Life through my Eyes

OMGOODNESS is that RATZZZ…

Yesterday was so beautiful here in Arkansas and we decided to play in the backyard and mess around in the garden, preparing it for the new season.

I’d bought a black Halloween kettle earlier at a yard sale for a buck. It’s large enough to put several plants in. I decided to paint it bronze to make it festive. I knew that I needed to prime it first. We went to the garage to dig out the cans of spray paint.

I have a raised garden with several tomato cages in it. The previous owner had left and by the looks of it hadn’t planted anything in it for years. I had let the grass die in it at the end of the season last year and I would need to clean it up before planting in it this year.

I use the cages to put my project’s on to paint. They have come in handy more than once. I placed my newly bought gem on top of one and started painting it. The can clogged up and my paint project came to a screeching halt.

The disappointment in not getting to paint it was soon replaced with my second project. Prepping the garden! I gathered up the cages I didn’t want in both hands. Keeping an eye on Fable to make sure she stayed clear of me until I tossed them over the fence to put into the recycle bin for pick up.

I returned to the garden to start pulling the dead grass up and access the ground for the preparation of my plants in the near future. I want to plant some vegetables in it. Going natural will be better for my health.

I start looking for a good spot to start. When I spied some grey fur poking out from underneath some dead grass. I found a piece of wire broken off from one of the cages, don’t worry it wasn’t rusted. I take one end of the wire and stick it in and flip it upwards. I’m very skittish about doing this because in the past I have experienced dealings with rats and we have one in the neighborhood that I’ve seen and Fable has chased it a time or two.

When I flipped it up into the air it landed in front of me it was the size of a softball, nicely rounded, I thought. I was impressed somewhat with it! I returned my focus on the target at hand and starting poking around softly, flipping up the grass in order for me to see what was under it.

Now, if you were any of my neighbors outside you would have been alarmed at what happened next, I even surprised myself. A shrieking squeal came out of my mouth and then a giggle, because I couldn’t believe I screamed! Where did that come from? I looked around and saw Fable running to my rescue.

I turned my focus back to the face peering up to me. It’s pointy little nose and it squealing alarmed me. Had I accidentally poked it with the wire? I thought to myself, What am I going to do with baby rats? I covered them back up after taking a few pics for evidence, ya know I had too!

I go into the house and I call my son. He tells me that they deal with rats every year under their patio. He sends me a screenshot of the trap they use and suggest if I don’t want to kill them to call an exterminator. I opt for the latter and set up an appointment.

He comes out an hour later, we exchange greetings and he greets Fable and we all head to the backyard. I uncovered the nest and he leans down to peer in. He stands back up and looks at me and smiles through his black mask. “Ma’am that’s RABBITS!” My reaction was priceless, “I knew it! That was my first thought, but I pushed it away, because I haven’t seen a rabbit only a rat!”

We talked for a little while and I ended up keeping the three tiny rabbits. Now, Fable and I are co-mommies to RABBITS.

She did scare me when she went back out and had decided to get one. I screamed at her to drop it immediately and she did. I placed it back in the nest after examining it for any injuries and covered them back up. My daughter in law googled how to care for baby rabbits when you’ve uncovered their nest. I prepped the nest for the mother for when she returns to feed her babies with a few tiny branches that she can move easily. That way I have evidence she hasn’t abandoned them.

If I see no activity on her part by tomorrow she has abandoned them to my stupidity. I will have to find a meat to feed and care for them until they are at an age to be on there own.

I’m praying that she doesn’t abandon them and returns the next two to three weeks. I won’t be prepping my garden anytime soon it looks like.

Today, Fable has been attentive to the babies and has checked on them along with me by her side. Guarding them with love and care.

Until next time, be blessed and loved. Teresa, Fable and the Legendary three. 🐾❤️🐰🐰🐰❤️🐾

Keep creating your dreams,