Thursday I had a run in with two of my least favorite backyard pests. Red ants and a snapping turtle. Brownie decided to walk with me to the mailbox. On my way back to the house I noticed she was crouched by the front garden. Just as I started to walk over a nasty, prehistoric looking snapping turtle the size of garbage pail lid raised up from beneath the daylillies. Now my brownie is little but she is a scrapper and I could see her tail swishing back and forth as she got ready to pounce. It was standoff and I knew who would win if I let it go any further.
Just then the big turtle began to move so I whipped off my sandal threw it at its back/shell. Boy did that make him made. Keeping an eye on the monster I picked Brownie. Let me tell you those turtles move a lot faster than the should...I threw my husband's Entertainment magazine and my Redsox cap. The turtle must be a Yankee's fan cause he opened up that mouth so I thought I could see his stomoch!
NOthing makes a girl forget she has MS better than an large, angery snapping turtle. Cat in hand and mail spread across the lawn I was off to the front door...so of course I didn't see the newest red ant hill but my barefoot found it. My body really doesn't do well with those monsters. The last few days my toes have resembled Plum Tomatoes and the itch/pain is wicked. In the years I have lived here I have tried every remedy in the drug store and on the internet...none seem to work really well on getting the entire thing to go away quickly.
So today - more hand sewing and keeping off the foot. The boy down the street is coming by later to clear the yard of any unwelcome animals and insects after which I will feel safe going out for the mail again without wearing my old army boots! (that is once the swelling of my toes goes down enough that I can wear boots/shoes again!)
17 comments:
I hate those bloomin' turtles we live with and oh, I'm so happy you saved the day for Brownie. Emotionally, you had me there for a few seconds... I didn't know which direction we were going. GREAT WRITING!
(hate ants and the pain they bring. healing brush strokes to you...)
Oh, my goodness! I never knew snapping turtles came in people's yards, yuk! And red ants. Don't know if you've tried this, but I once had over a hundred flea bites from putting a flea collar on a traveling friend's cat, and spraying them with Solarcane (sp? what you use for sunburn) helped deaden the itch.
Oh, I'm so sorry you got bit! Out here in the Pacific NW, we don't have many threatening creatures. I worked in an assisted living facility one time where a man had lost most of his limbs from the effects of red ants. It triggered some reaction and was terrible. Have you tried soaking your foot in Epsom salts? I find that is so soothing for anything itching and brings down the swelling. Take care!
oh geeze. and of course it was brownie...
I love your writing. Had me laughing--not the red ant thing but the turtle stuff, etc. What a picture you painted! And all to collect the mail!!
No turtles here, but lizards, red ants and frogs/toads. There is nothing worse than going downstairs in the morning and treading on a dead lizard. Alas those days are gone.
Not sure if you've tried this, but around here for red ant bites ( or any ant for that matter ) we use Lysol spray, the household disinfectant. It immediately takes away the sting, and stops the bubbles from forming, you do need to do it rather quickly after getting bit. HTH.
By the way I love your blog, and your quilts.
oh Siobhan! I'll trade you my little turtle we found again this weekend in our pool...he doesn't snap! take it easy dearie! think of all those bakery words....happy thoughts, happy thoughts... ;-)
I haven't seen the turtles here, but those nasty red ants seem to be everywhere here in the south. Your day lilies are very pretty. Love your story and am glad you are safe from the turtle.
Funny Story - not so funny if that turtle was a snapper, and GOT you or Brownie!
Oh, ouch. And ouch, again. I'm not sure there's anything worse than fire ant bites. And they never bite just once. No...god forbid...they have to bite three or four or five times. And so do their pals/teammates/fellow travelers. I never get bit once. I always get bit over and over and over and....well, you know the drill! I wish I could say that I have a cure, but I don't. But please promise me that you will pass on any helpful hints that you might come across!
We get those giant snapping turtles here too. Our land is on a hill but below is a large marshy area with many natural springs. I don't know why those darn turtles climb the hill but they do. And they are wicked looking too!
Oh yowz, that was a rough trip! I sure hope you heal up fast. Thank goodness you got Brownie away safe.
I've never been chased down by a snapping turtle but we did get those fire ants in FL and GA and I don't miss them at all!
Hope your foot is better soon.
I'm itching just reading about the ants! Those turtles can be downright nasty. Hope the swelling goes down and you can walk the mall soon. Meows to Brownie, too.
Oh my...you do have some interesting things to deal with. Hope the tootsies feel better soon.
Oh my goodness me! I would definitely get someone else to clear my yard after that!!
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