ticks and giggles

goats and chiggers.... all is well in florida's swampy santa fe river. i have counted 24 chiggers bites acquired in the four days that i have been adventuring around. 5 ticks have made attempts at implantation in my legs and arms. 3 goats have roamed freely and without invitation on martha's land. we have chased them away 4 times and encountered evidence of their visits on seven different occasions. we have canoed twice, kayaked once, and gone swimming in 3 springs. we have grilled out and made pizzas, one time each. 5 friends have come to visit and we've spent time - just the two of us. life is itchy. but, sometimes, itchy is good.