Diatomaceous earth in a plastic puffer container that will dispense the fine powder through a thin straw is how I deal with ants. I spritz it along the back of the counter where they come in (though the wall from wherever else they hang out.) Ants won't walk across it. D-limonene comes in a strong form (expensive but lasts a long time) - also called orange oil. Get a squirt bottle with a pint of water and tip a tablespoon or two into it and spray along the edges of the counter. Test near paint and wood because if it's too strong it can peel paint or affect wood finish.

Painting has started, as much of the walls as I can easily reach with the washer pushed to one side. Once it dries I'll move the washer and finish and do that side of the floor treatment and then the vinyl. We're looking at another day or so for those steps. I want to finish before I need to do another load of laundry. The paint can lid was a mess and I'll decant the paint into smaller tins to keep it from drying out once I finish the painting today.

The patio cover comes down early this week, so I need to go out and pull the large woven tarps off the top of it (all sorts of bungee cords holding them in place.) Maybe tomorrow.