A little distraction...

Chris and I went to the feed store to stock up on vittles for the chickens, ducks and wild birds. On the way we passed a very large field, and we both noticed there was a dark object about the size of a small football in the grass. We took note and kept going.

On the way back we looked for the object, and when we spotted it, pulled off to the side of the road. It was very cold and windy, so, hands thrust deep in pockets and heads down, we crossed the road and walked into the field. The little dark thing didn't seem to be moving. But when we got right up to it, it spun, turning its it tail toward me and backed up as fast as it could.



Which wasn't very fast.



It kept peeking around at me.


A wee little porcupine, trying to eat as much as it can before the really cold weather sets in. Though porcupines do not hibernate, they do stay in their dens during cold or stormy weather. This one was tiny, probably under 5 pounds. Porcupines are vegetarians. They spend a lot of time up in the boughs of trees, and they eat bark. Some people think they are pests because they can damage crops and kill trees.

Me? I think they are just incredibly cute.