old house + freezing cold = mice

November lulled us into a sense of false security, after a horribly cold

October.  We relaxed in temperatures that were often twenty degrees

above normal, and forgot about getting those fall chores done. 


In our old house, that means putting up 3M window film on the oldest,

draftiest windows.  I have a love/hate relationship with the stuff.  I love

that it makes the rooms feel warmer, while reducing my heating bill. I

hate that it makes me feel like I live in a mobile home.  I love it when I

rip it off the windows on the first warm day in spring, it is a wonderful

spring rite.  I made the mistake (only once) of tyring a less expensive

brand, and learned the hard way that 3M is the only one who can

produce the stuff.


Sure, I could replace my old drafty windows, and forego the whole process.

But have you seen how much windows cost?  And there is a certain charm

to my ancient windows (at least, that is what I keep telling myself).

Another problem with the temperatures finally hitting more seasonable

marks,  is that every mouse in the neighborhood has heard that our house

is an excellent haven.  I don't know if they had a meeting, or how they let

each other know that 603 Hamline was the place to go. Clearly, there is

some secret spot from the outside that they have been using to get in.  I

bet word got out that our cat Claude was now a limping nineteen year old

cat, and no longer a threat.

Well, that last part is certainly not true.

He scored a double on Wednesday night, two mice within an hour.  And

another last night.  If you add those to the ones he caught in October, he is

approaching double digits.  The cat has still got it.  And when he chases

after those mice, you hardly notice his limp at all.