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September 2nd, 2007
06:36 pm - Hmm.
I guess we are staying here (this house) until January - the landlord called and offered to reduce our rent by $300 a month if we would stay. Um, okay - we were having trouble finding a place anyway, this gives us some more time for the stars to align such that that can occur. Plus I don't have to throw a confusing address change into the less-than-volitile atmosphere surrounding my attempts to get my retirement sorted out. That would probably be the cause of another year or so's delay. The rent reduction is gratefully accepted, and all I can hope is that we have a milder winter so the savings doesn't all go to the electric company.
If I sound cranky, I'm mostly just tired and unsettled. I don't actually anticipate getting to feeling settled for a long while hence. Depending, for example, on how long it takes until we are installed in a stairs-free environment. Or how long before I figure out why these particular ants don't die when I use the soapy water defense. I've varied the soap/water ratio a fair bit without noticeable change in result; perhaps next I shall switch brands of soap.
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| From: |  celyn100 |
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| Date: | September 3rd, 2007 06:26 am (UTC) |
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I ran across an article in Mother Earth News that details how to make inexpensive storm windows with 4-mil vinyl and molding strips. Given our heating bills last winter, I think I'll be making these myself within the next month. ![[User Picture]](https://l-userpic.livejournal.com/68632987/1516280) | | From: | cjot |
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| Date: | September 3rd, 2007 02:55 pm (UTC) |
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Uly still believes in the soapy-water method, but I don't; it kills whatever ants are in the immediate vicinity, and stops them from crossing the water for exactly as long as the water remains wet. So it's okay for certain limited applications, but not much more. I like the Terro ant traps that you already use, and I've decided that it's just a matter of keeping enough of them active so that they get most of the ants - one or two left over isn't so bad. Also, I've never actually managed to accomplish it, but it's supposed to help to keep vegetation from touching the sides of a dwelling, so insects can't move from the vegetation to the walls.
A $300/month reduction in rent is really not shabby at all. Think of it this way - colder weather is coming soon, so the ants will disappear for the winter anyway! Of course there's still the stairs issue... what does your mom think? |
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