A Way of Life

After nearly four hours of cutting along the marsh edge, I called it quits for the day.  By the time I had finished, the thermometer read 98 degrees and rising.  This I can handle but for the past two days, there has been scarcely a breath of wind.  With the humidity in the seventy percentiles, it was hot..too hot.  To cool down a bit, I reached for a nice, cooling drink of water and headed out to my seat in the garden.  Under the shade of the Black Gum Tree, I can catch whatever breeze there is and watch the birds in the feeders.  Just behind me, Confederate Jasmine and Seven Sisters Roses provide a cooling backdrop.  All was peaceful..until...

 ..a ruckus started to occur in the Day Lilies that bordered the small garden!  Something was flopping about in the tall leaves!  Rising from my bench, I nearly came face to face with a Southern Black Racer as he was in the process of swallowing a large Broad-head Skink!  Although the snake was nigh on four feet in length, the lizard was putting up quite a desperate fight.  The snake was flip-flopping about as it tried to suffocate the skink.  I know that I was probably making the snake a bit nervous by hovering so close but this was far too interesting for me to back away from the scene.

After finally subduing the skink, it did not take but a few minutes for the snake to swallow the whole thing.  It then turned  to look at me.  I suppose it was wondering if I was a threat or just a gawking bystander!  I watched as it slithered off under the leaves of the jasmine.  Job well done, Snake!  You had your supper for the evening!

Returning to my bench, I noticed something in the grass.  Obviously, the snake had just shed its skin.  This must mean that my friend is getting plenty to eat.  I picked up the cast skin and examined it.  The thing was in its entirety..one long piece from the head to the tip of the tail.  This is a pretty amazing stunt!

Thinking about the Southern Black Racer lurking in the vines just two feet behind me made me giggle.  If any of my sisters-in-law happen to stop by the Little Bayou House, we usually sit on these very same benches.  I can only imagine the shrieks and squeals if my friendly Black Racer ever makes an appearance while they are here! Few of them are as "snake-friendly" as I am.  Hide, Little Buddy, hide if anyone else is here!