MINTY FRESH

A day late here as I spent Monday tracking down my Florida family to find out if they were all OK.  Seems they are, though all but two who live on the same street are sitting in the dark. Not pleasant but doable. Amen.

My nephew still isn't sure his house was spared. He had left Bonita Springs for the relative safety of West Palm. He won't know for a while yet. I'm keeping toes, eyes and fingers crossed that his home is undamaged.

My heart goes out for those who weren't so lucky. I do hope you or perhaps family members are safe from that nasty and bloated storm Irma as she heads north.

Hello old friend Red Cross. I'm hoping Walmart will match donations at check out like they did for Harvey.

Now to my scheduled post.

I use essential oils--primarily--peppermint and lavender.  I like lavender in my bath water as a relaxing sleep aid but the peppermint has many uses.

Did you know it repels mice and spiders?  It really is quite effective and I periodically put peppermint pouches under the hood of my car to keep any wire chewing rodents at bay. I discovered this when the little varmints ate through my windshield wiper motor wires a few years ago.  It really works.

I also keep it in the bathroom for myself and guests to use as a poop deodorant since my bathroom opens to the living room. Just one pre-drop in the toilet water and whatever aroma bomb drops into the toilet, stays in the toilet. Minty fresh.

I recently had ordered two bottles to restock. When I went to the mail box the other day, I could smell it from the gate. The whole area reeked of peppermint. The oily package had a pink post it note stuck on it from the mail carrier that said--"it came to us like this."

One of the bottles had broken at the neck and the whole contents were gone--except for the smell.

I saw my mail carrier the next day and asked if they ever got the smell out.  She said it had leaked onto the other packages and they had to keep the doors open all day to air out.  They also had to apologize to all the folks that also got the collaterally damaged, minty fresh packages. OK, now I was feeling badly and it wasn't even my fault.

Trying to see the bright side, I told her that at least the Post Office wouldn't have any mice or spiders for a while and wasn't it lucky I hadn't ordered Coyote urine? I think she saw the humor. She was smiling at least---or was that a grimace? Maybe I'll put a little extra this year in her Christmas gift.