Sunday, October 20, 2013

Of Frisbees and Walkies and ROUS

Yes, you read that last part right, Rodents of Unusual Size.  But I'll get to that.  Let's enjoy the frisbee funballs time, first.

This week has been very nice - quite nippy in the mornings, but warming into the 50s during the day - so we've been able to get in a lot of frisbee time.

Nice Jaws of Doom, Abby!

Notice my nice, solid platform for frisbee retrieval.

Unlike Abby's, ah, less conventional approach to attempted frisbee retrieval.

Again, my nice stable platform.

And Abby's, well, at least she caught the frisbee this time!

She's got nice ear-flappage on this one.

What is it with her and the need to have at least 3 feet off the ground at all times?

Or all four feet, as the case may be...

Me?  I'm more of a purist.

Again, I've got a solid platform, with good use of arms to trap any errant frisbees.


Abby, on the other hand, well, she get style points!

Being open-minded, I'll try the one-footed stance!

She really is a long-torso-ed gal!

Holy crap!  I'm levitating!


Abby's levitating!  Oh.  Wait.  That's nothing new!  Heehee!

Yes, she does this all the time, all day long.  Really.
Being fall, it's been a little windy, resulting in some wild throws from Mom.  And with wild throws, Abby and I aren't sure who the frisbee is meant for, so we both go after it...

"I win!"

Why does Abby think frisbee should be a contact sport?  I think she's about to body slam me!

"Holy levitation, Batman!"
Good times!

With the nice weather, we've been able to drag Mom out on some walkies.  Not that she has taken many pictures on said walkies, but we do have SOME proof that we've been on walkies.

"C'mon, Mom!  Let's go!"
And finally, on to the ROUS.  For a couple of weeks, Mom and Dad have noticed bananas that had been gnawed on, and most curiously, gnawed candles.

I wouldn't want to meet whatever made those tooth marks!
Thinking that they had a colony of Super Mice, Dad put out a bunch of electric traps (dog-proof - even Abby couldn't manage to get her tongue in them to get at the peanut butter bait) with no results.  Then, over the weekend, we all heard some thumping upstairs, and Dad went up to check it out.  He came back with wild stories of some ginormous hairy beast knocking over guitar cases.   Mom immediately went to the store to get some batteries for "Old Sparky" (okay, it's really called something else, but our Mom has a weird sense of humor), that is designed to catch larger rodents. 

We'll spare you the graphic evidence, but Old Sparky did its job, and apparently we had a wood rat in our house.  Hey, don't look at us.  We even like the mice.  We're not going to mess with Rodents of Unusual Size.

While Dad say this photo isn't of the exact variety of beast caught in our house, it's close enough.

Eesh.
The good news is that these particular rodents don't "colonize" and it is unlikely that we would have more than a couple, at most.  But Old Sparky is charged and baited, in case any more of these ROUS come calling.  But hopefully Dad's bananas and Mom's candles are now safe.  Because we're certainly not going to protect them against ROUS!

Note from Dr. Liz:  We have no idea how the thing got in the house, but other than eating bananas and candles, it didn't do any real damage (apparently wood rats are know for gnawing on electrical cables and wiring).  And I don't blame the girls for not protecting us against the ROUS - the thing gave me the willies, too!

And on that note, have a great week!


*kissey face*
-Fiona and Abby the Hippobottomus

12 comments:

rottrover said...

Good thing your Mom and Dad got that ROUS out of there before winter! He may have had friends come stay in your nice toasty house. Your athleticism never ceases to amaze us. We are really quite slothful in comparison! Have a fun week!

-Otto, Ruby and Bart

Taffy said...

I'm not sure which is creepier....the ROUS or all the levitating going on!

Millie and Walter said...

We have a lot of RONS (rodents of normal size) that our dad had been extricating from our basement. Every fall/winter they decide to come inside where it is warmer and every year dad makes sure they don't stay. We love your high flying action too.

Millie & Walter

Molly the Airedale said...

Mom heard some gnawing going on last night somewhere upstairs while we were all sleeping. It's time to set our mousie traps too!
You girls have such excellent frisbee form!

Love ya lots♥
Mitch and Molly

Dexter said...

Your dad is very brave. Perhaps he is part terrier. Mr. Exterminator should crawl around until he finds the point of entry.

It surprises me that Abby catches the frisbee as often as she does. She appears to just find herself about, jaws dangling open, and hope for the best.

Kisses,
Dexter

Frankie Furter and Ernie said...

BRAVO fur "OLD SPARKY". Those thingys are just SQUIRRELS in Rat Clothing.
If your mom had actually SEEN him... SHE would have LEVITATED too. Right?

How Sam Sees It said...

In the house? ...and the dogs never said anything?

Monty and Harlow

Anonymous said...

I'll never understand how you doggies can jump like that all the time and not hurt your legs or esp. your knees. Yet little old me who stays close to the ground most of the time has 2 bum legs. NOT FAIR I tell you!

A fried rat on your front porch would be a delightful surprise for your trick or treaters!

Murphy said...

Mom says she would freak out with that thing! Good thing you had Ol'' Sparky! Now it's safe to pay Frisbee again!

Murphy and Stanley

Anonymous said...

I have news for you: Dad's "bananas" are never safe. Especially with the two of you around. The real and the figurative kind. hahahah! (I crack myself up.)

and on another note: EEEEEeeeewwww! Juno would have gotten rid of that happily for you. FYI. and all you'd have to do is make it snow and hook her up to a snow bike. She's cheap!

The Adventures of the LLB Gang said...

Looks like you all had another funballs kind of week...'cept for that whole ROUS thing...yucky!!

Smileys!
Dory, Jakey, Arty and Bilbo

said...

Oh my gosh - I was expecting a funny punchline about Abs and Fi, I never thought it would really be a critter!

P.S. LOVE the "Old Sparky" name. Something I would do too :)