u/Plane_Translator2008

We have lots of these on my little property, but usually not hanging out when I'm working (noisily) and the dogs are right with me, dropping balls for me to throw, but just now when I moved the ladder a few feet and had my hand right at the foot, checking that it was solid, I found this little guy, still as a stone. My hand was *right* there and my feet, both in flip-flops and barefoot to climb the ladder, had been walking right by for the past half hour. The dogs, who got ushered away immediately, never saw her. She was still "frozen" when I came back (dogs safely inside) to see if I could get a pic. What a cool little cucumber. I wonder how often she has been around without me knowing at all.

I'm going to give her a bit to move along; if she stays, I will spray her with a little water, for motivation.

She was patient with me, though. I can give her some time to head out now that the giant creatures are indoors.

Our vet (who we love) has said multiple times that there are no viable treatments for trachea collapse in dogs, but a search (out of desperation) says there are surgeries and bronchodilater meds that can help, so we are looking for a 2nd opinion. Given our vet's response, we are guessing it might be a procedure only some (maybe specialists?) are doing?

Pic of the goodest girl whose trachea needs fixing.

Why not. Nothing else works.

Dad saw this dude crawling in from the door.

He immediately called the snake catcher.

He knew it was a rat snake but did not want to take any chance.

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🎵🎶 When she brags, "I got spice!"

But you know she is nice,

It's a rat snake!

When she rattles her tail,

But you tell her, "threat fail!"

It's a rat snakesnake!🎵🎶

My doggos were telling me, "intruder, intruder" but it was just a resident derpster. I sent her on her way just outside the fence, trusting she will be back on rodent patrol later.

The property i bought had this defunct hot tub that I want to make into a wild-as-possible little pond. I'm thinking maybe make some rock overhangs of the seats, maybe carve out holes and insert planters? Open to all ideas. It seems like a nice canvas to start with . . .

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Left front quarter destroyed, airbag deployed, 40mph, rear ended a car that stopped dead in front.

So sad. I love my little pink car.

I get both blue and green, in about equal measures.

???

Central Virginia, US

We had a great conversation about wasps last week, so I'm hoping this is allowed and of interest.

Yesterday, I was looking up at an oak tree and saw this weird, semi-tranlucent orb , about 4" wide, way up in the branches. I thought it might be an egg cluster but had never seen anything like it! It looks so alien, or like something that would be in the dark part of the sea!

I posted it in "What is It" and it turns out to be a Wool Sower Gall, caused by a cynipid gall wasp! They take like 2 years to form, and inside, baby wasps are pupating! How crazy is that? Sometimes I think Mother nature is truly tripping balls. Anyway, I just wanted to share. The baby waspies are safe in their alien looking nursery, and I now know more about wasps.

Edit: @RaineyKatz solved it! Wool Sower Gall! And apparently is is full of pupating wasps!

Looked up at my oak tree yesterday and there is a semi-translucent orb of some kind at the terminus of a small branch. It is about 4" across, creamy white with what look like divisions marked in very light pink with dark brown dots, leading me to think maybe an egg cluster of some kind?