Of mice and women

I caught one!

The snap trap got it.

The little thing was about as big as my thumb and so darn cute.

I feel wretched now.

RIP little mouse - I'm sorry.

They're baaaaaack - again

Those pesky little critters!

Mice!

So far they seem to be in our garage only. Usually we get them in the basement as well, but I haven't been down there to properly inspect the place since our new roommates have moved in.

They were freaking out over crickets, can you imagine if they knew there were mice down there too?

In the past I have used snap traps, glue traps (horrible, I do not recommend them) and poison. I have even tried gizmos that are supposed to kill the mouse and then keep it in one container so you don't see it.

Usually one of the above techniques work. Except for that last one. What a waste of money that was.

This year the mouse population in my neighborhood have put up little bulletins in their little mouse dens and have spread the work that I am out to get them because they have alluded capture so far.

First was the snap traps. I tried Cheez Whiz - they licked it clean off without setting off the trap. Then came the peanut butter - I thought it would be a bit sticker and hard to lick off. They licked that off too! One little bugger not only licked the peanut butter off the trap but it must have gotten caught on his/her tail and they dragged the trap to the middle of the garage and left it there. No sign of blood so I don't think it was injured.

Getting really ticked off now.

I put two glue traps down. I really don't like these because the mice get stuck to the glue and basically starve to death and you have to pick that trap up and throw it away eventually. It's not humane in my mind, but I am getting determined.

Two days...nothing but a few little mouse droppings around the glue traps.

I tried to put a dab of peanut butter in the middle of the trap and do you know that little varmint licked the peanut butter clean off the glue trap without getting stuck!!! one trap actually had some pieces of insulation on top of the glue so it wouldn't be sticky.

I even think I see a little teenie tiny, itty bitty, little teenie tIIIIny (think of Emily Litela people).....paw print on the adhesive.



You can just make them out in this picture!

Seriously!!!

WTF?!?!

This is one smart little mouse.

I have to say I am very impressed with his evasive maneuvers!
BUT I am the human - I am "supposed" to have a superior brain!

Now this is personal.

Now I feel like Wyle E. Coyote chasing after the Road Runner. (looking for the ACME anvil to drop on my head any moment)

:::drumming fingers:::

I would try the catch and release traps but I have heard that mice can find their way back to your house unless you take them far, far, FAR away.

With my luck I'll let it go in the woods and he'll tell all his little mice friends and next thing you know I'll have a Willard situation on my hands.

Any tips, tricks, helpful hints from Heloise will be considered!

Stay tuned...the saga continues.

Maybe I can hire this guy:

Dive's 500 Word Challenge

Dive over at Small Glass Planet has a challenge he posts every week. He provides a sentence and if you're up for it you write a 500 word essay and the sentence has to be included.

Here is this week's sentence:

"Witchcraft once started, as we all know, is virtually unstoppable."

Here is my entry:

A Witch Named Fred -

In his cubicle Fred sat working on yet another boring report that his troll of a manager had demand he get to her “As soon as possible!”
Everything with her was “As soon as possible.”
Murmuring under his breath and wondering why she can’t print her own damned reports Fred’s thoughts wandered off. It was late October, the leaves were changing colors. Driving to work he saw all of the houses decorated for Halloween. He remembered as a child he wanted to dress up like a witch one year.
“A witch?” his mother shrieked and laughed. “Boys can’t be witches Fred. Don’t be ridiculous. How about Freddy Krueger instead. It suits your name! You can use your brother’s costume from last year. It may be a little big on you but it’s only for one night.”
Fred didn’t want to be Freddy Krueger. Freddy was mean and evil. Witches were cool with their magical powers. Besides his older brother Thomas was disgusting. Overweight and lazy and a mouth breather. They shared the same room since they were babies and Fred knew the reason he was tired all of the time was because Thomas snored and farted in his sleep constantly.
“Actually Mother, boys CAN be witches, although they are called Warlocks.” Freddy answered his mother impassively.
That was the last year Fred went out Trick or Treating. The Freddy Krueger mask smelled like rotten eggs and it was stained with chocolate and god knows what else. He was horrified. If he couldn’t be a Warlock for Halloween he wouldn’t go out at all.
“One day…I’ll be at witch and you’ll all be sorry” he cried into his pillow as he fell asleep that All Hallows Eve.
“Necromancer! Necromancer! Where is that damned report. I needed it yesterday!” his boss screeched from the other side of the room.
Fred snapped out of his day dream.
She was only about 4’9” tall and you could barely make out the top of her head over the cubicles as she was roaming around the office.
“I’m sending it to you now.” Replied Fred not even trying to disguise the annoyance in his voice.
“Sending it? Sending it how? I need that report printed and on my desk. I have a meeting that I am supposed to be at 5 minutes ago…I need it NOW!”
Fred felt a growing burning inside him. He stood up, aimed his #2 pencil at his boss and shouted: “I wish you would just shut up and print your own damn reports you little troll!”
“Ugh! Do I have to do EVERYTHING around here myself” sighed his boss and went to her computer and actually printed the report and left to go to the meeting.
Was it him or did her nose seem to grow a bit bigger and her ears a little pointier?
He sat down, shaking…but grinned.
This felt good, very good!
"Witchcraft once started, as we all know, is virtually unstoppable."

Seasons

Ahhhhh Autumn.

My most very favorite time of the year.

Cool days and crisp nights.

The smell in the air changes.

Sweaters come out of the attic, jackets are kept nearby for those nights when it's a bit nippy out.

"They" predict that it will be a very cold winter. They don't expect too much snow, but it will be cold.

I think the birds, chipmunks and the squirrels are able to predict the up coming winter. I have seen more activity on my bird feeders this year than I have in a while.

At the park where I walk my dogs I have been picking up extra hickory nuts and black walnuts to throw down for them.

One over appreciative squirrel came up to my back door this morning looking for more I think. Thank goodness Margie wasn't there. You would have heard her scream from whatever part of the world you are reading this from!

I try to feed them on the other side of my fence to discourage them from coming in the yard. #1 - because I'm afraid the dogs will kill them. #2 - Margie isn't a big fan. She has a bit of sciurophobia! (I think this is a made up word but someone actually has a website about it. of course)

I even found a video called "Fear of Squirrels" by a group called Scarlett Angel. There aren't any real words to it, just a lot of crazy music. Perhaps it is supposed to be symbolic of what someone feels when they see a squirrel?

Anyway - where was I?

Oh...winter. Cold. Furry animals stocking up.

Hibernating.

Winter appeals to the lazy part of me. Staying inside bundled up. Snuggling. Not doing a whole lot of anything.

School will keep me busy. Painting I hope will as well.

I will probably blog on a more frequent basis since I won't be outside as much.

By March I will be going stir crazy and looking forward to Spring again, but for now...bring on the Autumn and the Winter!

I think I'll go up to the attic and get down all of my mothball smelling "winter" clothes so I can air them out a little.

Yeah...this is good.