A lazy Sunday at Peaceful Forest!
So today, I carried all my home canned food jars upstairs, and put them on shelves that I was using for books I have for sale on Bonanza. I put all the books in boxes and made a list of what book is in which box. It is easier that way for the food to be on the shelves so I can see it. The reason I could not leave them in the pantry, even in the plastic containers, was because it gets really cold in there during the winter. You cannot allow your home canned food jars freeze. It will ruin the food in them. So I put them upstairs. It is cool in the area where I put them, as there is a window right there. The upstairs is heated by the chimneys that run through the ceilings and out the roof. But it doesn't get really hot.
Tawny getting up from her nap!
I love living in the country. But the one reality of country living is that the mice love it too! They will attack us every now and again. For weeks, sometimes for months. Then we get rid of them. And have gone as much as two years, without even one chewing on our house or sneaking into the pantry. This year though, has been like a war. Our cat, Hobo has gotten a good share of them. She has even managed to get more than one in a single day!
I keep two mousetraps in the pantry. Some nights we get one in each. That means there must be a lot of mice coming in. I know some people will read this and feel sorry for the mice. Well, unless you have them coming into your house and leaving their calling cards on your food, dishes, counter tops, sinks and anywhere else they can think of..................you don't understand what a big problem this can be. I love animals. And I even love snakes, frogs and some bugs, and have learned to appreciate spiders............which I used to be terrified of. But I will never appreciate flies, conifer bugs or mice. Sorry, but that's the way it is.
If you are thinking of moving to the country, just remember you have to get over your fear of mice, bats, snakes, frogs, bugs, etc. They are out here too. Stands to reason that they would rather be in the country too. So you have to learn to fight them, tolerate them, and not get stressed out over them. I used to. Over the mice. Now I just have learned to fight back. Soon my pantry will be as mouse proof as my husband can make it, and I can't ask for much more than that.
Copyright © 2010 Kathleen G. Lupole
All Photographs Copyright © 2010 Kathleen G. Lupole
6 comments:
You left out scorpions! They plague me at home and at our vacation cabin, too! I don't know how they get into half the places where we find them.
I don't have any problem with your mouse war! Yeah, they're "cute" running across your floor for about a half a second--after that, we're competing for the same food, possessions, and space!
They've chewed up my dishtowels and underwear, chewed into all kinds of food and feed, and pooped all over EVERYTHING! I've hated them ever since one ran up my leg as a child!
Working into going off the grid, somewhat. Starting with food....
Glad to have found you!
Okay, you just reminded me of why I should stay in the city! lol
Hope you can win the mice war. :)
Looking forward to more tips.
My mom still lives on the farm where I grew up. We were talking on the phone last night and she let out a scream then said "gotta go, I've got a mouse to kill" and hung up on me. Tis the season for mice!
Yep the mice war is on going and never lets up. sometimes worse the others. Good luck
Is Hobo your only cat? Maybe a few more cats would help you win the mice war. Good luck!
I hate mice with a passion. I read somewhere that peppermint deters them. I bought a bottle of peppermint oil and put a few drops on several cotton balls and tossed them under our kitchen sink and in the bottom of the pantry. I haven't seen their calling cards in there since. I always tell people who tell me not to kill the mice to give me their address and I'll send the mice to them. ;)
Post a Comment