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Almost every year it seems, one magical day, every bug in our world suddenly awakens. One day, only a few intrepid insects are wandering around. The next day, swarms of mosquitoes, gnats, flies, and wasps, are buzzing about around your head and carpenter ants are marching across your feet. Because of the recent warm weather, at our house, that magical day happened this week.
Fortunately, we managed to get the screens in on our deck, about a day before this year's bug onslaught. So we've been enjoying some quality time outside reading on the deck watching bugs slam into the screens. It's quite satisfying.
Of course, journeys into the unscreened wilderness now require full bug regalia. We both have old thrift-store long-sleeved button-down shirts that we spray with copious amounts of bug repellant. Our "bug shirts" hang in the shop for easy access and also to keep the stench of Deet localized behind closed doors.
We also have brought out our "spider sticks" that we wave in front of us as we wander down the forested trails. Yes, the arachnids are awake now too. The eight-legged element has been busily spinning webs between the trees on either side of the trail. After walking face-first into a few spider webs, you realize why taking the spider stick on the walk with you is a fine idea (even if you do look like a goober using it).
This year, we got our ant traps out early, so the carpenter ant contingent has been reasonably quiet until today. Apparently, today's cloying, humid, wanna-be-stormy weather caused a horde of them to wake up and march into the south side of the house. So it's been a big day of squishing. Eeww.
The good news for folks attending Lost in the 50's this weekend is that it's usually a lot less buggy in town. But if you venture away from the concrete, beware the insects. They're out there.
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