I am tagged, among other things

Thank you Nina from Sunlit.
This is a really long tag, so lets get started...

xi things about me
i. I have a hamster.
ii. I love YouTube, even though I never post anything to my channel. (that's why I'm not including a link here.)
iii. Cracked is my favorite website.
iv. I'm making a Tumblr soon, but I may or may not link to it here.
v. Roman numerals are cool.
vi. My hamster and I both love fun. (the band)
vii. I like putting things in bold print for no reason.
ix. My camera is from 2004.
x. I have a wireless mouse.
xi. Thinking of things about me is obviously not one of my strong points.

questions from nina
i. favorite doctor (if you have one)? only seen doctor who a couple times, so none.
ii. favorite band? changes all the time, right now the Fray.
iii. your ship? huh?
iv. favorite time of day to take pictures? early morning, when the lighting's good (I'm talking about pictures of Rory)
v. fandom(s)? not really any of the big ones.
vi. beach, mountain, forest, or indoors? forest.
vii. favorite hp character? LUNA!
iix. hogwarts house pride? slytherin.
ix. favorite youtuber? so many channels, so little time. not sure.
x. do you have a special place you don't want anyone to go/know about? kind of, yeah.
xi. finally, what the heck is a hufflepuff? (we're good finders, in the words of cedric sparkly vampire diggory.) they're good finders!

finally, my questions for you
I'm just writing a broad category, so say something about each one...
i. pets?
ii. music?
iii. hobbies?
iv. books?
v. outdoors or indoors?
vii. rodents or reptiles?
iix. talents?
ix. what do you think of instagram?
x. are you, like me, constantly making typos?
xi. random thing about yourself.

If you're reading this, and feel like being tagged, you're tagged! Post xi things about yourself, answer my xi questions, and post xi questions for anyone reading your blog :)

In related news, I'm not going to be as active on this blog, with the school year starting up. I'll still give updates every so often, though! 

"Hi!"

Rory's Adoption Day Dinner

So, yesterday was a very special day... Rory's adoption day!
(Also, today is my blogoversary! Yay!)

Here's Rory's dinner!

Desert came first, in the form of two cute flower-shaped Summer Berry and Yogurt cakes, and then a delicious Savory Pizza. Both my original creations :)


Summer Berry and Yogurt Cakes
Ingredients:

• 1 slice of multigrain bread (I used 365 Organic Bird Seed Multigrain)
• Yogurt to taste (I used Oikos Plain)
• Strawberries
• Blackberries
• Shaved Coconut (optional)

1. Use a cookie-cutter to cut out some cute shapes, or do them freehand with a knife.

2. Spread a thin layer of yogurt over each of the shapes.

3. Add one blackberry and one strawberry decoratively to each  little "cake." You may want to add a bit more yogurt around the edges so that the berries are nestled into the "frosting." 

4. Dress with coconut shavings. 

5.Serve!

Savory Pizza

Ingredients:

• 1 slice of multigrain bread (see above recipe)
• Raw broccoli
• Cheddar cheese

1. Cut out another shape in the bread, and pile high with cheese and broccoli. Serve and let your hamster enjoy!

I didn't get any photos of Rory eating this one, because she was out for exercise.

By the way, the August ingredient is cheese. Comment away!

Rory's Adoption Anniversary

So, as you've all probably noticed, I took a little accidental blog break. My summer has been crazy hectic so far, and I'm only now getting back to blogging. How has everyone's summer been so far?

Side note, my lovely hamster, Rory, was adopted one year ago today!

I"ve been told that she's grown, although having watched and played with her all these years, I don't quite see it. She's still having lots of fun, loving life, and being Rory. Cheesy memory time? Scroll down to take a journey in reverse from today to Rory's first few months.

That top photo? That's Rory today, waking up for a midnight snack on her adoption anniversary. 

The July Ingredient is...

... celery!

via here

 Comment with a link to your post :)

On table scraps, playtime, and the five simple pleasures of owning Rory

Upon first getting my amazing hamster Rory, I had an image in mind of what pet ownership was. Most of it consisted of playing with my little friend constantly, teaching her to sit up on command, and letting her ride around on my shoulder like a trained parrot.
Rounding the first week of hamster ownership, I had discovered that my darling rodent in many ways appeared to hate my guts. Training Rory took time, but it's worth it now.

I'm sure a few of you have stories of how pet ownership turned out some unexpected simple pleasures. Here are a few of mine.

#5-- table scraps
As you know, hamsters are not like dogs in the sense that they can linger underneath a baby's high chair and vacuum cleaner its way to a meal, but there's a tiny little window of joy that comes from saving out an extra broccoli floret for Roar Boar (yes, that's one of her many nicknames.)

via here

 #4-- random playtime
Something I never expected would be so wonderful about owning a rodent is random playtime... not hamster wheels, not trick training, just hanging out with hamster in tow, not doing much of anything. When owning an active animal, it's never expected that downtime would be the most fun. 

via here

 #3-- music
I'd heard that hamsters have sensitive hearing, but I have had far more fun than I could have ever anticipated playing random songs for Rory and letting her make a certified hamster decision as to whether or not she likes it. 

"Hey There Delilah" (The Plain White T's) is a favorite, as is anything by Snow Patrol and My Chemical Romance. Song requests, anyone?

from WeHeartIt

 #2-- blogging and photos
 I knew hamsters were photogenic. Everyone does. I had no idea how much fun they were to photograph. I have never attempted a huge photoshoot, but for the record, this person has. I love every photo on the page. Here's a tiny sneak peek.

How many takes do you bet this photo took?

 #1-- rainy days
Hamsters are the best pets for rainy days. Period. 

via here

  

june 16 :: photoshoot challenge

If you've read this blog for a while, you know that every once in a while, I take out a camera and do a little pet photoshoot.

There are some photos here
... and some photoshoots here. 

So, here's the challenge for June. Starting today (June 16th) and ending about a month from now (July 15th), I want a full photoshoot (5-10 pictures) of your rodent either exercising or interacting with a toy.

via here

Here are a few rodents that can enter:

• hamsters
• gerbils
• mice
• rats

Those are the main ones, but I'll happily accept others, just send me a comment. 

You have 29 days... GO!

Leave a comment below with a link to your post... my inLinkz account is still having issues.

Sorry for the lack of posts, my summer project and the June Ingredient is...

To start out, I'd like to announce my Summer Project. If you take a look around the blogosphere, you'll see that many people (rodent bloggers as well as the rest) are beginning a slew of summer blogging activities. Here are a few that I've had my eye on... (some spring, aka having already happened.)

 

Fluffy Toughie's Green Zone Project

Hannah's Hamster Guide

Dashing Hamsters' Paper Mache Playground

As you can see, some were smaller projects that were mainly building, and others are more long-term.... so, unveiling mine....

summer 2012 :: active rodent season :: my first blog party

My summer project involves interviews with hamster owners, photos, ideas for toys, and all manner of ways to keep your hamster active this summer.
I'll make an official post where you can enter by June 15th, but for now, here are my ideas...

• Q&A's with some knowledgeable people in the hamster world
• interviews with hamster owners
• group pinboards of toys
• pictures
• continuing the fight for an 8.5" Silent Spinner
• ideas for new hamster owners hoping to start their pet out on the right foot
• and finally, giveaways, maybe some self-sponsored

And, of course, I'm going to continue the Rodent Recipe Challenge. Now, a glorious video to introduce June's luscious, fruity ingredient.

....grapes!
Without further ado, let the submissions fly!