The Mill Yard

In 22 years in the same house, the only mice and r...

2012-01-13T15:57:46.658-05:00

In 22 years in the same house, the only mice and rats I've seen are the ones our two cats bring us as offerings. A cat can solve the problem. Of course they can eat chicks too.

As someone who has recently started spending a rid...

2011-06-11T12:53:39.438-04:00

As someone who has recently started spending a ridiculous amount of time sorting coupons and finding freebies, samples and rock-bottom deals to keep the ship afloat, your way of shopping sounds incredibly calm and refreshing. As someone who is used to, from her youth, opening a deep freeze to find an entire squirrel with its fur and everything still intact, the buck head would give me a start but wouldn't be too much of a set back.

As you already know, you're not missing a thing in the stores.

2011-05-23T10:34:22.323-04:00

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I'm totally getting the D cell version. The mi...

2010-08-28T13:36:56.799-04:00

I'm totally getting the D cell version. The mice overrun the attic in the fall and between the two, I'm surrounded.

I don't have a rat problem, but I have had a f...

2010-08-28T13:28:11.678-04:00

I don't have a rat problem, but I have had a few mouse problems. After trying MANY other traps, I caved and bought the Rat Zapper and it has been amazing. The day I got it, I set it up next to a known mouse run and I heard it go off in 5 minutes! Nice clean kill. And I don't feel bad tossing the gently cooked bodies into the woods for other wildlife to eat.

I had a rodent of some kind eating my newly-sprouted veggie starts in the hoophouse this spring. I put the Rat Zapper out there one night with a little peanut butter and the next morning, had a big fat dead mouse. I got 8 more over the next consecutive 8 nights. It's worth every penny. (Go with the ULTRA.)

Also, forget about plugging holes with steel wool or expanding foam or anything but cement. Cement is fun to use and $6 worth will probably do your whole garage.

Ditto the cement and the metal container with lids...

2010-08-28T12:18:22.860-04:00

Ditto the cement and the metal container with lids (on the can, not next to the can). Plastic only works in resource rich environments where its not worth the rat's effort to gnaw through delicious, soft plastic. And, that's the key: not worth the rat's effort (or, b-hind, if you will).

You are playing a game of net gain rather than a game of gross gain.

Hire your weasel paying something that makes sucking chickens not worth the weasel's effort (e.g., breakfast pellets in a garage bed); but makes the weasel very protective of turf vis a vis rats.

All games are games of net not gross; and there's always a game within a game. Since the hen game is net not gross, and since rumor has it you know someone with a bit of knowledge on infectious diseases, you ought to consider which bundle of diseases you prefer in your garage: rat versus weasel versus none. It's hard to win a hen game of net with the answer of none; but, it's real easy to win a child game of net with the answer of none.

The answer none comes at the cost of, as we in Nebraska are want to say: "The Salvation of the State is Watchfulness of the Citizen". An answer of none means that again and again you get to do it again; because, life wins.

I love your writings. Keep 'em coming!

Michael

I checked it out. Might have to order one, as I wa...

2010-08-28T10:37:33.510-04:00

I checked it out. Might have to order one, as I was trying to figure out how to trick subsequent rats after killing the first one in a trap. This might just do the trick...thanks for the tip!

Google: Rat Zapper. Buy one, set it up, and watch ...

2010-08-28T08:36:10.077-04:00

Google: Rat Zapper. Buy one, set it up, and watch it start working immediately. (Don't buy the cheap imitations.) Buy a bag of cement and start plugging holes in the garage floor. Metal trash cans with lids for feed containers.

I love it!!

I don't envy the temperatures...

2009-01-21T16:11:00.000-05:00

I love it!!

I don't envy the temperatures you're braving. I'm such a southern belle - I don't believe I could withstand that kind of cold. I'm barely making it in the teens we're experiencing.

I love reading your words...They always make me smile.

So funny you sent your note yesterday - a new chap...

2008-09-06T07:41:00.000-04:00

So funny you sent your note yesterday - a new chapter is going up today (maybe two...we'll see how much time I get today to edit). You are so, so kind. I am feeling torn between my teaching job (I teach Latin and English and writing) and writing. Oh, and my private writing tutoring business and my two boys and my marriage and my running and my volunteer gig...oh, hell. I'm going back to bed.

Jess.

I sure have missed you!

I would so love to ...

2008-09-05T09:55:00.000-04:00

I sure have missed you!

I would so love to meet you and share a cup of coffee and a bottle of wine!

Hi Jess,

That was fabulous. Even more so si...

2008-07-25T13:09:00.000-04:00

Hi Jess,

That was fabulous. Even more so since having met Beatrice (the cow) herself.

I look forward to more installments!

Kate

Tag you're it! I meme-d you.
The link:
http...

2008-02-14T09:59:00.000-05:00

Tag you're it! I meme-d you.
The link:
http://babystepstowardfine.blogspot.com 7 random or weird things about yourself

The rules are as follows:
# Link to the person who tagged you
# Post the rules on your blog.
# Share seven random and/or weird facts about yourself on your blog.
# Tag seven random people at the end of your post, and include links to their blogs.
# Leave a comment on their blogs so that they know they have been tagged.

p.s. missin your posts!

Jess, You are amazing! I love your thought process...

2008-01-26T10:35:00.000-05:00

Jess, You are amazing! I love your thought process and logical conclusions, which you then act upon in a very forthright manner.
I like to think that the chicken that got away will not tell the fox kits exactly where she came from so that they won't trouble you when they start to roam :>D

Jerry

I gulped more than a few times while reading this ...

2008-01-23T15:14:00.000-05:00

I gulped more than a few times while reading this passage. Yes, I can be a cold, heartless bitch (just as my ex-husband), but I am certain I could not do as you did and butcher the chickens and/or rooster. Just flat out could not do it. You are one tough chick, and I'd wager that you're one of the few outsiders who has taken to the farming life so swiftly. You will be quite the role model for your children.

Thanks much for sharing. I've missed your posts!