Sookie won #1 place!

I entered Sookie into a photo contest this month. The theme was summer and what says summer more than watermelon? Plus she loves watermelon. Top 3 winners win a brand new wheel (which are expensive and she needs a new one). The first round of judging was a public poll that determined the top 20 which went to the next round. She wasn't winning in that, but not losing either. Then the second round went to certain judges which ultimately picked the winners. I didn't think she was going to win and I forgot that the results were being posted today. My sister was using my step mom's laptop and the result site popped up and we were all pleasantly surprised! I went and woke her up to hug her and am cooing her (much to her annoyance). She's getting extra worms and watermelon tonight! Yay congrats to her and the rest of the contestants! There were so many cuties entered :D

contest website

"Sookie's Adventurous Day!"

For my Independent Study for the summer, I wrote a little short story about Sookie escaping and exploring my backyard for the day. It's like a children's book. So I wrote 8 verses in which I'll illustrate 8 scenes depicting each verse. Sounds Fun eh? Here it is:

" Curious Sookie snuck out of her blanket while her Momma is not paying attention. She didn't know where she was going or what she would do but that didn't bother her. She wanted to explore! 

She was unfamiliar with her surroundings but she heads over to this very odd thing with a big opening. 

(a bucket) Nothing was in there but some sand and rocks. She wondered why everything around her seemed gigantic and a lot louder.

(this is referencing to my niece and nephews sand box)

So she keeps going through the large green forest until she finds some tasty worms and decides to search for more. Sookie loves worms! But her Momma says she can only have a few a day or else she would never eat her good food and that's not good. Thinking of her Momma made her a little uneasy about being out in the open. She felt like she should be back, safe in her Momma's arms. She pushed that thought aside when she heard a ruffling noise...

All of a sudden, a very big creature walks out of the bushes! Sookie had never seen a chicken before. The chicken told her,"I am Latifah and I am Queen of the chicken coop". Latifah warns Sookie to be careful of those frightening dogs - that they'll try to eat her!

(I have chickens)

Sookie thanks her and decides to move along. A little nervous and scared, she makes her way over to three small people. They call themselves gnomes and they keep guard over the plants and yard. One friendly gnome, named Bert, told Sookie how to find her way back to her Momma.

Bert guides her over to a gigantic bowl of water. Curious, She gets on a large floating thing. As she got on, she was startled by a Trigger Fish who had come to the surface to meet them. The gnome explained to Sookie that the fish's same was Percy (but everyone calls him Rev) and that he would guide her to the other side of the pool. Bert gives her a great big push and Sookie starts floating away! She soars through the water to the edge of the pool. Sookie sure had fun doing that! She hopped off and thanked Rev for helping her.

(my pool)

She scuttles through a very tall cage into a garden. She was so excited! There were lots of bugs and worms to eat! She spent a long time rummaging around until she was full. The sun was not as high in the sky and she was getting sleepy. Sookie really missed her Momma (and blanket) and wished she could find her way back. She was starting to get scared that she was lost.

She heard something calling her name in the distance. She ran closer to the voice and realized it was her Momma! She ran even faster and she shout back, but her Momma could not hear her small voice. Her Momma's voice was getting louder so she knew she was getting close!

Finally, her Momma spotted her! She swooped Sookie up and held her tight. She cooed and rocked her back and forth. Sookie was so happy to be home! She then snuggled back into her favorite blankie and quickly fell asleep. Yes, she was happy to be home. "

It's nowhere near perfect and I'm still editing it. As you can tell it switches perspectives because I'm not sure how I want it yet. I'm still thinking of a title so I'm open to suggestions! :D Any input is appreciated!

Another New T-shirt!

I just received my second hedgie shirt. I'm starting to accumulate a collection and now I have two shirts in it. You should get it!

First time outside in NY

I took Sookie outside for the first time here in NY. It's been so nice out so I wanted to take advantage. Its also been good for her skin: way less scratching and lost quills. But it was good for her. She didnt like the passing cars but she did ok. Lots of new smells!:

she tried to burrow into my sandal. it was both tickley and prickly

making a run for it! However when I called to her she stopped. I kept making my dumb baby noises and she turned around and ran over to my feet <3

trying to climb up. (sorry for the crotch shots)

peeking out from under my leg! so cute!

trying the burrow under my thigh.

Then to end our outside time I put her in her sleep sack and read the new Sookie Stackhouse novel ;) It was a good first day!

Photo of the Day

I think I'm going to start having a 'Photo of the Day' (at least on the days I have time or remember). So my first is of an adorably scrumptious kitten my friend Elana took. Enjoy :)

Finally! She's really sleeping

After 6 months of attempts to get sleeping Sookie photos I succeeded. I wish I could have taken them with my camera but all I had handy was my phone. But they're still cuuttteeee <3

d'awww squishy facceeee

Sleepy

I was trying to be sneaky and get a picture of Sookie passed out. It didnt work because she decided to face the opposite way than where I placed her. They're a bit blurry and you can see the spot where she anointed (because of my blanket). One day, I will get one of her in deep sleep. She's such a light sleeper!

Sookie Painting

This is a nice little painting of my little diva. Sorry its a bad picture:

This has nothing to do with anything on here...

but HOLY CRAP has it been an eventful few weeks. My grandmother, school, royals getting hitched, psycho terrorists getting killed. Whats next? Atlantis exists?

I love this necklace

A cute necklace I found on Etsy. It's simple but still really pretty.

Sookie's first time outside!

  While in FL, the weather was beauutiful. I took Sookie out for the first time and she was a bit confused. Before I even took her outside, while still in the car- but in FL, I was surprised to see she was awake around 10 am or so. Her little nose was sniffing away (we had the windows down). I took her out on the porch later and again she popped her little head out and was sniffing away at all the new smells (needless to say when I cleaned her wheel and litter pan each morning I saw that she anointed almost daily). Anywho back to her first venture outside: I put her down and she refused to move so I took away her blankie to encourage her to take in her surroundings. She did. She took a few steps and warily sniffed the grass (by the way, I really dont like the stiff FL grass). I moved about a foot away and she followed me. She was only on the ground for a few minutes and then we had to go.

  The second day she did the cutest thing. I did the same thing in taking her blanket and moved about a foot or so away. She sniffed around and walked a little bit. I moved a little bit further away and then all of a sudden she ran over to my feet and tried to climb up my foot! My heart melted. I finally feel like she trusts me and I'm her momma. 

  She did it again a different day. She also ate some grass and probably dirt. As they say, ' a little dirt doesnt hurt'. I was sitting on the ground this time and she tried to climb up my thigh and then tried to hide underneath my leg. I got up and she tried to climb my foot again. :) too cute

Some random sniffing photos:

Sookie's Wild Vacation

 Well Sookie did very well in the car ride down to FL. We got stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic for hours twice, and I sped through the worst downpours I've ever seen in my life (turns out we drove in between tornadoes and just missed a few (one of the traffic jams was caused by one). It wasnt much of a vacation for me, my grandma passed away but Sookie definitely enjoyed herself. I brought down a play pen for her and she escaped it three times. The first morning I nearly had a heart attack trying to find her. My grandpa, mom and brother found it hilarious. Finally I re-checked the closet and was throwing the dirty clothes to see if she was there and wouldnt you know it- she rolls right out of my moms pants. She was fast asleep! I put her in her carrier and zipped her up. She was grounded. I took her outside for the first time also but I'll put that in another post.
 Well I tied the opening closed. I was sure she wouldnt get out again....but she did. This time she found haven in an empty box that was a perfect size for her under my brothers bed. She did NOT want to come out of it. I thought about renaming her Houdini. So I tied it even better. She didnt get out that night or the night after. Thursday morning wouldnt you know it she was gone. At this point I was just amazed because I dont see how she could have squeezed through this little space. I found her in the closet. I took her out while some of the people were still at my grandpa's house after the funeral and most of them were amazed by her. She is very odd-looking and interesting. She's also cute when she wants to be haha
 She did well again on the car ride up to NY. It was a shorter ride so I think it was better for her.

She made herself quite comfy on my lap when we were in traffic for hours :)

Florida, here we come

I really need to be packing and cleaning before the journey ahead but the internet is more appealing. Sookie will be taking her first real trip. My mom, brother and I are driving down to FL tomorrow and I've been trying to get Sookie prepared. We live in NY so we're hoping between the three of us that we can get there in 24 hrs (we'll see). It will be better for her down there. I'm not bringing her cage but a play pen set up and she'll actually have more room. Its also in the 80's down there and in the 40-50's here. Anyway she'll be taking up just as much room in the car as another person. It's not my fault her wheel and lamp take up so much space! I was planning on a small duffle bag but had to upgrade to a small suitcase. Diva? I think so.

Anywho, I dont know if I'll be on the internet much there but we'll see if I can turn her into the Travelocity gnome. I'm planning on taking her outside for the first time too! Exciting for me but not for her. Spring break, here we come!

Hanging Toys

 I've started making hanging toys. The idea came from Rhythm Beads that are used with horses. What you do is have a string of certain beads that cling together and make a nice sound and tie it to the horses mane. When the horse is walking the beads set a rhythm for the horse to walk to and also calm it down.

 Now, this is a little different seeing as you cant tie anything to a hedgehog but Sookie doesnt like anything I buy her for toys. I even took (she gave it to me) one of my nieces little stuffed animal lizards as a possible companion and all she did was poop on it. So what I did was get a cat ball and tied it to a string and put some beads on there. She was intrigued. She played with it for awhile and then lost interest (of course she did...) but from time to time if I wake up in the middle of the night I hear the it moving o.O

So a few people have requested them and I'm happy to make them. They're actually a cool idea if your hamster or hedgehog likes toys and is active. Sookie is just a terrified of everything/lazy little girl.
Here are a few that I've made:

 The link to my etsy site is here and also at the bottom of the blog under "Cool Sites!". I also made a tutorial on how to make one yourself here * Note that I've made some obvious adjustments such as the fleece.