Pissy Ants / Weeds / Baby Mesquites

Much like everything else climate related pissy ants and weeds arrived earlier than usual. We had rain two weeks ago and once again last weekend...that was all that was needed for the weeds and the pissy ants to thrive. 

These ants are blondish and tiny and you can easily bring them inside your house.

Homemade remedies do not work in the West Texas desert and I can not use commercial sprays because of my cats.

The pesky baby mesquites are very green now...

The larger trees behind the cinder block fence are on my empty lot and are a nuisance.

I am going to enjoy the cooler temperatures because, in the next few days, it will be in the 90s.

Good night. May you all have Terlingua Dreams.

Aunty Acid

Food for Thought

Local water compromised / Newspaper dead zone

Yesterday we had a sunny warm day but the Del Rio weather station is still not able to disseminate its information in the aftermath of the storm of last week. That is why there is a difference of information KSAT-12 said it was 88 degrees yesterday while KENS-5 had a reading for Del Rio of 82 degrees. Either way, it was a lovely warm day.

We were warned the weather would change starting last night and they were right. It began raining in the early morning hours and the sun never came out. We had a high of 68 degrees but it felt cooler with the wind. Had to transfer my water catchment around to other containers as more rain is expected in the following days and we certainly need it.

I had high hopes the snow and freezing temperatures would have killed the weeds but I was wrong they appear to have grown more and now we have tons of ant mounds all over the property. These are the pissy ant mounds we get every year in spring but this time they are ahead of schedule.

It is so frustrating not to have any information of what is going on in Del Rio without a city newspaper and it seems that El Zócalo the Ciudad Acuña newspaper has revamped its webpage and they no longer have a Texas section. While they do have one or two articles about Del Rio they are old. For example, today's online edition focused on empty shelves at Walmart and HEB on Monday.

I am concerned about an item I saw on CNN it was a virtual interview with the Del Rio mayor Bruno Lozano where he stated that San Felipe Creek that is fed by San Felipe Springs had been contaminated when sewer water accidentally was released. This is the water source for Del Rio.

I saw a clip of a military plane landing at Laughlin Air Force Base with tons of pallets of drinking water that were meant for law enforcement, the hospital, and nursing homes but not the local residents.  While we do not need any water I am sure there are other people who still have busted pipes that could use some.

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.

Aunty Acid Saying of the Day

Header Picture

Menacing Skies / Tree Rot / Pissy Ants

Every afternoon we have menacing skies. Sunday as well as yesterday this part of Val Verde County lucked out and missed the storms.  From looking at this picture you would have expected a good rainstorm.

We received strong winds and thunder but most important of all NO HAIL!!!  The storms fell on the north part of Val Verde County dropping the temperatures significantly.

Today we have been the beneficiary of sunny skies. Rain is not in the forecast until Wednesday and Thursday.

Last year when I was getting ready for my Terlingua trip I posted how the ants had weakened and rotted the trees. I have been watering them daily but the strong wind gusts we have been experiencing has broken off many of its branches.

Speaking of ants...pissy ants have come back into the picture after several years of absence. Tiny black ants are everywhere there is water like the kitchen sink and bathroom. Ordinarily, I would go buy ant baits at Home Depot but I just can't bring myself to go just yet after hearing from several bloggers about their recent experience at that establishment.

I think I am going to make an early afternoon post as my arms are tired from dragging tree branches to the curve for heavy trash pick-up. 

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.


Aunty Acid Saying of the Day

Cooking / Pissy Ants / Yard work

Taking my mother to the grocery store in Mexico is never a good idea. Since it is a rather big store, I use their available wheelchair with its small basket. In no time flat she had filled it up.  Reluctantly went and got a small cart which by the way...I love...as I had to push the cart and wheelchair at the same time,

Her weaknesses are fruits, vegetables and sweet bread.  Yesterday we had to cook the nopalitos (tender cactus), and though it was in the 90's for the second consecutive day...made "caldo" to use the carrots, calabacitas, cilantro, chayote, potatoes and other vegetables we had in the refrigerator.

She went crazy buying rice, peruvian beans and yogurt.  I have no idea why we can not find apple yogurt in the States.

Today I got the hula hoe out and went to work.  Unfortunately, I barely made a dent.  As if the weeds were not bad enough...after the recent rains we have mounds of pissy ants everywhere.  That includes the kitchen.

Had to drive into town this afternoon when this blooming bougainvillea caught my eye.  In this part of Texas even though the calendar says it is winter...in reality here Spring sprung a long time ago.

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.

Pissy Ants / Phone Calls / Computer Woes

Yesterday I felt pretty worn out after three doctor appointments in a week.  I guess the lack of sleep and stress is getting to me.  I pretty much did nothing even though there is a lot to do around here.

Today I had to once again go on a killing spree...an ant killing spree!  The rains always bring more out and those pissy ants are hard suckers to kill...but kill them I did...thank you Ortho-Orthene :D

Glad I had finished when Ralph showed up.  He follows me everywhere and I am afraid I am going to trip and fall on him.

Fire Ants in West Texas do not make mounds

The phone never stopped ringing today.  It made my mother happy as it was family members she has not heard from in a while.  It was hot, another 102 degree day...seems to be the going temperature lately. I can hardly wait for mid-October when we get our first cold front or at least temperatures in the 80's.

Orthene works pretty quickly

I am having a lot of problems with my computer.  It freezes up and I think it is pretty much on its last legs.  I write a comment and it takes a while for it to even appear on my screen.  I do not even hit preview anymore as it sends my comments to comment heaven...so sorry for the misspelled words I leave in your respective blogs :-(

Long line of pissy ant mounds going from one
tree to the other.

I have downloaded Malware software and done scans but nothing seems to help.  I was hoping to be able to fit in a trip to Houston and see if I could purchase one there.  They certainly have more stores and back to school specials than in Del Rio.  However, I don't think I can work it into the schedule this month.

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.

Moats / Ants

It had been a while since we had any significant rain that really soaked the ground.  Took this opportunity to dig moats around some of the trees.

 

Could not go any deeper because of the roots

You may wonder why I did not remove the weeds?  Well, I forgot my Sally Hoe last time I went to Houston.  I am also hoping Walter will show up any day now and he needs to have something to graze on.  Probably the main reason though...I am lazy...:D

Did the same for the shrubs...or are they considered flower plants?

While it was still doable...dug a hole for another shrub Mom wants planted.

The ant invasion is in full swing.  Here I thought I had exterminated them but they are alive and well :-(

Fire Ants

Sugar Ants

These Pissy ant mounds are all over the property

The only decent size pecan tree is being devoured...each day there are less leaves on it...Grrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Same story for the pomegranate tree...

However...nothing seems to infest these pesky mesquites...full and lush as ever :-(

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.