Monday, February 22, 2016

Beetlemania

We recently had some vegetation removed from our southern property line. An unexpected result delighted us. No longer did our cellar's great room look like a jungle floor, most sunlight blocked by the canopy overhead (or in this case, outside the glass block window).

Now I could go down on sunny afternoons and not even need to hit a light switch. I basically basked in the golden glow.

Unfortunately, humans are not alone in being drawn to the sun. Milkweed bugs have been getting inside somehow and flocking toward this light. The worst part about this is that we store boxed food beneath that window.

So far the insects have not penetrated the sealed bins but it is nonetheless disconcerting to find bugs crawling all over them. I found myself using my hand vac to sweep the poor creatures up several times a day. Something needed to change.

My goal became dampening the daylight. Curtains would be the obvious choice if not for the fact a drop ceiling blocks the window's upper dimensions. How could I hang anything?

Today I had an epiphany. Why not do something creative? A dear friend once sent me an adult coloring book whose mandalas resemble stained glass surrounded by black tissue paper. I also stock a supply of removable poster hangers.

While the result would probably horrify a home decorator, I am quite pleased with the result. In addition, my last trip downstairs showed only two of the beetles (which may well have hidden during my last cleanup). Only time will prove the efficacy. In the meantime, what do you think of my artwork?



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8 comments:

  1. How creative. They look absolutely lovely too! I wouldn't mind having some in my home.

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    1. Thank you for the kind word! And they were fun to color months ago, then left sitting around because I didn't know what to do with them. :) I call that serendipity.

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  2. I think it looks very good! Not sure whether this would work, but they make a decorative window film that looks like etched glass. They have at Target and Walmart I think. Are you doing A to Z this year?

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    1. Thank you! And I appreciate the tip. I haven't thought a lot about the blogging challenge but will probably make the attempt. Thanks for asking. Be well!

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  3. That's beautiful and a creative solution.

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    1. Thank you! From someone so inventive and self sufficient, I take that as a real compliment.

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  4. That's really lovely. What an inspired idea! Glad the bugs seem to be keeping away.

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    1. Thank you. You're very kind. Unfortunately, I did see quite a few walking around on the glass underneath (!) the hung sheets recently, but they were not on the food bins. So that's a decent win. :) Be well!

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