I like black snakes. Or maybe I don't like them so much as I appreciate them. But I knew that a snake had decided to make its home between the inside and outside walls of my outbuilding. And if Blacky was home when my dogs were out, their verbal and non-verbal body language was speaking volumes. I figured it was a matter of time before the dogs got this snake as they have gotten others in the past. I was hoping I would get to it first and be able to cart it down the road. I have done it before.
But lately I have not been above wishing that the dogs would just get it, kill it, and get it over with...
This afternoon shortly before leaving for work, I went out to bring the dogs in. They had been out for about 15 minutes. Walking in, I saw Owl and Nexus pulling against each other on either end of the largest snake they have caught yet. And I saw that it was dead. I didn't know whether to think "Poor snake" or "YAY!" So I alternated.
Then I thought, as I often do, well let me go and get my camera. I came back and took some photos.
But lately I have not been above wishing that the dogs would just get it, kill it, and get it over with...
This afternoon shortly before leaving for work, I went out to bring the dogs in. They had been out for about 15 minutes. Walking in, I saw Owl and Nexus pulling against each other on either end of the largest snake they have caught yet. And I saw that it was dead. I didn't know whether to think "Poor snake" or "YAY!" So I alternated.
Then I thought, as I often do, well let me go and get my camera. I came back and took some photos.
Owl
Owl again. And look who he is pulling against.
Nexus is something like a sleeper dog. He is mostly calm, quiet, and laid back - Until such time as there is work to do! I have made the mistake of underestimating Nexus on more than one occasion. To me, he is the canine model for not judging a book by its cover.
Nexus, shaking the snake hard.
I got caught up in observing the dogs' behavior. Suddenly, I remembered - work!
I barely had time to wash my hair and get dressed. As I pulled out of the driveway, I saw a hen turkey with five or six little ones traipsing along on the road behind her. As I watched, she climbed the road bank and the little ones were flapping and fluttering and looking like sparrows in their endeavor to follow mama up the hill. It reminded me of a toddler having to work extra hard to keep up with a long-striding adult. Suddenly, I remembered again - work!
I had not had time to dry my hair, so off and on I hung my head out the window on the hour drive. I clocked in with four minutes to spare. As I walked into the conference room, they looked at me. "What are you doing here?" I said, "I'm working." They said, "No you're not."
I had forgotten that I'd moved myself from working today to working on Thursday when I only had three RNs scheduled!
Oh man.
Well, I needed to go get some groceries anyway.
Back home when I was pulling into the drive, I saw a large doe come out of the woods and stand beside the road for a couple of minutes. I waited to see if other deer were coming behind her. This time, I said to myself, you do have time to watch the animals!
I barely had time to wash my hair and get dressed. As I pulled out of the driveway, I saw a hen turkey with five or six little ones traipsing along on the road behind her. As I watched, she climbed the road bank and the little ones were flapping and fluttering and looking like sparrows in their endeavor to follow mama up the hill. It reminded me of a toddler having to work extra hard to keep up with a long-striding adult. Suddenly, I remembered again - work!
I had not had time to dry my hair, so off and on I hung my head out the window on the hour drive. I clocked in with four minutes to spare. As I walked into the conference room, they looked at me. "What are you doing here?" I said, "I'm working." They said, "No you're not."
I had forgotten that I'd moved myself from working today to working on Thursday when I only had three RNs scheduled!
Oh man.
Well, I needed to go get some groceries anyway.
Back home when I was pulling into the drive, I saw a large doe come out of the woods and stand beside the road for a couple of minutes. I waited to see if other deer were coming behind her. This time, I said to myself, you do have time to watch the animals!
This segment of behavior was fascinating. As if on unseen signal, both dogs stopped, let go and simply stared intently at the snake. It appeared that they were waiting to see if it moved. Maybe even hoping that it would! This was about the time it hit me that I had a job to get to. (Not!)
