Day 1575: Under Siege

Moles have invaded our yard and are destroying it.  They've left trails from the creek, through Willie's Garden, up to the deck, through the lily beds, through the east side yard and over to the property line garden.  It makes me nauseous just thinking about them eating the bulbs of my lilies and roots of the hostas.

So today an exterminator came and put poison in the tunnels.  I hate the thought of killing any creature, no matter how small and annoying, but they've taken over.  I also worry about Paddy catching a mole that ate poison.  Although that's unlikely cause cats don't like moles either. If he got sick, I could never forgive myself.  In Molly's youth, she would have finished off any mole that crawled in to the yard and that would have been the end of them.  But now she's old and tired and doesn't hunt any more.

I'm a little worried about the Cassadaga kids.  They are like deer in headlights.  Most say they are ready, but then admit quietly they need something.  We took boots, clothes, rain suits, dishes and tents   We handed out four tents and one boy took a pair of used boots.  I suggested he walk around the room in them, but he didn't.

One girl acted surprised that the first hike is on Saturday and said suddenly that she can't come.  OK.... Then another girl said, oh, I can't make it for the two day hike.  They just don't realize the impact of their actions.  I explained the ripple effect, but I don't know if they fully appreciate how it applies to backpacking.  As Kelly said tonight, the kids that go will grow from the experience and we just won't worry about the rest.

Wonders awaiting us along the Overland Trail