Of Snow and Mice

Today was supposed to be a fairly relaxing, typical Sunday. Other than Mass and an evening dance class, it was going to be calm, with lots of time to read or just take it easy. By the time we got up this morning, though, it was snowing pretty heavily. They seemed to be ignoring our road for most of the day, likely because of salt shortages. After having replaced 8 tires in 2 months, we've gotten a lot more cautious about when and where we drive; our budget really can't handle any more major expenses. We ended up not going to Mass, simply because we weren't sure we could get there and back safely (we live on a somewhat steep hill, and if the roads aren't cleared it can be quite hazardous). 

As Husbandido was preparing his attempt to make a GF version of Chik-fil-A's spicy chicken biscuits, I noticed Biscuit (the cat) paying an unusual amount of attention to one of the cabinets, so I urged Husbandido to check and see if there was a mouse in there. Yep, there was a mouse; unfortunately it scurried away before we were able to kill it. That, however, led to us inspecting all the drawers and cabinets. I will refrain from discussing the amount of mouse pellets discovered. (You should thank me. You really don't want to know.) We don't just have *a* mouse; we have a mouse problem. Instead of a day of rest, we have spent the day inspecting and cleaning much of the contents of our cabinets. We think we have found the loose spots in the mortar right outside that wall where the mice have gotten in; those spots will have to get fixed as soon as the weather is more cooperative. In the meantime, we have a call in to an exterminator, who is supposed to call us back tomorrow. While I hope it doesn't cost too much, I really want to be rid of the mice in the kitchen. (Rebecca, I promise that nothing we used in preparing or serving last weekend's dinner came out of an affected cabinet!)

Seriously?!?! I assumed having 3 cats meant that we wouldn't have mice. Unfortunately the darn buggers are smart enough to realize that if they stay in the cabinets and walls, the cats can't get them. Ugh. Just ugh. 

You have no idea how tempted I was to say "Let's just rip out the kitchen and really redo it. AND put in a concrete liner so the (insert bad word here) mice can't get in! Okay, I did say it. Unfortunately, that is so very not in the budget right now.