Miniature Monsters Lurking in the Woods

Yes, it rained the night before. I should have skipped my walk until the grasses and trail dried out . I don't know what I was thinking.

It could have happen when I hugged my favorite tree.

Or sat on this log that use to be my favorite tree...

because I actually sat down on it to get a lower shot.

It might have been when I picked up this bunch of grass and hummus that was decaying  near the creek.

Or, maybe it was waiting for me on the end of a blade of grass when I took this photo of a cool rock with quartz growing out of it..

Where ever this tick was. He traveled home ON ME, waiting until after dinner, and then decided to dig in on my right side. I felt the familiar soreness. Yes, this has happen before.
Yes, I forgot to check for ticks when I came home. It was dinnertime and... I just forgot. I usually  do a "tick check" and change clothes when I've been out in the woods.
So I removed him from my body. Yuck! (I'm not going to describe this procedure. You can read about it anywhere online.) Cleaned the area with Hydrogen Peroxide and put some antibiotic cream on it. It HURT that night. It hurt yesterday. Today it looks better. No red ring around it so I think I'm OK.
Did you know that these little critters are arachnids, like scorpions, SPIDERS and mites?
Ghastly thought isn't it?
They lay in wait for you. They drink your blood. If they were big like us they could take over the world. They are truly miniature vampires.
Did you watch GRIMM last night? Ticks... human size, could be an episode on this program.
Ticks climb to the ends of leaves or branches and attach to hosts (that would be ME.) that brush against them. They're opportunist, just waiting for some animal to walk by. They carry diseases like Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. They are horrible little creatures.
This one made a mistake. This one is dead. 
Until it dries out around here, I'm going to stay on the roads and dirt trails... she says.