Catching Up, Carpenter Bees

I got back from visiting my grandsons (ages 6 and 9 ) in San Diego on Saturday afternoon.

 Craig had worked part of the day on the dig out project and determined the "rock of an unknown size" was actually a cement footing for a fence that the previous owners had put up to keep their dog off of the roof.  There were two other lumps of concrete as well.  On Sunday he rented an air hammer and they broke up quite easily so he was able to get that phase of the job done.

On Sunday I painted in the morning. (Craig took this picture of me thru a rather dirty kitchen door and screen.)  Since my knees won't take kneeling, and my back doesn't like to bend over, I have found sitting on a little one step stool makes it possible for me to paint low places.







 In the afternoon Craig and I experimented with using a Bondo product to start repairing the bottom edge of the cheap siding that was used on that side of the garage, and had had contact with the ground.  It was a bit delaminated and Craig spent some time sanding it before we tried the Bondo.  We aren't sure how it will turn out.  We have to do a lot more work on it before I can paint there.

Today I started to learn about making smaller repairs using Plastic Wood.  All of the painting I have done up to this point have been in areas that were either protected from the elements, or newer wood.   I have now gotten to some that need more attention before I can just paint.

I have decided to take down the tally of hours spent painting.  It was fun at first, but as the number passed 100 hours, I started to get depressed about how much time I was spending on this.  I am so slow!  But the job will go on, and I will do as much as I can.

While working on this job I have learned about another local creature.  For years we have noticed  few big black bees that bumble around the garage and house.  Last week while painting I thought I heard a sound like someone nibbling on a cracker coming from a window sill just above me.  Then I saw one of these bees go into a hole under it.

 It is eating my house!

Looking on the internet I have learned they are Carpenter bees.  They don't eat the wood, but they do drill holes or go into existing holes and raise baby bees.  Wasp spray doesn't seem to bother them.

  I have found some info on the web as to how to build a bee trap, and I might give it a try.

Oh, that is not my hand.  It is a picture from the web.  I don't think ours are as big as this one looks!  They are about the size of a bumble bee.

Daily countdown:
469 days, or 1 year, 3 months, 11 days to go.

Exercise Goal:
1000 miles on the treadmill, 2 miles Wednesday, 2 miles Thursday
1 mile Friday
Total walked = 177 miles
Someday I will be hiking 1000 miles in National Parks!