Weezilou Ha!Ha! Smart kitties! I do not joke around about feeding animals either. Next month I will be going to visit a friend in Ohio and we are going to Old Friends, a thoroughbred retirement farm in Kentucky. I want to meet Silver Charm, the oldest living retired race horse that won the Kentucky Derby in 1997. He is now 30 years old (98 in human years). I will take plenty of apples and carrots with me. I am looking forward to my visit. We will also visit Secretariat's grave and I will cry my eyes out. He was the most incredible horse ever and I loved the movie they made about him.
Lil' rascal! Did Chris ever tell you I got bit by a squirrel! Note to self.. don't feed a wild animal! Remind me to tell you the story. This guy is so squirrely and cute.
September 23rd, 2023
Leave a Comment
Sign up for a free account or Sign in to post a comment.
Take good care of your backyard menagerie!