@mac11,
Yikes! That's a lotta ants!!! I'm glad you've gotten rid of them (she says, hopefully).
Thanks for the thoughts, ladies. To answer msolga's question re motivation - she wants grass. A yard. Something to mow. First she removed the entire ground layer of the woodland and planted grass seed -- um.... nope, grass doesn't grow in a woodland. That's why it's a woodland. Then they started taking down trees but are frustrated that there are so many healthy trees and the village will only let them take out the dead/diseased ones. And, yes, everything gets burned. Now the leaves from the healthy trees are starting to fall and it gives them daily fuel for the fire --- which isn't really a fire, it's a smoke pile. Folks have asked them why they moved to the woods if they don't want to live in the woods. It seems that they like being surrounded by other people's woods but want a yard full of turf grass.
Also, yes, Mr B does have breathing difficulties. They "try" to burn every afternoon while he's a work and therefore misses the heaviest of the smoke. Unfortunately, the pile smolders for hours - sometimes all night.
It rained yesterday so we got a reprieve. I imagine a thick, wet pile of leaves will begin smoldering later this afternoon.
cough, cough, cough.
