When I turned on the news this evening, there was a hint by the broadcaster about the furlough of federal employees. I thought perhaps it meant that they would be coming back to work, but it turned out to be about retroactive pay. I’d have to say that the pay business was expected by the staff here. Not the news I was hoping for.
The miserable weather continues, so yesterday I headed to Fargo to run some errands. One of my readers suggested I’d feel better if I stopped to get some of those chocolate covered potato chips, so what could I do but comply? And yes, I timed the trip so I could enjoy a strawberry malt from the malt shop. I don’t think a malt every three or four weeks is too much of an indulgence. I don’t care for maraschino cherries, so I asked them to leave my cherry off, and give me an extra scoop of malt instead. They were happy to accommodate.
In between rain showers and doing laundry up at the bunkhouse today, I took a little drive around the compound to see what fall colors I could enjoy. There’s not much of anywhere else I can go on the refuge until the shutdown is over with.
With all the rain has come colder temperatures. Some of you may know what that means for someone living out in the boonies in an RV. Since my rig is the best source of heat in the immediate area, the little mice are trying an invasion. I’m working on my battle lines, and so far today have trapped three of the little buggers. I’ve got my peanut butter ready, and my favorite trap that Janna sent me a couple of years ago. I have to take a little break from writing to empty it of it’s latest victim…
Do you remember this pic that I had in my last post about the mushrooms? Well a reader took that photo, doctored it up a bit, and sent it in an email to me yesterday.
What a hoot! It sure picked up my spirits. This reader wishes to remain anonymous, but I want to thank him/her for the chuckle it gave me.
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These are those same mushrooms two days later. Eventually, they will get much taller and turn black. That blackness will coat the surrounding grass like someone used a spray can of paint on it.
The rain is supposed to stop tomorrow, and I hope it does. All that’s on my agenda is cleaning the inside of the rig, and going to get more ice. Ho hum.
Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later, Judy
Good luck on the mouse hunt! Does Emma know when they are about?
ReplyDeleteLove the doctored photo! Here's hoping that all will be resolved soon - the Congressional mess, the refrigerator issue, and your plans for traveling south.
ReplyDeleteThe fall colors sure are pretty up your way!
ReplyDeleteYour mushrooms make me laugh... and I don't even have to ingest them ;-) Can only agree with the others... hope all the issues get settled soon.
ReplyDeleteThe doctored photo is priceless! There is a great deal more color on the refuge than just a couple of months ago when I was there. Enjoy all that color - when I was driving through New Mexico the trees were pretty, but only in shades of yellow. Kind of boring, and to think I missed the eastern leaf peeping season.
ReplyDeleteThe doctored photo was cute and the changing colors are just starting.
ReplyDeleteHere is something else you might try for your unwanted guest. http://www.victorpest.com/ They work very well from what I hear and are sold at Home Depot. The emit a high pitch sound that keeps them away but I don't know if it might affect Emma.
Be Safe and Enjoy!
It's about time.
got a chuckle out of the mouse story. . .but I know the reality is not funny! Good luck with the battle!
ReplyDeletesure hope your fridge is fixed quickly, so you can head out. . .the last time ours died, it was almost as cheap to replace it as it was to repair it. . .good luck.
I hope one of your readers can explain that dark black area where the shrooms used to be. I get that here in Florida and wonder what it is.
ReplyDeleteI have led a sheltered life-never had a chocolate covered potato chip:( We waged a two week battle in Gunnison CO a few years back against a horde of mice. In our case, I really think the mice were crossing our camp site to eat the peanut butter in the traps of the next camper. In the end, we resorted to traps and bait. I was mostly concerned about them eating my wiring.
ReplyDeleteGood luck getting rid of those unwanted guests, hope the rain disappears soon too!
ReplyDeleteGlad you treated yourself to those chips and a malt. I bought a jar of Carnation Malt powder this summer and to my surprise, my grands did not know what a malt was!! They knew milkshake but not one of the five who were here at the time had ever had a malt! What's this world coming to LOL!! I guess malt shops went the way of bobby sox and saddle shoes.
ReplyDeleteAnd poodle dog skirtsand white buck shoes :)
DeleteEmma's falling down on the job. She chases squirrels, is she afraid of mice? You need to have a serious talk with her. ;c)
ReplyDeleteGood luck on the battle. How come mice never end up on the endangered species list? :c(
Going to get more mice, you say? Oh. Ice. Aha, ice, not mice. Gotcha! (Nail them mice!)
ReplyDeleteJudy, I though maybe you were going to paint the grass around the mushrooms, now that you are a post painting expert! ;-)
ReplyDeleteMice: get a bottle of peppermint essential oil and put a few drops on each of several absorbent somethings (cotton ball, wad of tissue or paper towel, etc) and put them about. Make it a strong smell at first but after the first couple of days can just use a couple of drops/day at likely entry points. Mice will go. I even got rid of rats when I had them in the city with peppermint oil and previous to that we'd failed with a dozen or so plots to rid ourselves of them.
ReplyDeleteI love that photo you're using as your header (or whatever it's called in a blog): beautiful and I can almost feel the misty air, hear the sounds that are so special on those days.
Sarah
What a talented reader you have! what fun was that..... I've never been a fan of maraschino cherries either... I had a pal who would take bets in a bar that she could tie two cherries together with her tongue... in a KNOT .. and she did. ha
ReplyDeleteGlad that mouse trap is still working for you--geez, three mice in one day! Cute mushroom photo!
ReplyDeleteHow clever your reader is. The mushroom cartoon is excellent.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the fall colors. This time of year is one BIG think I miss about Ohio.
The boonies in an RV sounds like great fun ! What scenic views .
ReplyDeleteOh I hear ya on the mice , our old farm house is usually mouse free but just the other day we looked up and as happy as a clam, sitting in the parrots dish of seeds was a field mouse. Our parrot had his head cocked and was watching the little varmit out of the corner of his eye (was comical actually).
Judy, you don't have much longer to wait...Monday right? Good luck with the fridge and hopefully you will be heading south soon.
ReplyDeleteLove the mushroom cartoon. Now about that mouse ...
ReplyDeleteHave you ever tried the ice cream pail half full of water ... a tablespoon of veggie oil ( to keep the seeds afloat) ... enough birdseed to cover the top of the water ... and a little board or stick to make a ramp from the ground to the top of the pail for the mouse to climb up. They see the seed and jump into the bucket ... and drown.
We used to catch mice at the farm this way. Sometimes up to 10 at a time.
Hope you catch those mice, get the fridge fixed and hit the road soon.
ReplyDeleteI bet you'll be happy to get things done and hit the road before it really gets cold. And get away from those nasty critters.
ReplyDeleteThe fall colors are really a treat
There's entertainment to be had if we look for it! Love the verbal mushrooms.
ReplyDeleteEEK! Mice, I am OUT OF HERE!
ReplyDeleteWe are battling our own mouse problem. Pesky rascals, they love dog food. We have trapped quite a few on glue boards with dry dog food as bait. They won't touch peanut butter. Safe travels when you get back out on the road. Hope to meet you one day..
ReplyDeleteCute mushrooms! Enjoy those chippers! I Hope all goes well for you tomorrow, I am keeping my fingers crossed for good news on your fridge repair! :)
ReplyDeletePaid vacation for the Feds, and they have decent health insurance too. Hmmm, maybe I should have worked for the IRS instead of being self-employed. Do you think that the birdseed attracts the mice?
ReplyDeleteCUTE! I hope you get some sunshine soon, and I hope the fridge gets fixed tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful fall pictures. Glad the color is showing for you. Thanks for no picture of that malt. I always ask them to leave off the extras and just double the malt. :-)
ReplyDelete