August 19, 2016

  • Looking Cursed

    I can't remember if I mentioned that our air conditioning went out. It is now fixed but there is more disaster looming on the horizon. Both the upstairs bathroom are in need of an overhaul. The main bath can't be used for bathing as the fiberglass tub/shower has holes. Both bathrooms are in need of new flooring and new sinks too. I suppose it is to be expected in a house built in 1982. We were looking at getting a new roof but that is on hold until we can figure out the bathroom situation. Then there is the cracking and crumbling of the driveway. Oy. We have been fighting the advancing hordes of ants for several years. Sparky has applied a special ant insecticide around the foundation and cut any trees back that might have been too close to the house. Last year he found a large hornets' nest in the attic. It was removed and an effective insecticide was sprayed throughout the attic space. It worked. Since the hornets can't get into the attic they have been looking for alternative accommodations. Sparky snapped this photo when he noticed a big pile of dirt in the mulch right by the porch! If you look closely you can make out a large hornet. There is nothing to compare it with for scale but it was as long as sparky's thumb and almost as thick! The mound of dirt was quite impressive. I insisted that Sparky spray the entrance and any occupants with the liquid insecticide. He eventually poured a quarter of the bottle down the hole. As you read this post, Sparky is covering the hole with the dirt and tamping it down tightly. There won't be any questions concerning the possibility of survivors!! I mentioned before I think I'm cursed: every time I mention a scavenger hunt post prompt in a post a disaster linked to that prompt appears! It is starting to freak me out!!
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    Laziest Summer Scavenger Hunt prompt #55 - attic

Comments (14)

  • Looks like a yellow jacket. Glad they are no longer in your attic, but now make sure you watch where you step.

  • Sadly, disaster seem to be a part of life. I have felt better this week. Have another colonoscopy scheduled for Oct. 6.

  • @Crystalinne: This was a female ground wasp aka cicada killer. They are WAY bigger than the yellow jacket. There are some great photos at http://biologicalthinking.blogspot.com/2011/07/giant-hornets-of-death.html

  • @ata_grandma: I'm almost afraid to type the word "colon....py" for fear I'll have to have one if I mention it in a post! Hope they can figure out the problem and everything can be returned to normal. You are in my thoughts and prayers!

  • @murisopsis: Thank you. I appreciate yours and SaintVi's friendship so much.

  • We have a type of hornet nest at the end of the patio cover that protects our truck. Left it alone as they don't fly at us. Figure there is a purpose for them as they show up ever year some place around the house.

    • Now that I know what kind of insect it is I kind of feel bad that we killed it. The Cicada Killer is a pretty benign wasp - huge and scary looking but not very aggressive to people. If I find another one we will take the philosophy of live and let live.

  • @murisopsis: giant hornets of death! Oh my!
    I hear the cicadas a lot lately. I have to smile about them though, because as an anime fan, they often are in the background of my Japanese shows.

    • I like the cicadas - it reminds me of summer and my grandmother's house. I had never heard of the cicada killers before! They are really very terrifying in size!

  • @BLB: We have wasp nests on our patio. My son urged me to leave them alone last year, calling them his "pets" or "friends" when we would see them buzzing. Thankfully they never stung us. They disappeared for a time but have returned again this week.

  • A cicada killer! Haven't seen one of those for a long time. I'll bet with all the cicadas this year they'll be feasting royally!

  • Eeek! I do NOT like wasps, hornets or such like ~ they freak me out too ~ :(

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