It all started some time ago when I started hearing scratching noises. I thought birds had gotten into the chimney which is no longer used. I did think it odd that every time the noises started Felix, my cat, would stare at the ceiling, whining and carrying on. Then last week, Kenneth pulled in and happened to notice that the dormer window in the attic was open.
Now, if you knew my husband you would know that he doesn't do well with heights and this window is not an easy one to get to. Behind this window is an open space over the living room which has a vaulted ceiling. There is nothing in this space except insulation and there is no way to get to the window from the inside. But knowing that the window is right over the living room ceiling he knew it had to be closed before it rained. With his brother to hold the ladder, he climbed up and closed the window. We thought that was the end of that.
We couldn't have been more wrong! Two nights ago, before Kenneth got in from the barn, I suddenly heard the most awful scratching and clawing noises (of course these things never happen when Kenneth is around). Felix was going crazy trying to get to the ceiling! This time I could definitely tell the noise was coming from overhead. It sounded like something huge and like it was going to come right through the ceiling any moment. Before Kenneth came in the noise stopped. Unfortunately, after we went to bed it started again. Felix was crying and trying to climb to the ceiling. Between the two I couldn't go to sleep. And of course, Kenneth was sound asleep and never heard a thing.
Yesterday afternoon I came in after a day out and it wasn't but a few minutes until it starts again. The monster in the attic was back. This was the worst yet. I've never heard such clawing and scratching! I just knew he was going to fall through the ceiling any minute. Kenneth still hadn't heard it.
By the time Kenneth came in, all was quiet and luckily it stayed that way all night. This morning he was mowing the yard and guess what he saw! The attic window was open again. Now if you are like me, you are probably thinking, "the window is loose and is sliding down from the top". You would be wrong. This window is being pushed open at the bottom. And you would never guess what he found next.
When he left the front yard moving to the side yard he happened to look up over the side porch. Along the edge where the siding meets the roof was a large gap where a whole section of the wall was pushed out. Our monster in the attic not only had an entrance, he also had an exit!
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We still don't know what kind of critter we have but whatever he is he is smart enough to open a window. We have called a contractor to fix the wall and try to figure out how to lock a window that you can't get to on the inside. In the meantime, one of us has to go...and it's not going to be me!
Until next time...that's my view.
Kat
