One thing I can hardly abide in the mid to late Petaluma summertime is the onslaught of squadrons of flies, some of them seemingly monster-sized, buzzing around the house and attempting an HQ in the kitchen.
Apart from keeping food covered at all times and counter tops scrupulously clean, emptying garbage frequently and firmly sealing fresh peelings for composting in a tightly-lidded container, there are quite a lot of natural herbs that do help to deter
those pesky flies.
In this region, it's easy as pie to place armloads of of elder, lavender and mint in vases and to hang them up in the kitchen from curtains rails and pot holders to keep the determined and dastardly SoCo flies away. Remember to give the leaves a rub every now and again to release aroma.







That's brilliant!
Posted by: Meloni | Friday, July 31, 2025 at 09:33 AM
Need some lavender, Mel? You know where to come! By the way, am very pleased to read on Mouse in the Pantry that the city of Petaluska came valiantly to the rescue last Sunday!
Posted by: Frances | Friday, July 31, 2025 at 09:59 AM
mouse in the pantry! just ask fran about my experience with a mouse in her kitchen ,will never ever forget it, poor poor little thing
Posted by: frans mum | Saturday, August 01, 2025 at 12:07 PM
ok if no body knows this poor little mouse was stuck on something i have never seen before. then what do i do with it? feet glued on to paper left it out for 8 hours in the sun . still alive, then had to drown in in a bucket of water...awful
Posted by: frans mum | Saturday, August 01, 2025 at 12:15 PM
we did abandon that approach to mouse trapping after your traumatic experience in putting the poor little mite out of his misery. Nowadays the little cat takes care of all the smaller rodents who dare to dice with death at the foot of the vineyard, leaving her ferocious big brother to patrol the upper hillside and its larger cretins!
Posted by: Frances | Saturday, August 01, 2025 at 12:29 PM