It must have been one of the small wasps we have so many of because I was stung half a dozen times or so on my back. It burned, was swollen and hurt like crazy all night. This morning it is all still swollen about 6 inches across but I have kept everything off of the area and don't touch. The wasps are small, about 1/3 the size of the regular type. But the sting is mean! My eye is still swollen but the swelling is going down and it doesn't itch or hurt much at all. Cold sure feels good on it but that means taking off the glasses and I can't work on the computer or do anything at all. I am really beginning to wish for winter and no more bugs. We are being invaded by what are called click bugs. They don't seem to hurt anything unless they are disturbed and leave their brown yucky liquid behind. The can fly short distances by making this click and away they go. They have a fairly hard shell so you cannot kill them by hand, they will stab you with a body part. Ouch! But a wad of toilet paper is enough protection to do the deed and drop the mess in the trash can.

I had asked Byron Tumlinson about the willow leaf potion and he said he knew of using the layer inside the bark to make the potion for pain relief. He remembered times of old when a willow tree was planted by every pond. Critters would come from far away just to drink of the water. He also gave me the recipe for taking the branch and getting the layer below the bark for making the potion. Will try them all. We cannot afford to buy a new supply of anti-itch medicine. 

Like Randy, Bryon has never been affected by stings or bites. Lucky guys. Kathy Vilseck says that she is not but her husband is. He is the one with the bad reaction to poison ivy so they needed the willow potion for his rash. In our new house, it will be tight and there will not be a constant invasion of insects during the summer. 

I keep having to rewrite my notes. Dorothy Tweedt had told me about slapping the chigger bites to kill the beast but it seems to only work before the skin is broken and the blood appears. The bites first appear as a big blister. It doesn't get them all but it did lessen the number. After the skin is broken, it does make the pain and itch let up but it still takes several more weeks for the wound to go away.

As I write this, 08-03-04, my left eye is swollen shut and I can hardly see. My eye is black and very sore. It waters constantly and it looks to be 3 or 4 stings on the eyelid. A little sweat make it all the worse and I wake at night with my eye glued shut. This is at two weeks and it is getting a bit old. I am ready for a harsh winter with no bugs to bite or sting. I don't want to even mention the dozens of bites between my wrists and ankles and the top of my head. 

Just before I lost everything in Outlook last week, I had received a few notes from Kathy & Jack in New York. They mentioned making a garlic spray and spraying ones self with the potion. That should keep anything and anyone well away from you. I know that crushing a few mint leaves and rubbing over arms, neck and face will do the same thing and not be quite so offensive. I am pampering my mint plants and when they get to going well, I will start harvesting a few every morning.

Kathy Vilseck has also mentioned using the Skin So Soft to keep bugs away but I am not one to use perfumes as they give me a big time headache. Chanel also uses the Skin So Soft, read her notes below.

If you have items to add, just send me an email.