Country Life

First, as I walked outside to hang my bird feeder, I keep face-to-face with this. 

No big deal, just a garter snake, but I am not used to meeting this guys in my back yard. 

Just a minute later, Lara called me across the yard to show me what she was doing.  The instinct was to totally flip out, but I remained calm and took this picture.

Then I went and cried to Dustin.  Then I ordered Lara into the house for a severe handwashing. 

Then I went back to try hanging my bird feeder again, and I saw the snake was gone.  I treaded lightly, but jumped when I saw it sunbathing right in my path. Again.

Then I decided to wash my big picture window, and almost stepped on these guys.
 
 Yuck. Dustin said, "Well, that's what you get when have a big picture window."   (BTW, these are some of my favorite birds. They are so pretty, and sing very prettily. )

That's what you get when you live in the country.  But at the end of the day, I wouldn't trade it for anything.