Being back home in Georgia always comes with a mix of joy and challenge. There’s nothing like the peace of being on your own land—but if you’ve ever lived in the country, you know that the critters will remind you real quick that it’s their home too.

🐜 Ants on the Attack

This week, I discovered something new and not at all pleasant: an invasion of ants trying to take over my cats’ food bowls. And let me tell you, these aren’t your ordinary sugar ants or little piss ants. Don’t let their size fool you—these little bastards pack a punch. One bite and you’ll be hopping and dancing like you stepped on a live wire!

But I think I’ve found a solution worth sharing. Here’s my method:

* Take cedar oil and rub it around the bottom outside of the food bowl.

* Place the food bowl into a shallow tray filled with scented cat litter.

The ants absolutely hate it and won’t go near the bowl. Now yes, the strong smells might throw your cats off at first. Mine certainly weren’t thrilled. My three fur-babies gave me looks of suspicion, and Mocha, my brave girl, slapped at the tray like it had personally offended her. But once she realized there were no ants in her food, she tucked in happily. The best part? No more wasted cat food.

🌱 Garden Woes

Now, about my garden. To my disappointment, after all the hard work my husband and I put into designing, building, sowing, and planting—it’s become a playground and buffet for a squirrel with a serious appetite. He’s been using my garden fence as his own personal obstacle course and dining on my veggies like it’s a five-star restaurant.

The only thing he’s left untouched are my corn stalks. Everything else? Fair game, apparently. It’s discouraging, but part of country living is learning from each season and adapting for the next. If you’ve got any tried-and-true tips for keeping squirrels out of the garden, I’d love for you to chime in below. I could really use some advice before next planting season.

✨ In Summary

Country life has its blessings and its headaches. From ant invasions to rodent raids, it’s easy to feel defeated at times. But every challenge comes with a lesson, and every problem has the potential for a creative solution—whether it’s cedar oil on cat bowls or a new strategy for protecting the garden. And at the end of the day, I’d still choose this life a hundred times over.

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If you enjoyed reading about my little adventures (and misadventures!) back home in Georgia, I’d be so grateful for your support. You can tip me through Buy Me A Coffee to help me continue sharing these real-life stories—messy, funny, frustrating, and full of heart. Every bit of support means the world.