Scream Like A Girl

Sitting on a couch watching a cooking show, thinking I was going to start making my pizza dinner soon, I giggled as Diva batted around her newest favorite toy.  And then it happened.  Diva wandered over to the corner looking curious.  She kind of batted at the corner and then jumped back.  Focusing, I looked.  And promptly screamed like a girl.   There was an ant explosion.  They were pouring out of my corner like something from a horror show.  Freaking out I hopped off the couch, danced around before herding the dogs out of the room.  Grabbing my keys, I tossed the dogs into their respective places in the garage before bolting out with my truck.  Frenzied I drove into town to the nearest greenhouse where I loaded up on ant killer sprays and powders.  Next stop was the grocery store for some ant traps.  Eighty dollars later I left town.

Doing the heebie jeebie dance I shuddered as I read the instructions while keeping a close eye on the mass of ants in the corner of my house.  Traps set down.  Dr. Doom sprayed into the crack and the ants began a mass exodus.  Eyes wide I watched them clear out en masse.  A friend suggested I check my basement.  Down the stairs I go, into the room directly below where another mini freak out ensued.  Eeeew!  They had just dropped a level.  Zipping back up I grabbed my spray, climbed a ladder and began spraying.  Out to the garage I went to drop traps. (I didn't want to spray in there because that's where the dogs hang out.)  Along the edge of the house I applied poison powder stuff.  By the time I got back into the house the ants were gone.  Completely gone.  Weird.

Throughout the evening I did perimeter checks looking for any signs of the invaders.  Nothing.  I found one little lingerer which I quickly dispatched with a Kleenex.  Friggen' creepy.

To give you an idea of the volume of ants, this picture shows about 1/3 -1/2 the amount of ants - after I'd begun treating and they'd begun vacating.  *shudder*

Learning Curve

I've been flying solo on my little acreage for closing in on 4 months now.  It's funny.  I have a friend who tells me how fiercely independent I am.  I am independent out of necessity rather than desire.  Truth be told I'm quite traditional.  However, that being said...

I have gone and bought myself a collection of tools.  They were on sale.  The collection is pretty much everything a person could need from screwdrivers, wrenches, and a ratchet set.  I also have a level and hammer and various other sundry items from my previous life.

The learning curve to knowing all one must know for a little farm has been somewhat steep.  I've had to figure out how to turn water on.  I've learned about cisterns.  I've stood on a ladder trying to figure out how to make my garage door opener work.  I've successfully figured out, operated, and then broke my snow blower.  I now have the pleasure to figure out why it's plugged, and according to the manual (hey I'm a reader!!) I also get to figure out how to unplug a spark plug.  (!!!) A freak'n spark plug! 

Today I poked around my furnace to figure out it does indeed take a filter.  I've also been messing with my automatic waterer.  (A little closer to my comfort zone.)  The well water is filled with iron.  This keep clogging my waterer.  It grows algae and overflows.  Nasty.  So using industrial bleach I "shocked" it.  This spring I'll have to bite the bullet and shock the well.  I'm guessing it hasn't been done anytime recently.  Tomorrow my dad (I AM that girl!) will come out and take a look.

I'm sure there will come more wtf moments as I try to figure things out.  Just as I'm equally sure there are things I'll "man up" and do.  Even when they make me cry.

House pics

Kitchen - whoever planned it out mustn't have been a cook - note all the tile counter tops...  BUT note ALL the counter space!

More kitchen view...

Look at the cupboard space!

(And the "old school" cupboards!)

My couches - now covered with old flannel sheets to dog "proof" them.

Living room - facing where the TV will go...

Bathroom

Office and Dog Room - this is where they'll spend the night in crates/pens.

Less Tessa who'll sleep in my room on her bed.

Spare bedroom

My bedroom.

Once I have all my furniture, everything unpacked and organized, and art work up.  I'll take new and improved pictures.