Friday, June 26, 2009

Texas Flora and Fauna

Like the last two dozen posts, we are going to apologize for the long lags between entries. Mom says she will try to do better but we have serious doubts.

Anyway, lots and lots of things have been happening in the last month. We won't tell them all to you today because this entry would be too, too long and then we might not have anything to say tomorrow (assuming SHE will do something tomorrow).

Well, first we will tell you about today's excitement. Mom had the back door open so we could go outside. She heard a fluttering noise and looked up. In flew a bird (robin, she thinks). It hit the wall, hit the window, hit another window before it landed on the hutch (a "collectibles" and dust holder). Then it flew to the fireplace mantle, then it flew to the ceiling fan blade (fan was not running), then it flew to the crossbeam in the ceiling, then it flew to the wall where Mom was able to get a picture.



Mom is pretty sure it left but a little over an hour later, she heard more fluttering and she took this picture. The bird is inside in case you aren't sure.



It was much easier to get it to go back outside since Mom jumped up and opened the door next to the window. Or maybe it was the same bird -- stupid enough to come back in but smart enough to remember how to get out.

And we are stuck inside because none of the doors are opened. Stupid bird ruined it for us. The next time we see it, we are barking at it.

Between these two instances, we were outside barking. Mom went to investigate and was looking along the fence line because we were facing toward the fence but not standing next to it. Mom's heart just about stopped when she saw a coyote (or a wild dog) on the other side. She yelled at it and it ran away. She ran to get the camera in case he came back but we haven't seen him again. We think it would have been a cool picture but Mom was more worried about our safety than the artistic fulfillment of our blog. Hummmphff, doesn't she know we can take care of ourselves? We can ... and we can prove it but that is for another entry.

We bet most of you remember all of the excitement we have had with snakes. Well, we have only had one so far this year and Mom shot it before it could bite any of us. That was near the middle of May. Anyway, Mom and Aunt Bec have decided the snakes have too many inviting places in the yard. Mom kind of cleared out under the deck but it is at least 10 feet by 30 feet and Mom's arms aren't that long. Instead they have been working on places in the yard that have had leaves for years, decades, forever.

Here are a couple of pictures of the area before they worked on it.




And this is after hours of work and one really bad poison ivy rash.




There is still lots of work to do but the snakes have fewer places to hide during the day so maybe they will decide to live and hunt someplace else.

Remember we said there was poison ivy? This is what poison ivy looks like ... normally.



This taken with a zoom but the leaves are about 1.5 inches long and 1 inch across. The runner/vine is a little thicker than a pencil lead. While Mom and Aunt Bec were clearing the area, they found some vines that must have been there for decades because the vine running up the tree was a *little* thicker than a pencil lead.



The three trunks in the back are trees. The three in the front are HUGE poison ivy vines. The biggest one in the middle is dead but the other two were alive and well until Grandpa chopped through one of them. When he and Mom were going around finding them for him to chop, they missed the one on the left. How??? Anyway, here is a picture of the leaves from the monster vine that is still intact.




Yes, ALL of those big green leaves are poison ivy. As long as you don't climb the trees, you should be pretty safe. Oh, and watch where you step. And don't lean against any trees that have live poison ivy vines on them. And don't brush up against any of the leaves. But, other than that, it is perfectly safe.

We know Mona mentioned our great rabbit hunts but we will tell about them in our own words (barks?) next time! And we had another great hunt! Mom actually took pictures of the victim so you might let her know if she should include them or not.

6 comments:

Ziggy Stardust said...

Oh my goodness, you have danger all around you. I have heard that those coyotes are no fun to play with so please be careful. My Mom just plain hates snakes so I am glad we don't see those too often. It is so nice of your MOm to make it safer for you.

licks and sniffs, Sasha

The Army of Four said...

I think Mom just broke out in a rash......
Love,
Ammy
PS: We miss you guys - but we do understand getting busy!!!

Zeus said...

Oh my gosh! That poison ivy looks extremely menacing. Why do people move to Texas again? *duck*

I was so happy to hear from you this afternoon. I will be adding this link to my blogroll so I can continue to keep in touch with you. Thank you so much for finding me again! Har har!

Molly the Airedale said...

We have poison ivy growing in our woods that looks just like that! What a shame that it ever had to be invented! Mom says it's a big pain in the butt!
We have lots of water snakes and they like to bake in the sun near our vege garden! ewwwwwwwwwwwwww

Love ya lots,
Maggie and Mitch

Lorenza said...

Hi, friends!
A coyote?? Oh! I hope he does not come back!
I can see your mom and your auntie have been busy!
We don't have a yard but we have heard about poison ivy!
Take care
Kisses and hugs
Lorenza

♥Mona + Prissy + Angel Weenie♥ said...

Hi buddies,

How come nothing exciting happens like that when I'm there. Did you kill a rabbit again?

Mommy said we gots plenty of sleepy pictures but now which ones do we use.

My Sammy sure looks handsome in that pic by the bushes.

Mommy and I aare counting the hours again.

See ya soon...{{{huggies}}}...Mona