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Showing posts from July, 2019

Weird purchase

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For some reason I purchased a rather large package of Epsom salt recently. My impulse buying was a recently viewed recipe for mosquito control in the yard.  Who likes mosquitoes, right? The recipe called for equal parts of stale beer, mouthwash and Epsom salts. So I purchased a box of Epsom salt at Sam's...turns out it was two packages of 7 lbs each. (that's a LOT of Epsom salt!!!), I found some cheap beer ...Stroh's  6 for $4.99 and a cheap bottle of mouthwash ...minty fresh!  I mixed it up in my new sprayer and the back yard is now protected for 80 days against mosquitoes!! hurrah!!  but I am a skeptic and we shall see.  I do worry that the minty fresh smell might attract the critters that I have been trying to discourage...we shall see! My battle against the critters that inhabit this neighborhood has been in high gear.  Milorganite has been applied ...again, Liquid fence has been applied over the all the flowerbeds a...

Home sweet home!

After our week long stay in Rome, Italy, it is good to be home.  We stayed in a hotel near the Trevi fountain which turned out to be a great central location.  Arie had a 7 minute walk to the Gregoriana University and I could easily head out from there as well.  First of all the weather: the skies were blue and cloud-free the entire time.  The temperatures were in the 90s the entire time.  Old Rome is a concrete/ stone/ marble jungle and that raises the temperature  the entire time (even at night) so we were thankful that the AC in our room was excellent. Piazza Venencia , piazza Navona, Trevi fountain, the numerous bascilicas and chiesa I explored were wonderful.  The bizarre Crypt of the Capuchins also held its own charm.  The Plaza Rinasente was an oasis...6 floors of heavenly, air-conditioned shopping pleasure with every high-end brand you can think in its niche.  Arie even sat in and pretended to drive a Tesla there as well....

Pride cometh before the fall

So, so upset...with myself and the one deer that had a banquet in my BACK yard last night. I have never had to protect my backyard against the deer.  The ground hog has been a problem but the deer seem to have been content with my front yard.   Last night I sprayed the front yard with Liquid Fence and upon inspection this morning the day lily buds, (the few remaining ones ...I was gone for 8 days), were still there. Last night I also proudly told a friend that the Tangerine and the Calvin College lilies were about to bloom. I guess bragging is not allowed. This morning they were ALL gone!!! I am beyond disappointed!  That will teach me... Milorganite and Liquid Fence will be applied forthwith.