Collected from the roadside, and the most charming little fellow. I am completely taken by him! He likes to lie with his belly on your arm, skin to skin (prickles?) with his nose buried in the crook of your elbow. He is very friendly, snuffling about all over you, but only at night. In the day, he simply curls up into a ball and refuses to be persuaded by any one or thing. Simon says we ought to call him "hiccups" as I seem to get hiccups whenever I hold him (I know-- I am very hiccup prone; what can I say?), but so far we are just calling him Chisoni which is the chiChewa word for hedgehog and means "one who is hiding".
Just look at that wee face. I swear he is smiling.
This is the cutest thing I have seen in a long time. Good on you for helping him in his time of need.
Posted by: Jenny | 24 June 2008 at 02:05
So cute! My aunt & uncle in Sweden used to have a hedgehog (igelkot) who lived in their garden. S/he would awaken and begin to trundle about when they were outside eating dinner in the summer.
Posted by: Christina | 24 June 2008 at 02:56
I do think he's smiling! What a great little addition.
Posted by: jessica | 24 June 2008 at 03:08
Oh my! The one who is hiding is too cute.
Posted by: Johanna | 24 June 2008 at 04:44
how adorable...
Posted by: Jessica | 24 June 2008 at 05:19
this is so cute...
adorable even!
Posted by: gkgirl | 24 June 2008 at 05:38
OMG - I'm dying at the cuteness of it all!
Posted by: Julie | 24 June 2008 at 07:21
so, so sweet! My son had a hedgehog a couple of years ago that he bought at a pet store here in the US. He was kinda grumpy but still too cute for televison!
Posted by: Diane | 24 June 2008 at 07:23
adorable!!
Posted by: jen | 24 June 2008 at 09:13
oh, dear one! i like chisoni. have you seen "hedgehog in the fog" on youtube?
Posted by: emilykristin | 24 June 2008 at 10:05
I am so jealous!! I want a hegie...
Posted by: Beckie | 24 June 2008 at 11:11
adorable.
I tried to use the trackback link and it failed. I linked you up the old fashion way.
Posted by: Suzanne :: Adventures in Daily Living :: | 24 June 2008 at 11:57
OH! He is so cute! We have a stone garden hedgehog that we call "Hedgie". Not very creative, but he makes me smile whenever I see him and my little kids act like he is real. ;-)
Posted by: wendy | 24 June 2008 at 12:14
Oh goodness, he is ADORABLE.
Posted by: breana | 24 June 2008 at 12:17
This picture just made my day.
Posted by: madmommy | 24 June 2008 at 13:17
How adorable. Made me smile!
Posted by: rachael | 24 June 2008 at 17:27
We don't have hedgehogs in Australia. Thanks for the photo which caused lots of lovely childhood memories of feeding hedgehogs in the garden in New Zealand!
Posted by: The Shopping Sherpa | 24 June 2008 at 17:40
I *heart* him!
Posted by: meghan | 24 June 2008 at 18:00
Completely adorable!
Posted by: Elizabeth | 24 June 2008 at 19:34
Oh my goodness! I love him!! I wish we had them around here. So cute.
Posted by: Dayna | 24 June 2008 at 19:37
I just stumbled on your blog from the crafty crow. It is wonderful! I love the hedge hog. Too cute. Would love to know how you made that nightie for your little one, my daughter would love one. Is it like a pillowcase dress?
Posted by: Mandi | 25 June 2008 at 05:04
That is just too cute. How does he go with your cat?
Posted by: georgia | 25 June 2008 at 05:22
So cute!
My rabbit passed away a short while agao and I have been yearning for a new small companion. . . hmmm. . . perhaps a hedgehog is something to consider.
I, too, love the nightgown that you made for your beautiful daughter and I am eager to know how you did it. I would be *thrilled* if you would consider posting sewing guidelines for the dress.
Posted by: Tammy | 25 June 2008 at 05:26
hi, it's my first time here!
oh, I wish I had one just like yours... so so cute...
Posted by: macati | 25 June 2008 at 05:52
oh how darling!
Posted by: wendy | 25 June 2008 at 09:00
My college roommate had a hedgehog that she kept in a large plastic box hidden beside her bed (pets were contraband). Opie the hedgehog was a grumpy little guy a lot of the time (perhaps because he resented being contraband). It didn't take much to make him vibrate with hedgehog rage (literally). He was entertaining anyway.
Posted by: Julie | 25 June 2008 at 11:07
sooo cute :o)
Posted by: limonana | 25 June 2008 at 11:40
*squeal* You are so wonderful to take this beyond-cute creature into your family!
Posted by: Laurie L. | 25 June 2008 at 13:33
Oh. My. Goodness. I think that is the happiest thing I've seen all day. What do hedgehogs like to eat may I ask?
Posted by: Sabrina | 25 June 2008 at 19:13
Oh my! He is so cute, I can't stand it.
Posted by: mandy | 25 June 2008 at 21:13
How adorable! So how does he compare to a cat or dog?
Posted by: Mozi Esme's Mommy | 26 June 2008 at 00:22
Boy, you miss a few days... love your hedgehog - what a lovely guy. Was totally aggravated to read the PC-police icky remarks - some people have to find their sense of self-importance by lashing out at others. Pathetic and sad. But your wonderful blog is how you have invited us - total strangers! - into your lives, your home, and I, for one, am honored to be allowed peeks at your lovely world and terrific family.
Posted by: Susan | 26 June 2008 at 18:39
You are the super-goodest! I love your photos and you are kind and sweet and I think your blog is gorgeous and thank goodness I have found you! Keep your chin up and keep smiling and keep writing just the way you do because you are super dooper wonderful!
Posted by: pip | 27 June 2008 at 23:59
It took me minutes to figure out where his face was on the photo. It's lovely. All of it. The name, the creature... did you know they can do something like bird noises? The other night (after a lot of rain) we went outside to listen to water flow downhill and I heard something I took for a duck. A feeble whistle answered, which I thought was Vincent, my companion who talks to every beast (and usually gets an answer). It turns out the duck was the hedgehog mommy and the feeble whistles were two baby hedgehogs (who thought, just like human babies, that when you hide your face, nobody can see you).
Posted by: Julia | 28 June 2008 at 17:25
Adorable!
Posted by: Ellen | 28 June 2008 at 20:13
cuteness!!
Posted by: Julia | 28 June 2008 at 20:28
oh my. this is just too cute for words. cutie pie!
Posted by: amy | 29 June 2008 at 19:41