acacia blossoms

acacia blossoms

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

monkey business

Yesterday we watched two baby warthogs playing on the ‘lawn’. Well it used to be a lawn until their parents, aunties, uncles and cousins got busy last year in the drought. Now parts of it have grass, some are threadbare and some just have a smattering of weeds exposing the bare earthen pot of the ground.

The monkeys were here too and there is one small one that is just at that stage where he ventures away from the mother. Mother was sitting feeding on the pellets we put out, not batting an eyelid whilst her youngest flew about the place, suprising his bigger siblings, leaping into the low branches of the tree, and flying out again. Dive bombing into the long lush grass in the shady bits – still has to learn about monsters that can lurk in the long grass.

The piglets were also trying to find their place in the pecking order, and were running up to monkeys of various size to see if they could chase them away.

We have a whole new brat pack of young monkeys who have grown up around the house. Their early days, clutching onto mothers tummy, peeping in through our windows – watching the bigger ones venture in. So now this is their territory. The bounce all over the cane chairs on the stoep – snuggling into the cushions for a nap – jumping up to terrorise each other.

We bought a toy plastic snake – for some reason we believed it when we were told this would discourage them from coming in the house. Maybe it did for a nano second but that was it. K surprised the brat pack having a party in the kitchen. Luckily there was no food about, but the event was exciting enough for them all to poo liberally about before they scarpered. Nice cleaning up job entailed. Some were artfully hidden and had to be sought out. I keep thinking it would be ok if they didn’t do that, but it wouldn’t really. But when we watch them playing and tumbling about we kind of forget about the bad bits. Isnt that typical?

The porcupine came in the house again the other night. The back door was open and he pottered in. I was busy blogging in here and heard some noises. Popping my head around the corner and there he was coming out of the guest bathroom. All the bedroom doors were open and I didn’t want him to disappear into those and then surprise us in the night, so I scraped my foot lightly. He stopped and listened, and then pottered back out the door the way he had come. No calling cards or nasty mess to clear up. Good boy!

20 comments:

Lori ann said...

we searched around forever on a night drive hoping for a porcupine(as well as other nocturnal creatures) and one just walked in your house?? oh dear.

Kate said...

My hens used to come in through the cat flap, then stand in the middle of the kitchen floor, frozen with a guilty look on their beaks when we walked in. But not as exotic as porcupines and monkeys!

Val said...

Lori - we love the porcupine visits - just as long as he doesnt fall asleep in a dark corner and they we all get a fright!

Katherine - haha hens can look guilty! monkeys feel NOTHING :-)

Janelle said...

dr doolittle i presume!? sounds very busy..my hill has horses stampeding everywhere...and a few augar buzzards hanging in a very white, very hot, dry sky above it...xxx j

Val said...

janelli - yes maybe i need to get out more....... xx

Angela said...

It sounds like a real paradise to me, and even with a fake snake! I envy you for the porcupine but not for the monkeys in the kitchen! How can it be hot summer at your place when here we have - 10 ° C and slippery strets? But the sun is out, shining brightly, and that is nice! Say hi to your warthog babies for me!

Debby said...

Amazing!

We get the occasional gekko in here and an ant or two. That's as exotic as I care to be with uninvited house guests!

Janelle said...

guess what craig brought back from the office this afternoon??? a package containing two LOVELY CD'S from LOVLIER YOU!!! HOOORRAAAAH! isn;t it weird that we were talking about it only this morning? THANKS THANKS THANKS ANGEL VAL!!!! BEAUTIFUL MUSIC! xxxx j

A Concerned Citizen said...

Please, please post pictures of the baby warthogs! Please!

Reya Mellicker said...

baby everythings are cute aren't they?

that said, though .. even baby poo is no fun. ewww!

Fire Byrd said...

It must be something to do with living in Africa you and AV and your multitude of animals and guinea fowl...... I just get garden birds on the bird tables!
xx

Anonymous said...

Wonderful descriptions of all the life that abounds in and around your spot. Not so nice, the monkeys in the house bit.

In comparison, my cat, Sylvester, got quite excited last night when through the window he spotted a rabbit crossing the field across the road - it was during a snow storm, so it was well spotted and who knows what the poor bunny was doing out in the freezing cold storm.

Val said...

Angela - minus 10 hey? cant imagine that right now..enjoy the sun. funny its the same sun which is cranking up the heat here x

Debbie - ghecko's are very cool and they do a good job too. We always tell people we are not the only ones that live in this house!
probably why we dont get too many visitors........

Val said...

Janelle - AM SO PLEASED!! faith in postal system restored xx do hope you like them. yeah funny that we just spoke about them....

Adrianne - will do!

Reya - you are right again - on both counts :-)

Fire Byrd - its just one of the things we love about being here!

Rob - a rabbit in a snowstorm ..aw.. I suppose Sylvester was just concerned NOT!

thanks guys xxxV

karen said...

how wonderful! i do love your descriptions of all the animals...those baby warthogs are soo adorable! pity the toy snake didn't work, sounds good in theory but i guess those guys are just a bit too clever! and the porcupine guest in the guest bathroom, just lovely! :-)

Unknown said...

And I thought I was having a hard time with guinea fowl, squirrels and baboons. Well, aside from the baboons, I think I'll stick with my lot! Guinea and squirrel pooh has to be easier to clean up than the calling cards of the piggies, monkeys and porcupine!

Val said...

karen - thanks - i may sound obsessive but actually they are a good distraction from the business of living and sorting out the day to day stuff!

AB Van - yes we could become experts on scatology (is that a word?)

xxV

karen said...

i don't think obsessive is what I'd call you! just lucky to share your world with these amazing creatures, and blessed with such a way of describing them to make us feel we're there with you - please don't stop!!

Anonymous said...

Wouldn't be too happy if a porcupine wandered through my rooms!! We have lambs in the house but that seems quite mild compared to yours!

CJ xx

Chesapeake Bay Woman said...

Just think, much of the planet considers an evening's entertainment to be dinner and a movie. All together now: BORING! especially when compared to young animals providing free entertainment. You are so very fortunate to have those babies everywhere. My mother is entertained for hours simply by a flock of geese...if she were there she'd be in hog heaven (warthog heaven?).

It's not everyone who can say they have a porcupine coming into their home.

You're so very fortunate and do such a good job giving those of us who live so differently an exact image of what you see.