Culligan came by today and installed a unit to remove the sulfur smell (we are renting the unit for now). So far so good, the sulfur smell is gone! I can actually take a bath now, and I'm so excited. Filling up the sink to do dishes will be that much more enjoyable. The pluses are endless.
Today was a bad day for bugs - this morning we saw a dozen or so "worms". They look like small worms (segmented), but curl up when they are touched. I'm not sure exactly what they are, but the weird me out. This is, of course, in the house. We still see pill bugs (but I'm seeing less of them now). And I did find (what I believe to be) a stinkbug, also in the house.
On the porch. This whole week has been caterpillar after caterpillar. Furry, non-furry, tufted, etc. I have a feeling these are not even caterpillars that will turn in to butterflies - but ones which will turn into moths. My problem is the keep crawling the house (I assume they are looking for a way in).
Also today on the porch, I saw the creepiest one yet - and it had a miniature duplicate riding on it's back. (I've seen this one before). It's _big_. It was crawling on the porch, and eating a caterpillar. I'm pretty sure it's an assassin bug (specifically a wheel bug), but w/ the little one on it's back, I can't really see for the distinguishing mark. Unfortunately, all the "Bug of the Day" pics are being taken with the video camera, not a real digital camera - so the quality is quite poor - too poor to submit to the entomology newsgroup to get an id.
I _know_ we are living more southern now, but I DON'T WANT BUGS IN MY HOUSE. It freaks me out. I think of them biting us, biting and hurting/killing the kitties, getting in bedding & clothes and just scaring me, etc. I'm getting to the point where I'd rather deal with ghosts than bugs, and that's just not like me :)
I guess the only help is to go to school for entomology - with knowledge there is no (or at least less) fear. But that wouldn't be very practical, would it?
Better thoughts - we have a shed now! We are getting a "weed-wacker" with a brush cutting attachment! Progress happens everyday. Our friends came over to get and help assemble the shed. It was a good day - it's great to spend time with friends, and really cool to find out someone shares the past-time of scrap-booking.
Dinner last night: Nachos & Spanish Rice.
Spending a little time on the side of the house, we found a huge amount of acorns on the ground. Now if only there was something I could do with them. I've learned their very high in tannins, but if you leach them you can remove the tannins (and therefore the bitterness), and essentially make acorn meal (and perhaps with a good food processor, acorn flour). I've seen recipes for pancakes calling for this, but it doesn't really feel worth the effort. Perhaps I'll just grab a basket, fill it up, and set it out on the porch. *Thinking* Acorns = Squirrels = ? Will Squirrels eat up some of them nasty bugs? Probably not. Oh well, I guess they can always go in the burn pile. Or I can plant them and hope for a yard filled with Oak trees? With all all the noise the acorns make dropping on the roof - probably not.
