Another day and another capture just before the sun sets.
I am not a fan of spiders. Generally speaking, if the critter has more legs than I have then I’d prefer to keep it at a distance. However, I am a fan of snakes. If feeding snakes weren’t so heart wrenching, I’d let my boys have a snake as a pet. Alas, I had a pet snake for years, and I just can’t deal with the death of another mouse.
While outside with the boys (and camera), I saw our neighborhood rat snake crossing the street. I’ve seen her several times, but this time I had my camera with me. And, when she was sliding by me, I reached out to pat her, which put her in defense mode. Brilliant!
If you want to see additional pictures of this beauty, you can find them on my Facebook page: Lenore Diane’s Thoughts Exactly
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Lenore's Thoughts Exactly 
Eek.
It’s OK, Hipster. She won’t hurt you. I promise.
Just a picture of that would make daughter #1 scream and panic!
Aaaaw… she is more scared of daughter #1 than daughter #1 is scared of her, I’m certain. 🙂
She’s so cute! I’m generally a fan of reptiles, but you’re right about the feeding. I would only be able to have a vegetarian reptile 🙂 I don’t even want to deal with feeding them bugs because that’s just icky.
When I was in college, I had a biology lab taught by a grad student who’d been in charge of raising a corn snake from a baby. She’d often let him hang on on her shoulder as she taught, and always had an open invitation for anyone to hold him if we wanted. One day I got up the courage and held him, and it was So.Cool. I loved realizing how soft he was and how neat it was to feel the muscles as he wound his way up my arm. Since then I’ve wanted a corn snake but can’t handle the idea of buying dead mice to feed it. Oh well. I’m sure I’ll find a nice leaf-eating tortoise at some point 🙂
Leaf eating tortoise… that’s funny, Leonore. One of my sisters had two turtles. They were water turtles, and I don’t think you can buy them anymore. Something about spreading diseases or some such nonsense. (smile)
I loved my snake, and I was fascinated by all of it. He was a bull snake, and I named him Taurus. Later, Taurus laid an egg. He wasn’t a ‘he’ afterall.
I can’t get beyond “I reached out to pat her”. You are either the bravest or the stupidest woman I know. I’m sure I mean brave. (shudder, shudder).
Hahahahahaha! Let the record show, had I not been 100% certain the snake was non-venomous, I would NOT have pat her. Though, reaching out to pat a snake while my boys watch was NOT smart. I don’t want them to take risks like that …
She is pretty, even for a snake. 🙂
My sentiments exactly, Patti. She really was a beauty. I’m thinking she had just shed her skin, because she was super shiny.
Nicely done, Ms. D! I’m generally okay with snakes, too… non-poisonous ones, anyway. And I’m always good with a photograph of one!
🙂
I certainly prefer photographs of poisonous snakes vs. finding them in the wild. 🙂
You mean you touched the snake? Good Lord, you’re brave. I hate snakes. I have nightmares where scary snakes bite me. I know, sounds Freudian, doesn’t it?
I think my appreciation for snakes comes from the fact that my brother liked and had snakes, and my brother is my hero. I see your Freudian tone and raise you one. (smile)