Commonsense would tell most folks, even naive city girls, that there are way more critters in the country than you find in most towns where we’ve lived. We definitely had snakes and critters in other places but nothing compared to here. So far, in the past three days, I’ve personally killed a scorpion in the house, a snake outside and just now . . I encountered a mouse.
Well House
It was 96º here Tuesday and tonight and tomorrow night, it’s going to be 32º. Outside pipes had to be drained. Plants that aren’t yet planted have to go into the well house. It’s a pretty tight squeeze getting in there and maneuvering around, especially when carrying plants in.
I made my first trip in and happened to look in the corner and what did I see? A mouse . . not a rat but a pretty big mouse. I went tearing out the door, screaming like a girl. Vince came running up . .
Vince: Is it a snake?
Me: No . . a mouse!
Vince: Is it alive?
Me: I don’t know! I saw it real quickly and didn’t take time to see if it was alive or not.
My Hero
Vince went into the well house with the shovel. I stayed outside with my eyes closed. The mouse is gone . . probably discussing with the snake about the cruel folks they last encountered.
Garden
And this is what the garden looks like tonight. Buckets, plastic coffee containers, quart wide mouth Mason jars – every conceivable container that was big enough to cover plants is over the 30 tomatoes and 14 pepper plants. After near 100º degree days, dropping down to 32º tonight and tomorrow night, I seriously doubt the tomatoes or the peppers will survive but I did what I could. Vince went to the rock pile and gathered up enough rocks to put on top of the plastic buckets to keep them from blowing off the plants. Who would ever have thought that in central Texas, we’d have a freeze this late? It’s pretty disappointing but with the news of the bombs in Boston, and the fertilizer plant fire/explosion, losing a few garden plants is quite minor. If they don’t make it, I’ll replant next week and hope for no more cold nights.
Glen in Louisiana says
It has been a strange spring here too. And we are hearing that a cold front is coming in on the heels of this bad storm…..that frank is having to fly through tonight….
Glen in Louisiana says
It has been a strange spring here too. And we are hearing that a cold front is coming in on the heels of this bad storm…..that frank is having to fly through tonight….
Joan in NE says
Snow again today. So no garden in yet. DS tilled it a couple weeks ago, but its been snowing and cold ever since. Tomato plants are getting big so will have to put them in bigger pots so they have a chance to keep growing. Beginning to wonder if I need to have a huge green house built and have garden in that.
Pam says
The weather in South Africa has also been unpredictable and strange. Very confusing. Worldwide it’s odd. Just returned from a tour of Europe, should have been spring but it was freezing and still snowing. First time in the history of Keukenhof gardens there were no flowers blooming. My thoughts and prayers are with the people in Texas, saw the news on local T.V
Linda Smith says
You certainly have more critters and more extreme weather than this city girl! I love hearing about your country life, especially the chicken stories. I hope this is your last bout of cold weather.
Rose says
Uhhh ohhhh, I’m afraid we have mice here too, but … no scorpions though! (Thank goodness).
Susan says
Scorpions were a way of life in Phoenix. Mice in New Jersey. Snakes everywhere. =) Love the story of Vince as your hero.
Norma V says
and isn’t it nice (most of the time) to have a calm and sensible husband? they say opposites attract and i believe it…
Hilary McDaniel says
Judy, we killed a copperhead this week too. Yesterday I was watching CNN on the couch and a scorpion was crawling up my cushion. Oh my! I hadn’t encountered either one in years! Not my cup of tea, I’ve lived in Texas since I was a toddler and never remember weather like this! It’s weird and I give up trying to figure it out. I just know I like 32 way better than 102. I’ll deal with covering up. We bought yards of row cover just for this purpose. Our garden looks like one big sheet,
Denise ~ justquiltin says
You’re growing a mighty fine crop of blue buckets there! 70 degree temp swing from morning to night – crazy! I’d be happy to send you some of the rain we’ve had every day for two weeks straight. This morning, no rain – stinging little ice pellets instead as I was waiting for the bus. Hope the garden survives — it looks like it’s doing so well.
Lee Ann L. @Unfocused! says
Lord have mercy. You just had to mention a scorpion in the house! I haven’t seen one around here in a very long time and I must confess that I’m scared to death of them. I did kill a huge wolf spider that was inside my house the other day. Gracie, my three legged huntress dug it out from hiding and I didn’t want the spider to hurt her. It can be venomous if they bite you. But, for the most part, they’re harmless. But, if they are IN my house, they are DEAD. Ha!
Karen says
I sympathize with you. We live in NE Indiana, here we have snakes–nonpoisonous, mice, coyotes, skunks, raccoons and possums, just to name a few. Keeping chickens is an adventure in itself. I keep lots of traps for the mice, ignore the snakes and put up electric fencing for the other varmits. On occasion I’ve had to get out the trusty shotgun and put a coyote out of my misery.
As for the weather, yesterday it was near 80 with thunderstorms, today, windy with snow flurries.
You have to admit, there’s never a dull moment in the country!
Ranch Wife says
I’ll take a mouse over a snake any day! I’ve been itching to get tomatoes and peppers in the ground too, but it was 22° here two mornings ago and 26° this morning I’m betting those buckets will do the trick.
Diana says
Its so nice to know that someone else is squeely when it comes to mice .. Dislike them critters worse than anything else. Even my dog is skerrid of mice .. LOL