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Within the confines of this blog, you will find bits and pieces of the life and times of myself, my family and friend dear and near., far and wide, few and far between. You will find bits and pieces of my world, tho small to some, but huge to me. You will find everything from 'soup to nuts',; recipes, hobbies,crafts, gardenings,loves of my life, GrandLoves-a-Plenty, and even my pets... Sooo, if you can handle family life, enjoy the tour of my 'Stuffings'.

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Sprinkles, Woodticks and Projects

The grass is finally turning green. It's been warmer, an actual sprinkle, here and there, so thanks all of you fine folks out there that are praying for rain for north central WI. They say they will not lift the fire ban until we get at least 1/2 an inch of rain in one rainfall. That has not happened yet. There have already been 3 brush fires in our township alone, not good. We are still riding on a wing and a prayer.

The dreaded woodticks are out in full force. They are fast lil buggers. It's the spider-like tick that can be dangerous. We have two types in our woods, the deer tick or (bear tick) which are as small as pinhead sized to half the size of a pencil eraser. They attach to the skin of larger animals and humans. I know, I have been bitten. They survive on blood and the disease carrying ticks, can cause Lyme Disease, which by now, most of you may have heard of.
The other tick we have here, are the dog ticks that also attach to humans but do not carry the Lyme Disease.
The Lyme tick, as they are now called, survive primarily in the northeastern states of the U.S., WI and MI, parts of CA, UT., NE., and parts of Canada. Lyme Disease has been reported in up to 25 of our states, so the ticks are not choosy. I call them vampires, for they are blood suckers.
Living in the great North woods, we have plenty of them. I picked up one of each type yesterday, while walking the edge of our woods. Luckily, I spotted them right away, and they did not have the opportunity to attach themselves to me.
My son has Lymes, as had several members of our family, throughout the years. It is treatable with antibiotics, best caught within the first 3-4 weeks of being bitten.
Symptoms are different for everyone, some getting all, some a few. Andy has had all of them, getting very sick from time to time still today. His bite was from last spring.
Symptoms include:
bullseye rash-can be at the bite site, or not
fever
fatigue
muscle and joint aches and pain
arthritis
irregular heartbeat
sensitivity to the sun
butterfly patch across the bridge of the nose and cheeks
These are the most known symptoms.

Andy still has days when he can hardly get out of bed, and goes on antibiotics again.
So, folks, if you live in tick areas, wear light clothing, tuck in your jeans if you're hiking, or wear your socks over them, not fashionable, but it may save you a lot of agony. Do a tick check not only of yourself after your walks, but of your pets. They will thank you for it.
To read more about the Lyme Disease or the disease carrying ticks in your area, just Google woodticks or check out www.revolutionhealth.com
Don't be afraid to get out there and enjoy the nature around you. Just be aware.
I didn't want you to get that crawly feeling all over, but I do want you to stay healthy.

Now, finally, the reason I was wandering around the woods in the first place., I was looking for a discarded mailbox for my project. Bill is going to help me straighten it out and drill a hole in it for me while I carefully hold it. Hmmmm, maybe I will put it in the vise for that part. The finished project, you will have to wait and see just like I have to do. It will be cool.

Blessings and Be Careful Out There

14 comments:

Osage Bluff Quilter said...

The hubby has had two of those darn ticks this week. They leave him with such a sore spot for weeks.
My son was diagonised last year with lyme and still at time has flare ups from it.

GardenOfDaisies said...

Those darn ticks! Sorry your son has Lymes.
And I hope you get rain soon! We keep sending storms in your general direction.

Darla said...

Sorry about your son as well. I do thank you for posting the symptoms..hear about it but have never actually talked to anyone who has or knows anyone who has it...Great post and much needed awareness!

Paula said...

I hate ticks. John sold one nice place just because it had the deer ticks on it. I've been tested for lyme disease once but lucky I didn't have it. Sorry to read your son has it.

Dar said...

We definitely need more woodtick races....one of the bars in the area has them every year. They draw quite the crowd just to see folks smash woodticks with a hammer. The tick has to get outside of the bullseye to be saved...it's trickery tho, cause he usually gets hammered too.
The things we do in the northwoods to stay entertained and make light of a bad situation.

Janet Metzger, Artist said...

I get paranoid about ticks after a day in the yard. So many of my family have been bitten and quite a few have Lymes. Some very severly as it was not caught in the early stages..it is very debilitating. Thanks for all the good info. Now please be careful!

Anonymous said...

I can certainly relate to the deer tick and Lyme Disease.

http://whitetailwoods.blogspot.com/2010/04/look-before-you-scratch.html

The mailbox project sounds interesting.

imac said...

All I can say is "Tick no more"

Betsy Banks Adams said...

We don't have ticks ---at least not many of them, but we have lots of poison ivy and chiggers... George was out walking in the wood a year or two ago--and got chigger bites all over his legs.. TERRIBLE... Then I was pulling weeds --and I got poison ivy or maybe poison oak... I even had on gloves --but it got through there too... No FUN!!!

Can't wait to see what you do with the mailbox.

Hugs,
Betsy

Cher' Shots said...

Along with the spring, the rains must fall,
along with the grass, the ticks will crawl ~

there you go ~ now you have my poetry of the day

jack69 said...

Very timely entry. While hiking the AT in Mass. I did find an attached tick. I got sick Sherry took me in. The Doctor ran some tests. SAid, as you did, early is the key. He prescribed the Anti-bio. and said take it, it won't hurt if you prove not to have it. I did not have it. But you seemed to say exactly what the Dr. said.
Yeah, we are praying that you have a good rain soon. And we too are waiting to see the project finished!!!
Love from NC, Sherry & Jack

Dee said...

I'm a tick-hater... Oh man they are the pits!
I'm sad to hear your son and other loved ones has lymes. I pray someday the medical folks will find a permanent cure.

I look forward to seeing a picture of your project. I know it'll be charming.

Wishing you a wonderful day!
:)

crochet lady said...

If there is one thing I really detest about living in WI, it's the ticks. I enjoy so much about our state...but sure wish those little monsters were not residents as well.

Suburban Girl said...

Oh I HATE ticks! I've already had one on me this year too. I haven't had Lyme Disease yet but just about everyone I know has! (The only thing I hate more is centipedes. )