Oh the Acorns of My Acorns!

This year has been a bumper crop for acorns. There is a Live Oak on our front property that embraces the house with its long limbs. And the tree has rained down acorns by the millions. For the past two weeks, we have listened to the roof being pelted with them, all through the night, and especially when it got windy. The oak trees in the back of the house have created slippery surfaces for walking. It’s like trying to balance yourself on ball bearings. Just getting to the neighbor’s house can be hazardous. In the morning, when I walk, there are so many acorns on the side of the road that I had to change the route because walking on the grass under the oak trees was too dangerous. With the cars going by at that time of morning, trying to deliver their children to the elementary school, I was afraid that I would roll out into the street and get run over by a frantic parent.

Ugh! Too Many Sit Ups 

Yesterday, I went to the gym by myself, after my gym partner backed out. Feeling rather sanctimonious, I congratulated myself for being so disciplined and proceeded to attack my routine with great vigor. I was at the gym and she was not! As a special challenge, I resorted to a former routine that included the ab machine. It has been some months since I used this in my regular routine, but I was surprised just how easy it was. So I did an extra 15 reps. Boy, was that a mistake. When I tried to get up out of a chair the next day, I couldn’t. Oh, man, what was I thinking. It was a humbling experience. Maybe next time my gym partner poops out on me, I’ll use better judgement.

Vegetable Ribbons with Pasta

Cook flat pasta according to directions, and set aside.

In a large flat pan, melt butter and put in carrot and zucchini ribbons. Salt and pepper to taste. Cook for a few minutes and then add more butter and horse radish sauce. When the ribbons have cooked enough to be al dente, add the pasta and stir. Cook till everything is coated in sauce. Serve.

You can throw in some parsley or green onions to make it more colorful.
This is a light dish, so be careful with the horse radish sauce.

Fire Ants 

After two major storms in Raymond, the Fire Ants have come up out of the ground by the millions. There are dirt mounds everywhere. Across the lawns, by the side of trees, fire hydrants, playgrounds, and even by the court house steps. Most of us who live here give the ants a wide walk around, knowing that a misstep can result in immediate burning pain. It is amazing just how fast a Fire Ant can react to their nest being touched. And once they lock onto you, it’s a struggle to pull them off your skin. They’re like little pit bulls. They won’t let go. Then, for the grand prize, each bite you receive will form a pustule on top of a red welt.

Most people in town resort to poison. Unfortunately, “love Mother Earth” is a foreign concept here. No one makes the connection that if you spread a whole bunch of poison and it rains, the poison eventually goes into our drinking water and our plants. I have found that if you annoy the ants enough, they will pack up and move away to the neighbor’s lawn or property. This has worked out quite well for me and I wish others would do the same. Simply use the hose from a safe distance, or take a shovel and plunge it into the ant hill. You gotta be quick though. They’re fast as lightning. I’ve had to drop the shovel more than once and run. So far, the score is: ants 2, humans 1.