I went on jihad against the local packrats because they had begun working with such determination to destroy the Jeep’s engine – and possibly me in the bargain. I quite concede that my earlier laissez faire attitude let the population get out of hand in the first place.
Since then I’ve trapped over a dozen rats but only one actually under the Jeep’s hood, where I always set a trap. Last night made it two. Obviously female and protrudingly pregnant, which under other circumstances might make me feel a little bad. Right now, not so much. She was probably looking to make another nest in there. Oh! Peanut butter! Snap.
In other, less successful news – it’s the third day of heavy overcast and rain, so I’m staying mostly offline. I tested the well pump this morning by directly connecting it to the tractor’s battery, and got nothing at all. Can’t even get it to spark, which looks like an open circuit. Could be nothing more than a corroded fitting – 200 feet underground. When Ian and I pulled it out of the ground two years ago it was everything both of us and a block & tackle could do to get it done and I haven’t gotten any stronger since then, so I’m gearing up for a lengthy period of hauling my own water. Not the first time, but I do need to get some bigger water jugs when I go to town on Monday. By the time I’d finished the cleaning up that accumulated, all the water I hauled yesterday was just enough for dogs and chickens and I had to go back for more today. Not gonna do this every damn day, that costs too much gasoline. Unfortunately my Plan B water source at Landlady’s is also broken down for some reason I haven’t been able to find so I’m filling up at J&H’s.
One thing about neighbors in the desert? When another neighbor says “can you spare some water” the correct answer is “help yourself.” J&H lived there for a year before they could even afford to sink a well, and they hauled their water from D&L. D&L have also had occasional well problems. It’s one of the joys of off-grid life, and when it’s not going around it’s coming around. We share water – not quite like in a Heinlein novel, you know, but we do.
But…alas, that’s the one big downside of a Real Flush Toilet. Which means…
At least right now it isn’t very cold and I can leave it outside. For now.
Thank heavens for neighbors! I’m so glad you have some good ones… and are one yourself.
Can’t imagine why anyone would feel sorry about killing a rat, pregnant especially! Laddie found another mouse downstairs last night, which means I go on the war path here myself. Death to them ALL.
I’d say the pregnant ones should receive high priority.
You know, if you were careful……..you could use the little atv for a winch to haul the pump out. Put it up on blocks and wrap the rope for the block and tackle around a drive tire. Gently give it some throttle and the rope should wind up on the wheel. Repeat as needed.
Yes I know it involves hand-hauled water, but can’t you bucket-flush your Real Flush Toilet? (If it’s brown flush it down. If it’s yellow, let it mellow.)
Too bad about the pregnant rat, but she was about to do you dirty.
Like Ben said, flush toilets can still function, ya just have to keep a bucket to refill the res between uses. And if its been raining, a tarp stretched between shed n house makes a pretty effective collector of run-off that works quite well for flushin the ick away.
Just sayin’
If you own, or can borrow, a trash can or two, put clean liners in them, put them in your trailer, fill with water, and then haul back home. You may not want to drink it, but it’s great for flushing toilets, washing dishes and washing clothes.
Unfortunately the ATV puked its clutch last week, so it’s a casualty. I wouldn’t use it for that purpose anyway, because the flexible pipe buckles easily and needs to be kept orderly. It’s really a 2-man job. But I’ve borrowed a better block & tackle, and we’ll get it out of there next time Ian comes up.
That’s a pretty good idea about the cans. I’ve got a couple of 10-gallon tubs I’m not using for laundry right now.
And yeah, I know how to pour a bucket of water into a toilet. In fact I recycle my sink water that way, having taken the drain pipe off my sink and emptying wash water into a bucket. I have lots of buckets.
Neither can I, MamaLiberty. Neither can I. Especially coming from a people-averse desert hermit. But the interesting thing is a heavily pregnant rat at this time of year. It really says a lot about how out of control Joel’s rodent problem is. There wouldn’t be just one pregnant female, rodents don’t operate that way. Look for dozens, maybe hundreds, of little rats very soon. More traps!!! More traps!!!