We missed you!

For the first time in months, a post will not have a photo. This is for reasons which will become apparent as you read on.

I just got back from a mini-business trip to LaCrosse, Wisconsin. I needed to do a home inspection in Rushford, Minnesota and stayed in LaCrosse over night. Pam fed the girls while I was gone, although "fed" isn't quite the right term. They didn't eat much of anything, probably the whole, "Is mom coming back?" feeling, if you'll allow me to anthropomorphise here.

They were very happy to see me when I walked in the door yesterday. I gathered the mail and took my bag to the bedroom to unpack and there it was, lying on the bed. A dead mouse.

Sunday evening, as my gaming was winding down, I heard a lot of activity in the living room. It seemed someone was playing. As it was close to 11 p.m., it's not that unusual, but the amount of activity seemed more than the usual "11 p.m. crazies" that every cat owner knows. I walked into the living room and Pilchard had a mouse, a very, very live mouse.

Next ensues the "not in the house, sweetie" chase. She let go of it and it scooted across the living room floor right by Mija who promptly snatched at it and took it to the bedroom. She played with it on the floor and then jumped up onto the bed with it. She dropped it and it scurried under the covers. I was able to scoop it up when it dashed under my pjs. I took it outside and dropped it in the bushes.

Was the one on the bed the same mouse? I have no idea but the point is this is the third mouse I have seen this summer. I cannot find where they are living. This bothers me. You would think that the presence of cats would deter any mouse from living in my house, but that doesn't seem to be the case.

I guess I'm going to have to invest in traps. I grew up with the classic spring-loaded mouse traps. I'm going to opt for the humane ones simply because I cleaned way too many spring-loaded ones.

It was kind of funny to watch Pilchard and Mija chasing this mouse. They did enjoy themselves. If I could track Pilchard when she goes downstairs, then that would be a help in ridding my home. But there's something about a black cat in the basement at night that doesn't lend itself to finding her. And we cat owners know, if a cat doesn't want to be found, you can't find it.

Beverage: China Black tea

Deb