Category: home and garden

This month’s National Geographic story on Ants served as a bit of an omen as just a few days after its arrival, we had two waves of ant invasions.

The first was the biggest shock – it had been weeks with the population under control then suddenly there was a blossoming. Ants crawling up the side of our house, in through the kitchen window, then spreading out into the sink, the dishwasher, the cutting board, and even into the cabinets. Worst of all, they were covering the garlic bread I had been dreaming about all day!

I sprayed the trails and seams and we went to class and came back a few hours later and things seemed to be back to normal. Today however, they were back and in new places. Michelle took several deep breaths before going in on Raid raids then e-mailed me from work asking that I clean up the carnage. We’ll see what tomorrow brings, but these flourishes seem to be fairly short lived. At least they aren’t the giant mandibled army ants from the geographic story. Now I’m itching again.

Stopped by my parents this afternoon to help where I could and washed some of the walls and ceilings to remove 30 years of cigarette smoke and tar residue. The difference is amazing, but washing it released some of the foulest smells. Sometimes it was like dirty bowling alley, sometimes like cat piss, and occasionally I’d smell peanut butter cup blizzard. I can’t explain that one.

The ammonia-water in the washing bucket, pungent itself, was quickly overpowered by the smokey potion. The nasty brew dripped down my arm when working on the ceiling and did some nasty stuff to my shirt. I think I may have also developed some second-hand cancer from it.

It’s been one year since that 103F day that we moved in to our home. How much has changed; how much still to do.

Though not yet complete, Michelle insisted I put up some pictures of the progress on our yard so far. Here’s a chronology of the transformation so far. Oddly enough, the first pictures of the back yard are exactly one year old. We were sad to get rid of the apple tree, but the borers were so bad that it had to go. Now we’re looking for a replacement. more to come.

Last night I opened the back door and stepped in to a spider hatch. Opening the door tore apart the web sack that had kept them bundled, so they cascaded down the door and hovered in the air in front of me. I ended up torching most of them because otherwise they’ll end up in my computer and/or shoes. Both of those things annoy me, so I used Michelle’s creme brulé scorcher to make quick work of them. Heartless I know. And I’ve killed an excellent predator, but how do you feel when a spider comes out of the cracks between your keyboard and walks across your hand?

I thought so.

Recent house guests may remember how slowly the bathroom sink drained. Well, I took apart the trap and I think I found the problem. I’ve decided to link to the picture as a courtesy for the weak stomached. It drains faster now, but still not as quickly as I’d like. I tried snaking the line, but the snake wouldn’t make the 90 degree turn down into the stack. I opened a plug below the drain and snaked up and down without any problems, so I’m guessing the drain speed is just a limitation of the system. Or maybe there’s something at the 90. At least it drains now.

We’ve only had mild to moderate rain (my great aunt always said the rain was dryer in Portland) but no leaks have yet penetrated the new roof. Sweet.

I reroofed the sunroom this afternoon in about 3 hours. I imagine it would have taken someone skilled much less time, but it’s done, and I finished before dark and before what will certainly be a moist couple days. The true test is whether or not it stays water-tight.

added a panoramic shot to get the whole roof, but the seams make it look like a crappy job. Yes, I know the colors don’t match, but I can’t find our shingle color anywhere.