When you bring nature home

When I run on the roads I like to actually run on the soft shoulder that we have near my home.  This time of year that often means running in the weeds a bit.  As the townships and boroughs attempt to keep up with the side of the road maintenance I am left running with knee high nature flicking at my legs.

Tuesday morning I brought some of that nature home with me.

A dog tick.

I didn't notice it until I was in the kitchen gathering things for my work day.  Let me tell you I flipped out calmly removed the tick from behind my knee.  The lovely little critter hadn't been there long which was evident from the lack of blood in her when I squished her.

It wasn't until a day later that I noticed I had brought something else home.

Poison Oak.


I thought I would be more educational to show you photos to help you avoid the same misery
instead of the grossness of the giant blisters it caused.

Well, I'm think it's poison oak.  It could be sumac.  It's not poison ivy.  The welts are too big.  The really bad thing is I must have touched it with my hands because it is spotted in all kinds of places. 
We all remember to apply our sunscreen and carry our water maybe this post will help you avoid some less remembered warm weather nuisances.

Off to bath in calamine lotion.