there’s one problem with this scenario: bugs. we can’t leave the backdoor open for too long before another fly enters the house and we busy ourselves chasing them for the next few days. then just the other day i discovered a new ant colony in our backyard. annoying.

one solution to these problems is to just buy some pesticide and get it over with but we’ve been trying to tone down the use of chemical products around the house. also, with claire’s array of medical concerns we certainly don’t want to add any more harm.  i also like do-it-yourself projects because of the challenge and cost savings. so i googled around and found eartheasy, which is a site that promotes ‘ideas for environmentally sustainable living’. i found this article that gave me some options for our ant and fly problem…

ants – “Trace the [ants] back to their point of entry. Set any of the following items at the entry area in a small line, which ants will not cross: cayenne pepper, citrus oil (can be soaked into a piece of string), lemon juice, cinnamon or coffee grounds.” it’s a trap!

flies – “Use mint as a fly repellent. Small sachets of crushed mint can be placed around the home to discourage flies.” i might use their custom flypaper instead but i’m sure this method smells better.

i will definitely try a few of these options so we can enjoy the outside again. i’m not going let flies ruin by football/burger experiences anymore!