More spring arrivals

I have been raking the yard every night this week. While I am working in the yard, the girls are playing, running around and riding bikes. We are all exhausted by evening. The girls are in bed by 7:00pm and I am usually dozing on the couch by 8:00pm and then finally stumbling into bed around 9, after letting the dogs out for their last potty break.

Last night, I discovered a garter snake sunning itself. I caught it, called the girls over and we had a mini-lesson in snakes and reptiles. Tuks couldn't touch it enough and was quite sad to see me let it go. Ve liked it fine but couldn't get over the smell of it. Snakes release a foul odor to smell like death and then they go limp. This is a protective behavior against predators.

Tuks also noticed that the snake did not have feet and legs like her. It was a good lesson.

This morning I pulled a deer tick that was embedded in my upper arm. Another spring arrival. One I actually am not too fond of.

Lastly, I forgot to mention but my Eastern Phoebe arrived about two weeks ago. He is making his presence known each morning and the girls are starting to recognize his call.