Wildlife in the West

Our none-too-welcome "squatter"

Just a short note to comment on the wildlife we're enjoying (or not, as the case may be) in our new home. Within the first few days, we were serenaded by the flock of feral parrots that roams the neighborhood, as well as a pack of coyotes that roams Parma Park/San Padre National Forest (just north of us). The bounteous lizards were obvious from the start (on seeing them, Pixie usually says, "A lizard! Don't tell Aunt Natalie!"). J.D. called me on the cell phone from about 30 yards away to come and see the 3-ft king snake slithering across the path as he and the kids walked back from the playground; our neighbor has spotted a bobcat; we have a local screech owl; there are apparently outdoor rats that live in the undergrowth; we have a "gopher town" in our own yard; and the California quail have been fun to watch strutting around out back. By far the most exciting (!) was the discovery of two black widow spiders under our back porch eaves. The one in the picture above had a main body easily the size of a dime. I had never seen one before, and found them quite sinister. J.D. dispatched them both, and we haven't seen any since... Not quite the urban living I was expecting!

more local wildlife

Pixie's four-braid day. The day before, she had wanted three braids (a little trickier). But we went back to clips yesterday when she asked for five. Maybe next week...

Dandelions really have become my favorite flower (it's a good thing!)

Smoke from Zaca invading the sunset last night

For those of you following the news, you may have heard of the "Zaca fire" in CA (it's been burning since July 4th, and they don't expect to contain it for about four more weeks, so it's become newsworthy). It is still about 8 miles from us ("a good two-days' burn")--there have been favorable winds for most of the week--but fire trucks from all over have been cruising the neighborhood this week to be familiar with the area in the event that it is necessary. !!

Thanks for checking in!