Hiss, Boo!

Hello blog buddies.  Sorry I have been AFK because I was PW, and G (pulling weeds and gardening!).  However, have lots of "stuff" floating around in this ole head of mine, and promise to start blogging on a regular basis now that my outside work is done (besides, it's too hot outside anyway!)

But what has gotten me off my duff and back onto the blog job today is something so frightening and disgusting that I just had to write about it.  Hold onto your hats, folks, you won't believe this.  There was a snake in my flower garden.  THERE WAS A SNAKE IN MY FLOWER GARDEN!!!!  He was laying there right beside the hosta and in front of the mum that I cut back last week.  Just "laying in wait" to scare the spit out of me, is more like it.

Hubby and I decided to run up to the school to see granddaughter #1 practicing with the band, and as I went to get into the truck, there he was.  All coiled up and looking ucky.  So, after seeing him, I did what any self respecting woman would do.....I screamed.  "Russ, Russ, come here quick, there's a snake in the garden.  "There is not," he said.  "Well, I'll be damned"  as he looked over my shoulder.  Now, being married for as long as I have, and knowing him as I do, I know he is not partial to snakes.  In fact, he hates them.  So maybe it was expecting too much of him to do something about it.  "Get it, get it!!!"  said I.  He then informed me that it was just a garter snake.  JUST a garter snake.  He said it as if he was saying, "Just a butterfly, just a baby sparrow"  It was a snake, and I expected him to get rid of it.  He, being an expert on garter snakes I guess, told me that we should leave it alone as they eat insects and bugs.  Not much of a comfort.  I am not afraid of insects and bugs (except for large spiders and centipedes, they give me the creeps).

Well, I headed back toward the house and he asked where I was going.  "I'm going to get a plastic bag and something to scoop him into the bag with"  He just laughed and I guess he was right to laugh, because really, I couldn't have gone thru with it.  So I just made him pull out of the driveway so I could get into the truck and not have to walk near the thing. 

I spent the next hour fretting and obsessing about the snake.  I just don't understand how Eve could have been taken in by such a creature.  They don't look the least bit trustworthy.  They ooze evilness.  They slither, they hiss, they coil up. They have a HUGE ick factor. Only another snake could love them. 

So after I was good and worked up, I made Russ take me home to check out the situation, and guess what.  He was gone.  Now you might think I was relieved, but you would be wrong.  Where has he gone?  Is he in the veggie garden hiding in the beans that I have to pick tomorrow?  Did he find a way into the house?  Is he coming back? Will I sleep tonight?  Will I ever sleep again?   I did get on the computer and went to paherp.com and confirmed it WAS  a garter snake.  I think I really did know it, but it was nice to know for sure! 

The only thing grosser I ever saw in my yard, was a possum once.  But that's another blog for another day. Ta ta, from wild kingdom.