One of the cats chased a mouse across the basement floor last night. Dammit! WTF?
A few months ago, we did a whole-house overhaul, plugging every single crack and crevice! We used Great Stuff, we used plywood, we did it all. A hole in the garage and a hole in the sub-flooring by the back door, all fixed. Where the heck are they coming in?
Geoff said he had an idea. A few weeks ago, while I was in Cape May, the man moved the dryer to clean behind it.
I know. I will let all of you recover from that. I married up, baby.
He said that the dryer vent duct was pulled away from the wall a bit.
Let's see....
Hmmm...yeah, I think a mouse could maybe crawl through a FOUR INCH opening.
Man. That's...dirty back there.
So I was thrilled to get over to Lowe's to pick up a new duct. I love hardware stores.
Oh, and we needed a new vent cover where the dryer vents to the outside.
You know how most vent covers have those little louvers that open when the hot air comes out? Ever think that maybe a critter could just lift one of those thingies up and walk right in?
Hence, a wonderful invention:
It was the "Bird" in "Bird and Rodent Guard" that caught my eye. Sure, mice shouldn't get in, but I never thought of birds. My goodness! What if we have somehow endangered birds?
Well, we just can't have that.
I also fixed a tear in our linoleum, replaced a zillion outlet plates....
...and finally painted this desk for Isabelle. She needed a place to do homework, and this desk has been sitting in our garage for a few years.
Beth, my cousin and semi-lurker on this blog, and also the former owner of said desk, may recognize it. Or maybe not.
It used to be white. Isabelle has a lavender room, but she is fond of blue and green. I found a "pistachio" green, and got a small bottle of metallic purple for the drawer pulls. When I showed Isabelle the color, she said, "Can you make purple polka-dots on the top?"
Sure.
I tried to make the dots random, but not too random:
Now, that's a desk!
15 comments:
Whoa--you are right--that's a desk.
As for mice--we have voles (I think) in our walls. I can hear them at times at night scritching and scratching away. We had a wildlife expert come and he sealed everything--he claimed. He said a vole or a mouse can get in the house through a hole 1/2 inch or so. Sheeese.
Can I borrow one of your raptors?
Oooh I like it!
Nice to know a woman who likes doing all that domestic crap.
;-)
I get on my knees and bow to you. You do vents? I might be able to paint a desk in polka-dots (very pretty, Susan) but I don't move dryers and purchase ducts and vents. I'd take the easy route and buy caulk.
(I just pasted the entire post I wrote tonight on this comment section - it's a good thing I checked this out.)
"Bird and Rodent Guard". Very cool. My neighbors could use this inside their attic vents to keep HOSP out!
Wow - I am seriously impressed with your skilz!
And that is a very pretty desk - your daughter must be thrilled.
Beth
Very cool desk, Susan! My friend said a bird got into her dryer once. Unfortunately for the bird!
Very pretty desk - could make doing homework fun.
Geoff moved the dryer to clean behind it? What a guy! But, how come he didn't come to my house and move my appliances to clen behind them?
Hmmppphh,
~Kathi, who wonders what is wrong with your cats that they can't catch mice
Cute! Cute! Cute! That desk sure looks better than when I had it. I'm glad Isabelle will be able to get use out of it.
I'll have to come back to read the rest of the post. The thought that someone's husband would vacuum behind the dryer just blew me away. Then I started laughing at the mere thought of even ASKING my husband to vacuum behind the dryer, much less for him to think of doing it himself.
Nice desk! I can't believe with all of the raptors you deal with that you have a rodent problem. :)
That desk rocks! And, Geoff, we have a new dryer (read one that now works without a hip check) and we need to get a new duct. We are so not on it. You two are nicely organized. Someday I may be, too. Or maybe not. Sigh...
This made me laugh - but I'm glad you were able to solve the problem!
You are such a good mother, Susan!
That desk is very nice.
Wow, Susan--this post confirms your status as honorary lesbian! (I meant that as a compliment!)
I love that desk! Good job Susan!
Be glad Kitty caught the mouse for you. I had to set traps out one year because my kitty was feeling kinda lazy and then I forgot about the traps until 3 weeks later when the awful dead mouse smell started drifting out from under my computer desk...... :-(
Make me one of those! LOL
LOOOOVE the desk!
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