So for the past couple of years I’ve spent a few days in south Texas brush country – enjoying friends, hot weather, and a huge dose of gracious hospitality. It’s always a treat, with one exception. This is fire ant territory. Now there are several kinds of fire ants, and I respect the boundaries encouraged to avoid the large, threatened species of fire ants (that pack a bite bad enough to send you to urgent care). Those ants are actually pretty reserved, they want to do their work and you to leave well enough alone.Fire Ant Blisters

OK, so ALL ants want that. But the little, red fire ants in the area have determined that EVERYWHERE is their territory. And for whatever reason, when people step on their territory, they have favorites, those whom they look the other way for. I am not one of those people.

Last year, I had bites that looked like these all over my digits and ankles. They itch, burn, swell, weep, and generally don’t heal for weeks. My wounds are healed now, but I did my part to research what I need to do differently next time:


  • don’t wear open toed shoes (bummer in the heat, but doable)

  • don’t step on their mounds (I LOOK, but they must be everywhere!)

  • fire ants do not like cinnamon. A perimeter of cinnamon around areas you are sleeping can help. (aha!)


So this is progress. And I plan to bring enough cinnamon next time to dose my feet and all around my tent to keep out the territorial insects. That is, until last night’s dream:
HAHAHAHAHA!! I dreamed last night that I put down the cinnamon, and was having a grand time with friends nearby when I looked over at my carefully poured powder perimeter. The ants were frolicking in the cinnamon, and to my astonishment, laughed at me: “Fool!” they said in their tiny ant voices, “You chose the cheap, false cinnamon, cassia bark! We love the stuff! It is true cinnamon, the Ceylon cinnamon that is abhorrent to us. HAHAHAHAHA!” 

I guess I better bring both kinds, just in case. And stop listening to Sam’s “true cinnamon” rant.