Annual Struggles

Every fall we do battle with mice as they try to move into our old farmhouse.

This fall has been exceptionally bad and I've lost track of how many we have caught and I still keep seeing the tell-tale signs of them nearly everyday, and hear them in the walls. (Shudder) 

This morning right after LV left for work I decided to try to get an hour of writing done before Steven gets up and it's time to do school and tackle things on our to-do list for the day.

I had only written a few paragraphs when out of the corner of my eye I see a movement. Looking up I see a mouse sitting in the living room doorway calmly staring at me. 

I screamed, it turned and slipped behind a bag of things waiting to be donated in the hallway.

I texted LV saying, "I'm going on an anti mouse shopping spree. I can't live in a house where mice feel comfortable roaming about and staring at me."

He replied, "Go right ahead."

I opened Amazon, prepared to buy all the anti mouse things I could find.

I found the traps he had been telling me about that they use at his workplace. Apparently they're the best. They come in packs of twenty, but this is war. Click add to cart.

Peppermint oil always seems to help deter them. I start my search for it. Before I found what I want the mouse was back staring at me again.  Another scream sent it scampering away.

Having my feet on the floor with a mouse roaming about was uncomfortable, so I drew them up and sat on them and resumed my search for the peppermint oil. 

It took a minute to decide which one I want, but finally decided a four ounce bottle seems like the best option. I added it to my cart and here comes the mouse again.

Another scream. This time it remained unbothered and it continued halfway into the living room. Some more screaming happened along with waving my arms which made it decide retreating would be wise after all.

More searching Amazon revealed some tablet things that supposed to encourage mice to stay out of the area. Click add to cart.

Next I search for ultrasonic mouse repellent. Turns out it's more than I want to pay, but as I sit there debating if it would be worth the price the mouse comes back.

Another involuntary scream has it ambling back out into the hallway.

I look for bait. I already know from experience I don't want the bait blocks, but after some searching I find pellets with good reviews. They come in a four pound pail. It feels like an appropriate amount by this time. I add it to my cart and then go check out.

The bait is supposed to arrive tomorrow, but the rest is scheduled for Sunday. A little longer than I want to wait, but at least the battle can begin.

I go back to my writing project and the mouse appears again! This time it takes me getting out of my chair to send it on its way. 

I went searching for a glue trap, found one, and set it in the living room doorway. Less than two minutes later the mouse was stuck on it.

I couldn't help it. Another scream, and then I hollered for Steven to come to my rescue. 

It took him a little bit to get out of bed and dressed. While I waited on him I had to suppress the urge to scream every time I heard the mouse struggle on the trap. (One reason I am loathe to use glue traps)

He came and took care of it while I went to brew a pot of tea to soothe my poor throat from all the screaming it had endured and sent Rosie a long message detailing my morning. 

Her response "I can't believe you bought all that stuff and then just caught the thing. Kind of anti climatic. I wanted better opposition from the mouse.