Words from a Reader

The “Writing Life Stories” e-mails I receive are such treasures. As soon as I see there is one in my inbox, I read it immediately. I look forward to them and never know how they will touch me. They can be interesting, informative, humorous, and/or touching.
Showing posts with label spiders. Show all posts
Showing posts with label spiders. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Do you have a remedy for me?

It seems that wasps and yellowjackets as well as spiders decided to take residence in my yard and around my house this summer. Makes me yearn for some cold weather.


Yellowjackets set up housekeeping in a round hole in the ground right next to my lower landing. The hole is large enough for a big apple to fit into. 

My friend came over yesterday and poured gasoline in the hole by upturning a cola bottle into the bees' home. I was told that would be the end of the rascals, but today they were swarming around that bottle, unable to enter the hole, and likely very mad about it.

So I waited until darkness fell tonight. From my upper deck, with my face covered and protected from the spray, I shot several long streams of insecticide in the direction of the bees. I just hope and pray that tomorrow they will be gone. 

On Friday evening, I have a house guest who will come up those stairs and on Saturday we will hold a poetry class here.
If anyone has any advice to give me on ridding my yard of these pests, I am open to try it. I surely don't want anyone to be stung by the little beasties. 



Thursday, September 5, 2013

Something for my Gratitude Journal

Tonight I am grateful and must show my appreciation for a man who has worked all week around my house.  
This week the rain held off for a few days. My friend and handyman, John, had time to come and take care of all the things on my “to do” list. I told him he is worth his weight in gold. I can’t pay him what he is worth, however, but I know his bill will be reasonable. Since my husband passed away in 2009, John has been the person I turn to for help when I can’t do it myself. He is good at so many things, but I appreciate that he will clean my deck from top to bottom and take the time to find a non-toxic cleaner that won’t trigger my asthma.
He took my blower that I was about to toss because it won’t work anymore and tested it to find that only my battery needs replacing. Spiders had wrapped my house in their sparkling webs and had taken up residence in every crack or cranny. Tonight no spiders hide under the tall eaves of my deck. My outside lights come on now when anything moves in my yard. Thanks to John. My grill is cleaned from top to bottom and he gave me good advice for the future. Barry was the one who used the gas grill, but I plan to make use of it now.
One afternoon recently I stuck my hand into a wasp nest that was hidden under the railing of my steps. I called John who came, found the spray in the garage and took care of the wasps. Today he discovered a huge nest under the table on my upper deck. I am surprised I haven’t been stung, and thankful John wasn't stung. Besides his willingness to help me with such chores, John always has a smile on his face.


This is not what John does to make a living. He has a construction business. He laid the floors in my house and they are done beautifully. He added a room off my kitchen so I could move my washing machine and dryer upstairs when the stairs became too much of a chore for me. He is one of the most talented people I know. I can count on him when I have a problem. If he can’t fix it, he knows who to call. I love that John never says, “it can’t be done.” When I wanted a shower in my basement bathroom everyone I talked to said it couldn't be done. But when I talked to John he told me how it could be done, and now I have a shower in my downstairs bathroom.
I won’t give his name in this post because I haven’t asked his permission, but if anyone in the Hayesville NC area needs a hardworking man who can do almost anything, call me and I’ll put you in touch with John. 

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Spiders are prolific this year. We put out some July 4th decorations on the deck. Today when I started to put them away, I was shocked to see hordes of granddaddy long legs scrambling from under the ribbon. In just a few days, the red, white and blue ribbons had become infested. Spider webs wrap my plants every night. I don't spray insecticides because they are more dangerous for me than the spiders, I believe. That is why I was glad to find this article in the Augusta Chronicle. http://chronicle.augusta.com/life/home/2012-07-13/ask-bugman-know-you-spray


Now I can safely deal with spiders without worry of getting sick.