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10/22/18 You will see a name change on the blog. Lots of things have changed in my life in the past few years, and I feel compelled to share my story.

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Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Guest Blogger ~ Ms. Cindy Sue



Howdy ya'll...WoW!!! Mom is finally letin' me get to do the barkin'!! 'n this is a very important day too!

Today is RatCatcher's Day; the Anniversary of the Pied Piper of Hamelin.




I luv this guy...we have so much in common! Here's what HolidayInsights.com has to say:

Ratcatcher's Day commemorates the Pied Piper of Hamelin, the most infamous of Ratcatchers.

One of the most well known German folklores is the story of the Pied Piper of Hamelin. The town of Hamelin, Germany was infested by rats. The mayor promised to handsomely pay the Pied Piper, if he rid the town of rats. The Pied Piper played his flute. Lured by the magical music, all of the rats left town, and followed him. He played his music all the way down to the river. He waded into the river. The rats followed him and drowned. The mayor refused to pay him. So, one night when the townspeople were asleep, the Pied Piper played his music again. This time, the children of the town followed him all the way into a cave. Some versions for the legend vary here. In one version, th e Pied Piper kept them there until he was paid by the town for his services. In most versions, the children were never to be seen again.

How many Rats were lured to the River? Estimates are upwards of a million!

If you see a Ratcatcher today, wish them Happy Ratcatcher's Day!


The Origin of Ratcatcher's Day:

We have yet to discover why July 22 was selected as the date for Ratcatcher's Day.

According to the legend, the Pied Piper rid the town of Hamelin, Germany of rats on or around June 26, 1284. After the town mayor refused to make payment as promised, the Pied Piper returned to lure the children to a cave. In some versions of the legend, this occurred the next night. In others, he returned several weeks later. We speculate that "several weeks later" was July 22and.

OK...now here's what Wikipedia has to say:

Ratcatcher's Day

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ratcatcher's Day, Rat-catcher's Day or Rat Catcher's Day is celebrated on 26 June or 22 July, commemorating the myth of the Pied Piper of Hamelin. The confusion of dates is because the Brothers Grimm cite 26 June 1284 as the date the Pied Piper led the children out of the town of Hamelin in Germany, while the poem by Robert Browning gives it as 22 July 1376.


Well, it doesn't matter any lil' bit about all them dates...and OK...I don't play a flute...I just like the idea that they named a day for us Ratcatcher's!!! BOL!!!


OK...I gotta tell y'all 'bout this one...mom puts a live trap out in the Mustang Barn 'cause it's over-run wiff pack rats. Them dang vermints hide under the floor 'n I can't get at 'um very good. But, yesterday there was a rat in the trap 'n before mom could let it out of the trap fer me to git...Cowboy 'n me gots it out ourselves...BOL...ya shoulda seen us flippin' that cage upside down 'n evfury which way...it was SO MUCH FUN!!! Cowboy's a big helpin' brudder...but I gots the rat in the end!! BOL!!!

I've gots business to take care of...more vermint huntin' ya know...hopefully mom'll let me bark on here again...ya should tell her that...would ya do that fer me? Thanks!!!

Licks & Wags~~Cindy Sue

OH...I almost fergot...it's mom's birfday today too...maybe I'll get her a nice fat rat fer her present!!! BOL!!

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17 comments:

  1. Happy Ratchatchers Day & Happy Birthday to your Mom too! Wish we had some rats around here for me to chase...all I get is those phony catnip mice and of course lots of lizards!
    your cat pal,
    Bruce:)

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  2. Wow, who knew! Happy Birthday and Ratcatchers Day!

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  3. Great post, Cindy Sue! Happy birthday to your mom, and I'll have to send Cloud over to say hi...

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  4. WooHoo, a day fur us ratties, BOL! You are such a good varmint hunter Cindy Sue, my dear. You gots the skillz fur sure. And I'm glad your mom let you blog fur her today. Tell her Happy Berfday for me, will ya?

    Luv,
    Cloud

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  5. Thanks for all the info on "ratcatchers". I've been known to chase after a varmint er two m'self. Here in Colorado we got lots of "chippies" and Prairie Dogs. I wish I had your talents for gettin' em'.
    By the way, wish your mom a "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" for me.
    Happy hunting,
    from Maggie May (mj's main gopher getter)

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  6. Cindy Sue, you made me smile LOL, great post! Tell Mom Happy Birthday!

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  7. Happy Ratcatcher Day to you Cindy Sue and a Happy Birthday to your mom! Hope you find a nice big rat for her for a present :)

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  8. Happy Ratcatcher's Day to Cindy Sue. I must say though that one of the reasons I love living in Alaska is that there are NO RATS! There are, however, all sorts of little mice and voles and shrews.

    And tell your mom Happy Birthday!

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  9. RattieRanchDog, you ROCK!

    Happy Ratcatcher's Day (and tell your mom Happy Birthday from TillyRat's mom)!

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  10. Cindy Sue you may want to rethink the gift idea for Mom but other than that, great post!

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  11. Tess and Reba send A Happy Rattie Day to Cindy Sue! But Moms can be a little funny about dead rats, maybe you could get the skin tanned into leather for her before you give it to her for a birthday gift!
    Happy Birthday,gttyup!

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  12. Happy Birthday!!
    Cindy Sue, you make a very good guest blogger~ hopefully your mom will let you do it again!

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  13. Good Dog! Do you want a cookie?

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  14. Great post Cindy Sue! I hope you get to do it again.
    Tell your Mom Happy Birthday for me.

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  15. Cindy Sue - you have to be the best ratcatchin' girl I've ever read about! Happy day to you and Happy Birthday to the mom!

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  16. Cindy Sue tell your Mom ..Happy B'day from me..! ..you and Cowboy are my favforite ..even when your not catching them ratz!

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I love your comments! Let me know what's on your mind~~