I think no bedbugs. This based on finding nothing in my steam clean frenzy AND nothing in the traps that have been in place for 2 nights.
Based on reading/research, info from friends/neighbors/countrymen … my current thinking is that there is something in the woods that bit me. And then, a reaction (hives) to those bites.
There are definitely bites and also welts that do not seem to be bites.
I’m taking antihistamines late afternoon and overnight … schedule because I have only Benadryl which knocks me for a loop and the Jeep was at service so I could not get an alternative.
BUT, I have the Jeep back and and now a hopefully non-drowsy alternative.
Even so, the afternoon/night time antihistamine dose has helped. Also, I am walking in the woods in tall boots, long pants, long sleeved shirt.
Onward!
Wild rose??? what a pretty bud!
Bergamot … or as I call it, the court jester flower.
First, thank you to all who commented and emailed such lovely birthday wishes! Always appreciated, but especially now!!
And even the emails from companies for whom I am a client. Several discount codes which I might take advantage of, but also some special wishes:
A lovely watercolor image from my Medicare Part C provider. And there is a story.
Last Fall, I was approaching my Jeep after grocery shopping and a man of my vintage (maybe a bit more), asked me about the Jeep. We chatted and somehow ended up on health insurance and Medicare. He gave me the name of his Part C representative with HIGH recommendation. Sarah, returned my calls immediately and ultimately, I went with her company, Humana, for my Part C. Sarah also guided me through the Medicare signup and we hope to meet for a cuppa when it is safe. I owe “Bob from the grocery parking lot” but that is as much as I know about him except that Sarah agrees with me that he is a thoughtful, sweet, gentleman!
Then… hopefully the below link works. I am not sure how long these links stay live. This is a JibJab video customized with Auggie and Emmett headshots for my birthday e-video-card. I LOVE it! (it might not look like a link, but click on the text below.
Meanwhile, bedbugs or woods bugs or hives???? I have received much advice as well as my neighbor, a retired pharmacy tech who has seen a lot … she retrieved me from dropping off the Jeep for service. We talked, she looked at the welts … a new thought. I dunno. I have looked at many internet photos.
BUT. The bedbug traps arrived today and they are installed so we’ll see tonight.
My hand in the photo for size reference. The traps are largish to accomodate bed legs of various sizes. There is some slippery stuff in the base and the idea is that bedbugs, that do not fly or jump, will become enmired in whatever and then we will know!
We are ready. All 4 legs of my bed are set in the traps to see what we can see.
Holy COW! I never, ever thought that I would have this kind of mystery. I am not sure what to wish for. I’d love if there were no critter infestation in my house, but if a woods thing … no resolution until a killing frost. And if hives … why and from what?
***Note the next morning 8/18 … no bugs in traps. I think I am happy about that.
But to end on a fun note. If you watched the birthday e-video-card and liked it, here is an Apple video that I continually laugh at. The video is a kind of subliminal promo for Apple OS collaborating tools, but if you have paid attention to current “Zoom meeting” stuff re the whole Covid-19 work from home paradigm … anyway, it is hilarious if you have some context.
For the record … I kind of identify with Bridget, although a much older version…
I think so as in I am being bitten in the night (Emmett is VERY itchy) and I have ruled out fleas and mosquitoes, so we are left with bedbugs.
After extensive research … I dunno! I have seen none of the signs: rusty blood/bedbug poop spots… on sheets or my bright, white mattress. But, I’m not sure what else it could be.
I first thought mosquitoe bites, but so many and overnight and no waking up to the whining of them … plus, at this point of Summer with heat and dry, it is very RARE to have mosquitoes here.
Fleas … rare also, plus Auggie and Emmett are both on Flea/Tick preventative. AND I brushed them both on a white sheet … nothing. AND Auggie had his yearly checkup on Friday … flying colors and all of that plus no mention of any skin anomalies.
What’s left? Revenge of the spiders ( I am not a spider fan and if they make an appearance inside … history), or bedbugs. Considering the regularity of the bites (nightly) and amount ( a LOT!) … I am left with bedbugs.
Whatever, I decided bedbugs. I first laundered all bedding and hoped for the best.
Sill being bitten, I decided on a DRASTIC course of action: Full on steam clean, throw out some old pillows/bedding, launder or dry at high heat all other stuff.
Here we go!
Bedroom mid steam clean. Steam/heat is recommended. I steam cleaned the mattress, the platform base (I have a platform bed, no box springs) … platform is slats with plenty of air! Anyway, I took my bedroom apart and steamed the platform, the mattress, baseboards, walls, ceiling trim, floor, furniture … the bedroom was steam cleaned after an all over vaccum.
Airing out after the steam…
Same thing in the “boys room” which has a mattress/box spring day bed.
A lot of mouse poop, dust, etc. behind the day bed … but no evidence of bedbugs ???
BUT, I did find a long lost toy…
Lousy photo, but Emmett was thrilled at the toy find and has been keeping it close :)
All of the pillows and bedding got tossed outside. Per my reading, it is very easy to allow for the little buggers to transfer, hence … everything outside. Some things will be trashed, but some are to be laundered and dried at HIGH HEAT.
Yikes! Well, I have high hopes for no transference inside … We will see.
The boys’ room: vacuumed, steam cleaned and awaiting laundered bedding … while currently being blocked off to at least Emmett.
Kind of crazy. This is my first issue with overnight bites and considering the woods, dust, pets on everything … I don’t know what lead to this catastrophe!
As in the boys’ room, my bedroom awaits clean bedding.
I hope this works, but per my reading it sometimes takes multiple cleanings. I’ve ordered some residual bedbug stuff, some bed leg traps AND an ultrasonic device…
This was 1 of 2 Pileated woodpeckers right outside my “office” window. And they were joined by a Gray Flicker. I could not capture all, so you will have to take my word for it.
The Pileated woodpeckers (Woody Woodpecker :) ) are fun to see and hear … they have a distinct call. BUT, they are also a bit destructive and can quickly kill a vulnerable tree … circle of life…
Weather wise, we have had the cold whoosh front and at 5:35 p.m., on August 12, it is 64F and falling!!!
A warm fish pie is in the offing for supper!
A cat day!
And in the background, you can see 64F!
Work week is going well.
In the life background: COVID-19 stuff…
And then, I saw:
I follow Gone with the Wynns on YouTube and I highly recommend their channel. Jason and Nikki Wynn are extraordinary story tellers, photographers, videographers and overall super-nice and upbeat persons!!
BULA is a Fiji word. It means so much: hello, life is good, hail fellow well met, etc., etc. Google for more. But, the main thing is the “leave your worries here” box.
We all need a worry box to deposit our worries, don’t we??
Wednesday thoughts: deposit worries in a box, close it up, walk away and have a glass of wine or tea or coffee or whatever … with your dog, with your cat, with both … on your front porch or wherever you can sit peacefully … by yourself or with whoever.
Cheers.
Bonus: A recent video from the Wynn’s. They are on Fiji. Headed back to their boat, which was hauled out on Tonga for last year’s cyclone season … they got caught in “Borders closed” due to the pandemic. Their channel explains all … here is a link to the video.
The days are noticeably shorter … darker mornings, longer dawn and dusk and as we’ve had a wonderful cool off … I’m hoping for an early Autumn. I might be a little disappointed as there is a warm up to 90’s plus for next week. Maybe the forecast will be wrong.
Meanwhile:
Morning half moon high in the sky as Emmett and I were out this morning.
So, we are actually only halfway from Summer Solstice to the Autumnal Equinox.
