Our townhouse in Portland, Oregon, is surrounded by highways and roads, but we’re located in an area that was once a great forest. All that remains of that forest is a creek and a grove of trees maintained by our local park district. Aside from a hawk or two, I’ve never spotted anything interesting in these trees, until yesterday.
I’m not much of a photographer (If you like inspiring pictures I encourage you to visit my friends at Daniel’s View or The Smitten Image) but I managed to snap these fuzzy shots of something I encountered on my way home from getting a haircut.
I’d just turned the corner leading to my garage when I saw a strange animal with prey in it’s mouth. The prey was instantly dropped as the beastie dove into the underbrush. It happened so quickly I couldn’t be certain what I’d seen. I parked my car in the garage and went to check out what had been dropped in the street—a squirrel, still twitching. I returned to the house, grabbed my camera and waited to see what would return for its meal. The wait was short.
This is what emerged from the bushes. I’ve never seen one of these before. I think I know what it is, but I bet some of you out there in Blogger Land have more experience with these than me. Is this the chupacabra I’ve heard so much about?
My New friend at Joey’s Pad was kind enough to give me this award. I’m just getting to know LL Cool's fine blog and I encourage you to check it out. I’m supposed to answer two questions.
#1 Why did I decide to start a blog?
I’ve always loved telling stories but I couldn’t get agents or publishers interested in my mystery/thriller novels. Our son suggested I start a blog to share my story-telling skills with others. I’m about to reach the first year anniversary of Chubby Chatterbox and the response to my work has been greater than I could have imagined. Evidently I’m an unconvincing international man of mystery, but no one seems to have trouble accepting me as a chubby chatterbox.
#2 What do you find is the hardest aspect of blogging?
I never fail to be impressed by the wit and intelligence of those leaving me comments. I make a point of responding to these comments because I want my readers to know how much I respect and appreciate them. But this is beginning to take up more and more of my time and sometimes Mrs. Chatterbox feels like a Blogger’s widow. I need to do a better job of balancing my home life with my blogging pursuits.
I won't leave a comment today because I don't want to upset Mrs. C. And I have no idea what that interesting kitty is.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Sorry guys, but I needed to repost this because of a computer glitch and I lost a few comments. Thanks for sending them.
DeleteComputer glitch, hunh? That's one way to get rid of us pesky commenters!
ReplyDeleteLove the pictures! We get bears and raccoons around here sometimes, but no big cats. Our neighbor's cat left me 2/3 of a rabbit the other day in our rose bushes. Maybe it is a relative of that one.
I was wondering! Every time I tried to open your post, it would turn into a giant, blank maroon wall instead. Weird!
ReplyDeleteTHAT would have made me run for the hills - no doubt. Not keen on running into wild jungle animals on my gadabout town!!
I do feel the strain too, between 'real' life and blogville - and I only have a handful of followers that visit on a regular basis. If you come up with a solution, fill us all in, will ya?
We've got some of those down here and I wouldn't want to get between them and their prey.
ReplyDeleteIs that some kind of lynx or bobcat? Might be some exotic animal that escaped from its owner.
ReplyDeleteThat was my guess, a Lynx. How exciting! Who need the Discovery channel?
ReplyDeleteI gO with bOb cat as well
ReplyDeleteI have no clue what the cute kitty is, but how lucky for you to get these pictures! I'm still sitting here with my camera in hand, waiting for an alligator or python to show up with food in its mouth.
ReplyDeleteI've seen other bloggers with many followers just respond with one post to most comments. Mrs. Chatterbox is too nice and too young to be a widow.
I live in the middle of a mid size city and saw a cat very similar to this one stalking my chicken coop. I searched the internet and it said it was a lynx or bobcat. I've only seen him that one time.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your newest award. Yes it is difficult to post and then read the post of your followers and comment back on comments. You are usually the first to comment on my posts. I appreciate it, but keep Ms. C happy first. I really enjoy reading your stories.
Looks like a Lynx to me, but I'm no expert.
ReplyDeleteBobcat, without a doubt! I WAS a Bobcat for four very formative teenage years, and there was a stuffed, mounted bobcat on display near the main office. Looked exactly like your pictures, minus the squirrel. Go Bobcats!!!
ReplyDeletethat's a beautiful kitty! i love the shots of him or her carrying that dangling, juicy squirrel. pretty! i was all excited last week to see a fox walking down the street when i was at my brother's house visiting. i love seeing the big wildlife wandering about.
ReplyDeleteHey I found ya', Thanks again for the compliment. I bookmarked you, you can follow me via email if ya wanna'.
ReplyDeleteThe kitty seems to be a Bobcat, or Lynx. Saw one out my window here in So. Florida except is was BIGGER, and just about peed myself...
I blog because I am a Journalism School drop-out [actually never enrolled although accepted] and like to write, comment and make friends in the blogosphere. I am divorced so there is NO Mrs. C to pester me.
See Ya around...Happy Trails...
Wow! I've never seen one of them in person. It's a lynx all right. I have a sub-mediocre pencil drawing I made of one many years ago. The feathery hair on the ears, best seen in your third pic, is the giveaway. I think they're also called bobcats.
ReplyDeletehello kitty is putting it mildly. that's a beautiful cat. it looks quite large in the photos. poor squirrel. :( you tell stories beautifully. award deserved i would say.
ReplyDeleteThat looks like a neighborhood tomcat to me.
ReplyDeleteI think I probably would have fallen over in shock from the mere sight of that thing--I'm such a lightweight. And your blog is definitely "on fire"--keep up the great work!
ReplyDeleteG'day. Great pictures. We don't see any kitty's like that here in Australia, though there have been rumors over the years that black panther like cats have been spotted in various locations. We owned a farm up until a year ago and it was some distance from the local town here and I was working a afternoon shift at the hospital and late one night I was making my way down our long stretch of dirt road towards the house, when something ran across the road up ahead of me. In my shock, all my mind could process was something big, fawn in colour with a longish tail, that had a few dark rings around it,going down from the tip. I quickly jumped out of the car and grabbed the torch and shone it around, but whatever it was, it had disappeared. Needless to say, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up and I realized it was rather foolhardy to be out of the car.Never saw it again, told a few locals, they just shook their heads, thought I had fallen off my perch, or had been drinking on the job. Take care. Liz...
ReplyDeleteYou have amnesty from answering my responses.
ReplyDeleteAmazing photos, and you deserve the award.
Since it's a little guy it's a bob cat. You're lucky to see this. I've spent much time in the bush hiking and have never seen the bob cat or lynx. They usually know when we're coming and get out of the way.
ReplyDeleteI'm jealous--we've had a bobcat around our house--two of our neighbors have seen it but, alas, we have not...I prided myself on being the wildlife wizard being in Arizona now and all--but I have to bow to Portland! The pictures are spectacular!
ReplyDeleteby the way--the reason I haven't been reading your blog is because I had the address spelled chatterbos instead of chatterbox in 'my blogs' just caught it today...
What a cool sighting. Good for you for getting some good snaps of your bobcat buddy. Congrats on your award, and thanks so much for the shout out. :)
ReplyDeleteI, too, think it is a bobcat but it would make more sense that it would be a Canadian Lynx considering where you live. That's a really good photo considering it was an unplanned sighting. Typically, those kinds of sightings are passed before a person gets a camera ready.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the difficulty of finding balance between blogging and real life. I struggle with that as well. You are a great story teller though and I think blogging is a wonderful way for you to share that talent.
Hey thanks for joining in. I agree about how time consuming blogging can be. It's very tough to get the right balance.
ReplyDeletelooks like a bobcat or maybe not .. definitely not someone's housecat, that's for sure
ReplyDeleteWow! Great photo catch. What an amazing sight. Bobcat I am thinking.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your upcoming one-year blogging anniversary! You're a great writer, and I've recommended your blog to several friends and family members.
ReplyDeleteA bobcat! Isn't it amazing when you're going along having an ordinary day and boom, something like this happens? We have a bobcat near our house too, but I only rarely get to see it.
ReplyDeleteJust gettin' to know you Stephen...my spouse was dubious about my blogging at first, too. But he's good with it now.
I think they're called either a lynx or a bobcat. Gorgeous, graceful creatures!
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about blogging taking over too much of your life. I am days behind just reading and can't seem to catch up. Something's got to give. ;)