SassyBlonde

People, it's like the fourth plague has descended on my mom's house.

This week I'm down in Alabama visiting family again, and it's absolutely amazing how much of an effect the Stage 4 drought has had on the flora and fauna here. Alabama is usually hot this time of year, but it's looking like it'll be over 100 degrees all week with no relief in sight. There are old-growth trees in the middle of hillside forests dying for lack of water, and the undergrowth of hydrangeas and sassafras and everything else is so dry that it looks like it's sporting limp rags instead of leaves. The watering restrictions have been vexing my mom-- her beautiful garden is dry and the plants on her deck are surviving only because she waters them with her twice weekly allotment and bails out her bathwater on other days to keep them going. Y'all. nobody better try to tell her there's no such thing as global warming. You might get a whoopin'.

One of the surprising things that has resulted from the lack of water is an explosion of ants leaving their earthy homes and foraging wherever they can, including you car, your house, and anywhere else they can find food or water. My mom has been waging war against the little invaders all summer in her kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, and especially her cars., and today they mounted an assault on my little black Honda. I came out this morning to find the seats, dashboard, floor mats, and any surface you could see covered with shimmering sprinklings or trails of tiny ants, diligently combing the car for any source of food or water. They probably weren't having much luck since D detailed my car before we left D.C., but they were sure trying.

My mom brought out her weapons of choice-- bottles of Windex, Clorox, and insecticide, and went to town. Soon all those little marauders were either DOA or scooting away hastily. Hooray Windex, and by the way, happy birthday Mom!