Luke's Teeth

Luke just lost his first tooth on May 14th.

He is 7 1/2.

His new teeth got tired of waiting.

We say he has shark teeth.

He likes that.

This means war!

I am at war with sugar ants! They started nibbling on my radishes and I was okay with that. I planted more than I needed and was willing to share. I should have known better. They must have thought, given my previous kindness, that I was also willing to provide them with a new home. Those greedy little suckers have made my potato hill into an ant hill. They have nearly killed one potato plant and a cauliflower plant too. They have gone too far and now we are engaged in battle. Or, at very least, a major food fight.

Battle #1 - Cornmeal.

Once ingested this is suppose to expand and end their little lives.

Victor- Ants. The cornmeal didn't seem to have any effect of them.

Battle #2 - Bacon Bomb

Jerry Baker's Ant Control #1. I like to refer to this as the Bacon Bomb. It is a mixture of cornmeal, bacon grease, baking powder, and yeast. It is the amped up version of cornmeal alone.

After I made this mixture, the boys and I headed out-of-town for the day. Knowing that the bacon smell would call to Cory, I left a note right under the bowl of Bacon Bomb telling Cory not to eat it. I should have left the note on top. Thinking it was brown sugar [and it does look like brown sugar] he had it in his mouth before reading the note. He didn't know the ingredients of my "ant bait" and quickly washed his mouth out at the sink. Funny, huh?

Victor- Ants. I'm pretty sure they love it. Maybe Cory did too.

Battle #3 - Vinegar.

Supposedly vinegar messes with their sense of smell.

Victor- Ants. No effect noticed.

Battle #4 - Terro?

I called a local nursery asking about diatomaceous earth and boric acid. The lady who I spoke to recommended Terro Ant Killer and said it is made from Borax. Unfortunately, being that the store was about to close and I'm desperate, I bought it and then read the ingredients: 5% Borax and 95% Other Ingredients. Uh Oh. Here comes the warning: DO NOT USE in edible product areas of food handling establishments, restaurants or other areas where food is commercially prepared or processed. Do not use in serving areas while food is exposed. Avoid contamination of feed and foodstuffs. Place bait in areas inaccessible to children and pets.

Feed and foodstuffs!? Is foodstuffs even a word? Regardless, I get the message and decide to try something else.

Victor- Ants, by default.

Battle #5 - Cinnamon.

I guess they hate it and I happen to have a Costco-size supply of it. I have now sprinkled it generously around the garden. The garden smells great and maybe my veggies will taste cinnamon infused. Yum.

Victor- To be determined.

Battle #6 - Molasses.

Apparently this is another thing they don't like; neither do I. I have a nearly full bottle and I'm happy to share [get rid of it]. I poured the whole bottle all over the perimeter of the garden. My garden is starting to smell like Cinnabon. I like that.

Victor- To be determined.

Battle # 7, 8, etc. - Bay leaves, Mint leaves and anything else I read about. Perhaps cayenne pepper and orange oil will soon be added to the mix.

This war is getting weird!

I must win. I must win!

Please let me win.


Cinnamon covered ground. Molasses drips. Bay leaves spiked into the ground. Mint leaves around the stalk. Bacon Bomb Hotel in the background.