Simple Satisfaction

I hate ants! Well, actually I've always been facinated with watching them and impressed by their capabilities, but in my house, I HATE ANTS!!! Our current struggle with the little varmits began the day before Thanksgiving when we awoke to seeing a usually white sink in the kitchen blackened by the numbers of them. They were all over the black granite counters also, but you just couldn't see them as well. After about 2 hours of scooping, swiping, spraying, smooshing, and hunting for the entry points, we sat back and noted that we were grateful that we weren't having 30 people over for dinner the next day like we did last year, and thought surely we would have our problem solved by Christmas day dinner when 30 people would then be arriving. Well, our dilligence (along with God's blessing) payed off and we made it through Christmas without the unscheduled "guests" interrupting our gathering. But I think our respite was only for a few days, or at least it feels like that. Every time we think we have them licked, they seem to find a new entry point. I found myself saying that I hoped it would keep raining so we would get a rest from the ants!
This past weekend, Mike decided to tackle one last area that hadn't been sprayed on the south side of the house. It entailed disassembling a storage shed that is wedged in between the fence and the house and unloading everything in it. It turned out to be worth the effort when he discovered a huge nest! Success! Our problems are over!!

(Or so we thought...) My glibness lasted til about 10 that night when my computer/sewing room was diluged by hundreds of the hateful critters. They were just everywhere--all over my desk, in my file cabinet, on the walls, and even in the carpet which they normally avoid. What to do?? I immediately sprayed the easily reached areas, and then came up with my "simple satisfaction" idea:  Ant Paper. You know, like fly paper. I took wide strips of cellophane packaging tape and used it to trap them by the dozens. Quick, effective, efficient and easy to dispose of.

Creepy, huh

  The problem is not yet gone, but I'm hoping the diluge was from all of the critters that were away from the nest when it was sprayed and the numbers will continue to dwindle. So, for now, I'll continue with my strips of "ant papers" placed stratigically around the room and be glad I'm no longer having to keep washing my fingers after smooshing. (Btw,I'm also extremely grateful they are the black and not the red ants!)