Preventitive Measures

Last year mice got in here. I didn't protect my home early enough. They ate my ceramic Christmas tree cord and totally wrecked my linen closet with the chewed remains of seven new rolls of Viva paper towels. There was evidence of them in the kitchen cupboards although almost all boxed and paper foodstuffs are in plastic containers. This year I'm the mouse slayer and they are the slain. So far all new SIX mouse traps are in the trash can with my victims. As frugal as I am, I don't wish to empty the traps and wash them and reset them, so have asked a friend to buy six more. 

Warning, the picture I took might be disturbing to some. It felt no pain, believe me! The plain, ordinary Victor traps work well — very well. (I've learned that mice go for the sharp white cheese chunks best of all.)

My yard guy stopped in and told me his artificial Christmas tree was stored in his garage and the mice have killed it. My daughter also said they got into her ornament box that was stored in an outdoor shed and did damage to some treasures.

 

Not much has changed over the years. Here is a link on a blog I wrote 5 years ago. The challenge every year goes on! I seem to tell about them every year as well.......

Yearly Happening

The Battle

There are so many beautiful and wonderful photos and poems being posted and written in the blogging world and here I am going against my grain showing another side. It is a 'necessary evil' to kill the tiny invaders but it is also important for me to fight this small battle against those little ones.

So far the Victor traps have very humanely ended the natural activity in the surrounding landscape of my abode. The count is climbing as is the purchase of new traps as they are activated and then deposited directly into the trash can.  

So far the mouse count is 2 inside, 4 outside plus 1 vole outside. Now if there were a humane way to discourage the little busy invasive red squirrels I might try it. They seem to have multiplied over the past few years and appear quickly and often. Oh well, I'd better leave that thought. So far they haven't destroyed my stuff but I do know of others who have been invaded and taken over by them in their outbuildings. 

Warning, the picture I took this morning might be disturbing to some. It felt no pain, believe me!

House Mouse

Yes, that is who I am sometimes - BUT! I'm not the only one in here! I had set out all of the ingredients early this morning with the intention of baking a batch of walnut bars. Then I decided to take my shower first and went into the linen closet for a fresh towel. WHAT!! Little white snowballs tumbled out and onto the floor. Tons of them! Millions of them! Since two days ago when I put linens away. It only took a minute for me to see why. I had stored seven Viva paper towel rolls (not in wrapper) on the upper shelf on top of some blankets. The paper towels were absolutely tattered and shredded all over the place. What a cleanup I had as I took each one to the kitchen to tear off damaged sheets over the waste basket leaving a trail on the floor. Then the fun began as I removed all contents of that large linen closet. Thank goodness, the only stars of the show were the towels. I have no items on hand to curb the enthusiasm of the little invading critters so I had to call in the reserves to go shopping for my immediate needs. I'll know better next time. What a cleanup I then had! Soooo I forfeited the shower and went to baking. The next cleanup was much easier if you will believe that!

By the way, in the last week, I had already trapped and tossed a couple that were lurking in the carport (trap and all) into the trash can. 'Tis the season!

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Walnut Bars

Ingredients 

4 tablespoons butter (melted and cooled) 

3/4 cups flour (all-purpose ) 

1/2 teaspoon salt 

3/4 teaspoon baking powder 

1/8 teaspoon baking soda 

1 large egg 

1 cup light brown sugar (firmly packed) 

1 teaspoon vanilla extract 

1 cup walnuts (chopped) 

Steps to Make It 

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease and flour an 8-inch square baking pan. 
2. In a medium bowl, combine the flour with salt, baking soda, and baking powder. Whisk or stir to blend thoroughly. 
3. In a mixing bowl with electric mixer, beat the egg for 2 to 3 minutes, or until foamy. 
4. Add the brown sugar, melted butter, and vanilla; beat well. 
5. Stir in flour mixture until well blended. 
6. Fold the walnuts into the batter. 
7. Spoon the thick batter into the prepared baking pan and spread it evenly with a spatula. 
8. Bake in the preheated oven for about 20 to 24 minutes, or until browned and the top has formed a crust. 
9. Cut into 2-inch bars; cool in pan. The recipe makes about 16 walnut bars. 

Tips 

Check the brownies after 20 minutes to avoid overbaking.  

Get Real

Stop reading right now if you don't know that we kill mice that trespass and intrude and cause damage to our property. Do you know that there are many diseases mice carry that may be transmitted to humans or pets? ...that they can squeeze themselves into your home through a very small crack or gap?

I mentioned in yesterday's story about mouse #5 being trapped and the trap reset. It is a fact of life here that the mice invade our homes at this time of year. We kill them. Several years ago they got into the cabin when we were in SC and stored and hoarded the pellets that were left for them in my printer and completely ruined it with their body wastes. Another time we returned late at night from SC only to find that they had invaded all of my kitchen cupboards at floor level and dirtied every single bowl, pot, pan, utensil and shelf. I went to war because, later on I found that my linen closet had been invaded and many materials destroyed. We did find their main entry hole in a bottom log crack and plugged it well. We don't go south now and are here so the control is easier. A single trap placed outside by the back door is the most efficient method. Peanut butter is the bait we use. 

We also have glueboards on the floor in the closets to help with spider and millipedes - not mice. We don't check it often. This morning one of the boards was out of the closet (the bottom of doors don't reach the floor and there is about a one inch gap) and in the room by the door. A very newly expired mouse was there! Now we have to search for another entry. Maybe since we no longer have our dog, the regular snap traps will be used. I really don't like to think of the struggle it went through to free itself before dying. Of course, we could always get a cat!

Previous Story

Who's Sorry Now?

You sorry little mouse. You just couldn’t stay up in the woods where you belong. You had to come down and snoop around the cabin with your nosy little nose. All of the nuts and seeds back there weren’t good enough for you to be satisfied. Or…were you looking for a warm place to build a nest for the winter? We’ll never know. Now look what you did. Stuck your neck out. Many of your relatives in the past did it too, but they never got the chance to tell you what happened. Now you know. Before it became your fate, three others ventured here this week only to disappear forever. We hope that others stay where they belong because if they come down from the woods above, they’re in for a big surprise. Just like yours and your cousin's.

There will be no mouse in my house!

Back Door Visitor

6:30PM and the trap went off again!

This time I was cooking supper but took a breather to get his picture. They will try ANY WAY to get in here. There will be NO mouses in my house this season!

Rewarding Day

Another mouse! It was a light brown one and the largest we have ever seen. In fact, we have never seen such a brown color on a mouse. Our mice are grey!  My husband wanted to know if I would photograph it, but I was in the middle of baking a carrot cake this morning and my energy was just about spent. Into the trash can Brownie went and the trap was reset. This little bugger was caught in the carport and we never know which trap will go off each morning when we check them.

With the cake in the oven, I then had a moment to look for some information about brown mice.

Brown mice are nocturnal in nature and feed primarily on plants. However, they will consume whatever food sources are available to them. Brown mice are good climbers and may be found atop trees or manmade structures. They are also capable of running very quickly and jumping up to 18 inches in height. If food supplies are sufficient and predators are kept at bay, brown mice produce offspring throughout the year. Females produce up to 10 mice in a single birth and offspring are ready to reproduce within 60 days. (source: Orkin Pest Control)

The recipe I use for carrot cake is one that a neighbor gave me when I was first married in 1955. It is always a success and doesn't even need any icing. For many years, especially at Thanksgiving time I have turned it into "Gere's Fruitcake" by adding candied fruit, raisins, chipped pecans and baking it in a silicon 10 cup bundt pan. Could you smell it baking? It usually takes about 1 1/2 hours to be baked just right and then we begin to dig in. Cake for lunch? Why not!

Can you see the carrots? I love carrots.
Click on photo to drool!

After lunch and nap, I really must go outdoors and dress James. He's gone naked since August when he was treated with some boiled linseed oil mixed with turpentine. At first I was going to let him age naturally but then I gave in and decided to try to prolong his lifespan with a spa treatment even if for just a little bit. Wiley is already sporting his holiday bib.

By the way, my sweet potato vine has sprouted and seems to be doing well even though the countertop where it sits by the window is a very cold area. 

Victory!

Click on photos to view larger.

We do it the old-fashioned way. They are vermin! As I write this, I know that several more are surrounding my home looking for an entrance.  They carry disease.  They dirty everything they travel over. They scurry along baseboards, sticking to the walls, hunting for something to chew. They even can chew through plastic water pipes. Yes, they can. That happened to a neighbor. Mice can chew electric cords and cause fires. They can bury their seeds in vehicle's innards and clog up the heater, air conditioner, and other parts. They will hoard the little green poison pellets, if you use this method of control. They can hoard a considerable heap in your printer and kill it. Ask me. I know. They aren't just pesky, they are dangerous.

Of course, there are many ways to kill them. We don't believe in the "humane" trapping systems. A quick snap of the neck does the job and they never know what hit. Peanut butter is our bait of choice.

Each year our dog alerts to their attempts to enter this old cabin. He sniffs, sniffs, sniffs at the door or wall and won't stop. After all, he's a Rat Terrier and they are very good at what they do. They are very capable of hunting rodents above and below ground. He once sniffed one out that had been hiding behind our couch and, when it ran across the room, he caught it! How proud he was.

I will rest well after the traps come up empty for several days in a row.