October 9, 2006

• So most of you have been reading my posts for awhile and know that I spent a large chunk of my time this summer cleaning out my garage, getting the space ready so that I can move my work shop and studio. You’ve read how the kids and I discovered what voles are and how I had unintentionally become an orphan maker and wreaker of homes in the tiny land of voles that inhabit my garage. I didn’t post however about the three voles that my faithful companion Max disemboweled and the poor dead babies I found in a nest later.

  So about a week ago I decided to save myself the trauma and over all heartache of having to see the death and dismemberment of the local field mice by placing poison pellets in my now wonderfully clean garage. I mean after all, if I don’t see their tiny little corpses I can pretend it didn’t happen, right. I didn’t say I don’t want them dead, I just don’t want to have to deal with the carnage.

  So I purchased a large box and placed it in a safe place. Over a couple days I noticed that the pellets were quickly disappearing then I went out the other day to do something and the box was gone. No box… At first I panicked, maybe one of the kids had found it, nah, they definitely couldn’t get it there. Maybe Ben moved it. That had to be it. He must  have thought it was unsafe and decided to move it. So I assured myself that was it and went in the house.

  Later it was really bugging me. Why would he move it, did he think I was being careless? So I asked him before I allowed myself to get all worked up about it.

  “Honey, did you move the box of pellets?” to which he responds “What pellets?”

  “The one I put in the garage.” Ben “Nope.”

  Me “Yes you did, seriously, why did you move it.” Ben “I didn’t move it.”

  Me “Well where did it go?” Ben “Don’t know.”

  Me “Do you think someone got into the garage and took it?” Ben “Nope.”

  Me “Well it had to go somewhere.” Ben “Maybe the Mice ate it.”

  Me “Yeah right, they wouldn’t do that.”

  Ben “Don’t know, don’t care.” actually he didn’t say this but I’m sure it’s what he was thinking.

  So  I went to sleep thinking about who had gotten into my garage to move the poison. Was it a neighbor who enjoyed the local voles ripping up their yard?Was it the Field Mouse Liberation Organization? Were they going to bring charges against me for premeditated mousey murder.

  This morning I put the kids on the bus and went to investigate. Maybe I just hadn’t looked hard enough and it was there and I hadn’t seen it, Or maybe I had imagined it all.

  In the garage I went. Nope it wasn’t there, big empty spot right where I had put it. I looked around the inside walls of the garage no box.Wait, what was that right in the corner… four tiny little pieces of shredded pellet box. THEY ATE IT. That or they shredded it and used it for nest lining somewhere.  Who’d of thunk it.(Ben)  The mystery of the missing box is solved and I am relieved to know that I won’t be brought up on charges by the F.M.L.O. However, if you don’t read any posts from me in the future it is because my house and everything in it has been carried off by the voles that live in my garage. I mean I would bear a grudge, wouldn’t you? Should I be worried?

  • 8:03 pm
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