My Friends are my RoseBouquet



The RoseBouquet

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RoseBouquet - About and FOR Friends of
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Welcome Friends

#1122 Vol.26 - A Mouse in my Bathtub!! - Oct 28, 2025

In The Garden Today:
<*> At My Place: A Mouse in my Bathtub!!
<*> What's New: A Saga About Shipping to a Customer
<*> Tips & Solutions:Scripture Promises & Proclamations

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A Mouse in my Bathtub!!

I'll start with this funny story first (as the one that follows is quite Serious.)

Last week late one evening I headed into the bathroom to get ready for the night. Turning on the light set a wee bitty mouse in my bathtub into a panic! He (or she) raced around trying to run up the sides of the tub - but they were too slippery.

I didn't have the nerve to pick up mousie with my bare hand, so I just grabbed a bottle with cleaning fluids in it and sprayed mousie hard - no matter which direction he ran trying to find a way out. Maybe he'd drown? Oh yes, I also turned on the taps, both hot and cold water. After a few inches of depth of water, I stopped. I didn't want to see him clamber over the side, and escape to where!?

I began to wonder how long this little war was going to last..! Then I remembered that when I catch a mouse with my sticky traps they don't die right a way but they can't get away. (At least I hope not.) So I've set aside a large yellow margarine tub under the kitchen table and I just turn it over the mouse, trap n' all. Sometimes I put a weight on it to make sure the mouse (if a Daddy mouse) can't lift the tub and cast it off.

I rushed to the kitchen, picked up the yellow tub and raced back to the bathtub, slamming down over wee little mousie. Oh-oh, he wasn't attached to a stick trap so the whole tub started moving.

Quickly I grabbed the first heavy object I saw - a bottle of detergent, set it down on the tub, and sighed with relief when it stopped moving.

I normally have my baths in the morning, but decided I would not have a bath until I'd disposed of mousie, and scrubbed the whole tub THOROUGHLY!

In the morning I couldn't resist having a peek. Um... mousie was on his haunches and seemed to be busy studying some of his loose hairs between his tiny front paws.

"Okay," I said quietly to myself, "I'm NOT picking you up with my bare hands, so stay there all day."

When I checked again at bedtime that night, he had fallen over and was no longer breathing. So I picked up an empty toilet paper core in the waste basket, scooped him up with that, then as he was about to fall out the other end, I squeezed the tube a bit to keep him inside, and carried him to the garbage bin in the back porch.

The next day was Saturday, and yes, I sure did a very thorough scrubbing of the tub, rinsing it hard too!

Now it is my tub again. . . .!




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A Saga About Shipping to a Customer

Last week Tuesday night just before going to bed at midnight I received an email that a customer had bought one of Tom's models. Great! I looked forward to the next day when I would package it and take it to the post office to get on the way.

Not so easy! Not so Fast!

Canada Post has changed their rules. Now you must download their app, fill out the documents, and even print out a formal shipping label.

My old phone is at least 7-9 years old. I use it only to call the CAA to come rescue me if I have trouble with my car somewhere on the road. I don't even give my number out to anyone as I don't know how to really use it, except for road emergencies. In fact, I often don't even open it for 3 months or more at a time! No success with the app.

A man behind me at the post office counter said I should try Freightcom - he ships about 10 parcels a week to the USA that way.

I went home discouraged, but ready to check on his suggestion. That company is in Ontario and seems to be a big company. I called in and a nice man in sales helped me start to file out an application form.

I

'll spare you the details. One thing led to another and by the end of that Wednesday, I had missed out on everything else that had been on my agenda for that day, and I had no means of getting my parcel off to the customer in New Jersey. I learned a lot of things on the way, but the carefully packed box with a nicely printed label taped on it was still idle on my desk.

By late evening I felt I had done all I could, still no prize. a friend suggested I do as her daughter does, using ChitChats to send products to customers in the USA. I started to research them but felt rather tired and discouraged, so finally gave up and went to bed.

Oh, and first I emailed my customer to explain why his purchase was not on the way yet to him. In fact, I've sent him a daily email to keep him informed, But since he hasn't replied I don't know if he has even seen those emails.

By Friday night I was utterly exhausted from trying and sad because my usual day agenda had been bypassed. I snacked by the fridge door a few times, but didn't really feel like making a meal.

Since Freightcom and the vasts majority of the trucking companies that deliver for them, seem to disappear from the internet on Saturday and Sunday. So I reclaimed Saturday for some house-work, garden raking and even having a nap.

By Sunday I'd talked myself into pricing a newer phone (if affordable), which might mean I could use Canada Post and USA Post. At least if I could understand the app I had to download.

Also, I became more curious about ChitChats. I spent most of yesterday researching them online and discovering they a quite a plan, and their shipping costs are about 80% less than all the other options.

I thought this morning that I might have all my documents in order, would only need to drive to a drop-off point 5 blocks from home and let the system take to off to a point in Calgary then to the USA, where it would be shipped by their postal system, and all for just a bit more than $12.

But as the hours ticked by I decided to get my RoseBouquet written and sent off first, because this may take the rest of the day.

I keep remembering that my Gra'ma Kroeker said, "Old as a cow, and still always learning!"

But then, if I'm to keep my promise to Tom, my brother who collected all these models, then - face it - I need to learn these shipping methods. Maybe even more than one - so that I have a few real Options.

I pray that I may stop feeling sorry for myself and buckle down to learn these lessons well! It will be worth it - YET!!

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<*> TIPS & SOLUTIONS: <*>
Scripture Promises & Proclamations


I have about nine Scripture Promises & Proclamations that I review each morning, and pray back to the LORD with thanksgiving, not because He might forget, but I might. Repeating them back to the LORD in a voice of faith - helps me to remember that these promises are still there, and I CHOOSE to BELIEVE them.

Here's One Example:

(Psalm 112:5&7 niv)
"Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man/woman. Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice... He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD."



My Response: Your light will dawn for me even when things look the darkest!! YOUR GOOD will come to me as I am generous and lend freely, and conduct my affairs with justice; my heart will be steadfast trusting in YOU, LORD!




P.S. If you would like to have this list of Promises and how to claim them, just send me an email (with your mailing address) and I'll print and laminate a copy for you.

There is text on both sides, and because I handle it every day and don't want to have it become folded and marked up, the laminating keeps it in good condition indefinitely.




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Ruth Marlene Friesen

Ruth Marlene Friesen

The Responsible One



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Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada