Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Attack of the Angry Arachnids

brown recluse spider bites, blue toolbox, paint project
I have been away for months it seems like.

I have a great excuse.

I have been bitten seven times by brown recluse spiders while swimming in the pool.

See all the lantana and clematis between the patio and the pool?

I enjoy the jungle look while swimming laps in my private lagoon.




Chucks found several drowned spiders in the skimmer.

Spiders become very angry when drowning.

As I backstroked down the pool, I pulled the nasty arachnids down my body where they found a spot and bit the ever-loving heck out of me.

On five different occasions.

You can go here to see what a bite looks like.

Three rounds of powerful antibiotics, daily careful debriding of the crater-like wounds, and Polysporin and finally I am well.

I have not been in the pool in weeks.

I am very lucky not to have lost any chunks of skin tissue.

I did know NOT to puncture the head on the bite.  It will release the venom into your blood stream.






My faithful sidekick Willie was playing in the garden bed while I painted this toolbox.

A loud yelp and a tremendous leap and frothing at the mouth.

Yes, poor Willie was bitten by something poisonous.

After several shots, antibiotics, and pain meds, he is on the mend.

Both of us have made a decision NOT to stroll about outside.




Started with this unfinished project of someone's.
















Sprayed painted it Aqua Rust-Oleum.
















Sanded and added a Minwax Golden Oak stain to age it.













Added a black handle.

Filled it with small buckets and took it over to the booth.



 

I was finally able to sit down, put my arms to my sides, and turn my neck after recovering from the angry spiders.

Then along came Irma tearing leaves and pine straw and small branches off the trees.

While out raking, I stepped into a fire ant bed.

I am currently NOT a fan of the insect world.

AND in February I will be radically cutting back the jungle! 

Willie insists.



See y'all!







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15 comments:

  1. Well Donna you know that old saying, "when it rains, it pours!" I say in your case that it poured buckets. I am so sorry for the awful pain that you have been through. I didn't know much about brown recluse spiders until we moved to the South. Our Bug Man keeps telling me that they are rare and not to worry about them. Ugh! I think you better let someone else clear out the jungle! I hope that you and Willie get better. Stay out of the bushes girl!
    Love that little tote too.

    hugs,
    Sissie

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  2. Poor you! Goodness! That was some ordeal! I'm glad you're on the mend. You and Willie. Maybe you can swim right after the pool is skimmed? But, it may still not be safe.

    We have some fire ant mounds in the yard. Katie steps on one every time, and she gets bit. I walk around the yard, and I don't ever get bit. The reason why is probably that she's sweeter than I am.

    I'm glad you're back. It's always a treat to read your blog!

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  3. so,so sorry to hear this, but am happy you are on the mend, i know you enjoy your pool so much, hopefully you get to swim again soon xx

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  4. You have really been through it my friend. I got bit once by a brown recluse and it is painful and scary! Cut back those bushes when it gets cold! Meanwhile I do love the paint job on the wood box!

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  5. Oh Donna so sorry about your spider bites. I was bitten by a brown recluse years back and I know with one bite how painful it was and all the antibiotics it took to heal. I was pretty sick with one bite so I cannot even imagine 7 bites. You poor thing. Glad you feel you are on the mend. The paint looks great on the wood box.
    Have a great new week.
    Hugs,
    Kris

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  6. YIKES!! I've been bitten by a spider once... it was awful!

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  7. Oh Donna--sounds just terrible. I'm so glad you and Willie are on the mend. Great to have you back!!

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  8. That sounds terrible. I had no idea that brown recluse liked it near water. I'm so glad you are feeling better. That could have been much, much worse for you.

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  9. Oh my gosh, Donna! I can't imagine what you have been through with all those bites. I'm glad you are healing and that Willie is out of the woods, too. (Literally! haha) I know how much you love your pool time so it is a bad situation all around. I'm always afraid to reach into the skimmers because of spiders. Damn things. Be well and hoping there are no more "events" this year. I myself have had enough of Mother Nature and her wrath for one year. xoxo, T.

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  10. Oh Donna ... how scary. So sorry that you had to go through this. Glad you are on the mend. Glad your dog is better too.
    Love the color on you little box. Glad you are able to get back to work.
    Hugs,
    Audrey Z.

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  11. OMG! You're not safe anywhere! Didn't know about spiders in the pool! Hope you are feeling better.

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  12. Gee whiz, I didn't know spiders swam, but yikes, 7 times! And poor Willie. Do you think his was a spider too? Wow, I'd be afraid to tackle the "jungle." I'm so sorry about your ordeal, but glad to hear both of you are on the mend. I hate spiders.

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  13. I had seen you on FB and Instagram so thought maybe you were just taking a blog break. Ugh how awful, but so happy you are back and that you and Willie are recovering.
    Marti

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  14. I've heard about that particular kind of spiders and they are dangerous. I'm glad you're feeling better, but you must have been worried. It's late in France and I'm about to go to bed so I didn't click on the link to see the bite mark as I think I wouldn't be able to sleep if I did...

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I enjoy reading all of your comments and will always answer with email. I will try to track you down if you show up as a "no reply" commenter to let you know. Friends are like that!