This is for the birds

While I admire the tenacity, fortitude and strength of ants, I don't appreciate them when they march nonstop to our hummingbird feeder. I have no idea how much nectar they consume, but they're a nuisance I'd like to avoid if possible.

A few years ago I bought this thingamajigger that suspends between the feeder and the hook; it holds water and since ants can't swim, they can't cross it and get to the feeder.

My old one broke down from overexposure to sunlight, so I went back to buy another one. Over a two-week period I visited our local hardware store three times. Each time, the spot on the wall where these whodiwhatzits should be was empty. Their staff was sympathetic and encouraged me to order it site-to-store from their hardware supplier, but  when I searched the website, it appears the supplier is out, too.

But their website did give me a helpful tidbit of information.

These whatchamacallits have a name.

And the name makes sense, if you think about it.

They are called "ant moats."

Shut my mouth and call me silly - I had no idea these things had a name until now.

Armed with that bit of information, I went shopping and found several places with the plastic cup like I had before.

But then I found this super-cute little upside down metal umbrella. (Some people have a genius for taking an idea to a whole-new level. This is one of them.)

And so once again, my hummingbird feeder is free from the ant brigade, and it looks cute to boot. Let's just hope the ants don't figure out how to build a bridge or a raft.

If you want to make your own ant moat (I was tempted until I found the metal umbrella), here's a quick and frugal idea to MacGyver your own with a cast-off spray paint cap, a piece of wire and a hot glue gun.

Or if you want your own umbrella, they're available from a few places, but I purchased mine from the really nice folks at CreekTree USA, down in Red Oak, Texas. They had it to me in less than a week, for far less shipping and handling than most other places.

It's almost time or the hummers to head south.  But rumor has it we may have bluebirds setting up residence in the cedar nestbox I bought on my first trip to Lowes after we closed on this house.  (The way to Mr. Official's heart can take a few routes, including appealing to his songbird-lover heart.) Maybe we'll have some sweet little baby bluebirds showing up before first frost.

Happy birding!

Why change JUST the bulb?

If you've ever decided to trade cars because your tags were up for renewal, you'll probably relate to this story...

The light over the kitchen sink went out a couple nights ago but the recessed lights take a special long-neck halogen bulb, and I didn't have any spares on hand.  I looked for some at my favorite-discount-store-to-dread (WalMart) yesterday, but they have stopped carrying them, so I figured I'd wait until I was headed to Home Depot or Lowe's to pick up a few.

Lo and behold, this morning I was browsing Thrifty Decor Chick's blog and found this post for a DIY pendant light, using a conversion kit from Lowe's.

My heart skipped a beat:  I had long been toying with the idea of a pendant light above the sink, just to add a little panache to a really ho-hum fixture.  Go ahead, you can agree with me - it was a snoozer.  But I put off even seriously contemplating a pendant until I was ready to tackle all the steps in the process, namely taking out the housing for the recessed light in order to replace it with a new light fixture - which never fits exactly and then drywall repair and painting ensue.  (The spirit was willing, but the flesh was weak.)

This $20 kit was designed for slackers like me.  No killing the breaker (well, the kit says you should--but honestly, who does that if all you're doing is changing a bulb?), no climbing up in the attic, figuring out WHICH light fixture to remove, as you communicate with someone below as they tap, tap, tap their location.  No coming back down covered in fiberglass fibers.  I tend to work solo, and changing light fixtures typically requires some teamwork, and several hours of trial-and-error frustration.

But this...this was no more difficult than changing the bulb.  It took me longer to pick out the pendant light than it did to put this whole thing together, even including the time to adjust the length of the pendant.

One thing I did realize after I got it up is that our recessed "can" is seated a little low...so I guess I will have to go up in the attic one of these days and cinch it up.  For now, the flush-mounted cover is...well...not quite flush.  But I'm in no hurry to scurry up there - it may be the first day of fall but the thermostat is reading 96 F.  Whew.

Instead, I'll whip up some lemon bars and ice down some waters for a summer Bible Vacation debriefing tonight, then get some rice started for dinner.  (Note to self: watch the rice this time...scorched brown rice is not just unpalatable, it's inedible and stinky.)

Hmmm.  You know, my car tags ARE due at the end of this month...

Happy DIY-ing!