In which mealies are eaten...

My bebe cat.
Originally uploaded by Earwig.

Bryher's such a loon. I was just feeding Yona with a couple of dried mealies, and Bryher was watching. She's smelled the dried mealies before, and has never been interested in them. But as soon as she saw Yona eating them, Bryher decided that the hedgie couldn't have them, they were her food. So she stuck her nose in the pot of mealies and actually ate a couple!! I couldn't believe it, and I don't think Bryher really liked them, but no way was that damn spikey thing going to eat something that she couldn't have too!

In which someone self-annoints

Self annointing
Originally uploaded by Earwig.

I got this photo of the Pog self annointing on a cardboard box. It was too dark with no flash, and too bright with the falsh, but you can see her leeetle tongue sticking out, and the big blob of frothy spit on her head. You can also see the muscles in her back - hedgies are very strong and very flexible.

I'm just so impressed she can lick the top of her own head!

Hedgehog handbag

Hedgehog handbag
Originally uploaded by Earwig.

I'm feeling a bit proud of myself, as I've made this handbag this week. I designed the fabric pattern, and had it printed on to fabric at spoonflower.com, and the bag design is adapted from one made by the brilliant Lisa on u-handbag.typepad.com.

In which someone nearly hibernates.

I had such a worry last night - I got Yona out for a play, and she was curled really tightly in a ball. She normally huffs at me when I get her out, but she was silent. Her quills twitched when I touched her, so I knew she was alive, but she just wouldn't uncurl.

I remembered the advice that had been given on the UK Pygmy Hogs forum to Snuffles Mummy when Snuffles wouldn't uncurl, so I got a hot water bottle, wrapped it in a jumper so she wouldn't get burned, and popped Yona on the hot water bottle.

I took her into bed with me, so she was on a hot water bottle, cuddled by me, under the duvet. And we stayed like that for a couple of hours.

There was a bit of progress at midnight - I was stroking the quills at the back of her neck, and she lifted her head. I managed to get her to spread out a little so I could put her tummy on the hot water bottle - I was able to touch her belly and it felt cold. It was horrible to see her at that point - her nose is normally really twitchy, never stops moving, but she was really still, and her mouth was open a bit. Her eyes were half open, and she'd cover them with her quills if I got too close, or I lifted the duvet, so I knew she was responding to light. But she was so still; it was like looking at a little dead creature.

And then we stayed like that for a little longer, and I have to confess I dropped off to sleep.

I woke up at half twelve, and looked under the duvet. And these little eyes stared back at me, and there was a big huff, and she burrowed under the duvet. I couldn't believe it! I played with her a bit, and she was totally back to normal - munched some mealies, and climbed all over me. I'd really thought I was going to lose her, and she was just fine!

I kept her with me for a bit, and then put her back in her hutch with the hot water bottle - she played on her wheel, did some good big poops, and ate some food. This morning she was fine - a bit huffy at being woken up, but then just as playful and adventurous as ever.

So the heating in my room is really high, and I'm going to keep a close eye on her - the temperature in Yorkshire has dropped a bit over the last couple of days, and I think it was enough to provoke false hibernation. I'm just glad I caught it in time!

In which there is snortling.

As well as liking shiny things, I also like interesting sounds. Last time Mr P stayed over, he recorded the sounds I make when I sleep. It turns out I don't snore, I snortle! (Well, that's when I'm not shouting or screaming in my sleep. I'm not a restful person to lie next to.) He also recorded the sounds Yona makes when she snuffles around.

At the weekend, I heard Yona snoring. It sounded like whee (pause) whee (pause) whee (pause). I want Mr P to record this, and do some grand mash up of animal sleepy noises, including Bryher's snortles.

Then he could put it on the compilation album he's making me, which also includes this song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8E24Sb-IwkE. I love Mr P, he's as strange as I am.

In which I learn something.

This week, I learnt there is no place from which a hog cannot escape.

Lots of my lovely new colleagues have asked me to bring Yona into work, so I thought I'd oblige last Friday. So I found a big cardboard box, with deep sides, put Yona and her bedding in there, and went off to have my breakfast. When I came back, there was no hog. I searched everywhere in my bedroom, pulling out all the boxes and bags from under my bed, and eventually found her at the back of my wardrobe, in a 2 inch gap behind a painting propped up against the wall.

Suffice to say, I wasn't going to use that box to take her to the office!

Last night, I partitioned off an area of my room for her to have a scuttle. She'll be safe there, I thought, until I heard an unusual noise. It was the noise of a hedgehog climbing up the pedals of my harmonium, and trying to squeeze inside. So I rescued her, and moved the partition so she couldn't get near the harmonium. I continued to read on my bed, until I heard a similarly odd noise.

As I rescued the hedgehog from the harmonium for the second time, I realised I'm not a normal girl.

Anyway, she's in work today, secure (?!) in a plastic box from Morrisons. There are air holes, REALLY deep sides and a lid. I think we're safe....

In which I massage a hedgehog

Inspired by a thread on the Pygmy Hogs Forum, I tried massaging the Pog last night. She seemed to enjoy it - I did little circular motions on her forehead, her back (while I was holding her) and her tummy (while she was standing). She was in quite a playful mood, so after a few minutes each time she wriggled off to burrow under the duvet (it's apparantly the best game in the world).

But in the past, she's gone all dreamy eyed and sleepy when I've rubbed her paddy paws and stroked her nose, so I'll keep going with the hoggy massage.

And then, right, I'll train her to walk up and down my back when I feel tired! I massage her, she does me - fair enough?

I'm being a bit slow on the craft front, but I'm working on this quilt at the moment. I'm on the waves, just starting. I got some gorgeous batik fabrics for this quilt, with deep turquoise blues for the sea.

In which there is honkshu

Firstly, if you don’t know what honkshu is, you should look here. Be prepared, this site will own you….

I’ve had some super cuddles with Yona recently. She’s was awake and waddling around her hutch when I woke up this weekend, so I scooped her up and took her on to the bed with me. It was the end of the day for her, so I figured all poops and wees had already been done.

On Saturday morning, she waddled around the duvet self-importantly until she discovered you could get underneath a duvet too! She dived under, and began scuttling down my leg, around my feet, and back alongside the other leg. Then she traversed Mount Knee, and around to La Peninsula De La Toes.

She’s always fascinated by my toes, and likes to sniff them. I assure you a moist nosicle and whisker combo may be the tickliest thing in the world! And then she bit a toe. Ouch.

On Sunday morning, she obviously remembered the fun that could be had under a duvet, and went straight under the covers. You may be worried about the hygiene, but don’t worry, my sheets are clean. J After some scratching at the bottom sheet, she decided this was a good place to sleep, and sprawled out next to my knee. So I curled up around her and went to sleep too.

Yes, shoes are good too, Yona Pog.

A musical interlude

Good evening! Miss Yona Pog here, hedgehog and pianist extraordinaire.



Yes, I do take requests.



Tiptoe through the tulips... la la la...



I thank you. [Takes a bow.]

In which there is snorgling.

Oh dear. I've annoyed Bryher. I was cuddling Yona Pog last night on the bed. The Pog was pootling in her blanket, and in a hoggy bag I'd made, and I had a big cuddle with her - this may have been an error. I scooped her up against my chest, and was stroking her nose for ages. Yona was really relaxed, but her little quills were pressing into my decolletage. Yow.

Anyway, Bry was super pissy that the hog was on the bed - this is her territory. I encouraged her to sit and watch the Pog, but she hit her twice, on the quills, which must have hurt Bry more than Yona. Yona just stuck her quills up, and relaxed a second afterwards, when Bry jumped off the bed.

So Bry refused to cuddle me last night, and this morning. I'm off work today with illness, so we had time to reconcile by falling asleep together mid-morning. I've just been snorgling her tummy, and there was much purring going on, so I think I'm forgiven. Phew.

In which alcohol is imbibed.

A couple of people on pygmyhogsuk mentioned that their hogs like the smell of red wine. I decided to see what Yona would think about a drop of red on her towel. I dipped the corner of her towel in P's glass, and put it in front of Yona. She chomped on the towel, and then self-anointed right between her shoulder blades. Only the second time that I'd seen her do it!

I'm loving freecycle atm. I've picked up some fabric that I'm using in a baby quilt for a colleague's forthcoming production. The baby's propsed name is Rose, so it has a central square featuring a rose panel by bcheri on etsy. It's the first time I've done quilting, and it's a really simple pattern to start with. I've also picked up about 50 brass handbag handles/frames from the 1940s and 1950s! They're fab. Everyone is getting a handbag for Christmas this year.

In which there is headbanging.

My little menagerie are entertaining me a lot at the moment. Bryher was running around like a loon this morning, and banged her head on my bedroom door. I just lay in bed, thinking, "Daft cat!" but the valiant J got up to check Bryher was ok. I am a bad cat owner! The daft cat was fine, of course, she didn't even seem to have noticed... No sense, no feeling.

I gave the Pog an oatmeal bath last night, it seemed to help the quilling. Baths aren't her bag, but we reached a happy compromise where her back feet were in the water, and her front feet were on my hand, as I poured the oaty water over her back. She smelt like porridge. Mmm.

Then we had a cuddle on my lap, and she was friendlier than she'd been for days, so I think it helped. Poor little Pog.

In other news: cat ashamed of bitching about hedgehog.

In which someone loses their temper

Yona's spot has dried up, so no vet trip from her. She's still quilling - lots of little quills keep appearing, and big white ones are coming in their stead. I think she might become a snowflake! She's eating a lot at the moment, but was in a really pissy temper last night. Poor lovey, I guess her back is aching from the quilling. I might give her an oatmeal bath tomorrow night.

I'm eating too many dried apricots today. I know it's wrong, I just can't stop.

A bag, an owl, a triumph.

I promised a photo of my bag weeks ago. And I keep my promises. Boy howdy, do I.

So here it is, with our Christmas tree in the background. On the top of the tree was Romeo from the Magic Numbers, dressed as an angel. Special!

In which there is a spot. Out, damned spot!

Yes, it's true. Yona Pog has a spotty vulva. Just one spot on it, actually, like a teenage whitehead/zit/thing. Poor Yona!

She seems fine, and it seems to be drying up - I posted about it on the pygmyhogsuk forum, and concensus was that isn't great, get her to a vet if it speads or doesn't go away. I'll check again tonight, and if it's still there, I'll make an appointment with Mr Vet.

In other news, teacups.

In which there are nipples

Hee! I was playing with the pog last night, and noticed a little pink taggy on her tummy, in her leg pit. Oh, thought I, she's got a little skin tag, until I realised there was another one on the other side - it was a hoggy nipple!

In which there is nibbling and bopping

Well, it's been a while since I've updated this, and much has happened! Yona has started qulling. She lost about 10 quills last night, and she's scratching a lot. She's started to pull her shredded newspaper into her hoggie bag, so I guess she wants to be nicely padded. I've bought her a new wheel which is much bigger than her silent spinner, but it's a bit stiff - I'll try some WD40 or some lard.

I bathed Yona at the weekend - I just ran an inch or so in the sink, and put her in. She didn't really like it, and tried to get out, with thin little legs splayed at odd angles. And once her nails had softened, I clipped them - they'd got a bit long and scratchy. She was a very good girl, with no biting or squealing.

I got a tiny nibble from her the other day, but I think it was very exploratory - my little finger was peeping out from behind a fold of the towel, and she gave it a nibble to see if it was a big fat mario worm. It wasn't.

Oooh, that reminds me. I was wearing a hoodie with a drawstring around the hood, which was dangling near Yona (she was on my lap). I wiggled it, and she caught it in her mouth! She was surprisingly quick. Oh, and a few days ago, Bryher bopped Yona! Yona was sticking her head out from a box, and Bryher was in such a pickle-y mood that she popped her! Bry had just used her litter tray - she's always mischevious after a poo. Yona was fine - didn't even ball up, but I scooted Bryher away. All's well that ends well, but I felt rather guilty that I'd let Bry get that close.

Bryher was being a cuddly cuddler last night - she was snuggled right up to my neck, with outstretched paws on my shoulders. I was stroking her nose and paws, she's such a gentle girl.

In which I introduce the cast

I forgot to introduce my characters! Or 'real people' as I understand they like to be called.

I - Earwig, the author of this blog. I like making things out of wool, fabric, or anything I can find. I like to write, read and paint. I love my petses, I do.

P - a boyfriend.

J - a flatmate and a lady.

Bryher - a toothless old cat, owned by J and myself.

Yona Pog - a hedgehog.

In which there is self-anointing

Well, a few days on and hedge-life is still veeeery interesting. Yona is pretty noisy at night, but I can sleep through it all ok. She loves her wheel, and really must cover miles a night. Thing is, though, I think her wheel's too small. She'll run for a bit, then a leg slips off and she stops. I must get a bigger wheel, bucket style.

Two friends came round yesterday to see Yona, but when they were being introduced she shat all over me, which I think put them off holding her. Strange.

Bryher is still very nervous of the Pog, and when I'm holding her, she'll sniff and back away. Yona doesn't seem to mind Bry, but there was one occasion when Bry yawned next to the cage, and Yona balled and popped like a good 'un. At the back of her little hedgie mind, there must be some instinct that says gaping mouths are BAD and SCARY. Ball and pop when confronted with an open mouth, kids.

Here are some Yona Pog photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/25876493@N06/3169759103/in/photostream/, taken by P. Hedgehogs wiggle a lot. Anyway, today there was a bit of self-annointing for the first time! She chewed at a towel I was holding her in, and worked up the foamy spit, and wiped it on her shoulders. Only a few times, but it was good to see.

In other news - I made a black bag with an owl on the front. Photos will appear shortly, when I work out how to upload them.

In Which I Bought a Hedgehog

Hello y'all. I had a blog, but I lost it, so this is a new blog. I promise the same thing won't happen to my new hedgehog! Squee!!!

Yes, I have a hedgehog. Her name is Yona Pog, and she is the daughter of Big Ron and Prezel, of Mel Stephens in Loftus. P and I went up there today to see her, and collect her. She was part of a litter of 5, I think, and she is nine weeks old.

She is so friendly - I was really surprised. Mel handed her to me, and she immediately sniffed at me, with her very mobile nose, and started to explore my hands and arms. I discovered pretty quickly that hedgehogs are one way only animals - she went up my coat sleeve, and could not turn round. It was a prickly business pulling her out. Ow.

Well, she's home now, and in her palacial hutch. So far I've been pooed on 4 times, but only wee'd on once. Hedgehogs poo is pretty green. Bryher seems more interested in Yona's food than Yone herself. I was holding Yona earlier, and encouraged her and Bry to sniff noses. Yona didn't really seem to care, no huffing or balling, but Bry seemed quite perplexed!

Photos will appear tomorrow!