I know it’s horrible, but when I cleaned off the mower I found part of a snake and it sort of made me happy. Now I feel guilty. There are good snakes, this I know – but it seems the only ones I come across are copper heads. Copper heads with only one purpose in life: to freak me out. I know I’m a little obsessed with the snakes – but heavy rains have washed them out of hiding and they are EVERYWHERE.
Obviously, today is yard work day and as I type this it will amuse you to know that I smell like fish emulsion. I used the last of my chemically stuff, like Miracle Grow and Round Up, and have switched to Weedigar and fish and seaweed emulsion. We’ll see how it goes, but I can tell you it certainly smells like it’s working. Also, I have good green signs like ladybugs, lizards, frogs and worms. Ick. I don’t like worms but I’m getting better. Just call me Runner Mother Nature from now on.
I’m going so green I have requested a compost tumbler for mother’s day. I am somewhat traumatized by this decision because I’d really rather have new, pretty shoes. It seems criminal, but sadly, I’d use the compost bin more – although I hear you can’t put snakes in compost bins.
Enough about snakes. Let’s talk tomatoes. I’ve been trying to grow tomatoes ever since I moved to Texas. Nothing has worked because the weather gets so hot so fast they split before they ripen. So last year when my mom was visiting she brought me an Earth Box – but it was too late in the season to plant. So this year I planted two tomato plants in it. And wouldn’t you know, I’m growing tomatoes like a professional. I’ve yet to see any red ones, but the little green ones look promising and I should have real edible tomatoes in no time. But pretend I didn’t just say that so I don’t jinx myself.
I’ll have new pictures of the garden soon, but since it’s been raining forever and ever I haven’t had a chance to take pictures. Okay, so I need to go and shower or cats are going to start following me.
April on the left and May on the right.
Ooh, I don’t like snakes either! Now that it’s spring, they’re out again. On one run a few weeks ago, we passed a king snake and one that my friend called a gopher snake. They’re all rattlesnakes as far as I can tell and the only good one is a dead one!
Totally with you on the snakes but since I have had boys I have been forced to watch many hours of Animal Planet and Nat G and I have changed my thinking on snakes. I guess I can thank the Crocodile Hunter for that. I would never purposely kill one now. HOWEVER, they always freak me out – but I don’t like to see them dead either. I’ve been known to assist them out of the middle of road on a few occasions. Let us know how the tumbler works out – would love to have one. Composts are kind of a no-no around here. I can totally see a bear knocking it off its rack and rolling it out of my yard thinking he hit the jackpot.
Sounds like snaketastic fun – glad we don’t have evil no legged creatures over here. We did have a compost thing like this:
http://www.chilliwack.com/main/pageimages/383/Composter_Picture.jpg
But be warned – the only thing that it seemed to make was rats, we had a family of them that I let my wife re-home (with a shovel) 🙂
HOLY! Those are some big tomatoes! I can’t believe how much they grew in a month. /jealous
You are my hero…if I knew there were snakes outside, I’d stay in.
Sooooo jealous of the tomatoes.
I grew up in Dallas area and remember spring snake season well. Ours were mainly water moccasins, though. And the challenges of tomatoe growing in Texas! We never got one tomatoe as nice as the ones at the Farmers’ Market. We ended up planting watermelons and blackberry bushes.
Ha, I feel the same way about growing Strawberries in Texas. I can’t ever do it. I bring them back from OK looking beautiful and within days, minutes it seems, they shrivel up and die!! Sad!! Way cool on going green!!
We should get together and ride!! I would love a change in scenery!!
I came across a nasty snake this morning on my ride. It stopped to make sure I was moving on. I definitely was inspired to pedal a little quicker!! Yuck!!
Looks like cannabis!!!.
In Holland you can plant it.
Rinus.
“Part of a snake …”
Eeeeeewwwwwwww!
and
YIKES!!