How To Start Caring for Your Hamster

Buy a plastic easy to clean cage with round edges on the inside so that it's safer and even easier to clean. I recommend Habitrail OVO Suite.

One hamster per cage, please. Hamsters are solitary animals. Try not to pair them unless you really know what you're doing.

When bringing her home, be careful not to shake the box too much. Quickly assemble and get her new home ready. If possible, put in a little bit of the original bedding from her old cage at the pet store to help her feel secure.

I found a really good bedding. Ground walnut chips! They're not dusty (which I really hate in other types of bedding), and they last longer. Ours last almost two weeks before we need to change it.

Hamsters want a quiet safe corner to sleep. Put some light bedding in her room. I use the shredded paper variety (store-bought).

Never wake a sleeping hamster. Leave them alone if they are not in the mood to play.

To familiarize her with you, just put a piece of sunflower seed on your palm then put your hand gently in her cage. Let her climb into your hand voluntarily. Never grab at them. Never speak too loudly. They are easily startled if you do. I guess it's hard being a really small animal.

Do not buy cheap hamster food that looks colorful but not natural. Buy one that contains lots of oats, some sunflower seeds and corn. Just buy one mixed bag is enough. They don't really need much treats. But buy them some pieces of wood like apple orchard chips or branch. They love to sharpen their teeth on those.

If your tap water is not drinkable, better fill their bottle with boiled water or mineral water.

Brand New Baby Hamster

Meet Cortana. Our brand new baby hamster. After more than a year since Remy died, we finally got ourselves a new one.

Why the name Cortana? Well, this being my son's birthday gift, he got to name it. Those of you familiar with the xBox360 Halo franchise should recognize the name. Originally we wanted to name it Kat, the only female spartan in Halo Reach episodes. But then he decided on Cortana, the super computer (AI). Those two are about the only two female names he can respect at the moment. "Wow, that's great!" I said. "Cortana. Corrie for short."

She is a normal winter white. Very healthy and curious. Very agile, too, compared to Remy, our beloved pearl white hamster. Cortana can climb up the food bowl via the back of the wheel in her Ovo suite. Remy could not when he was a baby. I had to fix a couple of ice cream sticks on the stairs last time. One of which has since fallen off. Was thinking about fixing another one back when we spotted Cortana climbing up easily.

Even though busy with his studies, my son still make time to take care of Cortana every night. Hamsters are so easy to care for anyway. My son assembled the cage himself, too. So proud of him.

His Eye Is On the Sparrow

ps: bird in picture not a sparrow

In the morning the birds sound so happy. Maybe because it was raining all morning.
They were busily chirping in the trees below our apartment. Some were singing outside our breakfast window. It really seemed to me like they were talking to each other in loud cheery voices.

The rain lasts all day long. This is such a welcome respite after a week of humidity.

I love it that the birds are not intimidated to approach our windows.
Thank You, God, for the birds this morning.

Luke 12: 6-7, "Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."
The Holy Bible : New International Version. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Lk 12:6-7

This song below come to mind.
Hymn: His Eye Is On the Sparrow
text by mrs. C.D. Martin

1. Why should I feel discouraged?
Why should the shadows come?
Why should my heart be lonely
and long for heaven and home,
When Jesus is my portion?
My constant friend is he:
His eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me.

Refrain:
I sing because I'm happy,
I sing because I'm free,
for his eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me.

2. "Let not your heart be troubled,"
his tender word I hear,
and resting on his goodness,
I lose my doubts and fears;
though by the path he leadeth
but one step I may see:
His eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me.
(Refrain)

3. Whenever I am tempted,
whenever clouds arise,
when song gives place to sighing,
when hope within me dies;
I draw the closer to him,
from care he sets me free:
His eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me.
(Refrain)

"He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name."
The Holy Bible : New International Version. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Ge 2:19

Today I went to the birdpark. As I sat in the cafe drinking my mocha, I watched all kinds of people buying nectar-filled cups to feed the birds. Their glee were evident and infectious. When a bird bravely perched on their arms, their eyes widened in excitement. They smiled happily and were positively radiant with joy.

I myself enjoyed it many times before. But now watching others went through the same thing, I was reminded of what joy it must have been for Adam when the Lord God patiently brought to him, one by one, all the animals of this world. To see what he would name them. Wow.

After Eve was created, she was given the same task also as she was her husband's helper. What joy! What privilege!

And, what joy it must have been for the Lord God Himself, to watch Adam and Even touch these animals, birds, etc for the first time. Their glee, their laughter, their happiness. Surely Eden was full of these and more!

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for Your greatness and majesty in creation. For Your abundant love and grace in giving all these to us to enjoy and care for.

Happy Valentine's Day

A gift from my hubby. A Russ Berrie Mischieve the Mouse from KrisShop.

Enough said.

happy chinese new year of the mouse !

This is a snapshot of my hamster, Remy.

2008 is his kind of year.

The chinese call it year of the rats, actually. But I prefer to call it year of the mouse here. :P

Singapore Zoo used the occasion this week to show off their capybaras, which actually are the largest rodents in the world.

I still prefer mouse. Or maybe we can call it hamster year? I suppose all rodents are included in this group of 'rats'?

Gong Xi Fa Cai, everybody!

Kermit the Frog "Rainbow Connection"

Memories of my childhood came flooding back as I listen to my favorite frog. I'm glad I found it.

13 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. 16 Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.”
The Holy Bible : New International Version. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Ge 9:13-16