Tag: Raccoons

No, that’s not some bizarre, exotic dish.

I touch base with Jennifer The Editress about once a week. Often we go over works-in-progress, sometimes we discuss books we think the other would enjoy, usually we catch up and detox (we touch base on Friday afternoons).

This time out, Jennifer The Editress and I were deep in conversation when kits showed up in abundance.

That left Susan, Wise Woman of the North, to capture their antics on film…uh…digit?

Anyway, enjoy.

 
The video trailers I mention start with The Augmented Man Video Series Episode 1 – “Good Run, Trailer?”

The son-of-a-bitch I dogeared is Susan Bell’s “The artful edit” (and highly recommended).

That line is in two of my favorite items. One is Kate Bush’s Hounds of Love, the other is the 1957 British horror film Night of the Demon. Aside from its cult status, the line has always carried a certain power for me, possibly because I’ve always loved trees.

I rarely climbed trees as a child unless I was alone in a woods. Being alone in a wood was and remains a common occurrence for me. I’ve always preferred the solitude and quiet and never feared “wild” animals. I have several strong memories of sitting quietly in a wood and having creatures come up to me – raccoon, opossum, coyote, wolf, deer, skunk, woodchuck, …, not to mention various and assorted insects and arachnids. Some were shy, others not so much. Bears have been within a few feet of me but not closer. Turkeys proudly bring their chicks to me.

So it’s quite understandable that I spend my time writing these posts about The Wild. It plays quite a role in my Tales of the Woods stories and is the primary setting of Those Wings Which Tire, They Have Upheld Me.

This entry into the WildLife series deals with coaxing some of Hyacinthe’s kits (introduced last week) from the trees for some peanuts.

Enjoy.

 

As promised last week, we have kits.

And here they are, both before and after food is applied.

It’s a good thing.

Enjoy.

 

As happens, things continue.

Case in point, the next generation of raccoons. Here we see one kit, sometimes referred to as a raccoonlit, and briefly. Future videos reveal Hyacinthe’s proclivity.

But for now, a bold one.

Who quickly shies away.

I remember Rocky telling her kits, “It’s a Two-Legger. He’s okay, but don’t let him touch you. No idea where his hands have been.”

Enjoy.

 

I mentioned Chester previously.

I mention here that we don’t know if Chester is actually a Chestette. Since shooting this video, Chestette has introduced us to her kits (we share in upcoming videos) so we’re sure Chester has transed, and more due to our ignorance than anything on Ches’ part.

But isn’t that most often the way? Our own ignorance causes more problems than it provides solutions?

I mean, “Ignorance is bliss”? Really?

I’m dumbfounded at how the most educated people can be the most ignorant.

Blinders are amazing things.

Especially those of our own making.

I tell people there are two things I abhor; ignorance and incompetence.

But there’s a caveat attached. To me, ignorance is when someone refuses to learn something. Incompetence is when someone refuses to do something (or attempt it).

I’ve got no problem with someone studying something and not getting it. I don’t consider them ignorant, actually quite intelligent. It takes a lot of intelligence to know when something’s not working for you. You may still want to play at it, and that’s great, too. You may figure out why it wasn’t happening and make it work.

Ditto someone not being able to do something. I put a lot of work into my writing. People ask me how I got so good. Easy, I worked at it. Others may love to write and know they’re not good at it.

Well, first thing is, they’re better at it than the person who refuses to give it a try.

The people who refuse to try are the ones I shake my head at, walk away from. Afraid you won’t be any good? Get over it. You won’t be when you start. That’s why you practice. But refuse to do it, period? Someone puts a gun to your head, I hope you come up with something better than “I won’t be any good at it” because your options are “I’m not good at it” and “I’m dead.”

Ches didn’t mind our ignorance. Ches was happy to educate us. We were grateful to be educated.

And of course, we shared peanuts once our confusion – caused by our own ignorance – was alleviated.