Here We Go Again

While many are taking trees down and cleaning out the Christmas cheer, hauling boxes back into the attics and basements, I have another task at hand.
Do you remember two years ago January, when I posted about cats getting into our crawl space? Click HERE for that post. A neighbor cat went missing and I crawled into our crawl because of all the meowing going on below? Apparently the Feral Cat living there was having a party.. I ended the party sending everyone home! All 3 or 4 cats.  Then after we closed off the entrances, the big Ferel Cat moved into the neighbors crawl as this house was empty.  He continued to visit our porch particularly when Izzy was living with us, as she was a beauty he really wanted to get to know better. Click HERE for the post and clip of Izzy and her Tom.

So anyway...
The neighbor house has been bought and occupied.  Therefore the Feral moved out...

strong cat... not only bent but ripped out screen

He managed to break back into our crawl.  Which, honestly, I didn't mind too much at first.

Until this morning...
When he decided to mark our crawl as his territory.  Anyone familiar with male UN-neutered cats knows exactly what I am talking about...
We woke up to that unmistakable awful smell.

A plan is being plotted. I must make Tom the Feral move out, clean up that horrible smell, and fix the entrances he has made.
My dogs and cat are going crazy trying to find this cat they smell.
I think I will bring Bandit (middle dog) with me.  He should be able to chase it out, (and protect me.. Ferals aren't exactly friendly cats!)
It's 19 degrees out.  I am not looking forward to this.  My shoulder is acting up too.  Hubby wants to wait till the weekend when the weather warms up a bit, but I will be in Kentucky unable to help.
oh my goodness...
Maybe we should go get Izzy to chase him out! lol
Or anyone know the number to Feral Busters?

The Power Of A Scent

I read somewhere that our smelling sense is the strongest of our five senses. (did you know, in women, the sense of olfaction {smell} is strongest around the time of ovulation? I totally believe that!).

Have you ever smelled something and it reminded you of someone? Not talking about when someone is wearing a cologne that is familiar. I am talking that, "oh my gosh, this smell reminds me of Grandpa! ~when the smell is actually of a tack room.

When my father's parents passed my sister & I inherited their dining set. While it resided in my home, and later at Julie's home, it brought us great joy to open the cabinet door and inhale Mamaw's house.

I always thought as I would grow older, my sense of olfaction would dull. But, instead, it seems to heighten. I am noticing more familiar scents. Sometimes some of the most simple things will bring me back. Is it that I am just more sentimental? Growing old so I am reminiscing?

I don't know. What I do know is, I am smelling a lot of memories lately.

Febreze

Febreeze

I wish that I invented Febreze. Or at least I took stock in it in the beginning years. I have spent a small fortune on this product. With three dogs, two cats, as well as two teens & a husband, my house can get pretty stinky.

Our home is on the market currently and my goal is to remove all traces of the pets. As a Realtor, I know that if you are animal people, it doesn’t faze you. However, if you are not, even the sight of a dog toy can make a buyer announce that they smell dog. Cat boxes are the other issue. I tell my home sellers they must at a minimum scoop twice a day. If I can achieve that daily why can’t others?

Today is another rainy day. So, we have an overabundance of wet dog smell. I think I will use an entire bottle of Febreze.

One more note: Yesterday I bought those oil/reed diffusers. It says that it takes a couple of days before you will notice it working. I will let you know how well it works!