The Coffee House

[Gary A.]

We have few bitting and stinging insects: ants, spiders, bees and wasps sting ... mosquitos and ticks bite.

The most common ant are the black Argentine ant, it is small and harmless. We also have a red ant, they hurt, but the reds hang in the more arid communities. More of a country/desert ant than an urban insect. Gary has only encountered one tick in all the years Gary has lived here. That was a week ago up in Santa Barbara County when Mary Lou found a tick in the hotel bathroom. Bees are everywhere of numerous types. But, you leave them alone and they'll leave you alone. Mary Lou was bitten a week ago by a bee on a morning walk. That was the first bee sting in her life. Wasps, they're are many, but the most dangerous is the Yellow Jacket. The other are much smaller and many are stingless. We do have mosquitos, but their populations are small and easily control. We find it an epidemic if a couple times a week, mosquitos disturb us in the patio. We have all sizes of spiders from tarantulas to Black Widows to tiny guys. Typically, the ones that hurt ... you can see ... easily ... and they controlled via a broom. Nasty insect wise, it is rather benign out here.

 

[Gary A.]

Would ceiling fans work where you live?

Oh yes, we have one overhead on the porch. It definitely helps, though we'd rather not have to use it. Here in the SE, we'd be toast without screens - it's more about mosquitoes than flies or gnats. I appreciate the concept of separation but, the way this house is configured, our porch is up from the yard by about 5 feet, so it's kind of built in. Perfect height for shepherd's hooks and the bird feeders - we can sit and watch the birds land only a few feet away to munch. They're used to us now. The birdbath is out in a little island that the previous homeowner created, and we have another feeder there, too. They're all around, so fun to watch. The fireflies have just appeared, too!

But humidity like this, from this tropical low pressure system, is impossible to escape - it just has to move on out.

I suppose Terri once again you're going to send your rain this way! lol thaannks...

Yeah, I think that's basically what will happen. Sorry!

Our patio is at about the same grade as the house and yard. Birds routinely fly in and about the patio. Especially hummers who will feed in the patio and have nested in the patio.

 

[smoke665]

We have few bitting and stinging insects: ants, spiders, bees and wasps sting ... mosquitos and ticks bite

That I could go for. Here we have it all it seems. Today outside, I pulled a tick off my ear, and another off my neck in less than hour. They aren't as bad this year as previous, but the year is early. Then we have a constant battle with Fire Ants, nasty buggers that swarm all over you and sting. Various and assorted snakes, the non-poisonous I don't mind, but there's always that split second when you have to decide which is which. Scorpions aren't as bad as they once were, but you still need to be careful when picking up things outside. Lots of red wasps, guinea wasps, yellow jackets, hornets, and bumble bees. Spiders nonpoisonous, and the red widow, and the brown recluse. Then we get to the nuisance pests.

 

[Tony744]

In my younger days, I would have completed the job before I quit, but the old hands and body does do well on those jobs now. Time to load up on Advil and relax.

It's one of the reasons I try to avoid working on my truck these days. I have a mechanic that lives across the street from where I work and repairs cars on the side in his home garage.

 

[smoke665]

t's one of the reasons I try to avoid working on my truck these days. I have a mechanic that lives across the street from where I work and repairs cars on the side in his home garage

I don't mind it most times, and prefer to do it so I know it's right, plus it gives me the opportunity to inspect the vehicle/equipment for other issues. However the older I get the more I'm finding the body refusing to cooperate.

 

[ceemac]

I couldn't imagine living with poisonous insects and snakes. The only dangerous things we've got start at cougar size and get bigger. You're not likely to accidentally step on one of those or have a bear crawl up your pantleg while you're having a nap. LOL

 

[Gary A.]

Gary has dumped his strawberry ice cream concoction into the ice cream maker. In about 40 minutes there will be ice cream!

 

[JonA_CT]

Flying out to Denver tomorrow after work, and traveling on to Fort Collins and Cheyenne, WY. I haven’t packed a single article yet.

 

[NancyMoranG]

When my mom and dad would go somewhere, my dad was packed 2 days early. The night before leaving, he would say 'are you packed yet?' And she would say with a cute smug look, 'mentally, I am'

My 7 siblings all agree that we were blessed in the parent department.

 

[davidharmier60]

Have your homemade ice cream Gary.
I am about to have Blue Bell.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk

 

[SquarePeg]

Gary has dumped his strawberry ice cream concoction into the ice cream maker. In about 40 minutes there will be ice cream!

We dug out the ice cream maker this weekend but it’s been a bit too cold to want to use it. Hopefully this week. I think we’re going to try our own version of cookie dough ice cream.

 

[JonA_CT]

Mostly packed now. It'll be a mad dash to change, make sure I have everything I need, and catch my ride to the airport tomorrow afternoon.

 

[Gary A.]

Mary Lou says it is delicious and that she wants to eat all the ice cream.

 

[Fujidave]

We had a down pouring of rain yesterday and all last night, plus the rain is back now but nothing like they are having up North.

 

[smoke665]

We had heavy rain at times through the night as the bands from Alberto passed through. Looks like most of the worst is over for us as the eye of the storm is now about a 100 miles south and west of us. We'll still have a couple rain bands over the morning but otherwise it's over for us.