Thursday, June 9, 2016

Mortal Coils, et al

This week has been a turmoil. I've had a sister get incredibly sick with pneumonia. She has been in the hospital since the first of June. This is the second time this year she has come close to dying and she is only 50. So my thoughts have been quite somber this week. However, keeping my sister's "weenee" dog has given me a new character for my children's book.


This week, the snakes are coming out. They love to sun in the road and so you guessed it, I've seen many snakes as roadkill. I was going about 45 miles per hour down the road and stretched across the road was a long rat snake like the long dribbles of black tar that fill the cracks in the road. I could not stop so I straddled the snake. I drove back and there it was just agitated as heck but coiled up.

I came back by with the intent of taking a stick and chasing it off the road. But it was so dang agitated, I decided to drive around and say a little prayer for it. I learned that from my sister in the hospital. She hit a deer with her car. The sheriff deputy got a chuckle that she prayed for it. The deer got up and ran off. When I came back by that afternoon, there was no trace of the snake. So prayer obviously works for snakes too.

I saw a huge rattlesnake leaving my driveway to some tall grass which gave me pause. I did not walk my dogs down there until the next day. This time of year, snakes are just passing through, just busy eating, romancing, sunning on rocks and pavements. The next day I saw a king snake which was good news. They eat rattlers. I'm sure he would prefer some of the mice and rabbits but it was a good thought.

I have been mowing that area. I only mow small sections. Because of the way I have my property fenced, many mama deer place their babies to stay in that area. If the fawn stays still, my dogs never know it's there. One time I was walking down a logging trail with my dogs and one of my cats was strolling with us. The cat was getting very leary about something in the woods. The dogs were busy grinning and scuffling. I turned my motley crew around and went home. Dogs are just not as smart as cats.

Some of my pack on our big walk. 
Snakes are supposed to be harbingers of "big changes" in your life. I'm not too superstitious in that I live in the country and this is the time of year snakes are active. Our snakes do not hibernate. They brumate which means they stay in their burrows when the weather is too cold but can come out on a warm day in January. It's unlikely but they can.

One of my favorite creatures is a "snake doctor" which is better known as a dragonfly.

So what are your feelings about superstitions? or what is your favorite animal? or did you know cats were smarter than dogs? The last quote is even true in the comic strips just to give a little research for the doubtful.

18 comments:

  1. Sorry to hear about your sister; I hope she does make a full recovery.

    Snakes absolutely frighten me, I'll admit that. I'd be moving, LOL, if we had that much snake activity like you do, but where we used to live in Prescott, it was close to a lake. Hubby would see the remnants of a dead snake or two that in the road. I know there were snakes around where we lived because I would see roadrunners. I just stayed inside a lot and when going outside would look around very carefully.

    betty

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    1. My sister is better.
      I still feel a squeal when I look at a snake but I've gotten use to them. I had to handle them in college which helps

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  2. Glad no snakes around here at my sea. Pffft to any superstitions. Cats are indeed far smarter than most dogs.

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    1. My cat would agree too. But it depends on the job needed. Dogs are useful too.

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  3. Best wishes for your sister. It's awful to be sick and worse to be sick in the summer. I absolutely love these pictures - especially the cats! I do believe cats are smarter, but dogs are more in tune with your feelings, whereas a cat couldn't care less ;-)
    I've been around snakes all my life and despise them more each year. Some things will just never change, I guess. I'm always hesitant to run one over for fear it will get up in my car and haunt me - ha! We have a big bull snake that chases the rattlers away. I don't mind, it's just that he's a snake, you know?
    Your new 'weenie' character sounds delightful, keep us posted!

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    1. I looked up bull snakes. They are quite big. I had a retriever one time get a kingsnake the other dogs found and drop it over and over at my feet. I finally had enough and picked it up and dropped it over a fence so the dog would stop. What a gift.

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  4. Cats refused to be trained which does make them smarter.
    With snakes around, I'd keep a pet with me at all times. Preferably one of those smart cats. Glad the rat snake on the road made it.
    Prayers your sister gets better.

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    1. As much as I love my dogs, cats are so much cooler. They are the thinking man's animal. Thanks for the prayers. They do make a difference.

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  5. I have been alarmed at a few big snakes when hiking, but they usually are so timid they head off away from me.Sorry to hear about your sisters poor health and will say a prayer for her.

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    1. Reacting is a normal response to snakes. They are such a surprise but they are very mild mannered. I had a huge rattle snake wanting to come in my garage. I swept him or her down the driveway with a wide broom with a long handle. Quite an experience. That's why I keep my grass mowed.

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  6. Hi Betty - I hope your sister will make a full recovery - it is such a distressing time for you all. Snakes - no thanks .. but I guess you get used to them ... with thoughts though - Hilary

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    1. Thanks for you kind thoughts. I am not a snake fan but they have their job to do.

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  7. Positive thoughts for your sister.

    I haven't seen any snakes yet this year. Our neighbor killed one in the back yard. Probably a rat snake, the poor thing.

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    1. I'm not into killing snakes either but that is how many folks react. I have had a large King snake live around my house which I like. I still felt the willies when I saw him or her stretched in the grass.

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  8. Hi, Ann!

    It was so nice of you to visit me today at SDMM. I appreciate it! I am very sorry to learn that June got off to a bad start for you with your sister requiring hospitalization. I hope she is bouncing back day by day and that your worries will soon be over.

    I think it is very special that you pray for the welfare of snakes. Many people automatically want to kill them instead of respecting their right to peacefully coexist. Here in Central Florida the snakes come out in spring and we see many of them on our property, mostly black snakes. We need to be careful not to run over them with the lawn mower. There was a rat snake in our garage a few weeks ago and we didn't harm it. One of my earliest childhood memories was visiting streams and creeks and watching "snake doctors" gliding across the water. The dog is still my favorite animal but, in recent years, I have developed a genuine appreciation of cats.

    Have a wonderful week, dear friend Ann!

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  9. We have a lot of snakes around my house but I've never seen a rattler. This time of year we get lots of does and fawns in our back yard. As soon as my apple trees start to drop some green apples, they'll be there at all times. Hope your sister is better.

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  10. I loved the 'cats are smarter than dogs':)
    The snakes would have me running for cover. Not my favorite creatures.

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  11. Hi Ann,

    So sorry to read about your sister. Encouraged to read in your comments that your sister is better. Long may that continue.

    Seeing snakes would get me rattled. I haven't seen a snake in 3D reality in years. I have a very famous Jack Russell dog and modest internet superstar disagreeing that cats are smarter than dogs :)

    Thank you, Ann.

    Gary

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