wildlife

goldenrod, originally uploaded by Lizzie~Belle.

It was a lovely day today, too nice to stay indoors, so I went over to Framingham to check out Callahan State Park, which our handyman, Steve, had told me about. I wandered about in the woods for about an hour and a half, getting a good workout because it's quite hilly. I heard a loud knocking at one point, and found its source: a pilieated woodpecker! They're huge, the size of crows. I got one bad shot before he flew away. They sound like demented clowns laughing; it's no surprise that Woody Woodpecker was based on them.

I found unmistakable signs that I have mice in my house. A small bowl which used to contain nuts now has mouse droppings in it. I stopped at Lowes and bought traps, and told my landlord when he was here earlier. He said he has some peppermint oil that's supposed to repel them, and he'll bring me some next time he's here. I also bought some Lysol wipes because, ew, mousie feet on my table. And I cannot figure out how they got up there, and back down. Do they have little mousie climbing gear, rappelling down when they're through?