Meet Bordeaux Eyes! Notice the bush branch, notice the eyes—they match—wild!

We took a trip to Bend, Ore. a couple of years ago—it was a trip to get away from it all—a trip to shoot some photos. But mostly, we just needed to get away. We had just lost our beloved 12-year-old chocolate lab, Kandy. Staying around the house without her constant companionship was difficult.

We decided to head to Bend, perhaps to see some fall colors. Everyone said we must go to the High Desert Museum, just outside of Bend. What a place! There is nothing else like it in Oregon. It was a beautiful October day. Visitors wander around pathways and enjoy the quiet, peaceful environment. We read that there was a natural enclosure area for porcupines.

That reminded us of a holiday weekend in Arizona when Kandy and a porcupine decided to face off. You know who won—we ended up at the vet´s and then had to watch Kandy all night long—luckily she came out of the adventure relatively unscathed, but it was a close call.

We decided to see what the High Desert Museum was all about. We surely were in for a surprise. All of the areas are natural, the porcupines could just climb out, though some climb in (babies have surprised the staff several times over the years). These animals are fascinating, they move so slowly. Each move seems calculated, thought out, and they like to hide. A brave docent went in to feed them.

There was a moment when we all gasped—a curious, food-stealing chipmunk decided to move the wrong way and one of the porcuies started to throw its quills. Luckily, he didn´t—it was just a warning. WHEW!

I ended up shooting more than two rolls of film of these unusual animals, trying to get the right angle, the right mood, the right look. They fascinated me. I was determined to “capture” a porcupine pictorially. Maybe it was my way of trying to understand why one of them would want to hurt my girl, Kandy. I still don´t know.

When we got home and found this shot I was totally thrown for a loop. It looks as if you could pet the animal, as it gently pulls a branch to its mouth to have a munch. Everything looks so soft, so gentle. Another one of their tricks: admire, but stay away.

Oh—Bordeaux Eyes—that´s also the name of the matching matte color!