• There’s A Mouse In My House

    March 4, 2010 - Comments (13)

    Only one day in my cabin, and I already had an intruder.  I came to the cabin this morning and noticed something wasn’t quite right… There were little droppings on the kitchen counter, and I don’t mean little things that I dropped.  I mean, little droppings…  The kind only a little varmint could leave behind.  Grossed out!  Or as I used to say in junior high, “gag me with a spoon…”  After only 2 days at the cabin I have come full circle to the realization that I think I knew all along:  Although the idea of roughing it out in the woods seems exotic and adventurous, I’m really an IN doors-y kind of guy… I’m more of a hotel with continental breakfast kind of guy!  But it’s all good.  I like that this experience is stretching me in all these different ways, not just musically.  I’m writing differently than I ever have.  I’m staying a different type of location.  I’m being stretched, and I think good things will come of it.  The nice lady who owns the cabin went and bought a monster mouse trap.  So, I’ll keep you posted on what I find tomorrow.  But know this, the stories you send me will be read, by me and maybe even by a mouse or two while they steal my cheese and crackers.

    -mw

    Matthew West POSTED BY:
    Matthew West

    • 13 comments

    1. 1. Rachel commented:

      Thu 4/3/10, 11:54 am

      Ha, yeah. Welcome to country life! It’s a constant struggle between wild and wits. Baking soda and cayene pepper will keep most things out of the house ;-)

    2. 2. Jennifer Eckert commented:

      Thu 4/3/10, 12:09 pm

      I understand mouse in the house…my parents live in what I call rural suburbia as they are in the outer ring of a metro area so it’s close to country life and city convenience….being stretched is also a good thing.

    3. 3. Sarah commented:

      Fri 5/3/10, 5:25 pm

      haha well at least you have company. even if they do steal your food… ;) jk haha have fun out there! :)

    4. 4. Jeisel Q commented:

      Fri 5/3/10, 8:13 pm

      That is funny…. new friends in the cabin that can help you read all the stories.. haha.. God bless!! ;-)

    5. 5. Rana Lakes commented:

      Sat 6/3/10, 4:45 am

      I have to tell you that growing up in the country was some of the best times of my life! As a very young child (about 7yrs.) I would venture off in the woods of solitude, just my dog and I, and spend hours just praying and singing by myself…I really miss those days. I have a feeling this experience will be something you will never forget.

    6. 6. Brandon B commented:

      Mon 8/3/10, 10:50 pm

      Haha in the house I used to live in, there was a small family of owls living in the eves outside my room. I would hear them rustling around occasionally at night. It was kind of scary before I found out what all the noise was.

    7. 7. James commented:

      Tue 9/3/10, 3:35 am

      Hi there, Matthew
      I saw your song “Nothing Else” on youtube the other day. Seeing your sincere love for Jesus inspired and helped me like no other song so I wanted to say thank you for being true to the Lord and showing you love for him. I’m praying you will always be so faithful. Thanks so much,
      James

    8. 8. Jay commented:

      Wed 10/3/10, 8:11 am

      Unfortunately, Matt, you will need to buy the ‘glue traps’ and send the little critter on a “magic carpet ride”. Not very nice, but *extremely* effective. I bought them when I had a similar problem at my shop and within 10 minutes, I had one of them. Caught the other one by the next morning.

      After you set the glue trap, keep an ear out for tiny, little ‘squeaks’. It’s there way of saying “I surrender”. No point in letting them sit in the traps for an extended period of time.

    9. 9. Rebecca DeParis commented:

      Wed 10/3/10, 11:04 am

      I am loving the post.. every now and then God takes us places that will make us uncomfortable so that he can teach us something new about ourselves and HIM. I hope that your experiences in the “woods” and “roughing it” brings you closer to HIS heart.. also I wanted to let you know that your song “Going thru the Motions” has had a profound impact on me at a time in my life that I was struggling with some very deep hurts. Thank you for the gift of that song! Blessings to you!!

    10. 10. Richard Conway commented:

      Thu 11/3/10, 1:42 pm

      Matthew,

      Having grown up in rural areas, little droppings do not require monster traps. Since you will be there a month or so, invest in a cat from the pound. Not only will it stop the mouse droppings, it will supply quiet companionship. Cat droppings won’t be a problem, just allow it to go outdoors. keep food around and it will always return. Don’t supply so much food that it doesn’t want to hunt out the mice or mouse.

      happy writings, cabins are a good writing environment, especially in the Spring. you will witness new life as trees and plants send out new growth, just as God brings new growth to us.

      RC

    11. 11. Richard Conway commented:

      Thu 11/3/10, 1:48 pm

      One more things regarding the cats and found mice. Cats like to “show off” their trophies. don’t be surprised if the cat leaves a dead mouse at your door or foot of your bed, use a dustpan to scoop up the dead mouse and throw it a few feet away from the cabin.

      RC

    12. 12. Sandra commented:

      Thu 11/3/10, 10:42 pm

      Peanut butter works best.

    13. 13. Kimberlie Morris commented:

      Fri 12/3/10, 6:22 pm

      Matthew-
      If you use PEANUT BUTTER instead of cheese it works to catch those nasty varmit’s better. I just can’t dispose of them after they are caught in the trap.

      But there is nothing like a nice campfire to sit by and enjoy the peace and quiet.

      Good luck.
      God Bless,
      Kim

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