I went out on a coffee house crawl with Heather this evening. Saint Charles has changed a lot. It's got a much more vibrant artistic community than it had when I lived in the area. I was impressed by the variety and quality of the local artists.

One of the coffee houses was in the New Town at Saint Charles development. It is a planned sustainable community with mixed income levels and a focus on pedestrianism and environment. Narrow streets laid out on a grid and shops and residences within easy walking distance from each other, it's a great alternative to suburban sprawl. Even though it is still very much being built, it already has a warmth and a personality. If I were planning to move back to this area, New Town would be at the top of my list.

I didn't think she was a deer mouse at first, but on looking at Marshmallow more closely and comparing her to deer mice online, I'm almost certain she is. Deer mice aren't normally found indoors in the suburbs, so it's a little odd that she was living in our kitchen. But she's cute, has been playing on her wheel, and seems to like her cage, so I think she's a keeper.