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Still fighting a bug/mite problem.
I'm also worried because the mites transferred to inside the house (dining table) when I stupidly brought in something that should have been left outside and found the mites (tiny dust mote sized) crawling on things. I've rinsed stuff off, wiped stuff down, but there's a lot of stuff on the dining table and just throwing it out the way I did stuff outside? Isn't an option. Plus, from there, it can transfer anywhere in the house - the dining room is the middle room, where everything passes.
Technically, the mites shouldn't survive without food - grains, pulses, etc. And there's none of that on the dining room table - but it's definitely around elsewhere. *sigh* We also pest-sprayed the house (putting all our food prep and foodstuffs away). However, it can take a month for them to completely die without food, and in the meantime, they could get anywhere.
And I'm feeling itchy, all the time. Most likely psychosomatic, but itchy.
That's the grain mites, which were first found in the chook food. I think we got most of them when we sprayed them, but they lay eggs, and I have a feeling that's some of what we're seeing now. *sigh*
The blood mites, which were in the chook house/bedding? I hosed out the coop and dusted it down once it was dry, but there are still some hidden in the cracks and crevices. Apparently a hot pressure spray might kill them all, but I don't have a hot sprayer, only a hose. So I'm dusting the coop like crazy and hoping to keep the numbers to a minimum - and not bring any into the house with me.
Also, it's raining heavily along the east coast of Australia. As in flooding rain in parts of NSW and South-East Queensland. The next two weeks of weather will be very damp and very warm around here. This doesn't help the bug/mite problem.
A slightly dryer spell should hit in about a fortnight's time. But there'll still be showers.
At least we're not in a low-lying or river-side area, although some friends in northern NSW have posted that they're cut off from the roads. Still a couple of metres above the flood water, but physically cut off.
I think the water has risen a bit more since then, so I'm hoping they're still okay.
--
I have a LOT of things going on right now - the garden and the de-bugging, hockey is starting, and so are permaculture events.
And then there's the ordinary life stuff: work, food prep, home maintenance...
The home-maintenance (incl. debugging) is an issue. We don't have a regular lawn mower and I don't have the time to do it. Cecause we weren't fast enough to snap up a regular spot with the cleaning company this year, we're not on their lists (and they've been struggling to get workers). So we're struggling along with sporadic cleans right now.
The La Nina weather pattern with all it's rain and storms this year means the gutter corner outside my study regularly overflows in the downpours, and it overflows into the eaves, which then becomes its own little downspout. That adds to my worry about the roof - which I've had for some time. Cracked tiles, seepage. The study ceiling looks like a Rorschach test in training, even if none of it is soggy...
--
And then on top of it, I feel like I've lost the love for the story I'm writing. At least for this part of it. Meanwhile, other people are just dashing off stories for publishing like there's no tomorrow...
I did sleep in until 8am today. But that was after waking up at 3am and not getting back to sleep until 4:30.
--
I think I'm just going to do takeaway this week. I know there's fruit and a whole bunch of good things to eat, but I just can't contemplate the food prep right now. B1 says it's because I haven't had a weekend off in a month (and, well, she's probably right). But still.
Ugh. And now I gotta go for a short run. Even if I hate it.
I'm also worried because the mites transferred to inside the house (dining table) when I stupidly brought in something that should have been left outside and found the mites (tiny dust mote sized) crawling on things. I've rinsed stuff off, wiped stuff down, but there's a lot of stuff on the dining table and just throwing it out the way I did stuff outside? Isn't an option. Plus, from there, it can transfer anywhere in the house - the dining room is the middle room, where everything passes.
Technically, the mites shouldn't survive without food - grains, pulses, etc. And there's none of that on the dining room table - but it's definitely around elsewhere. *sigh* We also pest-sprayed the house (putting all our food prep and foodstuffs away). However, it can take a month for them to completely die without food, and in the meantime, they could get anywhere.
And I'm feeling itchy, all the time. Most likely psychosomatic, but itchy.
That's the grain mites, which were first found in the chook food. I think we got most of them when we sprayed them, but they lay eggs, and I have a feeling that's some of what we're seeing now. *sigh*
The blood mites, which were in the chook house/bedding? I hosed out the coop and dusted it down once it was dry, but there are still some hidden in the cracks and crevices. Apparently a hot pressure spray might kill them all, but I don't have a hot sprayer, only a hose. So I'm dusting the coop like crazy and hoping to keep the numbers to a minimum - and not bring any into the house with me.
Also, it's raining heavily along the east coast of Australia. As in flooding rain in parts of NSW and South-East Queensland. The next two weeks of weather will be very damp and very warm around here. This doesn't help the bug/mite problem.
A slightly dryer spell should hit in about a fortnight's time. But there'll still be showers.
At least we're not in a low-lying or river-side area, although some friends in northern NSW have posted that they're cut off from the roads. Still a couple of metres above the flood water, but physically cut off.
I think the water has risen a bit more since then, so I'm hoping they're still okay.
--
I have a LOT of things going on right now - the garden and the de-bugging, hockey is starting, and so are permaculture events.
And then there's the ordinary life stuff: work, food prep, home maintenance...
The home-maintenance (incl. debugging) is an issue. We don't have a regular lawn mower and I don't have the time to do it. Cecause we weren't fast enough to snap up a regular spot with the cleaning company this year, we're not on their lists (and they've been struggling to get workers). So we're struggling along with sporadic cleans right now.
The La Nina weather pattern with all it's rain and storms this year means the gutter corner outside my study regularly overflows in the downpours, and it overflows into the eaves, which then becomes its own little downspout. That adds to my worry about the roof - which I've had for some time. Cracked tiles, seepage. The study ceiling looks like a Rorschach test in training, even if none of it is soggy...
--
And then on top of it, I feel like I've lost the love for the story I'm writing. At least for this part of it. Meanwhile, other people are just dashing off stories for publishing like there's no tomorrow...
I did sleep in until 8am today. But that was after waking up at 3am and not getting back to sleep until 4:30.
--
I think I'm just going to do takeaway this week. I know there's fruit and a whole bunch of good things to eat, but I just can't contemplate the food prep right now. B1 says it's because I haven't had a weekend off in a month (and, well, she's probably right). But still.
Ugh. And now I gotta go for a short run. Even if I hate it.
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In any case I hope that you can regain the positive feelings you had for it.
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Yeah, that's highly likely. But it's just so frustrating to be stumped right now.
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I hope you can get some rest and recover some energy soon so you can recapture your good feelings!
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At this point, I'm genetically wired to respond to this sentiment with the obligatory (and probably annoying) 'don't worry about other people/comparison is the thief of joy!'. :D
On a serious note, I can relate! It's frustrating when you can't figure out a story and it seems like no one else has that issue. I hope you're able to figure it out! <3
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