[colleeng47]

Originally Posted by redbird4848

Okay, who stole summer? When I left last week, it was 105 F. in the shade and when I returned it is 75 F.!! And forecast is for low 80's this week.

What the ...?! Talk about a drastic change!

This used to happen in NJ a lot. You would be sweltering in early August, and by mid August, it was all over. A few hot days in mid September, but otherwise, bye, bye summer.

[LadyRobyn]

Originally Posted by redbird4848

Okay, who stole summer? When I left last week, it was 105 F. in the shade and when I returned it is 75 F.!! And forecast is for low 80's this week.

What the ...?! Talk about a drastic change!

So THAT'S what happened!! It was the loss of your warm, sunny personality! Next time you decide to leave for a week or so, you should give us notice!!

[_redbird_]

All week long we had to put up with those "poor" Denverites lamenting their hot weather in the 90's. Waa. It was 90 plus 15 days in a row and boy, was that ever the hot topic!

Oh my goodness!

Then the day we left, it was 50 F around 9 AM.

We got out just in time. Denver is about to host the Democratic National Convention - Denver 2008 Convention Host Committee.

[Annemieke Roell]

Now that the weather is nice and cool at night, I keep all the windows and doors open. Around 2 am on my way to the bathroom (at my age that is SOP several times a night) I saw Pete the cat staring intently at something beneath the book case in my office. At first I thought it was a mouse, but when it moved and I saw the markings I realized it was a snake.

I screamed which woke up GP and the 2 Jack Russells (I have never seen the big guy move so fast). By this time the snake had left my office and the hunt was on.

It turned up in the livingroom behind the recliner in front of the book shelves. Before the big guy could pick it up with a stick to put back outside, Tick (the 4 yo JR) had already killed it while Twyla (the 6 mo old JR) supervised from underneath the bed and I watched from a safe distance.

The picture is a bit fuzzy ...... understandably under the circumstances ........

[mkfarnam]

My god! How did that thing get in?

[Goodpasture]

She doesn't leave the doors open any more.............go figure, eh?

[karibear]

Originally Posted by Goodpasture

She doesn't leave the doors open any more.............go figure, eh?

I've been considering something like that - leaving things open, now that it's cooler, I mean - but since the sellers took all the screens with them among other things, and there are major quanities of wasp nests over my bedroom in the eaves, I haven't quite bothered yet. They tend to wake up before I do, and they aren't nice house pets.

[TheComputerGuy]

Originally Posted by Schousse

Now that the weather is nice and cool at night, I keep all the windows and doors open. Around 2 am on my way to the bathroom (at my age that is SOP several times a night)

You're not alone in that.

Originally Posted by Schousse

I saw Pete the cat staring intently at something beneath the book case in my office. At first I thought it was a mouse, but when it moved and I saw the markings I realized it was a snake.

Bet that woke you up better than the morning coffee.

Originally Posted by Schousse

I screamed

Really? knowing you as I do, I'm kinda surprised to hear that,
but I admire your honesty.

Originally Posted by Schousse

which woke up GP and the 2 Jack Russells (I have never seen the big guy move so fast).

Sort of like a train coming huh?
Do you have video?

Originally Posted by Schousse

By this time the snake had left my office and the hunt was on.

The only thing worse than seeing a snake in your house
would be knowing it was there, but not exactly where it was...
I'd never sleep again until it was found and removed.

Originally Posted by Schousse

It turned up in the livingroom behind the recliner in front of the book shelves. Before the big guy could pick it up with a stick to put back outside, Tick (the 4 yo JR) had already killed it while

GOOD BOY TICK!

Originally Posted by Schousse

Twyla (the 6 mo old JR) supervised from underneath the bed and

SMART GIRL TWYLA!

Originally Posted by Schousse

I watched from a safe distance.

SMART GIRL DUTCHIE!

Originally Posted by Schousse

The picture is a bit fuzzy ...... understandably under the circumstances ........

I'm pretty sure your forum mates will forgive you.

BTW...
What kind of snake was it?
Looks like the copperhead I saw on a NatGeo documentary.

[Annemieke Roell]

I think I screamed because GP was home. When I am home alone I am a lot braver because I know I HAVE to. When Greg is here I can allow myself to be the damsel in distress but when I am alone I have no choice but to be the pioneer woman I am at eart. I don't know if that makes sense.

It was a rat snake .... their coloring and pattern look a lot like a poisonous snake but you can tell the difference by their head.

[Goodpasture]

a black rat snake. It has a really dark diamond pattern on it's back that is nearly invisible. against it's black back. Copperheads, though, in this part of the country tend to be a coppery color almost the color of oak leaves on the ground in the fall.

A characteristic of most snakes is that they will try to get away when approached. Most, however, will give a warning of some kind if they are cornered. Even the rat snake will vibrate it's tail. Copperheads, on the other hand, tend to strike PRIOR to any kind of warning. Apparently they use a minor bite/strike as the warning. They do not put much venom into the initial bite, but it can cause pain and loss of use of the part of the body bitten. Secondary infection is always a problem.

When dealing with copperheads, the best bet is to just leave them alone. If you have to get close or get rid of them, do so with a long stick or something you can use from a distance. Shotguns work good if you aren't inside.