07/16/2025
Sacredly Weird Wednesday â¨đ
Templeton, Part 1: The Unexpected Guest
Weâve had a visitor at the ground feeder lately.
Big. Bold. Whiskered.
About the size of a squirrelâŚhowever, not a squirrel, a rat.
Despite all odds, he has wormed his way into my heart.
He even has a name, and it's Templeton.
YesâTempleton.
From Charlotteâs Web, my favorite book growing up.
I didnât get it then, but I do now.
Itâs a story about saving the kind of life most people overlook.
About love, empathy, and choosing to protect the unwanted.
Last week, my husband went to switch the laundry and came back up fuming.
âThe rat is in the basement,â he said,
like I handed Templeton a key and a snack tray. đ§
When I asked why he sounded like he was blaming me,
he just said:
âLike you wouldnât let him in?â
Fair assessment. But stillâno.
We agreed he had to goâŚ
Just not by death. That was my condition.
A few days later, I saw him againâoutside, in the rain,
snacking peacefully near the feeder.
Alive. Whole. Unbothered.
And now my husbandâs annoyed again.
Because Templetonâs still here.
Because Iâhow dare Iâleave seeds out.
But what he doesnât get is:
Thereâs so much heart and harmony in my yard.
Squirrels. Chipmunks. Bunnies. Pigeons. Birds. Even Templeton.
They show up. Share space.
And if thereâs a scuffle, I step outside, give a good stern talking-to,
and they move on. I'm serious.
Maddie and I even had to talk to Stanley the other day.
He's a very large pigeon who was puffing up and being a bit of a bully.
He settled down. Peace was restored.
I place protection spells for them, tooâ
wishing them safety from speeding cars and circling hawks.
(Not that I want the hawks to go hungry.
I just donât want them snacking on my yard family.)
I didnât invite the rat in.
But if heâd needed help⌠maybe I wouldâve.
Because I am an equal opportunity protector of the overlooked.
And this yard?
This yard is a sanctuary. đđď¸đżâ¨