And Now For Something Completely Different...

Monty Python's Signature Ending

I usually sit down after dinner each evening to write my blog posts to you. That means the post you read each day was actually written the evening before and then scheduled to post at midnight. I usually write in the past tense, knowing that it will be the next day by the time you read it. (Cat out of the bag, now!)

I spent yesterday in the studio. (Of course, I did!) I finished my ornaments for the swap, and I even did a tutorial for a new one that I wanted to share with you today. One small glitch...

Handsome went to his usual Thursday evening band rehearsal and left me with Miss Kes here at home. Laptop on my lap, television tuned to the SyFy channel (yeah, yeah...) and I had just finished downloading the photos for my tutorial from my camera to the computer. Just at that moment, the telephone rang.

It was about 6:30 pm, and the caller was my brother-in-law, Bruce. He's such a silly guy. Whenever I answer the phone, I'm greeted with him singing a jingle from a recent commercial or the words to some silly tune where he's "fiddled" with the lyrics. I started to laugh and then caught my breath. I looked toward the tv and saw this:

Yeah, I know the photo is blurry. What did you expect?!!!!!

I told Bruce to call back in an hour because I had a rather "impressive" snake in our living room. Then I hung up, moved Kes to another room (for her own protection) and called 911 as I faced off the reptile. We both moved very slowly, it for the patio doors which lead to our pool, and me a respectable distance behind so I'd know where it was when the officer arrived. (What the heck was taking the lawman soooo long, anyway?)

After what seemed like about an hour (not really), an officer arrived and told me that he knew nothing about snakes, but was here to keep me company until their "Snake Charmer" officer arrived. By the time Officer #1 got here, Mr. Snakey Pants had already slithered into my huge spider plant. We stood there and talked a few minutes until the second officer walked in the front door.

The "Snake Charmer" tapped his extending wand until it was well - extended - and then started rooting around in my plant. Sure enough. There was Mr. Snakey Pants. (I had asked the officer if he wanted me to hold his flashlight or his "perp beater", which made him laugh. You've got to have a sense of humor in a situation like this, don't you?) He asked Officer #1 to shine his flashlight into the plant and he proceeded to "coax" the snake out of the plant. Thanks to leather gloves, he was able to slowly back the snake out.

My hero...

You can click on his photograph to go to a small Flickr album with more photos of my adventure. (Be sure to read my captions on the photographs, too.) I'll be back tomorrow with that tutorial and more finished projects. I think I'll make a cup of tea now.

Oh, by the way...In case you're interested: This snake was a corn snake. According to my field guide they get to be 3'6" long (this one was close). Yup, it says "CAUTION: Coils like rattler when cornered; will bite." Really? "Habitat: Woods, open areas, farms, old buildings and trash piles." I guess when you live surrounded by woods, open areas, and farms, you're just inviting a visitor like this guy! We live on three, mostly-wooded acres, and our home is near the back of the lot. The officer carried the snake down the driveway and released it out near the road. Mr. Snakey Pants won't be back, but I still slept with one eye open last night...just in case!

Thank you to all of you who are new to my blog. I do go and visit each of your blogs when you stop by, and try to leave a message for each of you at "your place". I'm having so much fun getting to know you! I hope you're enjoying your visits here, too. Don't forget to leave comments each day for another chance in my drawing.

Also, be sure to check out my left sidebar for other giveaways currently in progress. There are so many wonderful bloggers offering beautiful things right now. Of course, I hope I win as much as you do...but that's half the fun, isn't it?