Spring is a great time in Minnesota.  We are finally free of the sub-zero temperatures, bitter cold winds, and days where we only get about 3 hours of actual daylight.  So as I was out walking the two labs today, listening to the birds and enjoying the sunshine on my face, I realized there is only one major pitfall to spring. 

Ticks!  And these are crafty little creatures.  They don't just hide in the long grass and jump on you as you pass by.  No! I have told people for years that they are these tiny creatures actually have miniature parachutes and they jump out of trees.  If you listen very closely while out walking in the woods you can hear them yell out "gernimo" as they take a flying leap and end up on the back of your neck.

I used to get really disgusted with ticks.  But I have pulled so many off of my dogs (and myself) that now they are just an annoyance. Several years ago when we had a lake cabin we would put the ticks into a jug of vinegar.  I think we must have ended up with a couple of hundred ticks in that jug. 

Now, we just have a small vial by the kitcen window which currently has about 20 ticks in it.  Are you wondering wat we are going to do with these? We haven't decided yet.  But there must be some stupid thing we can create with ticks, throw on a crafty marketing slogan and make a cool million bucks!  Then back to my novel on living wit two labs.