Little Butterball

No, not me. I was referring to the mouse in our cupboard, the one who got into the butter we left out on the counter. (Yes, we do know better...)

Someone has been eating in our kitchen uninvited. We know because, aside from nose prints in the butter,  he left some "surprises" scattered across the counter top and throughout the cabinets where I keep the dishes. Since My Darling captured at least one critter, I decided to get to work cleaning out the cupboard.

I removed all the dishes and cups, every last one, and there were at least a bazillion, and proceeded to wash them by hand. It took F O R E V E R. I have way too many dishes now that most of my kids have grown up and moved out. My thumbs hurt and my shoulders ache, but the cupboard is clean, the dishes have been washed, and the rodent is expired. I hope he didn't have friends.

My Darling bought two Christmas presents that will be keeping me busy learning and trying new things. I have two new lenses for my camera. Now I have a new reason to learn how to use the camera's manual settings and maybe, just maybe, I will be able to catch my bird friends and that little red squirrel who hops about in the weeping birch outside my kitchen window every day. (I took a practice shot. Now all I need is for him to show up and sit in that spot while I'm ready.) If I appear to be missing in action here, I just might be out shooting squirrels.

PS. I couldn't help but think, as I cleaned the cupboard, "out with the old, in with the new."