land of the creepy crawlies

In one week I will be visiting my daughter, son, and daughter-in-law in the land of the creepy crawlies! (Scroll down to the pictures when you get to the linked blog.) I am sure that Southern California has some great traits but it will be hard to overcome the creepy crawlies! Have I mentioned that I am terrified of spiders, especially the ones that can kill you or at least make you very ill? Who am I kidding? I cannot stand any creature that has more than two arms and two legs and even some of them frighten me! Full confession: I am also very frightened by the ones without any appendages.

I must be brave. Isn't the first rule of being a parent to not show fear? Or is that the rule when dealing with wild animals? Either way, I think I failed that test!

goin' huntin' part 2

Last night I was in the kitchen as one of our daring little four-legged friends ran from one side of the kitchen to the other and escaped under the dishwasher. It was not a very smart move on his part because I then knew exactly where to set a trap. I am smarter than our four-legged friends who were dumb enough to move into my house.

When I woke up this morning my dear sweet husband told me that I had a present waiting for me in the kitchen. I was so excited! Now, before you get all uptight and think that it should be the husband's job to take care of the present, I am the more experienced moose hunter so I will take care of my victims.

Andy asked what I planned to do with my victim. I am not sure what he thought I was going to do with the little guy but of course I threw my little victim out in the backyard. I have to help the food chain; something will eat the little guy (I hope).

I looked at the trap and thought it had enough bait (peanut butter) so I re-set it and put it back under the dishwasher. Sure enough, when we got home tonight the trap had been sprung but no victim. I quickly decided that I should have put more bait on the trap this morning. I added more peanut butter and re-set the trap. I may move more traps to the kitchen if this trend continues!

Joe, I think I might need some help stuffing holes with steel wool this summer!

So the score stands: Mama Rose 1 Mooses -1 with a tie for the one that got away (this time).

Stay tuned for the continuing saga of Mama Rose v Mooses!

goin' huntin'

I am doing something tonight that I have not done in over 22 years; I'm huntin' moose! Now I know the thought of mooses freak out a lot of women but it is better to hunt them instead of just screaming or doin' nothing about them.

In case you haven't figured out by now, I am not hunting the large four-legged variety with big antlers. We don't have those kind around these parts. No, I am hunting the small four-legged variety; you know, the ones with the long tail. Sometimes they are blind, some run up clocks, some get their tails whacked off by the farmer's wife. Ya' know, mooses; I mean mice.

For as much as I love collecting the ceramic variety of these little critters (I have lots of really cute ones) I do not want the living variety scampering around my house. I have long stated that if the creepy crawlies (bugs, spiders, centipedes, mice) want to stay alive they had better stay outside and not come in my house.

My dear sweet husband (Andy) was the first to see our unexpected house guest. I finally saw the little guy the other night and decided it was time to take action.

Our current house guest is not as friendly as the one we had in our apartment in Kansas City. The little guy down there would come out after the kids were in bed and watch us watching TV. He was quite sociable! Our new house guest is not at all sociable. I sure hope he likes peanut butter!

Stay tuned for the further adventures of "Mama Rose against the mooses". A sneak preview...the mice do not stand a chance!