I think I get it from my Dad. Hats, utensils, tools (road tools are his favourite), chickens - he's brought them all home.
Yes, I said chickens. When I was a little girl my Dad came home one day with a chicken he found running down the side of the road. She was a Plymouth Rock and looked something like this:
I came home to find her running around our back porch. Dad had named her "Soup." I still, to this day, don't know if he was intending on actually eating her - I wouldn't put it past him, he's just that kind of guy (and we've eaten road kill deer) - but I wasn't having it, she was my new pet.He built me a chicken coop out of an old wooden truck cap, and not long after, got me and Soup a couple more chicken friends. A little while later, he built a real chicken coop and we added to the brood. We kept chickens for several years until we had to move to the city, and then the chickens went to live at my grandparents.
But the city didn't stop the road pets. Mom brought home a baby goose one day and she got named Maple. We kept her safe for a few days then released it at Princess Point where there are literally hundreds of geese. Little Maple quickly found a home amongst the swimming families and soon you couldn't tell her apart from the others.
Her cat Russell is also a road creature, and he's not the only road cat we've had. When I was about six my dad came home with a tiny little black and white kitty tucked into the pocket of his parka - I named her Babe. There was also Rowdy, who was found at a convenience store, and River, who was found on the banks of the Grand River when my parents were fishing. (I guess she doesn't qualify specifically as a road cat, but its close enough...)
I personally have found costume jewellry, the occasional bit of money (more than just lucky pennies), and tennis balls for the dog.
I even have road spoons in my drawer. I once found a steak knife on the road but I left it where it was. Knowing my old neighbourhood it might have been used in the commission of a crime. And I tend to stay away from road socks, because that's just gross.
But today on my lunchtime walk I found something different:
Meet Percy the Road Whale. He was lying all alone on the curb by work, so I picked him up and tucked him in my pocket. I'm going to clean him up and let him marinate in the cat nip container for a week or two. He's the perfect size for a toy for Rocky.What have you brought home from the road lately?
13 comments:
Awwwww that's sweet chickens and whales from the road.
And here I thought I'd had the best road score with our pup Tess!
Ok, while I am kinda grossed out by the whole idea of road stuff, I think road whale is cute and therefore would have to pick him up. But most of that stuff, well, my aversion to germs would probably get in the way. I have never really seen an animal on the side of the road (there are sometimes families of geese, but they are whole families) EXCEPT for a chicken, which was just standing there, waiting to cross maybe. Now, this is the suburbs close to a city, so that is not a normal thing. There is a restaurant called White Fence Farm that apparently has chickens, and this one escaped. It was the weirdest thing I have ever seen on the side of the road.
Funny, my dad also taught us to keep our eyes open, when out and about. Although we never brought animals home, but found lots of other stuff.
Too funny - I don't think I've ever picked up something from the side of the road, but I'd love to find a chicken!
Didn't your father tell you that we found you on the side of the road too. :)
We've found several road dogs also, but found most of their owners. Oh and don't forget the binoculars, they were the cats ass.
I'm a big-time scavenger and I'd never be able to pass up a chicken, especially one as stunning as Soup. The last thing I dragged home was a primitive plant stand. I still have it, but I'm thinking of de-cluttering it soon.
I don't get out walking on the road much, but I saw a really good screwdriver in the road the other day. Unfortunately, traffic was heavy and I didn't get a chance to snag it. :-(
Hope the kitty likes the new whale.
I tend to leave things where they are on the road. I would like to have chickens though. Unfortunately we can't have 'em here. Stupid by-laws.
Not much lately, but our first cat was one that Rick found while wind-surfing -- she was our baby for more than 16 years, the best thing we ever found on the road :)
I love the chicken story, and the whale is very cute!
I usually just find bungee cords and old shoes. When prudent, I pick up the cords and when the shoes are appropriate for planting chicks and hens then I grab those too. I'd be thrilled to find a new critter sometime.
My Dad used to pick up all sorts of bits, nuts and bolts and nails. I just stick to pennies.
I can't remember ever finding anything on the side of the road...guess I better slow down and look around a bit now that I see what you came up with over the years!
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