I hate ants in the house and I'm not too fond of them in the yard either. We use Orange Guard or vinegar as a barrier to keep them out of the house and use both of those to spray anthills when we find them in the backyard. When all else fails, we use bait traps and cover them with a flower pot to keep the dogs out. I don't like spraying pesticides because they can affect our birds, bees, lizards, etc. and they can end up in our water supply. For that same reason, we don't spray weeds but pull them up one by one.
_________________________
Well-behaved women rarely make history. - Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
http://ruthrainwater.wordpress.com/
http://newbeginningsgratitudejournal.wordpress.com/
http://sablewings.wordpress.com/