Yesterday morning, Peanut had texted me and asked if I would come over to go swimming. She's been staying with my parents for a couple of weeks, now. It's not uncommon during the summer for my kids to trade off every couple of weeks to spend some time at my parent's house. It's a break away from our house... and up until this year, there was nothing to do around here. My brother has a farm out there that keeps the kids pretty busy, and then there is a pool for them to jump in to if they get too hot and sweaty.
I was really surprised that after we moved in to this house, that my kids would still want to spend so much time over there. Especially Peanut. Butter I would totally understand because he enjoys the company of my brother and the experience of working out on the farm. Peanut on the other hand? Yeah, she'd rather spend time lounging in the pool, texting her friends, and playing games on the computer. At home.
She opted to not attend summer school this year, and I figured that staying at my parent's house wouldn't be too bad because then she would have someone to talk to and spend time with (my sister).
Yesterday, however, I found out that one of the main reasons she has wanted to continue staying at my parent's house is that she has made a new friend. She wanted me to meet her friend, and then it all made sense. The swimming invitation was just a ploy to get me over there, as her friend was going to be there at the same time. Despite that, even though I didn't swim I ended up staying over there until 9pm.
Then, it was time to head home. My brother, sister, Peanut, and her friend came home with me so that Hubby would have a chance to meet the new friend - and so that my brother could pick up his lawnmower. We sat out on the patio for a while just talking and laughing. My brother really likes Hubby's company - and vice versa - so it was a good time for them to discuss whatever it is they discuss. But, time was getting on, and eventually they had to head home.
No sooner had they left the driveway, when my crazy end of the day situation happened.
Hubby and I stayed out on the patio watching them leave and we were talking, when he got this weird look on his face. He was looking over my shoulder, and I remembered that I'd seen that look before. That look had occurred right after moving in to our old house several years ago. I was sitting in front of the fireplace when that look came over his face, followed by the words "Don't freak out". Well, I jumped out of my seat and initiated freaking out - discovering that one of my arch nemesis, the giant grasshopper, had been sitting directly behind me on the fireplace.
Apparently, Hubby has learned his lesson about using those words.. but he still hasn't figured out a way to lose the look on his face that indicates to me that something is behind me. Something I probably would be extremely frightened of.
My first reaction was thinking there was some kind of tarantula crawling up the gate behind my chair. Remembering how much I had spooked the giant grasshopper years ago with my wild flailing as I jumped out of the chair, I opted for a quiet, quick swift up and out of the chair before looking behind me.
At first, I didn't see anything. Then, I started to see a little movement coming from the door jam of our front door - which is located about 4 feet from where I was sitting.
This is what I saw...
It's kinda hard to see... but look real close at the joining of the brick wall and the blue wood from our front door area.
Need a better look? OK, well here's 5 minutes later...
That black thing is not a wire or cord of some kind. That is a black SNAKE!
Hubby and I watched it climb all the way up the door jam and coil itself around those black cords before we were able to come up with some way of getting it down.
Now, let me add here that I'm not terrified of snakes. I was actually relieved when it was this little guy I saw instead of any number of things that could have been the cause of Hubby's concerned face. Spiders, grasshoppers, giant beetles, cockroaches, anything with legs that falls under the insect category really. In fact, if you were to walk in to the front door, you would see this waiting to greet you...
That's a ball python. About 4-5' in length. It's capable - and does - eat large rats. It's been a part of my family for as long as Hubby has, and even longer for Hubby who's owned him since he was a teeny, tiny baby. Nope. Snakes just don't bother me.
Now, that doesn't mean I go all gushy and start trying to catch snakes when I see them. I'm not that stupid. But, I also don't run and scream like a crazy banshee when I see them, either. OK, I might if I saw a rattlesnake or something along those lines... but harmless little black snakes aren't going to get much of a reaction from me.
It was quite the comical 20 minutes or so as Hubby was trying to come up with something he could catch it with - while I was busy taking photos and posting them on Facebook. Finally, after a lot of humming and ha-ing, he decided to use the water hose to get it down and then coax it back in to the yard.
He managed to get the snake down safely, and was successful in starting to guide it back to the yard... but the thing just wasn't happy with that. It appeared it wanted to stay by the house, and no matter how much Hubby squirted it with the hose - it just kept turning right back around to head back to the house.
One thing Hubby and I both know about snakes is that they remember. If they find a way in to the house, the remember where it is...and they'll go back if it gets out. Being that we have children in our house both of the human and feline variety, we didn't want to take any chances of it getting in to the house. Even though a bite wouldn't be dangerous - we didn't want to take the chance of it getting in and hurting someone. So, Hubby had to make the very tough decision to kill it.
Now, usually, I'd be the one encouraging it. I don't want any form of creepy crawlies anywhere near my house. But, black snakes eat bugs and small rodents. They are actually a good thing to have around the house.. outside, that is. So, it was with very heavy hearts from both Hubby and I when he did what he had to do.
I'm just hoping that the next time we encounter a snake, it's far enough away from the house that we can just leave it be.
Not the greatest way to end the day... but definitely the most interesting way I've dealt with in a long time.
Today, I'm cooking dinner and that's about it. Probably a swim as soon as I can actually finish this blog without getting distracted.
So, that's it from me for today....
Snake killer! Ha ha! Just kidding -- you had to make a tough decision. My nephew had a ball python named Julius Squeezer many years ago. And we do kill snakes when they get into the chicken coop -- because you're right. They remember!
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