Damn, I thought as I sat on a stump at White Rock early this morning, those squirrels sure are cranky today. Usually they don’t get revved-up until later, maybe 9am or so. I expect some sort of predator was prowling through after the night shift, thus the alarms.
The Mountain is starting to resemble what it looked like the first time we visited, three years ago next month. It’s such a vital and vibrant place in springtime. Fauna of all kinds are about, with more to come between now and mid-June. Flora are exploding so rapidly that I swear I can see it happening if I sit in one spot long enough.
We developed both of our fire pits over the winter months. I’d become accustomed to the character of each, but their settings have changed with the greening season. White Rock now has a high canopy that’s much more dense. The fire pit off the driveway is darker, tucked cozily into its own woodsy nook.
I briefly considered building a small fire today, just because, but then I remembered that we’d be getting high winds later. It probably would’ve been okay, really, over and out by the time the predicted 40mph+ gusts showed up. I simply didn’t want to mess with it.
Wind did come, though not the way it usually does. We had nothing more than a very light breeze most of the morning and afternoon, punctuated occasionally by strong rolling gusts lasting about 15 minutes at a time.
Unfortunately, no rain.
Every single day, I come out to meet Deb when she arrives back on The Mountain after work, and I help carry her stuff to the camper. It’s the kind of man I am. I’m gallant as hell, to tell you the truth.
We were walking back from the Jeep yesterday afternoon when she called my attention to something near the front door of the cabin. I grabbed my phone and snapped a hurried photo.
See it? I zoomed in to 3x and took another shot, then this one at 10x.
From a distance of 25 feet, first we guessed that it was one of the many skinks that inhabit The Mountain. On further review, however, it turned out to be a different species.
No, that’s not the sharpest image, a tight crop, but it offered enough detail that we could identify the small reptile as an eastern fence lizard (Sceloporus undulatus), a new sighting for us.
We love having lizards around. Not only do they eat insects by the millions, as well as chiggers and ticks (without being a vector for the likes of Lyme Disease), but lizards also traditionally are symbols of good fortune and prosperity.
We’ll take all of both we can get.
Take care of yourselves, Patriots. Stay calm. Stay sharp. Stay free.
#WiseUp #LibertyOrDeath #Ungovernable
#LetsGoBrandon #FJB