EEK!

As I often say, one need only walk outside one's door to witness incredible elements of nature. And these two photos, which I shot this morning, show precisely what I witnessed the moment I set foot onto the back patio.

I had only a minute or two earlier opened the back door to let Scout and Deutsch have a few minutes in the back yard. When I went outdoors to check on them, I immediately spotted this "big" little guy, tucked between an old birdhouse and the side of a large pine tree. He was so huge, and the angle from which I first viewed him gave me a distorted first impression. I saw no legs, but rather a thick body and a large head, so I erroneously assumed he was a snake. Oh, how exciting! A snake in the tree.

So naturally, my first reaction was to get Scout and Deutsch back inside the house. That decision was based on the fact that the two were on the ground directly below "the snake." I was going to do everything in my power to prevent anyone from getting bitten.

Fortunately, Deutsch was very cooperative, and he was the first one inside. Scout, who usually lollygags, soon followed suit. It was as if they sensed something.

Once they were safe and sound, I ran back indoors and grabbed the camera. Then back to the patio to get things set up. It was only when I looked through the lens that I realized that I was not photographing a "snake in the tree (which sounds so exotic, like something from one of Aesop's fables)."

I'm not exactly sure which member of the reptile family would claim this little guy as one of their own. I don't believe he is a newt; those tend to be on the slender side. And this fellow could actually be nicknamed "Tubby" by his comrades.

At any rate, as excited as I was to get such a close look at him, I do not look forward to seeing any more like him. I am, after all, a girl, and whenever there is a "mouse in the house" sighting, you will most certainly find me climbing onto the closest chair and chaotically screaming at the top of my lungs until I am rescued.

I do hope this fellow decides to relocate. I don't relish the idea of bonding with him this summer during backyard barbeques.

So, I hope, considering this post's topic, that it's still ok to wish everyone sweet dreams.

Nighty night, everyone.

Strike a Pose

You'd think this guy was all set and ready for me to snap a photograph of him. Well, he may have been, but I wasn't. Fortunately, though, I moved quickly enough to catch him in all his birdseed thievery glory.

These containers should not even be named" bird" feeders; rather, "rodent" is a much better fit for the bill. In fact, I didn't see a single little feathered friend today.

Hoping everyone had a pleasant weekend; and hoping for everyone a good week.

Nighty night, all.

That Face, That Face, That Cover Girl Face

This is one of our little volunteers that resulted from last year's plantings. I'm glad she showed up; Spring and Summer wouldn't be the same without her. And take a look at that lovely little face of hers. Such a charming little thing.

Turning in early. Hoping you're enjoying your weekend.

Nighty night.

Down for the Count

Going . . .

. . . going . . .

. . . gone!

Yep, this pretty much sums us up on Friday nights. And Scout does a top notch job illustrating just how each of the five of us look heading into the weekend.

Sleep tight, and don't let the bed bugs bite!

Nighty night.

The Stepchildren

Still tired and catching up on sleep from the night of the concert.

Hope everyone is having a pleasant week.

Nighty night.

A Puppy and Yarn and Troubadours, Oh, My!

Occasionally the previously decided lead story for a newspaper must play second fiddle when a better one comes along, often with very little notice. Or a magazine cover shot that was going to be that issue's attention getter rapidly gets resized to a one-inch square in a corner of the cover, bowing out not so gracefully, relinquishing the "photo center stage" to the celebrity du jour.

In our household, little India is that celebrity du jour. I was upstairs only briefly to check on laundry. Didn't even think twice about leaving a bit of knitting on the seat of an upholstered chair. She'd never shown interest in that sorta thing.

She actually found an odd bit of pink yarn in addition to the red hat I'd started only last night.

I have no idea how she managed to wrap the strand around the step stool leg three times.

The work on the needles actually stayed on the needles. I decided, nonetheless, to discard that work since, as is said in the South, there was no telling what got on it.

And now on to that "previously decided lead story" that is playing second fiddle, thanks to the puppy who likes yarn (and apparently likes the sixties film, "The Ugly Dachshund.")

Carole . . .

. . . and James . . .

Carole . . .

. . . and James

This is where we were last night. Finding out we were going was a huge surprise for me since Squidley bought tickets without telling me. Loved it.

Nighty night all.

The Sixty-four Cent Question

A new marmalade, or perhaps a music fest for royalty?

Tune in tomorrow for the answer to this and other intriguing questions!