Rattlesnake

Hi all, I just heard from Debbie that Mark is getting home from Kuwait today. They are taking the kids and going to Florida for time off together. The sad news is that soon after they get back, Mark is off to Afghanistan for another 4-6 weeks. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

I guess hibernation time is over here in the desert. The small rock hill in front of my MH is alive with lizards. They come out in the afternoon on these 90's degree days, scamper around, and sun themselves on the hot rocks. While biking yesterday, I saw, upclose, a diamond-back-coon-tail rattlesnake. A couple that was walking stopped me and told me the snake was just ahead, moving toward my direction on the side of the road. He scampered off into the desert as I, slowly, approached on my bike. It was about 3' long and 1.5" wide, diamond design on the back, with racoon colored strips at the tail end, plus the rattle. What a sight, I've only seen a couple other snakes out here, but never a rattler.

Also, the butterflies are passing through in swarms. I suppose they are coming from Mexico and headed for MN. Hope they have some leaves to land on.

I hate to leave all of this, but am getting eager to be back in MN. I'm watching weather.com and will try to time it so that I sneak through the weather fronts that keep moving from west to east. Maybe, some time next week.

I hope ya'll are well.

Love, Jeanie