Froggy Sat

   While folks in other households were preparing to watch the football game, I was sitting on the steps conversing with a frog.  I figure I was doing something even more important than sitting for hours stuffing my gut with junk food and my brain with insignificant happenings.  At least, the frog is a lot more entertaining and a bunch cuter.

  This afternoon when the sun decided to warm up the place, I found that sitting on the front steps was delightful.  It did not take long before a friend joined me in the "sun-soaking".   A tiny green tree frog came out of its hiding place and sat on the weird moon lamp.  The lamp was right at my elbow so the frog was only a few inches from me.  This gave me the opportunity to study the entirety of the critter.  I was enthralled by the beauty of its eyes!  My goodness!  The eye was the color of polished copper but had the most unique bunch of squiggles throughout.  I promise...sometimes I thought I was seeing words or pictures in those squiggles!  Well, you know me.  I had to get a photograph of the froggy's eye.  I NEEDED an up close and personal photograph!  

  Never without the camera, I slipped on the macro lens and started work.  Froggy sat still.  The camera lens was literally about an inch and a half from the frog when I finally focused.   Froggy sat still.  Twenty three pictures later, I noticed that Froggy was dozing!  My little critter friend had complete trust that I would never harm him.  (In case it can be a learning tool, the bottom photograph shows the nictitating membrane (basically eyelid) that frogs have to protect their eyes.)

  After a bit, the sun started sliding down behind the pines and the air started chilling a bit.  It was time for me to head back inside and stoke the fire.  I reached over, stroked Froggy's little head and thanked him for the time spent.  I also told him to snuggle down in the hanging plant so he would be warm tonight.  (It is never a bad thing to show concern for your friends.)  I do believe my afternoon was far more interesting than being glued to a television set.  Froggy and I just sat still...and enjoyed each other's company.