GRRR!

Three, maybe four years ago, The Lovely Girlfriend gave me a nice, thick cover for my grill. Until this past winter, that cover protected my grill from all the elements, year-round. It's held up well, and done a great job. Last fall I put a roof over the deck, so the grill didn't face quite as much harshness over the last few months.

This week I've been cooking on the grill frequently, and last night I left the cover off it, knowing that I'd be grilling again tonight.

A few minutes ago I picked up the cover to put it back on the grill, and a chipmunk ran out. It was kind of cool, as I've not seen chipmunks around here in quite some time. As I "unwadded" the cover, I found a hole in it. Then another. And then another, big enough to put a fist -- or a folded-up chipmunk -- through. I figure the little beast sneaked up into the bundled-up cover, and then tried to chew (or claw) his way out.

Stinkin' little rodent! Cute? Yes. Unwelcome here at casa de vthoky? Absolutely. Lesson? Cover the grill every night.

And don't let the cover get too close to the ground/deck/patio. Chipmunks and meece's can climb and take up residence in the grill. BTDT.

Chipmunks are cute but destructive little bastages. They've killed a number of trees and shrubs that I've planted. They are designated as shoot on sight around my place. Good target practice too...the little buggers are hard to hit.

Possibly setting up shop for the babies. Sorry about the cover.

Arkansas sez: Rub, hickory, 2 hours.

Yer welcome.

I keep a Rubbermaid garbage can on the patio to store the charcoal in. It does double duty as a cover container also.