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What’s For Dinner?
Home > Feeding Frenzy > Archives > 2008 > August > 20 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USDoes that buzz drive you mad?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
As much as I love grilling and the reduced kitchen cleanup it allows, the mosquitoes make outdoor cooking a type of guerrilla warfare. I can barely open the grill lid without being attacked by a swarming mob!
It seems like the mosquitoes at my house get worse as the summer goes on, and by late August and September they’re actually following me inside if I leave the door open for more than a second or two.
I hate to cover myself in bug spray just to throw some “shrimp on the barbie” (as they say down under), but I am not sure of any other way to protect myself from becoming their meal.
Even if I do manage to get my meal cooked with only a few welts, I long for the days when I can actually dine alfresco in my own backyard. I write off July and early August as opportunities to enjoy outside dining because of the sweltering heat. But as the evenings begin to cool off a bit, I wish I could actually use that expensive outdoor furniture I got as an anniversary present.
What are your secrets to being outdoors when you’re the prey? Have you found any secrets to being able to cook and dine without mosquitoes making you their dinner?
Comments
By FCM
August 20, 2008 7:39 PM | Link to this
Well lots of folks swear by Avon’s Skin so Soft. They supposedly have a non-greasy version too.
I usually do one of the citronella candles on the table, and one below. That does seem to help.
Keeping skeeter breeding grounds far from the house work too…ie no standing pools of water, no bags of planting materials, etc.
I would love to dine outside more. Unfortunately I am in apartments and my neighbors smoke!
By Van
August 21, 2008 10:42 AM | Link to this
Cooking dinner during the spring, summer and fall evenings is both relaxing and enjoyable in my outdoor kitchen. My wife and I then have an enjoyable and relaxing meal at our patio umbrella covered table. In order to do this however, takes a few minutes of preparation which begins with lighting citronella patio torches That surround the entire pool/patio area. I then fog the area greenery and surroundings with black flag mosquito and fly killer through a contraption purchased at Lowes. It is a butane fired fogger that when lit and warmed up, will emit a poisonous fog to skeeters and flys, simply by pulling back on the trigger mechanism every 3 to 4 seconds. Following that process, I don’t have a mosquito problem for the rest of the evening, which makes our dining experiences very memorable events.
By Cheezstake
August 21, 2008 11:18 AM | Link to this
I have obliterated all vegetation in my yard with Agent Orange and sprayed used motor oil on the dirt underneath and surrounding my backyard deck. Nothing grows or flies there anymore. We enjoy our food outside everyday and the smell of the oil reminds us of growing up on the south side of Philadelphia.
By MosquitosSuck
August 21, 2008 2:26 PM | Link to this
I think the best solution to mosquitos is to build a screened in porch because nothing helps until a good freeze comes along. I’ve tried dumping out all the water around the house, bug spray, citronella…and I still get attacked.
By Willie
August 21, 2008 2:38 PM | Link to this
Well, this lady who was a liberal environmentalist lied about what DDT would do to bird eggs and got a DDT declared unsafe. Of course years later it was discovered her statistics were way out of bounds but no hard core liberal would change it. So 2 million people world wide die from malaria. A disease given by misquitos that could and should be preventive. However, the environmentalist believe that is not important and the insect thrives today. Now we have the nile virus but who cares about human beings in the environmentalist world. I hope your child does not get bitten by mosquitoes. The environmentalist does not care!
By crazycannuck
August 21, 2008 3:59 PM | Link to this
One of the best ways to deal with mosquitos in the summer is with an monthly mosquito fogging service. Some people are reluctant to do this because of the amounts of pesticides released into the air. However there is a product on the market made by EcoSMART that is botanical, and exhibits absolutely no adverse effects on mammals or aquatic life. You will have to purchase this service from a pest control company or a do-it-yourself pest control store.
By Melissa
August 21, 2008 4:50 PM | Link to this
If I’m going out for any length of time, I throw on a long sleeved light cotton shirt and some loose fitting light weight pants. The mosquitos are relentless!
By George L.C
August 21, 2008 5:54 PM | Link to this
It may seem strange but I’ve used LISTERINE spray it around the area you will be at and it will keep mosquitos away and thier is a pleasent odor believe it or not!!
By Alton
August 21, 2008 6:15 PM | Link to this
Put dry ice in the corner of your yard.
By xlax
August 21, 2008 6:37 PM | Link to this
Listerine is an Urban myth.You patio might smell anticeptic but it’s not going to keep the bugs away. Sorry.