“Hot cocoa and cold toes remind me of Christmas.”
Winter days, even sunny winter days, have a starkness about them. The trees are empty of leaves. The garden has stubs of flowers. The lawn is littered with pine needles once green now brown. Only the winter birds are here; the rest have gone to warmer climes. Chickadees, goldfinches, titmice, nut hatches and winter robins stay and are frequent visitors to the feeders. I keep the feeders filled.
My Christmas lights seem to have minds of their own despite the timers. One set out front and one set on the deck didn’t light at first so I had to turn them on and off. Now they light on time but turn off too early. I’m okay with that.
Remember that mouse on the stairs a few weeks ago? (That almost sounds like a Christmas tale but it’s not.) I noticed a few mouse droppings in the kitchen which totally grossed me out. The mouse had found its niche. I emptied and cleaned a kitchen drawer then put peanut butter in the trap and put it on the kitchen floor. I’m happy to say the mouse is gone, not to its heavenly reward, but to a field down the street. The creature was in my have a heart trap last night so I took it and released it into the wild with all my well wishes.
During our ride, I noticed how many houses are lit up for Christmas. Some are all white while others are all different colors. Down the street some lights wind around a tree trunk in bands of colors. I paused at that house. On my street three houses are lit. Another house with a lit fence faces the street. I’m thinking this will be a banner year for lights.
My house needs to be decorated. My list of cookies and ingredients has to be made. My cards have to be addressed and sent. My gifts need to be checked on the list. I need to buy my tree. I’ve been waiting on that last one as I’ve ordered new tree lights. Last year’s strands went outside. Usually I am daunted by such a long list but not by this one. I find every bit of Christmas joyful, and I’m looking forward to those cookies.
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keepthecoffeecoming.blog 
December 6, 2018 at 6:30 pm
Happy St. Nicholas’ Day! – With or without mice 🙂
December 6, 2018 at 6:35 pm
Thanks, Birgit!!
Happy St. Nicholas’ Day to you as well!
December 6, 2018 at 9:13 pm
I think if you would get a big mean looking mouse trap and dispatch a few of those critters they would avoid your house. The word would go out to every mouse on the Cape to avoid your house. 🙂 You are just recycling them. 🙂
My spouse brought home a box of milk chocolate covered cordial blueberry candy. The last box she bought a few years ago was devoured by our dauschound before any of us had even tried one. They are delicious. 🙂
Today was cool with light rain and tomorrow heavy rain with thunderstorms are predicted.
December 6, 2018 at 10:21 pm
Bob,
My brother used to tell me that anyone on Cape Cod who says they don’t have mice is either a fool or a liar.
I won’t be responsible for killing the creatures.
I knew I had at least one as I had seen it. My cleaner, Lee, hasn’t seen mouse poop upstairs so I’m thinking the population is quite small. The trap is reloaded and back on the floor. There may be some down the cellar but they don’t bother me.
I let the mouse go over a mile from here. He’ll not find their way back.
I have had chocolate blueberries, and they are delicious. Henry would eat them if he could.
Cold, cold
December 7, 2018 at 7:59 am
I found a light string I had forgotten that I had and it still worked even if it must be almost ten years old, so I think I’ll have it around my kitchen door. It doesn’t have any timer though so I must remember to turn it on and off myself. The timer I do have can’t be trusted, one never knows when the lights will turn on or off 🙂 🙂
I still have my have a heart trap in my pantry but so far no mouse in it. I thought I heard mice in the walls today but it turned out to be birds trying to get something on the wall outside 🙂 🙂
Have a great day!
Christer.
December 7, 2018 at 9:55 pm
Christer,
I have all new light sets for my tree. I just need the tree. I think I will also get some greenery and put it around the door jams. I have a strand of white lights I can use on it. Maybe I’ll do that this weekend. I really do have to start decorating!
My friends have caught two nice in their have a heart traps. They also told me they had two birds at different times in the house and have no idea how they got in. I had a bird last summer in the house and I also have no idea either where it came from.
Have a great day!!