It sounded like two cats scrapping ahead of us. No, unlikely given the location. Maybe birds. I scanned the slope expecting to see a pair of jackdaws, claws locked, flapping wings at each other, but still the sound wasn’t quite right. It wasn’t birds. Definitely something different. Seconds earlier, we had chosen to take the top path for our bluebell walk. We call it the fairy tump and it gives us a bird’s eye view of the dells on either side and, today as it happens, the source of the noise. “Badger! It’s a baby badger.”
Sure enough, there was a baby badger awkwardly scrabbling around on the opposite side, shouting for his mother. It took me a moment to take the scene in. Badgers are nocturnal and we were in daylight. Maybe the excited cub had wandered out of the sett, as the rest of his family slept. Being so brand new, he wasn’t quite familiar with the world beyond his underground home and he could also hear noises he didn’t trust.
We watched him snuffle around in the leaf litter, searching for worms. He wasn’t too distressed to ignore his tummy. The sett wasn’t far. I know the area well. He’d soon find his way home. We hoped no other dog walkers would come along. They didn’t. It struck me that if it was a human toddler, we’d have rushed down the slopes and helped to find his mother, but this was nature and you don’t interfere.
I’ve never seen a baby badger before. Seemed fitting on Earth day, to be standing in amongst the bluebells watching the next generation of local badgers finding his feet. We wished him luck and hoped he’d never ventured into our garden and find the chickens.
Our week
We enjoyed our long weekend. Four days off is always a treat. Mr TTC fitted a new roof to his shed, which one particularly pesty winter storm had shredded. I pottered around the garden and house doing the odd jobs that there never seems to be time for in the normal way. Youngest son is busy revising for his A levels, at the moment. No need for me to badger him to study. He’s quite responsible when it comes to revision. I’m not sure he saw much daylight, as he mentioned how green everything suddenly looks, on the school run when he started back this week. (It’s OK. He did mix it up over the holiday.)
Easter Sunday, we broke tradition and went to a Giant Flea market down at the Bath and West showground. The children have grown out of egg hunts, so it was fun to mix it up a bit. The site is huge. Inside the agriculture sheds, there were rows of stalls selling everything you can imagine. Outside, there are even more stalls offering even more bizarre objects. Among the usual, and slightly terrifying taxidermy, there were old crucifixes on more than one stall mixed together, which felt like a nod to it being Easter. I couldn’t help wondering how someone ends up selling stuffed stoats and religious artefacts. There was a badger or two among them. Stalls of paintings of mixed ability and items from my childhood that made me wince that they were now vintage. Octopus lampshades. Fairground ride on horses. Tools that no longer had an obvious use.
I was very restrained and came home with a plant and a couple of metres of fabric. I resisted the real mice stuffed and dressed up as guitar players and wizards. Middle daughter haggled the price of a lamp down with one stall holder and is very pleased with her 1920 piece. We all had a good day.
Denim dress
I finished altering my second hand denim dress, this week. I’m really pleased with the results. It was a very plain dress, with frayed edges and a bit too short. So I added ribbon and buttons and lengthened it. I’m probably most pleased that it didn’t take long from design idea to putting it into action. None of my usual procrastination and I didn’t even need to badger myself to get on with it.
There goes another week. We still have a full complement of family at home. Next week, both daughters will fly the nest back to their Universities and preparations for exams. How times change.
I wonder how that badger is doing?
Joining in with Anne’s word of the week linky. My word is badger, because it was the highlight of my week.
I saw your video of the baby badger on Insta, it was lovely to watch, but like you, I was surprised to see it out in the daytime. Hopefully, he made it back to the sett not too long after.
The flea market sounds brilliant, I love looking for unusual artefacts and vintage toys. The lamp that your daughter bought is beautiful.
You’ve done a fantastic job with the dress!
Have a lovely weekend.
Me too! I love the unusual pieces at markets like this one. It always amazes me what sells, but it only takes the right buyer to come along. We were glad to spot someone leaving with the octopus lamp.
Ah what a cute encounter! I wish we had bigger markets with more second hand stuff – I love browsing!
This was huge. I’m not often defeated, but I had to give up before I’d seen everything!
How interesting to see a badger. I have never seen an adult one never mind a baby one.
It sounds like you had a lovely weekend. The Flea market looks fab and that lamp was a great buy!
Well done with the dress! It looks gorgeous!
I’ve seen a few adult ones. They pass through our garden occasionally. A few year ago, they cleaned out one of my hen houses and I caught them red handed, but I still like seeing them. The Flea market was fun. I’m glad we went.
How exciting to see the baby badger, good job you didn’t see mum, they can be a bit nasty. Hope they were reunited. #wotw
I hope the baby badger is okay and back with its mum. The giant flea market looks fun! I love the lamp your daughter picked out. Way better than a stuffed mouse 😉 #MMBC
I hope the badger is ok too. I love your denim dress and you’ve made it look great. I love the old lamp too. I’m looking for an old lamp to go on my far bedside table, you’ve given me some inspiration now. It wouldn’t have to work either, I just want something like that for decoration. (I can’t even reach the other side of the bed!)
Flea markets are loads of fun, and they’re a great place for bargains too. Badgers in the US are up north and not in the southeast. I’ve never seen a badger, but the little one looks cute. To me, all baby creatures (except insects) are cute, but it’s best to leave it alone as you did. As a child, I’d try to bring critters home, and my mother always made me let them go. #MMBC
Oh how lovely to see a baby badger. I hope it managed to find its way back to the sett okay. Sounds like you had a lovely Easter weekend. The giant flea market sounds interesting especially with some of the bizarre items on the stalls! Love the denim dress. #WotW
Aww the baby badger is cute but yes leaving well alone is best or Mama Badger might not be too happy. I hope the little guy is okay. That’s quite a market! Love the lamp. One does wonder how these folks end with such things sell!