Death to Vermin, and also Tobie gets a twofer…

These things…

There is a species of big black ant around here – they will suddenly form a big new nest seemingly overnight with seemingly squillions of – well, big black ants which will delight in giving their lives to quietly crawl all the way up your leg and bite you in your squishy bits, leaving painful welts that will linger for days. I hate these things. They’re not in the league of fire ants, but they’re not your friends.

Their nests are everywhere, so it’s really easy to find yourself trying to work in what they clearly consider their territory. The nest above just recently appeared in Ian’s yard, where I spend substantial time, so it was time for some targeted mass murder.

This stuff…

…works every time. Quickly, too. Overnight. They can’t resist it, and the very next day there won’t be a living ant in sight. I don’t use it promiscuously, ants not making their homes right where I live and work are welcome to do their own thing in peace, but when they inevitably move in on my territory, they die in large numbers.

I figured out how those mice were getting into Ian’s place…

Pretty simple, really. That particular window ledge is easily accessible. I found little chewed chunks of rotten nylon screen scattered inside, moved a drum that was covering that spot, and there it was: A big open front door.

Happily…

…I’m prepared for that.

Finally…

S&L have gone to visit family in the Big City and needed somebody to come visit their cat and chickens twice a day. Tobie thinks this a terrible thing – I should not be allowed to make the trip alone lest I become suicidally depressed or something.

This is the one situation where I can absolutely depend on Tobie to do exactly the right thing outdoors: If you say “Wanna ride in the Jeep?” and open the cabin door, he would shoulder rabbits out of the way if necessary in his single-minded sprint to the Jeep’s driver door. I think it’s funny as hell, given his original attitude toward such things.