A strange visitor in the garden…

Excuse the jittery video above. I had difficulty trying to edit it, so I decided to go ahead and post it regardless. Tom was talking to his daughter Tammy in Minnesota while attempting to hold the camera with his free hand, and it recorded their conversation. At least you can get the gist of what he was trying to accomplish.

After being exposed to snakes in Marloth Park, South Africa, it never occurred to us that we’d see much wildlife here. We’d hoped to see an alligator and some exciting birds but never anticipated seeing a snake. we laughed about the fact that we have a snake living in the garden while in The Village, Florida.

The snake likely lives here because the backyard is fenced with cement walls. There are numerous opportunities for it to find food. We’ve seen the snake several times but had only one chance to take the jittery video.

We had a gecko trapped in the screened lanai and could not catch it. There was nothing for it to eat in the enclosed area. We put down water for it, but it was looking fragile. When Carol, Mark, and Tom were sitting at the table on the lanai, Carol was able to catch it and put it outside to hopefully flourish. Between the snake, the gecko, and some birds, this is all the wildlife we’ve seen so far.

It feels good that I don’t have much to do today. Last week, the property manager installed the new computer, and we can now use the printer. We’ve promised to get back to work on our passport application since our online appointment is on June 20, and we’d like to have this done and out of the way.

We have plenty of leftovers tonight, and I won’t have to cook, which adds to the easiness of the day. This morning we embarked on the walk we’d missed for a few days, returned to have breakfast, and then settled in to do the post and some work on our laptops.

Today, I’ll do a new online Kroger grocery order, with the order arriving sometime tomorrow. We only need a few items after grocery shopping often in the past few weeks. I enjoy putting the online order together. Go figure. It shouldn’t be that fun, but it is. It’s one of many things I haven’t been able to do for the past few years, and it’s a pleasure.

We have a busy rest of the week planned. We have movie night at Sumter Paddock Landing tomorrow with Linda and Burt. Friday, we’re heading to see Donna, Karen’s mother, who lives a short distance from us, bringing her Chinese food for lunch and having a few-hour visit. Saturday, we’re going on a boat ride and picnic with Linda and Burt on the river.

We’ll likely lay low on Sunday, and more activities will ensue. I still need to call a ton of people on the list of those that have contacted us to get together, but we need a little break from all the activity for a few days before we start booking more social activities.

Do we miss Marloth Park? I think about it many times daily, but we’re both wrapped up in the easy life in The Villages, enjoying the moment. In no time at all, we’ll be back in Africa.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, May 24, 2013

Check out these cherry tomatoes in Dubai, still on the vines. They looked as if each one had been hand polished. It was a pleasure just looking at them. For more photos, please click here.

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