Sunday, October 4, 2009

Where I Stand Sunday


May be hard to see, but when you lift up one of our outdoor trashcans, you can see this guy, getting ready for winter.  It is a barred tiger salamander, sort of swirled into the dirt, below the surface. We were going to stack bricks there the other day, but when we found him underneath, we decided to let him be the way he wants to be.  There is lots going on to show that winter is coming, or at least colder weather..and I say "bring it on!!"  Got the furnace ready yesterday, turned it on this morning...it was 34 outside.  Found the rat...the smell lead us to him, altho we can't reach him without getting into the crawl space.  He is up and over a cinderblock wall, I lifted my digital camera over the edge and found all the stuff he had been stealing and carrying off - bags of mouse poison, traps, insulation, even the steel wool that we plugged the hole from the outside of the 100 year old foundation.  I think I see him, in the photo (won't share it here) so it's a matter of constructing a tool to reach over the wall and far away to grasp him and remove him.  Well, I suppose he was getting ready to hunker down for cold weather like us, but we changed his plan.  The male cardinal is back flying into the window...busy thinking it's a competitor, although- isn't it a little late for thinking of courting/brooding and rivalry?   Full moon last night, we need the hard frost and harvest will be in full swing, here in Kansas. Lots of winter wheat seeds have been planted this last week or so.  When I hear the sandhill cranes going over back to the south, I will know winter is very near.  For now?  I LOVE THE FALL!!!!  BTW the wild turkeys are ALL still around.  Watched them (all 20) fly over the trees as they left their roosting places this morning.  Big birds!  Then a couple of THEM thought they saw other turkeys in my studio windows and flew at the windows.  Hubster said he thought they could probably break a window, as big as they are.  Cross your fingers - that they make it through another day out there, beyond their little nightrest place.
Where I Stand Sunday is an ongoing photo essay examining the different places I spend my life standing. Too often we take for granted the everyday places we spend our lives walking on. If you'd like to join me by posting a photo on Sunday of places you've been on your blog/photo hosting site/website, leave a comment on this post telling me where I can find you/your photo and I'll add a link to my sidebar so others can find you.

7 comments:

Leann said...

Go turkeys!!

Mark Bridges said...

Yeah, go turkeys. Is the pop corn ready to try yet?

Pattie Wall said...

Yes, we have been eating it up - it pops great and has a good taste! Having some for the Brondo game, right now!! Come on over!!

Jessica said...

Hello little salamander, Scarlett would like to hold you. So long RAT, I know that stink all too well.

quilt'n-mama said...

I came across your blog searching for Barred Tiger Salamanders- we found one last night in our stairwell at our home here in Kansas:) His picture is on our blog!
I love your art work btw!
Blessings,
Gayly
quilt-n-mama.blogspot.com

Pattie Wall said...

Just saw my "Brondo" spelling - you know I meant "Bronco" - duh..

Pattie Wall said...

Quilt-n-mama - when my husband picked up the trashcan to take it to the landfill to dump it, we noticed the salamander was gone. I think he caught on that the trashcan was an on again, off again kind of thing. He moved on. We have had several in the cellar, and one in the garage, along with "bluetailed skinks" - also very cool! Hey I looked at your blog and you have some dynamite quilting going on there! Nice!

More NEW art pieces

  Lukki - watercolor 9" x 12" acrylic done from Unsplash ph ref, thanks C Deluvio!