Fruit Fly Attack

Hello,

I love fruit and so do fruit flies. I am not sure how they know I have fruit, but they come in swarms. Leroy thinks they have laid their eggs on the surface of the fruit so it is a hatch rather than moving in. I like to eat my fruit at room temperature creating a good environment for them. They have never complained so they must like it instead they seem to invite their friends. They are generous unlike people who often hoard the good things in life.

Because I am not burying my vegetation debris, it sits in the open wastebasket giving rise to its own colony of fruit flies. The only good things I can say about these flies is they do not sting or bite, they do not even sit on me, they are not creepy to look at and they disappear when there is no food for them. Even though those are a lot of rather negative good things I still do not like to have them in my house.

Leroy kept saying that I should buy a covered wastebasket for the kitchen. Somehow it never got on my shopping list and I never thought of it when out. After these guests had out stayed their welcome, I thought of another solution. I am a consistent bag saver. I realized that I could take the frozen veggie bags that seemed to have no purpose, but to put our fruit refuse in and tie it shut with the twist ties that I no longer use. Since starting this new practice we have not seen a fruit fly around the garbage.

I also read somewhere that it is good method of killing harmful bacteria to wash fruit with a bit of white vinegar in the water. I have been doing that and miraculously I have seen no fruit flies in the house. Apparently they do not like or survive the vinegar either.

I am happy to say good bye to these mysteriously useful visitors, surely they have a use. Plus I have been reusing two things, the bags and the twist ties, that would have only had one use in the past.

In the near future I am going to ask our landlord if we could start a compost bin or bury our garbage around the property thus returning it to the earth.

We have eaten our first home grown tomato. Lovely, Lovely!

Paula

More Adventures

Hello,

I thought I would have snacks to eat, provided by the museum and or food to buy at the food tent. Because I was working in that spot I knew my options were not as good as they were the day before when I had brought my own food and there was much fruit, chips, and cookies for volunteers. I did not eat a cookie, had a few chips, and enjoyed a nectarine as well as an orange. These complimented my granola bar and nuts that I had armed myself with from home.

Later I learned from Leroy that they had a more complete meal and not just meat at the food tent on Saturday. There were even green beans, potato salad, and decent bread that would have been good.

Yesterday however the emphasis was on meat with brats, hot dogs, and pulled pork as the stars. I had brought no food and ridden the bike. It seemed important to eat something before I headed home even if it was only a little over three miles. So I asked at the ticket tent if I could just purchase some of the baked beans instead of the sandwich. This person then had to ask the caterer. I did not hear the conversation, but it took some time. She said ok when she came back. I was given one scoop of beans and offered a bag of chips that I declined, however I helped myself to some sauerkraut.

I was glad that I had purchased that as the only food left in the building was two red delicious apples which are not my favorite, but I ate one any way. Leroy had some nuts in his office and I snatched a small handful of them before I headed out into the heat over the hot pavement.

I was a bit over a mile from home when I ran into a small innocent looking hole, heard a pop, and saw my front tire deflate. At that point I was almost sorry that I had not eaten that sandwich, but now there was no going back. At least I had consumed some food and quite a bit of water. I walked home, seeking shade every where I could find it and being grateful for the wonderful old spreading trees. I was also pleased that this flat occurred so close to home and not on the other end of my trip. Leroy had also ridden his bike and he could not have helped me get home. I did have my tire pump, but figured that it was not worth trying because of the pop I had heard.

Paula

Just in case you are wondering, Saturday night Leroy rode his bike home after 11:00. Then yesterday he came home some time after 6:00 in the evening. It was amazing how pumped he was but he fell asleep at 8:30 after those long days with no naps.

Volunteering Again

Hello,

Today. I put on a warmer shirt and some pants that are a little warmer. I was quite cold yesterday. My hands especially felt uncomfortable at times.

I hoped on my bike and rode over in the warm air thinking I would cool off when I got inside. Just as I was getting ready to go to my assigned spot the person in charge of volunteers asked if I would be willing to work outside as someone had not come. I had not brought my hat, but she assured me that I would be in the shade. Because I suspect that I would be much more comfortable in the 90 degree heat than many others, I agreed. Ironic that I dressed for some colder spot.

Because of being outside I was actually there in time for the building blessing service. Leroy welcomed people and then said a few words when the service was finished. I can tell that Leroy has missed being in the parish setting and this weekend was more like that type of people experience. He looks so happy talking to people about the library and their purpose.

My job was to take drink tickets from people and get them a cold soft drink or water. Some felt the drinks were not cold enough. Astonishing, as my poor hand got shocked every time I plunged it into the iced water to pull out the bottle. I am so far out of the mainstream as to wonder what other people think and do. I do not drink pop of any kind and certainly not cold things. My bottle of water sat on the table warming up for some time before it was drinkable. I agree with Dr. Tang in Fargo who preached against drinking cold liquids. Maybe I am Chinese and do not know it.

Would you believe that when my shift was over no one came? I finally asked another volunteer who came by to inquire about that for me. When I saw the head of volunteers she again talked of people not coming even though they were signed up.

Paula

Grand Opening

Hello,

Today is the grand opening at the museum. Last night Leroy told me he left the building after 1:00 am. I heard him, but did not acknowledge him when he came home. Then it was up at 5:30 this morning so he could get back there before 7:00. There was a parade this morning that I decided to skip as I would be on duty at 11:00. I knew that required standing for two hours and I did not want to get too tired.

My job was in the room that contained the costumes reclaimed from the 2008 flood damage. Most of them had been sent off to other places for the actual restoration work. It is quite amazing to see what they could do. I would not have thought it possible considering how much I do not restore in my laundry duties. I will not hire out for this purpose.

It was fun to greet people and try to answer their questions such as why are there so many women’s kroj (costumes) and only one or two for men. What would you guess? I had no idea.

The hardest part that there were to be no photos taken except by the media. Most people were quite gracious and apologetic, but a small number of people were snippy and resentful in their verbal response to the request.

In the afternoon I was in the new office area. That was a slack job as not so many ventured into that area and there were three of us up there. During the day I did meet people from South Carolina, Maryland, Illinois, Nebraska, and California. There were also visitors from the Czech and Slovak countries.

Leroy tells me his day will not be so long tomorrow, but he cannot go to church with me as he would then be too late. I do not have to be there until later so I will go to church before that. His day will be done at 5:00 as far as the public is concerned, but they have to get things ready to be open for business the next day. No slackers on that job.

We did get another rain shower that put a bit of a slowdown on the outdoor activities. Yesterday we got about .5 inch of rain and I suspect today’s amount was about the same. Lawns do look greener, but I am not sure it is in time and enough for the crops.

Paula

Leroy's Underpants

Hello,

As I have said, Leroy rides the bike to work almost every day now because there is no rain to stop him. He wears bike shorts with a change of long pants and shoes at work. Generally he takes a clean pair of socks and clean underpants. Just in case you did not know people who wear bike shorts usually do not wear underpants under the shorts. Monday Leroy called to ask if I would bring some underpants as he had forgotten his pair.

I tamped down the imp who wanted to decline and agreed to bring them. I was going to be at work at 1:00 and I refused to make an extra trip. When I got there with two pair of underpants, two pair seemed to me to be good cheap insurance, Leroy looked very happy to see me. “Did you tell anyone about your plight?” I asked.

Modest Leroy said in a rather horrified voice, “No.”

I did ask for permission before I told you about it, but then it probably makes a difference that you would not see him at work and think about his lack of underpants as you look at him.

Leroy did not ride the bike today because there is a banquet at the museum and he will be coming home around midnight. I talked him out of riding as I thought it was not so safe at that time. Today we had a very nice rain so it was a nice day for him to have an additional excuse to take the car. The rain only totaled a short half inch, but we are grateful for the relief that it provides to the thirsty plants and trees.

Tomorrow is the grand opening day at the museum and I will be there much of the day. I am looking forward to that and hoping I can feel confident in my “jobs”.

Paula

Post Office

Hello,

The frog day, Monday, also involved a trip to the post office. I generally pick up the library mail as I do the interlibrary loan work. Mondays are often bonus day with many books to send out, both because of requests of our titles from other libraries and returns of our requests from them. I have not been there since Thursday so they accumulate. I am not sure if I am slow, but it often takes me an hour or two to read the email, go to the web site, locate the books, pack them, and keep records of what has happened coming and going. This is what it takes if I do not have to work the check out desk, when working the desk it takes me a bit longer. Added to that I needed to start the movie in the meeting room, turn up the sound, sell treats compliments of the Friends of the library, make three batches of microwave popcorn, watch the desk traffic, and catch a frog.

After the movie was finished I thought I would be able to go to the post office as the crowd would clear out. The wonderful pouring rain delayed that plan. I did not want my mail and myself to get wet and three of the kids did not want to get wet either. Finally at 3:50, I thought the rain had slowed down enough to make a dash to the post office before its 4:00 closing.

I told the three kids they needed to leave as I was going to the post office. I did not feel bad about “kicking them out” because two of them had been there much of the time since I opened at 1:00. They did not want to leave so I told them they could sit in the lobby and wait the ten minutes until I returned. Then they were sure they needed to take a book out with them. Even though they had not been checked out, I said ok. However after I was in the lobby locking the door they declared, “We want to come with you.”

“OK, but you must, because they have not been checked out, put the books in the book return,” I said.

“We still want to read them,” they moaned.

I assured them, “We can get them immediately when we come back.”

I then moved swiftly into the gentle rain drops even running some as I covered my block trip to the post office. I must have looked like the Pied Piper with three kids trailing behind trying to keep up or flocking around me.

I mailed my items without delay and picked up the bonanza of mail filling two of the post office bins. Those kids were most helpful on the way back as they helped me carry this load I could not have managed on my own. The oldest girl thought one of the bins was too heavy but the much smaller boy was sure he could do it. He did however start to show stress within a few steps so I took out a box as well as a couple magazines.

When we got back, I am not sure that they even looked at those important books that earlier had been especially dear.

Paula

Can Frogs Read?

Hello,

Yesterday I worked from 1-8 in the afternoon evening. I did not realize that I would be alone most of that time until I got to work. The person who had been there in the morning left as I came. The only other time there was someone there was for about an hour or two hours in the evening, giving me the ability to eat a peaceful supper.

Earlier in the day a girl of perhaps 7 or 8 years came in and announced that she had caught a frog in the creek. That frog was now in what looked like a lidded drink cup, probably the small size. I said, “That is nice, but do not let it out in here.”

I also told her, “I do not think it is kind to keep it in that cup for long and it should be returned to the creek.”

Probably 15 minutes later she shouted, “The frog is loose.”

“Catch it,” I told her.

Just how she had managed to catch that frog in the first place is a mystery as she went after it rather sluggishly. Finally I said, “You hold the cup ready while I catch it.”

This beautiful green fist sized frog hopped to the door trying to get out the glass. I managed to grab it twice only to have it slither out of my kind loose grip before I was able to dump it in the cup.

Seeing my face, the girl said, “I’ll take it back to the creek,” as she dashed out the door with a hand on the lid as well as a hand gripping the side of the cup.

Who knew library work could have such variety not listed in the job description with shades of Tom Sawyer?

Paula