Check the barbecue before cooking
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382240)
Rockingham, Australia
April 12, 2017 1:27am CST
Tomorrow Vince is having some mates around for a barbecue. He play golf on an informal basis with these men. Three are Vietnam vets who now have health issues of various kinds. Every so often they have a barbecue, meeting at one of the homes for a barbecue and perhaps a few red wines and much chatter and laughter.
We have a gas barbecue which sits on the verandah. We used it last Saturday too when we had friends and relations round to celebrate Vince's 70th birthday. When we went to clean the barbecue ready for use, we found a hornet had been going through a small opening and had built a nest in one corner inside the lid.
We often see these on the brick walls of the verandah and I'm forever destroying them. However this one is a little bit different with a very fancy conical opening to the main nest. I felt sorry for the hornet as we moved the barbecue, knocked down the nest and cleaned the whole thing. Later it came back and was obviously very confused. No doubt it will build another mud nest as soon as we turn our backs.
While the barbecue is in progress, I'll absent myself. I'm going to visit the thrift shop then joining friends from the local garden club and visiting the garden of a friend. So it should be an interesting day although a bit short on myLotting no doubt.
29 people like this
29 responses
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
12 Apr 17
My husband ends up dealing with yellow jackets that build nests in the hollow rungs of the ladders up the sides of the feed bins. In the late summer he is constantly spraying to avoid their sting.
4 people like this
@louievill (28846)
• Philippines
12 Apr 17
I hope you all have a great and fun time.
4 people like this
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
12 Apr 17
BBQ hornet might not have tasted as good as the sausages I expect lol
3 people like this
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
12 Apr 17
@JudyEv got a wasp nest in my bedroom once - scary - turned the room into a gas chamber to get rid of them - filled two carrier bags with the bodies the next day and blocked the vent they got in from
2 people like this
@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Apr 17
@arthurchappell Fancy coming in through the vent. We've never had one inside thank goodness.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Apr 17
I have sometimes destroyed a nest while the hornet is away getting more mud. When they come back, they are totally lost and keep looking around for their nest. I don't know that I'll shop much but I'll have a poke around till it is time to meet my friends.
2 people like this
@epiffanie (11327)
• Australia
12 Apr 17
Oh poor hornet! .. I love collecting those old mud nests and use them as planters ..
3 people like this
@epiffanie (11327)
• Australia
14 Apr 17
@JudyEv I only founds three mud nests , not sure what birds made them .. they're not big but i used them for those hanging succulents ..
2 people like this
@Juliaacv (56325)
• Canada
12 Apr 17
That is quite a large nest!
One day I remember opening our barbeque, it was early spring, and we hadn't used it in 6 months, and was horrified when I saw a mouse running across the grill!
It was in our backyard and it was a field mouse.
Regardless, we never ever cooked another meal on that barbeque.
It totally creeped me out!
2 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
12 Apr 17
Our grill is on the back screened porch so not much chance of a visitor seeing up housekeeping in it - plus we use it almost daily.
2 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
12 Apr 17
@JudyEv wd have a very good grill.,steaks are perfectly juicy.....My husband knows how to grill...Many years of experience ends good grill .
2 people like this
@Tampa_girl7 (54715)
• United States
12 Apr 17
This little dirt nests can pop up in many places
2 people like this
@Tampa_girl7 (54715)
• United States
14 Apr 17
@JudyEv we have them on our home occasionally too.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Apr 17
@Tampa_girl7 Do you knock them down?
2 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
13 Apr 17
Hornets can be vicious. I filled our propane can before I last cooked on the grill, then left one burner on all night, so may have to fill it again. Senility advances.
2 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
13 Apr 17
@JudyEv Great word, "muddle." I wrote on one site sometimes with Mr. Muddle as my name.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Apr 17
@JamesHxstatic Do you remember the Mr Men series for kids? Mr Muddle sounds like one of them. It's a great name. 
2 people like this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
12 Apr 17
We get those wasp nests here and there around our house as well. I will go inside when my hubby destroys the nest, I'm afraid of getting stung.
2 people like this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
14 Apr 17
@JudyEv You are braver than I am, that's hubby's job I stay inside.
2 people like this
@teamfreak16 (43618)
• Denver, Colorado
12 Apr 17
Thank them for their service from me.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Apr 17
@teamfreak16 Oh sorry!
And here was I thinking YOU were thick - or had had one too many smokes or whatever!
And here was I thinking YOU were thick - or had had one too many smokes or whatever! 2 people like this
@teamfreak16 (43618)
• Denver, Colorado
13 Apr 17
@JudyEv - No, the Vietnam War vets!
2 people like this
@changjiangzhibin89 (17242)
• China
12 Apr 17
I remember that one of your posts mentioned the hornets' nests on a brick wall.The hornets in question must be another type of ones,because they build different nests from other hornets.Have a great time!
2 people like this
@changjiangzhibin89 (17242)
• China
13 Apr 17
@JudyEv Even though the hornets' nest was demolished,they will build another one there I guess.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Apr 17
@changjiangzhibin89 Yes, if not there, then nearby I guess.
2 people like this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
13 Apr 17
I do hope this time it builds elsewhere
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
12 Apr 17
That's quite a nest, I'm glad we haven't found any nests in our backyard kitchen. I think I would be with you on your afternoon, leaving the boys to themselves.
2 people like this
@Happy2BeMe (99353)
• Canada
14 Apr 17
@JudyEv I never really looked. I just took the bbq out to the backyard and emptied it.
2 people like this
@workathomefan (8957)
• Prairieville, Louisiana
13 Apr 17
Baroque ribs or chicken that is good.
2 people like this
