Germinating Gerbils!

Another Groundhog's Day is here! What is Wiarton Willie's prediction? It's his 60th anniversary and the pressure is on for him to make an accurate prediction since he bombed out last year. I'm already sick of winter so I hope he doesn't see his shadow.

When I remember to, I try to make up a new Woodchuck tongue twister on this date. For previous rodent tongue twisters check out that click. A friend shared this picture of hamster bread and it inspired me to do a gerbil TT this year (and no, it does not involve Richard Gere).

How many germs can a gerbil germinate if a gerbil could germinate germs?

While searching for the above photo, I came across this horrible rodent mutation from a different Japanese bakery. Yum!

Tomorrow is Setsubun so the Oni will be oot 'n aboot! Beware!

Lemmings Laminating Lemons.

Another Groundhog's Day has passed and since I missed last year, I'll add another two questions to my list of rodents' capabilities.

How many lemons can a lemming laminate, if a lemming could laminate lemons?

How many rats can a muskrat musk, if a muskrat could musk rats?

For previous queries, click on Badgers but for those of you too busy to do so, here's the list so far:

"How much ground could a groundhog grind if a groundhog could grind ground?"

"How Much Mud Must a Marmot Muck if a Marmot Must Muck Mud?"

"How many meerkats can a mere cat mate if a mere cat could mate meerkats?"

"How many capes could a capybara bear, if a capybara could bear capes?"

"How many tins could a tanuki tend if a tanuki could tend tins?"

"How many malls could a moled mole maul if a moled mole could maul malls?"

"How many badges could a badger badger if a badger could badger badges?"

Feel free to add your won to the list. Questions should involve rodents or insectivores, following the style of the famous, "How much wood could a woodchuck chuck, if a woodchuck could chuck wood?" or "If a woodchuck could chuck all the wood he could chuck, how much wood could a woodchuck chuck?"

As for Setsubun, the Japanese Bean-throwing ceremony held at the same time as Candlemas, we scored some beans at lunch today.

Starting tomorrow, my Grade 6 kids will be practicing and performing "Momotaro, the Peach Boy". I hope to add some photos of their Oni-masks over the next few days.

More Scenes of Animal Cruelty.

I hate it when people put little outfits on their dogs and then parade them up and down the streets. Who first came up with the bright idea of putting a bandana on a pooch?

I will give some leeway to people who dress up their dogs for Halloween though. One friend made elaborate costumes for his golden lab (my favourite was "Land Shark".) But if you're going to do it, do it well! (As for Christmas, a pair of antlers upon a canine does NOT make a reindeer...Damn you, you're a mean one Mr. Grinch!)

So in the spirit of Halloween, dogs may be dressed up. Good luck putting anything on your cat without getting your face clawed up, though. But please, do NOT do this...
























(Admittedly, I do think the ladybug is kind of cute.)