Alligators in Sheffield Lake?

Yes, there are alligators in Sheffield Lake. Abandoned alligators. A house across the cul-de-sac is in foreclosure and the owner/scammer is renting the house out to squatters. (Long story, involves mortgage fraud.)

The renter had an alligator as a pet and when he moved out, he left the alligator behind in the bathtub. My neighbors found out about it and called the police and animal control.

The police checked it out on a Friday and they returned on Saturday with an animal rescue group and an ambulance. (Hey, it was a quiet Saturday morning in Sheffield Lake.)

Alligator

It wasn’t a very large alligator, maybe 3 feet long or so.

Friendship Animal Protective League on Facebook

Sagittarius in the Year of the Rooster

Sagittarius

SagittariusSagittarius

Sagittarius like to do do things quickly, and make them fun in a big way. A Sagittarius is very open-minded and eager to learn about others. They always seek greater meaning in life, and love freedom, adventure, movement and change. Sometimes they speak without thinking, which often gets them into unpleasant situations. However, they tend to be lucky, which helps get them out of trouble. They are honest, trustworthy, generous, jovial, sincere, and have a passion for justice. Sagittarius also love a good joke, even if they are the subject of the joke!

Rooster

People born in the year of the Rooster are bright, honest, communicative and talented. They like to be busy and are interested in material objects. They tend to be loners and can be difficult to live with due to being outspoken and domineering. Roosters are always interesting and can be extremely brave. Roosters are almost always devoted partners and good parents. The female rooster sets high standards for herself and others, and is very truthful. She enjoys family life, but enjoys her social life as well. The male rooster is proud, cheerful and confident in what he does. They are courageous, good-humored, and protective of their partner and children.

THE FIRE ROOSTER 1957 AND 2017

A Fire Rooster’s image is his most prized possession. He spends a lot of time making himself look good, causing him to appear vain. He is flaunty and dramatic, yet he is a brilliant social organizer who loves to plan parties and gatherings. They do have a tendency to be a bit bossy and this combined with a bluntness can cause hurt feelings and bruised egos amongst co-workers. Still, these Roosters make great leaders, creative, diligent and motivated.

The return of the mobile granny…

I decided to resurrect my mobile granny domain and blog…  the server it was on died back in like 2005 and I didn’t bother moving it to a new server.

Why mobile granny? I’m a grandma on the go and into technology.

Update: I found the old blog posts on a server when looking for a place to publish a shorturl service. Instead of doing something important that needs done, I’ll add them to this blog. 🙂

The new puppy

New puppy

He doesn’t have a name yet, but my son got a puppy for his his kids. If forget what kind it is, some cute little “rat dog” that doesn’t get very big. The boys love it. The cat is undecided…. and much larger than the puppy.

New puppy

Did you ever have a one-sided Christmas tree?

We did. When we lived in Maine, Phil and the older kids would top a tree in the neighbors tree lot – one year it was 20 below in early December and they didn’t look as long as usual for the ‘perfect tree’ – they cut one about 5 feet up and when it fell, the branches broke when it hit the ground. The kids were cold so Phil brought it home, over the neighbors objection. He said if I disapproved, the men would go back without the kids. I said it was too damn cold and memories like that are what Christmas is made of. Plus, it fit flat against the wall…

The Penquins Did It!

The Penguins Did It!

From the Toledo Blade:

ATM stolen at zoo held up to $60,000

“An ATM taken in a daring heist at the Toledo Zoo may have held up to $60,000 and, when found, appeared to have been opened with some type of blowtorch. “
Just smile and wave boys, just smile and wave….

penguins

Another mouse story…

While on the subject of mice…

My mother often made dandelion wine. After she bottled it, she put it in the basement, laying the bottles on their side next to the rest of her canned products. One winter day dad went down to get a bottle and discovered all of the corks were chewed away and the bottles were empty. Inside one bottle was a dead mouse. We can only guess he died happy.

A mouse in the house…

It’s cold outside, and every year when it gets cold outside the mice come in. Last night I heard one chewing on something near the wine rack. I have no idea what he was chewing, but it wasn’t a cork. (I checked). So I left my husband a note and went to bed. When he came home from work, read then ignored the note and went to bed.

I made him set 3 traps when he got up – one under the sink, one near the dishwasher and one by the wine rack. Fifteen minutes later I heard a noise in the kitchen. We had our first victim. He disposed of the mouse and reset it, then left for work. A few minutes later we had a second kill and I had to dispose of it and reset the trap. A bit later I heard noise by the wine rack. The mouse wasn’t dead, so I waited. When I went back I saw it was caught by the toes. I opened the back door and set him loose in the cold. (I’m so glad we’re using the easy-to-set traps now – I hate the old spring traps.)

This doesn’t come close to our best night of trapping though. That was some 20 years ago when we lived in an old farm house in Maine. I heard a noise in our second floor bedroom. Phil set a spring trap, loaded with peanut butter, and turned out the light. He’s almost asleep… then SNAP. He got up, disposed of the mouse and set the trap. He turned out the light and doses off. SNAP. This went on for about 2 hours or so and 12 mice lost their lives that night. He set the trap for what he hoped would be the very last time and as soon as the light went out it snapped. It was the smallest mouse I’ve ever seen and only his tail got caught in the trap.

I honestly don’t recall if Phil killed the mouse or set him free, but after sleeping in a room that smelled of peanut butter, I can’t stand the smell of it and very rarely eat it any more. (I have to be really hungry to eat it.)

Update: Mouse #3 has gone to the great beyond this evening.