A Tail of Two Ratties

My apartment is now home to two little rodents...

Rat #1 - Fred, whom you've met before, seen here destroying a button that she removed from my pajama top

Rat #2 - Ginger, made from felted wool by artist Rae Stimson

I read about Rae Stimson and her amazing felted creations on the Idiosyncratic Fashionista's blog here.  The Brooklyn-based artist makes fabulous sculptures, animals, and accessories from needle-felted wool, and I fell in love with this little rat, which I named Ginger (to go with Fred...you know).  She's life-size, and has very similar markings to the other rat in my house.  I did tell Rae when I purchased Ginger that for future reference, rats don't sit up when they eat, they crouch, and sent her a photo of Fred for reference, which she appreciated.

Check out Rae's critters and other creations on her Etsy page.

While Fred and Ginger are similar in size and colour, and share a love of blueberries, the resemblance ends there, and unfortunately the two shall never meet, as Fred would no doubt chew Ginger to bits.
While Ginger spends her days perched atop my computer monitor, Fred has a much more exciting life....

......that includes after-breakfast naps, in which she demonstrates the "if I can't see you, you can't see me" theory

Bobbing for peas before bed.  Interesting fact - plastic paint trays make excellent wading pools for rats

Penguin Bowling is also a pre-bedtime activity.  If you have not played Penguin Bowling before, Fred will now demonstrate how it is done....

   First, you get the Penguins (Pins) and the Snowball (ball) out of the box

Set up your Penguins, and try to keep the damn ball from getting away on you

Line up your shot.  Fred gets to shoot from close to the pins because of her poor eyesight

Take a look to see how many Penguins you knocked down...

....and take your revenge on the ones that remain standing

The End!