I want raised garden beds.

Preferably with a fence around them.

Why?

Because I have a pepper napper.

Do you see that face?

It has GUILT written all over it.  Well, it has a “ha ha I got your peppers” smirk at the very least.

Of course, I don’t MIND if she eats fresh bell peppers (or any other fresh fruit or vegetable).  But the peppers had been dusted with SEVEN dust.

Um, yah.  The insecticide.

If I had a nickel for every time I have told her not to touch my plants because they have chemicals on them, I would be rich and would be paying a buck a pepper at the grocery store (ridiculous, right?) or shopping the farmers market every week instead of trying to grow my own.  Alas, I am not, and the beetles are coming.  I want to feed my family, not the blasted beetles!!!  So, I bought some SEVEN dust and sprinkled my plants!  I went outside to water the plants, and once again told Sister to leave them alone.  “Don’t touch my plants, Sister, they have chemicals on them.”

Then, I come inside to get a drink, and turn around and she’s munching on a bell pepper, that very clearly did NOT come out of the fridge.

I nearly fainted, not to mention feared for the safety of my digits, trying to wrangle half of a quarter sized pepper out of her mouth, then frantically called the poison control center (right after I called my Mom, who calmed me down and told me to call the poison control center).  As the phone is ringing with poison control, I’m reading the back of the SEVEN dust, and pouring a glass of water for Sister telling her to sip it (like the label says to do).

The nurse from poison control was super nice.  She said that because it was 5% SEVEN dust, and because she ingested so little (if any at all), she was not really concerned about a poison event but to make her drink 2-4 ounces of juice, milk, or water and keep an eye on her.  She said she MAY develop oral tenderness, but that should be the extent of it.  She also said she would call back in an hour to check on her again.  Which she did.  And Sister was fine.

Guilty of pepper napping, but fine.

Hubs and I made a deal.  If I can get produce from the plant to the table this year, he will build me raised beds for next year.  I can’t wait!

Have you ever had to call poison control?