Black Racer Snake

I call him ‘Sam.’ 🙂

One of our backyard snakes…We see them a lot!

This is one of the ‘good’ snakes, which makes me happy! 🙂

Due to a handful of requests, I am sharing a couple pics of one of my ‘yard’ snakes.  This is a Black Racer.  I call him Sam.  (Mostly, because I like the name Sam, also because it’s my brother’s name, and he loves it when I pick on him, and finally because my dad had a pet snake named Sam before my time.  Dad fondly recounts the feeding of frogs to Sam, by the way, and how my grandmother and aunt would sit in the other room and cry.  Anyhow…My brother was named after a snake???  Seriously, Mom and Dad?)

Moving on, I know this is a Black Racer because I have been forced to learn about the snakes on Sanibel due to the frequency I see them.  🙂  This one has a white belly, so I know it is not an Indigo snake, which is also a black snake on island.  We have lots of snakes around the house like this one, and we also have some light brown ones.  I adore snakes, ha, ha, ha, so I am simply relieved to only have pics of the non-venomous ones…so far, that is.  Truth be told, the snakes I see are so fast, I RARELY get a photo.  This is probably best for everyone.  I know a substantial amount of ‘chickens’ follow my blog…(Hey, you’re just like me, and I am not pointing any fingers here!)

Anyone else care for snakes?  What do you think about the name, Sam?  🙂

Bougainvillea

Beautiful, pink Bougainvillea growing near the water

Alligator walking

Alligator behind our home

Personally, I think he’s rather cute.  Don’t know why he prefers to spend his time watching me from the water in his so-called, “Ambush” position, (thank you, Wikipedia…)  Here he, (or she…hey, I’m no expert, people,) is cruising right along into the bushes.  Must be looking for some privacy…or maybe lunch?

View from the 3rd Rock in the Sun…

Bowman’s Beach, Florida

Third island is a charm, right? Well, the house is unpacked, the kids are getting settled, and the next chapter has begun. Now…time for a stroll down Bowman’s Beach…and you know what else? It’s time to exhale…I am feeling good. 🙂

Seashells by the Seashore

Shells on Bowman’s Beach

One of my favorite parts of life on a rock…the pretty shells on the beaches here. Makes me smile. It reminds me of being a little girl and my grandpa smiling and saying, “She sells seashells by the seashore.” These days, my five-year-old is reciting the rhyme. Maybe Grandpa will make a trip to the beach with us when he comes down to visit this year, and we can admire the shells together…The shells here are simply beautiful…What do you think?

Friend of Sarah or Foe?

Think he wants to be friends?

My husband likely regrets the day he bought me my new camera…The camera I am using to create a photo journal of life on rock number three.  Of course, he has certainly been laughing a lot lately as I dash like a lunatic for my camera and out the door to capture a photo of whatever creature is lounging or lurking around our place.  Such as this cute little gator.  Before you know it, we’ll be having our morning coffee together…What do you think?  Friend of Sarah or predator?  In any case, he (or she,) is one of my ‘backyard’ pals…