Saturday, August 07, 2010

Snake and Toad

Life's not always fair. Sometimes you can get a splinter even sliding down a rainbow. ~Terri Guillemets

Can you believe it got down into the 40s last night? It's FREEZING this morning. ::::shivers:::

I swear, the weather this year is totally nuts.

My DH did a good deed yesterday (well, good for the toad, anyway ... I'm pretty sure the snake isn't happy). I was inside when he came in, got these huge BBQ-ing tongs and started out. I knew he wasn't cooking, so asked if he was using them to pick up something dead (eww). He told me to go look outside at the walkway.

I did.

There was a garter snake (not really that big ... maybe a foot long and as big around as my index finger) with a toad in its mouth (the toad was about the size of my palm). DH (who is quite snake phobic, so I give him credit) picked up the snake with the tongs (as an aside, when snakes are threatened they will regurgitate a recent meal to make for a fast getaway, so the moment the snake was touched, he let go of the toad). While DH and the snake headed for the woods, I checked out the toad.

The top of his head was covered in snake spit and he just sat there, crying. Really. He kept making this little high-pitched mewl over and over. Saddest thing I've ever heard (who knew toads could sound like that?). We washed him off and then DD kept watch to make sure he started behaving like a toad again. Once he started acting a little more lively, we put him in our veggie garden.

I wish the snakes would just eat the grasshoppers. We have millions of those.

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You Are a Green Light



You take life at a fast pace. You act quickly and decisively.

You have good instincts and trust your gut. You're confident and brave.



You are determined and ambitious. You don't allow yourself to waste time.

It's no surprise that you get a lot done. You are efficient and productive.



Hmmm... yep.

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9 comments:

Dru said...

Toads cry? I never knew that.

You Are a Yellow Light

You take life at a sustainable past. Fast enough to do a lot, but not fast enough to leave everyone behind.

You are open to whatever may come your way in life. You're very receptive.

You are quite thoughtful and knowledgeable. You have the perfect mix of reflection and experience.

You think before you act. You like to know some of the facts before you make a decision.

This is me.

Have a good Saturday.

groovyoldlady said...

Oh, poor little toady. I would have cried right with him. I mean, I know it's natural and all, but what a way to go! *shudder*

Kudos to your DH for the rescue!

Marianne Arkins said...

Dru, I KNOW -- I've never heard a toad make that sound before. It was so sad.

Groovy, nature is brutal. It's not all butterflies and flowers. Sometimes I forget that until I see a snake swallowing a live toad. Ugh.

Maria Zannini said...

I would love 40 degrees right now. Just to have a break from this heat. It's barely past 7am and it's already 81 degrees.

Ref: grasshoppers
They have been brutal down here. They destroyed my little fig tree.

Tori Lennox said...

I guess I shouldn't be surprised that the toad was crying since we have frogs that quack. *g*

Brandy said...

I didn't know Toads could cry. Poor thing. I'm glad your DH rescued the toad.

I'm a green light, too. It's somewhat correct.

I hope you're having lively day!

Mary Curry said...

Whoever guessed I could have such concern for a toad. Poor baby. I'm so glad your DH rescued him.

Ceri Hebert said...

For your saved toad we lost a frog today. My mom's wild kitty who lives under her deck (the offspring of the mama cat who's been hanging out for about a year) caught a frog this afternoon. It didn't go well for Lily (the wild kitty). She came out from under the deck, her face wet and her second eyelid covering her eye. We're wondering if the frog had some kind of venom. We think she's going to be okay (my mom cleaned her face off) but she probably won't go after frogs again. In other news, mama cat just (like today or last night) gave birth to another batch of kittens in my mom''s garage. She now has to figure out how to get to them (once their a bit older) and catch mama and get them to a shelter. I think she'll keep Lily the wild kitty-who really is sweet and friendly.

Marianne Arkins said...

Maria, as much as I hate the extreme heat, I hate the cold more. And surprisingly, our numerous grasshoppers don't seem to be doing that much damage.

Brandy, Tori and Mary -- nature never ceases to surprise me.

Ceri, it's awesome that mama cat is in the garage. Your mom should be able to catch her quite easily. Actually, some shelters will do it for her, and should before the kittens are mobile.