The Skunk that came to Thanksgiving Dinner

Tucson, Az
Nov. 24, 2011
Happy Birthday Denise!

Happy Stinky Thanksgiving...you might ask why "stinky".  We lets start at the very beginning.

Last week a critter got under the house and died...it smelled horrible for a few days, but finally cleared out and all was well.  And before you ask, there is no way I will ever crawl under this house...I know evil things must live under there!  Spiders, snakes, etc. 

Today I was busy cooking my favorite meal of the year...I LOVE TO COOK THANKSGIVING DINNER!  It brings back so many great memories of my childhood and cooking with my mom; and of when my children were little and they would help me.  Now Jenn and I have a tradition of cooking together, even if we are 1800 miles apart.  She calls me and I call her to see what stage of prep she is in, or what little oops she might have had, or more than likely here lately, how many oops I have had.  (like forgetting to put the turkey in the oven on time or not putting slits in the cooking bag.)  ANYWAY,  as I was saying about 11:00 a.m. I got a whiff of a javalina...they smell like a skunk...kinda that musky odor.  Hmmm...I looked out side and didn't see any thing but the smell was getting stronger by the minute.  By the time Gary and Jeannette arrived about 11:30 it was really smelling like SKUNK....pee yew!  Still thinking it was probably just a herd of Javalina, Gary and I walked around the house...couldn't see any of those pesky things, but did notice where something had clawed it's way under the deck, which goes directly under the house.  By this time the smell was getting very bad.  Barb and her parents arrived and agreed....something stinks.  Messed up the great smell of dinner cooking.  GRRRR.  So Carl (Barb's dad) and Gary took off all three of the access covers to under the house, got out the flashlight and looked but couldn't see anything, but wow...the smell was, well, skunky.
And of course the strongest smell was under the kitchen.  This skunk wanted to eat with us!  Great.

Barb, Gary and Carl went to pick Al up ... he got to come home for four hours today for dinner.  Did my heart good.  It was hard on me today not having him around while I was prepping and cooking.  He was always my potato peeler, taster, etc.  AND I realized I will probably never cook another Thanksgiving dinner in this house as it goes on the market the first of the year.  Kind of melancholy....sad.   But it was wonderful to have him home and I am so thankful for that.  He did really well, however, he still isn't very strong. 

Everyone enjoyed dinner, even with the horrible smell.  Which seemed to come and go.  But when we were in the kitchen doing dishes it really got powerful....but I also thought I smelled gas.  I did some sniffing and did smell gas.  So I called the gas company and they said to evacuate the house, do not turn on any lights, etc. and they would be right out.  Thank goodness it was nice outside and we all went out and sat on the deck, still smelling skunk!  How can one little critter smell so bad?  But now it is smelling like a family has moved in.  And of course, no pest company was open today, or even taking calls. 

Gas company arrived and the first thing the guy said is SKUNK!  NO KIDDING!   He did a check and found a small gas leak, so my very sensitive nose is still working.  That repaired, he left, but we still had the skunk.  FIRST THING IN THE MORNING I AM CALLING THE PEST PEOPLE.

Al was happy to  be home, but he was very tired when he went back to the care center.  We sent him back with pie, so that made him happy.  We all stuffed ourselves and had a lot of fun, regardless of the smell.  It wasn't a perfect day, but fun one and we all enjoyed each others company.  I would have loved to have my entire family here, but know that will never happen, so I take what I can get.  I am just very thankful that Al was able to come home. 

So here's hoping you all had a wonderful day and are happy and stuffed, just like I am.  Now let the holiday madness begin.