Flour...yes, I need flour!

  Son often says that I am easily amused but, also, easily distracted.  It is true...on both accounts.  I often am entertained by the most mundane things but it is true that my attention span is short when it comes to drudgery.  Let one moth flit by and I will forget the chore at hand and go chasing after it.  Today was no different.  I was distracted but. also, highly amused by a single lizard.

  Along about noontime, I set out making chicken pot pie for the menfolk.  Everything was chopped and ready to be thrown together when I decided that the mixture needed buttermilk biscuit dough instead of the normal crust.  I headed to the pantry to get flour when I passed the north window.  Just outside that window sits the large rosemary shrub.  I have no idea how I spied the lizard in all of that green but I did and that was where the cooking stopped.  I had to grab the camera and take a photo of the lizard.  

  Once I was outside, I promptly forgot all about chicken, veggies and buttermilk biscuits.  That was the cutest lizard I have seen in a long while!  Truth be told, the thing had just hatched and was still wrinkly from being confined inside its eggshell.  The lizard was a grand total of about three inches in length and had the most adorable face!  I watched as it made its first attempt at capturing lunch which was a tiny fruit fly!  Oh, my goodness!  

  A good fifteen minutes later, I remembered our lunch and had to hurry back inside.  I was not particularly happy about leaving my tiny friend as I knew I would probably never see it again.  As I passed the same window, I took a quick peek only to find no lizard.  Whatever caused me to see that critter in the first place?  Oh, yeah...flour.  I need to get the flour from the pantry.  That sure was a cute lizard!

That's Gratitude for You!

  Today saw me in a full on chase with a lizard.  Those little guys are fast so trying to catch one can be quite the adventure.  Somehow, a small green lizard had found its way into the house and was climbing up the curtain in the living room.  While I have no problem with one being inside, it is not in their best interest to be here.  Lizards need water and there is not much to be found in my living room.  So, for his own sake, he had to be relocated.  That relocation meant catching the critter first.  With most, I can just walk up to them and grab them.  It is sort of a snatch and go thing...usually.  This lizard was having no part of my attempts to help him.  

  First, the tiny critter scampered further up the curtain. FINE!  I will show you, you little rascal!  I shook the curtain and sure enough he came toppling down.  Not good.  I was temporarily blinded by staring at the off white curtains that were illuminated by the bright sunshine.  I could not find the lizard on the dark floor.  BUT!  He found me!  The critter ran up my pants leg and made a flying leap for the window. Thinking I had him, I made a quick grab and wound up with nothing but air.  Geez!  This little fellow was good!  Ok, so now he disappeared behind the curtain.  At least, he was sort of trapped between the curtain and window...or I thought.  As I gently pulled the curtain aside, he made a dash to the floor once again.  Come on, squirt!  I just want to help you!

  I finally was able to capture the tiny lizard as he climbed up the door.  With my hand cupped over him, I made the gentle move to grasp him for removal.  THAT RASCAL BIT ME!!  Yep.  I guess the poor baby was terrified and did the only thing he knew as defense.  Well, now!  I had a lizard biting down on the back of my hand and he had no idea of letting go.  Well, now, that is gratitude for you!   At least it did not hurt.

  I took advantage of the lizard's fear and managed to open the door with my free hand.  With the lizard still attached to my left hand, I eased my way outside to release him on one of the philodendrons.  That was easier said than done.  The little guy was not ready to release his bite.  He held onto my hand as if it was for dear life. Ok, squirt.  You can let go any time now.  After about a minute, the tiny lizard decided that it was safe.  He let go of my hand and made a dash for the ruby lilies.  There he hid under some leaves until I left. He had conquered the huge monster that tried to capture him!  I guess he has a gigantic tale to tell his friends now but at least I will not be finding a dehydrated lizard in my living room now.

Big word for a tiny lizard's defense!

  A tiny lizard caught my eye today and it brought back a  memory from last week.  I was in the garden pulling out all of the old tomato plants when I noticed another tiny one.  It was much like this one being probably about the same age.  Both were only about three inches in length. Still just wee babes in the wild, new world.  The lizard from a week ago, was clinging to the arbor post.  The little guy was trying to blend into the woodwork since this huge monster was tearing up the tomatoes.  I am quite sure that I closely resembled everything monstrous to him.  My fascination with him only lasted a moment as I wanted to get out of the garden before the heat became unbearable. Perhaps I should have watched him a bit closer.  No sooner had I stepped away than a mockingbird darted after the little fellow.  The whole ordeal only took a few seconds. I am happy to say, however,  that the little lizard escaped with his life.  He was minus his tail but his life was still intact.  It is a good thing that most lizards are autotomic! (Now there is a fine word for you and one that this spellcheck refuses to accept!)  Autotomic means that the little lizard (among a few other critters) has the ability to drop body parts such as limbs or tails at will.   This usually is a defense method and is a spontaneous reflex action. It is the only defense the little lizards have when this tiny.  Other critters such as crabs and lobsters can do it with claws and legs.  Strange as it seems, tadpoles can do the same but adult frogs cannot!  

  I have not seen the tailless lizard since that day.  He must have learned his lesson well and is staying well hidden amongst the leaves. The little guy, today, was prime pickings for a predator.  He sat atop the leaves for all the world to see until Ms. Ez, the Bayou Dog, decided that she liked him.  She stuck her nose up against him to make friends causing him to scamper down beneath the lily leaves.  The old dog might have actually saved his life unbeknownst to the lizard.  Good job, Ms. Ez, good job!  Lizard Defender can now be added to your growing list of job qualifications.

Stormy Weather and a timely rescue!

The sounds of heavy rain and high winds awoke me at two o'clock in the morning.  A sudden storm whipped in on the Bayou dumping much needed moisture on the hillside.  I laid listening to the torrential rains and breathed a sigh of relief..my plants must be happy.  A couple of hours later, the rains had subsided enough for me to head to the pier.  Ms. Ez and I slipped out the door only to return immediately!  It was dark!!!  Four in the morning during stormy weather makes for a treacherous walk down the board path.  Ezzy sat patiently at the door while I snatched up my flashlight!..No use stepping on a snake this morning!  

On the pier, I could hear the quiet chirps of birds awakening in the brush near the marsh edge.  This area has intentionally been left as a nesting site for songbirds.  Mockingbirds, Cardinals and the Rufous-sided Towhees all make good use of the brambles and small shrubs.  In the marsh, the soft barks of the otter family alerted Ezzy to their presence.  She was attentive but did not harass them.  The otters are far to quick for her to chase.  We made our way through the darkness to the end of the pier.  Each step had to be carefully determined as the wet boards were quite slippery!  I did not want to take a tumble into the inky dark waters!  Once we made our way safely to the end, I was able to look at the sky..amazing!  The cloud cover gave each direction a completely different appearance!  To the east, dark clouds blocked most of the sunrise..to the south, a rosy ridge hung just below a huge thunderhead..to the west, bright the billowing clouds were tinged with gold..to the  north, black...just black..dark clouds and rain.  I took pictures and headed back to the Little Bayou House and safety.  Ez and I, both, were appreciative of our snug abode!

The rains continued throughout the day giving me ample time to do some much needed house-cleaning.  As I busied myself in the livingroom, I kept the door open to allow fresh air into the house and, also, allow me to enjoy the sounds of the storms! Sometime during the hour or so the the door sat ajar, a tiny lizard made its way inside.  Ezzy saw the tiny critter and curiosity got the best of her.  She rose and sniffed at the little, green sliver of creature!  The lizard dashed up the wall and tried to make an escape through the window.  Mistake!  The window was closed so now the tiny critter was trapped between the reed blind and the glass pane.   The poor little guy was terrified!  Up and down the blind, he scurried!  After nearly an hour, he settled down and became quite placid.  It was then, that I made my move!  Slipping my hand behind the blind, I quite easily grasped the lizard.  It made no attempt to escape my clutches.  I think the little guy knew that I was trying to help him!  Surely, he would have died of dehydration inside the house!  I braved the rains and took my little friend out to the Daylily bed!  There, he could find plenty to eat and with the rains would not have to worry about water to drink.  The lizard was safe, Ms. Ez was bepuzzled and I was heroic!

Climbing to New Heights!

I have a volunteer Morning Primrose that came up in the garden early this spring. This plant has grown to be a lofty six foot tall and is covered with yellow flowers! It is a massive plant as far as wildflowers go..the base of the stalk is about as big around as a broom handle! Many folks would have called the Primrose a weed (which it is) and yanked it out of the ground but I sort of like the looks of the flowers so it stayed put. My primrose pretty much took over the small garden as it overpowered everything else. Now, I know why I left it and it was not for the flowers. A tiny green anole has claimed this towering plant as its home! It is my lizard tree!

The other day, I sat for quite some time just watching this tyke as it hunted for its dinner. The little reptile could not have been more than a few days old as it was only a little over three inches long. From the looks of things, it was obviously having a hard time catching prey. My friendly little reptile was quite skinny..its ribs were easily seen through its skin. I so wanted to catch it a good meal but had to be content in just watching it hunt. I knew if I tried to feed it, the lizard would scamper away.

It carefully scaled the tall Primrose plant, pausing occasionally to scan the area. If there was a tiny fruit fly or gnat in range, it would gulp it down. At this age, I doubt it could have handled anything much bigger. Most insects could have easily squirmed enough to make an escape from the tiny mouth. Still, he stuck with the challenge! This was one feisty lizard! Up..up..up he climbed. In proportion to his size, the Primrose must have seemed humongous!

I worried about the little lizard. There seemed to be so many obstacles..so many perils that would keep him from surviving! A bird could have easily snatched him off of the plant as could an adult lizard. As horrible as it sounds, if it was hungry enough, an adult lizard would eat this baby. Luckily for the little tyke, there were no adult anoles nor birds spying on him. He could hunt in peace......for the moment. He climbed higher and higher.

It took quite some time for the lizard to make his ascent to the top of the Primrose. He made his way in and about the leaves. At one point, he seemed to rejoice in the fact that he was doing so well. He swished his little tail back and forth in a most jubilant way! If ever a lizard could appear happy, this was the time!

Finally, I grew weary of sitting and staring at the lizard. Truth be known...I really had to get busy! There were many things that needed tending and watching a lizard climb to the tiptop of a Primrose bush was not getting any of those thing accomplished! I had already wasted enough of the day! Goodbye little anole! Happy hunting!