He Was One Spooky Mouse
64
Housekeeping Phobia
This hub comes to my readers courtesy of Brett Winn’s article. After reading my article on cleaning house, Brett wrote an article of what it was like raising 6 children and having 6 dogs in the mix and what this does to trying to keep house. Reading her article made me laugh as I remember the reason I have a housekeeping phobia.
As a child growing up, cleaning house was just something we did. I still think it had a lot to do with trying to keep eight kids occupied. Cleaning house for my siblings and I growing up, was productive and we learned a lot about working together.
In The Beginning
When I first got married, my husband at the time (so named Big Nam by tlpoague) and I were buying a small house. (Four rooms to be exact unless you counted the kind of closed in back porch which became our laundry room.) We didn’t have very much money even though my husband had a good job. We were buying a house, paying doctor and hospital bills for a new baby as well as trying to keep the new baby supplied with diapers, formula and clothes she grew out of pretty fast.
While I was growing up, my mom made sure her kids knew how to cook. However, when it came to making meals for ten or more people, we did not have a huge variety. I learned to cook at a very young age and baking bread was part of my repertoire. Believe me when I say, culinary expertise differs in various parts of the nation. Cooking skills that worked for me in Oregon where I grew up, did not work out the same in Kansas. At this time in my life, I was still learning to be thrifty and yet provide decent meals for my little family. (Husband and 1 child).
The Woes of Baking Bread
My husband worked the swing shift at the roofing plant in town, so this particular day he was home and out of bed. I had decided to try my hand at baking bread. My first experience of baking bread since we were married produced loaves that looked good on the outside but were hollow on the inside. My next try, I adjusted the recipe and ended up with very heavy and rock solid loaves. I received a great deal of laughter from this experiment. My husband and buddies thought we should patent that recipe and use the brick-like loaves to build houses. HaHa.
And There He Was
This particular day my husband was in the kitchen when I made the announcement, that I was going to try to bake bread once again. He had a skeptical look when I made this announcement. I was telling him this as I opened the cabinet to pull out my small bag of flour. The next thing I know, Big Nam is moving toward the back door. I couldn’t figure out why all of a sudden he was trying to get out of the kitchen. I really wasn’t raving and ranting at him for making fun of my bread making skills.
About the time he reached the back door, I turned to look at the bag of flour, only to discover a small hole in the bottom, with two beady eyes looking back at me. Instant reflex sent that bag of flour right at the back door, but that little beady eyed critter jumped out of the bag and scurried back into the cupboard. Of course, it became very apparent as to why Big Nam was trying to get out of the kitchen.
The Hunt Was On
“There is not enough room in this house for me and that mouse!” I was in ranting and raving mode now. Big Nam with the flour covering him, was laughing, but immediately went into hunting mode. As he proceeded to open the cupboard door, laughing all the while at me, the mouse jumped out and landed on him, SPOOKING him and making him fall back on the floor. Now, of course I am laughing at him for being spooked by such a little critter. Said critter scurried into a new hidey hole under the kitchen stove, the hunt was on. Big Nam was not impressed with my laughter at him for being afraid of a little mouse.
“I am not afraid of that mouse.” he informed me, “he just startled me.” Like the mouse didn’t startle me, sending flour all over the kitchen? The bread making idea became non-existent at this point, since I didn’t have any flour left.
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Trauma Forever
Back to the cleaning phobia. This incident, provoked me to remove every food item from that cabinet, trying to find out where that mouse had come into it. We discovered where the pipes for the kitchen sink came into the cabinet was the thoroughfare for the disgusting little critter. After filling holes with steel wool, which is supposed to keep unwanted critters out. I used that cupboard for pots and pans which could be easily cleaned, in the mere event my plan didn’t work out. My flour, sugar and other mouse goodies went into a plastic bucket with a tight fitting lid, to be stored in a higher cupboard, hopefully more difficult for a mouse to get in. The mess left behind because of that mouse, as well as the trauma of that event, haunts me to this day.
Not In My House
I am truly not a fan of bugs, creatures and critters that belong outside coming into my house. I have a tendency to over react. However, in my opinion, there really is a place for everything and my house is not a welcoming environment for such things that belong outside. If they do make it indoors they are usually quickly exterminated.
The next experience that comes to mind has to do with cockroaches.
Get Out Get Out
- Cleaning for Company
This hub is a tongue-in-cheek commentary about cleaning for company. Enjoy!
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So funny! They look so cute in the picture but not in person...In the winter we have had field mice that used to come up when we had many dogs, as they were after the food. Now we dont as we only have one dog and she is inside. The chicken feed goes up in the coop at night. If they want in though, they will find a way...we have a had a couple make their way in. I am like you..everything in buckets and containers..only takes once..YIKES!!!
Sunnie
A great story mljdgulley , such a beautiful tribute, and the greatest attribute to it all, is in the truth it carries. I love this part:
While I was growing up, my mom made sure her kids knew how to cook. However, when it came to making meals for ten or more people, we did not have a huge variety. I learned to cook at a very young age and baking bread was part of my repertoire.
This speaks so clearly of something that is missing in homes today, that every time I he of Big Nam , a little shiver happens , why so , he reminds me of my dad.
And with my own intuition I can see the benefits as they are so clear in your daughters stories.
It's a great pleasure to witness such a blessing, You can write these truths every day , they are needed.
My the Most High God continue to bless you and all yours.
Give thanks.
B.A. Williams Thank you for that wonderful comment. I have been lucky enough not to have another encounter with mice such as that.
Sunnie you are so right if the little critters want in they find a way. I am pretty careful about how I store mouse goodies.
Sky thank you for that wonderful comment. I am blessed with my mom's teachings. My family here in Oregon tell me they love to come over for a meal because I cook so well. Since I love to cook and love to have company that compliment went a long way to making my day.
lol lol, I can't stand mice. I can't tell you what we do to them here because I might get in trouble but let's just say once they are gone, there is no coming back, not for the same ones anyway.
Gabby is the one who named Big Nam? hmmm...I had no idea that he was her dad....lol.
@ Cardisa, LOL! Does this mean they get roasted and served as a side dish? I don't mind the mice. I don't like the roaches. My son is actually the one to come up with the name Big Nam. Somewhere in one of my Redneck hubs, I posted a comment with all the nicknames of the family we use in our stories. This way the readers can follow the family tree easier.
To mom, Loved it! I remember you telling this story as a child. Can't wait to read the roach one!
Hehehe. This was cute and funny. Living out in the country, field mice make it inside quite often. I think they're cute, though...but I never touch them and take them outside promptly. Any creature that makes it past my eyes generally has a shortened life, however. We have two cats that LOVE mice. Oy vey...I really do hate it when we find an expired mouse somewhere. It's out with the bottle of bleach - big time...unless I am feeling overly environmental, then I'll apply LOTS of apple cider vinegar and baking soda to the area...
Cardisa you are such an inspiration when you visit. Big Nam is tlp's dad, my ex.
tlp I am working on the cockroach story. Unless I add Beaner to story it probably won't be too funny.
cclitgirl At the time we didn't have a cat. I think one would have been very welcome.
tipoague you can never suffer with that thing they call writers block .lol there are wonderful stories here . My mind is always going to the one who cut his hands.
Great family . May the Most High gran you all the health and protection going for many many years to come . It's not too late for tipoague's treats made by mom . I await.
It's a family's thing. Like Johnson.
Thank you Sky. It is always a pleasure to read your comments. Rooster is the one who cut his hand and it hasn't slowed him down a bit. Oops another hub just hit my mind.
Very funny, it felt almost like watching a cartoon while reading this.
Voted up, funny, awesome and SOCIALLY SHARED.
Actually looking back on this incident I think it had a cartoon element to it. I didn't feel that way at the time though. Thank you for visiting and reading my story.
What a funny story, but I totally agree with you - mice, bugs, and other creepy crawlies belong outdoors.
Donna it is always a pleasure for your visit to my hubs. I hate those kinds of things in my house.
Great story here, made me laugh for awhile. Thanks for the fun and stuff. Yes I voted^
Thank you for stopping by and reading my story. I like to make people laugh. Thank you for the vote.
Morning Mar..have a great day! Hugs!
It is always a pleasure when you stop and read my stories. Thank you for all the hugs.
Finally making my comment. I can do without the mice too. Hubby use to work in the fields and one day come home upset cuz he didn't get lunch that day. When asked what happened to the lunch I made him he told me a mouse ate through the plastic bowl I put it in. If he would not have brought home the bowl I would never have believed him. So yea mice and get into anything.
Oh great and here I thought I was being so smart using plastic containers to keep those critters out of my food.
Thanks for commenting
I feel neutral about mice but thought your story was amusing. I wouldn't use mousetraps either, cause I think the final result is awful. Voting this Up and Funny.
I'm not scared of rats, snakes, bugs, or even spiders. And despite all those, I am terrified of mice. If it is a rat, no problem! Even a herd of rats does not frighten me in the least... but a single mouse? *shiver* no thank you!
alocsin thanak you for reading and commenting. Mouse traps may be for some but they have to be emptied and that I won't do.
Phoebe I can't say the little critter scare me unless they jump out of a bag or something when I'm not expecting them. But I still don't want them in my house. Thank you for reading and commenting.
Redneck mouse trap, instead of going out and buying one of those glue traps, just use duck-tape (who knew you could use it for more then taping your kids). Take a couple of strips of duck-tape make a nice square and add peanut butter in the middle. Most of us already have duck-tape and peanut butter laying around. lol.
Or, you can make a trident and spear the little buggers as they run rampant through your house. To make a trident, duck-tape a fork to the end of a broom handle. These are tried and true methods for those who can handle that kind of thing. Mom I am with you and make someone else remove the traps
Oh how funny I think that is a great mouse trap idea. Getting someone else to get rid of it works for me too.
What a wonderful and funny story, creepy crawlies and mice definitely belong outdoors!
Many thanks for sharing and voted up!
Thank you Movie Master. I had hoped this would be humorous to more than just me.
Hi, lol! thanks, really made me laugh, I know very well the 'trauma' of a mouse, I wrote a hub about, me, my husband the caravan and a mouse! so yes, they are tiny, but anything that small can make you go arghhhhh! haha!
Funny yet heart warming. The history of your family added to that little mouse innocently eating your flour ;) Between your baking and your mouse phobia and your great writing style this was a really enjoyable and fun hub to read. Voted up and funny and Sharing.
Cute story. I was once sitting at my computer thinking my cat had put his paw on my foot. All at once I saw our cat run under my computer table and come out with a mouse in his mouth. The paw on my foot wasn't my cat but the mouse. Voted Up..
Cute and Funny! Loved it. Thanks for sharing this story!
Nell Thank you for reading and commenting. I will have to go read your hub. I can laugh when not around the little buggers but it takes a while when I meet up with one.
Thank you tillsontitan for your wonderful comment. I like to know that my hubs are fun and enjoyable. Writing for hub pages is really fun.
moonlake an incident like that for me the computer would be on the floor as well.Thank you for commenting and voting
urmilashukla thank you for commenting. I'm glad you liked it.
I have researched and tried every humane method of getting rid of mice. Being a vegetarian and animal rights supporter, I just cannot kill the little fellows. My husband takes over after my humane attempts fail. Enjoyed your article. That little mouse sure is cute.
Thank you for stopping and reading this little story. The fact that I don't like killing the little critters is one reason why I don't want them coming in my house.
I'm on the side of the mouse but I can sympathise with you mljdgulley354.
I wouldn't recommend you staying in a tent as you're on their patch then and the insect and animal kingdoms will rise. I lived in a big tent for 6 months in Italy. At first I was willing to co-exist peacefully with all the bugs but it soon ended up in open-warfare. LOL
Great Hub , marked up
Shinkicker we did camp in a tent sometimes but I was grateful when we were able to purchase a camper. Thank you for reading and commenting.
I had a mouse problem in my house for a while. They can be a real problem. I can relate to your story. When you have time read my Hub about Grandma's Mouse. Bet you'd like it. I enjoyed this one.
Thank you mary615 for reading and I will take time to read yours.
This is quite an interesting read. I also share some of your experience.
Thank you Vinaya for reading and commenting. I can laugh today but at the time it was too dramatic to be funny.
B. A. Williams Level 3 Commenter 3 months ago
This was funny and informative, hope you don't have an act two of that scene again. Mice are horrid creatures not only do they carry diseases they really do startle you dashing around so fast.
Good idea on keeping the flour in a sealed container now.