If you've been reading my blog since last summer you may remember little Herbert Hogwart the baby hedgehog that we took in and fattened up. You may have also noticed that I've not mentioned him recently and that is because I was rather worried that something might have happened to him. You see he was still popping out of his little house for his 'breakfast' each night right up until the start of January and then one day his food remained untouched and the hay I placed lightly over his front door stayed exactly where it was. After a week of the same I thought (and hoped) that he had probably hibernated but it wasn't especially cold at the time and so a part of me feared that he'd met an untimely end under the wheels of a car.
I've been studying the entrance to his house ever since and occassionally leaving out food but with no sign of him at all. Then 3 days ago there was this...
... a hole in the hay and an empty dish. So, he's ok!
I've decided to let him wake up in peace rather than shoving my camera in his face so I've no photos of him but I do have one of this wonderful little hedgehog that the lovely Kat sent me at Christmas time.
He's from Blossom Hill Cottons - definitely worth a visit if you like your animals super tiny and super cute!
Yeah for Herbie!! Obviously reared with loving care (just like the bunnies) take care :0)
Posted by: jill | February 26, 2008 at 10:13 AM
I'm so glad he's OK!
Posted by: Nikki | February 26, 2008 at 11:01 AM
Wow - I'm hooked on herbie now. I'll have to go back and read your previous posts about him.
Posted by: Donna | February 26, 2008 at 11:13 AM
Hurrah for Herbert Hedgehog! I hope he'll do stalwart slug duty for you this year in return.
Posted by: dottycookie | February 26, 2008 at 01:02 PM
Hurray!
Posted by: Lucy | February 26, 2008 at 01:27 PM
Can't wait to see the little guy! I have been collecting hedgehogs ever since we lived in England when I was a little girl. We took in a couple of hedgehogs, a mom and her babies, and I was in love and have been fascinated by them ever since!
Posted by: Elaine | February 26, 2008 at 03:26 PM
Thanks for the update on Hebert Hogwart!! I'm glad to hear he is ok. How about a knitted hedgehog?!!!
Posted by: Beth | February 26, 2008 at 03:55 PM
YAY! I was wondering how Herbert was, but just assumed he'd still be hibernating! Happy almost spring! :)
Posted by: Claire P | February 26, 2008 at 08:52 PM
big sigh of relief over here, i am glad he weathered winter!
Posted by: marti | February 26, 2008 at 09:16 PM
I'm so glad to hear Herbert is alive and kicking! Sweet little guy. :)
Posted by: Stacey | February 26, 2008 at 10:13 PM
that little hedgehog is so cute, i love tiny things like that.
glad herbert is ok : )
Posted by: lucykate crafts... | February 26, 2008 at 10:14 PM
Big sigh of relief here knowing Herbert is okay. :O) Amazing how he adapted so well! You did an excellent job of caring for him so he wouldn't lose his instincts for survival. I'm so glad he's fine!
Posted by: samm | February 26, 2008 at 11:08 PM
I guess he needs that last bit of beauty sleep before he enters the great big world...could there be a Mrs. Herbert Hedgehog on the horizon?
Guess we have to wait and see!
Posted by: Shawn Mary | February 27, 2008 at 06:00 AM
Hooray for Horatio! :)It really must be Spring.
Posted by: PG | February 27, 2008 at 09:11 AM
Great news about Herbert maybe one day she / he will be bringing lots of little Herberts into the garden for a free breakfast.
Sometimes it is difficult to reach the right amount of intervention where nature is concerned but you've done a wonderful job here.
Posted by: carolyn | February 27, 2008 at 09:21 AM
I was sat this morning with a cuppa and opened up my simply knitting mag and saw your little eggs and sure enough their was your blog address...great to see you in 'print' again!!!
Posted by: suzie sews | February 27, 2008 at 12:57 PM
Hooray!! Funny you should post about this. About 2 or 3 days ago Maren asked me "has Julie who made me Minty and Chaung Chaung said anything about Herbert lately? Is he still hibernating?" I told her that you hadn't, but that I would let her know when you did. She'll be VERY excited when she gets home from school today! :-)
I'm knitting her a hedgie (she's always wanted one for a pet, but they are illegal as pets here in California) that she has already named Herbert Sherbert after him. Can't wait to see pictures of him!
XO
Kelly
Posted by: Kelly | February 27, 2008 at 06:51 PM
Phew!! I am so glad that little Herbert is just fine. I didn't realise that the tiny hedgehog that Kat bought from my etsy shop had gone to such an appropriate new home :) I went all warm and fuzzy when I spotted him on your latest post :)
Posted by: Hazel | February 27, 2008 at 07:49 PM
Herbert, how wonderful to read he’s still (or again) in your garden! The little hedgehog you received from Kat is gorgeous!
Posted by: nicolette | February 27, 2008 at 10:30 PM
I am very pleased to hear that Hubert is ok, Miss Whizzme and I had been wondering, but were a little afraid to ask. As for the little hedgehog, he is just darling. Miss Whizzme wants to know why they don't appear in our garden in Australia - explaining to a 5 year old can be very complex sometimes!
Posted by: Samantha | February 28, 2008 at 12:06 PM
I am so very glad that Herbert resurfaced!
Thanks for sharing the good news with his fan club!
Posted by: Jenny | February 28, 2008 at 11:36 PM
CUTE!!
Posted by: michelle | February 29, 2008 at 08:16 AM
I'm so jealous! We've been wanting a hedgehog for ages, but they are definitely not native to Iowa ;-)
Posted by: Jessica | March 16, 2008 at 11:03 PM