Constants and variables 35
Two nice simple on-off experiments, sharing the same time sequence. The first is binary and definite; second is more fuzzy but probably valid.

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(1) The rodent repellent product 'Shake-Away' definitely repels mice.

Experiment: I bought a container in 2011 when I was trying to replant my back yard after removing trees and cleaning out junk. I wanted to repel squirrels. It didn't work against squirrels, so I put it away.

Had some mice in the house in fall of 2011.

So decided to try the Shake-Away against mice next year. In fall of 2012, put the powder down around the foundation. No mice that year.

Same in 2013 and 2014. Used Shake-Away around foundation before cold weather, no mice at all.

In 2015 the cold weather snuck up on me. Got one mouse in a trap in late Sept. Immediately put the Shake-Away around the foundation. Since then, we've had some SERIOUSLY cold weather and lots of snow, but NO MORE MICE.

The annual on-off, followed by a faster on-off, was enough proof. Shake-Away WORKS.

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(2) Home-cooked food definitely repels blubber.

Experiment: Also in fall of 2012, I switched away from semi-carnivore diet to all-vegy, with less sophisticated food. After a year, I stopped gaining weight; after another year, I was losing a few pounds.

The 8-day power blackout this winter broke my diet; fell back to canned food because no refrigerator. After the power returned, I stayed on the canned because it felt cozier than my proper diet. Extra fat and sugar will do that ... and extra fat and sugar will also pile on the pounds. In two months I gained back the 4 pounds I'd lost in previous year. (Progresso canned minestrone is the specific culprit.)

Conclusion: My 'unsophisticated' diet WORKS. Coziness be damned. Time to resume it.

Labels: Constants and Variables, coot-proofing, defensible spaces, TMI

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