Tom and I were finally able to find time to put up the sleigh bells. We did them a little differently this year. On the other side of the arch, you can see the garland that has some of Tom’s Star Trek ornaments from Lynne. Above the sleigh bells are five collages depicting the Trojan War done by a fabulous artist friend of ours, Geof.
Yesterday, I mentioned to Tim that I wasn’t going to find potential rat carcasses on the driveway before the dogs because of all the fallen leaves. So while I was in line at the post office (over an hour) and in line at the grocery store (a mere ten minutes!), he and Rex did this.
Did I say rat carcasses? You didn’t really think we were going to get through today without Rat Update: Day 4, did you?
Today, my hero arrived in his chariot.
Here are some of his tools.
Copper mesh.
I think this is the gun that shoots foam.
This is the foam mixed with mesh to block one of the rats’ main entry points, which is directly behind me when I work at night and is the reason I turn up the volume on my iTunes.
Here’s my hero putting wire mesh over other entry points. Once this is actually up, it’s barely noticeable and doesn’t affect the house’s curb appeal.
As for the hole in the yard that sends Rex into such fits of ecstasy, here’s my public service announcement for homeowners. If you don’t have children or pets, they can put poison down those holes and run off your tunneling rats. However, rats will take the poison out of the hole to eat it, in which case children and pets can find it. It’s not only poisonous to swallow, but it’s a contact poison. So the exterminator’s suggestion, much more environmentally sound and less hazardous, is to pour sand down the holes, because rats don’t like chewing on or tunneling through sand. Soon, Rex may not have any reason to excitedly tell us, “There’s a hole in the yard!”
(Another thing the exterminator told us is that if people touch the bait–poison–the rats won’t eat it. Why is that rats are so damn discerning about that, but they have no scruples about coming in our houses and eating all the other stuff we’ve touched?)
The exterminator left two exit points from our attic so the last of the rats can escape. He’ll come back next week and block those off, and then we just hope that no rats will have stuck around to die up there. Because I have a very keen sense of smell, and if that happens, I may be coming to YOUR house for a while.
The Wall of Doom
If they die in the attic, or inside a wall, the hero person you have should have no problem coming and retrieving the body of the dead Rat. That smell in my wall has never left my memory My god, sometimes, I will stand there, in the bathroom, and swear I can still smell it!
I think I need a hero, too.
Re: The Wall of Doom
That’s very true. We had a rat die in one of our walls when I was a kid – I’m talking over 25 years ago here – and I can still smell it too!
Re: The Wall of Doom
Yeah, he said they’d come back if we started smelling anything.
I don’t have rats….but you can send that hero on over…did Tim get a look at him? I would like another opinion! LOL
I wasn’t home today while the hero was here, but if he’s the same hero that usually sprays our property to deter insects, then …well, he’s not herolicious, but he’s not heropugnant either.
Rats in the attic (Sung by Aerosmith)
In the attic lies
Rats that scream
Nothings seen
Rats a dream
Chewing the things that are real entwined
Chewing the things that they love from mind
All of the things they learned from fears
Nothing is left for the years
Rats scream
Nothings seen
Rats a dream
(chorus)
Rats, rats, rats in the attic
Rats, rats, rats in the attic
Rats, rats, rats in the attic
Rats, rats, rats in the attic
In the attic lies
Rats scream
Nothings seen
Rats a dream
Chewing the things that are real entwined
Chewing the things that they love from mind
All of the things they learned from fears
Nothing is left for the years
Rats scream
Nothings seen
Rats a dream
(repeat chorus) (yayayayayayayow!)
Re: Rats in the attic (Sung by Aerosmith)
Can you send over Joe Perry to play guitar on that in person? Oh, and make sure he’s wearing leather pants. Thank you.