Incense

It is a lovely summer day on the front porch of the parsonage.  There is only one annoyance, mosquitoes.  Once upon a time the yard did not have any.  The neighbourhood was considered close enough to the ocean that mosquitoes stayed away because of the salt in the air.  That is until two years ago when pine mulch was put on the gardens.  It looked so pretty.  Days later there were mosquitoes everywhere!
 Bug spray is not something one wishes to put on every time they go outside to sit on the porch, or to enjoy the backyard -cup of tea in hand.  A rather reverent alternative has been found; church incense.
I was given an old incense burner from a retired pastor, along with jars and boxes full of incense.  Another pastor moved and left more incense. 
I sit and write with the incense burner just up wind on the floor of the porch.  The breeze gently wafts smoke across the floor, around ankles, up the bottom of legs, and mysteriously the mosquitoes disappear, hunkered down in a corner to pray, or heaven forbid high as holy kites.