November 19, 2009

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.
JoySignatureBROWNSM
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?

19 comments:

  1. Wow,,what excitement!!! creepy crawly things need to stay outside, just need to stay outside.
    Cute cop! :)
    Marcie

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  2. So much fun reading that story. (way more fun than if it had happened to me LOL) Glad you had a sense of humor with the whole event. And how lucky you for having such a handsome hero!!! I love that you thought to take a picture, we have snakes around my house, but so far they have stayed outside. If one were to get in my house, I am sure there would be no pictures as I was running the other way!!!
    Kate
    PS- thanks for stopping by my new blog. Nice to meet you!

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  3. OMG! I know I would have needed a change of panites are that! Yikes! God Bless snakecharmers! LOL, LAE

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  4. Very exciting! And as an animal lover, I was happy that the snake was released safely. That made me smile. Glad everything is okay!

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  5. Oh my goodness! I'm not sure what I would rather have a scorpion or a snake in my house.... I'd rather go with the scorpion, only because it's smaller and easier to catch. When I saw that snake in the photo, it took my breath away too! I was on the edge of my seat reading your story! We have scorpions, you have snakes!! When we first moved in here I saw and killed probably 7 scorpions! One baby that I managed to tape and send to my sister in northern Wisconsin! It was just 3/4 of an inch long! But their sting is worse than the adult.
    Donna, could you send your email address? For some odd reason I click on your email and your address doesn't come up.
    kayinseptember@yahoo.com I have a question for you.

    Blessings,
    Linda :-)

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  6. Now THAT would have probably scared five years off my life! Hope you don't have nightmares.
    Brenda

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  7. Oh, Donna, you lived my nightmare! I am always afraid a snake will get in through the sunroom and so I actually 'look' for one. I must commend you for your cool head at handling this situation. I am not sure I would have thought of calling 911, but of course that was the right thing to do. Had to laugh that as a blogger, you documented it in photos. I hope Mr. Snakeypants goes far far away! Twyla

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  8. Whoa! I would be cr*pping my drawers, this happens lots in Texas too. I get little giecos alot also....brave guy to come resuce you ...I bet it looks huge....lol....glad you are all afe now..

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  9. Oh, it's going to be a long time before you will walk barefoot through the house again... Makes me want to rethink my birthday gift to you and find slippers instead... Hope you were dressed to the nines when the "snake charmer" entered the scene... What fun you have!
    xo Jessica

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  10. That would definitely make my heart skip beat for a moment or two!
    I lived in Florida a for a few years--loved the Ocean and the interesting foliage and flowers--but had my trials with over-sized bugs, snakes, and large lizards which seemed to like my garage ceiling. I live up North now--believe or not I miss the humidity and warmth-but have to say--not the creatures.
    Thanks for sharing a great story today!
    Blessings to you from the Cabin!
    Claudia O.

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  11. First the pig, now the snake. What's next? That snake really would have "creeped" me out. Not afriad of them, just would not have been real keen on it in my house.

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  12. Well gee if you have too, have a snake so a cutie hunk of a policeman will come and rescue you!!!!! Ha ha, I think I would have fainted!
    Hugs,
    Margaret B

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  13. Now I'm gonna tell you what I've told other bloggers. :) We need those snakes - they serve a purpose. Just learn the ones that are actually dangerous and know that 99% of them are harmless. Corn snakes are common and can be kept as pets....not at my house though. I'm not a snake charmer...just a protector.

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  14. Hi Donna! That was a funny story. I'm glad the your hero set Mr. Snakey Pants free and without harm. I love all animals... although snakes are rather near the bottom of my list! =D Paulette

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  15. OK, Donna, I'm laughing my "snakey pants" off! Wow, what "lengths" you'll go to to have a totally unique blog post!! (oh, some bad puns) And taking pictures too! just too funny! And I guess I will also make a comment about the SyFy channel, ha ha! So Florida has snake charmers, unbelievable! Love all the goodies in your latest post too, ornaments and book marks, oh my! Thanks for the compliment, I just take lousy photos and that's one of the few good ones I have of that time! The girls both cannot take a bad one!
    Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Donna, and stay away from the wood piles. Oh, I'll post your new give away also!
    hugs,
    Debra

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  16. I was just rereading this,,made me smile again...the fact that you were able to think to take a photo, golly. And what "is" the cabinet in the background,,a printers cabinet? someone mentioned a Pig,???,did I miss something on an older post? How about an alagator, they are in flordia.
    Marcie

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  17. eeeeeewwwwwww! I am officially creeped out!! I can't believe you were able to get a pic! I think I would have been running out the door! You did get a great story (and post!!) out it though :-)

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  18. just seeing that snake gives me the willys .. can't imagine it in our house or how i would have reacted, but given my reaction to a black widow spider recently i can only imagine what a snake would do .. thank goodness we don't have any in our area here in california

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  19. Apparently Mr. Snake was interested in your upcoming tutorials and wanted to be the first to check them out. ;)
    I would have passed out on the floor!

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Thank you so much for leaving a comment today. I'm using new settings on my comments so that I'll be able to respond to your messages to me. Be sure to come back to see my replies!

Blessings, Donna