Pantry and Ants

It’s not often that home projects are life-changing.

As I’ve written earlier, my so-called pantry has been on shelves in the basement for years, thanks to limited condo space. I’m happy to say that’s a thing of the past. It took the entire day – learning curve, unexpected wall stud, crummy materials, going out to buy better materials, sudden visitors (see previous post) – but I now only need to take three steps from the kitchen to nearby closet to find some pasta for dinner.

 

 

 

 

 

          A door frame of only 15” wide was a challenge, too, for some shoulders.

 

 

 

 

Hips were not much better, but I did manage to pack myself into the closet to drill holes and attach supports.

  

 

 

 

 

     

 

 

   And ta da!

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       Then there’s the ongoing war with me, the ants, and the hummingbird feeder.

       Twice now I’ve had to empty the feeder of legions of backstroking ants who somehow figured out how to climb the pole and get inside. Even worse, most of them ultimately died, with their bodies floating in the sugar water and staining the very-difficult-to-clean bottle.

         

 

 My latest strategy is to Vaseline the pole, tape the pole, fold the tape to create a barrier, then Vaseline the pole some more. We’ll see. They're probably already in their nest, sketching out attack plans.