Lyme Disease Has Struck

OK So I am going to go all serious here and remind everyone to be very diligent about using bug repellent, etc. whenever you are out in the countryside, woods or grassy fields.
One of our family members has just come down with Lyme Disease and it is as serious as a disease can get. He will be on antibiotics for weeks and if the disease is not caught in time can end up being a life threatening or life long disease.
You may never see the tick that delivers the bite. They are infinitismal, sometimes no bigger than the dot at the end of this sentence. But the reaction to the bite (which can take days or weeks to appear) is a giveaway that you have been bitten. Look for a raised rash with a white area around it and finally a red ring around that...looks like a target bullseye. It can start small and increase in size until it is several inches in diameter. This is followed by a nasty fever and flu-like symptoms. DO NOT IGNORE THESE SYMPTOMS. Get to a doctor ASAP.
If you think you might have had a deer tick bite in the past, don't be shy about asking your doctor to run the blood test to see if you are carrying the antibodies. If you have undiagnosed Lyme disease it can manifest itself as arthritic problems, joint paing and even psychological problems.

Having said all that though..I do not want to discourage people from enjoying the outdoors and all the pleasure that can be derived from camping, hiking, etc. We're all just a little more careful to remember to put on the bug repellent before venturing out. A little common sense goes a long way.

We are just finishing baling hay here and it has been a super year. Lots of rain and perfect sunny days have made this one of the better crops. The Guinea hens have been following the tractor, eating all the bugs that are stirred up (hopefully gobbling up those ticks) and the cows are enjoying the leftover grasses. The goats love to go out early in the morning for their weed and browse breakfast and then doze through the warm afternoons. Sounds like a plan to me!