Can Guinea Pigs Eat Sweet Dumpling Squash?

The first official day of fall just happened earlier this week. We like the fall for a few reasons. First, the temperature drops closer to the ideal range for guinea pigs (at least in our area it does--can't speak for all the readers out there who might leave in really hot or cold places). And second, it means that the humans tend to find new squash for us to try, which we tend to like. And, right on cue, the humans brought home a new one!

The humans saw this at the farmer's market and thought of us. We got them trained well!  

As it turns, out, Dumpling Squash is also known as Sweet Dumpling Squash, and it's supposed to have "sweet, tender orange flesh." Well then, what are you waiting for, humans? Cut it open and let us try it!

Hurry up! Clean out the gunky stuff!

We can have winter squash like Sweet Dumpling Squash 2-4 times per week. As with other squash, just feed us the flesh--no seeds, stringy parts, skin, or stems.

Broccoli, I sure hope you wouldn't mind staying on your side. I believe that's a perfectly fair way to share the squash.

Hey! You're now on both sides! That wasn't our agreement!

The squash was delightful, even if Broccoli's manners were not quite at that level. We give Sweet Dumpling Squash 5/5 stars!

Product Review: Cuddy Cavies Creations Pokemon Go Costumes

Longtime readers might remember several years back when Lola (1) and Buffy entered a costume contest with costumes from Cuddly Cavies Creations, and won second place. With Halloween just around the corner, the humans decided that it might be nice to get us some new costumes. We don't really get why Halloween is so exciting to humans, but sometimes you just have to play along for their sake. I suppose Buffy and Lola (1) did look great in their costumes. But if the humans really want us to get excited about Halloween, they should give us some treats that we're allowed to eat, like pumpkin.

Anyway, Cuddly Cavies Creations has some new Pokemon costumes that I think a lot of humans will go crazy for. Have you heard about this Pokemon Go craze? It's apparently some big thing where humans will stand around on street corners, staring at their phones and trying to find and catch little creatures by throwing special balls at them. Humans, if we agree to put on these Pokemon costumes, you better not throw anything at us! Deal?

And some fussing (and biting), the humans got us into the costumes:

Top: I'm looking "hot" in my "Charmander-pig" costume! Bottom: Lola's looking adorable in her "Pig-achu" costume.

Costumes are no fun to put on. I'm a bit more relaxed about it, but Lola ended up getting a little nippy. We recommend that you have two humans put on the costumes; one who can support our feet, while the other can snap closed the Velcro. Also, make sure you listen to your guinea pig. If it seems like your guinea pig is getting too stressed out, give up on putting on the costume. It's not worth upsetting us over a few cute pictures.

Despite our complaints about having costumes put on us, we have to admit that we looked great once they're on. We give these costumes 5/5 stars!

More Celebrities with Guinea Pigs

We did a post on celebrities with guinea pigs last month, and asked readers to let us know in the comments section of they knew of any others. Piggyfriends obliged, and pointed out: "Queen Elizabeth 1st. of England ( 1533-1603 ) had a pet guinea pig. Our ancestors must have been quite a novelty in those far off days when we were first brought back from South America." Unfortunately, there is no photo of her with a guinea pig. This was the closest thing we could find:

From the Being Bess blog: "The Ermine Portrait of Queen Elizabeth I, by William Segar. Elizabeth is depicted with an ermine on her sleeve (a member of the weasel family, along with ferrets, a domesticated form of polecat used for hunting), representing her royal birth. Unfortunately, there is no Guinea Pig Portrait!" 

We also learned that journalist Soledad O'Brien had a guinea pig named CJ:

Soledad O'Briend, her guinea pig CJ, and Anderson Cooper. (Source.)

CJ even has his own Twitter account (which hasn't been updated in a long time, unfortunately):

https://twitter.com/CJOBrien1

In addition, we have more pics and information on the Roosevelt family guinea pigs, as first mentioned in our previous post:

"Roosevelt was the only president to own guinea pigs. Their names were Admiral Dewey, Bishop Doane, Dr. Johnson, Father O'Grady, and Fighting Bob Evans." (source: Reddit)

Thanks again to Piggyfriends for providing us the information on Elizabeth 1 of England! Again, if you know of any other guinea pigs who had famous human companions, please let us know in the comments section.

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Carnival Squash?

Summer isn't quite over yet, but you can already tell that fall is right around the corner. The humans have been complaining less about sweating like pigs (even though I try to assure them that sweating isn't a problem for us), and more squash has been showing up at the grocery stores and farmer's markets. It was therefore only a matter of time before they managed to find a new one for us to review. Good job, humans!

Today, we're reviewing carnival squash. It turns out that carnival squash is a hybrid of acorn squash (which we've reviewed) and another type called sweet dumpling squash (which we've never heard of). Carnival squash is a winter squash, which means we can have it 2-4 times per week. Don't feed us the stem, skin, seeds or stringy parts around the seeds. Just feed us some small raw cubes of the orange flesh (not too much- sugar and all).

So colorful!

Come on, Broccoli! Share with me!

How about if I just reach in there?

Yum!

More! More! More!

No more? Aw...

We have no complaints at all about carnival squash. It was nutty and a little sweet. We finished every last bite the humans gave us. We give carnival squash 5/5 stars!