I do not have a BME at all, but the pictures I really liked of it were when the plant was round and mounded with the blooms at intervals between the leaves. It looked like an old fashioned nosegay or a bridal bouquet. Paul's plant in the ground is really pretty, and so is Anna's in full bloom. And BK, yours does look like two plants--perhaps less will be more for you, if you can consider watering a second little guy? I discovered that having TWO in a container is not as visually satisfying as seeing THREE. Equally spaced, separated from one another. If they grow to touch, there will be a better balance in the pot with three.

The ears look a bit big for a House Mouse and the bicolored tail argues against this. It could be a Peromyscus species (either Keen's Mouse or a Deer Mouse - assuming P. keeni occurs in your area?), but what it looks most like to me is a Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys megalotis). Telling harvest mice from house mice is tough without looking for the grooves on the incisors.

Ah, mice! We had an 1840 half-Cape with a root cellar. The foundation was original but in very good condition. Mice, mice and more mice, but were contained in that one area, so were easy to control. The problem was when one passed on to mouse heaven, the remains stunk for days. Usually, it happened during the holidays. Nothing like dead mouse and roasting turkey to whet the appetite. Our present house is our downsize. When we purchased it we knew renovation was in order, big time. It was winter, house was empty and thermostat set low. After inspection and closing we came back in, turned up the heat, and left. Next day, when we opened the door, both of us almost threw up. I’ve never smelled anything quite like it and hope never to again. The entire insulation in the house was loaded. Yes, there was drama !!!! Well deserved, as mice are filthy little creatures. End result, we hired a company that “suits up”, removes all insulation and then “power washes” the walls with disinfectant. Keep in mind this is AFTER my builder removed every wall in the house. Total clean-up cost for 1300 sq feet was $18,000.00. We had no choice. We couldn’t walk away from the house and if we put it back on the market, we would be legally responsible to disclose the problem. Upside? While everything was open, we had all the electrical redone, insulation, plumbing, etc. It is like a new home. 4 times a year a pest control company comes and checks the traps. We have never had another problem and it has been 6 years. Long run, it was worth it. The house is great, tight to the weather and we love it. And yes, the brown stain is mouse urine and the grease and dirt from their fur.

About midnight (several years ago) I got up to go to the bathroom (in the dark) and saw something scurry across the floor. Good thing I was seated. I yelled loudly, several times for husband, (who was and had been asleep for hours, and trying to awaken him in the middle of the night is akin to awakening the dead) closed the door to the potty room and shoved a rug at the base. Husband finally appears in all bleary eyed, assesses the situation and then wants to know what I expect him to do. Well DUH. Me: "Get a mouse trap from the garage." Him: “There are no mouse traps. I’m not going to look for one now. I’ll get it in the morning.” "By morning there will be a 100 mice in there, you’ve got to set it NOW. OR at least some duct tape to seal up the cracks around the door!" He stands guard outside the bathroom door, (less than pleased) while I go search for a mouse trap. I find one, bait it and take it to him. He gets it set, I open the door and he says, “It’s not a mouse, it’s a RA-bbiT.” All I hear is “RA—T” WHAT?? A RAT???“ “NO It’s a baby bunny!” Amazing how your whole attitude changes from a being freaked out to “awwww it’s a cute little bunny.”IN MY HOUSE no less. AT MIDNIGHT. He hands me a towel to I chase it around the toilet, it runs out and into the shower. I am standing about 1/2 way in the door way of the shower, not real sure if I want to get in there or not. I still wasn't positive it was a bunny. Husband pushes me inside the shower and shuts the door behind me. I finally caught it and took it outside and turned it loose. No idea how it got inside OR how long it had been in there! The dog feeding station is in the bathroom, and I had noticed pieces of dog food in various areas of the room. I thought the dogs were scattering it. Nope. Oh and our ever vigilant wiener dogs? Those vicious, fearless, badger hunting dogs? They slept through the whole thing. They’re an embarrassment to their species! They probably let it in to begin with.