[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Bufford

Thanks Nita, I didn't think it was so bad.
I live in Banning.

ok, living in Banning you do see a few of those little, not so friendly guys.

Nita

[COUNTRY_ANGEL_HORSE]

Hi Crunchabunch and welcome to arkansas. I empathize with your situation. We had to up and leave our home and move in with my inlaws!! YIKES!!

My family and I grew up in Texarkana and have lived for the past few years in Arizona. We just moved back here in July and are loving the humidity once again. I swear I spent two weaks rehydrating after living in the dry climate. Anyways back to the point, Your son probably was playing with cactus. A paddle cactus. I was amazed to see paddle cactus in AR when we got back here. Mostly Ive seem them in residential yards and figured that some one had planted them on purpose. They spread like disease, once you plant them they are hard to get rid of for the next person who gets the house =) I like them personally. And I plan to plant a couple of different cacti species under the windows of my sons to eliminate the need to sneak out or in =)

As far as brown recluse. I had a childhood friend who got bit by one (we were tomboys) she did not die. She just had a nasty concave sore on her ankle for about 2 weeks. The brown recluse usually like dark dank places to hide and will only bite if they feel threatened. SO if your son picked it up yes it would bite but it would not purposely seek him out. They usually like a spot in the garage ie a corner behind a box. Just spray regularly and sweep out from behind storage spaces from time to time and youll be fine. Youll find that AR has lots of spiders that will web up in the upper corners of every room but that is the price to pay to live in such natural beauty =) Spring and fall are my favorite times of the year. If you missed fall youll be in for a treat next year!!! Take care!!

[krunchabunch]

Originally Posted by COUNTRY_ANGEL_HORSE

Hi Crunchabunch and welcome to arkansas. I empathize with your situation. We had to up and leave our home and move in with my inlaws!! YIKES!!

My family and I grew up in Texarkana and have lived for the past few years in Arizona. We just moved back here in July and are loving the humidity once again. I swear I spent two weaks rehydrating after living in the dry climate. Anyways back to the point, Your son probably was playing with cactus. A paddle cactus. I was amazed to see paddle cactus in AR when we got back here. Mostly Ive seem them in residential yards and figured that some one had planted them on purpose. They spread like disease, once you plant them they are hard to get rid of for the next person who gets the house =) I like them personally. And I plan to plant a couple of different cacti species under the windows of my sons to eliminate the need to sneak out or in =)

As far as brown recluse. I had a childhood friend who got bit by one (we were tomboys) she did not die. She just had a nasty concave sore on her ankle for about 2 weeks. The brown recluse usually like dark dank places to hide and will only bite if they feel threatened. SO if your son picked it up yes it would bite but it would not purposely seek him out. They usually like a spot in the garage ie a corner behind a box. Just spray regularly and sweep out from behind storage spaces from time to time and youll be fine. Youll find that AR has lots of spiders that will web up in the upper corners of every room but that is the price to pay to live in such natural beauty =) Spring and fall are my favorite times of the year. If you missed fall youll be in for a treat next year!!! Take care!!

yes i missed fall, i got here in december right before christmas... i can not wait to get our own place , its not easy living on top of people even if they are related , just doesnt feel like your own space lol. i been showing my kids the spiders on the net, and explaining to them that here you dont pick them up or the snakes, back home they would pick up any snake and keep it for a pet for a few days lol.

[RogMar]

Originally Posted by krunchabunch

back home they would pick up any snake and keep it for a pet for a few days lol.

Heh.....

Pettin' copperheads is kinda like bull riding.

People stand in awe of you, it's an adrenaline rush, and it *never* turns out in your favor.

[Old Hippie Lady]

Originally Posted by krunchabunch

thanks you guys for the comments, i cant wait to see what it looks like here with all the leaves on the trees, im better its really pretty, my children do love it here tho. i love the weather better then i liked ohios weather. i make fun of my family back in ohio that it was so warm on christmas and the day after.
as for the cactus , maybe they arnt cactus, all i know is they are green plants that look like flippers and have stickers on them lol. my husband had to laugh at my son, " like son didnt u see the stickers" my son laughs at it now also.
but thanks again for the replies everyone.

Yes, it's cactus! I grew up in Mountain View....and had many run-ins with the low-growing cactus...so did our animals.

The Brown Recluse spider is one you probably will never see. That is the problem. I've seen the aftereffects of a bite, and it's not good. That spider typically lives in a cool, dry location, such as between your walls and closets. Just wear gloves if you are working in an old garage or an area that is usually not touched.

The black-widow is common. The bad one is a SHINY black spider with a dark red spot on the back of it. That's the female one. You will commonly see them hanging upside down under old wood, in a dry place, such as under decks, etc. They fuzzy black ones are supposed to be non-poisonous, but I'm not sure. Research facts. If you have been biten, you will certainly know it after a day or two. Don't delay going to the doctor. Early treatment is important!

I loved the weather in Arkansas. I loved most everything about Northern Arkansas. Wish I still lived there! The culture is different, but I would not change it for anything.

Just never mention "White Lightening"! I'm serious. I've heard that people and FEDS, have dissappeard in the mountains there. Can't confirm that, but I've heard lots of stories growing up there. Scary stuff!

Michigan is a pretty state, but I don't think I would want to live there. Guess the people in Bloomfield Hills are doing okay, huh? Have fun, be happy! I would never want to live in Ohio! Too cold......life seems too hard there!

[cassieb48]

How is everything else going for you since you have moved to AR !? I gave up reading and wanted to get straight to what I wanted to know about your move. I am anxious to here if you still like it and how the job and home search is going. I stumbled onto info on Russellville AR during an internet search on places to live and I have had my heart set on moving there. I also live in OH. I was born and raised here and have always hated it. I sure hope all is going well for you. Cas.

[JMT2077]

prickly pear fruit is very good. You can make candy and jelly from it. Just have to wear gloves to pick it and de-thorn it. I moved to South Lead Hill from Chino Valley, AZ. I have seen Joshua trees around here as well as prickly pear cacti. The major bugs around here are ticks. There are 2 kinds running around now. The brown tick (has a little white spot on back) and the red tick. If you are bitten by a red tick, the site will swell up pretty good and itch like the dickens. My husband and I cut down the tree in the front yard where they lived. Tell your kids not to pick up any critters they don't know until you check them out. Most are not bad but there are a few. We now have a critter called "childern of the earth" here. They look like a ant that is fuzzy. If you get bit by that you will wish you didn't. very painful/not fatal.
Like I said--the biggest pain around here are the ticks and chiggers. Congrats on hubby finding a job. Mine just found one also at the Tyson plant in Green Forest.

[Stormcrow73]

Originally Posted by JMT2077

prickly pear fruit is very good. You can make candy and jelly from it. Just have to wear gloves to pick it and de-thorn it. I moved to South Lead Hill from Chino Valley, AZ. I have seen Joshua trees around here as well as prickly pear cacti. The major bugs around here are ticks. There are 2 kinds running around now. The brown tick (has a little white spot on back) and the red tick. If you are bitten by a red tick, the site will swell up pretty good and itch like the dickens. My husband and I cut down the tree in the front yard where they lived. Tell your kids not to pick up any critters they don't know until you check them out. Most are not bad but there are a few. We now have a critter called "childern of the earth" here. They look like a ant that is fuzzy. If you get bit by that you will wish you didn't. very painful/not fatal.
Like I said--the biggest pain around here are the ticks and chiggers. Congrats on hubby finding a job. Mine just found one also at the Tyson plant in Green Forest.

South Lead Hill to Green Forest...That's a haul. You're in my old stomping grounds. Sounds like you're liking it pretty well so far. Are you guys "in town" or more out? I know about those fuzzy ants. Seen them lots but never got bit by one. I still have no idea what they are.

[JMT2077]

I have a town house. A house right in town. LOL. Nice thing is I have an acre of land so no real close neighbors. Hubby works the 3rd shift now. He says he has some trouble staying focused on the way home. he took a radio today to play when he is on the way home. the truck he is driving has no radio. He really likes the job tho. The fuzzy ants are called "children of the earth" and their bite is suppose to be pretty narly. My daughter called me from AZ and was describing this thing and I said we have those and she told me what they are called.

[JMT2077]

ok just looked it up and it is actually a type of wasp. It's sting is pretty harsh. the queen lays her eggs inside bumblebee nests.