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Things are getting a bit soggy out here and we’re loving it. We don’t have to worry about one of the bad things that can happen to people – flooding – because we’re on top of a ridge line. Happily, too, the rain is JUST rain – not severe weather – just beautiful, soaking rain we really need.
My husband is a bit teed off, though. The lack of rain was bringing out his favorite kind of grass – “brown and crunchy,” and the grass will revive now and shoot up when the sun comes out tomorrow, as will the weeds I’ve been trying to get out of the flower planters.
When things have had a chance to dry out tomorrow, I’ll go out in my new “armor.” – jeans, long socks, my husband’s long-sleeved shirt, and a hat – trying NOT to get stung again by whatever red wasps are around. I’ll spray the bug killer first. The swelling from the recent sting is mostly gone now. Only a bit of itchiness remains. The bruise on the back of my hand – obtained when I threw my hands out, bashing one against a palette of bricks trying to get the wasp off, is now just a conversation starter with people who haven’t seen it at its finest – really black and swollen.
Living outside the city limits is wonderful for so many reasons. We’re close enough to town that we can ride in and get things several times a day, if needed, but far enough away – and up on top of the ridge line – so we have privacy. We aren’t in a ‘neighborhood’ where the tallness of the grass is an issue. We had room up here to build the shop my husband and I love so much. We had room to put up his ham radio tower. And room to build my greenhouse. We can pretend we own all we can see as we look out from our back yard, watching the seasons change amid the ridge lines. (We can see two others.) I could go on and on.
One of the bad things is that it’s not as civilized as it would be if we were living in town. We pay for a company to come quarterly and spray for everything – including stray elephants – inside and out. They came about a month ago when I was stung by a scorpion in our bed. I was freaked out for a long time about that. We HAVE scorpions, and other critters I don’t like around here, but usually they stay outside. You have to pay attention, though, and you can’t walk around barefooted without tempting the fates. Most of the critters around here don’t leap at you, so I can handle that.
Last night we were getting ready for bed. I was washing my face when a scorpion walked up out of the sink drain into my sink! I screeched for my husband to come with the forceps we keep around for such things. He took it and flushed it. I was still freaked, though, so went back downstairs for a while. Today I’ll clean upstairs and then bring the bug spray and spray all around our room, the guest room, the art room, the hallway, and the two bathrooms. Then I’ll be able to fully relax again. The company is scheduled to come quarterly. That’s expensive enough without having to call them in-between.
Today will be a nice ‘inside day’ – as we used to call it when I taught elementary school. If I get antsy, I’ll go outside and play in the glorious rain!
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