What Is It?

(Oh hell, it's nasty outside and I might as well put up another post. Soon enough, I shall become jaded and cease to blog. But this is a novelty and so much is happening. We've only been here three weeks and we've lived a life time of diasters!!)
So, What is it??

Yes, it does look like the sort of thing living in one of those neglected containers in the back of the refrigerator, but it is actually the carpet at the top of our stairs. The carpet which I initially thought was tan and a different carpet than the blue wall-to-wall in the master bedroom. At least we can spill, dribble, splatter and soil with impunity until we replace it. Could take years!