Wildlife Adventures
Dearest,
Saturday I was in the process of putting the garden hose out and I got to the point of turning on the outside faucet, down in the cellar. As I walked toward the plumbing I noticed a puddle of water on the floor, something was leaking. The water heater and the dehumidifier are, as you know, right next to each other. I got the flashlight and was peering under the water heater but I couldn’t see anything so, I went to move the dehumidifier, as I reached for it something on top moved, MOVED??!! YAHH!! Is That A Snake?!?!?! In the basement?? REALLY? I of course jumped 3 feet. After a few moments I got my heart back down in my chest. I’m thinking. What kind of snake am I dealing with here? Looks pretty harmless but I don’t like that diamond pattern on it’s back. Four foot long, too big for a juvenile. Well better safe than sorry. Grabbed a five gallon pail and my snake stick. When I get back the critter is trying to climb the wall. I place the pail under it and try to knock him into it, missed it completely of course. So I pick him up with the snake hook and drop him in the bucket. Carry him out side and turn him loose. He doesn’t move. I can’t have him hanging out right in front of the cellar door so, I try to move him with the snake stick. He gets all hostile and aggressive now attacking the snake stick. That’s it, too much, I go to fetch the snake book. When I return the critter is gone, naturally. Going through the book I find that he was a northern water snake. Makes sense, water snakes are usually aggressive. Still I don’t need to get bitten by one, yes they have teeth, no poison but their saliva is an anti-coagulant. Doesn’t belong in my basement in any case and was really pushing his luck getting tough with me, want to spend the rest of your life in a cage tough guy? WHEW!!
The mocking birds built a new nest in the exact same place as last year, in your tree. They have four eggs now. PaPa is just cruising around watching me work, MaMa is so used to me that she doesn’t even holler at me anymore. Imagine that! A female that doesn’t yell at me. If they spot that water snake there will be a scene!
Your purple coneflowers are coming up everywhere. I am working on the gardens as I can. The daffodils did really well this year, the tulips, not so much. The tea roses made it! The Lantana appears to have made it through too.
The grapefruit tree finally ended my agonizing about whether and which grapefruit to pick and dropped one on the floor. So I ate it! It was good! I am stunned! Never had home-grown grapefruit in New York State before!
Violets are everywhere, I don’t have the heart to mow them but, soon I’ll be forced to.
Till the wind stops blowing, Your Ken
Saturday I was in the process of putting the garden hose out and I got to the point of turning on the outside faucet, down in the cellar. As I walked toward the plumbing I noticed a puddle of water on the floor, something was leaking. The water heater and the dehumidifier are, as you know, right next to each other. I got the flashlight and was peering under the water heater but I couldn’t see anything so, I went to move the dehumidifier, as I reached for it something on top moved, MOVED??!! YAHH!! Is That A Snake?!?!?! In the basement?? REALLY? I of course jumped 3 feet. After a few moments I got my heart back down in my chest. I’m thinking. What kind of snake am I dealing with here? Looks pretty harmless but I don’t like that diamond pattern on it’s back. Four foot long, too big for a juvenile. Well better safe than sorry. Grabbed a five gallon pail and my snake stick. When I get back the critter is trying to climb the wall. I place the pail under it and try to knock him into it, missed it completely of course. So I pick him up with the snake hook and drop him in the bucket. Carry him out side and turn him loose. He doesn’t move. I can’t have him hanging out right in front of the cellar door so, I try to move him with the snake stick. He gets all hostile and aggressive now attacking the snake stick. That’s it, too much, I go to fetch the snake book. When I return the critter is gone, naturally. Going through the book I find that he was a northern water snake. Makes sense, water snakes are usually aggressive. Still I don’t need to get bitten by one, yes they have teeth, no poison but their saliva is an anti-coagulant. Doesn’t belong in my basement in any case and was really pushing his luck getting tough with me, want to spend the rest of your life in a cage tough guy? WHEW!!
The mocking birds built a new nest in the exact same place as last year, in your tree. They have four eggs now. PaPa is just cruising around watching me work, MaMa is so used to me that she doesn’t even holler at me anymore. Imagine that! A female that doesn’t yell at me. If they spot that water snake there will be a scene!
Your purple coneflowers are coming up everywhere. I am working on the gardens as I can. The daffodils did really well this year, the tulips, not so much. The tea roses made it! The Lantana appears to have made it through too.
The grapefruit tree finally ended my agonizing about whether and which grapefruit to pick and dropped one on the floor. So I ate it! It was good! I am stunned! Never had home-grown grapefruit in New York State before!
Violets are everywhere, I don’t have the heart to mow them but, soon I’ll be forced to.
Till the wind stops blowing, Your Ken
Replies
Ken,
Spring is here and with it, snakes? Good Lord I would have had a heart attack. Sorry friend but better you than me and where did he go??? And you uh.. have a snake stick? Where does one go to get a snake stick?
I too have been working in the yard and gardens. It has been a bit overwhelming for me without my Jim working along side of me. All the koi in the pond made it, no babies this year, maybe too cold? The wisteria is blooming like mad and is threatening to take the garage roof off (again). The 17 year old, after much conjoling rototilled one of the gardens and there will be sunflowers this year.. sigh. So much beauty, so much work for only one person. What does it all mean?
Linda
ps. I have rubber snakes that I put in some of my gardens to scare critters. They usually end up scaring me.
OMG hate snakes. I am glad your flowers and trees are there bringing you wonderful memories of your time together. Larry and I moved a week before he died to a condo because I couldn`t get him up the stairs and we left all of our beautiful flower beds behind us. I drive by our old house some days and wish I was still there. Take care and enjoy the love around you,
hugs Lu Ann
I am glad you saw the snake before it bit you. We also have snakes here in our back yard but have never had one in the house. i don\'t mind them in the back but would probably panic if one got in. Glad you enjoyed the grapefruit. i bet you thought of your Abby with every bite you took. Peace to you my friend. Diane
So do not like snakes. I would have had a heart attack for sure. But so glad to read your spring has come. My roses are blooming as well as my lantana. All the things he helped plant. So neat you grew your own grapefruit. Take care my friend. Watch out for those snakes too.
hugs,
Cie