To catch a mouse *EDIT*

Twas the night before today and all through the house
The only creature that was stirring, was our pesky little mouse

....named, Fargo.

Fargo showed himself a few weeks ago, and made a little nest...which we vacuumed up. This sent us immediately to the store to buy some traps. My darling husband bought two kinds just to be sure. But, it seems as if Fargo has been around the block and knows what a trap looks like. We have the sticky stuff and the traditional mouse trap.

Well, last night I was sitting at the computer hearing Fargo in the ceiling above me (he goes from the ceiling to behind the walls and into a very warm spot under our banquette). He scurried down the back wall and then there was nothing. I figured he was bringing more insulation to his warm zone to make another nest. But then.....SNAP....SQUEAK! I immediately got out of my chair and, being the brave soul that I am, called for help from the hubs. However, I soon discovered that my manly man, isn't so manly when a dead mouse is involved (it's ok, dear). So, in the end I ended up looking for the trap which was turned over, but I could still hear Fargo making some noise. So I closed the little door to let him get all his post traumatic squirmies out. After about 2 minutes (I figured that was long enough) I opened it up again to find the trap in the same position but upon closer inspection I could see that their was no mouse.

I grabbed the closest (and least needed for future use) thing that I could find that would be useful as a club and started pushing things around (we use it for storage). And then for a brief second, I saw him. He was a streak of blackness that went as fast as any really fast thing. So, now I'm convinced that Fargo is actually a RAT and that he's hobbling around with a broken leg and might die in our walls and then start rotting and then....maggots. My biggest fear in the world....so sell house, sell!


*Nik came home for lunch and lo and behold, Fargo has been caught! If only we thought of peanut butter from the beginning*

It's in the butter.

I'm trying to maximize our grocery budget. We have 5 people and have budgeted 500/month on food. We have been averaging about 400-450, but I'm trying to whittle it down even less. I've been newly inspired by the grocery cart lady (on my side bar) who feeds her family of 6 for $60/week! She also lives in the US, so groceries are definitely cheaper, but none the less.

I think the key is to go to multiple stores and make your menus based on what is on sale. Shopper's Drug Mart carries the cheapest milk in town ($3.88 for 4 L (2%, we like it rich ;)))) But, everything else there is pretty expensive, so am I going to make a special stop just for milk? Is it going to be worth the extra gas for the $.50 I'll save? Maybe, seeing as we go through about 10 L/week. Which seems like a lot considering we only drink one glass per day (other than Chip, who also drinks homo). bla, milk. I love milk.

I'd also love some new recipes. I try to go to www.allrecipes.com and often try one or two, but everything seems to have exotic (aka expensive) ingredients.