It’s All Picnics And Cartwheels Until The Fire Ants Bite
Mysteries | Posted by Jannie on 14 September 2009 @ 7:21 AM 63 Comments
So, me ‘n Kelly romped in Zilker Park late one afternoon a couple weeks ago. (Zilker connects to our hike-n-bike trail I showed you recently.)
Shared our picnic with the birds.
Had a little snooze.
And celebrated the brand-spanking new bermuda turf which has transformed our previously dusty soccer practice fields into this dreamy expanse.
To walk from this spot to the nearest of those buildings would take about [15 to] 20 minutes, in case your fertile inquiring mind was wondering.
We were also celebrating that Kelly finally lost a tooth.
I was really surprised it took her until almost eight to lose one, especially since a few of her bottom permanent teeth have already grown in behind the baby ones. Oh well, every kid’s different. And getting the adult teeth later can actually make them stronger, I read.
And below, yours truly, by the snaggletooth photographer.
Then things got really interesting…
Searing pains shot along my arm resting so comfortably on the glorious new grass.
FIRE ANTS!!! I4 bites in all.
My arm 3 days after the attack, still quite swollen and very, very sore. The pustule stage came a few days later, sorry I didn’t capture that for you. 
Encroach on a fire ant nest and they’ll wait til a bunch of ‘em are on you before one of them gives the signal to chomp down simultaneously. And chomp those freakers do. Quite expertly.
I spent a very unpleasant night after I got bit, considered going to EMS but opted out once Benadryl relieved my breathing, swollen face and head-to-toe itching. I’d had multiple bites in the past but this was my worst reaction ever. My skin all went bright pink!!! Hilarious.
Luckily Kelly suffered no bites at all that day. And equally luckily she is not allergic to fire ant venom, as I am.
What I learned that afternoon — never ever let my guard down in Texas against fire ants. Ever. Even if I don’t see an apparent “hill” they could still be lurking. Bastards.
My arm is good as new, tho!
And I’m going back to that field this morning. See you there!
P.S. I’ve been a little out of the blog reading loop with Kelly’s birthday and its on-going wonderment this past week. So watch out! Jannie’s gonna pop in to your place soon.
xo
On 14 September 2009 at 7:53 am Glenn Buttkus said,
bad werds can be so very descriptive, and the best solution for some form of clear communication. but then blue bunny was raised in a Catholic hutch, and they pound a lot of nonsense into bunny heads regarding epithets.
Fire ants do suck. You had related this incident a couple of postings ago, but gosh, these pics give us a moment by moment capture of events. Where was the fire ant nest? Just looks like plain flat grass where you were lying. For new turf, that grass looks great.
Heard on the news last night that Austin’s drought is over, and that you received 15 inches of rain in one day recently; lots of flooding too. How are things in Funsterville @ Jannie’s hacienda?
Glenn
H
On 14 September 2009 at 8:08 am Jeanne said,
Ouch, ouch, ouch, Jannie! Being from SE Louisiana, I can commiserate with you on the fire ant thing — they can change our focus pretty darn quick — thanks to their massing on a spot before giving the attack order.
You were so lucky they got you in the arm and not where you were sitting
— that burning stinging onslaught would’ve had you nekkid in a flash, and blue bunny would’ve had a heyday with that!
On 14 September 2009 at 8:42 am Lynn said,
Ooh – this makes me itch for you. Fire ants are the worst! Looked as if you girls were having big fun up till then.
Hey – you got a partial guest post on my blog today.
On 14 September 2009 at 8:57 am Paige said,
OUCH! This one time, but not at band camp…when my sisters, brother and I were kids we would roll down the slight slope that was our front yard. I rolled right into a hill of ‘em. Mom took me to the doctor and they gave me a shot, hummer was always giving me shots, I think she liked it. Mom keep my arm all wrapped up it was horrible and that was the last time I rolled down the front yard.
Stupid ants, they should just go move some rubber trees somewhere else and stay outta yards and parks!
and did the tooth fairy come?
On 14 September 2009 at 9:01 am Lance said,
So – where is it? Did I miss it up above amongst all the pictures? (what are you talking about, she wonders)
Where’s the picture of YOU doing a cartwheel?
And happy 1st tooth loss to Kelly! You know, this is another great reason for celebration.
The fire ants…hmm, that doesn’t look fun at all. Amazing what such a little critter can do.
You’re all better, though (yay!)! Happy Monday!!
On 14 September 2009 at 9:03 am Ching Ya said,
Ouch!! So sorry about that Jannie. Great to know you’re as good as new now.
Those fire ants can be anywhere!! I remember seeing them at the beach and had to flee after one crawling near my foot. Love the pictures and how you told the story.. congrats to Kelly on her birthday too! Did she get anything from the tooth fairy? ^^
p/s: How on earth do you know I’m wondering about how far to reach those buildings???
On 14 September 2009 at 9:12 am Ching Ya said,
Ok..gotta apologize for I have no idea how on earth did I type ‘..on her birthday too!’. I meant ”congrats to Kelly on the tooth’! I wonder if this a sign for me to turn in soon. Should have taken my nap earlier. =P
Forgive me?
On 14 September 2009 at 9:58 am sheila said,
OMG
YUCK
YUCK
YUCK
and
OUUUUUUUUUUUCH!
Hope you feel better soon, that looks frickin PAINFUL!
On 14 September 2009 at 11:18 am cinderkeys said,
Owie.
Makes me glad I live in Tucson. There are biting ants here too, but no grass to lie on.
On 14 September 2009 at 11:37 am Jannie said,
I’m blog-hopping today, whee-hoo.
I am reading all your comments as they come in, but might not type in my responses until HOURS and hours from now. Maybe not even until tomorrow, egads.
Wheeee. A blog-hoppin’ I now go.
On 14 September 2009 at 11:58 am Chris said,
What a fun day! You and Kelly both look bee-you-tee-ful. That’s A LOT of grass.
Those ants are terrible. Your readers who’ve never experienced a fire ant bite don’t realize what you endured. You poor thing. Glad Kelly was spared.
On 14 September 2009 at 1:13 pm Jan Lundy said,
My heart goes out to you today for suffering this horrid bug biting thing. It IS painful. While in Florida a few years back, watching the elderly John Glenn take off into space, I found my feet covered with fire ants. I had no idea how horrible the pain could be. And, of course, it was 90 degrees at least and I had to hobble through Disney World for a week in agony. Though not allergic like you, thank God. I do hope you are feeling much much better! Hugs!
Oops…forgot to say great post! Looking forward to your next one.
On 14 September 2009 at 1:47 pm Barbara Swafford said,
Hi Jannie,
What a lovely park. It’s HUGE!
But oh those fire ant bites. It looks like those were painful. I’m happy to hear you’re doing better.
On 14 September 2009 at 4:13 pm vered - blogger for hire said,
WOW. I don’t think we have fire ants here in NorCal? I have no idea actually. That arm looks nasty. Glad you’re feeling better!
On 14 September 2009 at 5:16 pm Talon said,
OUCH! Those look nasty! Glad they’re healing up for you.
What a beautiful looking park…fire ants or no fire ants!
On 14 September 2009 at 6:23 pm Chris Edgar | Purpose Power Coaching said,
I hope those ants leave you alone this time because I don’t want to see the pustule stage. But seriously, I can totally relate because I had a similar experience when I was a kid. My brother and I liked to roll around in leaf piles, but to my extreme dismay I discovered that wasps like to live in them too. And so I got to see that stage firsthand.
On 14 September 2009 at 7:28 pm Shay said,
owwwwwwwwwwww
On 14 September 2009 at 7:44 pm Walter said,
They may be small but they surely know how to enforce their existence. Humans are not the only significant creatures in this world, we share it with every living creatures. And when we encroach they will retaliate. Ouch!
On 14 September 2009 at 7:51 pm Patricia said,
Wow fire ant stings and allergic reaction – my daughter is allergic to mosquito bites…we have several pictures of her face swollen all out of shape. Glad you are feeling better.
Loved the park pictures and cartwheel, but especially liked to see that missing tooth! Awesome just awesome.
Does the tooth fairy come to your house?
We had a fairy with an apron with a pocket which held the tooth so it would not “go to the mattresses” ( I will let you explain godfather reference)
Hey, and did you know Lance was doing wheelies around and around a new traffic circle in his neighborhood? Yep! he told the whole world, I believe on Tess’ blog
I really don’t have a post until tomorrow – fixing the computer again
On 14 September 2009 at 8:02 pm Cindy said,
Ouch ouch ouch! Fire ants are the worst! Did you know that if they “smell” another one of their kind getting killed, it lets off some sort of pheromone and they attack whatever they are on? I killed one on a blanket a while back and suddenly there were 50+ ants all attacking the blanket. Luckily I noticed fast enough and scooped little Lorelei off of it, otherwise we could have ended up with an ER visit or something.
I’m glad you are better!
On 14 September 2009 at 8:10 pm Lisa said,
Argh! I hate fire ants! My mom is allergic to them, too, so she’s always trying to avoid them (but, like you, is not always successful!). Now me, I’m allergic to mosquitoes — and fortunately, those awesome bats we have here in the city eat the majority of them.
On 14 September 2009 at 8:19 pm karyn said,
I’ve never been bitten by fire ants…. but I know my nephew down in Texas likes to mess with fire ants until they bite.
Glad you took some benedryl. If you can get the homeopathic remedies apis and ledlum. Both are for stings and bug bites. It’ll help if you ever get bitten again.
(Spelling on remedies may be off… I’ll get back to you. And on that flower.. I could not find out what it was. I think it’s part of the rose family though.)
On 14 September 2009 at 8:58 pm Liara Covert said,
Thanks for reminding everyone of their own resiliance. You are indeed inspiration.
On 14 September 2009 at 10:57 pm Holly Jahangiri said,
Put some Adolph’s Meat Tenderizer and a bottle of water in your personal first aid kit, Jannie. At the first sign of bites, mix up a paste (about the consistency of toothpaste) and cover all the bites with it. Leave it on. How long? Not a clue. Till it falls off, I guess. Seriously, though, it helps. I’m not as sensitive to the bites as you are, but I did learn this remedy the hard way – I was at my daughter’s swim meet, and while standing there barefoot, gabbing with other parents, I suddenly had the WORST burning sensation in my leg. Looked down to see that I’d stood right on top of a great big fire ant mound! I raced to the kiddie pool and drowned them (no kids were in the pool at the time, nor would they be until it was cleaned out) – but then went to the office in search of Benadryl. I thought the lady was crazy when she reached into the first aid kit and pulled out the meat tenderizer. But it did work – took the sting out pretty quickly and prevented the blistering.
On 15 September 2009 at 12:46 am Robin said,
Oh Jannie – you poor thing! That’s incredible that they wait till they are all in postion before chomping down – I haven’t heard of a critter doing that before. I hope the wonderment of kelly’s birthday is making up for lt – love from Rob xxxxx
On 15 September 2009 at 2:46 am Jannie said,
So here’s Jannie up at 2:36 a.m. which is just about sacreliege, ’cause I needs to get back to sleep.
A rampant mosquito woke me.
If it ain’t fire ants, it’s mosquitoes.
I’d really like to answer these comments and or blog-hop a bit more but common sense tells me to sink back into the joy of slumber to ready myself for the morrow.
Actually, that morrow is already here.
Today I’ll be doing volunteer work at Kelly’s school to help prepare some of the new curriculum materials. I’ll most likely be doing that most of the day, followed by one of her extra-curricular sports, so you won’t be seeing much of me around here until tonight or tomorrow. Boo hoo.
Tears in eyes at Real Life calling.
Or you can call that “rears in my eyes,” as I once typoed.
Nighty-night.
On 15 September 2009 at 3:04 am SnaggleTooth said,
Wow, your calling Kelly my blog-name!
I hope the Tooth Fairy paid up that 2-years of Tooth-interest…
Sorry to hear you get insect reactions like mine- Never pleasant. May the remainder of your recovery go swiftly! Of course the grass looks great- but after that I wouldn’t be tempted to sit down there again!
Benedryl pills have saved my face I can’t count how many times- If the civilized world ended, If I could only get one thing, what I’d loot from the store is a good supply of that stuff! (to keep me alive)
Oatmeal baths
On 15 September 2009 at 9:03 am Lena said,
Oh, my God Jannie, those bites look bad! My son came home from a soccer game the other day with ‘kisses’ from our national midges. They are dying out now as it’s getting wintery in Scotland and they’re savage with it!
That besides, it looked an ideal day. What I’d give to spend a day there, it looks glorious! And Kelly’s teeth should grow in stronger, I’ve heard my daughter (RDN) speak of this before.
On 15 September 2009 at 2:22 pm Mama Zen said,
Ouch, girl!
On 15 September 2009 at 3:42 pm Ana said,
Wow, what a day! Nice to see you and your daughter in the pictures. Looks like a fun time, minus you getting bitten. That’s not nice at all. I’ve never heard of a fire ant before. What do those little buggers look like?
On 15 September 2009 at 3:50 pm Carol | Stress Eating said,
So sorry about the fire ants – no fun, but I LOVE the first and last pics – really cute. Thanks for sharing!
On 15 September 2009 at 6:05 pm Sara said,
Jannie — We have fire ants here and you are right…they work in gangs. I imagine they have mean looking ant tattoos all over their tiny little legs and they hide, waiting for an innocent victim!
I’ve been bitten before, but never quite the reaction as you…that sounded scary, especially the part about breathing…that’s something you NEED to do:~)
I, of course, love the pictures and the fun you guys are having!
On 15 September 2009 at 7:35 pm Yaya said,
Your daughter always looks like she has enough energy for 20 kids!
Ouch, your arm looks painful. Yikes.
On 15 September 2009 at 7:43 pm Pink Momma said,
Your daughter is so cute and all I can sa6y to those nasty bites is ouch.
On 15 September 2009 at 9:30 pm Davina said,
Oh Jannie, those bites look incredibly painful. I’m glad you’re feeling better. Phew!
On 16 September 2009 at 1:27 am Thomma Lyn said,
EGAD, Jannie! So sorry to hear about your encounter with the fire ants! Dang things sound awful.
I love the pictures of you and Kelly, though — you both look so lovely. And happy belated birthday to your little sweetheart.
xoxoxo
On 16 September 2009 at 6:30 am Jannie said,
Glenn: My sister told me she read that bad words are actually little prayers for help, sudden expletives especially. Did you know that? That’s the thing — I saw no nest, no mound at all. Sneaky adaptable little creatures. They put in new sod late this summer, and an irrigation system. So far they’ve been mowing it every 2 days. Oh yeah – tons of rain here. Jim continues to work on a major new drainage system.
Jeanne: Ya, fire ants on the sitting area would’ve been a very unpleasant experience indeed. And you may not believe this I did not actually see a single ant. Not one. Thought I’d hit poison ivy. Wonder what blue bunny would’ve said about that.
Lynn: We were having us a time indeed, I really don’t have any regrets about the day, it was swell (until I started to swell.) We were almost ready to leave anyway. I was pretty quiet on the drive home. I guess fire ants are a big problem in Atlanta too?
Paige: Your doctor’s name was hummer?
We’ll have to be wary of fir ants out on Enchanted Rock. We’re still on for that, right? SO excited! THey say be there by 1100 a.m. or you mihgt not get parking. Will you be bare-face rock climbing? I’m thinking I might just skip that step. 
Yes, Tooth Fairy brought $2.00
Lance: Part of the reason I passed the camera to Kelly was you mentioned for me to be in some pictures in the hike trail post. So now you want cartwheels?? Okay, okay. I’ll work on something for you on that. I do front handsprings too but it is a bit hard on the shoulders, i noticed that the other day when I did one. Yep, all better, bites fading and probably won’t leave any scars.
Ching ya. I just knew YOU would want to know how far to the buildings. Notice I edited it a bit to say possibly 15 minutes, not so far a walk at all. Fire ants yes, everywhere. Always plotting their evil plans like Sponge Bob’s Plankton. Yep $2 from tooth fairy. You take a nap every day? I just woke up and I’m ready for one already.
Sheila: The worst was at night. Any slight movement would cause incredible pain indeed. Ah, but what’s a week out of my life to be in pain? Just a nanosecond in the Great Scheme. I guess fire ants have not made it up to Ohio yet?
Cinderkeys: Ooochie, indeed. No grass to lie on is an interesting and eye-opening fact for me. I keep thinking of AZ as that place, oh what’s the name… Not Hot Springs. Oh… Scottsdale.
Chris: Really? I thought my hair looked unusually not so cute. (I did my roots since then.) Yah. I take it you are all too familiar with a fire ant bite? Emblazoningly excruciatingly hurtful for such a small creature and a small bite. Yes, so glad Kelly was spared too. I’d take every bite for her if it meant she would be safe.
Oh Jan, that is just terrible about your feet bites and hobbling around Disney. I just fail to see the good in Fire ants. Is there any redeeming feature to them? Yes, my husband would say.”Their only redeeming feature is they will burn.” As in, a fire. Not talking about the burning of their bites. Yucky. Yucky.
Barbara: It is a lovely park yes, and that’s just one section of it. There is also our wonderful hike trail, Barton Springs Pool area, the Botanical Gardens and much more. Yep, all spanking new and happy here, whee-hoo.
Vered: If you had ‘em you’d probably know it. Fire ants were stow-always on ships from S. America early in this century. They are advancing farther North all the time, tho. (Pleasant thought.)
Talon: Not a bad park and very enjoyable not that the cooler temps are hinting around. Ahh, cooler temps. And of course saying that makes me feel a little guilty as I know you haven’t had the best of summer ever, weatherwise. Yet your flowers have proliferated and brought joy to many in the blogosphere. Thank you.
Chris: Ooo, wasps would not be nice at all for me to experience en masse either. Jim and I got a few stings some years back from a woodpile. Those hurt but I find the fire ants got them beat in the sheer longevity of the sting’s ouchiness. But I sorry you got so bit up as a kid. Did they leave scars?
Shay. Yessssssssssssss indeed.
Walter: I once saw this documentary how ants and cockraoches will be the last to go, very adaptable creatures. Am I wrong to wish fire ants did not exist? That’s not very enlightened of me, I suppose. Why DO they exist? And mosquitoes?
Patricia: Yah! Totally awesome about her missing tooth. She is so proud to be growing up. She teethed right about 6 months, and here dad and I both got our permanent teeth quite early, so I was surprised she was on the extreme back-end of the curve. Funny, when Kelly was 4 we bought her a little wooden tooth box but it has long since gone missing. I HAVE to get over to Tess’ blog to read about Lance’s wheelies. I fear I have not been able to visit as many blogs as I would like to lately. And I’m back at the school working in the office on materials again today. Just for a couple hours today, tho.
Cindy: That tidbit does not surprise me at all. When I first came to TX I was out sunbathing and ants got me. When I got the can of raid they attacked the can. I do remember reading or hearing that if a certain percentage of the colony goes missing they immediately relocate. And did you know they will make a bridge out of their own bodies to sacrifice themselves so others can cross the water to be saved. Freaky.
Lisa: Hey! My two Austin girls in a row. Y’all who well know about fire ants. Yay for the bats!! We have friends here who always carry an epi pen for their little boy who is now 3. He almost died twice from ants, and just one bite, poor little guy. In that fire ant article I link to in this post it says more than 80 people so far have died from fire ant bites.
Well, folks, it’s about 6:30 a.m. and I need a 10-minute nap before I have to do some stuff. And later today I intend on napping for a good hour!
On 16 September 2009 at 8:29 am Glenn Buttkus said,
How incredible that I slunk through and garnered the #1 comment spot. Even when it looks like that honor will be bestowed on me, by the time I have typed up a comment and post it, three more Funsters have beat me to the click. I hate it when that happens, or not. You are amazing, young lady. You made it over to my site and read a couple of poems, and left wonderful comments, and then migrated further, on toward all those other blogs, those other lives you touch. I still have this image, after reading all the wonderful commenters, of you getting your 14 fire ants kisses on your keester, and having to whip your white britches down to swat them all. I do believe that blue bunny would have flipped his tail over that one.
Glenn
On 16 September 2009 at 10:50 am Lance said,
Ha! So what is it, ask and I shall receive?? Hmmm…as long as you’re at it, let’s also get a picture of you in those mis-matched socks (or maybe one shot together – Jannie in mis-matched socks doing a cartwheel)…
Buzzzzz….buzzzzz….buzzzz (that’s the alarm clock telling you naptime is over for today!)
On 16 September 2009 at 11:01 am J.D. Meier said,
Wow, those little buggers are nasty. What sucks is you can’t bite them back. Did you tell them to pick on somebody their own size?
On 16 September 2009 at 12:26 pm Tess The Bold LIfe said,
I love the photos of Kelly and am so sorry about the fire ants. Yuk! People are always talking about them in AZ and you just showed me what they’re so concerned about. Thanks to you I’ll be taking them more seriously and be more careful.
I do hope you feel better. XO
On 16 September 2009 at 1:58 pm suzen said,
Holy crap! Those are mean ants! The park and photo’s (except your bites one) are lovely – what an icky ending to a lovely day! I’m sure those critters serve in some way in the “big master plan” of life – but they really outta leave US alone!
On 16 September 2009 at 3:36 pm Dr. J said,
Thanks for commenting on my column, Jannie! Funny, just after I read this post, my pest control guy who was here, said, “Do you want me to spray that fire ant mound by the garage?” Well, YEAH!!!
On 16 September 2009 at 3:36 pm Aimee said,
As my son would say, “Bad bugs!” I’ve never had a fire ant experience, or even seen one, but I don’t think I want to. I hope you’re feeling better…less itchy, swollen, and red.
On 16 September 2009 at 4:27 pm VeRonda said,
OMG… This is horrible. I was going to say how funny the title was with the first pic until I scrolled down. That sucks… Man…
On 16 September 2009 at 7:19 pm She said,
Those ants did a number on your arm! I got bite by a bunch of fire ants in band camp once years and year ago. I didn’t notice until someone else pointed out they were all over me. They tore my poor feet, good thing I wasn’t allergic.
Those pesky things love their sneak attacks on you.
On 16 September 2009 at 7:26 pm teahouseblossom said,
Aggghhh, fire ants!!! I’m glad you jumped up before you got any more bitten!
On 16 September 2009 at 9:49 pm Jannie said,
I am going to bed. Will be delighted to touch base with you here tomorrow and answer not only the comments on this post but the 2 or 3 previous ones too I see a new notes on.
Soooooo tired!
xo
Something I wonder… Is green tea really good for you? And if so, why?
On 17 September 2009 at 2:56 am SnaggleTooth said,
I drink Green tea every single day. It does give me energy n make me feel better. Without it
I drag- It’s full of anti-oxidents, it helps with digestion, plus I really have developed a liking for it n now don’t want to go without!
On 17 September 2009 at 7:18 am Lynn said,
I am around so much concrete in Atlanta that I don’t notice them as much, but I’m sure they are there. Your park looks so much like our Piedmont Park – that’s where they are lurking I’m sure.
Green tea seems a little bitter to me (probably steeping it too long.) I much prefer Red Tea and it has antioxidants, too. I like the straight stuff, but my sis likes the Red Tea with Chamomile right before bed and it keeps her sleeping all night.
On 17 September 2009 at 9:43 am debbie said,
I so hate fire ants. And bless your heart. Those bites look so painful.
On 17 September 2009 at 3:16 pm MiaHysteria said,
OUCH! I’ve never been bitten by fire ants…at least I don’t think I have. By your description, I don’t know how I could miss it. It sounds like it was a horrible time for you (at least at that time). So sorry, but happy the Benadryl kicked in and you’re all better now.
Whoo-Hoo for Kelly losing the tooth!
On 17 September 2009 at 3:30 pm Julie said,
The park and fields are beautiful! Too bad those dumb ants had to come along. I’ve never been in an area where fire ants were a problem, and good thing – knowing my luck I’d get bitten and swell up like a balloon!
Green tea is good for you, it has a lot of antioxidants (and being a science major I can say that and know it’s true… and how it works!) and as long as you don’t chalk it full of calories, you’ve got a good healthy drink.
On 17 September 2009 at 5:24 pm Jannie said,
I do NOT deserve you all.
I know you’ve hear this before, but I totally WILL be answering these comments soon. Totally dudes and dudettes.
And I know like, you come here 50 times a day, hanging on my every syllable.
In fact, you live for Jannie Funster and put me above all else.
Trying to juggle some Real Life things now but I imagine I’ll be freed up in just a jig’s hair, whatever that may be as I just made that up.
And just wondering…
They served us a good-looking piece of carrot cake today except it had mold on one side and when we sent it back the waitress said it was ’cause of the walnut and walnuts go bad fast. Have you ever freaking heard tell of that? I’ve known walnuts intimately ALL my life and I think that was just a hogwash excuse.
We decided against the cake after all. Still, I left the waitress a $5.00 on a $20.00 tab ’cause I blame the owner, not her. You think?
On 17 September 2009 at 6:27 pm Meredith said,
Those bites look really bad. I feel for you.
Early in June, my honey had his first ever fire ant experience, and I realized I kind of take for granted how horrible they are. He’s from Europe, and he was really shocked, first yelping, “oh, something burned me!” and then, once he understood what had happened, saying we have “torture insects” and they should be labeled as “venomous” like snakes are, and so forth. His skin also had a bad reaction.
I’ve only ever had one bad reaction, and it was when my foot was literally covered in bites, and my whole leg swelled up to the knee. Yikes! Hope it heals up quickly. And so glad your sweet little girl got spared
On 17 September 2009 at 8:58 pm Karen said,
Oh my gosh! I had no idea the severity of injury fire ants could do.
On 18 September 2009 at 5:31 am Cath Lawson said,
OMG Jannie – those bites look sore – vicious little buggers. I’m allergic to mozzies and get really nasty bites and swelling, so I can sympathise.
On 18 September 2009 at 6:53 am Jannie said,
Karyn: Tell your nephew to STOP that messing with fire ants! And something about the protein in the fire ant bite makes it different than other bug bites. You were right on remedies spelling. And yes, I think it was some kind of rose, 4 of you concur. And I trust my peeps!
Liara: Well, I could be pretty chipper after the fact. But thank you for your lovely words.
Holly: I well know what you mean about standing on an ant mound. And THANK YOU about that meat tenderizer. Consider it part of my car kit and caboodle now. Almost makes me want to rush to a nest and get bitten just to try it out – Not.
But thanks, thanks a lot.
Robin: And I actually think they are down in their little lairs right now (probably very elaborately-designed lairs,) plotting new schemes right now new ways of terrorizing. The birthday wonderment was lovely yes, went on and on. I CAN’T BELIEVE she’s eight!!
Snaggle: You noticed that eh? Me calling her by your blog name! Hurrah. And your comment about what you would need if the civilized world ended, makes me think it would make a great blog post. What would you take wit you, kind of thing. I’d take my Burt’s Bees chapstick, the one with the zinc in it. And my blue bra.
Lena: In Canada this summer the beach midges gave Kelly about 50 bites on her sweet little legs, which was a lovely site to bring back here to Texas.
Yesterday I walked all the way to the very end of the field, it goes a little further than from where I took these pix.
Mama Zen: Freaking yeah, Girl! But it’s all past now. Yay!!!! Funny, I usually go all summer without getting a single bite, then whammo – at the end of the season I get bit, never this bad tho.
Ana: Fire ants are very small and reddish. With big evil horns, gold teeth. And they dress all in black leather.
Carol: Yes, I love those 2 pix too equally well, as you can see, sandwiched the other ones between them. Funny, that first pix, I flipped 180 and set as our computer back ground p in full screen, which made her look as if she were holding up the world, but Jim made me take it down as it made him feel dizzy.
Sara: Yes, you know what I mean. 80 US deaths so far. Florida’s rife with them too. LOL on their tatoos! Gave me the idea in my comment to Ana, just above. Now don’t be a -getting a big, big bunch of bites, okay??
Yaya: You’ve noticed that, eh? GREAT and apt observation. Yes, my arm hurted me and i felt bad. and sad. and mad at those durn critters.
Pink Momma: Well, yo, baby! Nice to meet ya.
I likes pink too, but have actually started alternating it with the likes of blue and green on my personnage.
Davina: Thanks you me all bedder now. Ouchies all gone, still a bit visible on my delicate skin, but so history , whee-hoo!!!
Thomma Lynn: I sure hope those ants have not yet reached your mountain?! And never will. It was so amazing to actually be able to lie on the grass in Canada without fear of attacks. Sat in some thistles, tho! And the beach midges were bad by times. And mosquitoes too. No black flies tho, those are hell. No moose flies either, which can bite like bastards.
And now, a slight break for station identification, to put up my new post, then come back and revel in the rest of your comments here. Whee-freakie-hoo!
On 18 September 2009 at 8:52 am Jannie said,
Deere Glenne; I seed yoo kame back to reeding mor adn komminting. and my jannies britchees akshully light gray but mebbe had fated wit times.
Lance: Well, you do keep me expanding my comfort zone and have greet suggestions here. Thanks! Mis-matches socks? How about jeans with two different =colored legs. And did you know I have blew eyes? — one blew east and one blew west.
J.D. Bite them back. You make me laff a lot!
Tess: Once you’ve experienced them you get what the whole kerfuffle’s about indeed. May their bites forever remain a mystery (and never a misery,) to you.
Suzen: I bet in heaven fire ants are the most amazing chefs, or something. Must be a place for them in a master plan, yes. What do you think it could be?
Dr J: My husband used to pour gas down their nests and light them. To direct new-comers to out place we just had to tell them to look for the house with all the smouldering spots in the yard. Now we just leave them alone. And wear shoes outside at all times.
Aimee: Bad, bad bugs. Hope you never encounter them either, tho you will no doubt see them when you and I are sipping margaritas in the sunset, pondering the illusion of time’s passing.
VeRonda. It was a moment for me to count my blessings. And a learning experience to never trust the innocent-appearing grass here.
She: Hello and welcome!! Sorry I got behind in my comment responding for a while (that does happen to me from time to time.) And sorry you know first-hand about these little buggers. The bites between the toes are The Worst, I think. And the ones on the butt.
Teahouse, lovely blossom: It was just a searing pain, but I saw no ants. Then my arm got all white patches on it and started to swell. Then I started to itch. Then breathing got bit labored. And my skin got bright, bright pink. But I gud now!
Jannie, you naughty thing!
Snag: I need to think about making it a part of my lifestyle. I think it’s caffeinated, but I need to check on that. As I already have enough caffeine a day.
Lynn: Were you aware that it was on ships that landed in Mobile in the early 1900s, from South America that fire ants came? Blame it all on Alabama!!
Red tea, eh? I must look into that, thanks!
Debbie: You’ve been bit, I take it? Ouchie.
Mia: May you never get a bite. And yes, still so happy here about her tooth gone, and the one beside it soon ready to jump ship.
Julie: Lynn mentions green tea is a bit bitter for her, so I would most probably, yes chock it full of cream, sugar and such. And wash it down with fries, a burger and a thick slice of pumpkin pie with whipped cream.
Jannie: Still can’t get over the moldy walnut.
Meredith: Hi and Welcome, so humbled at your visit and comment. Thank you! Yes, exactly — you feel like you’ve been burned. Poor hubby. And poor you on the swollen leg — I know Exactly what you mean on that. Sucks.
Karen: Educational here, eh? They’re really nasty, you’d never think in this day and age in this fine nation of ours something like these could exist — in urban America. Yet they do. And they suck.
Cath: (Wow, last comment!) And did you know they can survive quite long without food and water. Incredible little surviving monsters.
back to bed soon. Kelly’s home with a low fever today.
No trail for me but I shall attempt 700 buttock lifts and 10 bicep curls this afternoon.
On 19 September 2009 at 6:50 am robbi said,
Festerbit;Sorry that i yam wot you gots bit bi sum bad things.Miffed i is wot wee dunt get to see does pimply things all yellowed up an gooey. I do likes that look, rilly tho yore arm looking cutey pie wif alla red thingys tu, yu shuld keep um likes that, betta thun a tattoos ani daye!Menni huggies two kelli, shee do good piccy things,evun makes u look gud!
On 19 September 2009 at 7:10 am Jannie said,
Deere roobi: my jannie is sleeping but she wood thank you for werds here on her festerred bits. shee all better nowe. BUTT i wonder about yor werds about kelli even make my jannie luk gud. you choosed EVEN make my jannie luk gud, liek my jannie is not lukking gud usuilly??
On 19 September 2009 at 7:15 am robbi said,
Blu Bunny: Oh rabid rabitt, ’twas butt en twusted joking thung rilly,youse Janninny does lukking gude ALLA tyme.I wud sending xxxx’s butt she does gots a jim thingy fer that sew i sending yu sum xxxxxxxxx
On 19 September 2009 at 7:19 am Jannie said,
deere robbe in ’stralia: that’s mor like it!
my jannie wood send big kissings to youe too. i goes wakes her now so she can anser kommints one the newe poste