While we love living out in our Suburban/Rural area, it has had a few inconveniences or problems. The first issue we had to over come was figuring out how we were going to get an Internet connection. We had been using a cable modem for so long, we did not know of other options. We had no choice but to explore other possibilities since the cable company does not run cable out to our location. It is not cost effective for them. We discovered the cell phone signal option which was much more reasonable than the dish/satellite connection. This leads us to the other problem, television. We don't have it. We have a netflix membership and watch purchased DVDs. It is still working for us since we are so busy with settling still. We are glad to not have to worry about what the children see either.
Then there is the pests. Today marks number 8 in the mouse trap in the garage. All I can say, at least they are out there! I saw a huge barn owl when I was coming home from choir on Sunday night. I know why they are there and appreciate their service! Ecology at work! Isabella received her second tick last week, only this time we got it within the dreaded 24 hour time slot. She has had no reactions at all. I still have the tick just in case, per doctor's orders. We still had to go to the doctor though but this time it was for me. I had a spider bite near my eye and the itching and swelling were just a little too bothersome. I got a prescription for an antihistamine that does not make you drowsy! It took a few weeks to completely heal. Since I have a reaction to regular spiders, the nurse practitioner also gave me a prescription for an EPI-pen.
Why do I need an EPI-pen? What is large, black and has a red hourglass on her abdomen? Yes, black widows! We have found a total of four now around the outside of the house and garage. The first one was when I pulled out the folding chair from the carry case at soccer practise. There in the seat was a black widow about the size of a half dollar, without the legs. It was huge. I just stared at it quietly saying "Oh, my. That is a black widow." Isabella then yelled out in a matter of factual voice, "Can anyone save us from a Black Widow Spider!" One of the dads came over to inquire about Isabella's request and was startled to see it really was a black widow. He asked me if I wanted him to kill it for me. I very calmly said, "Well, I have reactions to regular spiders much less highly poisonous ones. So, it would be great if you killed it for me." Now, I check the chairs before I sit in them, and carefully pull tools or pots from the garage. The other ones I killed were very small, apparently the males, by comparison to the females. The EPI-Pen gives me an extra 3o minutes to get to the hospital rather than the 30-60 minutes I need to get there should I get bitten. Due to my reactions to normal house spiders, a female black widow bite can cause breathing issues rather than a normal reaction of pain at the impact site. I went over the directions with Anton just in case and put the pen in the cabinet where we know where it is. Have no fear though, we are only 10 minutes from the ER but as the Nurse Practitioner said, "I hope you never have to use it!"
Is it worth it? Yes! The peace we have being here, away from all the hustle of the city is just too much to put into words. We do have our issues, but some will be fixed more easily than others. We are looking into getting a few Guinea hens, also known as the "tick eaters". When I told the children about how they are known to make loud noises when they are startled, Anton simply asked, "Do they eat wasps and hornets?" When I replied "From what I have read, yes." He said "I'm in! Let's get ten of them!" And for all of you who are concerned about snakes, they apparently kill them too, but as a group. They begin by screaming at the snake to confuse it then attack. They are quite ugly birds, but then again it's ecology not a beauty pageant.
