I Have Delicious Garbage

My kitchen is being taken over by ants! It is completely gross and I want to share with you its grossness. You are welcome!

So, a few weeks ago, I had some plumbing problems. Eventually I learned that we had some major nasty clogging action in the pipes where they connect to the city sewer system. Prior to learning that, I ended up replacing some of the pieces under the sink due to damaging the old ones when taking them apart to find the problem. After getting everything back together, I thought everything was good. Wrong. The new pipe pieces were fine, but then, all of a sudden, water began dripping from the garbage disposal. So, I haven't used the garbage disposal, or that side of the sink, OR the dishwasher (because it drains through the garbage disposal), since then.

I'm sure you are thinking 'Geez, get to the point'. I am. I promise. The worst part of all of it is that my landlord was in Europe for the month. (He actually just got back yesterday, and, of course, I forgot to tell him about all this.) Since I can't use the garbage disposal, that means any extra foody crap we aren't eating gets put in the trash can. I'm afraid if I throw it outside, it will attract larger pests such as stray dogs, cats, raccoons, stray goats, etc.

The ants are privvy to my situation. First they started coming in through the small crack around the window trim. I caulked that shut. Then they managed to come in through the hole where the electrical outlet is. I caulked that shut too. (Normally I wouldn't because being unable to remove an outlet cover is irritating, but so is an invading ant army.) Once that was sealed shut, they started coming in through a tiny spot on the floor where the linoleum is ripped. AAH!

So, since they are on the floor, they found their way to the trash can. It isn't FULL of left over food by any means. It is just the kids and I here, so I don't generally have a lot of leftovers, and when I do, they get put in the fridge. The only thing that is in there are the little bits that are left on our plates when we are done that happen to be too big to fit down the drain. Apparently that is enough for the ants to feast.

I have discovered that spraying ants with glass cleaner kills them instantly. They basically melt. YEA! It does nothing for repelling future ant invaders, though. BOO! I have also discovered that ants wake up around 8:00am. When I get up in the morning, there are no ants in the kitchen. When I go back in a little bit later, I find a black trail. UGH! I know I could spray around the house, but with all the rain we've had, I think it would be pointless. So, I guess I am just waiting it out. Hopefully winter will freeze them. Freeze them outside, preferrably. I have put a few ant bait trap things out. They just walk around it. I guess they would rather have buttered pasta and pizza crust. I mean, I can't blame them.

So I realize this post is gross and pretty pointless. I just wanted to share with the world my current problem. I know you care. I am really hoping that those attending my daughter's birthday party this weekend don't read this. At least, before the party anyway. I plan to make her cake and I am double crossing my fingers that the ants don't eat it before we do. I don't plan to put it in or near the trash can, so, in theory, we're good!

GROSS!

Falling for Fall

I didn't forget about this blog, I have just been putting it off! I started it, then moved across the country, and now, a good 6 months after my previous post, I'm ready to give this another shot!

I started putting my Halloween decorations up this morning. Halloween is my FAVORITE! I love silly whimsical symbols of death and terror and I especially love costumes! I can already see that I have passed this crazy fever on to my 4-year-old son. He told me after we were done with the decorations that Halloween is his favorite. It talks like me too. (He refers to food as tasty-tasty, etc.)

Fall is by far my favorite time of year! I love the downhill slope in temperature after borderline suicidally hot summers. I love the colors of the leaves (SO glad to be back in Missouri this year!). I love jeans. I love sweaters. I love raking. I love baking. I love pumpkins. I love pumpkin pie, pumpkin spice coffee, and pumpkin bread. I love drinking coffee at any time of day. I love having the windows open in the house. I love going for drives. I love going for walks. I love to take pictures of it all. I love planning for birthday parties, Halloween, and Thanksgiving.

For our family, the holiday season starts in mid-September. First we have my husband's birthday, then in mid-October, we have my daughter's birthday, then Halloween. Then, when Thanksgiving comes around, the rest of the world is just getting into holiday-mode, we've already been in it for a month or two. GO US! Or me, at least, I can't say that my husband really cares about the official starting point for the holiday season. I try to make a big deal out of every special occasion. I LOVE that we have 4 events in fall to celebrate, as if celebrating the change in season wasn't enough!

We still have a month until Halloween. My son doesn't have a grasp on measured time yet, so he thinks Halloween is next weekend, or super soon, anyway. He'll come around, though! We definitely need that month to figure out what we will dress up as. He has been bouncing through several ideas: Transformer, devil, puppy, spider, etc. Last year he was a banana and I couldn't have been more proud of him! Evelyn and I might be cats. Or dogs. It kind of depends on what Harvey chooses. Evelyn is obsessed with cats right now and although a cat costume isn't very original for a Hallofien like myself, it would be pretty cute to see her say "Meow" while dressed as a cat!

Thanksgiving should be a new experience for us this year. It will be our first year back in Missouri after being gone for 6 years or so. Hopefully my husband will be home by then. This has been a ridiculous waiting process (medical discharge from the army). I have been married for 5 ½ years and literally never have had to share ourselves during the holidays. I look forward to having dinner with family! Bring on the turkey, yo!

I am also a planning person. I try to try to savor the moment instead of constantly trying to figure out what we should do down the road. (Yes, I meant to say “try to try to”.) I love fall with all my heart and I try to hold on to it with all that I have because I hate winter! Once Christmas is over, it is just irritatingly cold and dull and depressing... and Christmas is only 4 days into the winter season.... so....

GO FALL!