When I walked out the back door this morning, I discovered that Nicodemus was dead. He was lying beside one of the Rat Traps. Not in the Rat Trap...next to the Rat Trap.
I gave him a proper burial, which as everyone knows, is a hook-shot into the trash can.
I've watched the other Rat Traps today, to see if another rat wants to step up and challenge me, but they are either cowering under the dog house or he was the only one.
I'll keep the 3 Rat Traps loaded and cocked and ready to do battle and I will keep you updated.
Don't mourn for Nicodemus. He had a good life and died full of sunflower seeds, cheese, and water.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Thursday, November 13, 2008
RATS OF NIHM
Earlier this summer, we moved our dog house and dog kennel out from under the carport to a place in the back yard. Our intention is to pour a cement slab for the dog house and kennel to sit on, but we haven't done that yet.
Over the last couple of days, I've noticed our dogs sniffing around the outside of the dog house, but I couldn't see what they were looking for.
Today at lunch, Karen and I were looking out the kitchen window and saw a rat strolling out from under the dog house, getting several sunflower seeds which had dropped from the bird feeders, and taking them, leisurely back under the dog house.
We watched for several minutes and laughed at how bold this big old rat was. Karen had to go back to work, but when she went out the back door, we expected the rat to scurry back under the dog house. Nope. He sat there chewing on a sunflower seed, watching her. She walked towards him and got to within about 15' before he ran under the dog house.
When she was gone, I grabbed a couple of rat traps and decided to go on a rat hunt. I set one rat trap, loaded with a nice, sharp Chedder Cheese, and started walking towards the dog house. Again, the rat simply sat there munching and watching my approach. When I was about 6' away, he turned and disappeared under the dog house. I placed the rat trap right by the opening the rat had been using as his entrance.
I went back in the house, expecting the rat to lay low for awhile, but by the time I got back to the kitchen window, he was sticking his head out from under the dog house, sniffing the cheese.
Finally, he boldly walked out to the rat trap, grabbed the wood part with his teeth, and dragged it back into his domicile, under the dog house!
It was then I realized that I had a Rat of Nihm.
So, I set a couple more rat traps and the waiting game is on. He hasn't shown his beady eyes for about 20 minutes.
When I've conquered the Rat of Nihm, I'll give you an update.
Until then...wish me luck.
Over the last couple of days, I've noticed our dogs sniffing around the outside of the dog house, but I couldn't see what they were looking for.
Today at lunch, Karen and I were looking out the kitchen window and saw a rat strolling out from under the dog house, getting several sunflower seeds which had dropped from the bird feeders, and taking them, leisurely back under the dog house.
We watched for several minutes and laughed at how bold this big old rat was. Karen had to go back to work, but when she went out the back door, we expected the rat to scurry back under the dog house. Nope. He sat there chewing on a sunflower seed, watching her. She walked towards him and got to within about 15' before he ran under the dog house.
When she was gone, I grabbed a couple of rat traps and decided to go on a rat hunt. I set one rat trap, loaded with a nice, sharp Chedder Cheese, and started walking towards the dog house. Again, the rat simply sat there munching and watching my approach. When I was about 6' away, he turned and disappeared under the dog house. I placed the rat trap right by the opening the rat had been using as his entrance.
I went back in the house, expecting the rat to lay low for awhile, but by the time I got back to the kitchen window, he was sticking his head out from under the dog house, sniffing the cheese.
Finally, he boldly walked out to the rat trap, grabbed the wood part with his teeth, and dragged it back into his domicile, under the dog house!
It was then I realized that I had a Rat of Nihm.
So, I set a couple more rat traps and the waiting game is on. He hasn't shown his beady eyes for about 20 minutes.
When I've conquered the Rat of Nihm, I'll give you an update.
Until then...wish me luck.
Monday, November 10, 2008
IT'S STARTING TO LOOK LIKE WINTER!
Brrrr!
It seems like winter today. It's dark outside. This is the view out our front door.
The dark clouds are thick. We're getting some rain. It's noon and it seems like it's barely sunup.
Oh, we've had a couple of quick snows already this year. It would be 60+ degrees outside, then it would get cold, dump a smidgen of snow on the ground, melt, then get back up to 60 - 70 degrees the next day.
The mountains surrounding Utah Valley have had snow on them for awhile, but nothing in the valley. It's been the most beautiful fall I've seen since I moved to Utah in 1971. The colors have been fantastic. They've overlapped each other. Meaning, usually the red leaves show up, then drop. Then the orange leaves show up, then drop. Then the yellow leaves show up, then drop.
This year we've had all the colors at the same time and it's lasted for weeks. It's been incredible.
I've put up the fence around the wood-burning stove in the Living Room and have a fire going today. The cats love that. They hang out in the Living Room where it's warm.
It's dark outside and following the election, my spirits are a bit dark. But, there's always the spring. Things will get bright and beautiful again.
It seems like winter today. It's dark outside. This is the view out our front door.
The dark clouds are thick. We're getting some rain. It's noon and it seems like it's barely sunup.
Oh, we've had a couple of quick snows already this year. It would be 60+ degrees outside, then it would get cold, dump a smidgen of snow on the ground, melt, then get back up to 60 - 70 degrees the next day.
The mountains surrounding Utah Valley have had snow on them for awhile, but nothing in the valley. It's been the most beautiful fall I've seen since I moved to Utah in 1971. The colors have been fantastic. They've overlapped each other. Meaning, usually the red leaves show up, then drop. Then the orange leaves show up, then drop. Then the yellow leaves show up, then drop.
This year we've had all the colors at the same time and it's lasted for weeks. It's been incredible.
I've put up the fence around the wood-burning stove in the Living Room and have a fire going today. The cats love that. They hang out in the Living Room where it's warm.
It's dark outside and following the election, my spirits are a bit dark. But, there's always the spring. Things will get bright and beautiful again.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
