DONUTS AND CHIGGERS

DISCLAIMER: The first part of my post is very pleasant, but the second is kind of gross. You've been warned.

Remember how I said here that one of the best things about living in Alabama is the food? Well I wasn't joking! Donuts are a big deal around here.  The most well-known are Shipley's, Heav'nly Donuts (who serves hot and fresh beignets ever Saturday morning and they are DELICIOUS!), Dunkin' Donuts, and Krispe Kreme.  Last week we were introduced to a whole new kind of wonderful called Donut Joe's.

^^^ Glazed, blueberry cake donut, maple bacon. ^^^

I mean seriously, everyone needs these in their lives! I can't even describe their goodness!  And that is why I take no shame in admitting that I ate all three of these by myself.  Happy day for me! 

In other news, we have been house sitting for some friends and they have the cutest, sweetest dog! He used to try and sneakily bite Gordy, but we thankfully have moved past the biting stage to love.  It's so funny because G and I aren't pet people (besides horses at the ranch), but we seriously love this dog!  Twice during our stay we noticed some odd tan growths on his head.  The first time I thought it was a tick, but the second time around it was so huge that I started doing more research.  It was a chigger! (Don't worry, we removed both of them).

And now it's time for Creature Quest: (You're welcome Annie and Kana)

It turns out that chiggers don't bury themselves into you like ticks and suck your blood.  Instead, they attach to a host, inject digestive enzymes into the bite wound, and then suck up the digested tissue.  Lovely.  They are really gross because they don't stop until they are finished feeding which can take UP TO 4 DAYS!!! (yikes!) So, we did our best and removed these nasty creatures from our new pal.  And just for your enjoyment, here is a picture of two chiggers removed.

^^^ Two chiggers.  The big one popped a little on removal. ^^^

It was so gross and I did it all by myself while G was at work!

The tiny red one on the right is what it looks like before it starts feeding and turns into that giant mess next to it.  Seriously it's the size of my nail.  I am getting itchy just thinking about these! Yuck!!! The good news is that they only make you itch and can't give you anything like Lyme's disease or anything.  If we've learned anything quickly here it is that bugs are on a whole different playing field down here in the South! 

So....who wants to come visit? ;)