A Private Zoo?
Being in the first stages of winter, the spiders that decorated the granadilla plant outside my window are seeking shelter in my home again. As they eat flies, I did not mind too much.
Following closely on their heels, came the geckos. At first they were quite welcome as they kept the spider population in check. They multiplied in numbers so rapidly that it became a problem. I don’t like using poison so I’m thinking about introducing a few rats to curb their numbers.
But rats are prolific breeders and they are not likely to stick to a diet of geckos. To keep their numbers within acceptable levels, I will have to keep a few pythons. They love rats. Then I thought about getting a few iguanas. They eat snake eggs and that should prevent an explosion of the snake population. But what to do about the iguanas when they breed? I cannot expand the food chain indefinitely; my place is too small and I’m not likely to enjoy eating iguanas.
But it should be nice to have such a lot of exotic pets without having to feed them. Almost like having my own private zoo.
On second thoughts, a private zoo will be a bad idea. Going to the zoo will become an everyday event and I will be no longer be enjoying my visits to a certain on-line dating site.
One should be careful when visiting a zoo. They may not allow you to leave. But have a great day.
Comments (58)
Been to the zoo lately?
This seems to be a problem every winter. That grenadilla plant must go, as much as I like eating grenadillas.
Welcome back aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa maybe sanity at last
Right, I'll plant another one further away.
In other news, I'm about to adopt not one but two 6-weeks old kittens!!!!!!!!!
Great to see you again. Sanity can only prevail in my absence. Care to share a grenadilla with me? Pity it is out of season.
More kittens? Your other nats may get jealous. I tried another kiyyen and had to give it away again. Monsieur wanted to kill it. he attacked to poor thing every time I turned my back.
The grenadilla is also known as passion fruit. Delicious! This plant produce so many that we cook jam with it.
Just joking passion fruit jam is lovely never knew the other name for it.
Hope you are well
I got them spayed/neutered but once they got a taste of being outside, they'd want to go out every time and make friends with other cats.
Nice seeing you too.
Did you enjoy your break?
To my knowledge there is no Afrikaans equivalent for passion fruit. I grew up knowing it as grenadilla and only encountered the term 'passion fruit' when I was about 30.
The last time I complained about a fly in my soup the waiter said it was thee force of habit as the chef used to be a tailor.
Yes, thank you very much. It's been good but much better to be back. I'll soon be away for another 2 or 3 weeks.
I hope they leave the gate open at all times.
Enjoy and remember to keep your bowls together.
Hou asb net 4 jariges van jou Zoo af weg asb.
Long time no see. Hope the holiday was awesome.
ja dankie. I spend a few days there in your valley as well.
I have so many friends in Johannesburg but I never get around to them when I'm in Pretoria. This time I made a point of spending a few days there to look them up.
Now I understand why you disappeared - again! - in the zoo.
Yep, spiders are handy little creatures and I won't easily kill one. Essentially I love animals and will only kill an animal if it is for the meat. I happen to like meat more.
I had a very full schedule and have not seen some of these people for years. Maybe next time. I visit Pretoria at least three times a year. My daughter lives there.
Well, now that you know, don't tell the others. let's keep it a secret between the two of us.
Thank you. It is nice to feel welcome.
And Congratulation To Your Own Zoo ......
That was a hit and run. You vanished before I could respond.
Thank you but which zoo are you referring to? The real one at home or the virtual one?
No, no snakes here. Only spiders, geckos and rats. The snakes and iguanas will have to be brought in from elsewhere.
Actually, it must be at least 55 years ago that I last saw a snake anywhere in the greater Cape Town area and since then Tygerberg hospital was build at that spot.
Nice to see you...take care of your plant and enjoy the zoo!!...
Nice seeing you too. Nope, the plant goes and the zoo mist close it's gates. I prefer pets like cats and dogs.