Got Ants?

Got ants? Well I have the solution for you!

I recently bought a house and moved in a few months ago. Everything was going great, most of the remodeling was done, but then I started to notice ants. They were all over the place! We can't have that. Time to solve the issue. My dad and I set out and bought some ant traps at the store and set them around the house. Supposedly they take the bait back to the nest and within days it is suppose to kill them. No more ants, right? WRONG! It seemed like I had more or perhaps they were just wigging out due to the ant bait, but they began to run my counter tops. Time to try something else.

I asked my friends on Facebook what they'd recommend and most said "Borax". I went out and bought a box, created a mixture that I found online and tried it. Success? No. But since so many of them said borax, I thought I would try again. Maybe the mixture just wasn't right. And that was true!

Here is what works:

2/3 C of sugar
1/3 C of Borax
1 Tbsp of Peanut Butter
Water
Recycled Plastic Container w/Lid
Extra Lids

I had some plastic containers that I saved. I'd personally recommend using something that you don't mind tossing in the trash.

In a recycled plastic container, such as a 16 oz sour cream container, combine the sugar and borax. Add a bit of water to make the mixture a soupy paste. Then mix in your peanut butter. Using the lid of a container, spread the mixture in the lid and then place the lid where you see the most ants. I had two lids placed in different areas on my counter. You'll still have left overs in your container. Put the lid on, poke holes into the container, right above the mixture line. I poked holes in a line all the way around. Place this container outside where you see a trail of ants entering the house.

This worked within two days! No joke.

Singing using the pink panther theme... dead ants, dead ants, dead ants dead ants dead ants, dead ants dead ants.

*If you have kids or pets, please keep the mixture out of reach. My kids are older and I did instruct them not to touch the lids. I do have the container outside right on my deck and my dog has not touched it, but please be cautious. Keep your kids and animals safe. Thank you!

I hope this works just as well for you as it did me.

Unicorn Horn - Free Crochet Pattern

Unicorn Horn

Add a whimsical touch to your stick horse, by creating a unicorn horn!

By Sarah Jones

www.facebook.com/TinyTeddiesBoutique

This pattern was created to accompany
the Stick Horse Pattern by Alessandra Hayden of Just Be Happy
Available for purchase on Ravelry, Etsy or Craftsy

Difficulty: Easy

Gauge: Not crucial for this project

Materials

Yarn: Weight 4, Medium (I made mine with: Vanna's Choice Baby - Duckie)

Hook: G/6-4.25MM

Yarn Needle

Scissors

Abbreviations

ch = chain

hdc = half double crochet

dec = decrease

sl st = slip stitch

Rnd = Round

BLO = Back Loop Only

FLO = Front Loop Only
YO = Yarn Over

Special Stitches

half double crochet decrease (hdc-dec):

YO, insert hook in the BLO of the next stitch, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook), insert hook in the BLO of the next stitch, pull up a loop (4 loops on hook), YO and draw through all 4 loops.

single crochet decrease (sc-dec):

Insert your hook in the BLO of the next stitch (do not YO), insert your hook in the BLO of the next stitch, YO and pull up a loop through both stitches (2 loops on your hook), YO and draw through the 2 loops.

Photo Courtesy by Mel's Crocheted Creations

Horn

With G hook, ch14

Row 1: hdc in 3rd ch from hook and in each ch across. (12 hdc)

Do NOT turn.

Working in the rnd and in the BLO...

Rnd 1: hdc in the top of the 1st hdc of Row 1, hdc in the next 9, hdc-dec. (11 hdc)

Rnd 2: hdc in the next 9, hdc-dec. (10 hdc)

Rnd 3: hdc in the next 8, hdc-dec. (9 hdc)

Rnd 4: hdc in the next 7, hdc-dec. (8 hdc)

Rnd 5: hdc in the next 6, hdc-dec. (7 hdc)

Rnd 6: hdc in the next 3, sc-dec, sl st in the last 2. (6 sts)

You've reached the top of the horn. Do NOT Fasten Off.

sl st to close off the top of the horn. Ch 1, turn.

(If a second color is wanted, change colors here)

Working in the FLO (these were created all the way around the horn, creating a twist), sl st in each FLO to the bottom of the horn (approx. 63 sl sts), sc in each stitch around the bottom edge of the horn, join with a sl st (12 sc). Fasten Off and leave a long tail for sewing.

Lightly stuff and sew to the top of the head, placing slightly in front and in-between the ears.

Happy Crocheting!

This crochet pattern is designed and written by Sarah Jones. The pattern and all pictures are copyright protected. You are welcome to use the pattern in any way, but please do not post it online as your own. Kindly link back to this pattern so that others may use it. Thank you for your cooperation.

This pattern has been tested. But if you find any errors, please let me know. Thank you!