Presenting the Palace

Peanut broke her exercise wheel yesterday. To be honest, it's a wonder it lasted as long as it did. When the babies were around--and not sleeping or nursing--there would be a minimum of three pups on the wheel at any one time. It's maximum capacity appeared to be six unless Peanut exerted her territorial rights and climbed aboard. At those times, the only babes not flung to the wood chips were those trapped behind or beneath her. The wheel's popularity resulted in a near constant nocturnal rumble which, in turn, necessitated the litters' exile to the guest room. Yet, even with the door closed, reverberations could be heard throughout the house. Discovering the axle snapped at its base came as only a mild surprise. It was only a matter of time.

After breakfast, the girls and I hopped in the car in search of a new wheel. We came home with a split-level palace. The new cage could accommodate a wheel nearly twice the diameter of the old one. Now Peanut could run without craning her neck, thereby improving her quality of life immeasurably. Coconut and Pineapple, eat your hearts out!

That evening the Captain came home from work to discover Peanut's new quarters. After conceding to it's obvious superiorities, his comment was: "It wasn't really necessary."

I reminded him that a hamster wasn't really necessary either.

(As much as I love Peanut, I will never let the Captain live down buying a pregnant hamster.)