What's That in Our Yard??

So, tonight we went to Decatur and had a nice dinner with our friends the Hatchers and the Merrells at Big Bob Gibson's BBQ. When we got home, we saw something long and black lying in the grass near our front steps. Jared said, "What's that in our yard?" We always have stuff blown in our yard or have neighborhood dogs carrying stuff in our yard, so I didn't think much of it, and jokingly, I said, "It's a snake!" I leaned a little closer to get a better look (I was still standing on the driveway though), and when I realized there was a little head on the end of that long black thing, the fear immediately spread over me as I said, "It really is a snake!" At that point, being on the driveway still seemed too close for comfort to me.



Jared went inside to unlock the garage (there was no way I was getting near those front steps while that snake was there!) and came out with a shovel. I was thinking, "Oh good. He's going to chop its head off and kill it!" but no, he walks over to it and lays the shovel beside the snake so he can take a picture of it and everyone will be able to tell how long it is!! (Longer than our shovel!) The snake never moved the whole time. So, we got some pictures, and I was thinking, "Okay, now he'll chop his head off.." but no.... We have a big field behind our house and then woods behind the field. He wanted to carry the snake to the woods and let it go because "it's not humane" to kill it!! Not humane? What's not humane is me being scared to take Taylor outside to play anymore because I'm afraid there will be snakes in the yard!! (Anybody have any ideas what type of snake this is??)


Still, he insisted, so he went inside and put on a thick gardening glove and then a leather glove on top of that. Then he proceeded to pretend like he was Jeff Corwin, used a golf club to pin the snake's head down, and then grabbed the snakes head. He then had me go get a garbage bag, and I had to hold the garbage bag for him to put the snake inside. I was seriously about to start crying I was so scared! I HATE snakes!


Then, the snake really started moving, and I was afraid the snake was going to bite Jared through that little plastic garbage bag. He twisted the top of the bag around so the snake's head couldn't get all the way to the top, and I got a box for him to lay the snake in. Then, he walked to the woods, let the snake go, and survived it all! He really hates snakes, too, so this was a big deal for him, and he said, "Now you have something to blog about!" haha Our hero!! (although I think I still would have preferred if he killed it!)

On a brighter note, our daylillies are finally blooming!! We didn't realize they were going to be so tall and trimmed back the leaves earlier this spring (because they just looked like big, out of control bushes) which may be one reason why it took so long for them to bloom.



They sure are beautiful now!



Anyway, I guess we'll keep the snake tamer around a little longer. At least we know he's good for something ;-) hehe