Finding Gilbert!

   A while back, I literally made friends with a frog.  "Gilbert", the Green Tree Frog, would often climb out of his perch in the light globe to sit next to me on the steps.  The first time was quite the surprise and I figured that the frog did not realize that I was there since I was sitting still watching the birds.  Then, the frog came again.  This time, I moved slightly to see if he would go back up into the light.  Nope.  Gilbert sat next to me on the steps.  After this went on almost daily for a couple of weeks, I decided to "pet" Gilbert.  The frog loved it!  So much so that he would sometimes fall asleep while I was stroking his little head.  Wow.  Who says critters don't have feelings??

  Lately, I have not seen Gilbert.  It saddened me to think that perhaps the rat snake had gotten my friend.  My coffee time in the mornings was not the same without my little buddy sitting there staring at me with his big orange eyes.  You know, one can grow attached to frogs.

  Well, this morning, I found Gilbert!  He had moved from the light globe to the large philodendron plant near the pond.  I was elated that the snake had not eaten my friend!  You are probably thinking "How does she know that this frog is Gilbert and not one of the million or so in the yard?"  I actually had doubts so I reached out and petted the frog.  It did not shy away from my hand and seemed to enjoy the attention.  So either this IS Gilbert or all frogs like to be petted which I highly doubt is the case.  If it is not him, I guess all Green Tree Frogs on the Bayou will just have to be named Gilbert.