Charlie

We have been enjoying spending our time with Charlie, the rat who has come to share a home with us. We adopted him on Thursday and have been learning about all things ratty ever since. As it turns out, rats like to ride around on your shoulder. I had read about this before we adopted Charlie but I didn't realize how important it was. Samuel is working on figuring out a comfortable way to have Charlie ride around on his shoulder because his little claws tickle and scratch so. Eva is bypassing holding Charlie altogether and has decided to bond with him by feeding him little bits of everything she eats. This little rat has quite a varied diet and really enjoys his snacks. He will come out from sleeping when he hears us and let us know he would like a little nibble of something. Apple, almond, brussel sprout, squash, salmon, pumpkin bread, you name it, he is interested.

He is a afraid of the cats and shrinks back when they come into the room or close to him when he is out of his cage. He and Jack have been sniffing each other through his cage frequently. Jack is a little put off that Charlie receives treats frequently and wants to know what we are giving him that we are not giving to Jack. When I show him bits of apple or almond he is very confused. When I show him salmon or bread, he suggests I give him a bit too. No reason Charlie should get all of the snacks. Who does this rat think he is, anyway? Oh, the other funny thing about Charlie is that, like Jack, he will lick your hands and fingers if he smells something yummy on them.

Here are some funny things he does:
He runs across the room to where his cage is when he wants to get back inside.
He does that funny scrunching back-up move that little rodents do when you block off his exit.
He pulls food through his cage bars with his hands!
He rides around on your shoulder and runs up your arm to get up there quick when he is afraid.
He makes little whisper scooching noises around your ear when he wants to get down.
These are just a few and will give you an idea of the fun we have been having!



On other fronts, we went to see an interesting art exhibit with mosaics last week, followed by a trip to the candy store. We also saw a play of Beauty and the Beast put on by a local children's theater. Samuel loved it and wanted to watch it again on video when we got home. Eva, unbeknownst to me at the time, did not enjoy the play (at least not much) and refused to watch it again at home. She said that while it did have a happy ending, the story was just too sad to watch and she could not bear it. So there you have it.

We are getting all set for Christmas. We got our tree this weekend and put it up. The cats always love this time of year, what with bringing a tree into the house and all. Maxwell just runs all over now, frisking about and jumping in bags and on papers. Charlie is also intrigued by the tree and rushes up to run inside and...I am not sure what he will do if he gets inside the tree because I have never seen a rat and a tree before. He thinks it looks grand. All shiny and bright and tree-like. And Jack found his Christmas bone and was quite upset when I hid it away again. So near yet so far.