Gnats, gnats everywhere!

It's "the last weekend of summer" and there is nothing I would like more than to be outside chasing my Sophie Jean from blackberry bush to blackberry bush. Or maybe watching her chase Eula around the yard while yelling "Yun, Eulie Dog, Yun!". All of this would be possible were my head not instantly swarmed by a hundred or so gnats each time I step outside. These little guys have no sense of personal space, they fly up my nose, into my eyes, into my ears and were I silly enough to try and talk, I would end up with a mouthful to either chew on or inhale, my choice.

We try to get Sophie some outside time early in the morning while it is still cold and the gnats aren't as active. After returning from one of our adventures the other morning, Sophie couldn't stop sneezing. I finally handed her a tissue and she blew her nose, out comes a gnat.

I remember coming here for visits in the summer and being stunned by the amount of gnats here. Apparently, this year the problem is exacerbated by all of the rain that we have been getting which has created a very nice breeding ground for the little buggers. I used to laugh because we couldn't take a picture of someone outside without one of their hands swatting the air to keep the gnats away. I don't laugh about that anymore for fear that while laughing, I would inhale and choke on a swarm of the invaders.

When people find out I moved here from California they often ask me if it is nice there. I always say "Yes, there are a lot less bugs there.".