Fruit Fly Infestation

How was your weekend? Mine was okay. But I spent a large portion of it battling our fruit fly infestation.

I don’t recall ever having a fruit fly problem like this before. Sure, we’ve had a few hovering around a banana from time to time. But this fall it seems like they are everywhere! I’ve put our bananas in a bag and I’ve been tossing any smelly trash we have into a sealed slop bucket under the sink. But they still wouldn’t go away.  So this past weekend I went on the offensive!

My first weapon was that old farm remedy for flying pests, fly paper.  On Saturday morning I went to my local hardware store and picked some up. They come in boxes of 8, which seemed like 7 more than what I needed, but I got them anyway. I was both determined and optimistic that this would do the trick.

Soon after I brought home my purchase, I ripped open the box and strategically placed the gooey strip of death in my kitchen window.

 Then I waited,

 and watched,

 and waited,

 and watched.

Unfortunately, I was more interested in the fly paper than the fruit flies.

Sunday morning I found a significant number on the paper, but just as many happily hovering all around it. So then I googled, “How to get rid of fruit flies.” One suggestion was to make a fly trap. You place some bait in a clear plastic container and punch a few holes in the lid. The flies go in, but can’t find their way out. That sounded easy enough.

The best bait, according to the website, is red wine (which we do not have), apple cider vinegar (which we do not have), prunes or raisins (nope), or a piece of rotting fruit. I had to improvise. My recipe for fruit fly bait consisted of orange juice, honey, ketchup, and a few craisins. Later I also added liquid dish soap, which they seem to be attracted to, and a banana peel. 

The trap wasn’t as successful as I’d hoped, but no less effective than the fly paper. I decided to keep both the fly paper and the fly trap out and hope that by Monday I could declare my victory.

Well, it's Monday, and we're not quite there just yet. There’s still a few stragglers here and there. But I’m confident they won’t last too much longer. Fall is here, and winter is only a couple of months away.  If my traps don’t get them, the falling temperatures certainly will.

I guess winter is good for that, if nothing else. It keeps the bugs down.

 And that is the end of my blog. For those who read the entire thing, I commend you. You either have a fascination with killing small insects, or you're my mom. Hi, Mom. See you at Chrissy's wedding on Saturday!

In Training

There’s a lot of training going on in my life this month. 

I’m in training at work. I have until the end of September to learn my new job as manager. So far so good.

I’m also training in 3 work study kids this month. That’s going well too. But I’m glad we have 3 more weeks before they “go solo.” There’s a lot yet to teach them.

And finally, I’m in training for a race. If all goes as planned (and my aging body doesn’t give out on me) I’ll be participating in the Herman 5K Run/Walk on Oct. 6^th. My goal is to run most of it. I’m sure I’ll end up walking the 10^th Street hill. That one’s a killer. But the rest of the race is mostly level or downhill, with a few steps thrown in there for fun.  I think I can do it.  I hope I can do it. I really want to do it.

And I know what it will take to do it.

Training.

This isn’t my first road race. About 10 years ago I ran in a couple and I did fairly well, all things considered. The key to a good race, I’ve found, is not the effort you put into it the day of the race.  It’s all those days leading up to it. It’s the hours and hours you spend running in the weeks and months before the race that really count. The race itself is always tons easier than the time spent training for it. It’s a lot more fun too, with fellow runners sharing the journey, and crowds cheering you on to the finish line. But what really makes a race fun is coming to it physically and mentally prepared. And that, my friends, is why I am in training.

Hey! Why don’t you train with me? 

I don’t mean side by side necessarily, but you can certainly train with me in spirit. 

You can even run (or walk) the race with me! Here’s a link to the registration page.

Hermann 5K Run/Walk 2012 Registration Form 

Any takers?

Labor

According to the United States Department of Labor website...

“Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.”

To be honest, I’ve never really celebrated Labor Day as defined above. I simply thought of it as another one of those annoying and meaningless holidays when banks are closed and there’s no mail.

But this year I’m feeling differently. For a couple of reasons. Number one, I got a promotion at work recently. I’m now being trained in to be the new MLC Bookstore Manager. Up to this point, most of the jobs I’ve held were lacking in either significance or prestige. Or both. But for the first time in my life, I feel like I can answer the question, “What do you do?” without feeling embarrassed by my answer. Or at least I assume this will be the case once my new title is official (Oct. 1) and once someone asks me this question.

The second reason I’m enjoying this Labor Day Holiday like never before, is that I’ve been working a lot lately. I’ve put in between 5 and 9 hours a day August 20^th to August 31^st. And even over the weekend there were a few loose ends I had to tie up, (emails to write, people to see) leaving work duties forefront in my thoughts.

I know it sounds like I’m complaining, but really I’m not. It's likely most of you put in more hours than that each week. But this is a new thing for me. The last time I worked full-time I was home from college, working a summer job. And now, nearly 30 years and 4 babies later, I’m excited to finally have what I consider a real job. It’s challenging and interesting. And it’s keeping me humble too. I’ve so much to learn. But I’m willing and eager to keep at it until I figure out everything a bookstore manager needs to do and how to do it. And I’m prayerful that the Lord will assist and guide me down this new uncharted and at times overwhelming path. In short, I’m not afraid of hard work. I enjoy it.

A few months ago it was pointed out to me that when God gave his people the Commandment to keep the Sabbath Day holy, it wasn’t just a command to rest on the 7^th day of the week. It was a command to work for 6, and then rest on the 7^th. 

Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. Exodus 20:8

God has given us what we need to work. In the simplest of terms:  a body, a mind, and time. He wants us to use these gifts and WORK. We are blessed when we do. Work is a good thing. 

But God knows we need rest too. So this commandment, like all of his commandments, isn’t a rule to be obeyed grudgingly. It’s the will of our loving Father, who knows what ‘s best for us. We need time to rest, and time to remember why we work. 

So I am celebrating this Labor Day with an attitude of gratitude for my new job, and for a day off to reflect on how good God has been to me. 

I hope you are celebrating it likewise.

 If not, perhaps this song will help.



 

Jeff's Project

Anyone who knows my husband knows

 he loves a neat and tidy yard.

All his flower beds in the back are bordered with large stones,

 and landscaped with shredded bark.

But the area to the right of our driveway, 

and all the bushes in front of the house

 are (or were) landscaped with river rock. 

 

A few weeks ago Jeff decided it was time

 to get rid of the river rock and re-landscape up in front.

But when he (and Danica and Zack) removed the first layer

 of rocks to the right of our driveway

 he found an old retaining wall,

 and far more rocks then he anticipated.

 

But that didn't stop him. 

He kept at it, again enlisting the help of Danica and Zack,

 and even his weak but willing wife, 

armed with shovels, buckets and rakes. 

These tools were helpful, but many of the rocks had to be

removed by hand... handful by handful...rock by rock.

 

Eventually, we had a 12" trench,

which Jeff figured would be deep enough to grow flowers.

The next step was to remove the rocks around the front of the house. 

 Again, he called in the reserves, and even put Danica's boyfriend David to work.

 

 It was hard, dirty work, but they were all good sports, 

laughing and singing as they worked.

Meanwhile, Jeff began to fill in the trench with new black dirt.

 And this morning, he washed down the driveway.

Isn't that nice black dirt! 

Makes a person want to dig right in and start planting.

To be continued...

until next spring.

Linette Tries Watercolors

I was home alone last night...

I think I'll stop there and tell a little story.

Earlier this week Jeff asked me if I wanted to come along to draft night for his Fantasy Football Keepers League.

"I don't think so," I told him. "I went one other time and I really didn't find it all that... interesting."

"It's the funnest day of the year," Jeff told me.

"No," I disagreed. "The funnest day of the year is the day we have our SWALC concerts." (Southwest Area Lutheran Chorale. Jeff hasn't been to a concert in years.)

Jeff laughed. "It's good for people in a couple to each have their own interests."

So true.

So as I was saying...

I was home alone last night, and I decided to try doing a little art work.

One of the instructors at the Bible Art Camp I helped put on this summer taught the 3rd graders how to use watercolor and cray-pas to make rich, vibrant paintings. Ever since then I've been eager to give it a try.

Last night I finally did.

I decided to try 4 different paintings.

 

I printed some pictures from the internet for inspiration:

butterflies (of course)

wild flowers

tropical fish

and Birch trees

Next, I lightly sketched out the images with a pencil.

 

My monarch I drew with cray-pas for a more bold and distinct shape.

For the others I only used watercolor.

First the backgrounds...

Then the details...

 

 

I never got around to the Birch trees.
Maybe next time.

Here are my finished paintings.

It was fun, but I think I'll stick to quilling.

And now, pictures from our Bible Art Camp...




Art Camp.

Birthday Reflections

I learned in Bible class once that you could divide the life of Moses into 3 40-year parts. His first 40 years were spent in Egypt, the next 40 years he was a shepherd, and he spent his last 40 years with the Israelites wondering around in the desert.

It seems like my life can be divided up into thirds too. The first 20 years I was a kid. The next 20 was spent having and raising kids of my own. And now, as a 40-something grown-up, I'm enjoying life in a new way. I have the freedom to be and do pretty much anything my conscience, aging body, and pocketbook will allow.

The one who said, "Life begins at 40," wasn't kidding. This is a great time in my life. Not that the first 40 years weren't, but I'm finding a peace and contentment and, as Susan Ann likes to call it, an attitude of gratitude that has blessed and surprised me as I age. Growing old isn't such a bad thing. I think the older I get, the better I get. I don't say that to brag. I wouldn't be who I am today if it weren't for lots of hard lessons learned along the way. I still have a lot to learn, (Proverbs 10:19, Proverbs 11:2, Micah 6:8 and Colossians 3:23 to name a few) but here's what I've figured out about life so far.

1. God is everything. (That's why He calls himself, "I AM.")
2. Everything happens for a reason.
3. Begin every day and every task with mediation on God’s Word and prayer, and all will be well.
4. Less is more.
5. The secret of contentment: Focus on the positive... what you have instead of what you wish you had; where you are instead of where you wish you were; who you are instead of who you wish you were.
6. Rejoice always! God loves you.

I feel like there should be 7, but I can't think of another one to put there. Maybe I will over the next 20 years. Or maybe one of you can add number 7!

And now, a few pictures…one from each of the phases of my life thus far...

1967
 (I'm the one on Dad's lap.)

1995

2011

The Ring on my Right Hand

Yesterday we were at the wedding of our niece Beth and her husband Josh.  It was a lovely day for a wedding and we had a wonderful time celebrating their special day.

During the reception my daughter Mandie noticed the ring I was wearing on my right hand. She asked me about it, and, not knowing what to say, I told her it was private.

It’s not really private.  

I just was caught off guard and wasn’t ready to explain it right then.

But now I am.

I wear two rings. One on my left hand and one on my right.

The one on my left hand symbolizes the special relationship I have with my husband, Jeff. It’s a symbol of our love and faithfulness.

A few weeks ago I bought a simple silver ring for my right hand. I wanted it to symbolize the special relationship I have with my Lord and Savior.

A few days later I came upon this verse:

For I am the Lord your God
    who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear;
    I will help you.

Isaiah 41:13

Pretty cool, huh?

So the ring reminds me that God is with me, and that He loves me, and that He'll help me. 

It's not a valuable ring. But the meaning behind it is very precious to me...

Which reminds me...

The Hobbit - Part 1 hits theaters on December13th. 

If you've got an hour and 40 minutes to spare, here's a fun sneak peek!