By Pauline Tom
So long to the Medlocks. With Michael’s graduation from high school, they’ve left for the last time from their house at the corner of Live Oak and Maple, literally next door to us. We miss them. And, we’re delighted that we’ll have a night to stay with them in Oregon City when we fly out from Portland at the end of a three-week trip to the Pacific Northwest.
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The website app “NextDoor” has 49 Mountain City neighbors participating. Who will be number 50?
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At Donna Helm’s garage sale on Mountain City Garage Sale Day, she mentioned to me that one day recently she saw a car stop and open the mailbox of a neighbor. She assumed someone was picking up his mail. But, when she saw her neighbor later, she learned such was not the case and wished she had reported suspicious activity.
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I checked with the Hays County Sheriff’s Department on whether to call 911 or non-emergency dispatch, (512) 393-7896, if you spot suspicious activity at a mailbox. Use this rule of thumb: if it’s “in progress,” call 911.
Tampering with mail can be a three-year sentence and a $50,000.00 fine! A customer purchases his/her mailbox, but it’s the property of the United States Postal Service.
It is a federal offense to open someone else’s mailbox. Not only may fliers and notes without postage not be inserted into a mail receptacle, matter not bearing postage may not be “placed upon, supported by, attached to, or hung from” the mail receptacle.
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Penny Moulder spotted a problem with her peppermint that she needs for mojitos. Meal bugs! She purchased ladybugs, hoping they’ll eat the meal bugs.
An Internet search brought word of the value of purchasing local lady bugs. Lady bugs from afar can bring in parasites that damage the population of local lady bugs.
And, we can attract local lady bugs by planting composite flowers and plants the ladybugs like to eat such as cilantro, dill, and fennel. These herbs may also attract lacewings, and lacewings’ larvae eat many pests.
Scorpions eat insects, spiders, other scorpions and lizards, and even small mammals, according to the Orkin website. They can go for months without eating, but they must have water. Penny found a scorpion in her pool last week.
And, one more titbit from Penny. Their bluebonnets are blooming again!
The city provided landscaping last week for the bed in the center of the Live Oak Drive cul-de-sac. It’s now filled with rocks and a few new plants. The non-native Chinaberry was removed and the native Gum bumelia (Chittamwood) remains. Thanks, Mountain City!
And, thanks to everyone past, present, and future for the provision of tidbits. (512) 268-5678 or ptom5678@gmail.com (Subject: TIDBIT).
Love, Pauline
