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Well, we have gutters, which will help the water in the basement, and soon we may have wood stoves and properly lined chimneys. This will be a delight. We'll be able to make it warm in the evenings. If we can make it warm in the evenings without kicking in a lot of oil we might even decide to do timed thermostats and burn a little extra oil in the mornings to be comfortable. Maybe. Though 63 seemed fine this morning. Perfect for sleeping in.
We also had some rocks fall out of the cellar wall the other day, I don't recall if I mentioned that. A slithering, sliding noise ending in a solid clunk. No hole opened up, because the wall on that side is as thick as a castle, seemingly without reason. And then the other day I heard something similar again, and Eor went down to investigate and found an injured bat. He took it outside and it seemed as though it might be untangling itself, but life is precarious for them. What he learned from the Internet about this is that if you have a bat in your basement it usually indicates that more are nesting in the attic or insulation of your house, preparing to hibernate and wait until there are bugs to eat, again.
I baited mousetraps last night, though we haven't had a mouse caught in one for quite a while. It is the season, and we do know they're on the move, as either Eor or I ran over one in the driveway. Did you know a mouse that's been run over looks just like the classic cartoon character hit by a steam roller? Not gory at all, actually. Less so than the fairies in Lady Cottington's Pressed Fairy Book.
Also, one of my coworkers had one in her house the other night. It climbed right up onto her bed while she was reading, and she tossed her book at it and chased it under her bureau. I recommended that, as she's seen one and I have not, she try the peppermint oil. I warded our food and dishes with peppermint oil, and renew it every so often. In fact I might go climb up and make sure there's a couple of fresh drops in the top of the pantry. I really hate killing mice, I'd rather they didn't come in at all.
Sadly, the whole peppermint oil thing reminds me that the ex-co-worker who recommended it to me recently died. She was an amazingly energetic, fun and funny person, the nearest thing to a Nanny Ogg type I have ever met, always with a kind word and a positive outlook. Facebook kept us somewhat in touch, though that was not near as much fun as going out drinking with her. She started at least two successful restaurants and sold them, bought a boat with her husband and sailed around the Virgin Islands for several years, and then came to Maine and joined TSA when we first rolled out, full of the desire to help in the aftermath of 9/11. She moved on to work for one of the contractors who do testing at checkpoints, making sure security is good. Around a month and a half ago her husband had a stroke. I think she was working for the Post Office, maybe not full time, but with a long commute, and visiting him at the hospital, and taking care of the house and the dog. I'm afraid it might all have gotten to be too much for her. Massive heart attack in her sleep. One of the best ways to go, I imagine.
Well, on that cheery note. I do feel as though a lot of people are dying and getting sick, lately. I guess I need to get outside, there's much to do.
We also had some rocks fall out of the cellar wall the other day, I don't recall if I mentioned that. A slithering, sliding noise ending in a solid clunk. No hole opened up, because the wall on that side is as thick as a castle, seemingly without reason. And then the other day I heard something similar again, and Eor went down to investigate and found an injured bat. He took it outside and it seemed as though it might be untangling itself, but life is precarious for them. What he learned from the Internet about this is that if you have a bat in your basement it usually indicates that more are nesting in the attic or insulation of your house, preparing to hibernate and wait until there are bugs to eat, again.
I baited mousetraps last night, though we haven't had a mouse caught in one for quite a while. It is the season, and we do know they're on the move, as either Eor or I ran over one in the driveway. Did you know a mouse that's been run over looks just like the classic cartoon character hit by a steam roller? Not gory at all, actually. Less so than the fairies in Lady Cottington's Pressed Fairy Book.
Also, one of my coworkers had one in her house the other night. It climbed right up onto her bed while she was reading, and she tossed her book at it and chased it under her bureau. I recommended that, as she's seen one and I have not, she try the peppermint oil. I warded our food and dishes with peppermint oil, and renew it every so often. In fact I might go climb up and make sure there's a couple of fresh drops in the top of the pantry. I really hate killing mice, I'd rather they didn't come in at all.
Sadly, the whole peppermint oil thing reminds me that the ex-co-worker who recommended it to me recently died. She was an amazingly energetic, fun and funny person, the nearest thing to a Nanny Ogg type I have ever met, always with a kind word and a positive outlook. Facebook kept us somewhat in touch, though that was not near as much fun as going out drinking with her. She started at least two successful restaurants and sold them, bought a boat with her husband and sailed around the Virgin Islands for several years, and then came to Maine and joined TSA when we first rolled out, full of the desire to help in the aftermath of 9/11. She moved on to work for one of the contractors who do testing at checkpoints, making sure security is good. Around a month and a half ago her husband had a stroke. I think she was working for the Post Office, maybe not full time, but with a long commute, and visiting him at the hospital, and taking care of the house and the dog. I'm afraid it might all have gotten to be too much for her. Massive heart attack in her sleep. One of the best ways to go, I imagine.
Well, on that cheery note. I do feel as though a lot of people are dying and getting sick, lately. I guess I need to get outside, there's much to do.