House Guests

Yes Amy and Meghan were here with me for almost 3 weeks, but Christmas day Elle and Lynea arrived as well. Elle came to Jonathan House this past May for 6 weeks and fell in love. This time she came back with her good friend Lynea. When they first reached we didn't get to spend a whole lot of time together as Amy, Meghan, others and I were traveling around the country, but we did get some time together New Years Eve and Day. When I came back from Freetown they moved into the hut with me. We've had some trouble getting to bed on time, but at least we are enjoying ourselves. they have been really good for the kids, spending a large amount of their time investing in each child and showing them love and taking the time with them they each crave.

I also had one other house guest this holiday season that was not quite as welcome. If you remember a relative of his visited me once before- back in May- so I guess it probably was about time for another visit.

One thing you need to know is that I have tenants (who have yet to pay their rent) living in my "attic". Up above the ceiling in the thatch part are some rats. I have tired a few times to get rid of them, but it just is not as easy as it looks. So we have (or had) come to an agreement that they could live up there and I would live down here. They've been pretty good but they also realize that the holidays are here. They have parties from about 3-5am each morning and get noisier each night. Running, squeaking, and causing a lot of racket. Amy and I were sleeping in my room together when I thought I heard something fall- being that we fall into bed completely exhausted each night- I wanted to care but just didn't. I could deal with whatever it was in the morning. I am not sure how much later it was I woke to some scratching that sounded a bit lower than it should have been. I got my flashlight (always kept under my pillow) but didn't see anything so went back to sleep. Next time I woke the scratching was very near my head. I quickly grabbed my light and this time saw a little friend run across the floor. The door to my room is close enough to the floor that he couldn't get out (which in some ways was good and others meant we were stuck in the room with our friend). Good thing he was a small friend- but you could tell by his tail that he wouldn't be small for long.

By now Amy was up too and we were deciding whether we wanted to open the net and check it out or what. I know it is completely illogical- but that thing little net seems to give more comfort than it is capable of. We looked at each other and decided that we two Shermer girls could deal with this. I went out to get more light and left Amy with our new friend. I came back to find her not too please to watch buddy climb up the chair onto the desk. Knowing he could go there meant he could go anywhere (which we knew already but seeing it is different). What buddy didn't know was that the desk was the perfect place for him. We got a little box and worked for about 20 minutes trying to trap him (jumping, gasping, and screaming a little each time we got close). Oh how we really wanted to get him ourselves. Too many times her got close to getting off the desk. We had to admit defeat and call for help. Amy was not to keen on staying in the room with buddy yet again so I sent her to Jerry's window. She returned with a half still asleep Jerry who walked into the room- saw where I had cornered the mouse- grabbed one of my socks reached down and picked up the rat- JUST LIKE THAT. I am not exaggerating when I say it was all over within 2 minutes. We tried- we really did. But I think I learned for next time- go to Jerry right away.

Buddy's friends have stayed in their part of the hut since, but I think it might be time to fix the hole in my ceiling so we no longer share an entrance. A few months back someone pulled my room door shut with the keys left inside. Being a thatch hut with woven grass ceilings the solution was to crawl up into the attic and spread the grass mat apart and crawl through into my room. The room was unlocked but the mat never fixed- now I just might have a good reason to do just that. Fix it and leave my friends to their own parties.