Rain, Anyone?

Rain, Anyone? Everyone that this reporter has interviewed can’t remember a summer with so much rainfall. Sure, we’ve had rainy days before but to get three, four and five inches in a short amount of time is quite phenomenal and quite dangerous. It seems that a low pressure system has been hovering over Virginia and North Carolina since the month of March.

In an instant, rain is pouring. It’s also amazing that the rain can be pounding one side of a road and leaving the other side dry.

One can almost watch the grass grow. It has been many moons since we cut our grass at the beginning and at the end of each week. Then, it is between showers! Usually in July the grass is brown and crunchy but this July is truly beautiful. I suppose that no one has had to water their flowers or gardens.

Basements are flooded, roadways are impassable, trees are falling, fields are full of mud and there is a lot of cleanup in progress.

Along with this wet weather come our favorite things: mosquitoes, mayflies, Japanese Beetles, gnats, ticks, snakes and creepy-crawly bugs.

Please be careful when you’re outside. Make sure that you empty any containers of standing water because they allow mosquitoes to breed. Check for water in outside toys, old flowers pots, etc.

Besides sunscreen, spray on bug repellant before working or playing outside. With wet leaves and grass, the bugs will be looking for you.

Also, watch out for poison oak and teach your children how to spot it. The leaves are huge now and just waiting to reach out and touch someone. These “leaves of three” contain urushiol, a chemical that triggers rashes on most people. Even if you don’t think you’ve been near poison oak, wash your hands and other exposed skin areas thoroughly when you come inside.

Be ever mindful before petting your dogs and cats that stay outside. If they have been in the woods playing or stalking prey, their fur has probably been touched by a lot of poison oak. Some of the worst cases of poison oak come from folks rubbing their outside pets.

Check your body from head to toe for ticks if you’ve been in your yard or any wooded area. Wear light clothing because ticks are easier to spot while crawling on light colors.

Beware of spiders! Be sure to read information about the dangerous ones. The black widow and the brown recluse can be found in this area. The black widow is roughly the size of a paper clip with venom 15 times stronger than a rattlesnake’s venom. The brown recluse has a violin shape on its back and doesn’t usually bite unless provoked. To prevent unexpected bites, wear gloves when working outside.

We all know the results of the dreaded chigger. I become itchy just thinking about them. Those little mites will bury themselves under the skin anywhere your underwear elastic touches your body. Be sure to have anti-itch cream on hand.

Don’t sit on the ground while fishing or picnicking. One will discover those little chiggers later when taking a bath. Be safe, be happy and have a good summer.