Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Ants? What ants?



It's raining, it's pouring, the old man is snoring!  Remember that old saying for a thunderstorm?  It's raining here today but no thunder, just me snoring according to the Hubs........sigh......   We need the rain though, it's been rather dry and I have had to water everything constantly to keep things going.  The raspberries are just doing great this year, they are thick as can be, the most I have ever had since I put the bushes in a number of years ago.  Nothing like walking past the raspberry patch and grabbing a handful of those tart little goodies.  I must say though that I have never seen any as big as the ones I get at the grocery store that come from California!!!  They are HUGE!  I eat them like candy, have some sitting right here now.

The lake house is coming along beautifully!!  I am just in awe of the beautiful job they have done making a silk purse out of a sows ear!  If any of you remember the pictures of the 'flood' you know it was a complete disaster leaving nothing unscathed in its wake along with mold covering every surface.  Now it is clean and fresh, they are putting the finishing touches on the painting and the window treatments are ready to be installed.  I am trying to hold off on posting any pictures until everything is done but I am getting antsy to show you all.

Speaking of antsy or I should say ants.....Evidently we had a nest of carpenter ants living in one of the ceilings.  They must have moved out when all the commotion started as we didn't see any signs of them until last week when I guess they decided it was time to move back in!  I got a frantic call from one of the workers that there were about 200 ants milling around one of the smoke detectors trying to get into the ceiling!!!  I called an exterminator but he couldn't get there for a few days so I headed to the lake with a can of Raid in hand.

Yikes!  They weren't kidding, there were tons of flying ants and by now they had figured out they couldn't get in through the smoke detector so were all on the sliders trying to get back outside!  GAG!  I sprayed them and they dropped like flies thankfully but what a mess on my new floor!  I got it pretty well cleaned up and was waiting for the second wave to appear but I guess I got them all.  The exterminator arrived a couple days later and did the whole inside and outside so we shouldn't have a problem again but that was weird and I was not a happy camper having them in my new digs!


We've been having some nightly visitors lately that are as cute as a button but rather sloppy eaters!  There is one more behind the gas grill that you can't see.  Mom raccoon has SIX babies!  She looks a bit weary but who wouldn't having six little ones to keep track of!


Here's a shot of all of them together including Mom in the foreground.  They aren't as big as they look in these pictures.  They probably weigh about three pounds apiece at this point.  They LUV their marshmallows!



                                                  Whoops, I cut Mom's face off.



They keep us entertained each evening, they are better then television and the grandchildren love watching them out the window.


Mom and I went to Ellsworth today as I had my second laser treatment on my face.  It was pouring and there was a lot of road construction so what usually takes a half hour took us an hour.  The road was all torn up and you had to drive on the edge of the ditch which was a tiny bit unnerving.  We made it fine and I got zapped and we were out the door on our way home.  I don't have to go back for two months this time so as to give the blood vessels time to heal properly.  Hopefully one more treatment and the rosacia will be under control.  It doesn't really hurt to have the laser but afterwards you feel like you have a bad sunburn on your face and the next day you look like someone hit you with a 2X4!   I stay out of sight so that people won't think someone gave me a backhander! 

Time to get around to visiting some of you.  Time really seems to get away from me and computer time is limited this time of year so please hang in there with me!!!

18 comments:

Alice Grace said...

Those raccoons are so cute! The ants are awful, aren't they! I had some a couple of summers ago. Can't wait to see the lake house done! I know you will be ready to enjoy it, along with the whole family!

Donna. W said...

I'm sure glad somebody likes those raccoons. It takes all kinds to make a world. Those pictures almost send me into a frenzy of hatred!

Needled Mom said...

Oh my goodness, but those baby raccoons are adorable. I am sure that momma was quite protective of them.

I can't wait to see pictures of the cabin. It sounds fabulous (other than the ants)!!!!

The raspberries come from right down the road from us. They may be big, but I don't think that they have the flavor of the small wild ones.

Glad that you got that television situation figured out. Strange! I am sure Mr. B was NOT happy about that.

Still awaiting the arrival of the new grandbaby. It should be any day now.

Enjoy your week and let me see a picture of any flowers that you make.

Big hugs!

Dawn said...

We are looking forward to our raspberries coming into fruition - we had a fabulous amount last year and hoping for as good this year. I love them. I agree with NM that the big ones from the store are not nearly as flavorful.

I can't wait to see your cabin - Ill bet you can hardly wait to spend the night there again.

Rain, huh?? Kev and group are at the race track again this summer - it's quite a project for them. Hope they don't get wet every day.

As for raccoons - they are as cute as our baby skunks we had a few years ago - but I am not fond of either of them for neighbors!

Looking forward to seeing you over at my place, and hopefully at the end of July!

Julie Harward said...

YUM to the raspberries..love them! Cute raccoons too..I see that someone is feeding them! Yuck to the ants..and brave you for getting them! Come say hi :D

Sharon said...

I can not wait to see the cabin.
It does seem like the ants are really bad this year.
Those raccoons are sure cute.
Thanks for sharing.

Terri said...

Oh, How dry we are down here!!!!! What I wouldn't give for your pouring rain! And HOT!!!!!! MM, I have reached an age where I can't stand the heat!!!!
I LOVE the coons! We used to have em at our old house and they are so fun to watch! One became so tame he would allow me to stroke his back! I miss them!
Can't wait to see pics of the lake house! Hurry! I bet it is just beautiful!
Til next time~

palmtreefanatic said...

HI There! glad the laser treatment went well!

Racoons are cute but be where;)

horrible about the ants! I would have been freaking out!
I am horrified enough of these little ants that have been creeping in my home! Never had this problem before but they are definetly coming in somewhere!

The cabin sounds so wonderful how exciting to get it near done! Cannot wait to see...
Have a fabulous weekend!

Anonymous said...

I love your blog..the pics of the raccoons are precious...glad you are finished with the face job for a while...the raspberries sound so good...have a great day...hugs from Ora in KY

Carroll Farm said...

What cute raccoons! I can't wait to see pictures of the cabin. I am so excited!

I'm mostly known as 'MA' said...

I just wanted to stop by and say thank you for visiting my blog and leaving a comment. I'll be back to visit you and see those picture of the finished lake house too. Those raccoons are so cute. Who would have thought they'd like marshmelows.

palmtreefanatic said...

HI! Thanks for stopping by!
to answer your question M&M world is in the Big Florida mall in orlando! truely awesome it must be a new store! So cool!

Rising Rainbow said...

I have missed you. That's for sure but it looks like you've had plenty to keep you occupied.

Ants and raccoons, that's quite a combination. I know they're not at the same location, but still........

Can't wait to see the pics of the cabin.

Marcy said...

Hi MM! Thanks for leaving comments on my blog posts! It has been a while since I have visited your blog, but I have been wondering about your lake house! I can't wait to see pictures. I am glad that your laser treatments are going well. I can't believe all those raccoons! I know they are cute, but aren't they also kind of dangerous? I hope you are having a great summer!

Carole Burant said...

Ick! I so do not like flying ants! The nerve of them, figuring they could just move in with you at the lake house! hehe Glad you were able to finally get rid of them. Me and my can of raid are good friends as well! lol I can't wait to see pictures of your lake house but I can understand that you'd prefer to show it once it's completed:-)

The baby raccoons are so adorable, makes you wish they would stay that size!! I just find it so funny how they love marshmallows. Next time I see raccoons here I'll have to put some out...no wait, I'd better not, it's all I need, to be feeding a family of raccoons as well as the kitties! lol Speaking of the kitties (the new momma and her 2 kittens), I've gotten them used to going in the cage for food so tomorrow we'll be setting it up to trap them and bring them in to Pet Save. There will only be the 2 year old tomcat left. I'll miss them all:-(

You have raspberries in your garden, we have strawberries:-) Like you, I could sit there and eat tons of them!! Gimme a bit of cream to put on them and oh boy, I'm in heaven. hehe

We finally got some much needed rain the other day but still need more. Today it was supposed to rain all day but it's been mostly sunny...go figure! lol

Have a wonderful week my friend...love you!! xoxoxox

shirley said...

raccoons are so cute and fun when they are little when my boys were young they had a pet one they raised had a lot of fun with it

Musings of a Housewife said...

I can't WAIT to see your new camp!!!!!!! We will be there soon. Hey, do you have any idea where we could purchase farm fresh eggs and possibly even locally raised meat while we're there? :-)

See you SOOON!

Grandma Yellow Hair said...

Wow what pictures! Can't believe you were able to capture such good ones.
Enjoyed my visit and catching up on you tonight
Take care
Maggie