Monday, January 12, 2009

CSI.... sorta


Today there was a 'Missing Critter', so I had to investigate, something like the Crime Scene Investigators do.


Yikes.... some "%&I@^&" left the door open on this 'apartment' and it looks empty. (Deduct, Deduce, Think think think. Yup, since I'm the only human here, the guilty party that left the door open must be.... REBA! Okay, okay... the dog didn't do it, I did. Now are you happy?)

No one here... this confirms that we have a 'Missing Chinchilla'. A lone chinchilla at large in 1200 sq. ft. of house full of electrical cords to chew on and other things not too safe to play with. He's been out all night and is at this time of day sound asleep somewhere.... but WHERE?

This is who we are looking for. This is Smudge. He is a Mosaic White male chinchilla.

Taken June 15, 2007

Taken May 25, 2008

Chinchilla poops on the bathroom floor!! He has been here at some time during the night, but seems to have moved on to somewhere else.

Two separate spots of dirt on my new laminate flooring in the living room. Now what is this? Does it have anything to do with this case? Or is it thanks to Reba (dog) or Mewsic (cat)? Take evidence photos now and sort it out later.


Ahhhh, now I understand what the dirt spots on the laminate were all about. In the loom room is my pellet stove, and by the pellet stove is a bucket of ashes, very fine, powedery ashes from the stove. Smudge had himself a bath in the bucket and made a terrible mess, then went into the living room, leaving a 'trail of evidence'... but not enough of a trail to find him.

Later in the day, once nocturnal chinchillas are awake and moving about, I had an 'informer' who alerted me to something being not quite as it should be. On closer inspection, the 'chinchilla of interest' was located in the doorway of the bathroom. After the photos were taken, I walked up, bent down, and very nearly was able to pick Smudge up before he came to life and ran for it... thankfully back into the bathroom where I was able to close the door and catch him in the smaller room.

Filthy dirty and far more gray than white after his ash bath, but back in Mom's arms. (Mirror reflection photos)

Safe and sound back in the comfort of his home.

Here, Smudge has just finished a bath in proper Chinchilla bath dust. It's hard to say how long it will take for the ashes to work out of his fur, and for him to return to his beautiful, clean white color. I just have to wait. He's looking like he just wants to stay there in his bath bottle/bed, and have a nap.

Hey.... it just dawned on me.... the theme for tomorrow is
'bottle'.
Haha.... the jar, or bottle Smudge bathes in and sleeps in makes this eligible. Cool. I had read the theme for HoT earlier, then got busy doing other things and very nearly forgot!!

11 comments:

anthonynorth said...

A mystery solved :-)

CJ said...

What a great post. I had no idea they were that big and he looks adorable, white or gray!

Mine's up at:

http://rtmm.blogspot.com/2009/01/heads-or-tails-8.html

cjh

Barb said...

Smudge is soooo cute and I'm glad you found him!

We have a guinea pig and I know she would be hard to find if she ever got out. Maybe if she ever does, I'll try your CSI tactics. :)

Thanks for playing.

Hootin Anni said...

What a cute creature. He looks so content in his bottle too.

Mine is lame for bottle. But, I just added a bit o' fun to it also. Come by if you can.

Anonymous said...

Oh, Smudge is too cute, and I love that he sleeps & bathes in a bottle. I had a rat as a kid that lived in an old pringles can.

Anonymous said...

So, was his name Smudge before he left all the dirty ash spots all through your house?

Mom Knows Everything said...

He's so cute!!!

Tumblewords: said...

Too funny! I loved following you around, checking clues...

Baba said...

Hi Alice, It was fun searching for Smudge... home at last!!!It is cute how he sleeps in a bottle... When I first saw the cages , I thought maybe you had birds for pets..

It is really some deep freeze temps. where you live..I would have to stay in bed under an electric blanket..

Stay warm and thanks for your visit to my place today. Baba

Anonymous said...

I learn something new everyday. I didn't know Chinchilla bathed in dust.

Berni said...

He had his day of freedom. Amazing the cat never got wind of him.