"Bring on the Snakes"
Even though we live in a relatively underdeveloped corner of the world — in relation to what we're accustomed to, at least — I have to say I am incredibly grateful for our front yard, every inch of which is fenced in. The latter detail has been an essential element in our ability to play outside, as our neighbors are apparently unfamiliar with the idea of keeping their dogs confined to their own property.
(As a result, we can't really take walks in our "neighborhood" without arming ourselves with a Hershey's Syrup bottle filled with ammonia to squirt in any charging mutt's eyes...just kidding. That was actually my older brother's trick to get past the snarling rottweilers on our street when we were kids.)
But, because we've got a fence, we've got ourselves a nice sized play area where even Murphy can get out and enjoy himself running around and peeing on trees — though Connor and I dabble in a bit of that behavior, as well. Today, while playing outside with Connor's great-grandparents we made a new friend.
Ah, who am I kidding? I'm sure by now you've already peeked at the picture below so I guess I can stop with the descriptions.
I knew there were snakes living in our yard because of the football sized hole in the ground that's at least four feet deep, the discarded snake skins that I've seen a few times around the yard and our close proximity to the lake, but I hadn't actually seen one yet. Once we found this little demon, though, Connor's great-grandmother decided she'd be more comfortable inside the house while I gently prodded the serpent with a ten-foot-pole to see if it would strike (it did), whether it would leave any venom if it did strike (it didn't), and snap a few pictures so I could reference them when I looked online to check and see if it was venomous (it wasn't — just your garden variety constricting Black Rat Snake who can apparently climb trees disturbingly well).
But, this wasn't even the most exciting event to happen in our front yard this week.
Yesterday, the owner of the trailer next to the one next to our house (there's gotta be a better way to say that) was in town to have her driveway paved. While the bulldozer was grading the driveway, Connor and I went outside to check out the excitment happening on our otherwise lazy street. She noticed us staring and walked over to introduce herself. A few minutes later, after she walked away, her grandson, a pudgy, mop-topped ten-year-old ran over to the fence where we were standing, out of breath from playing with his sister.
"HEY!!" he shouted, even though we were standing closer to him than your face is to your monitor right now.
"MY NAME IS CARTER, JUST LIKE YOU!!"
With that crucial piece of information imparted, he ran off.
(As a result, we can't really take walks in our "neighborhood" without arming ourselves with a Hershey's Syrup bottle filled with ammonia to squirt in any charging mutt's eyes...just kidding. That was actually my older brother's trick to get past the snarling rottweilers on our street when we were kids.)
But, because we've got a fence, we've got ourselves a nice sized play area where even Murphy can get out and enjoy himself running around and peeing on trees — though Connor and I dabble in a bit of that behavior, as well. Today, while playing outside with Connor's great-grandparents we made a new friend.
Ah, who am I kidding? I'm sure by now you've already peeked at the picture below so I guess I can stop with the descriptions.
I knew there were snakes living in our yard because of the football sized hole in the ground that's at least four feet deep, the discarded snake skins that I've seen a few times around the yard and our close proximity to the lake, but I hadn't actually seen one yet. Once we found this little demon, though, Connor's great-grandmother decided she'd be more comfortable inside the house while I gently prodded the serpent with a ten-foot-pole to see if it would strike (it did), whether it would leave any venom if it did strike (it didn't), and snap a few pictures so I could reference them when I looked online to check and see if it was venomous (it wasn't — just your garden variety constricting Black Rat Snake who can apparently climb trees disturbingly well).
But, this wasn't even the most exciting event to happen in our front yard this week.
Yesterday, the owner of the trailer next to the one next to our house (there's gotta be a better way to say that) was in town to have her driveway paved. While the bulldozer was grading the driveway, Connor and I went outside to check out the excitment happening on our otherwise lazy street. She noticed us staring and walked over to introduce herself. A few minutes later, after she walked away, her grandson, a pudgy, mop-topped ten-year-old ran over to the fence where we were standing, out of breath from playing with his sister.
"HEY!!" he shouted, even though we were standing closer to him than your face is to your monitor right now.
"MY NAME IS CARTER, JUST LIKE YOU!!"
With that crucial piece of information imparted, he ran off.
posted by Carter at 7:11 PM
8 Comments:
A snake..and grandma..you have got to be kidding! You may have just bumped your visits to every 3rd Thursday! W
I'd like to add that not only did Grandma see the snake, but she ran up to get Connor...meaning she got even closer to the snake after she knew it was there. That's love. Almost as good of a story as lifting a car off a loved one.
Maybe the good news is that you don't have any rats, thanks to Mr. Snake.
And perhaps you should study up on snakes to figure out which ones you might not want to be poking with a stick unless there's something between you and the snake.
Why weren't CARTER and his sister in school instead of cavorting with a bulldozer? On a weekday. In the middle of nowhere. You sure that lady is their grandmother? Noone better ever tell me that WE live in a scary part of town...yikes.
missusdavis, don't ask questions you don't want to know the answer to!
All I'm saying, Davises, is that no one has died in our backyard (that we know of).
wow, that Tony person was right - you DO live in the woods!
You have no idea.
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