Empty Nesting

The day has finally come: Patches, the last of Peanut's nine babies, has left the nest.

It's been an amazing experience for the whole family, these hamster pups. Peanut was quite the little mother, nursing her crew almost non-stop for two weeks before weaning could begin. I couldn't help but wonder if she'd done it before. If not, I sure could have used instincts like hers seven years ago. That said, it's clear that Peanut is ready go solo again. (She's been caught pinning Patches to the wood chips as if to say, "My cage. My wheel.") As for the rest of us, we won't be forgetting them any time soon.

Bye, guys! You'll be missed.