Well, who'da thunk that I would not have any good pictures to share for
Friday Foto Friends ( Click HERE for that link)? I kept thinking I would go somewhere special and take some pictures this week, but even though I
did visit with some special friends, I forgot to take pictures, except for the ones I took at our "Lovely Ladies of the Lord" Prayer Group earlier in the week...and you've already seen those...
Click HERE for THAT story just in case you missed it.
Yesterday we had lunch with some friends, and like I said, I forgot to take any pictures, but on the way home we took a back road through the woods and saw this:
I am sorry if this shocks you! Yes, this is a Diamondback Rattlesnake, but he has been hit by a car and is in the process of dying. I did take a video of him as his body was still moving...but you get the picture here. This fellow is between 3-4' long, but they can grow over 6 feet long. And yes, they are quite poisonous. Therefore, I would NOT have gotten out of my car to take this picture unless I was quite sure he was rendered harmless. For those of you who are snake squeamish, I am sorry. But they are becoming so rare, I thought it was something worth seeing. I live in the middle of the Ocala National Forest in Salt Springs, Florida. Snakes and other wildlife are pretty common sights here, but this is the first Diamondback Rattler I've seen since living here. We used to see them frequently about 50 years ago where I grew up about fifty miles from here...but with so much development in that part of the state (since Disney World came in the 1970's), a lot of our more "exotic" wildlife have virtually disappeared.
Okay, so I do have another few pictures to show you since we are on the subject of wildlife. I know
I've shown you my "Little Bear" before, but he did show up again last evening just before dark...strolling through our front yard, around the side of the house and on into the back yard and back into the woods. This is the ancient bear trail that the bears have traveled in our yard ever since time began...(well, time as I far as I know it! Ha Ha!) Here he is:
We have designated our yard as a "Bear Crossing", and my son, Benton, a.k.a. "
Ben's Country Woodshop ", the official signmaker for our family (and the
world...can be found on Etsy.com at
https://www.etsy.com/shop/RusticForestStudio,) created this sign for us back when we first moved here:
And the crossing has definitely lived up to its name. Here's a few of our "nite camera" pictures to show you that the bears love to come by day and night. We have a little "pool" of water available for our wildlife, and a variety of critters stop by for a drink quite frequently. There have been many different bears...of ALL sizes, frequent the watering hole over the past almost five years that we've lived here. These are just a few more recent pictures.
I hope you've enjoyed these "wild" pictures! We feel honored and privileged to have a front row seat to such amazing activity. Someday I hope to have a little guest cabin out in our yard so friends can come visit and stay up all night and watch the wild "night life" if they so desire! When we get it built, I'll be sure to let you know!
In the meantime, it is my prayer that you and yours will have a blessed and Happy Thanksgiving with loved ones and friends near. We look forward to hearing all about it on our next
"Friday Foto Friends".
So, from our house to yours,
Happy Thanksgiving!
"Enter into His gates with
thanksgiving,
and into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
For the Lord is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
and His truth endures to all generations!"
Psalm 100:4-5
Now how fun would that be! Although the beat is scary (yours actually looks harmless) I still wouldn't want to meet up with him. The rattlesnakes are terrifying, but they are fascinating. When we lived in San Antonio, there was a snake farm about five miles outside of town. I liked to go there and look at all the snakes but, of course, they were in a pit or glass cases. It's scary to think of the pythons in Florida these days. Have you ever seen one of those?
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving to you. I always enjoy your photos.
I think it would be lots of fun! Some people are afraid to even think of it, but I'd be the first one to sleep out there! The bears are actually more afraid of us than we are of them...unless you leave food where they can reach it...then watch out! The snakes are more sneaky, so I am very cautious about them when walking in the woods. We don't have the pythons up this far north in Florida. They are mostly in the Everglades...and I would definitely HATE to meet one of those! Thank you for stopping by. Hope your Thanksgiving is truly blessed.
DeleteYou certainly live in the wilds of Florida!! Not too far from me but I certainly don't see this kind of action. I grew up for part of my childhood in New Mexico and my parents were always telling horror stories about rattle snakes so those pretty much scare me. I do admit that the diamond back pattern is very unique (from a distance!)
ReplyDeleteYes, I keep a healthy distance from rattlesnakes. This is actually the first one I've seen out here in the forest since we've lived here for 5 years! We do see more pigmy rattlers, and they are closer to the house. They are pretty small, but are still deadly, so we eliminate them when we find them. This is a different place to live than anywhere else in the state, but I love it! Always an adventure waiting to be discovered.
DeleteWow! Such great photos Pamela. We do get visits of black bear from time to time here in my neck of the woods along with snakes but never a Diamondback Rattlesnake. That I couldn't handle. Love the sign your son made. Have a day of blessings ahead and weekend. May you and yours have a blessed Thanksgiving.
ReplyDeleteTHank you Toni! The rattlesnakes are not pleasant creatures to meet up with. I am glad this one was already dying. I am glad you liked the bear crossing sign. We put that up as soon as we realized that we definitely lived directly in the bear crossing zone! What a surprise! Have a wonderfully Happy Thanksgiving!!
DeleteI loved taking a walk on the wild side with you today, Pamela! Yes, the snake grossed me out somewhat, but I have a vivid memory of seeing a diamond back in the North Georgia mountains that had to be at least six feet long. Wow! He (or she) so impressed me that when I was writing my novels, I included a close encounter with one of these giants. Oh, and I did reply to your kind comment on my blog; if you want to check out the novels, here's my webpage: www.gladetrilogy.wix.com/theglade
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving!
Thank you Martha! I would love to read your novels. I will check that out. I am an avid reader of Christian novels, so I will look forward to finding these. It is so much fun to actually "know" a real author!So proud of you!
DeleteI hope you and yours have a wonderfully blessed Thanksgiving!
Those photos are amazing! I want to be first on your guest list when you get that cabin built! The snake is more scary to me than the bears! Yikes!
ReplyDeleteI will definitely let you know when we ever get that cabin built. It's been a dream of mine for a long time...I just can't get the $$ together to do it...and need to convince the rest of the family that this will really be a wonderful place. And yes...I prefer the bears to the snakes any day!!
DeleteBlack bears in Florida? Who knew??? You can keep the snakes, though. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Mary! Yes, we have black bears here in Florida...quite a few actually! I live in the Ocala National Forest, where there a LOT of bears (and snakes), and foxes, coyotes, deer, raccoons, bobcats, (and occasionally a Florida Panther, but quite rare...looks like a mountain lion), and armadillos, opossoms, squirrels, and on and on. I see that you live in the mountains...but not sure where? Praying for your fire situation to die down quickly. Thanks for stopping by today. Have a blessed Thanksgiving.
DeleteSorry I'm late in visiting....we had grand-kiddos yesterday and into the evening and you know how that totally takes up your time! ;-) I just can't get over that you have bears in your yard...WOW!! Our daughter lives about 10 minutes from us and they have a friend about 5 minutes from them and he saw a Momma bear and her cubs in his yard recently. They think the smoke from the wildfires burning in the mountains drove them out. I can't imagine looking out and seeing them right in my front yard. That's just kind awesome! My dream is to someday have a "cabin", actually a home on the property my Mom gave us. I shall not give up on that dream....because I know our God gives us the desires of our heart if they align with His will....if it pleases Him! ;-) Happy Weekend to you, sweet Lady. HOPE it's awesome!
ReplyDeleteI love the name, Bear Crossing...and it certainly fits! It's great you live where the dear and bears play right in your yard....not liking the snake so much but after all, they live in the country too. I stepped on a snake when I was 5, it wrapped itself around my foot and scared me so bad. Fortunately it wasn't poisonous and I wasn't bit, but it left me with a terrible fear of snakes. I can't hardly look at them.....they really creep me out!! Hope you have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteThat is great. My son and I love your photos :-)
ReplyDelete