Dawg Daze of Summer

Mother Nature & La Nina have sent some scorching weather our way ... The last time it was this hot, I had moved north from Houston to Dallas. We're moving this summer, and we've had 2 weeks of days over 100* with no rain in sight. Still I found a bit of cool in this hot neighborhood. I feel like the Wicked Witch of the West after Dorothy doused her with the bucket of water: "I'm melting! Melllllting!"

If you look carefully in the center, you might see the turtle that I found during my last morning walk. I was headed down Cherry Lane, enjoying the dappled morning light, when I found a largish turtle strolling towards me. She/ He could have barely fit inside a Dutch oven and weighed several pounds ... She dripped water on me as I turned her this way and that -- she was some sort of slider, and never tried to bite. This lady was all about being in the shell. Although she didn't sport a red blotch on her head, she was some sort of slider. I took her back to the apt to show to Cheri and Joy ... I put her into the cat carrier under the bushes while I fetched them. They cooed over her, then it was time to return her to the tiny stream (pond?) at the end of the block. The two artificial pools are too small to be home to anything bigger than tadpoles and mosquitos. (Though the dragonflies like to visit!)

We're about 2-5 miles south of Lake Grapevine ... and there's a small series of ponds or creek overflow spots. The Gateway Church has its own large fountain in the middle of a fountain. If this summer weren't so hot, I'd hike around to see whether we have more birds and wildlife ... Today I found a baby snake on the driveway. I touched its tail, and it squirted at me. (Bigger snakes excrete too, when they're grabbed. Joy & I found that out first hand!)

Mom has had a few close encounters on the wild side; I think a possum has made her yard its home. I suspect that Rob will try to live trap it and move it into one of the wildlife refuges near his house in Garland ... Otherwise, he can drop the possum off at Flag Pole Hill or White Rock Lake!!