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Oct 17, 2023Edited
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Cait Flanders's avatar

Ok, I currently hate that you can't attach pictures to comments... because Nicole Antoinette and her partner actually suggested I setup a hedge fund for future expenses, and I ended up putting a sticky note on a jar that says "Hedg(i)e Fund" hehe. So, it exists, Luisa! And Horace! How cute is that! 🦔

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Oct 17, 2023
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Cait Flanders's avatar

Oh how wonderful! I'll bookmark it now, for the future. Thanks, Melanie! ☺️

Jeffrey Streeter's avatar

What could be more English than a story about hedgehogs? Lovely.

Cait Flanders's avatar

If they ever try to kick me out of the country, I'll submit receipts for all I've done to support the hedgehog population. That will help my application to stay, right? 😂

Rob's avatar

"heard funny noises coming from a bush..." = HEDGIE SEX

hmmm - I never knew that hedgehogs told each other "wild" jokes while mating - imagine that !!!

Well Cait, I've always been interested in reading about new information found in all kinds of interesting articles, both fact and fiction. In past years I used to spend many hours in Toronto bookstores, purchasing whatever caught my eye. As time passed (and expenses increased) I gradually gravitated to online browsing, as well as obtaining free e-books from various sources. I still indulge my interest in reading, exploring, learning whatever there is out there in life to find.

Cait Flanders's avatar

And don't forget podcasts! 100+ of them ☺️

Rob's avatar

Very true - and listening to some of those can get "pretty wild" as well !!! 😏

Heather Greer's avatar

Ohh this is so cute. Thank you for sharing 🥰

I’m the same. Things will sit on my list for months and others I’ll buy right away. I live close to Stratford, Ontario so always happy to go to the theatre without much... or any consideration for budget. I also like to buy quality tea from tea shops.

Cait Flanders's avatar

Great examples, Heather! I definitely think our location is a factor in how/what we spend our money on. As an example, I think one of the reasons I don't shop for clothes/shoes is because the closest mall is an hour away... that feels like too much effort 😂

Patricia Finney's avatar

Lovely story. Hedgehogs are really good for your garden too - they love eating slugs. I'm quite envious - would love a hedgehog in my rewilded garden (aka untouched) and one turned up last year but then got run over. I have a back lane at the back of my house along which morons like to drive too fast. So I'm not encouraging hedgehogs at the moment.

Cait Flanders's avatar

Aww that poor little hedgie! You're smart/kind to not encourage them ❤️ I don't have to worry about that at my house, but have seen far too many of them dead on the main roads these past few months... 😭

Lisa Ditalia's avatar

Love this precious story!

sophie's avatar

this is such a lovely story.. the babies 🥺

we've also spotted a hedgehog roaming around our garden at dusk and I'd absolutely love to give it a home to settle down in.. but we have a very turf strong cat who might disagree. wouldn't want to cause more harm than good!

Cait Flanders's avatar

Ahhh yes. It's funny, there are lots of neighbourhood cats who pop into my garden, and they are certainly curious about the hedgies... but hedgies seem to run the show! The cats might sit near them, but as soon as they start moving, the cats run 😂

sophie's avatar

that's so reassuring! I'm not giving the hedgies the credit they deserve

Cait Flanders's avatar

If you're curious, type "cat and hedgehog" into YouTube one day! In general, this is what I witness: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcyW_vXBkvA

Jill Nicholson's avatar

Such a sweet story and what a special thing to do for mom hedgehog and her babies :)

Sandi Fanning's avatar

Ah, I love so much about this post!

Firstly, thank you for teaching me new things about hedgehogs that I didn’t know, and making it so relatable and enjoyable to read. I especially love the journey of Hedgie from his temporary house to his hotel. Also, “hoglets”? Awesome!

Secondly, I’m appreciating your noticing of how Brits use the word wild here. I was born and raised in Scotland, and ran around the moors as a teen, but I moved to the US in my early twenties and lived there for 17 years. I only recently moved to England (four years ago,) and I feel like an American, wandering around bemused by lots of British people. 😂

The fact that there are people that do hedgehog rescues here, and fox rescues, and that you can call them and talk to them both amuses me and warms my heart. (And surprises me a bit too!)

I’ve been noticing I’m consistently drawn to writers who mention the word “wild” or any related version of this word in their Substack bios or About page, and I’ve been exploring this in myself. What is it that attracts me to this word so much right now? Am I subconsciously telling myself I’m too domesticated atm? (Probably.) Am I wanting to return to my wild roots more? (Probably!)

Thirdly, yes, passive aggressiveness can be a language over here. I used to take so much flack over letting my garden go “wild”, when I lived in my house in Scotland, but I personally loved it. (The taller grass, and organic hedges, not the flack.)

And lastly, those Hedgie houses are epic. And of course you bought more!

Cait Flanders's avatar

Ooo how interesting to notice that British people/culture feels bemusing to you now, Sandi! And I suppose that makes sense! You've acclimated to something very different. (And there are differences between Scottish + English people too, I find!) Love the questions you're asking yourself around the word "wild." I wonder where that exploration will take you... ☺️

Heather's avatar

This is likely the best thing I’ll read all day! Did you name the babies ?

Cait Flanders's avatar

I haven't yet, but keep being told that one needs to be Sonic 😂

Mackenzie's avatar

Ahhh, the story I didn’t know I needed! 🥰 Love this so much Cait and I am now totally invested in your hedgehogs and your garden! 🤗💗

Claire Venus ✨'s avatar

Me too! Wasn’t it so so lush!

Stefanie's avatar

I love everything about this post. And you!

Claire Venus ✨'s avatar

So so precious! I loved reading this!

We have them too; our neighbour has two houses for them and used to work at the Hedgehog sanctuary along the road. It’s in a place called Long Framlington if you ever fancy taking your hobby further and connecting with their volunteer shifts. ✨ 🦔

Cait Flanders's avatar

Oh my gosh... that's probably a little far for me, but I LOVE knowing this exists! Thank you, friend! And yay for your neighbour having houses too! 🏡🏡🏡

Claire Venus ✨'s avatar

Haha right?! Cait, you just never know where this could go... if these guys 🦔 are going to make it into your next memoir book you might “need” to go for book research. Enjoy your lovely new pets. Their snuffle noises are the best! Cx

Marie-Pier's avatar

This story is soooo heart-warming wow! Thanks Cait for sharing it :) An ex-girlfriend of mine told me that when she lived in France, she used to stop on the road to help the hedgies cross without being killed or hurt. We are a big wild family after all :)

Cait Flanders's avatar

That is so sweet, and something I think about whenever I see them on the road (already been hit by cars) 😭

Kelton Wright's avatar

I could not love this more.

Cait Flanders's avatar

I'm so glad I finally shared this story, hehe.