Not Another Story About Ratlets! Actually, Yes It Is! - December 12, 2020
(And I’m so embarrassed that I’m not going to call this a Sunshine Story. I’m not even going to have hubs proofread it!)
Hubs said, “That is almost the most unusual thing you’ve said today.” Note, he never says, THE most unusual because a day has many hours. It was in reference to my saying that I like to brush my teeth before I do a body pump workout, because it makes me feel “more professional.” Sigh! It would take a heckuva a lot more than brushing my teeth…
Likely reaching the top of my most inane comments today was my excitement on returning from the garbage room. The weekends are a good time to dig through the blue boxes for boxes of various sizes.
Earlier today I did my weekly ratlet apartment and ratlet play-cage clean and rejig. This requires 16 NEW small to medium boxes and two large boxes. Cereal, amazon, lasagna, pop, pie, orange juice, etc. The list is precise and lengthy.
This week I also added six new parrot toys. Yes, my ratlets are not parrots – they are smarter and cleaner. But they like swings, bridges, ladders, and chewables.
AND I have a new source of rags for them other than what is left of Laur’s jogging pants. At Home Hardware I snagged a 10 pound bag of rags for $12. These are ripped up old clothes from good-will stores that folks use to wipe up grease and paint stains. They are perfect for my ratties.
I was going to wash all 10 pounds of them, but then I thought – my ratties – who cannot see very well and who learn mostly by smelling – are going to have a field day with these! And they did and they are.
Rosie has a bit more difficult time navigating her apartment and play-cage when I wash and rejig them. She is blind. Today she butted up against her new litter box because it was a little higher than usual. She just sat there looking sad and confused. Bring on the exacto knife! Not for the rat, of course! But so I could cut out a ramp for her. She was very appreciative.
Thus far they’ve only explored their apartment. At supper time they get to puzzle their way through the play-cage. New boxes, rags, and toys. Oh, and a wire stand! We watch them while we eat our supper. We call it “Rat TV.”
I said to hubs, “I shall remember this time as The Rat Days and I shall miss it very much.” Not just because of the individual ratlets – Daisy, Rose, Lily-Violet, and Hyacinth. But also because of the way our grandson Jasper reacts to them.
We have him over twice a week for a few hours. He waits very patiently at lunch time while I eat my sandwiches and mega-salad. And then he says, “And now you brush your teeth and then we get THE RATTIES.” And he follows me to the bathroom to watch me brush my teeth. And then to the bedroom where we “store” them when Jasper comes over. He cannot help shrieking at them if they are in our living room.
He has a definitely order that they must come out in – and I only bring them out one at a time. Daisy followed by Rose followed by Violet-Lily followed by Hyacinth. He loves to pet them and explore their tails. We discuss what makes each different from the other. And how important it is to be gentle with them.
What is it the Jainists say? “One should treat all creatures in the world as one would like to be treated.” Sounds like another Golden Rule that is written on my heart.
Hubs said, “That is almost the most unusual thing you’ve said today.” Note, he never says, THE most unusual because a day has many hours. It was in reference to my saying that I like to brush my teeth before I do a body pump workout, because it makes me feel “more professional.” Sigh! It would take a heckuva a lot more than brushing my teeth…
Likely reaching the top of my most inane comments today was my excitement on returning from the garbage room. The weekends are a good time to dig through the blue boxes for boxes of various sizes.
Earlier today I did my weekly ratlet apartment and ratlet play-cage clean and rejig. This requires 16 NEW small to medium boxes and two large boxes. Cereal, amazon, lasagna, pop, pie, orange juice, etc. The list is precise and lengthy.
This week I also added six new parrot toys. Yes, my ratlets are not parrots – they are smarter and cleaner. But they like swings, bridges, ladders, and chewables.
AND I have a new source of rags for them other than what is left of Laur’s jogging pants. At Home Hardware I snagged a 10 pound bag of rags for $12. These are ripped up old clothes from good-will stores that folks use to wipe up grease and paint stains. They are perfect for my ratties.
- They are the right size
- They are of a variety of colours and fabrics
- And they smell just a bit like their former owners.
I was going to wash all 10 pounds of them, but then I thought – my ratties – who cannot see very well and who learn mostly by smelling – are going to have a field day with these! And they did and they are.
Rosie has a bit more difficult time navigating her apartment and play-cage when I wash and rejig them. She is blind. Today she butted up against her new litter box because it was a little higher than usual. She just sat there looking sad and confused. Bring on the exacto knife! Not for the rat, of course! But so I could cut out a ramp for her. She was very appreciative.
Thus far they’ve only explored their apartment. At supper time they get to puzzle their way through the play-cage. New boxes, rags, and toys. Oh, and a wire stand! We watch them while we eat our supper. We call it “Rat TV.”
I said to hubs, “I shall remember this time as The Rat Days and I shall miss it very much.” Not just because of the individual ratlets – Daisy, Rose, Lily-Violet, and Hyacinth. But also because of the way our grandson Jasper reacts to them.
We have him over twice a week for a few hours. He waits very patiently at lunch time while I eat my sandwiches and mega-salad. And then he says, “And now you brush your teeth and then we get THE RATTIES.” And he follows me to the bathroom to watch me brush my teeth. And then to the bedroom where we “store” them when Jasper comes over. He cannot help shrieking at them if they are in our living room.
He has a definitely order that they must come out in – and I only bring them out one at a time. Daisy followed by Rose followed by Violet-Lily followed by Hyacinth. He loves to pet them and explore their tails. We discuss what makes each different from the other. And how important it is to be gentle with them.
What is it the Jainists say? “One should treat all creatures in the world as one would like to be treated.” Sounds like another Golden Rule that is written on my heart.