I HAVE NO SQUIRREL NESTS (+ other random topics)
I have a bunch of unrelated things to talk about today, so...buckle up for a miscellany post.
My squirrel repellent gadget is working great.
I apologize for the yelling in the title of this post, but people! I am excited!
For the last several years, I have had consistent trouble with squirrels making their home in my van's engine compartment during nesting season.
Last year, I actually found 3 baby squirrels in there when I lifted the hood.
(!!!!!)
So, in January of this year, I bought this little under-$30 gadget that repels rodents with lights and sounds (the type humans cannot hear) and I am extremely happy to report that exactly ZERO nests have been built.
And this was true even when I was gone skiing for almost a week and my van sat undriven (a situation which has previously brought on the nesting).
Big thumbs up, definitely recommend!
You know how I bought those refillable travel containers?
Well, as soon as I came home from my latest trip, I received a package from Mighty Nest with two more. Ha!
Which is fine because I didn't have enough containers for several people to fly with, so these will still get used.
(If you are interested in trying Mighty Nest, a subscription service that sends you eco-friendly items, be sure to click here and use the discount code at this link.)
I finally got my own travel bag
Mr. FG has had one for a while (bought on clearance at REI). And having one travel bag works great except for when both of us need one at the same time.
I didn't want to buy a bag that was going to fall apart, so we looked on REI's site, found a marked down option, and Mr. FG picked it up on the way home from work.
It still wasn't super cheap, but I think it's made well.
And based on Mr. FG's REI bag experience, I think this should last me for a nice long time.
I would much, much rather pay more for something that will not need to be thrown out and replaced. Better for my wallet, better for the earth.
I'm excited about two library books
ATK recently came out with a bowls cookbook, and I've been on the pre-order waitlist at the library for a while now. I almost caved and bought the book, but it finally hit my hold shelf.
Also on my hold shelf: a book that delves into what actually happens to our stuff when we donate it.
And that's the end of my miscellany for today.
I should read that second book. I keep having ideas that go "ooh I could use this to make that" for disused manufactured goods — unwanted T-shirts, old iron, and so forth. But really, if it isn't a guaranteed money-maker, and if the result is not something I personally need, I don't have any business doing it, even if it's something that has to be tried to see if it is worth my time.
I love my library. Right now I have a mix of nonfiction and fiction books and two audiobooks on CDs for the car. The Bowls book looks so good! I just put a library hold on it. Yippee. Thanks for the inspiration.
Would love to know which REI bag/bags you love. We are also in the market for some new travel bags. Can you share a link?
I just put several books on hold this morning! Books are one thing I don't buy, so I make good use of the library. I have been waiting to read "Make Something Good Today" by Ben & Erin Napier and "The Couple Next Door" by Shari Lapena. We have some travel coming up next week that will include lots of driving so I'm hoping they arrive before we leave.
Here you go: https://www.rei.com/product/118817/rei-co-op-tourwinder-rolling-luggage-22
And I see that you can get an additional 25% off thru 03/09. Rats for me, but good news for you!
Mr. FG's bag is no longer available, since it was a clearance item quite a few years ago. His is navy blue with yellow accents, which is very handy because it stands out from all the other bags on the flight.
Have you ever tried REI‘s garage sale? My daughter is a huge fan of it, and that is where she got her bag. It is largely items that have been returned, some of which have been gently used and some of which have minor defects. REI has a very generous return policy, so a lot of the stuff is like brand new and really terrific prices.
Oh wow, I've never heard of that. Off to google it.
That's where I've gotten shoes, bags, purses, walking sticks. It's pretty much the bomb!!
Sad to see your expensive travel bag even when marked down is not made in the USA
Yes, it's very difficult to find made in the US luggage, particularly a soft-sided carry on.
But at least this bag should last for a long time!
I love our library! Right now I have The Handsome Man's De Luxe Cafe, which is the next book in the No 1 Ladies Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith. I also have An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon, and What Men Live By by Leo Tolstoy
McCall Smith...yes, I read his version of Emma! I haven't read any of this other work, though.
The HBO series is good from that series too!
Yes, I loved the HBO series "The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency." Was so disappointed it didn't run longer.
I received those refillable containers also from mighty nest this month also. And got to use them this past weekend when we went to Delaware for a soccer tournament! (mine were different colors though....)
Sadly, our last library trip was four weeks ago (it's 90 miles away, and our hold period is 6 weeks, so that's how often we go), so I've read them all already. But what I read was "The Peach Keeper" by Sarah Addison Allen (very much enjoyed) "The Bare-Toed Vaquero," which was a very interesting book about a really remote community in Baja California's desert mountains, an Agatha Christie book, "The Cafe by the Sea" by Jenny Colgan (also enjoyed, though not quite as much), "Shadows on the Rock," by Willa Cather (found interesting enough to finish, though I thought it could have been better), and "A Beautiful Mind," which I found boring and didn't even get through the first chapter.
I like Sarah Addison Allans other books too. Can’t imagine only having a library 90 miles away! Poor you.
I'm reading Same Kind of Different as Me, just started. Also reading through the Sackett stories by Louis L'Amour on my Kindle (library loan).
I love the Sackett stories! I read and enjoyed several other books of his (Westerns). Louis L'Amour had a nice way of writing.
I don't blame you for the all-caps! My daughter needs a squirrel repellent for her attic, but that thing works on vibration? Is that correct? Although it worked for you when not driving, so... the Amazon information confused me a bit about how it works.
Obviously, my daughter will not be driving her attic. 🙂
I have read nothing from the library lately, because I need to take some time to pick some books. However, I recently checked out audiobooks for my long commute, and they just happened to be -- Alexander McCall Smith. So a few of us here are like-minded.
I've been seeing a lot about the Secondhand book. I may check that out if we have it here.
My husband and I have motley collection of suitcases and overnight type bags. Flying requires super strong luggage, but I almost never fly, so the luggage pieces I use the most are a train case (does that date me?) that was a gift, and a small-ish, hard sided, dyed-leather-covered suitcase with someone else initials stamped in gold on top, that I picked up at Goodwill who knows when and have used for many years now. The handle and still-perfect quilted lining match the leather color exactly. I love that little suitcase, even if I do have to pretend that my initials are MST.
So, this actually turns off when it senses vibration. It only turns on when the car is sitting still, like in a driveway or parking lot.
I bet they make something like this for homes too, although I imagine you'd need something bigger. Or can the attic be sealed off better? Obviously you can't really seal off a car's engine compartment, so you have to depend on repellents.
I'm going to have a look, and have her take a look at the devices like that. She lives in a wooden home built in 1941, and there are big old trees all around it. Even though she has two cats who have free range in the finished part of the attic, the squirrels get in to the storage areas under the eaves and are destructive. The gabled roof ends were just wooden slatted, no mesh, and one year she discovered she had a wasp infestation in a gable - they were starting to come in the house via a tiny opening at the ceiling fan in her sun room. The pest control guy said he'd never seen such a huge wasp nest in his life -- like something out of a horror film. Once the wasps were eradicated, the squirrels came in. What a choice! I hope this helps the squirrel issue.
I need a gadget for deterring groundhogs from living under my porch! Guess we all have our critter problems! 😉
We were having trouble with mice in our attic, but they were getting in through the crawl space under the house. We had to install new vent covers in our crawl space, and put plates on a drain pipe hole that was too big for the pipe. We also put sticky traps and rat poisoning in the crawl space. Start with where they are getting in, not where the problem is. If they are getting in via the roof then she may need to trim some tree branches so they can't get on the roof. Also, check vent covers for broken screens and such, and make repairs as necessary. If they're getting in from below, then she needs to start there.
Putting down rat poison not only kills the mice, but also kills birds of prey, foxes and other animals that eat the mice. Not only that, but it is a horrible way for the mice to die. And the sticky traps are too. I try to find environmentally friendly ways to get rid of pests.
Living in an old farmhouse built in 1900, I have some experience with mice (and about three rats). After they eat poison, they tend to die in the walls and stink up the place for a few days... the rats all died in the basement and I was able to find them and ask DH to dispose of them. And yes, the covers had come off the cold cellar vents... since that was looked after, no more rats.
I agree that sticky traps are nasty. The good old-fashioned mouse trap makes a quick end of the critter, even though it leaves us with having to dispose of the body... a screw driver works well for that, ahem! Sometimes you have to tie the mousetrap onto something, or it disappears, along with the peanut butter!
I didn't know of disappearing traps, but I guess I can imagine it!
Cheese filled crackers, like Combos, work well for bait. I've heard that gumdrops do also.
One trick my friend taught me is to place the quick snap mouse traps inside paper bags. Then when they're activated, you just have to pick up the bag. (It's harder to tell though when you've caught something.)
I am currently reading "Love Letters" by Debbie Macomber. It's part of the Rose Harbor Series. So far so good. I'm a big fan of Debbie Macomber.
I met her one time at a social gathering a friend took me to. I did not recognize her name or profession until my friend told me later. She was one of those people who give off a sense of peace and kindness. Still have not read her books as I am more into historical mysteries for relaxing reading, but she is on my list to try.
I love Debbie Macomber's books and have read pretty much all of them to date! Her books tug at your heart strings without including cuss words and sex scenes. They are good for relaxing and reading fiction for stress relief.
I just finished Secondhand. I found it really interesting! My only criticism (and it's a mild one) is that I wish he had written more about how to reduce the flow of stuff. He does talk a bit about this, but my overall impression is that it is inevitable. "People will always be throwing stuff out and there's not much we can do about it." I'm not convinced that has to be true...
I just started Live Green: 52 steps for a more sustainable life by Jen Chillingsworth. It's about making changes beyond just recycling and choosing environmentally-friendly cleaning products. They're all changes that she made in her home.
My battery died last week (I have an Odyssey), and I thought of you, because the AAA guy said, "oh, rats have been living in here." I think I'd prefer squirrels! I'm going to order one of those deterrent devices since it's been working for you.
Congrats on the lack of squirrels!
I'm currently listening to Factory Man about Bassett Furniture in Virginia. And I'm reading Night Circus (a magical realism book about an awesome circus at the end of the 19th century). Enjoying both so far.
I loved Night Circus! Read it about eighth years ago, and still think of it from time to time.
Do you know if the squirrel gadget would bother dogs? I'd love to have something like this in my garden during growing season....squirrels are such a huge pain.
Hmm, I don't know! I don't think this particular one is meant to be out in the weather; it's protected from rain and snow under the hood of my car.
My library doesn't have that cookbook, but I put a bunch of "Bowls" books on hold, so in a week or so I will be scanning through cookbooks for grain bowls and smoothie bowls, as well as books on how to make bowls from fabric and cement. Hahaha That was an unexpected rabbit hole.
I look forward to a book report on Secondhand.
My library books::
Everyday Millionaire
Canning & preserving for Dummies
Putting Food By
I'm reading a book titled "The Best of Everything" by Rona Jaffe. But its not good and I really don't want to waste any more valuable time on it!
Not from the library but I'm reading "Heaven's Ditch: God, Gold, and Murder on the Erie Canal" by Jack Kelley. Let's just say upstate NY was an crazy place to be in the early 19th century.
Secondhand is an awesome book! I was so obsessed while reading it I drove my family crazy constantly quoting from it. I too got it out at the library. You won’t look at Goodwill, fast fashion, electronics recycling and 3rd world countries getting our cast-offs the same again. Our preconceived ideas about those things and more are just that - beliefs we’ve made without realizing what really happens to our stuff. It’s a well-researched book.
I read Second Hand by Adam Minter too. It’s s fascinating read and, while I thought I knew a lot about the second hand industry, it was eye-opening to me. I think everyone should read this book. It kind of reengaged me to reduce my waste.
Ha! Just picked up my hold copy of Bowls from the library on Monday. Looking forward to having a chance this weekend page through it!
I am loving your books, what an inspiring bunch!
I love my public library. It is so convenient to request books and I rarely wait longer than a week as we have a sizable loan library group from many towns.
I read mostly historical fiction but I just requested "The Grumble Free Year" by Tricia Goyer. I've heard many positive comments so I'm looking forward to the change of genre!
I had a mouse nest in the heating vent of my car. When I turned on the fan to heat up the car, it was a quick end to the little rodent family. Uggh! $500+ later and I could have used that gadget! Too late. Happy for you though!
Hi Kristen,
I just signed up for the Mighty Fix using your affiliate code. It's a little more expensive for me in Canada but I'm looking forward to receiving my monthly boxes!
I just signed up for the Mighty Fix using your affiliate code. It's a little more expensive for me in Canada but I'm looking forward to receiving my monthly boxes!
I'm so excited to have 3 books out of the library right now! My kids are 6 and 16 months, so I'm not sure how I'm going to find time to read them but I'll do my best. I currently have Atomic Habits by James Clear, How to Raise An Adult by Julie Lythcott-Haims, and Make Time by Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky checked out. I hadn't thought of looking for new cookbooks from the library. I'm going to have to look into that.
Oooh, I liked Atomic Habits! And I thought that How to Raise an Adult was good too.
I like to try cookbooks out by checking them out from the library, and then if they're really good, I will buy a copy. That's what happened with Dinner Illustrated for me: https://www.thefrugalgirl.com/why-i-love-dinner-illustrated/
From the library at the moment I have Feel Better in 5 by Dr Chatterjee. So far I have managed 5 days of a 5 minute stretching routine and 5 minute mindfulness activity every morning. Go me!
It’s so funny to hear about animals in cars! Not something I have to worry about in London
Thanks for the info on the critter repeller! I haven't had the issue with any of my vehicles, but squirrels have found my house tasty. Now that the exterior is nearly completely refurbished, I will have to keep this in mind if they develop a taste for HardiPlank!
I am lucky that they've never tried my house...just the car. I think I prefer the car!
My current library book is _Fashionopolis_ by Dana Thomas, and it sounds remarkably similar to your 2nd book. It's mostly about fast fashions of far. I think I'll have to look for Secondhand.
The Little Book of Hygge,
American cozy,
Winter House,
American Hygge ,
Swedish Death Cleaning,
Do you see a theme here??
You are in serious cozy mode!
I have a book on on genealogy called Tracing Your Ancestry and one on the King’s and queens of England.
A bag full of toddler board books. And one called Honey For A Child's Heart. That one is an excellent reference book for kids books for 0-14 years. I like it so well I had hubby order me a copy. Even contemplating getting a second one to use as a gift for a new mom, it's THAT good.