If you enjoyed my mice adventure, surely you’ll enjoy this story. I was thinking about how many more things I would need go through to complete my Minnesota adventure. It seems we’ve covered a lot of ground when it comes to “things that could happen to you in Minnesota”. We’ve had several flooded basements, ice dams and the ensuing leaky ceiling, a mice infestation that I hope is finally over and then there’s the story of the bats. The bats lived in the house from hell.
Our first year in Minnesota was spent at a rental house in one of the nicest neighborhoods in St. Paul. But it was definitely not one of the nicest houses. The weekend we were moving in the kitchen ceiling fell down. Luckily our cats, Bert and Ernie, were not in there at the time. Next, our landlord hired the cheapest roofers on the planet and they forgot to put tarps on the roof a Friday before a torrential downpour. I had every pot and bowl I owned making a line from the dining room on into the living room then turning right to go into the spare bedroom collecting water from that downpour. Oh yes, fun times. And did I mention the broken elbow in the back of that house? Okay, that was me being in too much of a hurry and had nothing to do with that house. But it did happen at that house. I learned a huge lesson that winter. Baby steps is my mantra all winter now.
Towards the end of our year there I was asleep on the couch late at night when I heard the cats making noise. When I turned on the light they were both sitting, looking up at the bat that was hanging from my ceiling. Oh boy, how do we get it out of the house?? I woke the husband and he managed to shoo it out the back door with a broom. I hid in the bathroom :)
Prior to seeing this bat I was hearing noises in the walls, which I now know were the bats. Curiously, the husband thought I was hearing things…..UNTIL he saw Ernie staring at the wall listening to the bats. So funny that man.
Here’s a short update on the mice situation. The last mouse to leave the house was Tuesday and we are now to Friday. I have not yet looked at the traps but I suspect and hope, hope, hope they continue to be empty!!
Happy Friday everyone!!
Here are Bert and Ernie as kittens, a photo I took home from my mother’s house. It’s a photo of a photo as scan was not working:
And just for fun, for the Fritz fans “please, can I have some of your dinner?”:
travels with toby 
Ha.. I loved your bat story! I remember when I first spotted bats in Costa Rica.. I thought, “As long as you catch mosquitoes, that’s fine…” I’ve had dengue fever before, so the fewer mosquitoes the better….
Until I awakened one morning with two bat bites on my neck! I never dreamed those were vampire bats! I no longer embrace the ‘live in harmony’ attitude.
Bert and Ernie are precious… maybe they could come live w/me and help keep the house bat free?!
oh yes, bats do eat mosquitoes don’t they. And we see them regularly flying around above our heads at the cabin after dark. but yea, when they’re in your house: ewie!! that must have been horrifying to find bat bites on your neck. omg….
oh that I could send Bert and Ernie to you. Both have long since departed. They were quite the pair though and we loved them to pieces. Thanks for stopping by. Nice to see you!!
What a mad, mad, mad, mad world you’ve lived in. Hope the meeces are no more. Fingers crossed. Still sound like it’s a good possibility. <3 <3
heh, mad world indeed. but surely other people around here have experienced these things too? :)
I never did check all the traps last night, not sure if hubby did. but I just looked at the visible ones: NO MICE!!! please God, let it be over…..
All’s quiet then. The relatives must have heard reports of others’ demise. They’re all talking about the lady with the traps. :-D :-D :-D
YAY!!! down with the mouse king!! :D :D :D
:-D :-D
What’s next? Raccoons? Those are common where I lived in Central California. It’s a good thing your “watch cats” were on the job! Some day I’ll tell you about the bats stationed in the rural African house were I stayed during my research in 1999. I moved out of that as people simply laughed at me when I complained about the bats…
funny you mention raccoons. we were visiting friends recently and mentioned our mice issue. and they told us of some raccoons that were in their yard, um….ONE NIGHT!!! apparently they’re very nomadic and don’t stick around very long. So, I guess the local people where you lived in rural Africa that year are not bothered by bats in their houses huh?
Aw, the kittens…!
And bats, they do give us some trouble, don’t they? Here’s my traumatic bat story:
http://ladyofthecakes.wordpress.com/2014/09/02/battling-the-night-away/
they were adorable kittens! and pretty darn fine cats too ;) I’m going to go read your bat story. thanks for sharing! I think :)
Same bat time. Same bat station.
:)
Very funny story about the bats, Toby. I think that could be the stuff nightmares are made of. Waking up with bat bites on my neck would giveme the Screaming Hab-dabs. 8O Good luck with the miceless situation. Are you still going out to eat for Thanksgiving? :)
thanks! :) we are still going out for Thanksgiving, yes. we have reservations at a place downtown Minneapolis. also, a co-worker told me about Windows on Minnesota which is atop the Marquette hotel in Minneapolis. he said they have this great buffet and it’s worth the tidy sum it costs to eat there. supposed to be fabulous views from up there! I kept getting voicemail. maybe next year :)
Jeez Toby, All you need is a good case of poison ivy and I think you’ll have the whole Minnesota experience wrapped up!
Glad to hear you are mouseless!!!
I’ve never reacted to poison ivy, thank goodness!