Too Much Nature....

Ya know, I'd like to think that I love nature. But when push comes to shove, I'm an indoor girl who likes to watch nature through the window while in the comfort of cooled air. It's not that I dislike it, I think that most little critters and things of that sort just scare me. I had always dreamed of living out in the country, or a ranch- or a farm.....but then reality hits- I'd be a mess. Since we've moved up here (about 4 years now), I've had more encounters with things than I'd like. Which brings me to today. Today was the first day of summer vacation. School is finished, the boys are home.....all day. So the day was going nicely, minimal fighting. Lunch was in the toaster oven & I decided to grab the mail. I was waiting for something that I had ordered so of course I run to the mailbox every day. I had already been out front a few times this morning. And every time I head out the door, there's someone behind me yelling- I wanna come too.....and they never close the front door. It's just what they do. So the trash went out, the recycle stuff went out later, more trash....then I run out to get the mail. One said he was coming too- I just hollered back....stay here- I'll be right back. I walk to the mailbox....nothing yet. I'm walking back to the door wondering where in the world my mailman is because it's been so sparse lately & my mail is never like that. I come around the corner to the front door & let out a scream. A very loud, shrieky scream. There's a rather large (3') snake at my front door. Now I just know that any second one of my boys is going to open the door, and that snake is going to be as surprised as them.....someone might get hurt....then he can just slither into my house. I'm freaking out. I get closer & move to close the screen door, at least that way if the boys open the door the snake can't get in, and I can ask them to open the garage so I can get a broom or something to scoot the thing away. Just as I shut the screen door the snake darts & ends up between the screen door & the front door. Well now I'm really a mess because if the door opens.....well- you can imagine. I reach in again to open the screen door and he comes back out to just in front of the door. Yup.....he's looking at me.....I'm looking at him. (And no.....I don't believe that he was anywhere near as frightened as I was) I get the screen door closed. Whew! I pick up a little rock & roll it next to him.....in the hopes that he'll scoot away. Seems he's as stubborn as I....again....then finally he just slithers on his merry little way. I back up to see my oldest looking out his window. He heard the commotion & decided to look out his window instead of opening the door. (Yes....we have a little Guardian Angel) And the little one was deeply engrossed in the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. My hands shook for quite a while after that. Then about an hour later I was sitting on the porch out back (indulging in my nasty habit) and there was another snake (smaller- 2') slithered by & up a bush after a lizard. My oldest walked out onto the porch just in time to watch that. See I'm okay when there's a wall, window, screen or fence between us. LOL. And then later.....Mr. Snake went back by the other way. Towards the palm trees (that we need to trim this weekend). Seems that's where they run to....should make for some fun yard work. So.....too much nature. Ugh. BTW- we don't think the snake is poisonous but we're no experts & frankly....I don't want to be close enough (again) to get lots of detail.

On a happier and more relaxed note, I posted another pair of earrings to Etsy tonight. A dainty pair of Petite Pearls. I like these ear wires, they are squared and sit in your ears ever so nicely. You can't see them in this pic but if you click on the link there's a pic of the ear wires.