It took a little doing but another solution was found that works for the tent worms and tent caterpillars. The Beast found both a liquid and a powder. He treated everything and even the branches he had hauled off the day before. So we are not worried now about them spreading. He actually got the stumps down to the surface of the ground with a lot of cuts across the wood and then cross-sections. It surprised me but he wanted the stump removed to work mostly on the roots. He also didn't want to have to worry about running across or having to travel around the stump if left above ground level. The Italian cypress that was under our bedroom window is also gone now.
Until the Beast started spraying the branches, the birds were having a heyday eating the caterpillars. I had been concerned that there might have been a nest inside the tree but discovered the reason that the birds were flying into it was to get food. That never occurred to me...duh! Sometimes you can miss the obvious. Last year, we had a nest in the Italian cypress but, thankfully, the birds didn't return to the same place this year. We checked to make sure before I helped the Beast cut down the tree. He had to do it in two sections. I just kept the lower part from falling over on him when he cut the trunk and to make sure the chainsaw didn't get trapped either.
The stuff he got said it wasn't harmful to the environment and I have a feeling a lot of it was actually ammonia-based. That's the way it smelled...only a bit milder, like window sprays can smell sometimes. I was glad because I didn't want to end up harming the birds, if they continued to pick off the tent worms. When they change into their caterpillar form, they use the *tent* section (I told you it looks like a tepee made of branches but they are actually the dried up pieces of needle from the cypress tree) to cover themselves. It's quite a disguise, actually. You wouldn't guess it was actually alive if you saw it....unless you watched it move. Really creepy. They grossed me out...LOL!
Anyway, you wouldn't really know a tree was ever there except for the circular bare patch where grass didn't grow. And the shrubs that were next to the Italian cypress seemed to spread out and cover where it was. Now the Beast will be able to trim those much easier. In fact, I noticed that they really need trimming after he removed the tree. The Beast's biggest complaint now that the trees are down and cleared away? He will have to put his pants on in the morning to let Baron out...LOL! I think Baron is going to be able to enjoy his morning sunbeam much better now that the tree is gone. He also has a clear view of the front lawn and the street now, too.
It was very humid today for some reason. We did have a brief sunshower the other day but no real rain. That's why it surprised me when my computer room got very uncomfortable and I realized it was humidity making it feel that way. Sure enough, I checked weatherbug and it said 100% humidity in our area. Yikes! So I just turned on my overhead fan and, with the double fan exhausting, the room got much more comfortable. I'm sure it was because the fan was keeping me cool by blowing away my sweat but...it works for me!
Another two weeks and the pears should ripen enough to be picked. Pears are one of the fruits that do not ripen after picking. You need to let them get ripe on the tree or all they are good for is canning if not picked too early. But they are much tastier if picked ripe. They also will can better and not have tough sections. If you ever get canned pears that have areas that are tough, you know they were picked before they were truly ripe. The way you can tell if they are ripe is to push down slightly on the area by the stem. If it gives slightly, they are ripe.
The pear tree that the Beast planted next to our flower planter is probably going to be cut down after the pears are picked. I was shocked when the Beast told me that but he says he planted it too close to the house. He didn't realize how big they can get. The only thing that saves this one from doing harm right now is the fact that it's still young. I remember climbing into pear trees near my Uncle Wally's base housing when he was at Great Lakes and I stayed there for a few days with my cousin, Cathleen. I climbed into it and threw down ripe pears to my cousin. I don't think we realized that it was actually someone's orchard. There were even apple trees that we climbed into and ate some of the apples. We weren't bad kids. We just thought those were gifts to be used and eaten. We were young and didn't really understand. But we did no real harm. We just ate some fruit while we were out exploring.
I talked with Cee earlier and she's going to stop by to pick up a few tomatoes tomorrow. I told her there were a couple that just ripened that I would pick for her. Lord knows, I have enough for a while. Not enough to can, although I will probably also send some of the salsa that I made with her, too. I just am not sure if she likes it really spicy. If not, then I will probably share some with the Princess when I drop off Chewlee's clothes that should be at her house. I'm afraid she will outgrow them before she gets to wear some of them. I think the pants that might not fit her in length the Princess can cut into shorts for her...like the *big girls* wear...LOL! Daisy Dukes! She hasn't gotten heavier but, good grief, her legs are so long! She looks like she is all leg!
More hot weather tomorrow. At least the humidity has dropped down to 84%. I'll go out early in the morning and get the tomatoes picked, as well as the cherry tomatoes. They should be about done now, I believe. They don't do well in very hot weather, especially if they are not shaded.
I am going to close for now. Love you all. I hope you have a great weekend. The hottest month is coming up for us all too fast. At least we are out in the country and not in the city which will swelter. Keep cool. Be happy. ***Hugs***
HINT: Here's some cheap childproofing for cabinets. Use a shower curtain ring. Just run the ring through two handles that are closeby and latch. (It's a bit more complex than most toddlers can handle and keeps them out of those cabinets you keep household cleaners, etc. in).
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