Disturbing Their Winter Slumber

  Some critters have the right idea.  They find a snug spot to overwinter so they do not have to deal with the cold weather.  I am contemplating if that would not be the happiest thing for all of us to do.  Burrow down under a thick, cozy blanket and stay there for the duration of the cold months.  While the rest of us try to stay as warm as we can, the "smart" ones snooze soundly or at least keep movements to a minimum.  Personally, I get "cabin fever" and have to get outside no matter the weather.  Ice covered grounds cannot be more treacherous than hurricanes and I have ventured out in them both.

  This morning while we were out cutting firewood, Son brought my attention to a whole nest of carpenter ants that had their snoozing time cut short...literally. Mark had cut a dead mimosa tree and Son and I hauled it to the back where the log splitter sat.  No axe for me this time!  In the logs that Son was splitting, an intricate maze of tunnels had been gnawed and in these tunnels, the ants had stored food.  The ants then climbed in with the first cool spell and were planning on staying for the duration of winter.  Our wood-cutting brought an abrupt halt to that plan as now the ants were exposed to the icy air of the morning.  I am sure that they were not too happy about their new circumstances but being sluggish from the cold, there was not much they could do.  After Son finished  splitting the wood and I had hauled the "clean" cuts to the woodpile, the remainder bug-infested logs sat in a pile.  It seemed a smart move not to stack those with the others.  

  About an hour after we finished work, I noticed that several birds were happily feasting upon the exposed insects.  At least something was happy to see the critters!  Hopefully, the birds will clean the logs so I won't tote any ants inside the Little Bayou House.