FAR Ants!

 FAR Ants!

 

Wooo boy! Got into the danged, (thinking really not nice word here) fire ants this morning by moving a flower pot over just a bit. All over my hands and wrists and one on my foot gave me a very quick lesson (did we REALLY need that?) in looking before putting my hands in stuff. Wondering if these things will get into my raised beds. At least out front, the hills can be doctored with those poison granules without worrying about my hens getting poisoned.

 

Just a little warning about getting plants from nurseries that come out of East Texas. One woman—think she was from here—nearly put her hand into the containers to pick one up and came terribly close to a copperhead snake. Just be careful, Dear Hearts.

 

About to take a quick trip up to United for some roast beef. It isn’t cheap, but it is about half the price of the normal. And this old woman likes to cook it, cut it up into slices, bag it, and freeze it for quick meals whether sandwiches or otherwise. Those things come in large trays of three or four roasts, so have to decide how to cook them all at one time. Still very thankful to have Jennifer’s big electric roaster!

 

My neighbor has been making some planters for me for herbs and small veggies. Each planter is made from pallet wood and is on wooden legs that make it high enough that all the old woman has to do is put her hands out to reach each side. Looking them up online, not any were cheaper than fifty dollars, depending on the type of wood and whether or not a shelf for tools was built under the tray. And Albert is so very good at making these things! Already he has three of them sitting out there waiting for me to fill it with soil and seeds! Today, however, the wind is so strong that it just about makes me want to hide inside to keep from being overwhelmed by the pollen. Patty took Roxie out to let her walk around in front, but it was really too windy for all three of us! Maybe one day this week will be a good day to get the bedding soil and fill these boxes after deciding exactly where they need to be placed. They are light enough to pick up without the dirt, but would rather not fill them and then pick them up. Anyway, am so very thankful for the kind neighbor who does things like this for the little ol’ lady across the street.

 

Yesterday, AJ got to sit down on the bench out front and meet Sylvia and Thompson. He was very still and quiet so that they were not confused. Whether or not he liked it, he got a good face washing. Sylvia takes care of that sort of thing. Thompson just used his body to push on AJ a bit. They were very good dogs, so maybe next time he comes to the door, they won’t have such a fit about it. We will see.

 

Saw that Israel had recovered three bodies of the folks who had been taken hostage. It just makes me cringe to think that three more families will never have those people home again. Burial does not mean the end of grief by a long shot. And expecting Israel to stop the war in Gaza is like asking them to stop grieving or feeling attacked! They know quite well that the leaders of Hamas are located in Gaza—whether in tunnels or in buildings matters not in the least. Like fire ants, those freakin’ insects need to be eliminated! They just keep tunneling and attacking at any opportunity. Only God can totally eliminate their hatred, so we must trust Him to take care of that part, but meanwhile, Israel must protect itself from their fury and fire power!

 

Let us pray for those who are being flooded wherever it takes place, praying for those without power from the storms, and praying for those in excessive heat waves from this weather. May God bless and keep us.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.