Stow Away...

I apologize as I have lost my gumption to post anything adoption related. Until we hear about our approval (hopefully late this week, early next), I will just be journaling our summer. ;)

The kids and Dan were treated to a helicopter ride a couple weeks ago. There was only room for three, so I hung out at home and enjoyed some rare alone time. ;)

After they returned, Mister went under the van to retrieve a ball that had rolled under and noticed this...

See the little furry tail hanging down - centre of photo?

So I opened the hood, and saw this...

Pack Rat, Pika? We weren't sure at first... so we left the hood opened and returned 30 minutes later and found this...

About the size of a small cat. A marmot. Poor thing. Apparently, when the babies are weaned in early summer, they go in search of sweet tasting food and many times find it in the brake lines and radiator hoses (antifreeze/coolant)... after chewing them up.

So after prodding him gently with sticks, we decided the only way to get him out was with a water hose...

And it took 40 minutes to convince him to come out! Once out of the engine... he would jump from wheel well to wheel well. Until finally... soaking wet, cold and scared, he scuttled off up our yard and took a rest.

Look right at the center...

He sat there for about an hour, in shock I imagine and then disappeared. Luckily, we live on the edge of the town with forest in our back yard, so he will find natural shelter/food. I daresay that he has learned his lesson and will never hitch a ride in the engine block of a vehicle again!