The mouse police never sleeps.

     The above title is a line I borrowed from a Jethro Tull song.

 

     The evening before last, my cat, Midnight Pussy came running upstairs to the bedroom bearing a field mouse in her jaws. I thought she was bringing me a gift. She dropped it on the floor and then ate it. She then left and went downstairs. 

In about 15 minutes I heard a ruckus. 

     I went downstairs and there at the edge of the back hallway were 2 more smaller mice. She had killed them and laid their bodies side by side. She had a third mouse in her mouth. It was still alive. She dropped it and let it limp around before batting at it with her 6 toed paws - torturing it. I walked away from the mini massacre smiling.

     We live in a 150 year old house way out in the country. The nearest fire department is 10 miles away from us. It is also an all volunteer fire department. If ever there was a fire here the firemen and firewomen would first have to get to the station. Then they would have to drive here. 

     A 150 year old house + fire = disaster. The place would be nearly destroyed or completely destroyed by the time help would arrive. Mice chewing on wires and more can cause quite a problem. Midnight helps alot and I am grateful.

My Nom De Guerre

25 years ago . . . Scrybe - my nickname came to be in 1994 on a spring day. My friend and I was on an old fashioned McKean County road trip, on the back roads looking at the wildlife and digging leeks.

     We got hungry so I drove into town. Eldred, Pa. The population is about 800. The McKean county area is full of small towns and countryside. I stopped at a small bar/restaurant at the edge of town.

     Inside there was only 4 other guys there, and Sandy the bartender and the two of us. We ordered lunch and beers.

   After a while Sandy shouted out "Hey Jeff, you want another beer ?" All 6 of us said yes or raised our hands!

     There was 6 different guys with the name Jeff and each with a different last name.

     I never realized the popularity of the name.

     Scrybe is a modern spelling of the trade, scribe. I have been in printing and publishing since I was 10 years old. I don't scribe (copy books by hand), I printed books and so much more.

     I also did alot of writing through the years for our customers. Advertising copy, sales copy, product descriptions, we did read throughs for news stories, radio, etc. etc. Now I am in a medical retirement. I still keep a finger in my trade by book building, and crafting other paper items using the environmental "R's".

I had a Stroke !

    On the morning of April 4 I had a stroke. Tis also know as a CVA. It did not effect me emotionally. I didn't cry and was not afraid. I did know what was happening. The ambulance and e.m.t.'s was called to the house. The e.m.t. asked if I has any directives. I almost told them do not resuscitate me ( DNR ) but I looked over at Lois and saw she was scared and upset so I just told them no. 

     Naturally it did effect my body. A slight droop in my face. My speech was slightly effected. There was also pain and lack of use in my right hand.  I spent 5 days in the hospital and then released to continue my recovery at home.

     Thank you all for your thoughts, prayers and well wishes. My body is on a slow road to recovery and it is difficult to do anything with a damaged right hand. 

Blessed be,

Scrybe

Swap-bot: ESG: Something that made me happy this month

     There are different things that made me happy this month. 

     Getting another car. An 11 year old Buick. It will be a second car. It's a deep purple in colour. 

     Midnight Pussy, our mouse police. To this day since she moved in, she still does a great job of catching mice!

     Bookwright: I created another book. In a thrift shop one day I found a 200 sheet package of notebook filler paper. It appears to be older paper as it is drilled for a 5 hole notebook instead of 3. The alignment of the holes is different too. It would not fit a standard 3 hole pocket portfolio. I hand-made a new cover for the paper.

     Swap-bot November 2018 Journal project. I joined the swap. It is my 9th participation. I like the creativity options I put into it. 

Blessed be,  

Scrybe  

A Serving of Mouse

                                                    

In the wee hours of this morning I am brought out of a deep sleep via the loud meow from Midnight like she had her mouth full. That got me off the bed to take a look. Yep - she had a mouse in her jaws. She dropped it and it began to run. She caught it again. Then she dropped it into her food dish like she was serving herself some dinner. Second time she did that with a mouse. I never saw a cat do that. Very cute ! She has 24 toes and claws. 6 on each of her 4 feet. I am surprised anything survives her big feet.


                                               - - - 

Addendum: She did it again and again! The night before last she caught a mouse and put it in her food dish. 🤣 . She has done this 6 times now.

P.O. Woes

     Some of you, my readers, may remember the tv show: Green Acres. It was a sit-com that aired from 1965 to 1971. On the show was a country store by name of Drucker's. It was a store that sold everything. The Hooterville post office was also located inside Drucker's Store. 

     Forward to 2018 . . well we have Carlson's Country Store. The store is 98 years old. It sells a little of everything. The Turtlepoint post office is located inside the store also. 

     Open 2 hours a day. It is a room that measures 16' x 7'. Somewhere between here and where ever, my mail has been lost from time to time. I also had some damaged . This is the only post office in a 10 mile and more radius. There is a very high employee turnover. Those who do get hired here do not stay here long. No one wants to work for 2 hours a day and 6 days a week. I do very little business here. In wintertime this is my only option as my driving anywhere is severely limited. 

     If I send you something in the mail and you don't receive it, then please send me an email or text and let me know.

Swap-bot: ESG: Favorite Quotes

This is my response for the Swap-bot project:  ESG: Favorite Quotes

Weekends: 

Photo of the infamous Brushwood Folklore Center  welcome sign. (campground and events center):

Children:

Love - funny:

Love - romantic:

Heartache:

Relaxation:

Music:

Eternity:

Perseverance:

School: