Mouse

To those people who call me names behind my back.  You know who you are.  I have heard rumors that "certain" people call me the "Bleach Queen."  All I can say is, you have no idea.  

A couple of weeks ago while doing laundry, I noticed it got a bit steamy in the utility room.  That has never happened before.  The dryer vents outside to the back deck.  When we checked the vent, it seemed to be stuck.  The little aluminum cover was bent a bit.  Probably one of the dogs was laying against it at some point.  We straightened it out and things seemed to be working good again.  Or, so we thought.

I keep my dog food in a large metal can with a tight fitting lid (it was a promotional piece from Eukanuba).  But the can isn't quite big enough to hold all the food from a 50 pound bag, so there is usually some left in the bag until they eat enough out of the can to add the rest.  The other day, I went to pour the rest of the food into the can and there was a small hole in the bottom.   It is a very sturdy bag made of plastic.  But, it was no match for the sharp little teeth of a MOUSE!  It was late that night so nothing much I could do until the next day, except put out a trap with some cheese.  First night, we caught a fat one.  Guess he grew fat on that grain free dog food.

My utility room isn't big.  It is bigger than some I have seen though.  We have a washer, dryer, upright freezer and a sink and cabinet in there and there is still room for me to use the grooming table.  I knew I was going to have to move all the appliances out one at a time to clean behind them.  We started with the dryer because it is the one next to the outside wall.  Lots of mouse signs behind there.  When I removed the dryer vent, there was a hole in it about two inches across.  Perfectly round.  A lot of talent there.  

I cleaned the entire area with bleach.  When bleach reacts with the ammonia in the urine, it starts to foam and produces noxious  fumes.  I had both the front and the back doors open, but it was pretty intense.  Why, you say, would I use bleach if I knew what kind of fumes there would be?  Can you say Hanta Virus?  Here, the main carrier is the deer mouse.  Years ago, it was almost always fatal.  Now there is treatment, but it takes a long time.  It is spread when the urine dries to a powder, gets into the air and you breathe it in.  The best way to prevent it is to spray all affected areas with bleach and always wear a mask when cleaning in areas where it might be a problem like sheds and garages.  

We got a new dryer vent hose and vent with a rodent guard, then pulled out the washer.  More mouse signs (and a lot of dog hair hiding under there).  After everything was clean there, we pulled out the freezer and found even more!  Evidently the little guy really liked it under the freezer.  This was where the stash of dog food was kept nice and warm.  

This mouse (or mice, so far we have only caught one) must have thought he had found Nirvana. Here he had a nice covered entry way, all the food he could eat and since this is also where we store the recyclables, all the newspaper he could want for bedding.  A warm, dry place in the cold winter.       

All in all, I used over a gallon of bleach.  Everything has been cleaned.  The floors, of course, but also all cords, hoses, plugs and walls.  In case my father is reading this in heaven, yes, I did unplug everything (mostly) before wiping any wires or cords with the wet bleach.  And, yes, I did wear a mask the whole time.  My throat and eyes still feel a bit raw, but I am sure it isn't a bad as it would have been without the mask.  

We have put out three "bucket traps".  One in each side of the shed and another one in the utility room.  On one of the YouTube videos on how to make these, they caught the mice alive and then let them go.  Now, I think mice are very cute.  But, if they thought they would be relocated to a farm or something, they are sadly mistaken.  I don't care if they live a long life.  Just not in my house.  I will not say what will happen to them here.  

Just where were the dogs during this invasion?  Good question.  They seemed very interested in the making of the traps, especially when we were putting peanut butter on them for bait.  They were particularly helpful in cleaning up fingers.  

A Kees in the Land of Enchantment

One of the long time favorite columns in New Mexico Magazine is called "One of Our Fifty is Missing."  It is humerous accounts of the problems we, as citizens of the United States, have when dealing with people who think we live in a foreign country.  Like, when ordering something over the phone and being told they don't ship to any countries except the US.  I have had many conversations with people trying in vain to explain that we are actually the 47th state.  I one time asked someone what they called that space between Arizona and Texas.  We are the fifth largest State, you would think people would notice something that big!  I went with a high school band to Washington, DC.  A lady at the Smithsonian ask the kids where they were from.  Upon hearing their answer, she said, "Wow!  You speak very good English."  To which one of the smart alec kids replied, "So do you!"  

Imagine the problems of living in a very misunderstood state with a pair of a very unknown  breed of dog.  You would be amazed at some of the comments I get while out with the dogs.  They have been called everything from ChowChows to Raccoon Dogs.  One lady asked me if they were a cross between a cat and a dog.  When I tell them what breed they are, people will tell me, "Oh, I had one of those when I was a kid.  Only mine was bigger.  Are these miniatures?"  Or, "Mine was so much smaller.  I would have recognized them if they were the right size."    Just today, a lady told us on our walk that they were as furry as a minx.  Not sure what she meant by that, but she did say they were beautiful, so I'm okay with that.  

Other weird things they get called include Ewoks as is evident from the first picture. All Sadie needs is a little leather vest to complete the look. When I take the dogs to the library, the preschoolers call them "The Cotton Candy Dogs". The little ones like to run their fingers through the fur as they pretend to read. So, I guess what I am saying is that in a place that is different from any other place, it is only appropriate that my beloved keeshonden get called many different names. 

A lot of people think that New Mexico is all desert. While there are desert areas, we also have mountains, wetlands and plains.  A lot of our mountains include tundra which is above the timber line. The ski areas here regularly stay open from Thanksgiving to Easter. Yes, it does get very hot in places. But, the humidity here is very low. How do our Kees cope?  Obviously if you lived in an area that gets hot, they would have to stay inside with air conditioning all summer. Even if you live in the mountains like I do, there are things we do because of the dryness. I drink lots of water and use lots of lotion on my skin. Because of the clear air and high altitude here (7,000 ft.) we have a high UV index and sunscreen is a must. My dogs always have lots of water available to drink and I spritz them with cold water every day. There are lots of shady areas outside to protect them from the harsh rays of the sun and we also have air conditioning as well as a humidifier to add humidity to the air indoors. With all these precautions, I still have dry skin.  The dog's double coats help, and I think spraying them with water also helps keep their coats healthy. 

So, what should you expect should you come to visit our fair state?  Well, for one thing, the food here is unlike anywhere else.  Not really Mexican and certainly NOT Tex-Mex.  It probably goes back to our roots as a Spanish coloony.  In northern New Mexico, they still speak Castillian Colonial Spanish, not the Mexican dialects spoken in the rest of the country.  So, with both food and the language different, how, do you ask, do you order in a restuarant?  Here, chile is a vegetable and served with every meal.  If you are not from here, don't order "hot".  Most people will say that the green is hotter than the red, but if you order "Christmas" (both red and green on the same plate) that is a moot point.  I personally prefer the taste of the red better.  

New Mexico is diverse climate wise as well.  In winter, you can sunbathe at White Sands National Park and see the snow on Sierra Blanca.  You can ski on snow in the morning and sand in the afternoon.  It is possible (and probable) to get a sun burn at both locations.  There is everything from desert to wetlands and high mountains.  

Unique climate zones means unique wildlife.  Becaue of the vast open spaces, animals from other places have been brought in in attempts to save an endangered species.  In one case, Barbary Sheep, there is a higher population here than there is in their native land on the Barbary Coast of Africa.  In the photos that follow, there is a herd of Oryx (also imported from Africa and having no real predators here, they have really multiplied).  Elk can be found in most of the mountain areas, and the Pronghorn Antelope are found in the plains. We have mostly Mule Deer here, but there are some White Tail deer in the southeast. If you live in the mountains like I do, your outdoor planting not only has to meet the planting zone, it is also helpful if it is "deer resistant". As you can see from the picture, lilacs are not. Again, the watch dogs just watch the plants get eaten to the ground. The last picture is one of our local Blue Herons. They like to roost behind the house in the mornings to get the sun. Huge, beautiful birds.