Black Fly Bite Aftermath

Two days ago I was bitten just above the forehead by a black fly. As I mentioned in my last blog I really suffer once I've been bitten. I thought you would like to see what I looked like today. Gravity has taken hold of the swelling in my forehead and pulled it down to my eyes and nose; it continues to move down my face hopefully dissipating as gravity pulls it south.

When I woke up this morning my right eye was completely swollen shut; by the time I got to work I had managed to force it open enough in order to work. The first picture was taken once I arrived home at 4:30 this afternoon and the swelling has gone down quite a bit on my eyelids. My nose is still quite swollen which made wearing glasses today very uncomfortable. For comparison sake I've attached a picture of my face as it is normally. This morning I applied my makeup as usual hoping it would lessen the effect; but looking at this picture I do believe it made things worse.

So now you can see why I need to move from black fly country (Northern Ontario). I thought my face was bad four years ago after three bites this is infinitely worse and after only one bite.

BLACK FLY COUNTRY

A BLACK-FLY (from NABFA website)

This picture is of a black-fly, obviously a lot larger than reality, being no more than 1/4 inch if that in size. If you have ever been to Northern Ontario you will know all about these pesky insects.

When we moved to Nipigon, Ontario I never realised, until the first time I was bitten what Richard meant when he said, "Just wait until you see the black-flies; I only hope you don't react to them like you do mosquitoes."

A mosquito will send me indoors for the bug spray, black-flies keep me indoors. They don't just sting, they bite and leave a bloody mess. They love to bite around your face, behind your ears; on your neck; at your hairline; before you know what has gotten to you, you are bleeding. They will bite anywhere that isn't covered. They swarm you just for being outside.

Anyway getting back to the first time I was bitten. Three bites; one very near my bottom lip; one at the corner of my eye; and the other one towards my ear, all on the left side of my face. Before I knew what had gotten to me my eye had swollen shut, my lip was so big I could barely talk and the whole side of my face was one swollen mess. Only three bites, within minutes of each other. Needless to say I headed for the Doctor's office. His verdict; "black-fly bites"; the remedy; antihistamines and don't go outside without a bug jacket on during black-fly season. I've heard so many times "they are gone by the end of July". I'm sorry folks but they are not all gone by the end of July.

I've tried to do as the Doctor instructed; wear a bug jacket, have you ever worn one of those things to work in the garden? They are hot and if you don't ensure it doesn't cling to your skin the black-flies still get to you. So unless there is a strong breeze outside I do not go out to work in the garden.

So why do I bring this pest up now? I've lived here for over five years, surely I've learned? Well no! Tonight there was a nice breeze and no heat and I thought it would be a great opportunity to be outside doing some weeding. I did not put on the bug jacket, there did not appear to be any of the pests about. Little did I know.

I had been out for maybe 10, 15 minutes at tops and I knew; just above my forehead in my hair one of those pesky flies had scored. That was it, in I go; straight to the bathroom to view the damage. Sure enough, before my very eyes the patch of red appears, then the rosy hue of my skin begins at the hairline slowly spreading down towards my eyebrows.

I've taken an antihistamine, to cut down the reaction; found the ''After Bite" and the ice pack; none of these truly work as the surrounding area will swell and stay that way for several days no matter what I do. Every so often I put the cold pack to the area just to cool things down. The itch won't start until sometime tomorrow, it will just pulsate, but it will come and last for a good week. The swelling will ease in a couple of days; but the lump at the actual bite site will stay for a good week with the itch and weeping sore.

So can you blame me for saying I don't want to live here anymore. I love to garden, to go for walks, to sit outside in the sun; non of which I am able to do here in Nipigon. So does anyone know of a good Lutheran Church that would love a strong confessional Pastor; and isn't in Northern Ontario in black-fly country; because I know a Pastor's wife who would love to have her husband move. Five years with black-flies is quite enough for me!.

TAGGED!

It is now time for me to respond to Laura's Tag. The idea is I answer seven questions that were put to me and tag those I would like to know more about. I have very few friends that have their own blog, so forgive me that I do not tag anyone other than my daughter and so draw a halt here to this particular tag.

1. What was I doing 10 years ago? That would be Richard's summer of Vicarage. We were in Bruce, Alberta. Bruce is a small hamlet east of Edmonton. The biggest event of the year is the Bruce Stampede; a one day professional rodeo circuit event. It actually lasts for two days but only one is for the professional rodeo the other day is for the local area people to show what they can do with pigs, horses, etc.
2. What are five things on my to do list for today (in no particular order)? I don't actually have a to do list, but if I did it would have included: attend Bible study and morning service; phone my Mum in England and maybe my sister, also in England; wish my husband a good week and safe trip as he heads to the local Lutheran Camp as the Pastor of the week; work on my genealogy files for my BOXALL One Name Study; remember to eat (Richard usually does all the cooking so I will be fending for myself this week); fold the laundry that Richard washed yesterday (yep he also does most of the laundry).
3. What snacks do I enjoy? Ice Cream has to be at the top of the list; I love Pearson's Salted Nut Roll, which we can only by when we head south to the USA; Gourmet Jelly Beans; Malteezers.
4. Things I would do if I were a billionaire. First of I would give a large portion to Confessional Lutheran Programs; then I would purchase a almost top of the line Class A Motor Home and a new car that could be towed; I would give to my children and invest for my grandchildren; I would buy an aquatic leg so I could go swimming, and a leg so I could wear regular ladies shoes instead of trainers all the time.
5. Places I have lived. As a child: born in Southbourne; toddler in Nutbourne; teen in Westbourne, all of which are in West Sussex, England. elementary years in Alverstoke, Hampshire; late teens in Denmark Hill, London; Middleton, Lancashire; twenties in Oldham, Lancashire. Then I emigrated to Canada: Edmonton, Gibbons, both of which are in Alberta; MacNutt, Saskatchewan; Nipigon, Ontario.
6. Jobs I have had. Junior in the accounting office of a hardware and lumber merchants; Cadet in the Salvation Army; accounting machine operator in another hardware and lumber merchants; stay at home mother; assistant to an accountant; part-time & full-time Administrative Assistant; book-keeper/accountant; Pastor's wife; A/P & G/L Accountant.
7. People I would like to know more about (in no particular order). To be honest I have no idea who I would put here; those who have died would be my Great-grandparents James and Caroline BOXALL.

So there you are Laura. A little more about who I am and where I've come from. Maybe one day I will write my story especially for my children, because now I am older I realise that I really would like to know about my mother's life growing up. Not that she has died; she is very much alive but will not talk about the part of her life that I was not around for.

Evette if you read this consider yourself TAGGED!

The Flower of the Day

Wild Lilly-of-the-Valley

I've been back at work for one week. My holidays seem so far away yet it is only 7 days since we arrived home. It has been a very busy week. I managed to complete April and close the books. This was delayed as I had to first sort all my mail and enter the invoices and make a cheque run. This took me 2 1/2 days to complete. Once I closed April I began working on the May Journal Entries.

I now have one week to complete May and June ready for submission. It will mean working extra time in the evenings and next week-end. I worked today for a few hours and may go in tomorrow. Dead-lines are very important, but this is the first year that I have had one at the first quarter; usually the government give us a break, and don't require a submission until the 2nd quarter. In the past they have taken into consideration the audit and summer vacations; things change; and now we have a 1st quarter submission by July 30th; I'm hoping that we have been granted am extension.

I've always prided myself on keeping up with dead-lines, but this past year that did not happen. I don't believe there was any month that I wasn't struggling to meet the necessary closing date. Much of the time it has not been my fault, I'm the employee that receives from other departments and if they are late then I'm late.

There was a time when I enjoyed work but that has long gone. It's amazing what a difference it makes when you have to work. When there is absolutely no other choice; you work because you must. While it was because I wanted to work for a short while, I looked at it as a challenge; but as time has gone by, work load has increased and the reason for my working has changed; I enjoy my job less and less.

My vacation did help to pull me back from being stressed and at breaking point. Now with renewed energy I believe I can meet the necessary new deal-line. Of course I also have at least another week of holidays, if not two, to come. At least the last two weeks away were not all the vacation time I shall have.

HIGH FALLS AT GRAND PORTAGE

The Flower of the Day

Black Snakeroot

High Falls at Grand Portage has to be the gentlest of hikes. It begins on paved paths then wooden boardwalks to the falls. Designed with the tourist in mind. The falls are spectacular and well worth the stop. There are three platforms built to take in the best photographic shots possible. This is the first stage.



The second stage; I love the view through this small mountain ash.


Richard is standing on the upper stage, via the boardwalk.


And the third and final platform view.

Remains of an 1899 log flume built to circumvent timber from the trip over the falls, also the Canadian side of the falls.

This view of the bottom of the falls shows the intensity of churning waters; approximately 3,200 gallons of water per second pour over these falls.

Our final hike was one mile round trip. We made this on Friday before crossing the border back into Canada. The weather had become fairly cold and very wet; as we were so close to home the decision was made to return a day early. Vacations are always too short. We hope you have enjoyed following our trip this year.

BRULE RIVER LOOP

Flower of the Day

Cow Parsnip

Brule River is in Judge C.R. Maney State Park. We walked an extra spur to take in all the wild flowers and see where the Brule River flows into Lake Superior.

The trail was fairly easy to negotiate. With lots of stops to take pictures of the flowers and River.

Cow Parsnip can grow to as much as eight feet tall. At this point of the trail it was beginning to get pretty overgrown.

This is the end of the River where it flows into Lake Superior. It looks so peaceful at this point; yet a mile up stream it's raging over rocks. On each trail we've been on, we've been amazed at how the rushing water masks the sound of traffic on the highway.

We did this hike in the morning as the weather isn't too great today. After the rain in the early afternoon, Richard and I played mini golf. Not as much fun as we would usually have. I guess we both are realising that our holiday is coming to an end. Tomorrow we leave Grand Marais and will park in Grande Portage a couple of miles south of the Canada/USA border. Then Saturday we will be home again. Holidays are always too short!

DEVIL TRACK WILD FLOWER WALK

The Second Flower of the Day

One-flowered Wintergreen

Also called Wood Nymth. A miniature plant with a rosette of evergreen leaves at the base of the flower stem. These few plants were growing in a patch of moss.

My surprise from Richard; a Wild Flower Sanctuary. This was a very short trail but meandering, with lots of obstacles for me to clamber over and under. It would have been very disappointing if we had gone here first; as there was very little in bloom. The labels for the various plants had not been renewed, many were hard to read or completely blank.



A glimpse of Devil Track River which the hike gets its name from.


Although this is not a flower, it is a very impressively coloured fungi. I will have to search for the name once home. When I first spotted this through the trees, it looked like a piece of garbage.


Another shot of the Wood Nymph, Richard is holding a bloom up so we can see the face of the flower.

This is the only sanctuary of local flora on the North Shore of Lake Superior. It is the sort of place you would want to return to at different times of the year just to see the various flowers that bloom there.

I look forward to seeing what Richard has in mind for tomorrow (today).

OVERLOOK SNOWSHOE TRAIL

The Flower of the Day

Blue-eyed Grass

This flower is said to be very hard to find. Having to watch where I put my feet while hiking, I managed to spot this clump of grass in bloom.

This is the map above Grand Marais on Gun Flint Trail giving a great indication of what the view is and oriented for the viewer, N. is at the bottom of the map. The furthest northern point of Lake Superior is Nipigon, if you follow the map half-way up the left side is Grand Marais where we love to park our Motor Home for vacations.


Here we are ready to start this new hike. Directly behind us is Grand Marais.

This is the view at the end of Overlook Snowshoe Trail. The view is amazing and only a very short hike of half a mile.


The flowers were abundant. This shot shows Orange Hawkweed, Ox-eye Daisy, Red and White Clover and others that are not easily distinguishable.

A view of Lake Superior through the trees along the trail.

Richard took this picture. At the overlook one edge was a shear cliff.

This was a very gentle and short hike with lots of flowers for me to photograph, some varieties I will have to find the names of once we arrive home and I can check with my reference books. As the walk was short, Richard had yet another surprise for me!

LIGHTHOUSE STROLL

The Flower of the Day

Harebell

Although this walk is listed as a stroll, for those of you who know me this was as nerve racking as going up in a gondola. As you can see from the picture, the pieces of wall that connect the various rocks and take you out to the lighthouse were not that wide. My nerves were in shreds but I did not give in and made it all the way to the lighthouse!

I made it to this table of rocks with a lot of trepidation. Has my fear been conquered? Probably not, but at least I did not allow it to have dominion over me. There were sections that I literally had to clamber onto on my knees because they were too high for me to step onto safely.



I tried to capture the waves as the wind was whipping them up onto the rocks but it was tough to snap a picture just at the correct time. On one side of the breakwater you had the full expanse of Lake Superior; on the other side you had the calmness of the harbour.

This gives you an indication of what we walked along for a good portion of the "stroll". Richard was clambering all over the rocks with the video camera taking lots of footage. This is the first year that we have had a video camera with us and I'm looking forward to seeing what he has captured during our vacation.

This is looking toward Grand Marais (now spelled correctly). You can see how calm the harbour area was compared to the crashing waves on the other side of the wall.

This is a great picture of the calm also found between the rock formations and the break water. The trail is made up of a natural break water and then concrete to connect each outcropping.

LAKE SUPERIOR SHORE HIKE

The Flower of the Day

Pink Pyrola

This trail follows Lake Superior's shoreline, offering commanding views of the greatest of the Great Lakes. The vivid orange lichen is to be seen through the trees. This lichen, when the sun is on it, looks like burnished brass.






The trail is fairly level with some exposed roots, rocks and holes. Due to all the rain this year there were often soggy areas.






I found a convenient rock on which to sit and adjust my prosthetic leg. The area gave us a clear view of the Lake and the rocky shoreline.

As the hike was gentler than the last one there was plenty of opportunity to check out and snap pictures of the various flowers and plants. Here you see Bunchberry or Dwarf Dogwood.

To our left was the highway, taken at the right angle, this looks like a meadow of daisys.

To our right is Lake Superior in all is vastness and beauty. This hike is 2.1 miles as a round trip. As I was beginning to feel some discomfort, we felt it better to walk back to the car via the highway. Richard ran on ahead to bring the car to me. I walked about 1.5 miles, considering the pain suffered after the last hike we felt it prudent to have me not complete this hike.

You will be pleased to know that I have suffered no ill effects from doing another hike. Tomorrow (today) we move into Grande Marais to take up residence in the town's RV park.

A DAY OF REST

The Flower of the Day

The Common Butter Cup

Sunday was a day of worship. Richard and I took the opportunity to worship with the congregation of Christ is our Hope. We have regularly worshipped with the folks at Grande Marais at least once a year. This year was a little different, we parked our Motor Home outside Pastor Schutte's and Sandra's home in Lutsen. Other than going to Duluth for our annual clothes shopping trip, we have spent the rest of our time in the Grande Marais area.

***

Richard thought it was prudent for me to take another day of rest. The pain of the last two days is gone; but best to not aggravate it again too soon. Other than attending the church service, we spent a very quiet day in the Motor Home: reading and sleeping and, of course, working on my computer.

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The Butter Cup reminds me of my childhood in West Sussex. There, as children, we would run around with a butter cup in our hand to place it under the chin of those around us to see if they liked butter. Such a simple act; but so fascinating to our young minds, that a flower would reflect on our chins its yellow colour. I loved collecting wildflowers and bringing them home to Mum for her to put in a jam-jar and place on the table.

***

Other times of flower picking were during the bluebell season and primrose season; both times we would go out as a family, pushing Mum in her wheelchair to collect enough flowers to decorate the church for Sunday Services. Every window ledge, the organ and piano, the Altar Table and rail would all be adorned with the work of our young hands. Now you are not allowed to pick wildflowers or dig them up to transplant into your own garden. Were times so much more simpler when I was a child or is it just as children we see things in a simpler manner?

JULY 4TH

The Flower of the Day

Tall Meadow Rue (Buttercup Family)

We took in the 4th of July parade in Tofte, just a very small community. The parade consisted of various emergency vehicles, local businesses and vintage cars.

There were to usual candy floss, home made fish and chips, mini donuts, beer. Other attractions consisted of dump tank, balloon toss and a few local craft people selling their wares.

The weather was great for the occasion, mildly overcast, a light breeze, minimum amount of sunshine.

After the parade we headed back to our camp spot at Pastor Shuttes and Sandra's place where we have been parked since Monday afternoon.

For the evening supper Richard used the BBQ to cook us fresh meat. You also have the opportunity of seeing the new trim Richard.

So there you have it our July 4th activities. The hiking was given a miss and due to circumstances later probably a good thing.

Later in the evening I started with terrible electric shock phantom pain that ran down the back of my right leg to under my heel (which of course I no longer have). These types of pain usually last a few hours and by morning have completely gone. This time was different. The pains lasted for about half-an-hour with a short prelude to take a nap before the next onslaught. By 2:00 a.m. I could take the pain no longer and took a large dose of codeine, to no avail.

Next we tried going out for a walk. It was pitch black, no moon, the stars were amazing though. All the time we walked I had no occurrence of pain so we went back to our RV for sleep. No sooner had I begun to get ready for bed and the pains started again.

I slept very little, fighting tears of frustration and pain. By 7:00 this morning Richard was up and phoned the hospital in Grande Marais to see if he could bring me in to see a Doctor. There was not much he could do other than prescribe some fast acting pain killer, and recommend that I take today to rest. The pain killers work killing those awful shooting pain. I shall take advantage of this calm phase and sleep.

THE GONDOLA LIFT

Lutsen Mountain Area

Lots of firsts for me yesterday. I actually went up the mountain in a gondola. For those who don't know, I am scared of heights, so for me this ride was amazing.

This first picture is taken inside the gondola as we were ascending. The view was spectacular and I am so glad I plucked up the courage to say lets go.

This was our destination where there is a cafe and balconies all the way around the chalet. The balconies surface was open metal griding and I had to hold onto Richard in order to walk to a chair to sit down, but I did walk on that surface. I stood up and took the next picture.

This was taken on our way down, as you can see we were quite high.

Poplar River seen "from the air."

This was absolutely wonderful. I can't believe that my fears have dictated to me for all these years. What other wonderful sights have I missed?

The parking lot view.

What new and exciting things will there be for me tomorrow(today)?

Keep watching because you never know what I will find for tomorrow is a brand new day.