Sunday, September 30, 2012

Snaked

Had a good weekend with family and friends and I am doing OK.

The woods that border my home has a wandering creek flowing through it.  It attracts quite a bit of wildlife which I love.  The open space next to my house is a wetland and in the spring, the songs of the frogs entertain us in the evening.  Now and then I come across a snake in my garden which gives me pause, but if they keep to themselves, I'm cool with them also.   I love living in the country.





















The other night my hubby was organizing the garage and putting away gardening supplies.  As he fiddled around with the tools he noticed something in a dark corner that looked ominous.  Prodding the area with a small stick, he was greeted by a rather long snake.  He quickly  grabbed the nearest armament, a broom that was hanging on the wall, and with the swing and swiftness of Tiger Woods, he gave that reptile the old heave-ho out the door.  Only it was not just one snake, instead they were five large unknown types and they all went flying into the air. Being none too happy at his rude awakening, one of them, after landing down the driveway in one piece, turned and charged his attacker, extending his body upwards and hissing in rage.  Running on adrenalin and not to show any fear, my brave hero stood his ground and whipped that sucker one more time.  Now, surrounded by the rest of the gang of slithering varmints and no one and no creature backing down, it became an all out assault.  With his mighty weapon in hand, and  the chutzpah of a Navy Seal, my man went full force, and drove those snakes off the driveway, into the road and down the gully.  This now proud snake wrangler lifted his broom, swung it in a circle, blew off the dust of battle and hung it up for another day. 


Duel in the Sun



 Clint couldn't have done better.

51 comments:

  1. What a hero - so tell me were they poisonous? That would have scared me to death.

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  2. Arleen, Oh my...it sounds as if your lodgers had moved in the winter. Like you I am okay as long as everyone stays in their own little area. I will be a little more careful in those dark corners of the garage. Bonnie

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    1. You would never find me cleaning out the garage, so there is no chance that I would ever come across any reptiles hiding there.

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  3. How brave your man is - no snakes in New Zealand so we are safe here.

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    1. Dear Susan, I thought that snakes were all over. Thanks for your comment, I learned something today.

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  4. They probably thought they had found the perfect place to live. Yikes!!

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  5. YUK. I don't like the wretched things. The last one I found was swimming in our pool; he/she was lifted out, and tossed as far away as possible.

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  6. Wow - that really was brave. I'd have been running for the hills, squealing like the little girl I am! :-D

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  7. I am not a fan of snakes. So not a fan. They are protected here so when I found that one had taken up residence under our front steps I used the back door for the rest of summer. (not our current house). Just the same I am a fan of live and let live.

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    1. They give me the shivers when I find one, but that is because I do not know which ones may be dangerous.

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  8. Be extra vigilant next summer, some snakes return to their winter nooks every year even after getting driven out. Can't make out all the markings but it looks like your intruder is a garter snake --might have followed an ant trail into the garage. They like frog eggs and other easily overpowered tidbits too, so flinging them back toward the creek should keep them busy. I use a litter-picker.

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    1. My feeling is that four of them will never slither around my house again. However, one did get away.

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  9. Hello Arleen:
    What a story! We are equally in awe and terrified. In awe at the heroic [no better word] way in which your husband dealt with said snakes [plural] and terrified to think what we might have done in a similar situation. Happily, few snakes in Hungary!!

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  10. Oh, dear. You threw those poor snakes out of their well-planned winter home. Sorry you couldn't share.

    What do you mean they would scare the wits out of you? A month or so and they'll be sound asleep, just like a hibernating Bear.

    Thanks for visiting me at my place.

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    1. Dear Rob-Bear,
      Five snakes to a garage is a little too much. They will have to find warmth someplace else.

      Thanks for dropping in.

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  11. Horrors, a nest of snakes! I wouldn't rest until I had found out what they were, poisonous or innocent creatures. You are very wise never to clear out the garage but to send your intrepid husband to do the task!

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    1. Dear Rosemary,
      Ignorance is bliss, and I am just so happy it was not me who found them.

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  12. Wow, that would be a bit shocking, much as I like snakes. Quite the visual of your husband with a broom. LOL! I bet he's quite proud. ;)

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    1. He is proud of himself and has old this story to all his friends. They now have a new respect or him.

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  13. Glad I didn't find them. That trash picker upper is a great idea. I use one around the house for high shelves.

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  14. I would be wtting my pants before completing the 4 minute mile

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  15. HA! John's comment totally cracked me up!

    Snakes don't bother me, either, as long as they live their lives and stay the heck out of our house. We come across them in our yard every now and then, and that's fine, but I've never come across five of them in one fell swoop. (Um, maybe that should be "sweep"?) In light of his heroic handling of those extra long angry snakes, I'm thinking we should nominate your hubby for membership in the British Order of the Garter, perhaps.

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  16. I'm so glad we don't have snakes here

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    1. Again, I am surprised that snakes are not everywhere. I had heard the story that St. Patrick drove them out of Ireland. Didn't know his exterminating skills reached over the sea.

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  17. Oh, that sounds pretty scary. The idea of thinking there's just one and then finding there are lots. EEk! I'm glad we don't have seriously poisonous snakes in England.

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    1. Dear Jenny,
      Not sure they were poisonous, but hubby didn't wait to find out.

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  18. Dear Arleen, you conveyed a lot of suspense and tension in this true story and I found myself tensing up as I read it. I've always been afraid of snakes and so any story about them is disconcerting. I'm glad your husband was able to chase those five critters back into the underbrush. And may they stay away! Peace.

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  19. Hi Arleen,
    Yes, it's me, Penny the Jack Russell dog and modest internet star! Your husband was very brave. I'm not sure what I would do if confronted by a group of snakes. Probably go get my human to sort it out. And before I make an asp of myself, I shall now go back to the safety of my site.
    Pawsitive wishes and doggy kisses, Penny xx

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  20. While you, of course, stood by and took photographs. Brave indeed!

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    1. No, not me. The wrangler can multitask. He took out his iPhone and got a few pictures. He wanted bragging rights.

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  21. This story even gets better picturing your husband taking photos as he snake wrangled! I think he may have to take over "The Most Interesting Man in the World" beer commercials! Julie

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  22. Yikes! We have black racers around here. One got into the house once. To this day I don't know how. I killed it with a phonebook as I screamed and jumped around. Not pretty.

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  23. Whoa. You married quite a guy. Check with pest control to come and 'snake proof' your house!

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  24. Eek-- I'd be running SO fast. I'm totally terrified of snakes--- but the Gardener - he loves them- especially black snakes. He just puts them on a broom and moves them--- he would never kill one!!
    Vicki

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  25. he saved you from them!!!
    one time my husband was away and i saw a snake in the garden and called the police. oh my gosh..I was young.

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  26. Hello, Dear! I've just discovered your lovely blog, and I'm now following you ~ so nice to meet you!
    Bravo to your brave Knight! (Snakes don't bother me much either, but I prefer them non-poisonous ~ :)
    Best,
    Anne

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  27. I just saw this...once my "hubby" brought one home in one of his bags from Montana...we were unpacking and Thank God in the basement...there it was...he HATES snakes...I picked it up and threw it outside...then realized I just released a western snake in Michigan...probably lives here just as good as in MT...it was small like a garter snake but had an orange backside.....traveling I love it...he couldn't just bring home a rock or some other such item you pick up on vacation!!!!

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  28. I like snakes. They kill all kinds of vermin. Of course, being startled by a snake is a whole different ballgame. I've enjoyed reading your posts, too.

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  29. Our hero. And he walks off into the sunset, spurs jingling, to throw one muscular arm about the little lady he has just defended with life and . . . erm . . . broom. Yep. The stuff of legends.

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