INTERESTING TIMES...

Heidy-Ho, Blogging Buddies!!!

Yes... I know it has been FAR too long.  No... I have no real excuse.  Things have just been a little wonky in this world... and I have been doing things that needed to be done since leaving the house was not big on the list.

So... let me show you a few things that have happened over the past couple of months.  I once again warn my friends with Ophidiophobia there will be a couple of photos near the end they will NOT want to view.

So... on March 11th, the spousal-unit and I took a walk in the park.  The weather was reasonable and I had noticed the bluebonnets were beginning to pop up along the roads in town.  When we got there, I was able to see groupings up close... and caught a few pics of the bluebonnets beginning their big bloom!

On March 22nd, we experienced a heavy rain overnight.  When I went outside to check on plants, etc., I discovered a lot of little critters hanging out on "higher ground" (for them, at least!).  Had to catch a pic of them because it was just so funny!  Whole gang was there!  And, believe me... there were a whole lot more hanging around!

On March 25th, it was back to the park for a walk.  Took a few pics which lets me know how much bluebonnets can do in two weeks time!!

Now then... I am going to rant a bit.  Skip this paragraph if you don't want to hear it!  So... you can see how beautifully these flowers cover large areas of ground.  It was no more than two or three days, however, before there began to be big "holes" or "gaps" in the flowers.  Why?  Because people have NO CONSIDERATION for the flowers themselves.  AARRRGGGGHHHHH!!!  (Expletive here describing these people!)  Family members dress the kids in "cutesy" clothes... then drag them out to the public areas... then walk THROUGH the flowers to put the little rug-rats in the middle of them... which literally smashes the flowers into the ground.  There will be no seeds from those flowers.  The flowers now look horrible with these huge gaping areas that are bare.  Really?!?  I actually stopped and explained to two women (likely a grandmother and mother) that they could obtain an equally good photo by placing the kids (there were two or three of them) at the very edge of the flowers (NOT IN THEM!) and taking the photo from slightly below them while the camera was pointed slightly upward... which would give the appearance of the munchkins being in the flowers.  Sigh.  Did they change?  Nope.  Did I think they might?  Nope.  Just wanted to harass at least one family for the damage it was doing to the flowers.  So... if this is something you have done in your life, please do NOT let me know that.  I like to think my friends are all intellectually considerate!!  Okay.  I'm done.

Now then... final warning... following pics may be less-than-wanted by those who do not like slithering critters.

So... on March 28th, I was sitting on the couch looking out the French Doors onto the back patio... when I noticed something I wasn't expecting.  The movement was slow but there was movement.  I got up, went to the doors, viewed what was there... then grabbed my phone and stepped out onto the patio, hoping it would not blaze off before I got a photo!  It actually stopped completely and just remained without movement.  Thanks!!  So, I took a couple of shots... one distant in order to provide some level of scale... and another close-up to provide the coloration.  It was about 3 feet long and clearly non-poisonous (always check the head... oval is good... triangular is stay-away!).  So... left it there and returned into the house.  It hung out a few moments longer, then moved on out into the yard.  Don't know where it went after that... but it was quite the mellow fellow!  Have not seen it since.

So... I hope you are all doing well and staying safe during this interesting time.  This is definitely something quite different than many things we have encountered during our lives.  Covid 19 provides us with a rather new perspective on what is important, I think.  I am so incredibly sorry for those who find themselves without a job for now.  I am also so incredibly sorry for those who are "essential" and find themselves working with a higher possibility of exposure to the virus than they would have otherwise.  I applaud those who are continuing to support all of those needing support... whether it's picking up your meal curbside from your local restaurant or having a big meal delivered to the hospital for the medical folks to enjoy.

Stay safe.  Support those you can.  We will get past this just as we have made it past many other things.

Until next post...