Russell, Day 2

My, how quickly they grow... LOL

Check him out:


Russell's ears and whiskers have really grown in the past day and a half, and both his eyes are fully open. His whiskers are quite the impressive spray, and he had the chance to try them out this morning after leaping a foot in the air off the back of Michael's hand and landing on the diningroom floor. He darted along the baseboard, back and forth and nearly escaped into the bowels of the house... Fortunately, we were able to herd him into his nestbox.

We're not really sure whether the difference in tameness is due to age or species yet, but he sure behaves differently than Rosebud did.

He thankfully showed some interest in eating today (he's not been eating or drinking as much as he should); I brought home some maple syrup-soaked oatmeal buttermilk pancake from brunch. What mouse could resist?

Our next challenge, other than keeping his appetite up, will be to figure out a weatherproof bag so that I can bring him to work. It's likely to be well below 0 Celsius tomorrow.

10:35 PM - 6 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

Meet Russell, house mouseling

This shy little guy is Russell. He's a 10-14 day old house mouse, and has come into my care via a friend's boss, who caught him in his store. Couldn't have been much of a challenge to catch Russell; he's about the size of a cocktail onion and was likely cold, tired and dehydrated...

Fortunately, word gets around and I was the first person my friend e-mailed (yes, in this time when phones aren't the first mode of communication that springs to mind).

Russell is still nursing, and takes puppy formula off the end of a Q-tip (cotton bud) every 1.5 to 2 hours, leaving me sleep deprived but feeling pretty jazzed to be helping out this little fellow. He'll be on solid food within a few days I hope (his eyes have just opened), and will soon be in the "flea" stage -- this means he'll be leaping about in all directions, not that he'll have fleas. He hasn't imprinted on me sadly, since I've only had him since last night, and his eyes were already open. One of my other mice, the charming woodmouse Rosebud, whom I also handraised, did imprint as I looked after her from Day 4 or 5. She's thankfully still brightening my days at age 4 1/2.

Here's little Russell:

6:09 PM - 3 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

A soppy little sendoff to 2007...
Current mood: contemplative

Well well well, it's been quite a year, 2007.

Mostly good, a little, less so, but on the whole a smashing year. I travelled to Europe three times and with each journey made new friendships and cemented fledgling ones, experienced at last a country I've yearned for most of my life (and learned new skills by which to experience that country fuller than I would have otherwise), whetted my appetite for a more vital existence, finally swam in a warm ocean(!), and -- oh yeah, the little matter of that very influential band... got to see and hear them too, no less than four times, not to mention having the opportunity to meet the man who's been rather a very good role model on so many levels. Unbelievably double-plus-good.

Had a little health scare, which still nags a bit but which will hopefully be resolved in the early part of this new and promising year... Lost some dear furry friends...

Much knitting was done, though not many finished items as of yet. The stash trunk overflows and calls with promises of new challenges; 2007 was also a year that delivered a most interesting and fulfilling project in the form of a doll, knitted for Magne F's Scrabble show in Norway. Many of my friends also contributed to this show, and their talents thrill me and inspire me.

Family life in this past year has been, to say the least, what family is all about, love, support, encouragement, closeness...and then some. I am so fortunate.

I'll repeat that: I am so fortunate, and so thankful for the year I've had with the people and pets I love, friends and family.

I look forward most optimistically to this coming year with all of you.

12:30 AM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

R.I.P. shy Cirra
Current mood: sad

Little mouse who did not like us, at least not demonstrably so, we miss you and hope there is a mouse heaven where you are already being groomed by your three sisters already there.

Cirra is the first pet we've had to bring to the vet for the final sleep. We waited too long

Cirra is in here, in this pile of loving and warm sleeping mice, somewhere. We were unable to ever photograph her alone.

8:32 PM - 3 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Miracle mice...
Current mood: melancholy

Just a quick little update for those of you wondering about the two old ladies, Pilea and Cirra.

These old girls just keep on ticking! They look just awful, but still seem to be chipper and enjoying their sunset days (weeks I hope). They are both losing fur; skinny and lumpy and deaf (oh my!), and Pilea is blind in one eye, but they continue to hobble about their home burrowing for seeds, begging for treats, and "running" on the wheel - when they aren't snuggling in their nest. Pilea the lumpy actually climbed the bars of the cage last night as I was taking too long to break off a piece of oatmeal bar for her; she even refused my offer of help back down.

A new and more suitable pain medication is taken three times daily on lemon cookie bits; it's got fewer side effects, works faster, and doesn't smell funny. It also makes them a little sleepy, so at least I know they're getting their rest.

I don't know how long they'll be with us, especially Pilea - my heart just breaks whenever I look at her and I don't think she'll make it to Christmas - but every day is a treasure.

7:17 PM - 2 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Von (Hope), for Pilea & Cirra
Current mood: depressed

For my two remaining white cloud mice, Pilea & Cirra, I've chosen Von, by Sigur Rós (I do prefer the live version, but this is what I could find on MySpace).

Von, I gather, means hope.

I have so many things to hope for them, but chiefly that they are not suffering as their cancer becomes more aggressive. Hope that they still do enjoy their little lives, though they are ill, hope that they will give me some small indication when they are not, and of course childish hope, the hope that goes hand in hand with love, that when they leave me, they will go on, elsewhere, in some form, and join their sisters.

6:37 PM - 2 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

A fond farewell to Ed Mirvish, aka Honest Ed, Toronto luminary and personality
Current mood: melancholy

Today Toronto lost a great man, a man of the people, Mr. Ed Mirvish.

Please read a little about Mr. Mirvish:

Ed Mirvish

Honest Ed's

We never did make it to one of his famous birthday parties; always were on our way somewhere else in a hurry, thinking "next year"...  He did great things for this city, and will be very much missed by thousands.

It's my hope that this city will still turn out in numbers at the store to celebrate him on his birthday, July 25, though he cannot be there.

8:13 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

RIP Strata
Current mood: crushed

Strata left us rather suddenly very early Saturday morning, and she did not "go gently into that good night"; she tried to run away from it, and I believe she was in great pain and very afraid. 

You are very much missed, my sweet and cheerful girl.
 

2:23 PM - 2 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Mouse Report
Current mood: calm

Just a brief report here...

Strata came through her surgery with flying colours (though the lump's makeup is still a mystery), and was even given a "certificate of bravery and good behaviour", meaning she did not bite anyone and remained friendly and cheerful throughout her ordeal. 
She now looks like someone has taken a bite out of her, but she was in good spirits and running on the wheel as soon as we put her back into her cage.  She's even got most of her fur back (mice have such high metabolisms).

Some of you will note that the name of the mouse has changed!  I am a bad "mother" and should not be blessed with twins should I ever have children...  Strata has a little scar on her tail, and this is one of the ways I could tell her from the other white mice, however, before I left for Oslo, one of the other mice decided to bite all the others on their tails.  Hence, I couldn't easily tell them apart and mixed up Pilea and Strata.  Of course, Strata's sweet personality shone through after her surgery and my mistake was revealed.  Pilea is also a very pleasant mouse, but not quite as outgoing.

I have posted a photo of Strata after her surgery in the "Mice!" album, in case anyone would like to see how well she is doing.

3:53 PM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

RIP Cumula
Current mood: gloomy

It is with great sadness that I announce our sweet Cumula's passing this past Sunday evening.  We believe she died in her sleep, with her sisters Pilea and Strata piled up close.

Thank you, everyone, for your caring messages. Cumula will be very much missed.

5:47 PM - 6 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment