Wet and Wild!

Woohoo!!! It rained! Not much but it rained and I will be thankful for whatever I can get! I was just lamenting about the drought and my poor dead tomato plants when all of a sudden the wind started to blow, the sky darkened and then thunder. I almost held my breath thinking this could be another false alarm just like those we have been getting almost every afternoon. Threats but no rain. Today was different! The sky opened up and let down the nicest shower! I just know all of the plants that were still hanging on by a thread were so elated to feel the cool, moist droplets and the little birds and animals were probably lapping up any drips they could find. Ahh, the cooling sweetness of an afternoon shower after so many months..nothing better! Rain! Wouldn't it be delightful if this decided to set in for the night? Do I dare wish for that????

The rain came directly after Son and I quit for the day on our paint-stripping job. We are still working on the windows and chairs. We had cleaned up our mess and I took a stroll to the pier. The tide was low for this time of year. Normally, the summer tides never get so low that my crab traps are uncovered but tonight they were sitting well out of the water. As I was on my way back up the pier toward the house, I noticed something in the little tide pool next to the pier. An unknown entity was stirring up the bull minnows something fierce! Then up pops a head! Ahh, my friendly little Garter Snake was getting supper! I am not the only one that fishes around here! I watched as it would slither into a spot and then be as still as a stick. The minnows would start to gather around and snap! The snake would have a nice, large mouthful! It amazed me at just how adept he was at catching the minnows. They are quite quick and to be that close to the water, you would think the snake would have difficulty spying them. He caught minnow after minnow and soon decided supper was over. Off into the marsh, he slipped. Smart thinking my little friend for no sooner did he disappear than in came the Egret. This bird would have surely had Garter Snake for its supper! The Egret is a large bird and does not think twice about snatching up something so small as the Garter Snake. I have seen Egrets even scoop up small moccasins on occasion..something that has to be a bit dangerous considering the venom in their bite. Tonight though, both the snake and the bird shared a meal..and one did not become the main course for the other.