Taking Turns
I had just commented to Dennis yesterday that the biting black flies had taken over to be the pest of the season. Hello! Today, as we geared up to mow the acre the mosquitoes gave fair warning it was their turn to be the pest. I did the trimming with the weed whip of the acre first. My forehead felt like it had ripples of swelling bites by the time I hung the trimmer up. Once I hit the garage to get the push mower going, I got out the Bug Soother that we had gotten from Kersten’s Cassey’s store last year. The north side of our home always is a haven for bugs as it is quite sheltered. I am not sure if the Bug Soother did the trick or that I smelled so good I didn’t notice the bites.
It has been unseasonably hot for a spell but the grass sure has continued to grow. I passed on a huge portion of our front yard as it looked stressed. I hit the high spots and did a bit of trimming and I think that will have to suffice until we get more rain.
As I was blowing off the drive, I noticed a fresh pile of dirt at the corner of the flower bed on the southeast corner of the house. Hmm. That was not there on Sunday and here it is Wednesday. It gave the appearance of an ant hill. Something has been busy. When I put in the plants at this flower bed, there had been the same pile of fresh dirt within the bed. I had a sneaky feeling it was the female Cicada Wasp who’s nest I had destroyed just two weeks ago when I dug out the flower bed. Why on earth do we need a wasp that tunnels and make nests in dirt. Dennis sprayed hornet spray into the little opening until it welled out in a white foam. Out she came and buzzed off. The Cicada is huge and has orange strips on her back. I got out the vinegar jug. When I had looked it up on the internet, that was one suggestion to discourage the wasp. After the foam of the spray disappeared, I poured pure vinegar into the area and in between where the step and one of the pavers were. I am going to continue trying to move her somewhere else. With that being said, I need to go back onto the internet and do a bit more research. Tomorrow I will clean up this pile of dirt and check back to see if there has been any fresh activity.
This day has about had all the activity Dennis and I have ump for. The day started out humid and by glory now the humidity and dew point are neck and neck in the low 50s. All of you, take heart. Each day presents itself with something that had not been expected. Take it in stride, as there are more blessings in each day than not. Take a breathe, close your eyes for a bit and the blessings will come to mind.