Thursday, June 19, 2014

Good Fer Nuthin'

That's what I felt like all day today, but I put on my big girl panties and managed to get a few things done anyway.

Why was my wagon draggin'?  Because of lack of sleep last night when we shared our bedroom with some hungry mosquitoes.

Having a bit of an allergy to the bites of insects, I tend to swell up like a pumpkin and have intensive, long-lasting itching from every bite I get.

And I sure do get bites.  If there is a blood sucking insect within ten miles, it will keep searching until it locates me and then dive in for the kill.

No matter how careful we try to be when going in and out the doors during a day's time, we seem to be ending up with some mosquitoes inside this year.

Such was the situation last night.  And it made for a very uncomfortable, sleepless night for me.

This morning when Papa Pea came in from morning chores, he announced that the mosquitoes (outside) were ferocious and given the fact that I already looked like something the cat dragged in pretty beat up, I should stay in today leaving the wood working to him.  I was hardly fit company for myself let alone anyone else so I did stay inside while I baked a rhubarb pie and made two bowls of pasta salad . . . one for me with mayo as a dressing and one for hubby who prefers an Italian-type dressing on his.

Then a couple of hours later when my dear husband stopped in for some liquid libation, he said the bugs had disappeared and it was very pleasant back at the wood working area.  Of course, I didn't want to miss out on any of the fun so I did go out to work with him until noon time.

After lunch I worked in the garden.  Got the last of the weeding done and replanted some bare spots in the row of green beans.

Then thinking about needing (really needing) a good night's sleep tonight, we dug out the mosquito netting I made years ago that fits over our bed and keeps those rasty mosquitoes away from us.  We haven't had to put up the netting for several years, but this year it was time to pull it out again because the mosquitoes are B.A.D.

Now I can hardly wait to get into bed tonight and thumb my nose at those horribly irritating buzzing little buggers trying to get at me as I drift off into a good night's sleep.  Tomorrow I plan on being back up to snuff and able to whip my weight in wildcats.

23 comments:

LindaCO said...

I'm going to suggest this: http://www.amazon.com/Executioner-Swat-Mosquito-Swatter-Zapper/dp/B000MU2MJA/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1403227477&sr=8-2&keywords=mosquito+zapper

We use these in our insectary at work. We also have a tabletop trap with a light in each room there. I don't know how well it works, but I can find out if you want.

Michelle said...

Try using B12 . We use to live in Alaska and my husband heard to take B12 to stop the monsters from biting you. He did it, I didn't. He never got bite! I got ate a live!!!!! He started taking it it in the early spring by summer he had enough in his system . I don't know how many days you have to take it before it starts working. But I know it works. I took it the next year and was not bitten.

tpals said...

The mosquitoes are horrible this year! Lots of standing water around here lately. I don't react like you to their bites, but spider bites turn into huge lumps that linger for months.

Akannie said...

All the bugs are bad here this year...hot hot hot today, but the boy and I managed to get a truckload of compost into the potato bed and hilled those bad boys. Nearly killed me, lol. Tomorrow we will be putting straw down in all the beds. Once again my wonderful son took the truck up the road and brought home a bed full of bales.
A little nervous--twice today we have seen a huge deer meandering about the yard...a sight we haven't seen in years. If he knows what's good for him--he'll just keep moving.

Tami said...

So you're a "Sweet Meat" too, Huh? LOL

I was reading the comments above. B12? I take that. Don't know if it works against the skeeters (haven't seen any yet) but everything else still finds me yummy.

Must be all the sugar I eat. Terrible sweet tooth lately!

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

Oh gosh, that sounds bad. I have to use chickweed salve on bites. It really takes the itch and swelling out of them.

Misty Pines Homestead said...

Tea tree oil and lemon juice and water in a small spray bottle.We live next to a pond now and I spray it on hubstead me and the dog! The sqitters don't like it!

Mama Pea said...

LindaCO - We'll definitely look into that lead. Thanks much!

Susan said...

I am so happy you brought up this subject - I am nothing but a moving target in the summer, too. Now I have three good ideas - I will arm myself with that electric thingy, after taking copious amounts of B12 and squirting myself with tea tree oil, lemon juice and water! I hope all of that, plus your netting helps you get some much-needed sleep. I always said you were a sweetie... :)

Mama Pea said...

Michelle - We take B12 regularly but our Minnesota bugs seem to like it! One year I avoided all sugar for 6 weeks before bug season started because I read they are drawn to sugar in your blood stream. That didn't help either. Neither did eating a lot of garlic. (But at least that kept the vampires away.)

Mama Pea said...

tpals - Your reaction to the spider bites sounds like a specific, slightly poisonous (at least to you!) spider is chewing on you.

Mama Pea said...

Akannie - Well, since you've been eating out of your food stock anyway . . . ;o}. That huge deer had better relocate himself or he'll end up in Freezer Camp!

Mama Pea said...

Tami - As I said above, the B12 doesn't seem to work for me. My hubby has the sweet tooth in the family but he doesn't get bit nearly as much as I do. It's not fair, I tell ya, it's not fair!

Mama Pea said...

Kristina - Chickweed salve, eh? Seems to me we might even have some of that. I'll check it out. Thanks.

Mama Pea said...

Amanda Pope - Could/would you share the proportions of the tea tree oil, lemon juice and water for your spray, please? I have all the ingredients including spray bottle so I'd give it a try pronto!

Mama Pea said...

Susan - What I am is bug bait! When outdoors during the summer, people set me up as bait. They gather around me because all the bugs are drawn to me like a magnet and no one else gets bit!!!

Sue said...

I know they've been "clinging" onto us when we come inside, so there's always a fresh batch to whack. Sorry you didn't get much sleep. I hate to laugh at someone elses expense, but I did roar when you said "whip my weight in wildcats". Cute!
And you didn't take off the Sue's Journal-The Other Stuff off your reading list yet. Please--does the whole world need to see how beautiful I am (Ha. Haha. Ahahahahahhahahahahah)

Mama Pea said...

Sue - I don't know HOW to remove that sexy, sultry picture of you showing on my reading list. I am an impossible computer illiterate and I keep forgetting to ask my computer guru (daughter) to do it for me. Besides, you shouldn't be so modest.

Anonymous said...

You should take up smoking...just kidding. I am an occasionally smoker and I never get bit by mosquitos (they hate nicotine, I suppose). They land on my skin and do not even attempt to put their nasty proboscis into me before they take off! It's wonderful. However, smoking is not a good idea but catnip is! I have heard that it has more "deet" in it than any deet product on the market. It is a natural deterrent, unfortunately the cats will be all over you. Just snip a branch and rub it all around, making sure the oils get around your ears, neck and face or anywhere those buggers find you most appealing! Hope this helps. Beware though, catnip self-seeds and can end up anywhere in your garden. I've heard it makes a good tea.

Mama Pea said...

Anonymous - Smoking, huh? Well, there's a new one I've not heard before! Although I think you're maybe just one of those lucky people who don't get bothered by the biting insects. My dad was a smoker (until his later years) and was always horribly bothered by mosquitoes.

I'd not heard of the catnip as a deterrent either. That might be a healthier one to try . . . if you didn't mind being followed by a pack of cats!! Thanks for the info.

Misty Pines Homestead said...

Sure just got caught up here lol.Small spray bottle ( I used a bottle that had body spray in it)a couple of drops of tea tree oil,a couple of squirts of lemon juice(I use lemon juice in the yellow bottle from the produce section of the grocery store) and fill up with water. You can use this on animals,my dog hates it.

Misty Pines Homestead said...

oh shake it up and it should look like almost coconut milk.It'll be a whitish color.

Mama Pea said...

Amanda - Thank you so very much for the proportion info. We're definitely going to give it a try!