Yellowjackets!

While Lyssa and I were sleeping, Matt decided to chop some kindling so he could have a fire going for us when we got out of bed.
He very considerately took the hatchet and the wood to the other side of our campsite, rather than chopping directly outside the tent and making noise. He had chopped just a couple pieces when a yellowjacket came buzzing around him. He waved it away, but it kept coming back and attacking his coat and his head. Evidently the vibration of the wood chopping had pissed them off and disturbed them in their nest. It took quite a bit of time for them to settle down. Even longer for ME to settle down. I HATE those things. They're mean and always looking for a fight. They sting AND they bite. They'll land on you and start chewing on whatever part you're exposing... or chew through your coat if they can. We were lucky. None of the people in our little party were stung, but one nasty tempered mean S.O.B. stung poor Maggie on the top of her head. She had a big old lump above her left eye all day, and it caused her whole face to swell a bit. She's fine now. Sitting here mooching Matt's breakfast.