There's a mouse in the house

DISCLAIMER: I have to say right up front, this is a post about my cats and that no harm came to any mouse.



Why not? You ask? One of the reasons to have a cat is to have a good mouser, the other reasons include company, friendship, and sometimes, their ability to make us laugh. One of my felines is a good mouser, this cat can be in a dead sleep upstairs and jolt awake, fly down over the stairs, only to catch a mouse. Problem.....the cat has no killer instinct, in fact this cat doesn't play and toss these little rodents around, the cat is a live gift giver. Oh my. I don't care how clean one's home is, I've yet to see one mouse free. Through the heating business, I've had the opportunity to be in many basements, basements of the most pristine houses. There is either a noise maker plugged in (annoying the mouses hearing), evidence of traps, or worse chewed material! Well, one part of our house is over a garage and sometimes....both overhead doors are open, even all day long. It's a habit we must stop!



I'm convinced these mice find their way in and through the second story plumbing. I've even found large toads in that part of the house (the garage)! Last spring we had baby mice appear from under the bathroom vanity, there is a dead spot there and since the plumbing comes straight from the floor into the vanity itself, it's perfect! I'd blame the builders....except that's me! Anyhow, since I do have cats poison is out! I couldn't deal with traps, even harder, I couldn't deal with a mouse sitting in the dogs food dish while a cat was drinking water from the other dish.



I broke down and invested in those electronic devices.



It worked....until lately. Which cat won't maim a rodent? Won't play with it til death?And occasionally let's it go just so the chase could be on again! Always, always brings it to us so we can watch.



The above mouse was the second one caught on this day. The first one was caught and brought to Madame's bed early in the morning! Madame moved quick enough! Thank goodness it wasn't my football playing 16 year old son who will walk on the furniture when one of these scurry creatures is around! Only if, Madame thought well enough to grab the cat! CAT! Thank goodness the mouse was addled and still trying to get it's bearings when DH went to go get it. It was still there and quite lively, as with the one in the above picture. Get the idea? Astute hearing, amazing quickness, compassion not to kill.

Would it be the scrappy stray, Sophia? Who lived on rodents and string beans before coming to us?

The furious coon cat? Who could add a mouse to his collection of sticks that accompany him inside the house "getting caught" in his fur?

Or the sassy Siamese? Who is seven, likes my clean clothes (and dirty), and is crossed eyed?

I know! It's the big guy! No, no, no.

Two of these two feline pets are whispering, "Psst, you don't have to do that anymore, we get food from a box, remember?" The conversation would then continue like this...."Hey, man. Your making us look bad, try to be lazy, will ya?"

But...Veshneau, doesn't listen, even with her big ole' ears and her bad vision, a cat is a cat, is a cat......"Who me?"

She must see at least three mice where there is only one. Truly amazing..... C&G Design

Redwork-block 8, Lion

This is one of my husband's favorite animals, he likes big cats. Madame does too for that matter, why else would she be crazy over wearing leopard print? I've been trying to do the inside lines and the faces with my first go around in threading (Ha! "color inside the lines"). The mane had me a little baffled, since these are coloring pages, would his mane work up in outline stitching? And would it make sense.

Yep, he looks like 'King of the animals'

Second group of four blocks done, 3 more groups to go! C&G Design

Dance Recital

May 8th (2 days ago) ushered in the end of the dance classes, at least for the summer. Madame worked very hard again this year....her dance teacher had a injury to her calf so the class had to deal with different instructors for about 6 weeks. They pulled it together rather well though, all the performances were wonderful.

"First position, now!"

The pictures of Madame in a skirt are the ballet ones, I think this was my favorite although it is hard to decide. The above shot is one where they formed a circle, Madame was the first to weave in, and the last to be woven.

I had to crop some of the photos because of other faces, although I know them all, posting the other, truly would not be the thing to do.

Another back shot! Curse the delay on my new camera! Take time getting use too.

Here we move to tap. I felt the routine was very complicated with reverse v lines and swing abouts, but they did good. There is about 8 students in the class and their teacher is a dancer with the Maine State Ballet.

Concentration!

Ah, jazz, her favorite as you can tell by the looks on her face! She was dead middle of the performance and has waited a lifetime to do a real jazz dance. This was the year.

They were the only young class to get a applause during the dance. They lined up one behind the other and did a robotic movement with their arms, starting overhead, stopping a little ways down, the person behind starting overhead and so forth. It was perfect! Madame kept saying...wait til you see it!

The adult class got a midway applause for their chorus line kick. Madame's applause did not escape her, believe me.....

I want to wish my mother a Happy Mother's Day and may she have many more. I want her to know Madame is better! She was deathly sick on Saturday, a day after this recital. Her stomache was "bad", and oddly enough, this preformance was in a school/town where a case of Swine flu erupted. She doesn't seem to have it, thank goodness!


I would also like to thank another commenter, Skeeter, for sending me a book, "Field Guide to Butterflies and Moths". It's a beautiful book full of illustrations and facts. I know Madame and I will enjoy reading it this summer. Skeeter's sentiment got me teary eyed, I hope to meet up sometime and make the cyber world friendship, an in-person party! Thank-you, Skeeter and happy mother's day! C & G Design

Pink, Orange and Red Roses

Join the list of Pink Saturday participants at How Sweet The Sound. These are my daughter's roses from her dance recital she preformed last night.

She works all year long at ballet, tap and jazz.

I think they are perfect like the dancing was.

I wish she could have them forever.

But something so beautiful, always fades. C&G Design

Redwork-block 7, Hippo

As mentioned yesterday, this is one of my favorite animals in the wild, I've always thought they were a slow moving, huggable creature. It wasn't until my late thirties I discovered the hippo is an aggressive, very territorial animal that can be as fast as any other animal it's size and will kill quickly. Mostly it wades underwater, it's known as a herbivore but if another mammal comes close to it, the hippo will attack, especially if they have young with them. The jaw on the hippo is wide opening and very strong, one bite is fatal.
So! I have a renewed likeness with respect for this majestic animal.

I can tell I'm running out of things to say about red work, I'm rambling about the hippo. Ha! C&G Design

I'd like to thank one of my commenter's, Lola, for sending me a wonderful gift! It's a wee little door to be attached to a tree in my yard and Lola sent it in celebration of Fairy day. I'm installing it out by my huge veggie garden and every time I look at it, I will surely have a smile come to my face. Thank-you Lola! Dawn

Redwork-block 6, Beaver

This one is so neat! I had to make sure "BUCKY" beaver made it into his own block, the tail is a unique pattern. Not many animals can be embroidered with a criss-cross pattern because not many have this texture. It looks a little dis-organized in the next picture but it was quite easy and went fast.

I love his little face, and while the next block is one of my favorite animals, I must say.....this is my favorite block out of this group of four.

And by now, I've embroidered another group of four (this is fast stitching), I thought about posting two blocks at once, but this way it's giving me the opportunity to be in the yard and garden almost all day.

My beaver came out well. C&G Design

Free Tutorial on making Annie

This little lady is a cutie, she can be found at Bowls-n-Annies by De as a free tutorial on How to Make a Primitive Doll. C&G Design