Mystery solved

[porphyry]

M. had a blue plastic shopping basket in which she kept her toy fruit and vegetables. This was left outside on the patio last August (I vaguely remember thinking I should have brough it in, but having neglected to do so for some reason). It disappeared over night. Last Nov. 27 it suddenly appeared in a bramble at the foot of the driveway about a quarter of a mile from the house. I am certain it was not there before since we walk there everyday and the foliage was long gone. How did it get there?

Racoons msut have taken and used it for their own shopping needs during the intervening months. Then, siezed by a fit of uncontrollable animal passion (as racoons must frequently be) one of them went into a frenzy and chewed off the yellow plastic handle. After that there was nothing to do in thier shame except abandon it.