Is it a worm? No, it’s a tiny snake!

String Snake
A western Threadsnake. And, yes, that’s it’s fully grown size.

The tiny guy was found slithering on the tile in our hallway, but not getting anywhere fast. Threadsnakes usually live underground — this one must have squeezed it’s way through a crack in the floor and tile grout to find his way inside, so was likely very lost. After getting him to pose for a few pictures, he was gently released outside where he could find his way back underground.

Small Snake Relocated from the Garage


This little one was found huddling against the inside of the garage door last night. We tried to convince them to go out on their own, but they were having none of it.

I guess I don’t blame them, the nights have been getting rather cool lately and I’m sure the garage was much warmer than it was outside. But it’s not safe for them to stay in there, so we resorted to carefully picking them up and relocating them elsewhere.

This photo is of Angela gently carrying them across the yard. A lot easier said than done as they were in constant motion the entire time.

Spiny Lizard in our Wandering Jew

Spiny Lizard in our Wandering Jew

Went out onto the back porch to water the plants tonight and found this guy hanging out in the pot of Wandering Jew.  He may not look it here, but he is not small.  His body, tip of his nose to his hind legs, is about as long as my hand, finger tips to wrist.  Even so, I didn’t see him until I started putting water into the pot.  I’m not sure he appreciated the bath.

Granddady Mantis in our Front Yard

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As mantis’ around here go, this guy was huge!  He was about four inches long.  Even so, it was difficult to get a good picture of him because he kept swiveling his head around to keep an eye on me and was lightly swaying in a non-existent breeze.

Double Rainbow on Drive Home

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Saw this double rainbow today while on my way back home from running errands.  The picture doesn’t do it justice.  Every time I looked at it, it was even brighter than the time before — this, from the color-blind guy.  I’m sure it looks even better to you.

Essssscorted across the Road

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Driving home Wednesday morning, when I turned onto our street, I found this guy sunning in the middle of the lane. Unfortunately, this is how a lot of them die, as people don’t see them, or worse, just don’t care. I got out of the car and escorted him across the road and into the brush to keep him safe. Hopefully he went on to find a safer place to bask in the warmth of the morning Sun.

Vissssssitor on the Porch

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I found this guy lounging on the back porch on Monday, just chilling in the corner. I made sure the dog left him alone and allowed him to stay as long as he needed to before he headed off to wherever it was he needed to go next.

View from the Mountain

View from the Mountain
We started our hike on a nearby desert mountain trail quite a bit later than usual, but the night was warm with a cool wind, and the remains of the sunset all that more dramatic with the lights on.

At the Phoenix Zoo

Ang’ and I went to the Phoenix Zoo, where she met with one of her illustrator friends and had a short visit with one of her Zoo friends.

There are a few new walk-in enclosures since we were there last. In one, these Ibis came right up to us…

Ibis' at the Phoenix Zoo

…before sparring with each other using those long beaks.

Ibis' at the Phoenix Zoo

There is also an enclosure with Squirrel Monkeys.

Phoenix Zoo Squirrel Monkey

Upon leaving the enclosure, we were cautioned to wash our hands. The monkeys like to mark everything in it, including hand-rails and door handles.

Phoenix Zoo Squirrel Monkey

But it was fun to watch them play leap-frog over each other as the climbed across the tight-rope.

Although we think we walked the whole circuit, I’m sure there are animals we missed, some because they were sleeping, some because the exhibit was closed. And even though it was a relatively cool day, the it was still rather intense in the sunlight.

We’ve decided that we’ll have to go back, probably in January.

Tarantula in the Parking Lot

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Found this guy crossing my allergist’s semi-busy parking lot. I stopped and chaperoned him across the lot to ensure he didn’t get run over.

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When he got to the other side of the lot, he kept going back and forth, against the curb.

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I wasn’t sure if the square curbing confused him or if he was just getting his bearings, so I gave him some gentle assistance over the curb and he immediately headed into the landscaping, taking refuge in the shade of a cactus.

We don’t see many of these guys, so I always try to look after them if I can. Their days are usually numbered as it is.