David,

Speaking of ticks - I had my first encounter with one of those nasties
recently for the first time in years. I searched the intertnet for how
to deal with it and most sies said use only tweezers to remove them. Use
very pointed tweezers, grasp the head as close to the skin as possible,
and gently apply a steady pull until the little gaggar lets go. Apply a
disinfectant, and put the tick in a vial of alcohol. The reason being if
you come down sick, the tick can be checked for lyme disease. If you get
the tick int he first 24 hours, it's not likely you will get infected.

John Rodgers
Clayartist and Moldmaker
88'GL VW Bus Driver
Chelsea, AL
Http://www.moldhaus.com

On 6/28/2010 7:00 PM, Dave Mcneely wrote:
>> Mr. BZ-chiggers worse than hot soup?
>>
> Winter in the SE can be delightful, if one stays away from the trampling hordes of humanity in Florida.  In most of the SE, no chiggers in winter.  Those are mainly a summer phenomenon.  But they are AWFUL.  When I was small, we lived in West Texas.  No chiggers, too dry.  At age ten, we visited relatives in Dallas.  The Blackland is the absolute worst for chiggers.  Combine chigger welts covering most of a small child's body with prickly heat rash, also experienced for the first time ever, because of always living in an arid habitat.  Remember, almost no one had air conditioning at home, back then.  Deliver me from chiggers, forever.
>
> Sulfur powder is a sure deterrent.  I keep a plastic bag with an old sock full of powdered sulfur in it for field time in chigger season.  Just powder yourself good with the sulfur, especially around the belt line, in the groin, and around the ankles.  Anywhere clothing is just a tad tight.  Chiggers will give you a wide berth.  I usually go for overkill with the stuff, and look like I fell in a flour bin.
>
> No good against ticks, though.  For those, you just have to search em out and pick em off.
>
> David McNeely
>
>
>