Name That Souvenier
My teenage son just returned from two weeks in Leon, Mexico. I asked him to get me a souvenier that I would like. He came back with this. I'm not sure exactly what it is... Obviously it is some kind of cloven foot of an unfortunate animal. The fur is nicely cleaned and groomed, and the nails filed. It is encased on both ends with leather, including straps. The leather handle (I guess it is a handle) is nicely embossed with a horse and rider.
My dog, Bailey, is fascinated by this object. It has a low-key but distinct odor, and I know he'd love it for a chew toy and to play fetch. My son paid $20 for this thing, so whatever it is, it will probably remain a treasure in my posession for the rest of my life.
Here are some photos- please give it a name, and tell me its use. I've googled "animal foot + leather straps + mexico" to no avail.
By the way, here's a recent picture of Skylar, my grandaughter and pride-and-joy. I know for sure that she is a "keeper"!
So, please "name that thing", and I don't mind if you tell me how cute Skylar is.
07.01.06 (7:23 pm) [
edit]
posted by:
almsthvn (
reply)
post date:
07.01.06 (2:27 pm)
My friend, this post is a bizarre combination of grossly yucky to amazingly cute!
I'd be asking my son some questions - like.. what were ya thinking, dude? Is it a goat foot/foreleg? Ugh!
posted by:
fractalmom (
reply)
post date:
07.01.06 (3:40 pm)
absolutely adorable. and the same name as my first grandaughter. small world eh? i will find out what the thing is. LOL. kids. mine brought me a fertility god symbol from africa. first and only (so far) present i took STRAIGHT to the trash. horrid. the thing stood three feet high, smelled to high Heaven, was covered in boar hair and had the most evil face. ugh.
posted by:
fractalmom (
reply)
post date:
07.01.06 (3:54 pm)
absolutely adorable. and the same name as my first grandaughter. small world eh? i will find out what the thing is. LOL. kids. mine brought me a fertility god symbol from africa. first and only (so far) present i took STRAIGHT to the trash. horrid. the thing stood three feet high, smelled to high Heaven, was covered in boar hair and had the most evil face. ugh.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
07.01.06 (4:02 pm)
Reply to: almsthvn
He has an unusual sense of humor, and I do value his wit- more than I value this "thing". Now I have noticed that my nose is stopped and my eyes are watering, and I think it is because of the proximity of my new gift.
Goat foot/foreleg? I think you are right.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
07.01.06 (4:04 pm)
Reply to: fractalmom
I've thought Skylar to be an unusual name, and it took some time for me to come to like it. I've heard a few others with that name, mostly guys.
So you threw away a unique gift from Africa? If you have any photos, I'd love to see it.
posted by:
Misguided (
reply)
post date:
07.01.06 (4:23 pm)
hmmm...i have no idea what the heck that is...and of course Skylar is a cutie for sure:)
posted by:
(
reply)
post date:
07.01.06 (5:31 pm)
Goat maybe? Skylar is sure growing fast. Zowie. Oh just went back and read Alms's comment... Yep I think that's what it is. Alms knows her animal feet...
posted by:
JT (
reply)
post date:
07.01.06 (6:08 pm)
What you've got there, PastorDave, is a reproduction of a Sonaja, or Shaman's rattle. They historically consisted of the hooves of deer tied with reed to a leather strap. Despite any lingering odor, you can be sure this has deep meaning. Aborigines and native American indians believed that use of the shaman's rattle (often in conjunction with dance) could summon otherworldly power.
Never challenge a research nerd...
posted by: almsthvn (reply)
post date:
07.01.06 (6:36 pm)
I cannot WAIT to see Dave dancing around shaking his rattle.
posted by: DonkeyOrchid (reply)
post date:
07.01.06 (11:36 pm)
Hehehe, almsthvn's comment made me laugh. You are all right, she is cute as a picture.
posted by: danielmacdonald (reply)
post date:
07.02.06 (6:05 am)
Your dog probably thing it's a new pet or Play mate for him lol or say what the heck it that thing!! lol the ground daughter she a cutie :) I have a soft spot for kids :) give her a hug for me. :) I am not sure what that is or what it is use for never saw anything like that.
posted by: bawdy (reply)
post date:
07.02.06 (8:28 am)
I think you could always fashion that thing into a thong. But please don't!
posted by: irishred (reply)
post date:
07.02.06 (7:24 pm)
Skylar is a treasure!! Happy 4th to you and yours!!!
posted by: mercuryrising (reply)
post date:
07.03.06 (11:40 am)
Your grandchild is too cute! I think Skylar is a beautiful name :)
...looks like a goats foot to me.. which a goat's foot or some hairs from his beard are believed to be talismans for driving off evil spirits. Superstition regards the goat with some caution, partly because of the ancient worship of the god Pan who was half-goat and half-man, and partly because one of the tricks attributed to the Devil is the ability to turn himself into a Goat.
I don't like goats.. I would give it the dog. lol
Though that might not be so nice seeing it was a gift!
posted by: (reply)
post date:
07.04.06 (8:27 pm)
i cant sense what an object it is but sure it has an animal look. I feel you are enjoying it. Having great Time.
posted by: kurtmaddox (reply)
post date:
07.05.06 (6:48 pm)
cute... both the cloven foot and skylar!
posted by: toztee (reply)
post date:
07.05.06 (10:29 pm)
Skylar is a beauty!!! She looks like the happiest little girl in Georgia.
I am asking a friend if he knows what your unusual gift happens to be. He likes a challenge and it certainly seems worthy.
posted by: surrogate (reply)
post date:
07.06.06 (6:15 pm)
Know what I hate? Lazy butt Preachers who milk their post for days without updating... I need a fix.
posted by: bhere4me (reply)
post date:
07.13.06 (9:23 pm)
how can you read this post and NOT tell you how cute skyler is??? she isn
t cute, she is absolutly GORGEOUS>
posted by: bhere4me (reply)
post date:
07.13.06 (9:24 pm)
how can you read this post and NOT tell you how cute skyler is??? she isn
t cute, she is absolutly GORGEOUS>
posted by: 69whisper (reply)
post date:
07.17.06 (7:44 pm)
hi! thanx for leaving a nice comment. i visited just to compliment but you have such cute page that i could not resist.she is beeeeeeaaaaauuuuuuuutttttttiful.
posted by: PastorDave (reply)
post date:
07.18.06 (7:05 am)
Reply to: 69whisper
She has now learned to roll over onto her stomach. The problem is that her arm gets stuck, and she does not like being on her stomach. So, of course, every opportunity she gets herself in an unhappy predicament. I hope this is not a sign of things to come.
posted by: PastorDave (reply)
post date:
07.18.06 (7:06 am)
Reply to: bhere4me
Thank you. I like reading that.
posted by: PastorDave (reply)
post date:
07.18.06 (7:07 am)
Reply to: surrogate
Lazy butt? I resemble that.
posted by: PastorDave (reply)
post date:
07.18.06 (7:09 am)
Reply to: toztee
Haven't heard from your friend. The "gift" now sits on a shelf in my office. Sometimes I'll pick it up to administer thirty lashes, minus one, upon some unsuspecting paritioner. They don't seem to mind.
posted by: PastorDave (reply)
post date:
07.18.06 (7:10 am)
Reply to: kurtmaddox
I'm thinking it belongs to a goat, or a llama. The foot, that is.
posted by: PastorDave (reply)
post date:
07.18.06 (7:12 am)
Reply to: mercuryrising
No, I'm afraid I am stuck with it. My son paid $15 of his hard-earned money to provide this wonderful item for me. I don't put too much stock in such superstition. Some folks around here even eat goats- you can see the meat for sale in the markets.
posted by: PastorDave (reply)
post date:
07.18.06 (7:13 am)
Reply to: irishred
The fourth has come and gone, and I failed to reply. Now, happy 18th of July to you. I'm sure it is a holiday, somewhere.
posted by: PastorDave (reply)
post date:
07.18.06 (7:13 am)
Reply to: bawdy
So, you don't want pictures?
posted by: PastorDave (reply)
post date:
07.18.06 (7:15 am)
Reply to: danielmacdonald
I guess it is a work of art by a Mexican craftsman. Maybe you have a market for these things where you live?
posted by: PastorDave (reply)
post date:
07.18.06 (7:16 am)
Reply to: DonkeyOrchid
Yep. A blessing she is.
posted by: PastorDave (reply)
post date:
07.18.06 (7:16 am)
Reply to: almsthvn
It does rattle just a bit. Maybe, in a few months, Skylar and I can do a dance together.
posted by: PastorDave (reply)
post date:
07.18.06 (7:18 am)
Reply to: JT
Really? So, I have in my posession an item for pagan worship? I like it anyhow.
posted by: toztee (reply)
post date:
07.18.06 (5:04 pm)
Reply to: PastorDave
He agreed with the opinion: GOAT
He was way more excited to tell me he'd gotten engaged on his vacation to Venezuela
posted by: azuretiger (reply)
post date:
07.23.06 (6:30 pm)
Maybe it's the leftover bit from el Chupacabra's latest meal?
