I sat near the campfire, waving away the swirling smoke, and occasionally roasting a marshmallow or two. The fire crackled and popped, and I felt my shoes, resting on the stone fireplace, becoming a little too warm. My grandfather plucked at his guitar and sang old country songs, while my sister and I stared [...]
All over the country lawns are growing, creating plush green carpets on which to stage BBQs, games of pass, and just about anything you could want. For many, during the summer at least, their lawn is an extension of their home, an outdoor living room. But, a shocking amount of lawns fall prey to grubs [...]
They regularly persecute volleyball players, assault hikers, and torment picnickers. In fact, if you’re in the great outdoors, you may be attacked by large swarms of them at any moment. Who are these fiends in bug-shaped form? They are none other than the infamous mosquitoes. Protect Yourself from Mosquitoes Unfortunately, while the month of May [...]
When you see crickets, beetles, and other insects in your home, is your first instinct to reach for a heavy shoe? If so, then according to one Dutch cookbook, you may be destroying part of a delicious and nutritious meal. The Insect Cookbook, released last Tuesday, contains recipes for such mouth-watering dishes as chocolate muffins with [...]
Tis the season to contract Lyme disease! That’s not going to be on any Hallmark cards anytime soon. But, it’s very true. In the spring time, ticks start coming out, and planning their attacks, especially Deer ticks, those Lyme carrying blood suckers. These are the #1 pest to look out for in many areas of the US. Just one [...]
When you see crickets, beetles, and other insects in your home, is your first instinct to reach for a heavy shoe? If so, then according to one Dutch cookbook, you may be destroying part of a delicious and nutritious meal. The Insect Cookbook, released last Tuesday, contains recipes for such mouth-watering dishes as chocolate muffins with [...]
Patch all possible entry points. This can be extremely difficult in older houses, but it is the most guaranteed method of prevention. Even a small hole big enough for a mouse’s head to fit through can turn into a veritable “mouse highway” into your home. Use steel wool to plug all mouse holes. Steel wool [...]
I walked out of the back door of my apartment building last week, and noticed an odd-looking creature in my next-door neighbor’s yard. This animal was slightly larger than your average cat, and had grayish fur, a pointed snout, and a long, creepy-looking hairless tail that strongly reminded me of a rat’s tail. I had [...]
When my sister was eight years old, her third-grade teacher decided to hold class outdoors one sunny spring day. Sitting on the grass in her pink corduroys, my sister was enjoying the change of environment until she felt something small and slimy start to crawl up her right pant leg. She jumped up, screaming and [...]
Part of the Latrodectus genus of arachnids, the Black Widow Spider is the most venomous spider in North America. Found in most temperate climates, this paper clip sized spider delivers a powerful bite, 17 times more powerful than a rattle snake bite! Effects include muscle aches, and nausea. Bites also cause a paralysis of the [...]