Turmeric at the Kitchen Door: A Simple Way to Keep Red Ants Away

   

Red ants in the kitchen are tiny, but the trouble they create is anything but tiny.

You may notice them first near a sugar container, a sweet jar or a few crumbs left on the kitchen counter. Then suddenly, there is a whole line of them—walking along the wall, across the platform and, sometimes, right towards the stove.

This is where a simple kitchen ingredient can come to our help: turmeric powder, or haldi.

Turmeric has traditionally been suggested as a natural ant deterrent, and some research has also found repellent effects from turmeric oil against certain ants. However, turmeric powder should be considered a deterrent rather than a guaranteed solution, especially when there is a large infestation.

A little turmeric, a useful barrier

If you notice a trail of red ants entering the kitchen, sprinkle a thin line of dry turmeric powder near their entry point—around cracks, window edges or other places where they are coming in.

The idea is simple: create a barrier that they are reluctant to cross.

A food-safety resource specifically recommends sprinkling turmeric along an ant trail and also suggests keeping kitchen surfaces free from crumbs and sticky spots.

But there is one important point:

Do not sprinkle turmeric directly onto the stove burners or inside the burner openings.

That is not where we want the turmeric to be.

 

Why should we be concerned about ants near the stove?

The stove is one of the busiest places in our kitchen.

Oil splashes, milk spills, sugar, batter, gravy and tiny food particles can collect around the burner area. Even a small residue can become attractive to ants.

And once ants start travelling around the stove, they can get into tiny spaces that are difficult to clean.

A gas stove needs its burner ports and openings to remain clear for proper flame performance. Grease and residue accumulating around burner parts can affect how the stove functions.

So keeping ants away is not merely about avoiding their presence.

It is also about keeping the cooking area clean and the burner functioning properly.

 

Simple ways to keep red ants away

1. Find where they are coming from

Don't simply wipe away the visible ants.

Watch their path.

Where are they entering?

A crack in the wall?
A window edge?
Behind the kitchen platform?
A gap near a pipe?

Once you find the entry point, you can clean it and eventually seal the gap if appropriate.

Ants follow scent trails left by other ants, so disturbing these trails can help reduce repeated traffic.

2. Try the turmeric line

Once the area is clean and dry, put a small line of turmeric powder along the entry point or around the route—not on the stove itself.

It is inexpensive, readily available and already sitting in most Indian kitchens.

3. Keep the stove absolutely clean

After cooking, allow the stove to cool and wipe away:

• oil splashes
• sugar or jaggery residue
• milk spills
• food particles
• curry or batter spills

Fresh spills are much easier to remove than hardened grease. Regular cleaning also helps keep burner openings clear.

4. Keep food covered

Sugar, jaggery, sweets, biscuits and other attractive foods should be kept in tightly closed containers.

Even a few crumbs can invite ants.

Good kitchen hygiene is one of the most important parts of ant prevention.

5. Wipe the ant trail

Don't just sweep the ants away and leave the trail behind.

Clean the surface thoroughly so that food residue and the scent trail are removed.

A simple wipe with soapy water can help remove the trail from hard kitchen surfaces.

6. Keep the area around the stove dry

Ants, like all living creatures, need food and water.

Wipe up water around the sink and stove and don't allow dampness to remain unnecessarily.

A clean, dry kitchen gives them fewer reasons to stay.

 

And what about the burner?

This deserves special attention.

If you suspect ants have entered the burner area, turn off the gas and allow the stove to cool completely before cleaning.

Remove the burner parts according to the manufacturer's instructions and clean away food residue and grease. Burner holes should be kept clear, and the parts should be completely dry before being put back.

Never push turmeric, flour, powders or other household substances into the burner holes.

Our aim is to keep the ants away—not to introduce another obstruction into the stove.

 

Turmeric is a helper, not a magic solution

It is tempting to say, “Just sprinkle turmeric and the ants will disappear.”

But that is not always true.

Studies have found that turmeric can have ant-repellent properties, but results depend on the species, concentration and circumstances. One study found turmeric oil strongly repelled Pharaoh ants under laboratory conditions, while another household-product experiment found cinnamon and lemon more effective than turmeric among the products tested.

So think of turmeric as one small part of an overall kitchen routine:

Clean → remove food sources → disturb the trail → block entry points → use a simple deterrent such as turmeric.

If the infestation keeps returning despite cleaning and sealing entry points, it may be time to seek professional pest control rather than continually treating the visible ants.

 

A yellow line for a clean kitchen

There is something charming about finding solutions in ingredients that are already part of our everyday kitchens.

Turmeric is there to colour our curries, flavour our food and form part of many Indian household traditions.

And perhaps, when red ants decide to visit uninvited, a little yellow line can politely tell them that this kitchen is not their destination.

But the real solution is not turmeric alone.

It is a clean stove, covered food, dry surfaces, clear burner openings and attention to where the ants are entering.

A few minutes of care after cooking can make the next cooking session much easier—and help our stove burn cleanly, work effectively and remain ready for the next meal.

A Name on a Gift: When Giving Becomes a Memory

    

 

Names are special. How special? Perhaps more than we realise.

A name is not merely a word given to us. It becomes a part of our identity, something we grow into and carry throughout our lives. For all of us, our names follow a fascinating journey.

It begins with our birth certificate and official records. Then comes the school application, examination forms, certificates, passports, bank passbooks and countless other documents. Our names slowly find their way into every important chapter of our lives.

But there is another, more affectionate side to our names.

Our loved ones often give us pet names—short, sweet and sometimes completely unrelated to our given names. These names belong to our families. They carry familiarity, affection and memories. Sometimes, hearing that pet name after many years can take us straight back to our childhood.

And then there are names written on gifts.

When we give someone a gift, we often write our name on the gift card. With love, from… A simple message, followed by our name, tells the recipient who thought of them and wanted to make the occasion special.

Sometimes, however, the name does not remain on a card.

It becomes a permanent part of the gift.

In our traditional families, particularly during a wedding, a bride may be sent to her new home with a collection of household articles. Stainless steel vessels, silver articles, brass, bronze and copper utensils have traditionally formed part of this collection.

And what makes them even more personal?

Her name. Her initials. Or sometimes her pet name.

These were engraved on the vessels and other belongings.

There was a practical reason behind this. When several families had similar vessels and household articles, an engraved name or initial made it easier to identify what belonged to whom. It offered clarity and, in a way, protection against confusion or accidental exchange.

But there was something more than practicality involved.

Imagine opening a vessel years later and seeing your name engraved on it.

It is no longer simply a vessel.

It becomes your vessel.

Perhaps it came from your parents when you were married. Perhaps your mother carefully selected it. Perhaps relatives contributed to the collection. Perhaps someone had your pet name engraved because that was how they had always addressed you.

The object becomes a keeper of memories.

The same happens with other gifts. A wedding present, a silver tumbler, a plate, a bowl, a pen, a diary or even a small keepsake can become more meaningful when the giver puts their name on it—or has the recipient's name engraved on it.

A gift card can carry a loving message:

With love,
From Amma and Appa.

The message may fade with time, the card may be misplaced, but the memory of receiving that gift remains.

Engraving takes it a step further. The name becomes part of the object itself.

There is something beautiful about that permanence.

Today, we live in a world where gifts are ordered online, wrapped and delivered directly to the recipient. Sometimes we may not even know what the packaging looks like. A digital message may accompany the gift instead of a handwritten card.

Yet the simple act of putting a name on a gift continues to hold a special charm.

It says, This was chosen for you.

It says, I thought of you.

And when the giver's name is added, it also says, Remember who gave this to you.

Names therefore travel with us in many forms—from official documents to school records, from wedding invitations to bank passbooks, from gift cards to engraved vessels.

Some names are printed.

Some are written.

Some are lovingly called.

And some are engraved in metal, so that even the passing of years cannot easily erase them.

Perhaps that is why a name on a gift feels different.

The gift may be ordinary.

But when a name is attached to it, it becomes personal, memorable and filled with affection.

Because sometimes, the most beautiful thing we can gift someone is not the object itself, but the memory of who gave it, why they gave it, and with how much love.

Acceptance: The Quiet Strength Behind Resilience

From Tolerating Life to Accepting It: Finding Strength in Every Season

"We cannot always choose what happens to us, but we can choose how we receive it."

In my earlier post, I explored the difference between tolerance and acceptance in our relationships with people. But the same distinction applies to something even more personal—our relationship with life itself.

Every day brings its own share of challenges. Some are minor inconveniences, while others test our patience, resilience, and faith.

How do we respond?

Do we merely tolerate life's hardships, or do we truly accept them?

The answer often determines our peace of mind.

What Does It Mean to Tolerate Life?

Tolerance in difficult situations often sounds like this:

"I have no choice. I just have to put up with it."

There is resistance in the mind.

We complain.

We count the days until the problem disappears.

We spend more energy wishing reality were different than dealing with reality itself.

Life feels heavy because we are fighting not only the problem but also its existence.

What Does Acceptance Mean?

Acceptance is different.

It does not mean giving up.

It does not mean enjoying suffering.

It simply means acknowledging reality without constantly arguing with it.

Acceptance says,

"This is where I am today. I may not like it, but I will deal with it with clarity and courage."

When we stop resisting reality, we free our energy to respond wisely.

Acceptance is not surrender to circumstances; it is surrender to the fact that this moment is already here.

Everyday Examples

Waiting in a Long Queue

Tolerance:
You keep looking at your watch, complain about the delay, become irritated, and carry that frustration throughout the day.

Acceptance:
You realise the queue is unavoidable. You read a few pages of a book, listen to a podcast, or simply observe the people around you.

The waiting time hasn't changed.

Your experience of it has.

 

Chennai's Summer Heat

We may complain every day about the soaring temperatures.

But acceptance means adjusting our routine—drinking more water, planning outdoor work early in the morning, wearing comfortable cotton clothes, and slowing down when necessary.

The weather doesn't change because we dislike it.

Our response can.

 

Caring for Elderly Parents

Caregiving can be physically demanding and emotionally exhausting.

Tolerance makes every responsibility feel like a burden.

Acceptance reminds us that caring for those who once cared for us is also an expression of gratitude and love.

The work remains the same.

Its meaning changes.

 

Facing Career or Financial Setbacks

A promotion may not come.

A business may struggle.

Plans may be delayed.

Tolerance keeps asking,

"Why is this happening to me?"

Acceptance asks,

"What can I learn from this situation, and what is the next right step?"

The second question leads to action instead of helplessness.

Acceptance Is Active, Not Passive

Many people mistake acceptance for resignation.

They think accepting hardship means doing nothing.

Not at all.

Imagine a sailor caught in a storm.

The sailor first accepts that the sea is rough.

Only then can the sails be adjusted.

Denying the storm does not calm the ocean.

Accepting it allows wise action.

Similarly, accepting life's difficulties often becomes the first step toward solving them.

Nature Is Our Best Teacher

The seasons never argue with one another.

Summer does not resent the monsoon.

Autumn does not compete with spring.

Each season arrives, serves its purpose, and moves on.

Life also has seasons.

There are times of abundance and times of waiting.

Times of celebration and times of quiet endurance.

Accepting each season makes us less anxious about its arrival and less afraid of its departure.

Small Practices That Build Acceptance

Acceptance is not a single decision. It is a daily habit.

You can cultivate it by:

Beginning the day without expecting everything to go according to plan.

Asking, "What can I control?" instead of dwelling on what you cannot.

Treating mistakes as lessons rather than personal failures.

Practising gratitude, even on difficult days.

Remembering that every hardship is temporary, just as every joyful moment is.

Being kind to yourself while continuing to move forward.

A Thought to Carry

Tolerance says,

"I will somehow survive this."

Acceptance says,

"This is part of my journey. Let me walk through it with patience, wisdom, and hope."

There is remarkable peace in that shift.

Not because life becomes easier, but because we stop exhausting ourselves by fighting every wave.

We learn to navigate them instead.

Final Reflection

Life will continue to surprise us—with joys we never expected and difficulties we never invited.

We cannot always choose our circumstances.

But we can choose whether we merely endure them or grow through them.

Perhaps that is the quiet wisdom life teaches us over the years:

When we stop resisting every hardship and start accepting it as a teacher, we discover that resilience is not born from easy days but from the courage to embrace difficult ones.

   

A Book of Books: A Celebration of the Joy of Reading

   

 

Some books find their way to us unexpectedly. Some remain on our wish list for a long time, waiting for the right moment. A Book of Books by Sonali Bendre Behl belongs to the second category for me. It had been a long-standing dream of mine to own this book, especially after reading so many reviews and recommendations from readers around the world. When I finally got my hands on it, the dream came true—100 per cent!

Published by HarperCollins, this is a book that is impressive in more ways than one. It is literally heavy because of its size and weight, but it is equally heavy in terms of its content and quality.

From the moment you open it, the colourful presentation draws you in. The smooth pages, attractive fonts and delightful illustrations scattered throughout the book make it difficult to put down. Designed by Rohini Thapar, the book is visually inviting and thoughtfully put together. Even adults can become a little crazy about simply holding and turning its pages—and the joy of reading gets doubled.

But this is much more than a beautifully designed book. It takes readers on a fascinating journey through the world of books and reading—from ancient times to the present day. Libraries, books, different formats of reading, book clubs and book recommendations are all explored with enthusiasm and care.

What makes the book particularly special is its larger purpose: to encourage people to read and to help them discover or rediscover the joy of reading. The message is not merely stated; it is supported with information, examples and evidence, making the book a testimony to the wonderful world of books, readers and the reading habit.

The profound joy of reading is presented throughout the book in an accessible and encouraging manner. For someone who is new to reading, it offers a gentle beginning. For those who have drifted away from books for some time, it provides the encouragement to start afresh and continue. That assurance comes through clearly.

The importance of developing the reading habit from a young age is also emphasised, with suggestions for children as well as adults. The recommendations and guidance are presented step by step, making the journey into reading feel achievable rather than overwhelming.

I particularly enjoyed the interactive elements. Some pages are deliberately left blank, inviting readers to pause, reflect and respond to prompts. These exercises encourage us to focus, imagine, set a vision and think about our own relationship with books and reading.

A Book of Books is, therefore, not simply a book about books. It is an invitation to become a reader, to return to reading, and to celebrate the happiness that books can bring.

For anyone who loves books, for those who want to develop a reading habit, and especially for those who have somehow lost touch with reading, this is a must-have addition to the bookshelf. It is the kind of book you can return to whenever you need to strengthen your reading habit or simply remind yourself why you fell in love with books in the first place.

By the time you close the book, you may feel as though you have climbed a mountain—or risen like a great tower—with a sense of pride and happiness at being part of the wonderful world of books and readers.

A book of books, indeed—and a celebration of the profound joy of reading.

The Mess Before the Magic

 

Take a cue from a watermelon. It looks simple enough from the outside, but getting to the juicy, sweet part involves a little effort. You have to wash it, cut it, deal with the thick rind, remove the seeds if necessary, and make your way through the mess before enjoying it.

Life is often like that.

Some things we bring into our lives look complicated, inconvenient and even intimidating when we first encounter them. We struggle to understand them, wonder why we bought them in the first place, and sometimes even feel that the older, simpler version was much better.

But give it some time.

Practice changes everything.

Think about the first time you used a new appliance or gadget. The instruction manual may have looked like a small textbook. There were buttons, attachments, settings, warnings and instructions that seemed unnecessarily complicated.

A new peeler may have a different grip.

A chopper may have a mechanism that takes a few attempts to understand.

A 1000-watt mixer grinder may come with several jars, blades and speed settings. Initially, you may stand there wondering which jar is meant for what and how tightly everything has to be fitted.

Then, slowly, you get the hang of it.

The hand automatically knows which attachment to pick. You know how much pressure to apply. You understand which speed works best. What once seemed complicated becomes effortless.

The appliance has not changed.

You have changed.

You have learnt how to use it.

Technology gives us another lesson

The same thing happens when we move from an old phone to a new Android phone.

The screen looks different. The settings are somewhere else. An application that was easy to find earlier seems to have disappeared. You search for familiar options, accidentally open something else, and sometimes wonder, Why did they have to change this?

A new version of a laptop can be equally frustrating.

The keyboard may be slightly different. The settings may have moved. A familiar function may now require two clicks instead of one. Even something as simple as connecting a device or changing a setting can become an exercise in patience.

But after a few days or weeks, we stop thinking about it.

Our fingers remember.

Our eyes recognise the icons.

Our mind understands the system.

And suddenly, the device that initially seemed difficult becomes something we cannot imagine working without.

Even small things can test our patience

It isn't always technology.

Take a new marker. The first few strokes may be uneven. We experiment with the pressure and angle until we understand how it writes.

A sofa-cum-bed can look wonderfully convenient until we have to figure out exactly how it opens, folds, locks and closes. The first attempt can feel like solving a puzzle.

Even something as tiny as a hair clip can have its own mechanism. We struggle to open it correctly, position it properly and secure our hair. After repeated use, our fingers do the job almost automatically.

And then there are those tiny pieces of jewellery that can test the patience of the calmest person!

The lock of a stone-studded bracelet, the tiny clasp of a diamond necklace, or something as simple as a nose ring can require an unexpected amount of dexterity. What looks effortless when someone else wears it can be quite a task when we try it ourselves.

Different products, different brands, different models and different mechanisms come with their own instructions.

The instruction manual tells us how.

But practice teaches us how to make it work for us.

The manual is only the beginning

Every new object comes with its own learning curve.

We read the instructions.

We watch someone demonstrate it.

We try it.

We make mistakes.

We try again.

Sometimes we get irritated.

Sometimes we laugh at ourselves.

Sometimes we even put the object aside and say, I'll try it later.

And then one fine day, we get it right.

That moment is surprisingly satisfying.

The chopper works exactly as it should. The mixer produces the perfect consistency. The laptop shortcut becomes second nature. The bracelet clasp closes without a struggle.

The difficulty that once bothered us becomes a skill we no longer notice.

Messy doesn't always mean wrong

Perhaps that is the bigger lesson.

We often expect new things to make our lives easier immediately.

But new does not always mean easy.

There is a transition period.

There is a little confusion, a little inconvenience and sometimes quite a bit of mess.

Learning a new gadget, using a new appliance, wearing a new piece of jewellery or adapting to a new technology requires us to slow down and pay attention.

And once we do, the reward is often worth the initial trouble.

Just like the watermelon.

The rind is thick.

The cutting can be messy.

The seeds may be annoying.

But nobody remembers the inconvenience once they are enjoying that first sweet, juicy bite.

Perhaps we should remember this whenever something new frustrates us.

Don't reject something simply because you haven't learnt its rhythm yet.

Give it time.

Read the instructions.

Ask for help when necessary.

Practise.

And allow your hands and mind to become familiar with it.

Because sometimes, the things that are most inconvenient in the beginning become the things that make our lives wonderfully easy in the end.

(This blogpost is  a part of Blogchatter's Bloghop :  https://www.theblogchatter.com/blogchatter-blog-hop-a-new-way-to-write-collectively