We had to dig a small drainage ditch from the patio to the paved alley in back of our house. Seems the french drains don't do the job when the rain comes in buckets (seemed more like washtubs). This is a problem we will have to address with a plumber. The patio was flooding and we were worried about the water getting into the house. When the rain stopped, we fine tuned it and I suddenly discovered I was standing in a small bed of Texas Fire Ants. No matter how hard or fast I brushed those things off, it wasn't fast enough. So I ran, well sort of, to the patio to get the water hose and wash them off. They really stung me badly.

I've got 18 bites on one foot and 12 on the other. A fire ant leaves a toxic necrosing bite. They look infected immediately. And the name is appropriate. They burn like fire and itch worse than my neuropathy ever thought of itching.. Nothing like fire ant bites on top of neuropathy to make a person really miserable. The foot with 18 bites is swollen, very swollen and my heart keeps fluttering. My eyes are really dry dry dry. Inflammation is up badly. We'll see what it looks like tomorrow. Doctor visit may be necessary. I've iced them the last two nights. It helps.

Stay out of the fire ant beds. They aren't fun.

Billye