RATS!!!

We have a pear tree in the back yard. It bears so many pears that I think the branches will break off. The pears aren’t edible, though. They are covered with black spots. Yuck. Since the branches are so heavy and the tree is touching the house, I asked the trustees to have the tree pruned this fall. I also want it off the house because when we moved in, there was a rat in the attic. The exterminator said it probably got into the house by climbing the tree and accessing the attic that way. Nasty, nasty. The good news is that they caught the critter. The trustees decided that the problem was solved and asked the exterminator to remove the traps. I can’t confess to being ecstatic about that decision.

Joshua had a panic attack the other night after bedtime and said a rat ran across his room. I pretty much thought it was his imagination and said so. But then I decided it would be the perfect opportunity to nag – I mean – enlighten him on the evils of sneaking food into his room and hiding the leftovers because he was to lazy to dispose of them properly. Naturally, Mike, being a typical male, piped up and said he’d been hearing the pitter-patter of little feet in the walls and attic. Gee thanks. That’ll get Josh back to sleep right away!

Yesterday Caleb darted out into the garage after me. I was just getting something from the car, but Caleb had great hopes for a car ride. His hopes were dashed, but not for long. He found a tasty morsel to eat in the garage. I had no idea what he found, and he wasn’t going to give me a chance to find out what it was. That was really strange because he will generally let me take food from him. (The only other time he ever acted that way with me was when he caught a bird in the yard and had a tasty snack.) I came to the conclusion that he would just have to suffer the consequences of his gluttony. Or rather, I would when he got sick on my cream colored carpet. He dropped whatever it was on the floor ever so briefly. It looked like raw meat. I didn’t want to think about it. So I didn’t.

When I got up this morning, I decided to eat some breakfast. I went to the pantry to get some cereal. I glanced down on the floor and saw something that looked really nasty. No – it couldn’t be!!! A rodent dropping!!!!!!!!!!! Just one. Time to call the exterminator.