This is what I encountered once I opened the drawer - a bee hive full of honey bees making honey.
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Wednesday, July 27, 2011 - THE REST OF THE REST OF THE STORY: So, after I sprayed the drawer with the entire can of spray, then waited for quite a while, I went back out hoping the bees were all dead, gone or dead.

When I opened the drawer to put it in a garbage bag, I encountered the above situation. WOW! There were still bees buzzing around. And these are the bees that sting me and hurt a LOT.

When Bob got home, he helped me put it in the garbage bag, but there was still some buzzing going on. Very scary. Don't like to get stung. ouch!!

Now, it all made sense. A few years ago, we had an underground bee hive that was discovered by a woodchuck. That was very weird. I have pictures somewhere. He dug underground and pieces of the hive were all over the yard.

So, I figure that it was some critter that smelled the honey and used his critter paws to open the drawer. How smart is that?!

Not sure why he took bites out of the seed packets but maybe he encountered some problems getting to the honey and figured that maybe some of the seeds were "special" and he'd get high. hahaa

gotta go. Not sure what to expect next. But I'll be in touch. djb

Here's the weathered chest that sits on the patio year-round and holds my plants in the summertime -- it was vandalized last night.


Here are two seed packets that were bitten by an unknown critter, so I guess I was critterized.
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Tuesday, July 26, 2011 - When I peeked out the door this morning, it looked like someone had rummaged through the green weathered chest that's been on the patio since Jarrett and I bought it at a garage sale many, many, many years ago.

Apparently, in their search for something (?), they tossed the seed packets on the ground. Interesting.

When I went outside and to take pictures, I could see "bite" marks on a number of the packets. They weren't real big bites so I'm not sure which critter to credit for the dirty deed.

But, interesting to me is that the critter was able to OPEN the drawers. WOW! That is a hoot and a half.

THE REST OF THE STORY... I took a few pictures this morning and tried to ignore it for a while. But this afternoon, I went out to clean up the mess. As I pulled out the drawer on the left side, wasps started swarming out of the drawer...

WHAT? That was weird. I'm not sure what variety they are because I didn't stick around long enough to do an entomological study.

Instead, I ran in the garage and grabbed my handy can of wasp and hornet spray and sprayed the crap out the drawer. That stuff sprays 22 feet so I didn't have to get close.

So, now there's a real dilemma because (1) what critter did that? and (2) how long have the wasps been living in that drawer and what is their intention?

This is really getting to be quite a wild and wooly place to live. see ya later, djb

HOT temperatures can be fatal to your dog (or your kid).
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Sunday, July 24, 2011 - It's 6:48 a.m. as I type this. There is a HUGE, dangerous thunderstorm headed our way. I should add, AGAIN. We're in the path... we must have a bull's eye on our backs.

This one has hail, wind, torrential downpours. Yikes! I'm typing as fast as I can. Charging my phone, making coffee, getting ready to batten the hatches before all hell breaks loose.

If there are any typos, pardon me. hope to see you later, djb

This is a picture I took yesterday morning at 9:07 a.m. just before the next storm blew in.
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Saturday, July 23, 2011 - We have ANOTHER thunderstorm on the way. It is absolutely incredible.

Apparently, we are situated right on the "ring of fire." Hey, I remember that scenario from about 27 years ago when I lived in Aurora on Sheffer Road.

I took some video but I have to upload it to YouTube. That takes a while....and I have to turn this off once I hear thunder and SEE lightning. bye....djb

P.S. This is all happening because someone said, "We need rain."

Here's two star gazers I photographed yesterday morning. Whenever I see two star gazers together, I always think, "THEY LANDED AMONG THE STARS."
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Friday, July 22, 2011 - It's about 8:35 a.m., I see that another line of thunderstorms is headed this way.

A little after 1 a.m., this morning, there was a fierce thunderstorm that went through in about half hour to 45 minutes -- only left a half inch of rain but the lightning was unbelievable.

And the thunder was that really loud kind that echos because the clouds are so tall. It was quite intense. I couldn't sleep because I was worried about my plants getting blown away.

....however, this morning, only one plant fell over and there was no wind involved in that one, just a torrential downpour that lasted for a half hour. So, that would be an inch an hour.

Yikes! Better go. snow ya later, djb hahaha

Here's Grandpa, baby Alyssa and Granny - probably about 14 and a half years ago.
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Tuesday, July 19, 2011 - I just heard that it's 95 degrees in Sugar Grove which translates to a 103 heat index. WOW! That's pretty hot. Summer time....summer time.

I just read that Alyssa's birthday is July 22nd. Is that true? Or do I have incorrect information? That would NOT surprise me.

The reason I put Grandma and Grandpa's picture in is because last night when I talked to Gran, she told me that yesterday, she and Grandpa returned to WATER AEROBICS. WOW!!!

It had been exactly 11 months since they had been there. It was such a joyful reunion with all of their fellow swimmers. I know they saw some of them at their anniversary party in February.

But the fact that they're actually going there and doing it -- it's awesome!!! It's amazing. Boy! I'd better get my lazy ass in gear. hahahaha bye for now, djb

This is the aftermath on the deck of the severe weather we had this morning. I know, it could be waaaaaaay worse.


When I took this picture, the wind was blowing at least 60 mph. For some reason, it doesn't show the sheets of rain coming down.
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Monday, July 11, 2011 - STORMY MONDAY!!!

When I heard that we were in the path of the severe weather this morning, I quickly put up my website (andrew-jarrett.com). Then, I went outside and moved most of the plants and vegetables.

I ran in the house to take my shower before the storm came. When I went in the bathroom, it wasn't too bad yet....when I came out of the bathroom about 7 minutes later, it was pitch black. Dark as night.

The wind and rain were hitting those tall windows on the west side of the house with such fury, that I went into the garage because I was afraid they were going to break if some sort of projectile hit them. It was kind of scary for a while.

From previous storms, I know what the trees look like when the winds are above 60 mph, and it was at least that much.

The scariest part of this whole day is the frog in the swimming pool. I do NOT like amphibious creatures -- not like the boys did. It must be some sort of joke Andrew and Jarrett are playing on me. NOT FUNNY!!! yucky!!!

There are a lot of tree limbs that took a hit and landed all around the yard and it appears that the star gazer lilies also took a BIG hit. (insert sad face). At least, the windows remained intact.

The other day, someone said, "We NEED the rain." I said, "NEVER, EVER say that because you don't know what you're going to get."

I do believe some people said that they needed rain in Florida before the THREE hurricanes hit in 2004. Be careful what you wish for, you might get it.

If I don't get too creeped out, I'll take a picture of the frog. yech. later, djb

P.S. And all of this occurred before 8 a.m. this morning. wow!

That looks a like a perfect margarita -- this must be Rosita's!


Here's the view on the patio last night at Rosita's. It was so perfect out there even though the temperature hit 92 yesterday!
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Sunday, July 10, 2011 - We had to go to Rosita's last night because it was ODD SATURDAY: 7-9-11

That set of numbers (consecutive odd numbers) only occurs six times in a century. At least, that's what I heard. Pretty cool!

We haven't been to Rosita's lately. The brothers and my sisters in law went last weekend when we were sitting around the pool eating brats. So, it must've gotten in my brain like a worm.

We didn't see Bob and Joan but I did meet someone who knew a girl I went to grade school with (her name was Jean Chaplin).

I was taking pictures and on the way out, he asked me if I was a tourist....and after that, it was a hoot of a conversation. I'm pretty sure Bob was wondering WHERE I was but he probably figured I ran into someone I knew or someone I was related to.

Lately, I've been meeting people who have a Kingston connection. It is sooooo interesting. When we lived there, our two phone numbers were: 292 and 203. That's hilarious!!!

Better go check on the pool temperature. see ya later, djb