Tick-ing and slithering our fears away

For the most part, Damian and I are pretty fearless when it comes to the outdoors. We've been whitewater rafting in class 5 rapids, mountain climbing, and camping in bear infested woods. Damian has slightly one-upped me because he has been sky-diving and has backpacked through many national parks. We like to focus on adventure more than fear.

However, when it comes to two small creatures - the tick and the snake - we can both be wrought with fear and anxiety. Mine is ticks. His is snakes.

This week, I woke up at 6am because I was hot; then, I felt something crawling on my neck. I turned on the light and found a bloodsucking tick crawling on my neck. I tried to go back to sleep and felt something else crawling on my chest. It was another tick! The paranoia started to set in and I felt bugs crawling all over me and couldn't go back to sleep. When I went to work, I ran my fingers through my hair and found another tick sucking on my scalp above my ear. EEEKKK! To say that I was freaked out would be an understatement. I am not a girl that squeals when she sees bugs. In fact, I actually think bugs are fascinating little creatures, but I draw the line at Lyme disease carrying creatures. If you have read anything about Lyme disease, you would know that it can cause you neurological and physical problems for the REST OF YOUR LIFE! I am not having that!

When it comes to snakes, I have seen Damian jump back 10 feet when he came across a garden snake. Being the good fiance I am, I have only slightly teased and taunted him about this for the past year. :) Even our dog has tried to help him with his fear by trying to eat snakes in front of him; however, I don't think it helped. He gives me continuous updates about any snakes he sees at the farm and gladly lets me walk the dog through the tall snake-infested grasses around the farm.

Today, our fears did not go away, but we have made steps towards conquering these fears. After seeing a black snake pop its head out from underneath the black plastic we just laid down for weed suppression on back part of our farm, Damian stated, "one good thing about black snakes is that they eat the eggs of the poisonous snakes." Damian said something positive about snakes!!  Wow! As for me, I looked up pictures of ticks on the internet and found out that the ticks on me were American dog ticks, which do not carry Lyme disease. What a relief!

I continue to look up organic ways to keep the ticks off of me - by putting my hair in a tight bun and using things like coconut oil and plant based bug deterrents - rather than using toxic DEET products.  Damian continues to wear his high top boots to farm in so that no snakes will be able to bite at his ankles. :) We are not going to let these creatures to keep us from farming.