Lately there’s been a lot going on with our animals and wildlife. Living in the country gives one much to see and talk about. I cannot say how many snakes I’ve shot since the weather turned warm, several of them being water moccasins at the pond behind our house. I usually will not shoot a nonpoisonous snake, unless it’s too close to the house and may bite one of the animals or might get into the house, as one did last year. Our landlord had a time getting him out of our attic! Last week, I shot 2 rattlesnakes within 10 minutes, while we were walking in the woods along the mown trail. It has really discouraged me from walking in the woods. We normally walk in the evenings after supper; perhaps the snakes will be hiding during mid-mornings.
Daddy helped me get a shotgun last year, because he was tired of driving out to kill my snakes. I was really scared of guns at first, but now I love the security they give me. I don’t have to feel helpless when I see a snake, or feel someone is trying to harm us. I have a pistol that I carry when I go walking—it looks like one a cowboy would tote—but I love my shotgun the best. My oldest girls enjoy shooting, especially my middle daughter—she loves it!
A cat from the neighborhood jumped on our kitty Autumn last Saturday night. Autumn ended up with an infected wound and is on antibiotics. He is doing well, despite having to endure us shoving a buttered pill down his throat every morning.:) (In the picture below, Autumn was actually sleeping like this, but opened his eyes when he heard the camera click on.)
Our neighbor’s dog, Teddy, who spends 90% of his time with us, often brings up things he has killed, including rats and ducks. When we were walking in the woods one morning a few weeks ago, Teddy was chasing grown deer. So it really came as no surprise to me this morning when he brought home a little baby fawn he had killed.:( He is a Labrador-Chow mix, so I find it hard to be mad at him. He’s just doing what Labrador’s do, and he probably thinks he is helping to provide for us. He is the best dog in the world—he obeys so well and is so sweet. He truly loves us, and we him. He’s so smart and does all sorts of tricks, like sit and stay. For some reason, though, he thinks speak means sneeze! He “sings” by howling with us. We so appreciate that our neighbor allows Teddy to spend so much time with us. I honestly thought I didn’t like dogs, because I had seen so many people let their dogs trash their homes and yards, but now realize that if dogs are taught well, or have plenty of room, they won’t trash things, nor leave their business in the yard.:)
My friend’s full-blooded chocolate Labrador just had 11 puppies! (She had 10 last time.) My friend believes the father is a Boxer. I’m not sure how they will look grown, but this is how they look now.
Teddy brought this little fellow home to me one day after finding him at the pond. Teddy started to try to kill him, but obeyed when we told him not to.
The girls call these little fellows the “weathermen”, because they let us know when it’s about to rain or already is raining.:) They always smile for the camera.;)
Last is my mom’s rooster, who the girls have named Wendall. Wendall really doesn’t belong to anyone, but takes his meals at my folks’ house. He definitely lets them know when it’s time to get up and when it’s time to eat.
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. ~Psalms 19:14
