Homegrown fun…the county fair.
So our oldest daughter leaves for sleep away camp tomorrow. Having never been a camper myself, I’m not sure where she gets this urge to spend six nights in an un-air-conditioned teepee. (By the way, the temperature is going to be 98 degrees on Tuesday. Bless her little soul). I may not like camp life, but I do love a county fair. As her last hurrah before she loads the bus and heads out in the morning, the family went to the St. Charles County Fair.
I grew up in a small town in eastern North Carolina. One of the highlights of the year was the county fair. It was always in early fall. I loved the 4-H animals, cheerleading competitions, monster truck races, down home cooking (especially the ham biscuits), nausea inducing rides and those always fashionable little metal clips with the skinny leather strips with colorful feathers on the end that my older brother’s friends told me were for illegal purposes. What?!! It was small town living at its finest!
I’ll be the first one to tell you that not many people around here are going to a county fair. My girls definitely didn’t know what to expect tonight as we loaded up in the car for the 45 minute drive. But oh how their eyes lit up with the first glance of the Ferris wheel. It’s not often that they get to pet cows and see prize chickens. When one of them touched a “real egg” you would have thought she touched Hannah Montana! (Never mind that we have a dozen in the fridge). They learned that angora comes from rabbits. They even got a turn, although very brief, on a mechanical bull. It proved to be a tough match for them. Goats, an 8 week old pig, camels, and turtles made the petting zoo a hit. 
Who can go to a fair without getting suckered into playing the games? As with everything else these days though everyone is a winner. Kind of nice I have to say to be guaranteed a prize. The prizes are still as cheesy as ever…some things never change. And speaking of things never changing, the “carnies” look the exact same along with the rides that seem like they could swing off their hinges any minute. Regardless, everyone still rides them and loves every minute of it. We knew it was time to end the evening when we hopped on the Ferris wheel only to be met with a lightning storm. With everyone freaking out, I calmly said, “Have you ever heard of anyone dying on a Ferris wheel from lightning?” Don’t know if anyone has, but my confident delivery seemed to calm everyone down. One thing is for sure, they’ll all remember their first ride on a Ferris wheel. You know it’s been a good night as you’re walking back to the car in the rain and hear, “Mom and dad, that was the best family night ever!”
As always, Mosquito Squad of Greater Saint Louis‘ mission is to help make your outdoor experiences wonderful. The volunteers at the St. Charles County Fair are taking it to the next level. Thanks for providing some wonderful memories for my family!
Catching Up With Mosquito Squad!
For those of you who anxiously await my blogs, I apologize for the recent lag. Mosquito Squad of Greater Saint Louis has been so busy fighting mosquitoes and winning that we have hardly had time for anything else. So here I sit at 10:45 at night, all kids are tucked in bed, storms are rolling in, and I’m ready to write.
Lots of things have been going on. I never followed up on my previous blog about training for the St. Louis 1/2 Marathon. I completed it and beat last year’s time by one minute. Dr. Oz just last week reiterated the fact that mosquitoes are one of the most dangerous animals on earth carrying diseases like West Nile Virus and St. Louis Encephalitis (ironically named for an awful outbreak in St. Louis in 1933). We donated fifty mosquito nets to Malaria No More. They will protect at least 100 people from disease carrying mosquitoes for five years! Someone wrecked into the Skeeter Beater (our truck) scraping up the great artwork, denting a rim and ruining the bumper. 
That was a very sad day. My daughter and her classmates raised over $600 for the World Bird Sanctuary. 
One mom even developed a Save the Birds website! I successfully convinced the editors at Ladue News that Mosquito Squad should be featured as a perfect Father’s Day gift in its “Great Gifts for Dads” story. Look for us in its June 11th edition. Finally, come see us at the Clayton Farmer’s Market on Saturdays (8:30-12:00) in June. After stopping by our booth to say hi, you’ve got to head over to Blues Hog Barbeque Company and buy the best bbq in town. Bill Arnold pulls up the night before and camps out while he slow-cooks ribs, pork shoulder and brisket. You’ve got to get there early because he sells out fast!
I’m going to close with the best testimony for Mosquito Squad. Just tonight at 8:15 my girls headed outside to catch lightning bugs. Not one mosquito bite on any of them!
As always, Mosquito Squad of Greater Saint Louis‘ mission is to help make your outdoor experiences wonderful! There is nothing sweeter than catching lightning bugs mosquito-free!
Conway Kids’ Lemonade Stand Raises Money for the World Bird Sanctuary
Conway School has the best group of third graders! At Tilles Park every Sunday from noon-2:00 during the month of May, they are sponsoring a lemonade stand. The proceeds will benefit the World Bird Sanctuary and its mission to help injured birds of prey. In the first two weeks, they have raised over $200!! One of the parents has even created a website to help the kids’ efforts. www.savethebirdstlouis.com. Come visit us one Sunday and enjoy some refreshing lemonade. (You’ll find us between the swings and the playground). Don’t forget to enter the raffle. You could win a 12 person private tour of the World Bird Sanctuary, and then you can help release a rehabilitated bird back into the wild! As you can see for yourself…helping others is lots of fun.
As always, Mosquito Squad of Greater Saint Louis‘ mission is to help make your outdoor experiences wonderful. The children at Conway are taking it to the next level. Thanks, kids!
Is St. Louis Southern?
With the warm sunshine and the dogwoods and redbuds blooming everywhere, St. Louis is giving off a southern vibe. I grew up in a small town in North Carolina and when I got married and moved to St. Louis, you would have thought I was moving to a foreign country called “The Midwest.” Southerners don’t understand why you would ever live anywhere other than south of the Mason-Dixon line! (Here is where I tell you, though, that I LOVE St. Louis).
The other day, I was reading an article in Southern Living titled “40 Things Every Southerner Ought to Do!” (For the record I’ve done 34 of those things). I was pleasantly surprised to see 3 must-dos are right here in St. Louis! # 21 Enjoy a frozen treat at Ted Drewes. #23 Go to the top of the Arch. #39 Stroll through the Missouri Botanical Garden. Does this mean Southern Living considers St. Louis part of the South? Did I actually never leave “home?”
Aside from the often disputed Missouri secession from the Union in 1861, I actually think there is some southern charm to St. Louis. People are so friendly. Lilly Pulitzer runs rampant in the summer. The houses in Webster Groves look like they could have been plucked from Mayberry (the fictional town in The Andy Griffith Show) with the wonderful front porches ready for some rocking chairs and glass bottled co-colas. And we’re definitely not short on peonies, daylilies, hydrangeas and lilacs. Shoot…I have a 50 foot Southern Magnolia 10 feet from my front door! You should smell those blossoms in May. And did I mention that we finally have Chick-Fil-A?
Unfortunately (or fortunately in some opinions) that’s not enough to make St. Louis “officially” southern. Instead of kudzu we have honeysuckle. My kids’ friends (and actually my kids, too) think I’m a crazy mom for making my girls say “yes ma’am and no sir.” Where in the heck can I find sweet tea, fried okra, vinegar based barbeque, and hush puppies? (The Cracker Barrel doesn’t count). But most of all, St. Louis lacks that endearing Southern drawl. And the fact that when trying to get the attention of her older sisters, my 3 year old just hollered out “you guys” the other night instead of “y’all” is proof in the banana pudding that St. Louis is part of that country called “The Midwest!”
I would love to hear about the southern things you see in St. Louis. And for my southern friends, I ask the question, “What makes the South southern?”
Whether southern or not, one thing’s for sure. Mosquitoes LOVE calling St. Louis home. So if these annoying pests are ruining your good time, give us a call. As always, Mosquito Squad of Greater Saint Louis‘ mission is to help make your outdoor experiences wonderful.
Chance of a Lifetime…Name that Creek!
Do you remember catching tadpoles and crawdads on warm summer nights when you were little? What about walking barefoot in the creeks finding the best skipping stones? My kids LOVE walking to the woods and down to the little creek to find something exciting. Sadly, today these water-filled backdrops of recreation are endangered because of run-off from impervious surfaces, yard waste in streams, invasive plant species, trash and road salt. The Deer Creek Watershed is one of these creek systems that has faced hard times but is undergoing an ambitious rehabilitation thanks to many efforts.
The Deer Creek Watershed sits smack dab in the middle of Mosquito Squad of Greater St. Louis’ territory. Deer Creek originates in Creve Coeur and flows southeast 11 miles before it enters the River Des Peres in Maplewood. FYI, Ladue, Clayton, Brentwood, Richmond Heights, Huntleigh, Frontenac, Rock Hill, Webster Groves and Des Peres are part of the Deer Creek Watershed. All the little creeks that our children like to play in are part of a very intricate water system that is in need of protection. Luckily, the Deer Creek Watershed Alliance was created to partner with local municipalities, non-profits like the Missouri Botanical Garden, state level government, the Department of Natural Resources and local universities like Washington University to implement strategies for protecting this valuable water sytem. With that said, it’s hard to protect something that is nameless…so DEER CREEK TRIBUTARIES NAME PROJECT was born. YOU can help name the more than 30 nameless Deer Creek tributaries and leave your mark! Get on board, get creative, and help save an important natural resource. In a world that seems like everything has been claimed…here’s your chance to become part of history. Do you think “Skeeter Creek” will pass muster?
As always, Mosquito Squad of Greater Saint Louis‘ mission is to help make your outdoor experiences wonderful. The Deer Creek Watershed Alliance takes it to the next level. Thank you!
Bald and Beautiful
Sunday, March 21st is World Eagle Day. This special day really hits home for us this year. On a snowy January day we found a wounded Bald Eagle-one of his talons was deeply severed. Lovingly named “Feathers” by our daughters, he was in great need of medical attention. 
In St. Louis we are lucky to have the wonderful World Bird Sanctuary, whose mission is to secure the future of threatened bird species in their natural environments. Staffed by 25 professionals and many dedicated volunteers, they took great care of Feathers during his rehabilitation. Everyday we looked forward to the updates of Feathers’ progress and were reassured that he was receiving the best support possible. Unfortunately, gangrene set in and even with all of the top of the line help he received, Feathers wasn’t strong enough for the fight. After five days of hospitalization, we got the dreaded phone call, and then and there our daughters learned a life lesson.
Interestingly, Feathers’ remains were sent to a Native American tribe to use in tribal ceremonies. There are lots of adjectives to describe a bald eagle but none more fitting than majestic. Watch our video of Feathers, and you’ll see for yourself.
Be sure to visit the World Bird Sanctuary on Sunday from 10-4 and help celebrate eagles from around the world. There will be fun, educational activities for the whole family.
As always, Mosquito Squad of Greater Saint Louis‘ mission is to help make your outdoor experiences wonderful. The World Bird Sanctuary takes it to the next level. Thank you!
Mosquito Squad Goes “GREEN” with the All Natural Barrier Spray
Let’s raise a mug of green beer on St. Patrick’s Day and celebrate Mosquito Squad’s going “green” with its all natural barrier spray. This garlic based treatment works because mosquitoes are approximately 10,000 times more sensitive to garlic than humans are. It masks the main mosquito attractants like carbon dioxide, while also confusing those annoying little pests. When sprayed on shrubs, groundcover and trees, the all natural barrier spray acts as a repellent keeping mosquitoes off of your property. So let’s celebrate another proven solution from Mosquito Squad with an Irish jig performed by my daughter! And if you want to have some Irish fun today, head out to the Ancient Order of Hibernians’ St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Dogtown.
As always, Mosquito Squad of Greater St. Louis’ mission is to help make your outdoor living experiences wonderful. May you have a lucky day!
Flightless Mosquitoes Used in the Fight Against Dengue Fever.
People in the science, health and technology fields have always fascinated me. And once again, I am amazed by these smarty-pants. Thanks to researchers from the University of California at Irvine and Oxford University, mankind now has a new tool in the shed to help in the age-old battle against mosquitoes. Aedes aegypti is a species of mosquito that spreads dengue fever, a flu-like disease that is endemic to over 100 countries. The report from the Proceedings from the National Academy of Science explains how the researchers genetically engineered the Aedes aegypti so that wing muscles don’t properly develop in female offspring leaving them unable to fly. When introduced into the wild these “lab” mosquitoes will mate with normal mosquitoes and produce non-flying offspring that will help diminish this disease spreading population of mosquitoes because a mosquito that can’t fly is a dead mosquito. This project was sponsored by the Gates Foundation Grand Challenges for Global Health Initiatives with hopes of eventually being able to wipe out mosquitoes that spread malaria and West Nile Virus, too.
In the meantime, Mosquito Squad can help fight the bite of mosquitoes on your property. Whether you choose the traditional barrier spray, all-natural barrier spray, special event spray for your next party or a misting system, we promise you a 100% satisfaction guarantee. What do you have to lose? Except for mosquitoes. Give us a call. 314-569-BITE (2483).
Mosquito Squad battles the Tiger Mosquito.
Mosquito Squad is armed and ready to fight the bite of the Tiger Mosquito and the other 50 species of mosquitoes that make life miserable for St. Louisans!
The Tiger Mosquito is only about 1/8 inch long. It is black with white stripes on its legs and body. There is a single white stripe down the center of its head and back. It’s these stripes that give it the name “Tiger” Mosquito, not its desire to frequently mate. These mosquitoes can have as many as 12 generations per year!
The Tiger Mosquito was brought to the United States during the 1980s in used truck tires shipped from Japan. When the tires were moved from state to state, the Tiger Mosquito spread. Now it is found in much of the southeastern and midwestern parts of the United States. Also known as Aedes albopictus, the Tiger Mosquito lives throughout the state of Missouri- St. Louis, Kansas City, Columbia, Jefferson City, near Joplin and in the southeast counties north of the “bootheel.”
Like other mosquitoes, the female Tiger Mosquito needs blood to produce eggs. The Tiger Mosquito will bite many types of animals, including people. It likes to bite in the daytime, mostly in early morning or late afternoon. The bite is no worse than that of other mosquitoes, but large numbers of Tiger Mosquitoes can be a problem around homes.
The Tiger Mosquito can spread disease like West Nile Virus and Encephalitis. Don’t fear, though! Mosquito Squad of Greater Saint Louis can help you fight these nasty insects. Whether you choose the traditional or organic barrier spray or our misting system, we give you a 100% guarantee that you will love our service or your money back. No questions asked…it’s that easy! Come see us at the St. Louis Builders Home and Garden Show February 25-28.
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