Comments on: October Scrapbook (and Butternut Squash “Croutons”)

By: moonwatcher

moonwatcher — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 20:17:56 +0000

Thanks Jeanne!

By: Jeanne Costopoulos

Jeanne Costopoulos — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 18:30:11 +0000

These are the best quality live traps on the market in my opinion:

http://www.havahart.com/store/live-animal-traps/

By: moonwatcher

moonwatcher — Sun, 02 Nov 2014 16:50:36 +0000

You’re welcome, Pam. It’s important for me to know my honesty is appreciated. Means a lot to me. Thanks for your faithful readership, even as you travel the globe. 🙂

By: Pam

Pam — Sun, 02 Nov 2014 06:13:20 +0000

Thanks so much for this post. It is interesting, as you say, to try to learn to “swim” in our fear. Your honesty here is so refreshing, and important. Thanks for your posts.

By: moonwatcher

moonwatcher — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 23:51:28 +0000

Thanks, Veronica. I’m sorry to make you tear up a bit, but I appreciate the honest response and all your kind words about it. About the gravesite–that was over there in an corner of the yard when I started digging up. Looks like a seed pod of some kind or perhaps, indeed, a partially decomposed artichoke. It just seemed to “go” with everyting so I put it back there as a kind of marker. Thanks, too, for the good thoughts about the melon seeds! The “croutons” were born when I had some extra squash left over. 🙂 I’m glad you liked the drawing. It’s a new card here at the co-op. 🙂

By: Veronica

Veronica — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 16:00:22 +0000

I’m so sorry about your mouse ordeal. I teared up a bit. But, as you say, we’re all human, and sometimes instinct kicks in and does something we wouldn’t think we’d do. It was kind of you to be with him, and bury him- a kindness most “pests” never get. (Random side note: the pic of his gravesite, the item next to the flower looks like an artichoke with a long stem that’s covered in dirt or something.) Fear is one of the toughest emotions, and learning to “be” with it is a powerful thing.
I’m glad your melons grew into tiny joys of flavor! I’ll keep my fingers crossed for the next crop. Great idea to use the roasted, seasoned bnut squash as croutons! I’ll have to try that.
Your chalk picture is quite lovely, too!

By: moonwatcher

moonwatcher — Wed, 29 Oct 2014 23:44:49 +0000

Sara, welcome, and thank you so much for this heartfelt comment. I loved hearing about your own experience with catching mice! I, too, had a similar experience at my old house, which I recounted–and illustrated– in my post “Of Mice and Vegans.” It makes my most recent experience all the more pointed. Thank you for your gracious and honest words about my choice to share this. I treasure them. Here’s to living, and, yes, hopefully, learning.

By: Sara

Sara — Wed, 29 Oct 2014 23:07:59 +0000

This was a beautiful blog – with several topics. I absolutely love your blogs and savor every word, along with the great recipes and helpful links. I especially resonated with the mouse story, as I have just gone into top gear to try and deal with the mice that have come back to the basement as the weather here has gotten chilly. This year I am learning how to set the HaveAHeart trap – which is really rather challenging! Two days ago there was a scared little mouse in the trap (with a tummy full of peanut butter). I dutifully transferred the trap to my cardboard travel box, put it in the car and drove it about two miles from home to some nice woods. Well, it should have been Funniest Home Videos, because it was very difficult to hold open the doors, and the mouse refused to leave. It actually clung to the trap!!! I had to talk to it and jiggle the trap while trying to keep the doors open. Finally it left. I offer you my care for discovering what you are capable of when flooded with fear. I also offer you the thought that it is important that you be able to protect yourself. Maybe you would do it differently, if you could do it over, but you had an instinct to protect yourself and you acted. I honor your strength. I also honor your courage to share the experience. We live and, hopefully, learn.

By: moonwatcher

moonwatcher — Wed, 29 Oct 2014 16:03:39 +0000

Hi Teresa–thank you for your kind words about my debaucle with the mouse. A mild late Fall is wonderful for those tomatoes, isn’t it? Enjoy your tomato treasure. 🙂

By: Teresa

Teresa — Wed, 29 Oct 2014 14:45:50 +0000

We’re all human and your interaction with the mouse is something I can surely relate to! I need to find a live trap although thankfully no mice at our house for quite a while.

Your melon looks like it was juicy and sweet! Our very shady backyard in Boise starts giving us tomatoes in September through the 1st frost. I always try to get through to November and this year, I think that will happen. Vine ripened are the best, but letting the green ones ripen in our basement are a treat as well.

Thanks!