A Mouse in the tack room

[Shinshi]

The other day I was down getting out the Bodhi's brushes so I could give him a grooming. All I can do at the moment because of my stupid back.

I saw a scurrying out of the corner of my eye. A mouse darted behind some of the water buckets. This isn't that surprising this time of year as it is growing colder. But it looked weird, like it might be diseased or something. Mice in the tack room is not good - they love to eat the tack - so it was time to break out the traps (they have humane traps for mice). And also redo our weather stripping etc.

I didn't get to it for a couple of days, but I saw it again. Again just a quick look out of the corner of my eye. But it was enough to see it was really scrawny - it didn't look healthy at all.

Well today I took our dog Sonja down with me to feed. And she flushed it. It ran right between her paws.

Not a mouse.

Fence lizard.

It is funny that sometimes you see what you think you should see in a particular context. I expect a mouse there and so I saw it as a mouse. If I hadn't been in the tack room I might well have never seen it as a mouse. I might have seen it as the helpful lizard it is.

Gassho, Shinshi

SaT-LaH

PS. Saw a tarantula on the steps leading up to the house. This time I saw the creature for what it was.

Love all the little beasites that live here. Usually we see some pretty big bull snakes this time of year.

[Onka]

Gassho
The analogy was obviously very timely from my perspective.
Also as someone who has daily interactions with horses and is familiar with the language of their equipment and use (we have show jumping horses on one nearby property, former Standardbred trotters on another, plus a number of Quarter horse Cutting and Campdrafting breeding properties around too) it's lovely to share that familiarity on here albeit in the form of an analogy.
Thank you Shinshi. Hope your back gets better soon comrade, I can't begin to imagine how frustrated you must feel as a rider and runner who's unable to do what you love.
Gassho
Anna
Sat

Sent from my Lenovo TB-8304F1 using Tapatalk

[Cooperix]

Hello Shinshi,

As desert dwellers we live with all sorts of creatures. Last year we had a roadrunner couple set up their nest by our back deck. Fearless, they raised two broods, right under our noses, living off the offering from our property. Almost decimating our lizard population. The lizards are pretty fierce here, but no match for mom and pop roadrunner (beep beep).

But alas, they have recovered and one pretty fat fellow has made his way into my zendo. He's been there for a few weeks and I do hope he's finding things to eat (I have seen roaches there occasionally), but it does seem pretty scarce food supply as opposed to outside. Although as the weather has chilled maybe he is better off inside. (My border collie, who also sits with me, is terrified of him.)

I enjoy his company as we sit quietly together each morning and afternoon. Actually, that's my schedule. He sits quietly all day and night. If only...

And I join Anna in hoping for a quick recovery from your back ailment...I've just recovered from severe sciatica. No fun.

Bows to all creatures...

Anne

~lahst~

[Ishin]

I get what you are saying, Shinshi. It makes you wonder even when we are seeing things as they are, are we still not deluding ourselves.



Gassho
Ishin
Sat/lah

[Jakuden]

Things aren't always as they seem, are they? Our senses deceive us often! Glad yours worked with the tarantula, though.

So funny you posted this, I just moved a valuable saddle into the house for the winter to protect it from the mice. I would have assumed the same as you.

Gassho,
Jakuden
SatToday