My dad used to characterize something he saw as being part of "the time of year." He's been on my mind as I've noticed the trees heralding fall's arrival. I noticed the first leaves a week and a half ago. There's a tree on a certain corner that always turns red first. A couple of branches on the northeast corner of the tree seem to greet me at that intersection. I turn towards the tree as I make that turn and it seems to say "hey! Winter's coming! But look at me, I'm beautiful NOW."
Speaking of the time of the year, because the evenings have turned cooler a little earlier than last year, the mice invaded. I mentioned in an earlier post that Portia got one and I got one in a trap. Last night I heard a trap go off around 10:20pm or so. I really didn't want to deal with it and go back to bed, and possibly interrupt Portia on Mouse Patrol. This morning I found the mouse still alive with its tail caught in the trap. It looked up at me and then at Joel, terrified and wanting to be free.
Joel wanted me to let it go. I wasn't so crazy about that, but I really didn't want to actually do the deed. Rain was pouring like crazy outside, so I donned rubber gloves, opened the door and went to release the mouse. Rain was pouring so hard that the mouse did not want to leave the trap, crawling on the underside to escape the rain. I gave the trap a shake and flung the mouse to its freedom.
Let's hope it's grateful enough to stay outside. Who am I kidding?
Traps are baited again tonight and Portia is on Mouse Patrol. I'll be so glad when this is over.
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