Life in the Wilderness

WARNING: If you're a bit squeamish when it comes to reptiles and/or reptiles eating rodents, you might want to stay away. I know I would have liked to stay away myself, but then life in the sticks doesn't always afford that luxury.

As I was sitting in my living room a movement from the front window caught my eye. If it weren't for my paranoia from the last snake encounter on our front porch, I would have just thought that it was a piece or rope or trim that managed to fall down to the ground. The sick feeling in my stomach told me otherwise. It's a snake...

I came out to find this "little" (probably 3 ft or more) guy outside.

I actually found him curled up in this position (below), constricting and eating a bat. There are some bats that have taken up residence in the outside wall of our cabin, and we keep them around because they are very beneficial mosquito predators. Once I'm back at work I want us to buy and set up a bat house that they can reside in. I'm fond of most small furry creatures, and I especially like ones who eat mosquitoes.

Although I was trying to be as unobtrusive as possible while I was taking pictures of this gorgeous snake and then sending them to my husband for his co-worker (who actually owns some snakes) to identify, I was a little too loud as I proceeded to shoo our cats inside They had come to see the commotion.

The snake decided to leave his prey (now dead, sob), and he headed back up the side of our house. If my not knowing if it was poisonous hadn't kicked in at that moment, I felt myself on the very edge of tearful hysteria as I realized it was headed back not only into our walls, but also to get another bat. (That's the bottom of our window frame.)

Turns out that this snake is a non-poisonous corn snake, and his marking are quite similar to this Wikipedia guy. Corn snakes are extremely beneficial as they eat rodents, small lizards, bats (sob), birds, and....bum da da bum!.....Copperhead snakes. They are good climbers, as you can see below, but surprisingly they actually don't like heights much.
So, any snake lovers out there will be glad to know that I did not kill this beautiful, beneficial corn snake, and instead I will live in extreme paranoia on my front porch for the new few weeks instead. lol. They really don't pose a danger to me or our cats even, but after all, I am a girl, and I don't really fancy coming in close contact with this or any other snake. But, I can admire the beautiful markings on its back and stomach. Thank you to....the creator of the zoom lens.

A bit of creative writing

I'm back in school for one last summer session and for the Arts Across the Curriculum class the teacher asked us to give our definition of knowledge using some creative medium such as a poem, song, picture, etc. Considering my background in English/writing, I chose a poem. I thought I would share it with you. ;) The above picture, btw, is one from last fall I believe. The end notes include the people from whom I borrowed the few (italicized) quotes.

The Traveler

By: Yours Truly

A star speckled sky on a moonlit night

Leads the traveler on his quest for sight.

He seeks to find one who knows

That which helps man’s mind grow.

On his path through bog and bush

The forest path falls to a hush.

The path on which Traveler treads

Is one of uneasy, unknown dread.

A startled cry darts from his lips.

He sheepishly gazes upon a broken stick.

As if in answer to his cry,

He sees an outline in the sky.

Perched on a bare tree of great size

A great owl opens his eyes so wise.

His knowing smile makes Traveler ponder.

The owl speaks, “Wisdom begins in wonder.” [i]

“Curious,” states the intrigued man,

But he chooses to take the opportunity in hand.

“Sir Owl, I seek to know what knowledge is.”

The owl responds, “What knowledge is?

Is knowledge that which wise men seek

Or that they wish to dull with sleep?

Knowledge comes, but wisdom lingers. [ii]

Which begs the question, Can knowledge slip through one’s fingers?

If information is not knowledge [iii]

Then to what studies do our scholars pledge?

Whence the well from which they drink

To quench the thirst to think?

Traveler, listen to what is writ—

The end of knowledge is to dream

High enough to lose the dream

In the seeking of it.”[iv]

As the owl speaks, he pauses.

He settles down upon his claws.

With a ruffle of his feathers and a flap of his wings

He gives Traveler time to reflect upon these things.

Traveler responds,

“A man without knowledge

Risks sliding off a ledge

To close-minded prejudice

And foolish precipice.

Knowledge can lie in content or skill

And in teachers who realize they are learners still.

A wise man understands there is much to know

And in his life his own mind to grow.

A man can hold intelligence in more than his mind.

Just fix your eyes on at his talents and knowledge you find.”

The owl gazes down upon Traveler with thought.

“It appears Traveler you have found what you sought.”

Traveler responds with an understanding smile.

He continues his journey of never-ending miles.

________________________________________

[i] Socrates

[ii] Alfred Lord Tennyson

[iii] Albert Einstein

[iv] William Faulkner

A splash of color

I'll hopefully have time this week to post about the events of my past few weekends, but until then, here is some of the beauty we have been experiencing in our garden.