This morning De Dawg somehow managed to get hold of a pack of tissues that were on top of the washing machine by pulling down the cloth I use to cover the top when not in use. It also has a telephone on top plus a large rechargeable torch but that is beside the point - they did not fall down but the pack of tissues did. Not that I knew it at the time as De Dawg had gone out while I went back to get washed and dressed but as the door was open she could come in as and when she wanted. Duly washed and dressed I pulled down a carton from on top of one of the cupboards in my bedroom as I wanted my as yet unworn black boots [cheapo imitation Uggs but perfect for keeping my feet, ankles and lower legs warm as they are mid-calf length]. I had been wearing another pair of black boots yesterday, also imitations, but they had gotten rather muddy when De Dawg walked over them so I had scrubbed them but they were still a wee bit damp, hence wanting the new pair. And the mice had somehow gotten into the carton and eaten holes in one of the boots Mutter mutter mutter. Put on another pair, went into the kitchen to make my coffee, took it into the salon, and there she was, on the couch, wide-eyed and innocent... ...De Dawg had eaten and/or chewed through a whole pack of tissues.
Oh dear Malka. I bet you didn't know who to be most annoyed with - Pereg or the mice. I think it will have to be those peppermint balls everywhere.
Peppermint oil ordered but might not be here for two or three weeks. But what on earth were mice doing on top of 6' high cupboards? I ended up with about half a dozen cartons on the floor, checking them all, and so far - so far - only that carton had been invaded - but then I had to get them all up on top of the row of cupboards again. A brand new boot - with huge chunks bitten out of it in three different places? OK so they are cheapos but extremely comfy and warm and although probably would not last long if worn for walking, are ideal for me, who does not walk. And at sick squid a pair it has not broken the bank. Just bloody annoying. As for Pereg - I know she has a "gotta eat tissues" fetish, which is why I usually make sure she cannot get to any. Only she did.
Total frame up done by the evil mice, to distract you from the boots. The mice shredded the tissue and when Pereg chased them off, was mistaken for the tissue destroyer.
Yes... but... it was Pereg who was on the couch with the half eaten/shredded pack of tissues, some bits of which were hanging from her mouth. " 'oo, me? Nah, dat be a figment of your imagination muvver, me not got bits of tissue 'angin' from my mouff." And unless she be SuperDog wot can fly a' 'oo can get on top ova 6' high cupboard and chew holes through a brand new boot - it woz de mice wot dunnit.
A shoes and mice story-A brand new pair of name brand sneakers sitting on the steps waiting for me to wear them to work, tags still on. That morning I put on one ahh perfect fit. The second one...odd maybe I left tissue in there. The stores will stuff the toes so they keep their shape. I don't know if mousie was injured and climbed in to expire or just seeing cats and dogs bounding around caused it to die of fright. Had to wash them four times and even then...
@manydogz - no, the mice loved my boots, or rather one of them. After all, why eat not just one but three large holes in it? Why waste a brand new pair of boots just because one has holes in it? They are worn under fleece-lined trousers and two of the holes would be covered, just the one on the top of the instep would show. But... ...I have an old pair of slippers that are also imitation suede so if I cut bits off one of them and superglue them to the holes in that boot... Do you think I could salvage it?
@Malka Not sure about super glue on fabric or suede, but sewing the patches on with buttonhole twist will hold it forever and if you use a small leather needle to sew it on it punches a hole as you sew making it very easy. Check the rest of the house. The mice may be making a nest somewhere.
@manydogz - I once put my hand in my dressing gown pocket and there was a nest with baby mice in it. I have also had a mouse nesting in an oven glove... ...but that was in the previous bungalow in which I lived and they do not normally nest in pockets or oven gloves. I actually have no idea where they nest or live when they vanish out of sight behind cupboards, the refrigerator, the washing machine, the freezer, etc ad infinitum. Fact is that everyone here has mice even if they do not admit it, but the macolet sells enough of those horrid glue traps. My neighbour bought a metal box type trap once and caught a mouse - she reckons it was the only one she had had and has never had any since. Of course what she does not realise is that for every mouse you actually see, there are dozens that you do not see. Actually I do not think I will bother with the boot - for sick squid - oops, sorry, I forgot you are in the US - I mean £6 [~$9] it is not going to break the bank.
It gets worse...okay it's an old house built before the turn of the century. There are enough false ceilings and crawl spaces that there might be a poltergeist in here and no one will ever know...regularly make the joke we know where Jimmy Hoffa is as well.* So anyways clothes tend to fall under the beds from time to time...and come up with holes or shredded, depending on the fabric. Five fat cats and two dogs...if I was a mouse this is the last place I would set up housekeeping... *Reference of humor so you don't have to look it up-Jimmy Hoffa was head of the Teamsters union with obvious shady business connections, disappeared one day in the 70's.
@lovemybull The popular opinion of people who live in that area is that Jimmy Hoffa is buried under the Skuykill Expressway which was being built at the time.
I'z gotz lotz of meeces in my house! They come in from the garden and take up residence in my kitchen cupboards where they chew holes in my plastic containers ... there's no accounting for taste! At night they venture out to partake of "midnight munchies" eating any food the dogs have left in their bowls, I knowz coz I often wakes up to hear the patter of meeces feet!
De meecicles eats All sorts of Fings If it not be metal An' it duz not ring Dey eats any candles An' soap if in bars An' anyfink else Wot det fink Might be deres Dey eats bananas An' unjuns too Leave tings out Det eats dem whoo Hoo Garlic an' tatas An' eggs in de shell Dem meecicles will Eat dem as well I once had a box Full of cartons which had A litre of juice Of tomatoes How sad And the bdooly mice ate holes in the top of every litre carton of tomato juice which had had to be specially ordered. [An' no doubt dey would 'ave ettid Jimmy Hoffa had he been buried somewhere in dis 'ouse!]
Heeheehee- thinking of a Kliban beach towel I used to have " Love to eat them mousies, mousies what I love to eat, chew their little heads off, nibble on they tiny feet"...huge cat playing guitar. N' yes rodents can be omnivores, they can live eating drywall if it's all they can find for the moment. With Hoffa they also say the Meadowlands, a scrap recycling plant in Chicago...perhaps he's been long off on an island whooping it up with Elvis and Jim Morrison...
