A few weeks ago I filled the tank of the tractor before bush hogging chores. My nephew came by later to help me work on one of the implements. He noticed that the gas cap was missing. Well crap, I thought. I hadn't tightened the cap, and it fell off while I was working. Stuffing a rag in the opening to keep out dust and critters, I made a note to pick up a new cap at the tractor place.
Today was an errand day. The tractor place is a good 30 miles from here, but my calendar was free, and it was a lovely day, so I drove.
Stopping by the co op, I picked up some wild bird seed and egg cartons. We supply our family and friends with fresh eggs, and egg cartons are the last things that are returned.
At the tractor place, I lusted after a new lawnmower. I'm pretty sure I drooled on the model I
looked at.
When I got back home, I headed to the barn to put the new cap on the tractor tank. Once I heard the satisfying click when I put the new one on, I turned to walk back to the house. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a bird's nest on the workbench. Gingerly stepping over to have a look. I saw that the eggs had already hatched and the nest was empty.
I made a mental note to show the nest to Jordan, who loves this kind of thing. My mind was elsewhere as I turned to head on when all of a sudden, I felt a stabbing pain on the back of my head. "DAMN RED WASPS," is what I said as I hurtled out of the barn. A second red wasp was in pursuit. Snatching the ball cap from my head, I smacked that flying devil down and stomped him into the red clay of the barnyard. Other's were buzzing about looking for something to torment.
My head throbbed in the afternoon heat. After cooling off, I headed to the store for wasp spray. I was on a mission. At Walmart, I found a two for one sale on the spray, so I bought them both.
Once home, I headed down to the barn for a showdown. A stream of petrochemical based poison and the nest was history along with the offsprings that were throbbing inside the little nest cells.
I don't kill critters for the fun of it, but if one hurts my family or me, things will end badly for it.
Today was an errand day. The tractor place is a good 30 miles from here, but my calendar was free, and it was a lovely day, so I drove.
Stopping by the co op, I picked up some wild bird seed and egg cartons. We supply our family and friends with fresh eggs, and egg cartons are the last things that are returned.
At the tractor place, I lusted after a new lawnmower. I'm pretty sure I drooled on the model I
When I got back home, I headed to the barn to put the new cap on the tractor tank. Once I heard the satisfying click when I put the new one on, I turned to walk back to the house. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a bird's nest on the workbench. Gingerly stepping over to have a look. I saw that the eggs had already hatched and the nest was empty.
I made a mental note to show the nest to Jordan, who loves this kind of thing. My mind was elsewhere as I turned to head on when all of a sudden, I felt a stabbing pain on the back of my head. "DAMN RED WASPS," is what I said as I hurtled out of the barn. A second red wasp was in pursuit. Snatching the ball cap from my head, I smacked that flying devil down and stomped him into the red clay of the barnyard. Other's were buzzing about looking for something to torment.
My head throbbed in the afternoon heat. After cooling off, I headed to the store for wasp spray. I was on a mission. At Walmart, I found a two for one sale on the spray, so I bought them both.
Once home, I headed down to the barn for a showdown. A stream of petrochemical based poison and the nest was history along with the offsprings that were throbbing inside the little nest cells.
I don't kill critters for the fun of it, but if one hurts my family or me, things will end badly for it.
Stung the wrong person!
ReplyDeleteI don't blame you for taking care of that nest Rick, I think I found that same deal at Walmart, it's always good to keep wasp spray on hand.
ReplyDeleteEverything has a right to live, but I'm not kind when it comes to wasps.
ReplyDeleteWe fight the wasp nest all the time. They love building around our windows. Have not been stung yet but then again, im not a tasty treat to insects for some reason but im not complaining.
ReplyDeleteLisa
Frightening! (I thought for a moment you were going to write, they were in the tractor's tank!)
ReplyDeleteWe've several (seemingly) harmless wasps, but the Africanized bee population out here seriously scares the beejezus out-a me.
Sorry about the wasp sting. They are certainly painful.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe you have to buy egg cartons. There is probably someone hoarding a stash of them they saved and are offering for free on Craigslist or Freecycle.
That'll teach 'em.
ReplyDeleteIt is according to age about the returns. Mama always taught to return the jars clean, when someone gives you canned goods. Never had anyone give us eggs, I like to think I would return the cartons.
ReplyDeleteGood entry. (ain't a lover of wasps)
My daughter used oven cleaning spray to get rid of a wasp nest near the door of the place she was managing. They did not want to lose any business because of wasp attacks. The oven cleaner was cheaper and successful.
ReplyDeleteOuch.
ReplyDeleteI can remember being stung (in the underarm) by a wasp as I was innocently swimming laps. Not my friend.
I'm glad you are not allergic to those stings. I've never seen a red wasp before, but then I thought I hadn't seen a red mushroom either. Believe it or not I had two in my yard when I mowed this week. Never say never. I keep wasp spray handy, they are not welcome at my house either.
ReplyDeleteI've never been stung by a wasp, but I had a bee sting that HURT!!
ReplyDeleteGood for you for getting rid of those wasps! I haven't been stung in years but they can be nasty critters. If they were honey bees I might feel bad for them but not wasps
ReplyDelete