I love the reworked strand.
I love the stuffed critters.
Ride a cock-horse to Banbury Cross, (cock-horse = toy horse head on a broom handle)
To see a fine lady upon a white horse;
Rings on her fingers and bells on her toes, (Tails?)
And she shall have music wherever she goes.
As far as unwanted rodents are concerned, I think I've mentioned this before. Pee in their hole. Mark your territory. Just pee in a cup and pour the urine around and into their burrows. They won't like it and should go somewhere else within a week. Urine is free, natural, not poisonous, and the animals understand that it means you own that spot.