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RATFEST PHOTOS!
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2007 Roster
View the 2007 Photos!
1. Cathy -- Gales Ferry, CT
2. Jessica d. -- NYC
3. Jane A. -- NYC
4. Dru -- NYC
5. Matt -- NYC
6. Raquel -- NYC
7. Karen B. -- NYC
8. Cindy -- Bayside, NY
9. Phillip -- Bayside, NY
10. Judy -- Lawrence, MA
11. Kevin -- Lawrence, MA
12. Natalie -- Bronx, NY
13. Steve -- Chester, VT
14. Lin -- Chester, VT
15. Sydney -- Ridgefield, CT
16. Ann -- Andover, MA
17. Ben -- Andover, MA
18. Tony -- Putnam, CT
19. Barbara -- Putnam, CT
20. June -- Rumrey, NH
21. Heidi -- Framingham, MA
22. Laurey -- Uxbridge, MA
2007 Recap
Saturday - August 18
Well, RatFest is over for another year, but what a good time we had!
The weather couldn't have been more perfect -- sunny and in the mid-70s. I had lots of helpers to set everything up. The prize table was groaning, we had awesome donations for the raffle, the food was great and the company was the best!
We started by introducing ourselves. Co-hostess Jessica took control of this and we went around and told a bit about ourselves and our rats. We had many new people here and lots of familiar faces too. We had 21 attendees total, which is just about average for us -- a very nice turn-out. Unfortunately, some old friends couldn't make it. Kim's Ark wasn't able to come -- for the first time ever! Melissa, who always does a great demo on some rat health problems, couldn't make it. JoAnna, our star web master and cake baker couldn't come this year. And Jessica V, who was co-hostess last year and has been to every RatFest, had to go and have a baby... She didn't make it either. They were all MISSED!
We did a Yankee Gift Swap and it was fun -- but most people were just TOO polite, so there wasn't as much stealing as there has been some years. The gifts were TERRIFIC (rat lovers are the most generous and creative people...), so everyone went home happy!
We played Ratasaurus Egg Hunt and the ONE EGG, which contained the piece of paper saying "You have won the Grand Prize" was never found! It's STILL out there in my yard somewhere! So we had to have an impromptu ticket drawing to give away the Grand Prize. This year's prize had a literary theme -- a big bag full of books, art, cards and all sorts of other great stuff, all rat-related. A very nice prize, won by long-time RatFest supporter, Matt.
The Photo Contest -- as always -- was AGONIZING! Voting for the cutest or funniest picture out of dozens of ADORABLE and sooooo funny pics is ridiculously difficult. But eventually the voting was done and we gave away 5 prizes in 5 categories -- Cutest, Funniest, Best Caption, Honorary Rats and Best Overall. The winners were very happy and proud!
Then came time for the Raffle. Let's see if I can remember all of the raffle items...
We had a gorgeous bracelet made of black beads in the shape of rats and a rat shaped ceramic shaker for grated cheese, both donated by Melissa. We had a lovely Netsuke bead necklace, made and donated by Laurey. A great cookie jar/bowl set with rats on them and a nice soft blanket with a rat decoration, donated by Tony and Barbara. We had a beautiful hammock done in a rat print, donated by June. Jane A donated 3 fabulous Vera Ratly hand-made purses with matching wallets. And we had a FULLY furnished -- water bottle, food dish, hammock (thank you June!), wheel (thank you Heidi!), toys, climbing rope ladder and bedding -- Martin's 690 cage to raffle off. The cage was my old one, but it was still sturdy and with all the 'trimmings' it made a great prize!
Tony and Barbara ended up with the cage. I don't remember who won the other stuff -- but I know everyone was happy! Oh...I ended up with the cheese shaker because Tony and Barbara gave it to me! It's SO cute!
The Mall was smaller than usual, but there were some nice things to buy. We also had some time to just sit and visit, which was great.
We had fried chicken, rolls and potato salad for dinner -- yum!
After dinner we settled down for a rousing game of Rationary. Jessica is the Master of Rationary and runs a great, very competitive game! We had a wonderful time playing, as always.
JoAnna couldn't make the cake this year, so Jessica did it. She decorated it too and it was wonderful!! You'll have to see the pics (once we get some up) to really appreciate it.
Jessica also did the FABULOUS Welcome sign, plus she spent part of the day doing drawings of people's rats from photos. They came out wonderfully!
Finally it was time for the 'Closing Ceremony' -- fireworks, set to Lee Greenwood's 'Proud to be an American.' This year the music worked and it was a touching way to end the day.
But RatFest wasn't over!
Sunday - August 19
Sunday we all met at Flanigan's restaurant for brunch. It is a lovely place, the service was good and the food was great. We used the raffle money to pay half of the bill and divided the rest of the bill between the 14 of us who were there -- it came to just $7 per person for a terrific brunch!
The remainder of the raffle money, about $90, will be given to Kim's Ark Rodent Rescue.
Usually on Sunday we do a Rat Craft, but we simply ran out of ideas, so we had intended to play some games instead. But everyone was having such a great time sitting around talking and playing with my girls, that we decided to just visit. It was fun and VERY relaxing!
Speaking of my girls... Cloud and Jet were the hit of the party! They are just 7 weeks old and as cute as anything. Jet, a black Irish Dumbo, has always been very outgoing and friendly. Cloud, the most gorgeous light blue variberk Dumbo ever, has been more shy -- but she wasn't shy on Sunday! She was out, running from person to person, shirt diving, playing, popcorning, wrestling, just like her sister! Whimsy, who is also shy, came out too and played with everyone. All three girls just charmed everyone who met them! My big girls, Snippet and Smidgeon, also got their share of attention and cuddles. Bizzy is older and a little bit frail, so we let her spend most of the day in the cage. The rats are simply exhausted today!
As always, RatFest is too soon over. It's sad to say good-bye to new and old friends, but hopefully we will be able to do this again next year!
I want to thank Jane for coming early and helping greatly. You do such a good job keeping things clean and the food organized! Thank you Jane!
Thank you also, Matt and Dru, for coming early and helping so much.
June, thank you for bringing all the paper plates and stuff.
Thank you to EVERYONE who donated prizes and raffle items. RatFest would not be the same without your generosity.
And thank you to everyone who takes time to attend RatFest. Without you, there wouldn't even BE a RatFest!
A great BIG thank you to Jessica, the co-hostess with the mostess. RatFest is not a one person job -- I could NOT do it by myself. Having someone to take control and be there all through the day means so much -- thank you Jessica!
Until next year! Cathy
Contact Cathy for more information.